A Headstrong Woman

chapter Twelve

Alexandria accepted Jonathon’s help climbing over the wagon wheel after their arrival in town. She had some supplies to buy and business to see to and Jonathon had supplies to pick up for the men. Her first stop was the dry goods store and then the bank. Alexandria had just entered the lobby of the bank when Mr. Moody approached.

“Mrs. Morris, how fortunate that you should stop by; might I speak with you a moment?” he inquired politely.

Alexandria grew nervous. She could think of no good reason he might have for wanting to speak with her.

“Certainly, Mr. Moody,” she agreed and followed him into the heavy, masculine room.

“I was so distressed to hear of your husband’s death, Mrs. Morris. I do hope that you are faring well?”

“Reasonably so,” she responded cautiously.

“I know this is highly improper and irregular, your still being in mourning, as you are, but I can’t imagine a woman as lovely as yourself remaining unmarried long, and was wondering if I might call on you.” Alexandria stared at Simon in disbelief. Had her banker really just asked to call on her? She chose her words carefully.

“Mr. Moody, I’m flattered, however, I am, as you pointed out, still in mourning and to be perfectly honest, it would be a waste of time on your part. I have no intention of ever marrying again.”

“Surely you don’t mean that, Mrs. Morris. You are a beautiful woman and I would imagine that there are a good many men biding their time to call on you. Surely you could see the benefit a match like ours would be. You’re beautiful and should be draped in the finest clothing and dripping with jewels, not exhausting yourself trying to see after a ranch,” Simon argued.

Alexandria’s look was one of consternation. “Mr. Moody, honestly I have no interest in jewels and expensive clothes and I did not find marriage to be a union I cared for. I’m very flattered by your interest but fear it is wasted.”

“Think of the social position and benefits,” Simon further argued. Alexandria bit back a sharp retort. Were they really having this conversation?

“Again, truly, I am flattered but care nothing of social position. If you’ll please excuse me, I have a lot to see to,” Alexandria stood.

“Of course, please forgive my insistence,” Simon, cool on the surface but seething underneath, apologized.

Alexandria left the bank in a rush after completing her transaction. Jonathon had been looking for her and immediately knew something was wrong.

“You okay?” he inquired.

“I’ll tell you about it on the way home, can we please finish our errands and get out of here?” she asked, her face drawn.

“Of course; I’ll help,” he offered and took her elbow to lead her down the boardwalk.

“Alexandria!” a voice called from behind them. Alexandria and Jonathon turned and Jonathon could feel the immediate stiffening of Alexandria’s frame beside him. One look at Lane’s face and Jonathon could see why.

“Hello, Lane,” Alexandria greeted cordially if not warmly.

“Is it true? Were you taken from your home in the middle of the night?” Lane, his face livid, demanded.

Apparently news traveled fast. “Yes.”

“Alexandria…you can’t stay there.”

“I’m not moving back in with my parents…”

“Marry me,” Lane blurted.

Alexandria, her eyes wide and incredulous, choked in surprise. Two proposals in one morning? “Lane…I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“Say yes.”

“No, Lane, I care for you but I don’t love you. I can’t marry you…”

“You could learn to,” he seemed almost desperate now.

“Lane…”

“I could provide well for you and Lilly and protect you. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything, about someone taking you from your home and being helpless.”

Had Lane known Alexandria better he might have realized he had said the wrong thing.

“I am not helpless and, in fact, have learned to use a gun,” she informed him.

“From whom?” he demanded.

“Jonathon taught me….”

“You taught her to use a gun?” Lane turned on Jonathon acknowledging him for the first time.

“Yes, I did.”

“A woman has no place using a gun!” Lane raised his voice.

Jonathon noted several questioning gazes and stepped closer to Lane.

“If you don’t lower your voice this argument is going to get a lot more serious, Alexandria doesn’t need you causing a scandal for her. As for a woman having no business with a gun, every woman has the right to defend herself. If you’ll excuse us, we have errands and we’re already running behind,” Jonathon announced evenly. “Good day, Mr. Wilson.” He grabbed Alexandria by the elbow and escorted her down the boardwalk.

Alexandria glanced back to find Lane watching them; rage was the only word for the expression on his face. Alexandria turned back to Jonathon.

“You just made him very angry,” Alexandria informed him without rebuke.

“He was beginning to make me angry. Who appointed him your guardian?”

“Oh, I see, are you afraid that he’ll take your job,” she teased. “I would think you would be looking for a way to get rid of a pain in the neck.”

