A Headstrong Woman(27)
“There are papers and things we will need to go over and sign, and there is a lien on the property at moment but if the ranch continues to do as well as it has been you shouldn’t have any trouble paying it off. I would for you if I were able.”
“Okay, I’m sure I can manage and if I have questions Daddy isn’t that far away,” Alexandria nodded confidently. She was going to do it; she was going to be independent!
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?”