A Headstrong Woman

chapter Fifteen

Alexandria wished her in laws well and hurried to find a seat on the train. Jonathon had been late arriving after difficulty getting the cattle to the station. Rusty had volunteered to sit in the back car and to check on the cattle at each stop. Lilly clamored into one of the seats and sprawled across it, effectively claiming the entire seat for herself.

“Care if I join you?” Jonathon joked from the aisle.

Alexandria smiled and scooted over. “You look tired. What time did you leave this morning?” she asked.

“About four, that’s not why I’m so tired, though. I spent most the night worried that I would wake up to Desiree in my bed,” he announced darkly.

“What?” Alexandria’s eyes widened.

“She came into my room last night. I told her to get lost. I can’t believe any woman…” Jonathon was shaking his head.

“Why didn’t you say something to Janice or Nathaniel?” Alexandria demanded.

“I didn’t know how to approach it and I didn’t want to cause trouble.”

“You didn’t; she did. Why don’t you try to rest? You’re safe with me.”

“You sure?” A smile pulled at his lips.

Alexandria rolled her eyes and smiled, “Sorry to burst your bubble, but you’re completely safe with me.”

Jonathon wasn’t sure he was, though he couldn’t tell her that. “Good, I think I will try to rest a little.” Jonathon leaned against the corner of their booth and stretched his long legs out into the cramped space.

Alexandria eyed his legs and shook her head. He was definitely long limbed. She turned her attention to entertaining Lilly until the toddler fell asleep. Alexandria was enjoying watching the passing scenery when the train ground to a halt and almost dumped Lilly into the floor.

Jonathon sat up and frowned. “Stay here,” Jonathon ordered before rising and moving down the aisle. Alexandria was growing anxious by the time he returned; his face was grim.

“Give me your black scarf and the gun,” Jonathon instructed. Alexandria frowned, handed him the scarf and bent over to remove the gun from where it was tucked into her boot. It was small but at close range deadly. Jonathon had tied her scarf around his arm to look like a mourning band and hid the gun close at hand in the seat cushion.

“Alexandria, there isn’t time to explain, but I’m asking you to please trust me and back me up, your safety depends on it,” he all but whispered in her ear.

Alexandria was about to ask what was going on when a man, the lower portion of his face covered, stepped into the opening of their compartment.

“I want all your jewelry and money,” the man demanded.

“We’re in mourning and aren’t wearing any jewelry,” Jonathon responded. The man moved on.

Alexandria shuddered and moved closer to Jonathon. Lilly climbed into his lap and the three sat quietly listening to the man repeat his demand up and down the car.

Alexandria was relieved, at moment that she wasn’t allowed to wear any jewelry. She supposed that she should feel guilty that she had already dispensed with her wedding ring but was unable to feel any real remorse about it. It was only as she glanced at her own bare finger that she thought of Jonathon. She glanced at his bare hand; when had he stopped wearing his wedding ring? Her sister’s words about the two of them traveling together unescorted suddenly came to mind and she found her cheeks staining scarlet. Somehow she had convinced herself that two widowed individuals traveling together wasn’t all that improper but it suddenly occurred to her that they were, in fact, a man and woman traveling alone together. What must people think?

“Good Lord, Alexandria,” she chastised herself, “There are more important issues at hand; like the train being robbed!” Alexandria shook her head to clear it and wished that someone would let them know what was going on. They sat for minute after anxious minute waiting for something to happen. Finally, the train jerked into motion and moved slowly down the track. Alexandria hoped that it meant the thieves were gone. An armed man moved down their car and Alexandria felt her heart sink. The man spotted Alexandria and sat in Lilly’s vacated seat so he could stare at Alexandria.

“Yer pretty; this your man?” he asked her.

Alexandria swallowed hard.

“My wife and I are traveling to my mother’s funeral, please sir…”

“I’m talking to the lady!” the man snapped.

