A Headstrong Woman

chapter Eleven

Alexandria startled awake as a hand clamped over her mouth. Before she could react she had been hauled from her bed and her arms pinned against her captor.

“Listen here, I gotta gun it won’t hurt me none to use it; ya hearin me?” the man demanded in her ear; Alexandria nodded. “Good we’re gonna take us a little ride,” the man was forcing her down the stairs and Alexandria managed to struggle free long enough to scream before his hand was back over her mouth. The man was cursing in her ear as they made the yard and she found herself thrust into another set of arms. A handkerchief was shoved into her mouth and her hands tied behind her back; she was no match for the two men combined.

“What are ya doin?” the man who now held her demanded.

“Hand her up!” the man snapped from where he sat on his horse.

“We was just suppose to scare her,” the man argued.

“She is scared and she’ll be even more scared.”

Alexandria had no more than been yanked onto the saddle in front of the man than the horse shot forward. Alexandria was aware of the second man following them, though she could see nothing; not even her captor’s face. At moment, heavy clouds obscured the moon and the night was cast under a heavy pall.

She was sure she would slip from the saddle at any moment and she wasn’t certain that she would mind. She was afraid of what this man’s intent was. She heard shots being fired behind them and suspected that some of her men were in pursuit. She could only pray that none of them would be hurt. A cry rang out from just behind them before the other man’s horse, minus his rider, sped past.

Alexandria decided she had to take her chances; she couldn’t allow this man to escape with her. She stiffened her body and immediately felt herself slip and a moment later hit the ground with bone jarring force. She rolled several feet before coming to a stop. She struggled for her breath and her feet; she knew she needed to move in the opposite direction from her captor. Her tied hands and screaming body, however, prevented her from making it to her feet before her captor returned. She felt the cold barrel of a gun press against her neck as her men rode onto the scene. The moon pulled from behind the clouds to light the tableau.

Jonathon, Rusty, and Sparky, their posture tense, sat atop their mounts.

“Come any closer and I’ll shoot her,” the man ordered. He removed her gag. “Tell them to back off.”

“I’d rather you let him shoot me than leave here with me,” she told her men.

The man cursed and pressed the gun into her chin; she winced. “I’ll shoot her; I mean it!”

“You shoot her and I promise you you’ll be so riddled with bullet holes that your own mother won’t be able to identify your remains,” Jonathon threatened.

Alexandria swallowed; the cold barrel of the gun made it painful. Alexandria could hear her heart beating as life seemed to slow. Jonathon sat tensed, his eyes filled with rage as the muscles in his jaw worked. Beside him Rusty’s eyes scanned the area missing nothing and Sparky’s hands flexed as though on the edge of his self-control.

Alexandria heard a shot ring out moments before her captor’s body lurched and blood splattered her. The man, his face half gone, collapsed against her. Alexandria screamed as she scrambled and stumbled to get away. Jonathon was at her side in a moment and Rusty and Sparky maneuvered their horses to cover them. None of them had fired the shot and they weren’t taking any chances. Until they knew if the unseen gunman was friend or foe, they intended to keep themselves between him and their boss. Jonathon quickly freed her from her ropes and peered down into her face.

“Are you okay?” he demanded.

Alexandria blinked at him. She wanted to answer him but all she could see was the man’s face, or partial lack thereof in her own; she shuddered. Jonathon wiped her face with his handkerchief before remounting and pulling her up in front of him to sit sideways. Her gown made anything else unseemly.

“Here,” he took off his coat and wrapped it around her. Alexandria sank against him, her arms and legs feeling like over cooked noodles.

Jonathon pulled his gun as he watched a man approach.

“Everybody okay?” Tristan called.

“I think so,” Rusty answered as he holstered his gun. “That was a good shot.”

“It was the only one that didn’t put Alexandria at risk as well, how is she?” he glanced to where she sat huddled against her foreman; she was shaking uncontrollably.

“I think she’s in shock but she’ll be okay,” Jonathon predicted.

“My men should be coming to the aide of your men; it was one of my men who saw them taking your cattle and came to inform me. When I heard a gunshot from this direction I decided to investigate. Why don’t you bring her to my place and we’ll get her warmed up,” Tristan suggested.