“You’re a lot of things, Alexandria, but only occasionally a pain in the neck,” Jonathon’s smile was teasing.

“Thanks.”

“Glad to help,” Jonathon answered as they entered McAllister’s Livery.

“Wha’ can I do fer ya?” Mr. McAllister inquired.

Alexandria let Jonathon answer; her attention was on the activity in the corral just beyond a side door. A beautiful cinnamon colored mare pawed the air; the men beneath her were scrambling to stay out of the way of her hooves. One of the men yanked roughly on the mare’s reigns and Alexandria felt her blood heat.

“Mr. McAllister, your men need to learn that force is not the only way to handle a horse,” Alexandria said with heat.

“I assure ya, Ma’am, they tried everything else.”

“I doubt that,” Alexandria muttered as she headed for the door. Jonathon and McAllister followed her. Jonathon was watching her suspiciously. Before either man was certain of her intentions, Alexandria had let herself into the corral and was approaching the furious mare. “You, you there, stop yanking her around and she just might co-operate,” Alexandria called to the brawny man who held the mare’s reigns. The man glanced at her and grunted.

“Stay back lady, this one is no good…”

Alexandria was now beside the man. The horse, which had been pacing anxiously, stopped and watched Alexandria as she began talking in low soothing tones; she took the reins and stepped closer and closer.

Jonathon was halfway across the corral when she stroked the horse’s nose and started leading the mare toward Mr. McAllister.

“Mr. McAllister, your mare,” Alexandria handed him the reigns. McAllister’s eyes were huge. He obediently reached forward and took the mare’s reigns. The mare snorted and stepped sideways but made no further move to bolt. Alexandria turned and left the corral.

Jonathon appeared at her side, took her by the elbow, and propelled her down the boardwalk to the waiting wagon. He physically lifted her from the ground and set her on the high seat before climbing on beside her. It was several minutes later, well into the countryside before Jonathon’s heart had slowed enough for him to speak.

“Alexandria, that was a very foolish thing to do, that horse could have trampled you,” he finally managed much more calmly than he felt.

“I couldn’t let them continue to treat that mare that way!” Alexandria’s hands fisted with anger.

“I understand why you were upset, I don’t approve of how you handled it.”

“I appreciate your concern but I’m not a child.”

“I didn’t say you were, I’m merely suggesting that you acted rashly,” he countered.

“Jonathon, please don’t tell me how I should conduct my life; I’ve had enough of that today. Why is it everything always happens all at once with me?” Alexandria questioned as her shoulders slumped and her voice suddenly sounded tired.

Jonathon frowned and surveyed her closely. “What happened at the bank, Alexandria?”

“Mr. Moody all but proposed marriage.”

“What?” Jonathon’s head snapped around to stare at her with wide, unbelieving eyes.

“He did and when I told him that I had no intentions of remarrying, he argued with me telling me what benefits ‘a union like ours’ would bring. Then of course there was Lane…”

“Has Mr. Moody ever expressed interest in you before?”

“No.”

“Not that you aren’t a beautiful woman, Alexandria, but I believe his sudden interest in you may have less to do with being enamored with you and more to do with the ranch,” Jonathon informed her.

“That would be my first assumption.”

“Lane, now he’s smitten with you.”

“He’s the only one and for that I’m thankful.”

“Well there is Tristan,” Jonathon pointed out.

“He is not smitten with me, he just wants to possess me,” she shook her head.

Jonathon’s gaze again swung around to her in surprise, “You’re a very wise woman to recognize that, Alexandria.”

“Not really, I’m just not a kid with starry eyed day dreams of love anymore. I could choose to believe that he felt something he doesn’t but I’ve been hurt once and I don’t care to repeat…” Alexandria’s cheeks heated as she realized what she had been saying.

“Alexandria, don’t judge marriage by your experience with Elijah,” Jonathon said gently.

“What do you know about it, Jonathon?” she diverted her face so her tears wouldn’t show.

“Actually, Elijah talked to me about it quite a lot,” he answered honestly.

“He talked to you about us?” her horror stricken face now turned on him; tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Jonathon pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the house and Alexandria jumped up. Jonathon reached out to stop her before she could climb down unaided. She waited until he had come around for her. Rather than assisting her, he grabbed her by the waist, swung her to the ground and held her there.

“Are you mad at me?” he demanded.

Alexandria fixed her gaze on the buttons of his shirt.

“I’m mad, I just don’t know who I’m mad at,” she admitted.

Jonathon took her chin, and forced her to look up at him. “Are you mad at me?” he insisted.