Alexandria swallowed her distaste for lying and proceeded to lie, “My husband and I just want to make it to the funeral,” she meekly played the role of the submissive wife.

“This your girl?”

“Yes.”

“She don’t look like either of you,” the man said shrewdly.

“She gets her coloring from her grandmother,” Alexandria explained. It wasn’t a lie. She had Martha’s coloring and Martha had looked like her mother.

“Whas’ your name darlin’?”

“Camille,” she gave her middle name.

“This your daddy, little un’?” he asked Lilly. Lilly looked up at Jonathon thoughtfully; then nodded. Alexandria felt her heart stop; then resume beating at twice the normal rate. This could get sticky later but worked in their favor for now.

The train continued to move slowly only picking up speed when they passed through towns where they were to have stopped. The robber continued to leer at Alexandria until the train again ground to a stop and he moved down the aisle. A woman screamed from somewhere down the car and Alexandria tensed. Jonathon put an arm around her and his jaw tightened. Alexandria had no doubt that had Jonathon not felt responsible for her and Lilly, he would have gotten involved in whatever was going on down the car.

“No…please?” a hysterical feminine voice pleaded. Jonathon’s hand tightened on her shoulder. The train again began moving at barely more than a crawl. Another gunman moved down the car and his gaze swept over them. His gaze settled on Alexandria before he moved on. She knew that Jonathon was sitting between her and danger.

The train continued moving slowly; then speeding through stops before coming to a stop for the next several hours until darkness fell. Alexandria was relieved when one of the Pullman Porters moved down the aisle and assured them that the men were finally gone. The man had a large gash over his right eye.

“I’ll be right back,” Jonathon told her before he released her, and moved down the aisle. He returned moments later; his face was angry.

“What’s wrong?” Alexandria asked.

“They got off a few at a time, stole everyone’s money and took three women who were traveling unescorted,” he shared with her. Alexandria blanched in the dim glow of the hastily lit lights overhead. Jonathon pulled her close as she started crying.

“It’s okay,” he told her softly.

At the Cold Springs depot they were questioned before disembarking from the train. Alexandria was thankful to find her parents and sister among those waiting on the platform. Apparently word had traveled down the track that something was wrong.

“How did you all fare?” Rusty asked as he joined them.

“We’re fine; you?” Jonathon responded.

“Fine.”

“What happened?” Shirley demanded.

Alexandria gratefully took the offered cup of coffee and started relating all that had happened on the train ride home. She accepted a refill from a lady circling through the growing crowd and felt herself begin to calm. Alexandria quickly drained her cup; then asked for another.

“You’ll never sleep tonight,” Jonathon commented from beside her.

“I don’t think I would have anyway,” she admitted.

By the time they started for the ranch, the nearness of her family had restored her calm and the three cups of coffee had kicked in.

“How was your trip otherwise?” her mother asked. Alexandria filled her in on the how the Morrises were doing and touched on a few details of their trip.

“How much trouble did she get into, Jonathon?” Clay asked.

“Not too much,” Jonathon smiled.

“Let me guess… she went somewhere she shouldn’t have,” he nailed it on the first guess.

“You know your daughter well,” Jonathon laughed.

“Where did she go this time?” Clay asked.

“She’s okay, let’s leave it at that,” Jonathon dodged the question.

“Please, Jonathon, I would like to know where my daughter went this time,” Shirley joined the conversation.

“Really, Mom, you don’t,” Alexandria informed her.

“Where did you go?” Shirley turned her attention to her daughter.

“If he had just told me why he didn’t want me coming instead of …”

“Where did you go?” Shirley asked more firmly.

Alexandria sighed, “A brothel.”

Her mother made a choking noise before recovering. “What- were- you- doing- in- a brothel?” she pronounced each syllable carefully.

“I didn’t know that’s what it was until I was inside. That’s where we had to meet Mr. Kingston.”

“Why did you ever agree to meet him in a brothel?” Shirley, her tone clipped, asked.

