A Headstrong Woman(132)
By the time the bride and groom had left, the day was waning and the temperature dropping. Jonathon had wanted to take Alexandria home but she had insisted that she could help some. She didn’t realize how tired she was until she was trekking across the shared yard to the school. They had borrowed a large wash tub from the school house wall in order to clean some of the dishes. She placed the tub on the wall and was about to leave when she thought she heard someone call her name from behind the school house. Thinking it was one of the men needing help, she walked into the lengthening shadows; her eyes strained against the encroaching darkness.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” a voice said in her ear as a hand covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
Alexandria closed her eyes; she was kicking herself for walking into a trap. She had known something was wrong, why had she let her guard slip?
“We’re going to go for a short walk through the woods; then a ride. Do I have to gag you?” the voice asked her again. Alexandria shook her head as much as she was able. “Good.”
“Why are you doing this?” Alexandria demanded.
“I never lose, Alexandria; now start walking.” Alexandria noted that her captor held a gun and knew that for her child’s sake she would co-operate…to a point at least. Alexandria started down the path indicated and searched her mind frantically for a plan that would keep everyone safe.
“Alexandria!” Jonathon’s voice called through the darkness in the distance. Alexandria felt tears flood her eyes. He had not come to the wedding armed; if he came to her aide he would likely end up dead. What could she do? Alexandria stumbled and her captor grabbed her arm in an iron vice.
“Pick up the pace; I’ve eliminated one of your husbands it wouldn’t pain me to do it again.”
“You were behind Eli’s death?” Alexandria glanced at her captor and shuddered at his feral smile.
“I was; you were supposed to come to me willingly, Alexandria; it was supposed to be so easy and no one else would get hurt. Everyone knew Eli had married you just to care for Lilly.”
Alexandria felt her heart ache for Elijah; it had been her fault that he had ended up dead. The trouble was she’d had no idea she was bringing anyone any danger. If the path hadn’t been so closed in by trees she might have attempted to run; though it could prove fatal, she realized with a sinking heart. They reached a clearing and a horse stood waiting patiently.
“Get up there,” her captor ordered.
It was almost full dark now, offering more cover, could she escape? Alexandria attempted to place her foot in the stirrup only to realize that her pregnant, corseted body did not allow for the flexibility that she had enjoyed while working in men’s clothing.
“I can’t,” she admitted.
Her captor glared at her. “I’ve seen you mount plenty of horses.” It was true Alexandria had taken great pride in her riding skill and the whole community had recognized her as one of the best horse women for the past few years.
“Yes, but I wasn’t pregnant. Pregnancy brings limitations,” She stared defiantly at her captor. It embarrassed her to tell this man that she was pregnant. There was no shame in carrying her husband’s child, but women seldom talked of their pregnancy with anyone other than close friends and family. Her captor’s eyes raked over her in the sliver of light that now remained; his gaze was disgusted.
“I hope you aren’t fond of the child,” he informed her.
Alexandria felt like crying all over again; she had to run. Whether she ran or not, she and her child were in danger.
Her captor moved forward to aide her into the saddle and offer her a hand to step into. Alexandria brought her elbow crashing down on his neck and grabbed his gun from its holster before she darted back down the path they had taken in. She could hear people and movement ahead; if she could just reach them…a shot rang out and tore into a tree beside her. She should have known he would have more than one gun. Alexandria couldn’t out run him; she stopped, turned, and met him with gun raised and ready.
“I am a great shot and you know it,” Alexandria reminded him.
“I do,” he conceded.
“Just one thing I don’t understand,” Alexandria said as she tried to buy time; she still wasn’t certain how to get out of this. “Why did you have my cattle stolen and have me attacked? Were you trying to scare me?”
“I’m not responsible for those things, Alexandria. That was Moody’s doing. He thinks he’s covered his tracks well but I know people too. It did help my case, or at least I thought it would.”