A Headstrong Woman

chapter Seven

Alexandria sat in the desk chair; Mr. Stewart was seated opposite her. She knew he had agreed to remain on and help her but she suspected the request she was about to make might surprise him.

“Nathaniel and my father prepared and tutored me quite well in the business end of this ranch and I understand that you agreed to help me obtain general knowledge of what each man here does. I, however, would like to work side by side out there with the men and see what they do for myself,” Alexandria explained her reason for asking him to meet with her. She watched his brows wing up in surprise as he shifted in his chair.

“With all due respect, Mrs. Morris, that is hardly necessary.”

“I feel it is. Look, Mr. Stewart, let’s be honest here. Some of those men are probably less than thrilled at the idea of working for a woman. I myself am not comfortable asking them to do something that I haven’t even tried. I would like an opportunity to show them I respect them and what they do and to earn their respect. I feel this is the best way to do that.”

Jonathon studied her a moment; he knew he was going to regret this.

“Alright; you want to work like a man? No skirts, no side saddle; you need sturdy britches, chaps, a long sleeved top, a hat and water proof over coat. Oh yeah, and a bandana. Can you meet those terms?” Jonathon laid his offer on the table.

Alexandria opened her mouth, closed it, and with chin held high nodded.

“Good, I’ll see you first thing tomorrow.”

“After lunch,” Alexandria countered.

Jonathon paused in standing and met her direct gaze; he nodded. “After lunch it is. Dress warmly, it looks like rain.” With that Jonathon stood, placed his hat on his head and excused himself.

Alexandria hurried to go through the crate of Eli’s clothes that had not yet been donated to the church. After a fair amount of digging she had found a few things that she thought would work. A few alterations and she laid her clothes aside to have a quick lunch. By the time Mr. Stewart arrived at the house Alexandria was pulling on the boots she had found.

Jonathon chatted politely with Anna as he waited for Alexandria to appear. When she did it was all he could do not to laugh; Anna did. Alexandria had hemmed a pair of Elijah pants and taken in the waist, leaving the material to balloon from her slender waist. Her shirt, one of her own, only emphasized how badly the pants fit. Her hat, a floppy gardening number, wouldn’t last a moment in the rain. The bandana at least fit. When his gaze landed on her feet it was to find boots at least two sizes too big on them.

“I couldn’t make the chaps fit,” she admitted as she pulled on the coat she had dug out. She rolled the sleeves several times before pulling on the too large pair of gloves she’d shoved in her pockets.

“It’ll be alright today,” Jonathon muttered. It was probably the only thing that was alright for the day. “Let’s go,” Jonathon opened the door for her and waited.

Alexandria was relieved to find that he had already saddled the horses. She had plenty of experience at it but Elijah’s horse, which she would be using, was seventeen hands tall and not easily saddled.

Jonathon waited for her to mount before showing her the property boundaries as Elijah had started his training. When it started raining, Jonathon asked Alexandria, where she was slumped miserably in her saddle, if she was ready to go back to the house. She pulled herself up straight and refused. By the time they joined the men Alexandria’s hat was dumping water on her by the brim full and she was soaked. Water had found its way in her ill-fitting clothing and she was so cold it was all she could do to keep her teeth from chattering. She had long ago discarded her too large gloves and her too large boots were rubbing blisters onto her heels. Several of the men watched her but said little.

Jonathon finally had his fill of it and with a firm tug on Raven’s reigns, turned to escort back to the house. She was quiet on the return trip, her shoulders no longer quite as straight as they had been a few hours earlier.

“You need to get dry,” he informed her as he helped her from the saddle. “Are you still determined to do this?”

Jonathon watched her chin come up and knew the answer. “Then I’ll teach you, really teach you. But first, tomorrow we’re going to town and you’re purchasing clothing that fits,” he informed her. “Come on, let me see your heels, I know they have to be raw,” he said as he started for the house.

Alexandria stared at his retreating back and wondered how he had known about her heels. She followed him and claimed a seat in the rocking chair he indicated. Alexandria couldn’t stop the small yelp that escaped when Jonathon pulled off first her boots and then her socks. The backs of her heels were bloodied.

