A Headstrong Woman(37)

Hoping for a better grip on her lasso, she had discarded her gloves; she was beginning to regret the decision. Her hands were raw.

“Hey how did your visit go?” Jonathon asked.

Alexandria snorted, “Don’t ask.”

“That well?”

“Lane questioned your intentions.”

“Many people would,” Jonathon said indifferently.

“He had no right,” she said as she grabbed the fence rail to climb over. She winced when the rough plank came into contact with her tender skin; Jonathon frowned.

“Let me see your hands,” he ordered. Alexandria’s chin came up. “Don’t start your chin raising with me, give me your hands,” he insisted and claimed them from her side. “Where were your gloves, Alexandria?”

“They were in the way.”

“I can’t leave you alone for two seconds can I?” he asked.

Alexandria turned on her heel and climbed back over the fence.

“Where are you going?” he was hot on her heels.

“I’m not a child and I don’t have to be treated like one,” she responded.

Jonathon grabbed her shoulder and stopped her. “At least let me get you some ointment first, okay?” he asked.

Alexandria, her green eyes snapping with indignation, was glowering at him. She nodded and he hurried to get his jar of ointment.

Alexandria moved back to the fence and sighed as she leaned on it. Jonathon’s comment had stung. It had been one of her mother’s favorite comments when she was a child and was into something she shouldn’t have been. It still had the same effect on her as it had then; it made her feel embarrassed and that made her angry.

“I’m sorry if I treated you like a child,” Jonathon apologized as he stopped beside her.

Alexandria tilted her chin to look up at him and Jonathon caught a trace of vulnerability in her eyes that he wasn’t used to seeing there. It made him feel worse. “Let me see your hands.”

He opened the jar of ointment and gently applied it to her hands.

“Thank you,” she said when he had finished.

“You’re welcome. Why don’t you knock off early today,” he suggested, “you look tired.”

“I didn’t rest well last night,” she admitted.

“That’s probably my fault. I shouldn’t have burdened you with all that right before bed.”

“I’m fine,” she argued with a small shake of her head.

“Why the bun?” Jonathon asked her.

Alexandria reached up, felt of the bun she still wore and smiled. “I forgot to take it down. I ended up yanking my dress over my rolled up pants and pulled on my everyday boots. I was hoping that it wasn’t obvious,” she said; then colored. “I shouldn’t have told you that,” she informed him with a sudden realization that it wasn’t a proper conversation to have with a man. Jonathon was laughing. “You didn’t?”

“I did,” she laughed. “I think I should take a break this afternoon I am obviously more tired than I realized.”

“Go on. Go spend some time with your daughter.”

“Thank you, Jonathon,” she said and started for the house. She stopped and turned back to him, “Oh, why don’t you join us for dinner and you can fill me in on how the men are.”

“I’ll do that,” he agreed.

Alexandria nodded and continued into the house.

“Hi,” Alexandria greeted her sister.

Anna, her eyes snapping, turned to her. “You and Jonathon sure were cozy out there, holding hands…”

“He was doctoring my hands, not that it’s any of your business,” Alexandria retorted. Millie entered the room and the conversation stopped.

***



Alexandria entered the church almost cautiously; it was her first Sunday back since Elijah’s burial and she was dreading the well-meaning barrage of sympathy. Anna, however, was only too happy to arrive and inform her friends that she was now living on the very ranch where Jonathon worked. Alexandria smiled at her sister’s antics and the expected looks of envy her position gained. She and her sister weren’t that far apart in age and yet Alexandria couldn’t remember ever indulging in the games that Anna and her friends seemed to forever be engaged in. Just one more thing that made her stand out from other women, she supposed.

“Good morning, Sweetie,” Carolyn greeted her daughter with a smile.