“She’d rather go home, I’m sure, but thanks for the offer,” Jonathon responded. “And thanks for the help.”

“Sure, any time,” Tristan nodded, though he looked slightly irritated. Jonathon turned his horse back toward the ranch and urged Raven to a fast trot. As they passed back onto Alexandria’s land, Chris and Ben rode up and surveyed their boss.

“Is she okay; what happened?” Chris demanded.

“She was yanked from her bed and taken on a wild ride,” Jonathon responded.

“Is she hurt?”

“She’s in shock. She took a hard fall but as far as I know she isn’t seriously hurt,” Jonathon reassured them. Rusty and Sparky rode up and joined the group.

“What’s going on out there?” Jonathon nodded in the direction of gunfire.

“We caught some men rustling cattle and went in pursuit; then Tristan’s men joined us and one of them suggested that we check on our boss and we rode this way. I think his men are still in pursuit and a couple of ours. We did manage to reclaim a few head of cattle,” Ben answered.

“Tristan sure turned out to be a much needed ally tonight,” Sparky mused.

“He did, maybe I misjudged him, but I know that Elijah didn’t fully trust him.”

“That’s because he was interested Alexandria as well I would guess,” Sparky suggested.

“Tristan’s alright I suppose but when he pursues Alexandria, and he will; I wouldn’t let him anywhere near her,” Rusty cautioned as he urged his horse forward. “Let’s get this place settled back down so Jonathon can see Alex home,” Rusty suggested.

The men rode off with Rusty and Jonathon considered the man’s words. He had a feeling they had been meant for him. What he wanted to know was what he was supposed to do if Tristan did start coming around? He was in over his head he realized. He looked down at Alexandria and for the first time she met his gaze.

“You okay?” he queried. She shuddered but nodded. “Let’s get you home,” he urged Raven forward.

Alexandria could feel her heart gradually slowing and her breathing leveling off. Never had she experienced anything like this night. Her strength seemed spent, gone; nothing left but numbness of thought and body. Beneath her ear Jonathon’s heart beat steadily and evenly giving some semblance of order to her world. His strong muscles contrasted with her momentarily useless ones and Alexandria allowed herself a few moments of weakness as they made their way home.

They arrived at the house and were greeted by Anna and Millie as they rushed onto the porch. Jonathon swung from his saddle and reached up for Alexandria to carry her into the house. Anna cried out when she saw the blood on her sister.

“She’s okay; it’s not her blood,” Jonathon quickly assured her.

“What happened?” Anna demanded. Jonathon quickly briefed her. Millie prepared a bath and once the water was ready, Anna led her sister upstairs.

Jonathon turned to go but stopped when he spotted Lilly huddled halfway up the lower portion of the back stairs; she had tears streaming down her small face.

“Hey sweetheart, are you okay?” he asked as he reached for her. She readily allowed him to take her.

“Is Mama hurt?” she asked.

“Your mommy had a scare but she’s okay. Have you ever been scared but then found that you were okay?” he asked her.

She nodded, but her eyes remained wide. “Aunt Anna was crying too.”

“She was scared for your mommy but she’s okay, everyone was scared but we’re all okay,” he reassured her. Lilly buried her face in his neck and clung to him for dear life.

“Can you show me which room is yours?” he requested. Lilly nodded and pointed up the stairs. Jonathon smiled as he climbed the stairs and Lilly showed him to her room.

Jonathon claimed the rocking chair that was pulled near the fireplace and softly sang her one his favorite lullabies from his own child hood. He watched as Lilly’s eyes grew heavy and felt his heart constrict. He wanted children of his own, wanted them badly and that meant letting go of Emily. For the first time since her death that seemed possible. Jonathon laid his head back and struggled for a moment with his own fears before determining to move on. He wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting there, Lilly asleep in his arms, or when he had started crying but was startled to find he was when the door to Lilly’s room opened.

“Jonathon?” Alexandria, wrapped in her warmest dressing gown, entered the room; her hair was freshly washed and braided.

“I found Lilly huddled on the back stairway,” he related.

“Anna thought she was still in bed but I had to check on her,” Alexandria explained as she entered the room. “Are you alright?” she asked and Jonathon realized she had seen his tears. He nodded. “Was…was the baby you lost with Emily the first to be still born?” Alexandria asked gently.