“He changed the meeting place on me and there wasn’t time to change it again and Alexandria’s right. It’s partially my fault. I should have explained to her why I didn’t want her coming instead of handling it as I did,” Jonathon came to her defense. Alexandria could have hugged him.

***

Despite her fears that she wouldn’t be able to sleep, Alexandria was barely able to hold her eyes open to unpack. She opened her trunk and frowned. The things inside weren’t hers! Thinking she might find a clue as to whose things she had, she laid aside the top layer and found her own things underneath with a note on top.

Alexandria,

I hope that you like these, I saw you eyeing the new clothes longingly when you toured the store. Please wear them when you feel comfortable doing so and know that we love you.

Janice Morris

Alexandria smiled at the gesture and put her things away, she knew it would be a long while before she would be comfortable wearing them. At least she believed it would.

***

Alexandria was glad to be back on the range and familiar territory the next day after the strain of the past few. She was more comfortable among her men than she was among most women. The men smiled and greeted her warmly.

“Hey, Alex, what’s this I hear about you visiting a brothel?” Ben teased her.

Alexandria felt her cheeks color.

“Alright, who’s been talking?” she looked between Jonathon and Rusty. Rusty was grinning. “Funny,” she smiled despite herself. “Anyone else want make fun of my naivety?”

Ben had the good grace to look guilty.

She looked over to find Sparky watching her. He dropped his gaze when she met his. She settled back in fairly easily and enjoyed the familiarity of the routine.

That night after Anna, Lilly, and Millie were in bed Alexandria found herself restless and not ready for sleep. She slipped out onto the downstairs back porch and breathed deeply of the night air.

“What are you doing out here?” Jonathon asked as he crossed the yard.

Alexandria smiled and shrugged, “I wasn’t ready for bed.”

“Me either,” he leaned against the porch railing. “I should be, but I found myself so restless I was afraid I’d wake the others.”

“Know what you mean,” she agreed as she watched him seat himself on the railing; his long legs stretched toward the other end. She moved to the post opposite him at the corner of the porch and copied his pose; her booted feet came within an inch of touching his.

“This is comfortable,” she gazed up at the stars that she had been unable to see from the rockers on the porch.

“So what drove you out here, Alexandria?”

Alexandria smiled at him in the pale moonlight, “Too much thinking.”

“Ahh, thinking, a dangerous past time you know?” he teased her.

“So I’m finding out. I was startled to realize that I was more comfortable on the range today with a group of men than I have been with other women lately,” she admitted.

“That bothers you?”

“Yeah, I enjoy my mother and sister’s company and my friends but…”

“The combination of Ellie and Desiree was too much? I’m aware that neither of them treated you very well this past weekend.”

“I suppose so,” she sighed. “I try really hard to act like things don’t bother me but…”

“That stubborn tilt to your chin is hiding how you really feel and a sensitive heart,” he asked her and watched her frown at him.

“It really isn’t fair that you can do that,” she told him and gave his foot a gentle shove with hers.

“Sorry,” he smiled.

“Am I really that transparent?”

“Not transparent as much as I’ve learned to read your moods.”

“It scares me that you understand me so well,” she grumbled irritably.

“Understand you?” Jonathon smiled with a raised brow and shook his head. “I suppose that I understand you as much as any man ever understands a woman, but I hardly understand you. I’ve merely learned to read your moods.”

Alexandria smiled at his response and fell quiet for a moment before picking up her earlier train of thought.

“The truth is, I have female friends but I’ve never really felt that I fit in with other women. I’m not at all like a proper woman should be. Oh, I learned all the appropriate things but I… well, it’s not that I didn’t dream of falling in love and marrying and having kids. It’s just that, I’m not content with just that. I don’t guess I’m making any sense, huh?” she laughed.

“I think you are. You have more energy and drive than some men I’ve met, that doesn’t make you any less of a woman, Alexandria.”