Jonathon sighed and met her gaze. “I’ll give you one thing, Mrs. Morris, you have an iron will,” his tone held begrudging admiration. “I’ll be right back with some ointment. Your hands are raw too aren’t they?” he surveyed them before leaving the porch. Alexandria leaned back in her chair; she felt like a chastised child. She had only been trying to meet his requirements after all. He returned moments later and Alexandria reached for the jar of ointment.

“I’ll do it,” Jonathon informed her.

Alexandria intended to argue but he was already applying the ointment with surprising gentleness.

“Do me a favor, next time tell me when you’re soaked through and through and your heels and are being rubbed raw, okay?” he glanced up at her. He found her blinking back tears but nodding in agreement. He applied more of the ointment to her hands.

“Thank you,” she said softly when he was through. It had been both a humbling and discomforting experience for Alexandria. She wasn’t used to letting anyone but her family look after her. Alexandria was about to enter the house when he stopped her.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t more help today. It’s not that I think a woman is incapable, I just don’t believe you should have to. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll get you properly outfitted for the job,” he told her.

“Thank you,” she said again and watched him walk across the yard to the barn. Her foreman was turning out to be an interesting man, she decided as she entered the house. She spent dinner being grilled about Jonathon by her sister; then enlisted her sister’s help in taking her measurements.

***

The next morning Alexandria dressed in her hated widow’s weeds and prepared for a trip to town. She again emerged from the house to find things ready and waiting; the team already pulled up close to the porch.

“Good morning, Mrs. Morris,” Jonathon greeted as his gaze slid over her. She looked stark in her mourning clothes. Her face was pale and her green eyes too solemn for someone as young as she must be. She had been through more than her fair share, he reminded himself. Even if he didn’t relish the task ahead of him he had made a promise to Elijah and he would keep it. Besides, Alexandria was going to need all the help she could get though she didn’t know that yet.

“Good morning, Mr. Stewart,” she returned. He helped her into the buggy before setting their course for town.

Alexandria was quiet for a moment before she turned to look at her foreman thoughtfully.

“What was she like?”

“Emily?” Jonathon glanced at her.

Alexandria nodded and watched him smile.

“She was incredibly soft hearted, loved kids,” Jonathon fell quiet. “It broke her heart when our first two were stillborn.”

“She sounds nice.”

“She was. She was also the cutest little petite thing I’d ever seen.”

“Petite,” Alexandria muttered the word with a grimace.

“I’m sorry, touchy subject?” Jonathon glanced her way.

Alexandria hadn’t meant to speak aloud and could only nod for a moment. “Martha, that was Elijah’s first wife, was a petite woman. Both my sisters are petite; me I’m…well not.”

“There’s nothing wrong with your height, ma’am.”

“I’m sorry but do you have any idea what it’s like to be taller than most of the guys in your class?” she demanded.

A smile tugged at Jonathon’s mouth. “Yes, actually, I do.”

“I meant if you’re a girl,” she said in exasperation.

“But I’m not; I get your point. There’s nothing wrong with your height.”

“Well it doesn’t matter anyway, I have no intention of remarrying so men and their fickle preferences are no concern of mine,” Alexandria stated matter of factly.

“Obviously it does concern you or it wouldn’t be a sore spot,” he argued.

“It is not a sore spot, Mr. Stewart,” Alexandria corrected him.

“Do me a favor please? If we’re going to be working together every day do you think you could call me Jonathon?” he looked her direction to determine if she was offended.

“Okay, Jonathon, you can call me Alexandria.”

“How did you meet Elijah, Alexandria?” Jonathon changed the subject.

“I’ve always known Elijah.” Alexandria, not wanting to get into an explanation, shrugged.

It was quiet for a moment before Jonathon spoke again.

“The boys teased you in school right?” Jonathon glanced at her.

“What?” Alexandria frowned at him.

“About your height.”

“Relentlessly,” she admitted. “If not for my mama I might have spent the whole of my school years walking like a hunch back so as not to draw attention to my height.”

“They were either threatened or trying to flirt. Boys can be kind of stupid that way.”

“Trust me they weren’t. Later, it was my petite sisters and friends who got all the callers and attention; it didn’t take me long to figure out the men were put off by my height,” she added.

“I don’t think it was your height that intimidated them,” he countered.

“Intimidated them!” Alexandria’s look was both incredulous and somewhat demeaning as though she felt Jonathon was off his rocker.

“Alexandria, I don’t know you well and haven’t known you long, but as soon as you’re threatened you throw up this front of cool confidence. A confident woman can be very intimidating to a young man,” Jonathon told her.

