A Headstrong Woman

by Maness, Michelle

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” he told her, but his smile said he was thankful.

  “Oh it’s not much,” her eyes twinkling, “just chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, milk gravy, peas, green beans, okra, fresh brewed tea, and a chocolate cake.”

  “Maybe I should thank Moody,” Jonathon’s voice was low and eyes dark. Alexandria swallowed hard. Good Lord! If the man was going to go bizarre on her every time she cooked his favorite foods maybe she shouldn’t, she speculated.

  Had she asked Jonathon what caused the reaction, which she didn’t, he would have explained that it was the effort she had put into it and her bothering to know what his favorite foods were. It made him believe that maybe she could come to care for him. They joined the others in the kitchen and were soon seated at the table, a feast spread before them. After dinner, Alexandria sat Lilly down with pencil and paper to keep her entertained and started cleaning.

  “I hope the men are dressed for this messy weather,” she fretted as more thunder rumbled overhead.

  “Don’t worry, Alexandria. They’re more prepared than you are,” he teased her.

  “Funny,” she shot at him, her look was annoyed.

  He smiled.

  “Want a poem?” he offered as he thumbed through the book. Alexandria nodded and Jonathon settled on one.

  “The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;

  It rains and the wind is never weary;

  The vine still clings to the moldering wall,

  But at every gust the dead leaves fall,

  And the day is dark and dreary.

  My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;

  It rains and the wind is never weary;

  My thoughts still cling to the moldering past,

  But hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,

  And the day is dark and dreary.

  Be still sad heart and cease repining;

  Behind the clouds the suns still shining;

  Thy fate is the common fate of all,

  Into each life some rain must fall,

  Some days must be dark and dreary,” Jonathon read with perfect inflection.

  He had a nice reading voice, Alexandria decided.

  “How depressing!” Anna exclaimed.

  “No, it isn’t,” Alexandria protested. “It promises brighter days. Everyone goes through difficult times but only for a time. That’s what it means.”

  “Hope, I believe, would be the theme,” Jonathon added.

  “Exactly!” Alexandria nodded.

  “Melancholy,” Anna argued with a shake of her head.

  Alexandria threw her hands up and turned back to the sink.

  “Happy birthday,” Lilly handed Jonathon a picture. “That’s Mommy an’ Anna. That’s Millie, me, and this is you, you eat a lot,” she said seriously as she explained the picture.

  Alexandria chuckled and moved to glance over the picture. Jonathon was wearing his hat in the picture; something he never did in the house, and had a circle full of scribbles in front him. Apparently it was Lilly’s rendition of his healthy appetite. Alexandria laughed a full hearty laugh and hugged her daughter.

  “I think it’s perfect,” she told her.

  Jonathon scowled and tried and failed to bite back a smile. “Have fun at my expense,” he growled playfully, then added more seriously, “thank you for dinner.”

  They assured him he was welcome before Alexandria invited him to share a quiet evening in the parlor with them. He smiled and followed Alexandria and Anna into the shadowed room. Anna lit several lamps and curled into an armchair before pulling a light throw over her lap as she opened a book. Alexandria moved to the window and watched as a drop of rain slid down the window slowly, met another drop, sped up, then slowed again. She sighed.

  “What a dreary evening,” she commented restlessly.

  “Care for a game of poker?” Jonathon asked.

  “I don’t gamble,” she informed him.

  “You don’t have to gamble.”

  “Oh, well I don’t know the game,” she shrugged.

  “Surely you learned it on one of your visits to the saloon,” his teasing elicited a laugh from Anna and look of mutiny from Alexandria.

  “Will you ever allow me to live that down?” she asked him.

  “Haven’t decided,” he teased.

  Alexandria rolled her eyes; then smiled as she noted her sleeping daughter. “Lilly is sound asleep.” Lilly had climbed into his lap, placed a thumb in her mouth (a habit Alexandria had thought she was through with) and had fallen sound asleep.

  “Lead the way and I’ll carry her up,” Jonathon offered.