“Others seem to think so,” Alexandria sighed. “I should learn an instrument…did that, not overly well granted. I should learn needlepoint or sewing…did that. I should learn to cook and manage servants…learned to cook from my mother, learned to manage servants from Elijah. I should be seen and not heard unless it’s an appropriate forum for women. I should take delicate steps; catch a husband, raise babies and think of…” Alexandria, humiliated by what she’d almost said, stopped short.

Jonathon was laughing across from her.

“London?”

“Jonathon!”

“You started it,” he reminded her.

“You finished it! This is not an appropriate conversation.”

“You weren’t raised that way were you?”

“No.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Really, Jonathon, this conversation has gone far enough,” she muttered.

“Don’t get all prim on me now, Alexandria, it doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m not getting prim on you. This really isn’t an appropriate conversation.” Had he been able to see her he would have found her cheeks a deep shade of scarlet.

“Why? Emotions and feelings aren’t wrong, it’s how we handle what we feel that is right or wrong. Intimacy belongs in marriage, I don’t want you to get what I’m saying wrong, but I am tired of it being approached like a dirty thing. Marriage is supposed to be a mutual giving and taking. Women shouldn’t be taught that men have baser instincts and that nice girls don’t think that way, it’s nonsense,” Jonathon said rather passionately.

“You’re very forward thinking,” she was trying hard not to show how embarrassed she was. She didn’t want him to know just how inexperienced she really was in such things.

“I’m sorry, Alexandria. Emily was raised that way and it took her the first two years of our marriage to come to grips with that. It’s a huge injustice when we teach women to think that way.”

“I’ll make certain not to scar Lilly,” her tone was somewhat amused.

“Don’t laugh at me,” Jonathon chuckled.

“I’m sorry, Jonathon.”

“I bet you are.”

“I am,” she laughed.

“Are you looking forward to the picnic tomorrow?” Jonathon changed the subject to safer ground.

Alexandria slowly shook her head. “No, not really, I’ll feel terrible in my widow’s weeds among all those beautifully dressed women.”

“So wear something else,” he suggested.

“I can’t,” she sighed.

“Why not? Everyone knows how things really were, Alexandria, at least most do, and this isn’t exactly the east coast.”

“I can’t,” she reiterated. “And even if I did…”

“You have one of the worst inferiority complexes I’ve ever seen,” Jonathon informed her. “Just what is so ugly about you?”

“I didn’t say that I’m ugly, I’m just not as pretty and feminine as the other…”

“But you are, Alexandria; more so!” Jonathon insisted.

Alexandria sighed and stood to turn and look toward the silver mountains in the distance. She appreciated his attempt to cheer her but the mirror told her otherwise. “Jonathon, you’re a good friend and your opinion of me is colored by that I’m sure.”

Jonathon stood and moved to stand behind her. Alexandria turned to face him, her back now to the corner post.

“Alexandria, I am your friend, in fact, you may be the best friend I’ve got right now and I’m sure that affects my overall opinion of you, but may I remind you that I am also a man and as such an expert on what’s pretty and what isn’t.”

“An expert?” Alexandria laughed.

“Yes. You’re beautiful; Alexandria, from your green eyes and beautiful face to your small waist, slim hips, and impossibly long legs. Didn’t know I’d noticed?” he took in her wide eyes and surprised face. “I have, it’s kind of hard not to, Alexandria.”

Alexandria swallowed hard. This was the first time in her life that she had felt small and feminine.

“Graceful, that’s what comes to mind when I watch you,” he commented, though whether to her or himself he couldn’t have said.

“Jonathon…” it came out rather breathless. Alexandria’s heart was racing, her palms sweating, and she couldn’t hold a train of thought. It was both a frightening and exhilarating feeling rolled into one.

“Yes?” Jonathon’s voice was low.