“No,” Alexandria dismissed him with a shake of her head.

“That’s why your friend had come rushing back into town?”

“What friend; what are you talking about?”

“At the funeral.”

“Lane?” Alexandria was totally flabbergasted. “I have known Lane my entire life!”

“All the more reason you wouldn’t notice.”

“Notice what?”

“The way he watched you.”

“He felt sorry for me; I had just buried my husband.”

“If you say so. There’s also your neighbor who was fawning over you at the house.”

“What neighbor? When did this happen?”

Alexandria’s look was rather comical and Jonathon realized she was completely oblivious of her own beauty.

“I think he owns the land to the west of you.”

“Tristan?” Alexandria was shaking her head again. “Tristan can have his pick of nearly any woman in town, despite all their parent’s warning.”

“I take it he has a reputation?”

“Notorious,” Alexandria confirmed.

“I say you’re blind to men’s interest and that they’re too intimidated to make them known.”

“As I stated, it doesn’t matter,” Alexandria insisted. “Your turn, you have developed quite a following at church, surely you’re aware of that?”

“Perhaps some time in the future I might decide to marry one of them,” he shrugged.

“But not now?”

“No.”

“Then stop fussing at me,” she said triumphantly.

“Point taken,” he smiled; his eyes were twinkling. He wasn’t sure how they had ended up on the topic in the first place though he figured it was only logical that she would remarry and probably in the not too distant future. It was odd for young, propertied widows to remain single for long. If nothing else survival dictated they remarry with haste.

Alexandria wasted no time in getting started upon arriving in town. She entered the dry goods store, measurements in hand and started selecting merchandise. She looked up about half way through her list to find Tristan approaching.

“Mrs. Morris, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you to town on such a cool day?”

“Hello, Mr. Price. I needed to pick up a few items that I had to select for myself. How are you?”

“I’m well. Are you managing okay? Word is you’re keeping the ranch.”

“I am,” she nodded.

“If I can ever help, please let me know.”

“I’ll keep your offer in mind, Mr. Price.”

“You do that, Mrs. Morris. I should let you get back to your business and return to mine.”

Alexandria, a slight frown on her face, watched him walk away. What had that been all about? True enough he had spoken with her frequently in public before her marriage but they had never been more than polite acquaintances. With a shake of her head, she finished shopping and moved to the counter. Mrs. Lawson eyed her purchases but said nothing.

Alexandria emerged from the store and in her haste to return home, bumped into a passing pedestrian. She technically shouldn’t be out.

“Oh excuse me!” she apologized.

“Alexandria! How are you?” Lane asked as he bent to gather her scattered packages.

“I’m holding up alright.”

“May I escort you to your buggy?” her packages were now tucked firmly beneath his arm.

“Certainly,” she agreed and moved down the sidewalk beside him. “I hear that you’ve become quite a business man.”

“I’ve made several land investments and already they’re paying off.”

“That’s wonderful, Lane. I know your family is glad to have you back in town. Why did you stay gone so long?” she asked and watched his cheeks heat.

Lane wasn’t about to tell her that her marriage to Elijah had driven him from town. She wouldn’t understand: he had never had the guts to make his intentions known. He wouldn’t miss the opportunity this time.

“My business took longer than I expected. Have you decided what you’re doing with the ranch?”

“What do you mean?” she asked as they stopped in front of her buggy.

“You aren’t planning on staying on the ranch…” he was starting to watch her warily.

“Actually, I am. My foreman, Jonathon,” she nodded to where he stood, “is teaching me how things work around the place.”

Lane’s eyes slid to Jonathon; his face was red, “Alexandria, a ranch full of men is no place for a lady!”

“I’m not alone out there. Millie is there and at the moment so is Anna; she’s helping me with Lilly.”

“Alexandria, any of those men could easily…”

“I don’t fear the men who work for me. Elijah was very careful about who he hired. I appreciate your concern but I am a grown, widowed woman. Not a child. I need to go, I hope I’ll see you at church Sunday,” she said before turning and climbing into the wagon.

Lane was glaring at her. “We’ll talk later,” he said before turning and stomping off.

Alexandria tucked her shaking hands into her lap. She wasn’t one to back down from a confrontation but they always left her shaken.

