A Headstrong Woman(106)

“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, Alexandria 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.

“Well, at least there will be someone to look after you now,” her dad was the first to speak. Alexandria looked up at her father to find him watching her calmly. She was thankful for his quiet strength; she had depleted her own this morning.

“Welcome to the family, Jonathon, I’ve always thought a lot of you,” Shirley said quietly.

“Congratulations,” Anna added.

Alexandria let out the breath she had been holding and looked to her sister. She read hurt in her sister’s eyes but no accusation. Alexandria burst into tears. The stress and strain of the day had been too much. She had expected anger from her sister, for Anna to hate her even; Alexandria wouldn’t have blamed her. Her mom and dad she had expected to accept it, they both liked Jonathon, but Anna, she knew she had hurt her sister whether Anna was showing it or not. Alexandria lurched to her feet and ran from the room.

“Excuse me,” Jonathon said to the others as he followed her. He caught up with her in the parlor, where she stood, arms wrapped around herself, staring out the window.

“Tell me why you’re so upset,” Jonathon gently pulled her around to face him and into his arms.

“Anna’s being so brave but I know this must come to a shock to her and I know I’ve hurt her terribly,” she poured her heart out to him.

“Anna knew our plans, Alexandria. She admitted to overhearing the conversation and asked me about it.”