“I…” Alexandria frowned and wet her dry lips. What had she been about to say? Jonathon reached up to push a stray strand of hair from her face and Alexandria felt her heart leap into her throat; it was pounding as though it wanted out. Hot and cold, that’s how she felt; hot and cold all at the same time.

Jonathon lowered his head and brushed a light kiss across her lips; he intended to stop there, instead he found himself claiming her mouth with his as he pulled her closer; his arms closed around her waist. He kept the kiss light.

When he finally released Alexandria, she was torn as to whether or not she was relieved. His kiss had been nice, too nice.

“That was a mistake wasn’t it?” Jonathon asked her. Alexandria nodded. “Yeah, I guess it was,” Jonathon sighed.

“It…it was just a kiss, a kiss between two lonely people, that’s all, we’ll forget it ever happened,” she said and moved around him to hurry into the house. Jonathon pushed a hand through his hair and blew out a long breath. Forget? He wasn’t certain he could forget… or that he wanted to.

***



“How do I look?” Anna asked her sister. Anna was wearing a dress from the new dressmaker in town. The skirt was in the latest style with wide China blue and white vertical stripes, narrow at the top and widening as it reached the hem. A wide white belt defined the waistline below a tailored jacket. The jacket was china blue with a yoked collar and sleeves that flared from the shoulder before tightening at the elbow. Under the jacket, Anna wore a white shirt with horizontal ruffles. A straw hat with a blue ribbon overlaid with white lace around the band sat at a saucy angle on her head.

“You look beautiful,” Alexandria assured her sister. She did and it made Alexandria feel even more morose than she had before coming down stairs. She had spent a sleepless night tossing and turning in her bed after leaving Jonathon.

“If this doesn’t get his attention I think I’ll give up,” Anna commented as she gathered her basket to take it to the wagon.

Alexandria colored and let the comment pass.

“Come on, Lilly,” she called to her daughter. She stepped onto the porch as Jonathon was helping Anna into the buggy.

“Good morning, Alexandria,” he greeted her and offered her his hand as she approached.

His eyes were intense as they searched her face and she knew he was looking for her reaction to their kiss the night before.

“Good morning, Jonathon,” she forced herself to meet his gaze.

“You ladies, look lovely this morning.”

“Thank you,” Anna smiled and lowered her lashes.

Alexandria felt like a mule beside a thoroughbred.

“I’ll see you ladies in town,” Jonathon tipped his hat, swung into Raven’s saddle, and started out ahead of them.

“I think he noticed!” Anna exclaimed as Alexandria set the buggy in motion.

“That’s nice,” Alexandria forced a smile.

Alexandria had trouble finding a place to park the buggy when they arrived in town and had to park well away from the festivities. She didn’t mind the walk. She turned and started carefully backing down.

“It amazes me that you ladies don’t break your necks in these ridiculous skirts you wear,” A familiar voice said as she found herself airborne and placed firmly on the ground.

“If we didn’t have to go to such ridiculous lengths to catch a husband we might dress more sensibly,” Alexandria quipped and forced a smile; she was determined not to let the events from the night before ruin her friendship with him. She could joke and pretend it had never happened; she could.

“You ladies could run around in sack cloth and we’d still pursue you,” Jonathon informed her as he helped Anna from the buggy and lifted Lilly out.

“There you are!” Shirley exclaimed as she hurried up to her daughter. “What took you so long?”

Alexandria frowned. She hadn’t known that she was expected. Her mother was already pulling her down the boardwalk and muttering something about a shop closing if they didn’t hurry. They entered a small narrow building and were greeted by a woman equally as tall as Alexandria.

“Mrs. Cannon, a pleasure. You must be Alexandria. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you Mrs. Morris; I’m Mrs. Louis. Now if you’ll just go on back and change, there isn’t much time,” the elegant lady ushered her through a curtain and into a generous dressing room before disappearing.

