A Headstrong Woman(54)
“You could learn to,” he seemed almost desperate now.
“Lane…”
“I could provide well for you and Lilly and protect you. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything, about someone taking you from your home and being helpless.”
Had Lane known Alexandria better he might have realized he had said the wrong thing.
“I am not helpless and, in fact, have learned to use a gun,” she informed him.
“From whom?” he demanded.
“Jonathon taught me….”
“You taught her to use a gun?” Lane turned on Jonathon acknowledging him for the first time.
“Yes, I did.”
“A woman has no place using a gun!” Lane raised his voice.
Jonathon noted several questioning gazes and stepped closer to Lane.
“If you don’t lower your voice this argument is going to get a lot more serious, Alexandria doesn’t need you causing a scandal for her. As for a woman having no business with a gun, every woman has the right to defend herself. If you’ll excuse us, we have errands and we’re already running behind,” Jonathon announced evenly. “Good day, Mr. Wilson.” He grabbed Alexandria by the elbow and escorted her down the boardwalk.
Alexandria glanced back to find Lane watching them; rage was the only word for the expression on his face. Alexandria turned back to Jonathon.
“You just made him very angry,” Alexandria informed him without rebuke.
“He was beginning to make me angry. Who appointed him your guardian?”
“Oh, I see, are you afraid that he’ll take your job,” she teased. “I would think you would be looking for a way to get rid of a pain in the neck.”
“You’re a lot of things, Alexandria, but only occasionally a pain in the neck,” Jonathon’s smile was teasing.
“Thanks.”
“Glad to help,” Jonathon answered as they entered McAllister’s Livery.
“Wha’ can I do fer ya?” Mr. McAllister inquired.
Alexandria let Jonathon answer; her attention was on the activity in the corral just beyond a side door. A beautiful cinnamon colored mare pawed the air; the men beneath her were scrambling to stay out of the way of her hooves. One of the men yanked roughly on the mare’s reigns and Alexandria felt her blood heat.
“Mr. McAllister, your men need to learn that force is not the only way to handle a horse,” Alexandria said with heat.
“I assure ya, Ma’am, they tried everything else.”
“I doubt that,” Alexandria muttered as she headed for the door. Jonathon and McAllister followed her. Jonathon was watching her suspiciously. Before either man was certain of her intentions, Alexandria had let herself into the corral and was approaching the furious mare. “You, you there, stop yanking her around and she just might co-operate,” Alexandria called to the brawny man who held the mare’s reigns. The man glanced at her and grunted.
“Stay back lady, this one is no good…”
Alexandria was now beside the man. The horse, which had been pacing anxiously, stopped and watched Alexandria as she began talking in low soothing tones; she took the reins and stepped closer and closer.
Jonathon was halfway across the corral when she stroked the horse’s nose and started leading the mare toward Mr. McAllister.
“Mr. McAllister, your mare,” Alexandria handed him the reigns. McAllister’s eyes were huge. He obediently reached forward and took the mare’s reigns. The mare snorted and stepped sideways but made no further move to bolt. Alexandria turned and left the corral.
Jonathon appeared at her side, took her by the elbow, and propelled her down the boardwalk to the waiting wagon. He physically lifted her from the ground and set her on the high seat before climbing on beside her. It was several minutes later, well into the countryside before Jonathon’s heart had slowed enough for him to speak.
“Alexandria, that was a very foolish thing to do, that horse could have trampled you,” he finally managed much more calmly than he felt.
“I couldn’t let them continue to treat that mare that way!” Alexandria’s hands fisted with anger.
“I understand why you were upset, I don’t approve of how you handled it.”
“I appreciate your concern but I’m not a child.”
“I didn’t say you were, I’m merely suggesting that you acted rashly,” he countered.