“Sarah, we had agreed to name her Sarah if it was a girl,” Jonathon related. “No, we buried two others, the other pregnancies ended before there was anything to show for them.”

“I’m sorry, Jonathon,” Alexandria offered softly.

“I’ll be alright,” he assured her. “Would you turn her covers back?” he stood with Lilly.

Alexandria moved to do as he asked and stepped aside as Jonathon laid Lilly in her bed. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

“I enjoyed it. Good night, Alexandria,” he said as they faced each other in the dim light of the fireplace.

“Thanks, for everything.”

Alexandria hesitated for a moment; she was reluctant to part company.

“Would you care for some coffee after I’m finished here? I don’t know about you but I could use some.”

Jonathon nodded and moved to leave; he glanced back as Alexandria leaned over to kiss Lilly. The picture lingered in his head as he started down the stairs. Now wasn’t the time to consider his decision to move on or how much he had enjoyed Alexandria clinging to him, and there likely never would be a good time to consider it, theirs was a working relationship and that was how it needed to stay. Millie, her eyes still wide, stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

“It’s under control now, Millie,” Jonathon reassured her.

“Did he hurt her?”

“No, just scared her. Would you mind fixing some coffee? I think we could all use a cup.”

“I’ll get right on it,” Millie was relieved to be needed.

“I’ll help,” Anna offered and followed Millie; a small flicker of some undefined emotion played across her face before she schooled her features.

“Lexie, you have to move home,” Anna said as soon as Alexandria entered the room. Alexandria claimed the cup of coffee Millie handed her and sat down beside Jonathon.

“I’m not going anywhere. You’re welcome to, but I won’t be run off my own land,” Alexandria’s voice was hard as steel.

“That man would have hurt you, Alexandria!” Anna yelled at her sister.

“So I’m supposed to go running with my tail tucked? NO! This is my home!” Alexandria yelled back.

“Your sister has a point, Alexandria. He would have done Lord only knows what,” Jonathon informed her grimly before continuing. “But you’re right too. This is your home.”

“What do you suggest?” Alexandria’s eyes pleaded for a solution. Jonathon looked down into her up turned face before glancing to the window. He didn’t know how any woman could be so strong and vulnerable at the same time.

***

“What are we doing?” Alexandria asked as Jonathon handed her Elijah’s gun. The sheriff had just finished his investigation and left.

“I’m going to teach you to defend yourself,” Jonathon informed her. Alexandria glanced at the gun that lay heavily in her hand before looking back to Jonathon and nodding.

“I like that idea,” she smiled.

“Me too, especially since trouble seems to follow you.”

“Thanks,” she said; Jonathon smiled.

He had set up several cans along a back rail of the corral adjacent to the barn and made a barrel into a table for the needed supplies.

“First of all, Alexandria, you need to get a firm grip on the gun. It won’t bite you,” Jonathon told her as he placed her hands on the gun. “Now,” he leaned down beside her, “you see the site on the end? Line that up with your target. Do you see how the can is directly at the end?” he asked. She smelled of lilacs.

“Yes,” she swallowed hard. She wasn’t used to being this close to a man, or at least not in the absence of a crisis she amended.

“Hold that and shoot,” he instructed and stepped away from her. Alexandria fired and sent a can flying from the fence.

“Good,” Jonathon smiled. “Try it again.” He watched as she carefully aimed and sent another can flying from the fence.

His brow rose, “Is there anything you can’t do?”

Alexandria looked over at him and smiled. “Hmm,” she pretended to consider it “I’ll let you know; I’m certain there is.”

“You’re very confident,” he told her.

“If you’re trying to start an argument it won’t work. I’m getting too old for it,” she bit back a smile. She fired again and again hit her target. She was determined not to let last night spook her; she was going to go on with her life and not let them best her. Arguing playfully with Jonathon gave the day some semblance of normalcy.

“You are?” Jonathon was amused. “How old are you, Alexandria?” “Old enough,” she quipped before firing.

“How old?”

“Old enough to be out of school and married.” Alexandria was smiling as she aimed her gun and fired again.