  “Let me have her. I think I’m going to go to bed early, it’s the perfect evening for it and I’m exhausted,” Anna said as she stood and put her book away. Jonathon carefully shifted Lilly into Anna’s arms. After Anna had left the room Alexandria suggested they move onto the front porch. Jonathon nodded agreement and lit two lanterns that hung on the porch.

  “Care for more Longfellow?” Jonathon offered as Alexandria kicked her shoes off and pulled her knees to her chest.

  “Please,” she agreed and closed her eyes as he read The Village Blacksmith. By the time he had finished, she was feeling drowsy herself.

  “You look ready to fall asleep,” he noted.

  Alexandria smiled, stretched and lowered her feet back to the porch. “This weather would make anyone drowsy,” she commented as she moved to lean against the porch railing. The rain had slowed to a light drizzle and Alexandria lifted her chin to enjoy the fine mist that blew back into her face. “This weather is good for reflecting isn’t it?” Alexandria asked as she leaned her cheek against the damp porch post.

  “What are you reflecting on?” he asked as he propped himself on the rail so he could see her face.

  “That I love this place. As difficult as it was with Elijah and then after his death, I wouldn’t change it. It’s become a part of me, this ranch I mean. And I know it sounds crazy, but those men out there are like my children, even though some of them are older than me.”

  “So we’re all big kids huh?” his tone was teasing.

  “No not you; I could never think of you as a kid, not with your knack for rescuing me.”

  “With your knack for finding trouble someone needs to,” he told her. Alexandria smiled.

  “Anything you would do different?”

  “No, even though it was painful every time we lost a baby and then losing Emily… I’d do it all again for the good times.”

  “That’s what matters isn’t it? That you’d do it again? ‘Thy fate is the common fate of all, into each life some rain must fall’,” she quoted.

  Jonathon smiled. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

  “I doubt anyone could have,” Alexandria agreed. “His poems are full of wisdom.”

  “Do you think people will still be reading his poetry a hundred years from now?” Jonathon mused.

  “I think so,” she smiled up at him.

  Jonathon smiled back at her. He hesitated to change the subject and break the peace of the evening.

  “Alexandria, I’ve been thinking. In light of the fact that word is spreading about your advertisement, I think we should marry tomorrow. If Moody gets word of this you’re in trouble,” Jonathon pointed out and watched her nod.

  “You have a point,” she admitted.

  “Are you okay with that?” he asked her and watched her closely.

  “I’m fine,” she assured him.

  ***

  Alexandria fidgeted restlessly as she waited for Jonathon to come to the house. This was it, her wedding day. A knock sounded at the door and, knowing it would be Jonathon, Alexandria hurried to answer it. Without a word, they stepped into her office. Jonathon took in her pale face and took her hand. He knew this wasn’t easy for her.

  “We can wait a few more days,” he offered.

  “No, I think we should go ahead as planned,” she told him.

  He
nodded and noticed for the first time what she was wearing. She had chosen one of the new dresses her mother-in-law had slipped into her trunk. It was an off white creamy color with mint green leaves, and mauve colored flowers scattered across it. She looked beautiful, her rich dark hair contrasting with the creamy color of the dress. Her hair too was done more stylishly than she had been wearing it, with several curls trailing down her back and over her shoulder. Her green eyes seemed to jump out against the contrasts she had created in her appearance. Jonathon swallowed hard

  “I think you’re right,” he nodded. He too had dressed for the occasion and cut an impressive figure in his suit. “The buggy’s ready,” he told her. She nodded and followed him from the room. “I’m going to town,” she called to her sister and Millie. Once outside, Jonathon helped her into the buggy and turned to Sparky.

  “Remember, in an hour deliver the note I gave you,” Jonathon reminded him.

  “Will do,” Sparky nodded. Alexandria tucked her shaking hands into her lap and mentally planned the morning’s activities out in her head. It would be simple, she told herself again, nothing to it. All she had to do was give the appropriate response when it was expected and it would be over.