Alexandria frowned at the curtain a moment before looking in front of her. She gasped when she did. In front of her hung the most beautiful outfit she’d ever seen. Along with it were all the under clothes she would need. She really should go back and demand to know what was going on but moved forward to change with the help of a young woman waiting nearby. Alexandria’s fingers itched to feel the beautiful fabric as she waited patiently for her corset to be tied. She emerged from the changing room and moved to stand in front of three mirrors that were arranged to show one a view of themselves from all angles.

“Oooh, Mommy’s a princess,” Lilly commented around a bite of sugar cookie.

Alexandria felt like a princess. The skirt was light green, fitted tight at the hips and flaring only moderately at the hem, perfect for Alexandria’s height. The jacket was the same light green and cut to fit closely. The lapel cut in a V and the cuffs turned up and were decorated with embroidery. Small ornate buttons closed the jacket, which dipped to a point over the close fitting front. Beneath the jacket she wore a white vertically pleated shirt waist that buttoned high up the neck in back and around her waist a wide belt that dipped into a V and accentuated her small waist. A straw hat, died green and piped with velvet ribbon and an attached veil, hung from her hand. Mrs. Lois stepped forward to place it over her upswept hair. White kid gloves hugged her hands, low pumps encased her feet; and a white lace parasol was leaned against the settee waiting for her.

“Do you like it?” her mother asked.

“It’s beautiful!” Alexandria exclaimed.

“I’m glad you like it, it and two others are your birthday present.”

“Mom, I’m in mourning.”

“It’s time to come out of mourning, Alexandria,” her mother informed her.

Alexandria, ready to argue, frowned at her mother.

“No arguments, your mourning things are wrapped to go home as well as your other two dresses, now let’s go before we’re late for the festivities,” her mother stood and handed her the parasol.

Alexandria was too stunned to argue. She walked out of the store and blinked in the bright afternoon sunlight. She was greeted warmly by several acquaintances and felt herself relax. Maybe her mother was right.

***

Jonathon scanned the crowd for Alexandria. Where was the woman? Any woman as tall as she was, dressed in all black should be easy to find. His eyes passed over a tall beauty in green and he did a double take. It was Alexandria and she was headed straight for him. Breathtaking was the first word that came to mind and he was a little breathless. Gracious, what was the woman trying to do to him? He watched every male in the vicinity track her progress and yet he knew she was completely unaware of their admiring stares. Instead she was smiling brightly and was headed straight for him. He was thankful for the time it took her to reach him; it allowed him to recover enough to speak.

“What do you think?” Alexandria’s eyes were seeking his approval. He took her hand, and kissed the bare skin between her sleeve and glove. He heard her small intake of breath and smiled.

“I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” he teased. “You look great,” his eyes locked with hers.

Alexandria, her thoughts trailing to their kiss the night before, swallowed hard.

“Oh, by the way, I put your basket in the box auction,” her mother announced and continued toward the gathering crowd.

“What?” Alexandria face went red with anger. “You had no right to do that!” Alexandria trailed her mother.

“I’ve already told you, it’s time to come out of mourning,” her mother threw over her shoulder.

Jonathon was smiling, he was glad he had brought his money after all. Alexandria stopped in her tracks so abruptly that Jonathon plowed into her and reached out to steady her.

“Sorry,” he apologized.

“I wish she would stop meddling,” Alexandria complained.

“She meddles because she cares,” Jonathon informed her.

“Because she wants more grandkids close by you mean,” she grumbled. Alexandria’s eyes widened when she realized what she’s said; her hand came to her mouth as her eyes lit with amusement. “That was a highly improper thing to say to you,” she giggled.

“We seem to have a penchant for improper conversations,” he smiled wickedly.

Alexandria colored; Jonathon’s smile widened.

“How rude of you to remind me,” she said primly as she snapped open her parasol and lay against her shoulder as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Alexandria heard him chuckle beside her as they resumed walking and the sound sent a tingle through her. She wasn’t certain what was happening and whether or not she liked it but she had the distinct impression that something had shifted between her and her foreman.