“Thirty?” Jonathon knew she wasn’t older than he was.

“No!”

“So how much of an age gap was there between you and Elijah?”

“More than ten,” she admitted.

“More than ten?” Jonathon gawked at her. By his estimate that put her at around twenty-three or twenty four, best he could tell anyway. “I thought that you were older than that,” he admitted.

“Nope, nineteen next month,” she said nonchalantly.

Jonathon stared at her in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

Alexandria turned and frowned at him. “What do you mean am I serious? Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’re only eighteen?” his voice was still disbelieving.

“Let me see, nineteen…yep eighteen comes before nineteen,” she nodded.

Jonathon shook his head. Most women twice her age would not have held up half as well as she had under similar circumstances. He hadn’t realized she was so young. “You’re absolutely amazing,” he blurted what he was thinking.

“What?” Alexandria frowned at him; her cheeks were stained pink.

“Your comportment of yourself, the way you’ve handled the ranch…it does explain a few things though,” Jonathon muttered as he continued to stare at her as though she were a mystery. “What are your parents thinking letting you take this on by yourself?”

“I’m not a kid, Jonathon,” she shrugged; she was both flattered by his words and uncomfortable with them at the same time.

“What if someone hurts you…?”

“I’m a widow, Jonathon, not a school girl,” she reminded him before turning back to the cans on the fence post. “Quit staring at me like that,” she said before firing her last shot.

“Why?”

“It bothers me,” she informed him and walked over to the fence, climbed it, and claimed the cans she had shot. Five of the eleven cans had been knocked from the fence. She had fired six shots. Jonathon took each can from her and looked them over, she had done more than graze them; she had put holes through them. He looked at her in amazement.

“You’re good.”

“You taught me,” she shrugged.

“Alexandria, I put the gun in your hand and showed you how to point it.”

“There’s more to learning?” she asked with a frown.

Jonathon shook his head and set the cans back on the fence. “For you there isn’t.”

“What about the shotgun? Should I try it?” she asked him and they walked back to the barrel they were using as a table.

“You can, but I must warn you, it kicks, so brace yourself.”

“I will,” she said confidently. She lifted the gun to her shoulder, fired, and went sprawling into Jonathon who stood directly behind her. She could hear him chuckling.

“I told you to brace yourself,” his voice in her ear caused a funny sensation to run down her spine and she shuddered. “Try again,” he said after he had set her back on her feet. He kept his hands at her waist to steady her as she tried again. She stayed on her feet and came close to hitting her target. The next time she tried, she did hit her target. She gratefully put some space between herself and her foreman and laid the shotgun aside before rotating her shoulder.

“I’m glad to know how to use that thing, but I prefer the small one,” she said as she grabbed it and began practicing.

“She’s not bad,” Sparky said to Jonathon who was now leaning against the other side of the corral they were working in.

“She’s not,” Jonathon acknowledged.

“Spirit is used to guns isn’t he?” Alexandria joined them.

“That depends on why you’re asking,” Jonathon replied.

“I want to try it while riding,” she told him.

“Promise me you won’t hurt yourself or any other living creature?” he peered at her doubtfully.

“Are you saying I can’t do it?” her chin came up.

“I would never tell you that you can’t do something,” he was smiling now.

“Why’s that?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

“Because you would think you had to prove me wrong.”

“Probably,” Alexandria acknowledged with a smile.

“Okay, let’s go saddle Spirit,” Jonathon agreed.

Anna watched from the porch as Jonathon taught her sister to use a gun. She had resented watching Jonathon comfort her sister that morning but couldn’t bring herself to be angry at Alexandria. Anna had to admit that she would have been equally shaken by the event and likely would have clung to her rescuer too. What was harder to ignore was the way that Jonathon leaned in close to her sister, the smiles they kept exchanging and certainly the way her sister landed right in his arms causing him to chuckle. Or the way he helped her regain her footing, his hands on her waist and then keeping them there! Anna felt like screaming. She had been trying for weeks to get his attention, a real smile, or a compliment: anything besides his polite words that might give her hope that she stood a chance. Instead he was busy catching her sister!

