A Headstrong Woman (5 page)

Elijah swallowed hard.

Jonathon’s words rang true at the moment. Physically knowing someone was one thing; really knowing them was another. He wouldn’t do that to Alexandria. To claim his rights as her husband knowing he didn’t love her and that their “friendship” was tenuous at best would feel as though he were using her. No, he would wait.

“Are you alright?” Alexandria’s brows were drawn as she searched his face.

Elijah’s gaze came up to her green eyes. He was struck by what a beautiful contrast her dark hair, pale skin, and unusual eyes made.

“I’m fine,” he cleared his throat and decided that a hasty retreat was his wisest course of action. “I’m fine; good night, Alexandria.” he turned and rushed from the room.

“Good night,” Alexandria called after him.

***

Alexandria rushed into the yard the next afternoon at the sight of her father and sister pulling into the yard in the family buggy. What was to have been another routine day had suddenly brightened. True enough that she and Elijah were getting along much better now, her days however were still rather routine.

“Hi,” she beamed as her sister stepped down from the carriage with their father’s help.

“Hello, Sweet Pea,” her father greeted her with a hug.

“Hey, Lexie,” Anna took a turn hugging her sister.

“What brings you here?” Alexandria asked as she led them into the hall of the house.

“I can’t stay; I have some business in town but Anna begged me to drop her off.”

“I’m so glad you did,” Alexandria enthused as she linked her arm with her sister’s. “Can I convince you to pause for cookies and coffee?” she tempted her father.

“Perhaps on the return. You two enjoy visiting,” Clay leaned over to kiss each of his daughters on their cheeks.

“We will; love you, Daddy,” Alexandria smiled at him.

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

Clay turned to leave and Alexandria led Anna into the kitchen where she had left Lilly drawing at the table. Millie had finished shaping the loaf of bread Alexandria had abandoned upon seeing her family.

“How are you doing, Anna?” Alexandria asked as she prepared two cups of tea.

“Bored without you, otherwise fine. What I really need is to find a husband so I can keep busy with a home of my own,” Anna predicted.

“So which of your suitors are you considering?” Alexandria asked as she set a plate of cookies and their tea on the table. A glass of milk for Lilly and Alexandria was ready to sit down herself.

“Join us, Millie,” Alexandria invited after the woman had placed the bread in the oven.

“I have some mending to do in my room; thanks though,” the woman excused herself.

“To answer your earlier question, I am not considering any of my current suitors,” Anna announced almost disdainfully.

“Oh,” Alexandria could only smile at her sister’s pickiness.

“I have my eyes on your new hand.”

“Anna,” Alexandria set her cup of tea down and met her sister’s gaze; her own was serious. “Mr. Stewart was quite recently widowed and I have a feeling that he is not overly interested in remarrying at the moment.”

“How would you know?” Anna asked irritably.

“Elijah had him escort me to town a few days ago and it came up. He seems to still be in a great deal of pain. He will have to move past that before he can even consider remarrying; trust me on this,” Alexandria requested of her sister; she could only hope that Anna wouldn’t ask how she knew this.

“I can understand that but is there anything wrong with getting to know him? I mean one day, once he’s had time to recover, he could come to realize that he wants more than friendship; right?” Anna’s smile said she already had all her plans made.

“Why Mr. Stewart? What do you know about him, besides that he’s attractive, that makes him husband material?” Alexandria challenged.

“I sense that he’s a nice man,” Anna responded crisply; her blue eyes were stormy at being questioned. Her demeanor changed and she smiled at her sister. “He was perfect gentleman when he escorted you to town was he not? And polite too, I’m sure.”

Alexandria sighed at her sister’s persistence. “Of course he was but that does not tell you whether you two would suit as husband and wife. That is a lot harder to discern, trust me on this please?”

“Why; what’s wrong, Lexie? Is Eli not treating you well?” Anna was immediately alert.

Alexandria realized too late her mistake. “We got off to a rough start but we are doing much better now. He loved Martha so deeply, Anna, and I didn’t know him half as well as I believed myself to. I just don’t want to see you hurt or see you struggle. Just be sure when you marry that you
know
the man; okay?”

“I will, Lexie. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Positive. We had a long talk last night and I really think we’re making progress now.”

“Good. So, all that aside, what have you been doing? I mean you have a housekeeper; do you still cook and stuff?”

“I do, but it doesn’t all fall on my shoulders, which honestly is a relief. I’m rather accustomed to teamwork,” Alexandria offered her former teammate a smile.

“I know Mama misses you, though she tries to be brave about it. Daddy says at least you aren’t all the way in California the way Catherine is. Oh! Speaking of Catherine, we received another letter; she says she sent one to you too.”

“I haven’t gotten it yet, though if it came since Tuesday, no one’s been back by the post office yet. I’ll be glad when they get the free rural delivery service started out in this area.”

“I know, it will be nice,” Anna agreed.

“Can I have another cookie, please?” Lilly requested.

“One more,” Alexandria consented.

“You make a good mother, Lexie, I can’t wait for a new niece or nephew; to think I’ll have them close enough to see,” Anna’s smile was wistful; she had yet to meet Catherine’s two children.

“Right,” Alexandria busied herself with wiping crumbs from the table.

“What is it, Lexie?” Anna’s face immediate became drawn.

“I should check the bread,” Alexandria jumped up to open the oven and peer into its hot interior.

“Don’t try changing the subject on me, Lexie, what’s wrong?”

“What if I never have children?” Alexandria countered almost angrily.

“Is that what you’re worried about? You haven’t been married all that long, Alexandria,” Anna sank back in relief. Her gaze, however, stayed on Alexandria.

