A Headstrong Woman(50)
Alexandria hesitated for a moment; she was reluctant to part company.
“Would you care for some coffee after I’m finished here? I don’t know about you but I could use some.”
Jonathon nodded and moved to leave; he glanced back as Alexandria leaned over to kiss Lilly. The picture lingered in his head as he started down the stairs. Now wasn’t the time to consider his decision to move on or how much he had enjoyed Alexandria clinging to him, and there likely never would be a good time to consider it, theirs was a working relationship and that was how it needed to stay. Millie, her eyes still wide, stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
“It’s under control now, Millie,” Jonathon reassured her.
“Did he hurt her?”
“No, just scared her. Would you mind fixing some coffee? I think we could all use a cup.”
“I’ll get right on it,” Millie was relieved to be needed.
“I’ll help,” Anna offered and followed Millie; a small flicker of some undefined emotion played across her face before she schooled her features.
“Lexie, you have to move home,” Anna said as soon as Alexandria entered the room. Alexandria claimed the cup of coffee Millie handed her and sat down beside Jonathon.
“I’m not going anywhere. You’re welcome to, but I won’t be run off my own land,” Alexandria’s voice was hard as steel.
“That man would have hurt you, Alexandria!” Anna yelled at her sister.
“So I’m supposed to go running with my tail tucked? NO! This is my home!” Alexandria yelled back.
“Your sister has a point, Alexandria. He would have done Lord only knows what,” Jonathon informed her grimly before continuing. “But you’re right too. This is your home.”
“What do you suggest?” Alexandria’s eyes pleaded for a solution. Jonathon looked down into her up turned face before glancing to the window. He didn’t know how any woman could be so strong and vulnerable at the same time.
***
“What are we doing?” Alexandria asked as Jonathon handed her Elijah’s gun. The sheriff had just finished his investigation and left.
“I’m going to teach you to defend yourself,” Jonathon informed her. Alexandria glanced at the gun that lay heavily in her hand before looking back to Jonathon and nodding.
“I like that idea,” she smiled.
“Me too, especially since trouble seems to follow you.”
“Thanks,” she said; Jonathon smiled.
He had set up several cans along a back rail of the corral adjacent to the barn and made a barrel into a table for the needed supplies.
“First of all, Alexandria, you need to get a firm grip on the gun. It won’t bite you,” Jonathon told her as he placed her hands on the gun. “Now,” he leaned down beside her, “you see the site on the end? Line that up with your target. Do you see how the can is directly at the end?” he asked. She smelled of lilacs.
“Yes,” she swallowed hard. She wasn’t used to being this close to a man, or at least not in the absence of a crisis she amended.
“Hold that and shoot,” he instructed and stepped away from her. Alexandria fired and sent a can flying from the fence.
“Good,” Jonathon smiled. “Try it again.” He watched as she carefully aimed and sent another can flying from the fence.
His brow rose, “Is there anything you can’t do?”
Alexandria looked over at him and smiled. “Hmm,” she pretended to consider it “I’ll let you know; I’m certain there is.”
“You’re very confident,” he told her.
“If you’re trying to start an argument it won’t work. I’m getting too old for it,” she bit back a smile. She fired again and again hit her target. She was determined not to let last night spook her; she was going to go on with her life and not let them best her. Arguing playfully with Jonathon gave the day some semblance of normalcy.
“You are?” Jonathon was amused. “How old are you, Alexandria?” “Old enough,” she quipped before firing.
“How old?”
“Old enough to be out of school and married.” Alexandria was smiling as she aimed her gun and fired again.
“Thirty?” Jonathon knew she wasn’t older than he was.
“No!”
“So how much of an age gap was there between you and Elijah?”