She watched her sister resume practicing with the handgun as Jonathon talked with Rusty. A few moments later when they entered the barn, she started to go back into the house but decided against it. Upon leaving the barn, Jonathon spotted her and joined her.

“Hello, Ms. Cannon, how are you today?” he inquired.

“Fine and you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Mr. Stewart, we have known each other some time now and see each other quite often, would I offend you if I asked that we use our given names?” she asked him; she hoped that she wasn’t being too forward.

Jonathon looked hesitant and then smiled. “I suppose that we could.”

“Thank you. I feel so stuffy calling you Mr. Stewart all the time while Alexandria calls you Jonathon.”

“Sure. Nice day isn’t it?”

“It is. Has she taken to it?” Anna asked, although she could see that Alexandria had. Alexandria was now wheeling the horse around as she prepared to take another shot.

“She has, but that doesn’t surprise me, your sister is one of those people who will always do those things they set out to do. She’s a very strong person.”

“She is, at least she wants you to think so. She doesn’t always show it when she’s been hurt or isn’t holding up well beneath the surface,” Anna told him.

Jonathon nodded. “I’ve noticed that.”

“What else have you notice about my sister, Jonathon?” she asked rather pointedly.

Jonathon looked both surprised and unsettled. “Are you asking if I’m interested in your sister?” he watched her color.

“Are you?”

“I admire Alexandria a great deal. She is a good friend, however, losing my wife was one of the hardest things I ever had to deal with and I’m not in a hurry to move on just yet,” he answered her honestly.

Anna felt hope surge through her. She was sixteen, or almost seventeen. She could wait a while; would wait a while.

“Does Lexie know this?” she asked.

“Yes, but that aside I can promise you that your sister doesn’t see me as a potential suitor, Anna. In fact, she has quite a chip on her shoulder where men are concerned as you yourself more or less pointed out. ‘God help the man who tries’ I believe you said.”

Anna could feel color spreading up her neck and cheeks; she hadn’t meant to be so obvious.

“She’s not bad,” Tristan caught them off guard.

Jonathon glanced up to where Tristan sat atop his horse and wondered where the man had come from.

“She’s a natural shot actually,” Jonathon shared. Alexandria had spotted their guest and joined them. She lightly secured her mount to the rail.

“I wanted to check on you,” Tristan informed her. “I’m sure last night must have been pretty traumatic.”

“I’m fine; thanks for your help.”

“I’m glad I could help. Alexandria, it’s dangerous for a woman to be alone, especially an attractive woman. I’m glad to see you learning to protect yourself but if you need me please call on me. I’m sure this is a great group of cowboys but you need more protection than they can offer,” he voiced his concern.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Alexandria’s smile was strained. “Thanks again for the help.”

A heavy silence followed her comment before Tristan shifted uncomfortably and spoke.

“I can see you’re busy, but please, Alexandria, be careful.”

“I will be,” she promised.

Tristan bid them all good day before Alexandria returned to practice her shooting from a standing position; she left the horse at the rail.

“He makes me nervous,” Anna admitted.

“I’m not sure what to make of him,” Jonathon admitted.

“He’s interested in Alexandria,” Anna shared. “He has been since she was fifteen but didn’t get his nerve up to call on her and approach Daddy until just before Elijah came into the picture.” Their conversation trailed off as Alexandria approached again and she looked between them suspiciously.

“Why do I get the feeling that you two were talking about me?” Alexandria asked as she grabbed Elijah’s gun belt and put it around her waist.

“What you want a gun belt now?” Jonathon asked in amusement and pointedly ignored her question. Alexandria smiled as she attempted to put it on. A moment later Jonathon stepped in to help her alter it so it would fit her.

Anna felt jealousy burn in her stomach as Jonathon reached both arms around her sister; their faces were mere inches from one another. She felt relief when Jonathon stepped back and surveyed her sister.

“So what do you think?” Alexandria asked after the gun belt was in place and her gun holstered. Jonathon looked her over and chuckled before yanking her hat until it tilted over her eyes.

“You look like a kid plying dress up,” he teased.

Alexandria made a face before moving away to practice her draw. She dropped the gun the first two tries before improving.

Jonathon shook his head in amused amazement and propped himself against the post to watch. Anna admired him and wished she were the one he was watching with avid appreciation.