A Headstrong Woman(69)
“She may not wait until you return. Listen, Alex may have only been my boss for a while now but I’ve lived in that community her whole life. Alex is notorious for going places she shouldn’t.”
“You don’t think she’d try following me do you?” Jonathon started to worry.
“I all but guarantee you she will, especially if you didn’t explain why you didn’t want her to come,” Rusty answered.
Jonathon groaned, “That woman will be the death of me.”
“Why do you hang around anyway?”
“I made a promise to Elijah and I stand by my promises, besides, Lord help me, I’m involved now. Even if I hadn’t made a promise to Elijah I’m in too deep to walk away.”
“Do you care for her?” Rusty asked pointedly.
Jonathon looked into Rusty’s sun lined face and considered his answer.
“I’m more aware of her lately. Take that how you will,” he answered honestly as he twirled his coffee cup.
Rusty chuckled across from him. “I take that to mean that things could get real interesting around the ranch.”
“What do you mean?” Jonathon asked his brow furrowed.
“Take that how you will. Come on, we have business to see to and unless I miss my guess, we may have to rescue our boss while we’re at it.” Rusty stood and placed his hat on his head before laying money to cover his tab on the table. Jonathon stood and followed him.
“Tell me about this guy we’re looking to buy from,” Jonathon asked of Rusty as soon as they left the café. Rusty had met the man the day before.
“Mr. Kingston is fairly well known in these parts, more for his money and womanizing than anything else. His stock is good though. Rumor is he ran up some large gaming debts and needs money.”
“His loss, our gain?”
“Something like that.”
“Why did you turn Elijah down when he asked you to be foreman at the ranch?” Jonathon asked thoughtfully.
“I’ve been a foreman before. I made a decision that cost three men and a hundred head of cattle their lives, I’ll not risk that again,” Rusty’s pale blue eyes were troubled.
“What happened?”
“We were driving cattle, I took the short cut when I should have stayed with the trail we were told to follow, the trail with guaranteed water. But I was in a hurry to get home to my fiancée. It was my last drive before I was to start my own spread…. pure foolishness…”
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Jonathon told his friend.
“Mistakes that cost people their lives?”
“Sometimes, what happened with your fiancée?”
“I told her I couldn’t marry her and left town. I never want to lead another person to their death… I won’t.”
“You’re right, you won’t. You learned from your mistake, but know this, Rusty, sometimes things are going to happen that aren’t in your control. Life is not yours to give and take,” Jonathon reminded his friend.
Rusty nodded thoughtfully; then frowned.
“You’re not the only one aware of Alex,” Rusty said with a nod in the direction they had come from. Jonathon frowned and looked in the direction indicated. Alexandria was coming down the sidewalk opposite them; a small group of men were following her. Jonathon closed his eyes and blew out a frustrated sigh. He started across the street and could hear Rusty’s laugh floating behind him.
One of the men behind her made a crude comment and Alexandria spun around to face the men; she had obviously noticed them for the first time. Jonathon knew stopping wasn’t a good idea. The thought had no more than formed in his head than one of the men reached for her. Alexandria jumped backwards and bumped into Jonathon who had closed the distance between them.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Jonathon demanded. Alexandria turned to him with wide eyes; then visibly relaxed. “You just don’t listen do you?” He watched her chin come up.
“I’m not a child! You should have told me why you didn’t want me here then maybe…”
“You’re acting childish!” he snapped at her. “You don’t get your way so you go running off to prove to yourself how grown you are without thought for your safety!”
Alexandria looked as though she had been slapped. She blinked rapidly and pulled herself up straighter even as she struggled for control.