  “You okay?” Jonathon’s question caused her to jump.

  “Nervous,” she admitted.

  Jonathon took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. “It’ll all work out, Alexandria.”

  She tried smiling but suspected that it came out resembling a grimace more than a smile.

  Their first stop in town was the courthouse, a stop for rings, and then the town minister. After a few questions and a brief explanation to the minister, they were married. Alexandria stepped into the afternoon sunlight and felt her head began to swim. She was married! Jonathon grabbed her arm and steadied her.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled; her face was pale.

  “I should have come up with a better plan than this,” Jonathon led her down the sidewalk.

  Alexandria followed him; she wanted things seen to with Moody.

  “Mrs. Morris, I’ve been expecting to see you soon,” Simon claimed her hand and pressed a kiss to it. “I knew you would come around to my point of view.”

  Alexandria gently extricated her hand and stepped back from him.

  “You’re right; there was nothing to be done but to marry,” Alexandria admitted defeat.

  “You’re a wise woman, Mrs. Morris,” Simon’s smile put her in mind of the cat that had swallowed the canary. She could almost see a yellow feather hanging from his mouth.

  “It’s Mrs. Stewart now, Mr. Moody. I’m no longer single and my husband is waiting to see you. That should satisfy your clause and any judge in the land according to my lawyer. I can send for him as well if you’d like to speak with him,” her voice was steady and cool as hard steel. She was quite proud of herself.

  “Husband?” Simon’s face had gone red.

  “Yes, sir, you said I had to marry or come up with the money, I married.”

  “I meant that… that is… I wanted to marry you!” he sputtered.

  “That was unacceptable sir, I’m sorry,” she responded indifferently. She had enjoyed letting him think he had won for a moment before bursting his bubble. “I have no notion or desire to become any man’s arm decoration or favorite plaything. I want to be respected for the whole of who I am,” she informed him; she was still on her feet, much to his consternation. She actually had an inch or two on him in height.

  Simon’s mind was racing. How could he turn this around to his advantage?

  Alexandria moved to the door, opened it, and stepped aside as Jonathon entered.

  Simon’s gaze traveled up to meet Jonathon’s and he swallowed hard. This was not a man he wanted to mess with.

  “Mr. Moody, Jonathon Stewart, my husband. Jonathon, Simon Moody,” she was relishing the panicked expression that Simon wore. He had lost and he recognized it.

  “Have a seat, Mr. Stewart, and we’ll see to the paper work,” Simon indicated the seat across from his desk. A few moments later they walked out of the bank and Alexandria let out the breath she had been holding. Simon had threatened that if they were ever late with a payment to look for him, but he had momentarily conceded defeat.

  “I overheard your whole conversation in there, you were brilliant,” Jonathon informed her.

  Alexandria smiled at him. “I was shaking so bad inside that I was afraid I would collapse.”

  “It didn’t show,” he assured her. “Are you hungry?”

  “I don’t know if I can eat.” Alexandria was still fidgeting though the part of the day she had dreaded most, her confrontation with Moody, was over.

  “Come on, I’ll take you to the hotel dining room, my treat,” he smiled as he held to the door for her.

  “You take kissing up to the boss to the extreme, don’t you?” she teased.

  “Is that a challenge or an invitation?” he asked in her ear as he steered her through the lobby. Alexandria felt heat color her cheeks as her startled gaze met Jonathon’s amused one. He chuckled and Alexandria was momentarily tempted to hit him. She wasn’t allowed the opportunity, however, before they arrived in the dining room to be seated.

  Jonathon talked and joked with her until the food arrived and to Alexandria’s surprise, she was able to eat. After leaving the restaurant, they stopped by the livery for Jonathon to talk with Mr. McAllister.

  Alexandria wandered down the boardwalk where it was cooler than it was inside the building and was drawn to the sound of gunfire just beyond the building. She followed the sound until she reached the corral that bordered the livery to find several men indulging in a firing competition. She watched for a moment noting which men were good shots and which weren’t before approaching one of the better shots near the end of the line.

