A Headstrong Woman(117)
***
Alexandria dressed for church with trepidation. Today would be the first time that most people in the community learned of her marriage to Jonathon. It was probably a good thing that Jonathon’s brother had arrived to divert the girls’ attention. It might prove to save Alexandria’s neck.
As soon as they arrived at church, Alexandria and Jonathon sought out Pastor Anderson as he was crossing the yard from the parsonage and informed him of their marriage. He would make an announcement after worship service. Several young women who were clamoring for Jonathon’s attention waylaid Jonathon before he could even make it to the church steps and asked for an introduction to his brother.
Alexandria went in search of her mother and spoke with her briefly before wading into the fray of young women to claim her husband.
“Well as if one of you wasn’t enough, now how are we to decide who we like more?” One of the young women flirted outrageously.
Alexandria rolled her eyes. Lilly reached for Jonathon as soon as they reached him and was taken from her mother’s arms.
“If you ladies will excuse us,” Alexandria said with polite coolness as she led Jonathon through the crowd. She could feel eyes on her back and knew the gossip had started.
“Thank you,” Jonathon smiled, as he took her by the elbow and nodded to a neighbor.
After the song service, Pastor Anderson read off several prayer requests, prayed, and made the announcements. Alexandria tensed when he came to the announcement of her marriage and heard several gasps from around the church as several of the ladies raised their fans and leaned close. Jonathon took her hand and squeezed it gently to reassure her. It galled Alexandria that these ‘pillars of the community’ would assume the worst of her.
After service, Alexandria, Jonathon, and Ted crossed the yard to meet Alexandria’s family. They found them talking with a new couple and their twin children. Clay made the introductions.
Alexandria smiled at the red head across from her in recognition.
“Jonathon, Alexandria; Ted, I would like you to meet Colton and Ali Davis and their children: Kelsey and Kelvin.”
“Were you at the train station a few days ago?” Alexandria asked after the introductions had been made.
“Yes, we were and unless I’m mistaken you were demonstrating your skills as a gunman,” Ali’s green eyes were sparkling. Alexandria found herself blushing under her parent’s scrutiny.
“That definitely would have been Alexandria,” Jonathon chuckled.
“Ali is good with a gun too,” Colton joined the conversation. “She ran a ranch by herself for years.”
“Alexandria was running her ranch until our marriage,” Jonathon shared.
“That’s not entirely accurate, Jonathon; you were there the whole time looking out for me,” Alexandria reminded him.
“It sounds like we have a lot in common; you’ll have to come to dinner once we get settled,” Ali invited.
“Or you could come to our place even sooner,” Alexandria countered.
“I would like that,” Ali smiled.
“Where are you living?” Jonathon asked Colton. The man was tall, almost as tall as Jonathon with light brown hair, and brown eyes. He had a commanding presence that left Jonathon wondering about his work.
“We bought the old Hines place. I worked as an U.S, Marshall for years but when I met the lady I was ready to settle down with I decided to take up ranching,” Colton shared.
“I know the place; we’ll send an invitation soon.”
“I look forward to it, we should go, Ali,” Colton prompted his wife. “It was nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure was ours,” Alexandria assured them. She watched them leave before turning to her parents.
“Mama, Daddy we were wondering if you would join us for lunch at the ranch.”
“That sounds like a fine idea,” her mother smiled.
***
Alexandria lay across her bed and watched as Anna loosened her hair and brushed it out. Dinner had been an interesting affair with Ted teasing Anna and Anna trying her hardest to ignore him. Shirley had run her daughters out of the kitchen and stayed to help Millie with the dishes while the men went out to the barn to see a new foal.
“Why are you so short with Ted?” Alexandria asked her sister.
Anna, her face set in a frown, related the incident in town the week before.