***

Anna stood on the platform and followed the bidding on her basket; she was wondering where Jonathon was. She had seen no sign of him since arriving in town. When she finally spotted him her cheeks heated with anger. He was with her sister! Where had Alexandria gotten the dress she was wearing and when had she changed? She watched as Jonathon leaned over to say something to Alexandria and felt envy shoot through her as Alexandria’s head tilted in laughter.

Anna had lost track of the bidding while observing Jonathon and had to be prodded toward the side of the raised platform. She found herself looking down into Frank Wilson’ smiling face; she inwardly cringed. Frank was nice enough but was a bit of a bore in her opinion. She forced a smile and accepted his hand. He led her away from the crowd and seated her on the blanket she had brought. He seemed content to sit and stare and with a resigned sigh, Anna took the initiative to start a conversation.

***

Alexandria pretended that she hadn’t heard her name when it was called but her mother appeared from nowhere and urged her forward. It was with trepidation that she mounted the platform steps and moved to the center of the stage. Lilly hid behind her skirts; Alexandria wished she could hide. The bidding started and Alexandria tried not to follow but couldn’t help herself. Tristan was the first to bid, followed by Lane and Mr. McAllister from the livery. Then Lyle Taylor, the town lawyer. Alexandria’s eyes widened as the bidding climbed. They were all after her ranch; they had to be. At least Mr. Moody was out of town on business, she mused with relief.

“One hundred dollars!” a bid from the back brought gasps from the audience and quickly gave way to surprised murmuring.

Alexandria felt herself blanch.

The men who had been bidding turned in surprise to look for the source of the bid. Alexandria didn’t have to; she knew the voice well. What was Jonathon doing?

The emcee took the stunned silence as his signal to close bidding. “Sold!” he called as he dropped his gavel.

“I want to up the bid,” Tristan called.

“I said sold, the time to up the bid was before bidding closed,” the emcee barked.

Alexandria moved to the side of the stage and accepted Jonathon’s help in descending the stairs.

“People are going to talk,” she said in a low voice.

“They already are,” he informed her and led her through the crowd.

“What do you mean they’re already talking?” she asked as they moved away from the crowd and past her sister and her companion.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

“No,” she shook her head.

Of course she hadn’t, Jonathon thought, he and everyone else had been shielding her from it.

“They are. You really do look nice in that dress,” he changed the subject.

“Thank you. Jonathon, why did you bid on my basket?” she asked him as he spread out the quilt. The better question might have been why so much, she mused.

“Because I wanted to spend the day with you.”

“Jonathon, we spend every day together.”

“Working; this is playing,” he smiled and helped her ease to the ground. Alexandria opened the basket and started preparing plates. It didn’t matter why Jonathon had bid on her basket, he had paid good money and she would be good company. It wouldn’t be hard; she sincerely enjoyed Jonathon’s company anyway. She was glad he had won her basket, she decided and smiled at him as she handed him his plate.

“Thank you,” he smiled back.

She settled Lilly beside her and watched the child take her first bite of chicken. “Is it good?” she asked her daughter as she pushed a strand of hair off her forehead and watched her nod earnestly.

They sat quietly eating for several minutes before Jonathon spoke.

“Anna looks to be enjoying herself,” he commented.

Alexandria looked over her shoulder to where her sister was laughing at something Frank had said and frowned. She knew her sister well enough to know it was a forced laugh.

“I hope she is,” Alexandria commented. She had the feeling that while she’d had no part in Jonathon winning her basket that she would be the one to catch it from Anna later.

***

Anna forced another laugh at another lame joke and prayed for the plays the children were giving to begin. She owed Frank her first dance and then the night was hers. Anna had tried every ploy she knew to catch Jonathon’s attention since he had passed with her sister but other than a smile and polite nod; she had failed completely. Every other man there had cast interested glances at her but the one man whose attention she wanted. She had thought to make him jealous with her obvious ‘enjoyment’ of Frank’s attention but it wasn’t working. There was a lull in conversation with Frank and she knew she should say something to fill it but could think of nothing.