“Still think he isn’t interested?” Jonathon asked her as they started from town. Alexandria’s expression said she wasn’t amused. Jonathon bit back a smile and urged the team forward.

***

From his window in his bank office, Simon Moody watched Alexandria’s wagon roll from town. Alexandria Morris was a beautiful woman and now the owner of one of the most valuable pieces of property in the area. How fortunate for him that she was now available. He had watched her exchange with Lane Wilson and knew the younger man was interested. Simon knew that at forty-five he was still an attractive man with his dark hair and eyes. He hoped that Bank Owner, a title he wore proudly, would only sweeten the deal. How had Elijah won her hand, certainly not his looks or charm? Elijah had been short on both. No, he suspected that Alexandria had married the man for the position that such a marriage would give her. He had watched many women marry their way up the social ladder in his lifetime and for the first time in his life he didn’t mind providing that ladder himself.

“Mr. Moody, Dalton and Zeke Wiley are here for their appointment,” a young bank clerk announced.

“Send them in,” Simon nodded. A few moments later the two men entered and claimed seats.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Moody. What services can we provide for you?” Dalton asked. The young man was attractive, with dark hair and dark eyes, and was always well groomed. The fact that the young man was so clean cut in appearance was the reason Simon had chosen him. His slow wit brother had come in the deal.

“I want you to rustle some cattle. I’m willing to pay and pay well. Are you interested?”

“Just how well?” Dalton’s eyes were lit with interest. Simon smiled.

***

“So just why are so many of the young ladies at church fixated on me?” Jonathon asked to make conversation as they returned to the ranch.

“The word is they think you’re attractive and terribly romantic,” Alexandria informed him.

“There are other younger and more eligible men…”

“Yes, I see what you mean, you are so terribly old,” Alexandria said in mock disdain.

Jonathon was surprised by her teasing but couldn’t help smiling; he was several years younger than Elijah had been.

“I’m relieved you see it my way,” Jonathon said with a nod. Alexandria chuckled.

“Seriously these girls don’t even know me,” Jonathon pointed out.

“Oh, you’re quite a legend didn’t you know? Everyone knows all about you.” Alexandria’s eyes were lit with mischief when he glanced at her.

“Really?” Jonathon asked cautiously.

“Really, Mr. Stewart, you are a most remarkable man if the stories are to be believed.”

“What stories?”

“Well you should know. You remember the time that you rescued you’re future wife from a horrible fire?”

“Can’t say I do.”

“That’s how you met.”

“I thought that Emily and I were neighbors and childhood sweethearts.”

“No, you rescued her.”

“Thank you for informing me.”

“You’re welcome. Of course your proposal was quite remarkable.”

“Was it?”

“Yes, proposing in front of the whole town like that.”

“And I thought I had done a bang up job of it after crashing her engagement party to another man.”

“What?” Alexandria asked attentively.

“We had a falling out; she went to visit an aunt in the city while I was working for my uncle and wrote to inform me she was marrying another. I hopped the first train I could catch.”

“Wow, that’s better than the rumors,” Alexandria informed him.

“Anything else I should know?”

“Yes, you camped by her grave for three days and had to be pulled away by several men.”

“No, I rode away before they were even through with the burial; I couldn’t bear to look back,” his voice was heavy with pain.

Alexandria winced for him; he had obviously loved his wife deeply. “And you kept riding?” she guessed.

“I gathered a few of my things but, yes, I basically kept riding,” he admitted as the ranch came into view.

***

Alexandria, her eyes wide, stared at her image in the mirror. She had not counted on the denim pants fitting so closely. They weren’t tight, exactly, but were rather form fitting. She placed her hands on her hips and wondered when they had filled out as they had. Had she really been so distracted that she missed that?

“How bad is it?” she asked Anna, who was watching her from the bed.

“It’s not so bad really, just unconventional,” Anna had a smile on her face. “You look kind of tough.”

“Great,” Alexandria groaned, “just what I need.” She grabbed her hat, slapped it on over her braid, and yanked on her gloves. She had decided against chaps, though she did own a pair now, and carried her duster. The day had turned out warm and she planned on carrying it along rather than wearing it.

“How did you find boots to fit?” Anna inquired.

“They’re boy’s boots,” she answered as she pulled her door open. “Wish me luck,” she called as she started down the stairs. If Jonathon stared or gawked she knew she would turn right back around and march back into the house.