“You’re right of course,” Alexandria forced a smile.

“I don’t suppose I could get a tour of the house could I?” Anna’s expression was teasing.

“I’m sorry, Anna! I was so glad to see you that I didn’t think anything about it. Let me just ask Millie to keep an eye on the bread and I’ll give you the grand tour.”

“I was just returning,” Millie offered as she entered.

“Thanks, Millie. Well, Anna, we’ll start here on the first floor. You’ve seen the parlor of course and I’ve not changed anything in there and of course the old dining room is Millie’s quarters. I’ll give you a quick peek into Eli’s study and office and then show you the upstairs.” Alexandria stood and lifted Lilly to her hip.

A few steps brought them to the office door directly across from the kitchen and Alexandria opened the door almost cautiously. This was not territory she had spent much time in; none, truth be told.

“This is the office or study I guess both apply,” Alexandria indicated the interior with a sweep of her hand and then quickly pulled the door to and indicated the back stairway which stood nearly directly beside them.

“I can’t believe that in all the years we knew Elijah and Martha I have never been up here but I haven’t,” Anna mused aloud as they topped the stairs into a wide hallway the same dimensions as the one below. The upstairs, however, contained more rooms.

“That’s my room,” Lilly pointed to her own room.

“We’ll start there,” Alexandria gave her step-daughter an indulgent smile. Alexandria stepped into the room and let Anna look around at the pale yellow walls and floral curtains that had been lovingly decorated for the little girl that had now become Alexandria’s whole life. Alexandria couldn’t see this room without recalling Martha’s excitement while decorating for a then infant Lillian.

“It’s a beautiful room,” Anna acknowledged.

“It is. I still remember Martha showing it to me once when I came to call with Mama; I think you were at school that day.”

“Rub it in that you’re older,” Anna crinkled her nose at her sister.

“In a few years you’ll be rubbing in that you’re younger,” Alexandria predicted with a smile. They continued down the hall to the middle room which was set up a guest room as Lillian was the only child. The front room was the same.

“Here’s my favorite,” Alexandria crossed the hall and opened the bathroom. A pull chain toilet dominated the back wall with a sink to the right and the tub to the left. Her childhood home had an indoor toilet but not an in room tub.

“It’s big! Ooohh, look at the tub and a sink!” Anna walked into the room and looked around in awe.

“Isn’t it great? I love to soak in this tub,” Alexandria admitted. “Elijah added this after Martha got sick.”

“Wow! You think I can convince Daddy to add one?” Anna’s eyes were sparkling with merriment.

“Good luck,” Alexandria smiled in return. They exited the bath and Alexandria showed Anna the sewing room which was smaller due to the bathroom enlargement taking from its square footage. A small bed and chest did occupy the corner in case it was needed for guests but the room was predominately used for sewing projects including several dresses Alexandria was currently working on for Lilly.

“Where’s your room?” Anna queried as they exited the sewing room.

“Right here beside the bath,” Alexandria led her into the room overlooking the back yard and porch. The room was done in a rose patterned paper and was dominated by a large four poster bed, flanked by windows. A chifferobe sat opposite the bed and the wall the door occupied contained a chest of drawers and a long full length mirror. The wall opposite the door held the fireplace flanked by two arm chairs and two more windows. In the corner was a dressing table and stool.

“It’s very lovely,” Anna commented as she walked around the room and trailed her fingers over the furniture.

“It is,” Alexandria acknowledged. Her home wasn’t as large and grand as some in their community but was relatively well appointed.

“What a large wardrobe,” Anna pulled the doors open to admire the interior. Her face crumpled and her lips came between her teeth as she closed the doors and turned to her sister.

“I think I hear a buggy coming; it’s probably Daddy,” Alexandria quickly announced before her sister could ask questions. Alexandria led the way and hurried for the main staircase as fast as her feet would carry her.

“I haven’t seen this room,” Anna protested as she deviated from her sister’s trail and into the last remaining room. She stopped short just inside the door and then turned to frown at her sister who now stood behind her. That Elijah occupied the room was obvious. His brush and hair tonic sat on the dresser as well as a photo of Martha; a pair of his trousers lay across a chair. Anna turned and marched to the wardrobe and opened it to find it filled with Elijah’s clothes.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Alexandria said before her sister could even speak.

“You aren’t sharing a room?” Anna stared at her sister in horror. “Do mom and dad know?”

“No, and you aren’t going to tell them either. There is nothing they can do to fix this, Anna. This is between me and my husband and I don’t want to talk about it.” Alexandria left her sister standing in the room and hurried down the stairs. Her father was just being admitted by Millie.

“Hi, Daddy, how was town,” Alexandria greeted him with a kiss on his cheek. She set Lilly on her feet and let her trail Millie back into the kitchen.

“Busy. I hope that you and Elijah don’t mind but I picked up your mail while I was there.”

“Thanks, Daddy, I appreciate that and I’m sure Elijah will as well.”

“Hi, Daddy,” Anna reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you alright, sweetheart?” Clay asked of his youngest.

“Just a little tired I think,” Anna forced a smile.

“Well, we’re headed home. I would stay for that promised coffee but it’s looking as though it may rain.”

“I understand, Daddy. I’m glad you came by and brought Anna. Tell Mom I love her.”

“I will,” her dad promised.

“Come see me again soon,” Alexandria hugged her sister.

“I will,” she answered.

“Please do,” Alexandria encouraged and followed them onto the porch; she waved as they climbed into the buggy and pulled away. Dreading the long afternoon ahead, she turned back to the house.

Chapter Four

“I have a beautiful wife,” Elijah commented as he and Jonathon worked in the barn together that afternoon.