“Those two look good together,” Frank commented and nodded to where her sister and Jonathon were seated.

Anna frowned. “They’re just friends. She avoids men, he avoids women, and I suspect eating together was their way avoiding others,” Anna quickly explained. It was what she had been telling herself since they passed.

“He’s looks pretty interested to me,” Frank shrugged as though it didn’t matter.

“With Alexandria? No, they’re just friends,” she said a little too sharply.

“You like him,” Frank said with sudden understanding. “Of course, why shouldn’t you? Every other girl in these parts does. Why do you girls do that? Jonathon’s a great guy best as I can tell but what is it about him that makes you girls so all fired interested?” Frank demanded.

“I’m sorry, Frank; I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“I’m fine but I want you to answer my question,” he responded.

“Well to state the obvious, he’s a very good looking man. At first he seemed kind of mysterious and to a lot of the girls I think he still is, but I got to know him and he’s… just the kind of guy you want around,” she finished rather lamely; she was unable to express her thoughts.

“Thank you for answering, I hope that we can still enjoy the evening as friends?”

“That would be nice,” she smiled and relaxed for the first time that day. The start of the skits was signaled and the scattered crowd reassembled at the stage to watch the children’s performance.

***

Alexandria laughed at the children’s antics and found that she was enjoying herself very much. One of her school chums wandered over and they greeted each other warmly.

“Rose, how are you?” Alexandria asked her friend.

“I’m great, this is little Abigail,” she indicated her baby.

“Oh, she’s beautiful, Rose,” Alexandria stroked the little one’s cheek.

“You can hold her,” Rose offered and gently transferred the baby into Alexandria’s arms. Alexandria, her heart aching, stared down at the little one. Holding the baby was a mistake; it only reminded her of what she was missing.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Rose said to Jonathon.

“Where are my manners?” Alexandria shook herself from her melancholy. “Rose, this is Jonathon Stewart. Jonathon, Rose Perry.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Perry,” Jonathon extended his hand. “You have a beautiful daughter.”

“Thank you, I think she is but I’m biased. You may hold her if you like, you look like you have some experience with children,” Rose offered.

“I’d like that very much,” he admitted.

Alexandria reluctantly handed the baby over. At first she thought Jonathon looked odd holding the tiny baby in his strong arms, but in further reflection decided he looked rather natural with her.

“Hi, cutie,” Jonathon said to the baby. She cooed and flailed her little fist in the air gleefully.

“She likes you, Mr. Stewart,” Rose told him with a wide smile.

“Of course she does, every female he encounters likes him,” Alexandria rolled her eyes. Lilly tugged at Jonathon’s arm and glared at the baby’s bottom.

“I think someone is jealous,” Jonathon acknowledged. “Thank you for your trust, Mrs. Perry,” he said as he handed her baby back to her and lifted Lilly into his arms.

Alexandria looked longingly at the small warm bundle but bit back her request to hold the infant; instead she forced her attention to Jonathon and Lilly beside her.

“Jonathon, you have spoiled her rotten,” Alexandria accused him.

“That’s because she stole my heart,” he smiled.

“The girls at church will be shattered,” Alexandria sighed dramatically.

“You think that would work, if I told them my heart had been stolen but didn’t tell them who?” Jonathon asked hopefully.

Rose smiled at the trio knowingly and moved on.

“No, they’ll have to see a wife on your arm before they’ll give up,” she predicted.

“But would it buy me some time?”

“I doubt it. Give it up, Jonathon, you have admirers, wanted or not.

“So do you.”

“Please, I’d rather not discuss it.”

“Hey where did your friend go?” he asked looking around for her.

“I don’t know,” Alexandria frowned as she scanned those around them.