Alexandria met his gaze and considered it before answering. “No.”

“Good,” Jonathon released her.

Alexandria, her packages forgotten, turned and quickly entered the house.

“Are you okay?” Anna asked as she took in Alexandria’s tear-streaked face.

“No…Mr. Moody proposed, or all but, Lane did propose, then those men at the corral and the poor horse they were abusing. Jonathon got mad at me for stepping in and then I find out Elijah apparently aired our marriage problems…I need a few minutes, if you’ll excuse me,” Alexandria hurried from the room when Jonathon entered.

Jonathon frowned after her. “If she says she’s not mad at me, why is she avoiding me?” Jonathon asked Anna.

Anna shrugged. “I couldn’t make any sense out of what she was saying. What happened in town?” Anna asked him.



Alexandria rushed into her room, shut the door behind her, and lay across her bed. She herself had confided in Jonathon, why did it bother her that Elijah had as well? After a moment’s consideration she knew the answer. Her pride was wounded. To have Elijah going around admitting to others that he hadn’t loved her smarted, made her feel even more naïve and stupid. How many people had he spoken with? Alexandria replayed her conversation with Jonathon in her mind. The memory of his hand on her chin and his intense gaze meeting hers sent a small shiver down her spine. She didn’t like that feeling, didn’t like it all, she wanted to run from it.

No longer wanting to be alone with her thoughts, Alexandria jumped up and dressed in her work clothes. She went to the barn to help Jonathon.

“Want some help?” she offered.

Jonathon looked up to find no trace of the vulnerable young woman he had escorted home from town. In her place was a cool confident ranch owner whose thoughts and feelings were carefully guarded.

“Sure,” he smiled.
***

His thoughts seething, Simon Moody sat staring at the closed door. Alexandria Morris had just refused a perfectly good offer from him. Had turned down wealth and position, had turned down him. Simon shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t used to being told no. Most people usually bent to his will whether from respect or fear he cared not which. Fear was a powerful tool, he knew. Simon smiled. There was more than one way to get what he wanted. It was time to have Dalton and the men he had recruited to redouble their efforts and time for a new one from him. It would take him a while to sort through all the details but it was already taking shape. An ultimatum was what she needed. How best to accomplish that? He gathered the papers that lay on his desk and started scanning them; a smile spread over his face as he did. His plan just might work and he would get Alexandria right where he wanted her.

***

Alexandria sat bolt upright as thunder shook the walls and rattled the windows. She hated storms had since she had been a mere child. Alexandria flung the covers aside, pulled on her dressing gown, and moved onto the porch to watch the skies until the worst had blown over. It was late by the time she crawled back into bed and she knew the next day would be a long one. Had Alexandria been honest with herself, she knew she wouldn’t have slept that night anyway.

“You look exhausted,” Jonathon commented when she joined him the next morning.

“Thanks,” she tried for sarcasm but yawned instead.

“Did the storm keep you up?” he asked as they rode toward the range. Alexandria nodded and Jonathon fell quiet.

They arrived to find the men cleaning up storm debris and joined them. Rusty informed them that in addition to the storm damage, more cattle were missing. They sent two men to search the property in hopes that the storm had merely scattered them.

They were working near the stream when the men returned to inform them that the cattle were not on the property and that they had found a hole in the fence. Alexandria accepted the news stoically, too stoically in Jonathon’s opinion.

When they reached the usually shallow, peaceful stream it was bubbling and swirling angrily past them, its whitecaps were littered with twigs and leaves. A piercing bawl cut through the air and Alexandria and Jonathon rode the stream’s bank to find the source of the cry. A few feet up stream, a calf had waded into the current and was now crying out; its head was the only thing visible. Alexandria frowned. As swift as the current was it should be moving down stream but the calf remained where it was. Jonathon lassoed the calf and started tugging; it didn’t budge. Alexandria pulled her lasso and started helping to no avail.

“Why isn’t it moving?” Alexandria demanded of Jonathon.

“I don’t know,” he admitted as he dismounted and moved closer to the stream. They could see no visible reason for the calf to be stuck, whatever the problem; it was obviously below the water. It had started raining again and Alexandria began shivering, she had forgotten her coat. Alexandria watched in horror as a large limb and a sudden gush of water tumbled past them; the calf’s nose was now barely above the water.

“We have to do something!” Alexandria yelled as she started to scramble down the bank.

Two strong arms yanked her back.

