A Headstrong Woman(12)

“What brings you here?” Alexandria asked as she led them into the hall of the house.

“I can’t stay; I have some business in town but Anna begged me to drop her off.”

“I’m so glad you did,” Alexandria enthused as she linked her arm with her sister’s. “Can I convince you to pause for cookies and coffee?” she tempted her father.

“Perhaps on the return. You two enjoy visiting,” Clay leaned over to kiss each of his daughters on their cheeks.

“We will; love you, Daddy,” Alexandria smiled at him.

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

Clay turned to leave and Alexandria led Anna into the kitchen where she had left Lilly drawing at the table. Millie had finished shaping the loaf of bread Alexandria had abandoned upon seeing her family.

“How are you doing, Anna?” Alexandria asked as she prepared two cups of tea.

“Bored without you, otherwise fine. What I really need is to find a husband so I can keep busy with a home of my own,” Anna predicted.

“So which of your suitors are you considering?” Alexandria asked as she set a plate of cookies and their tea on the table. A glass of milk for Lilly and Alexandria was ready to sit down herself.

“Join us, Millie,” Alexandria invited after the woman had placed the bread in the oven.

“I have some mending to do in my room; thanks though,” the woman excused herself.

“To answer your earlier question, I am not considering any of my current suitors,” Anna announced almost disdainfully.

“Oh,” Alexandria could only smile at her sister’s pickiness.

“I have my eyes on your new hand.”

“Anna,” Alexandria set her cup of tea down and met her sister’s gaze; her own was serious. “Mr. Stewart was quite recently widowed and I have a feeling that he is not overly interested in remarrying at the moment.”

“How would you know?” Anna asked irritably.

“Elijah had him escort me to town a few days ago and it came up. He seems to still be in a great deal of pain. He will have to move past that before he can even consider remarrying; trust me on this,” Alexandria requested of her sister; she could only hope that Anna wouldn’t ask how she knew this.

“I can understand that but is there anything wrong with getting to know him? I mean one day, once he’s had time to recover, he could come to realize that he wants more than friendship; right?” Anna’s smile said she already had all her plans made.

“Why Mr. Stewart? What do you know about him, besides that he’s attractive, that makes him husband material?” Alexandria challenged.

“I sense that he’s a nice man,” Anna responded crisply; her blue eyes were stormy at being questioned. Her demeanor changed and she smiled at her sister. “He was perfect gentleman when he escorted you to town was he not? And polite too, I’m sure.”

Alexandria sighed at her sister’s persistence. “Of course he was but that does not tell you whether you two would suit as husband and wife. That is a lot harder to discern, trust me on this please?”

“Why; what’s wrong, Lexie? Is Eli not treating you well?” Anna was immediately alert.

Alexandria realized too late her mistake. “We got off to a rough start but we are doing much better now. He loved Martha so deeply, Anna, and I didn’t know him half as well as I believed myself to. I just don’t want to see you hurt or see you struggle. Just be sure when you marry that you know the man; okay?”

“I will, Lexie. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Positive. We had a long talk last night and I really think we’re making progress now.”

“Good. So, all that aside, what have you been doing? I mean you have a housekeeper; do you still cook and stuff?”

“I do, but it doesn’t all fall on my shoulders, which honestly is a relief. I’m rather accustomed to teamwork,” Alexandria offered her former teammate a smile.

“I know Mama misses you, though she tries to be brave about it. Daddy says at least you aren’t all the way in California the way Catherine is. Oh! Speaking of Catherine, we received another letter; she says she sent one to you too.”

“I haven’t gotten it yet, though if it came since Tuesday, no one’s been back by the post office yet. I’ll be glad when they get the free rural delivery service started out in this area.”

“I know, it will be nice,” Anna agreed.