  “May I see your gun?” she asked sweetly of a young cowboy at the end as he closed the barrel of his gun after reloading. He surveyed her with a smile and carefully handed her his gun; his expression indicated that he clearly expected her to take her toe off. She had the attention of all the men present as she leveled the gun and knocked six cans neatly off the opposite rail.

  “Thank you,” she smiled as she returned the man’s gun. She could feel the men’s astonished gaze on her as she started back toward the livery. She faltered when she found Jonathon, his arms crossed, waiting a few steps away. She lifted her chin and marched to where he stood. Amusement, and not anger lit his eyes, however, and Alexandria relaxed.

  “What am I going to do with you?” he asked her.

  Alexandria colored.

  “Come on,” he said as he placed his hand at the small of her back and with a nod at the amazed young cowboys she’d just shown up, escorted her to the wagon. He scooped her up and planted her on the buggy seat.

  “You are going to keep me busy aren’t you?” his tone was almost proud.

  Alexandria felt an odd flutter in her stomach. Jonathon started around the buggy and Alexandria glanced up to find a young woman watching her from the train platform. The woman was petite with beautiful red hair and Alexandria somehow knew her eyes would be green, and her heritage Irish. Respect shown on the woman’s face as she smiled and nodded at Alexandria; Alexandria smiled back. She wished she could go and introduce herself.

  “Your parents should be waiting when we reach the ranch,” he informed her, “that’s what I was arranging with Sparky when we left.”

  “That will make telling Anna easier,” she sighed.

  “I don’t think she’ll be all that surprised.”

  “Jonathon… you don’t understand how my sister feels about you.”

  “We understand each other clearly, we discussed it,” he argued. “She told me to do whatever was necessary to prevent you from marrying a stranger.”

  “She did?” Alexandria brows were drawn.

  “She did. She loves you a lot, Alexandria.”

  “I know,” she admitted.

  As they neared the ranch, A
lexandria found herself wishing she hadn’t eaten. She was afraid it was all about to come back up. What would her parents say? Despite what Jonathon had said Alexandria was still worried about how her sister would take the news.

  ***

  Anna poured herself a fresh cup of coffee and joined her parents at the table. She could see by their strained expressions that they were worried and wondering why their daughter’s foreman had summoned them. Anna could tell them but didn’t think it was her place to. Besides, there was the possibility that they had worked something else out, though she didn’t see how. They heard the team approaching and all eyes turned toward the door where a few moments later, Alexandria and Jonathon entered.

  “I suppose that you are curious as to why I sent for you,” Jonathon said as he pulled a chair for Alexandria.

  “The thought had crossed our minds,” Clay commented.

  “You both know of Alexandria’s situation with the ranch so I’ll skip that and unless you’re deaf have likely heard of her plan for solving the problem,” he was hoping to come to the point. Clay nodded but Shirley frowned in confusion.

  “She put out an ad for a husband,” Anna supplied to her mother. Shirley’s face blanched, “You did what?”

  Alexandria couldn’t meet her mother’s eyes.

  “Jonathon talked her out of it,” Anna soothed her mother.

  “What would possess you to do such a thing? You have a home you can return to at any time. Let Mr. Moody have this place… in fact, I insist that you come home…”

  “Shirley, they are trying to say something, would you let them, please?” Clay asked a bit impatiently.

  Shirley clamped her jaw shut and nodded.

  “We… I….” Alexandria hesitated, her eyes going to her sister; then closing. How could she have agreed to something she knew was going to hurt her sister?

  Anna watched her sister’s struggle and waited. She could end her sister’s misery but she didn’t. After a week of struggle she had accepted the inevitable and had made her peace with the facts. That didn’t stop it from smarting.

  “Just say it, Lexie,” Clay urged his daughter.

  “Jonathon and I were married today,” she blurted as all the remaining color draining from her face. Silence greeted her news. No screaming or sobbing from Anna; no verbal response from her parents. Alexandria felt suffocated by the silence but didn’t dare look up from her lap.