“Are you crazy?” Jonathon demanded as he turned her to face him. “Do you want to leave that little girl at the house without a mother too? If there were anything I could do, I would, Alexandria,” Jonathon yelled over the rumble of the storm; he had her shoulders firmly grasped.

Alexandria’s hat tumbled from her head as she stared at Jonathon in misery. “It’s going to die!”

“I’m sorry, Alexandria,” Jonathon apologized and watched tears well into her eyes and spill down her cheeks. “You’re freezing, where’s your coat?” he asked as he pulled her to him and wrapped the edges of his coat around her to try protecting her from the storm.

“It’s going to die,” her voice was resigned.

“I’m sorry, Alexandria,” Jonathon whispered in her ear. He let her cry.

Thunder shook the ground beneath them but Alexandria was barely aware of it or the storm that raged around them. A storm raged inside her. She was exhausted and tired of fighting to stay ahead. She could relate with the poor animal, she felt as if she were barely keeping her head above water. She loved the ranch, she would continue to fight for it and she knew it. As her tears subsided and she grew warm, she became aware of Jonathon’s heart beating in her ear. Alexandria allowed her arms to encircle her foreman’s strong torso and snuggled further into his arms and his warmth. She knew that this man was the only reason she was managing to hold things together. She would analyze that later, she decided as she felt the tension began to drain from her. She was so very, very tired.

“Alexandria, are you falling asleep?” Jonathon asked. His chuckle echoed in his chest under Alexandria’s ear. Alexandria leaned back and blinked at him. Jonathon smiled down at her. “Come on, let’s get you to the house, you need a meal and rest,” he grabbed her hat and then swung her into his arms. Alexandria didn’t protest; she wasn’t certain she could have put one foot in front of the other if she had tried.

Jonathon set her down, swung into Ravens’ saddle, and reached for Alexandria. She accepted his help up. She didn’t stop to question why she wasn’t riding her own horse. Jonathon situated her sideways, and covered her with the blanket from his roll to keep her mostly warm and dry.

“Hold on to me so you don’t fall,” Jonathon ordered. Alexandria obeyed and laid her head against his shoulder as they started for the house.

“You’ve got to slow down, Alexandria. You’re taking on too much,” Jonathon told her. Alexandria didn’t respond. Jonathon frowned as he sorted through numbers and dates in his head.

“Alexandria, when were you married?”

“A year ago today.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, Alexandria? You could have stayed home today instead of…”

“I didn’t want all day to think and brood on it. What’s done is done,” she said quietly.

As soon as they reached the house, Jonathon swung down from the saddle and reached for Alexandria and placed her on her feet. He led her into the house.

“What happened?” Anna asked as she came to the door of the kitchen and took in her sister’s pale face.

“We had a rough day,” Jonathon answered before turning to Alexandria. “Go change into some dry clothes,” Jonathon ordered.

With stiff, awkward steps she moved to obey. The steps seemed steeper than usual as she climbed to her room and opened the door. Inside, she stripped and stood shivering a moment before pulling on her underclothes and a light green flannel dress, with cream-colored flowers scattered across it. It was the warmest dress she owned and she refused to wear her mourning clothes this afternoon. She needed cheering and her widow’s weeds would be anything but cheerful.

She sat down at the dressing table and loosened her braid to brush through her thick, wet tresses. Her hair needed to dry. Alexandria reached for a green ribbon and tied her hair off her face and left it hanging down her back in loose curls. Alexandria studied her face. She looked young; she didn’t feel young. Wide, sad eyes stared back her; she wasn’t certain that she recognized the woman in the mirror. Alexandria shook herself and stood. There were people waiting on her.

She entered the kitchen for Jonathon to place her in a chair by the fire.

“I need to help with dinner,” she attempted to stand. Jonathon handed her a bowl, potatoes, and a knife. Alexandria stared at the items a moment before smiling.

“Thank you,” she started peeling.

“How are things going out on the range?” Anna asked her sister.

“More cattle are missing,” Alexandria answered “and…we watched a calf drown, it was stuck in the stream and the water was rising too rapidly.”

“That well then? Alexandria, I don’t want to make you mad, but are you sure you want to stay?”

“Yes,” Alexandria answered without looking up from her work. Jonathon surveyed her, sitting as she was; the fire cast a glow over her and showed off her beautiful high cheekbones, straight nose, and full lips. She put up a good front he mused, but he had seen behind her façade to the delicate person underneath.

Alexandria looked up from under thick lashes and frowned at Jonathon.

“Are you okay?” she asked him. Her eyes were a perfect contrast to her dark hair and pale skin. Some women were everyday beauties, like Anna. Alexandria was a rare beauty, unique, he acknowledged to himself.

“I’m fine,” he assured her and tore his gaze from hers to find Anna watching him curiously. Jonathon turned his attention to Lilly.

Anna wasn’t certain what had just happened, but she had the feeling that something had and it bothered her.

***

Alexandria gasped as lightening forked across the green sky. She was huddled in the corner; someone was coming up the stairs for her. In the distance the calf was bawling and her sister’s words from earlier in the evening rang in her ear: “You two sure are getting cozy these days, Lexie.” Alexandria sat upright in the bed and searched the room for the images and sounds that had been plaguing her. All was quiet, she had been dreaming. Alexandria pushed hair from her face with a shaking hand and threw aside her twisted covers. After the dreams she had been having, she had no desire to go back to sleep. She pulled on the dress she had been wearing before bed, slipped on her shoes and a sweater, and crept down the stairs and into the yard.

She stopped, inhaled deeply of the crisp morning air, and let it out in a slow ribbon that curled into the air and vanished. She loved this time of year when warm currents of air caressed the days making them pleasant and evening and morning belonged to the chilly grip of winter. Alexandria crossed the yard, let herself into the barn and carried a lantern to the hayloft where she knew she would find a new litter of kittens.

She gathered a soft, warm, furry body into her lap and started petting the kitten’s back. Its soft rhythmic purr filled the still morning air. Alexandria let her thoughts wander. What should she do about the missing cattle? What could she do? She had placed an ad in the paper for more help in hopes of tightening security but so far had not received a response. She couldn’t keep losing her herd a small handful at a time.

They had lost a total of seventy-five head of cattle. Not an overwhelming loss but still a disturbing one. She also realized that she had been depending on Jonathon too much. She needed to be more independent, more self-sufficient rather than turning to her foreman and friend. The truth was, she wasn’t certain how to do that, she needed his help and as hard as she tried being independent she couldn’t do it alone. But what if he decided to leave? He certainly had the right to. She would not only be in trouble with the ranch, she would miss him, she realized. Jonathon had become a good friend to her. If Jonathon decided to move on or marry, she had no choice but to wish him well and pray for his happiness; she could do no less for her friend.

She had no illusions, though; she knew if he moved on she would be lost on the ranch. She had the unsettling feeling that Jonathon stood between her and something more ominous than she had yet to experience.

Alexandria shivered and forced her thoughts elsewhere.

What would her family do for her birthday? She was still in mourning so any kind of formal gathering was out of the question. She knew she was to join them for a special meal and figured that would be all this year. Alexandria sighed; she was tired of pretending to mourn. She missed Elijah’s friendship but a friend was all she had lost.

Jonathon entered the barn and frowned. Why was there a lantern burning in the loft? No one had any reason to be up there this time of morning. He climbed the ladder and paused at the top to smile. Alexandria sat crossed legged in the hay, a kitten curled in her lap. Wisps of hair had escaped her braid and created a dark halo around her head. She looked for all the world like a little girl.

“What are you doing out here so early?” Jonathon asked.

Alexandria looked up at him and smiled. “Thinking. I had bad dreams and couldn’t sleep,” she answered as Jonathon sat down beside her.

“What about?”

“Different things. It’s been a while since I had some time to myself…”

“I can leave,” Jonathon was already starting to stand. Alexandria stopped him with her hand on his arm.

“Stay. My thoughts were getting me nowhere.”

“I love this time of year,” Jonathon commented as though just noticing that it was a beautiful morning. “Everything is slowly coming to life and mornings are crisp and new, kind of like early apples.”

Alexandria was smiling beside him. “You aren’t a poet are you, Jonathon?”

Jonathon laughed. “No, but I do enjoy poetry.”

“You like poetry?” her head tilted inquisitively.

“Very much. Longfellow is one of my favorites, but I think Shakespeare is definitely at the top.”

“Shakespeare?” Alexandria looked shocked.

“What?” Jonathon demanded.

Alexandria was still staring at him in amazement. “You know Shakespeare?”

“’To be or not to be, that is the question:

Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune…’ yes I know Shakespeare, now quit staring at me like that.”

“Hamlet,” Alexandria smiled. “’Fie, Fie! Unknit that threatening, unkind brow,

And dart not scornful glances from those eyes

To wound thy Lord, thy king, thy Governor.

It blots the beauty as frosts do bite the meads,”

“Taming of the Shrew,” Jonathon cut her off.

“You do know Shakespeare.”

“Why is that so shocking?” Jonathon asked her; she shrugged. “Do you like his sonnets or just his plays?”

“I like his sonnets, but I’m not as familiar with them,” Alexandria admitted.

“’Let me not into the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alterations finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O, no, it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be

Taken

Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle’s compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.’ That’s my favorite,” Jonathon told her.

“Emily must have loved your ability to quote Shakespeare,” Alexandria commented with a smile.

“Actually, no. She was a wonderful woman but didn’t care for Shakespeare at all.”

“Oh,” Alexandria said in surprise.

“I never held it against her,” Jonathon smiled.

“Well, I wouldn’t let the ladies at church know that you can quote Shakespeare,” she teased.

Jonathon groaned. The ladies had church had redoubled their efforts to get his attention. “Please don’t let it slip that I can. I am so tired of being pursued…”

“Jonathon, most men would love to be in your position.”

“I’m not most men.”

“You still miss Emily?”

“I do. Not like I used to, but, at the moment I’m not looking for romance,” he grabbed a kitten from the pile and started petting it.

“Why not?”

“Why not? Excuse me, you’re the one who says she’s never marrying again, what gives you the right to ask that?” his tone was teasing.

“Curiosity.”

“You know what they say about curiosity…”

“Come on, Jonathon, you could have your pick of any girl at church. What’s holding you back?” she cut him off.

Jonathon sighed. “What’s holding you back?”

“I’m still in mourning,” she shrugged.

“Outwardly.”

“You know why I don’t intend to marry again. Why would I want to repeat that?”

“Who says you would?”

“Are you going to answer my question?” Alexandria’s tone was terse.

“I’ve met all of the women at church, if one of them was going to catch my attention; don’t you think that would have happened by now?” Jonathon asked, and then continued “When I meet someone who catches my attention, I’ll consider it.”

“That’s fair enough,” Alexandria conceded.

“What about you, Alexandria? Are you going to carry around your bitterness forever?”

“I’m not bitter!” she snapped.

“Aren’t you?” he asked gently.

Alexandria sighed. “Maybe with a little more time I’ll change my mind. Right now I don’t feel like I’ll ever want to marry again.”

“I need to get busy feeding these animals,” he said as he stood.

“Want some help?” she offered as she started to stand. Jonathon offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet.

“Sure, that would be nice,” Jonathon agreed. “Why don’t you pitch down some hay?”

“Okay,” she agreed and grabbed the nearby pitchfork.

Jonathon started feeding the horses below. He had just finished and was going to check Alexandria’s progress when he made the mistake of stopping beneath the hayloft. A large pile of hay landed on his head.

“Hey!” Jonathon protested.

Alexandria leaned over the side of the hayloft. “That’s what it is,” she responded with a cheeky smile.

“There’s more than enough here, come on down,” he suggested. Alexandria hurried down the ladder and turned to Jonathon, who stood, a hand behind his back, smiling.

“What are you doing?” she took a step backward. She wasn’t fast enough. Jonathon grabbed her and shoved a hand full of hay down the back of her dress as she let out an enraged squeal.

“Now we’re even,” he smiled.

Alexandria’s eyes narrowed. She grabbed a hand full of hay and Jonathon started dodging her. They were soon in an all-out war. Several minutes later, Jonathon pinned both hands behind her back to call a truce.

“Truce?” he offered. “Please accept, because I really do have work to do,” Jonathon was laughing.

“Truce,” she agreed.

Jonathon released her hands and wondered if she was aware that more of her hair was now down than up. Alexandria’s eyes were shining and her cheeks flushed. She looked so very alive and untroubled that Jonathon wanted to pause time right there. Alexandria had been through too much already.

“Have you had breakfast?” Alexandria queried after she had finished attempting to pluck hay from her dress and hair.

“Not yet.”

“So join us,” she offered.

“I’ll do that but I need to see to a couple of things here first.”

“Just let yourself in,” she told him as she started from the barn. “Hey Sparky,” she greeted the young cowhand as he passed her. Alexandria let herself into the house and greeted her sister, daughter, and Lilly.

“What happened to you? You’re a mess,” Anna responded.

“Do I look that bad?” Alexandria laughed. She had forgotten how good it felt to let loose and just be silly.

“You do.”

“I got in a hay fight. I haven’t been in a hay fight since we were kids; I’m going to go change.”

“It’s nice to see her so happy,” Millie commented as she stirred a pot of oatmeal.

“Who was she in a hay fight with?” Anna was frowning.