A Headstrong Woman(97)
Alexandria’s gaze was wide with shock when she looked up at him.
“I keep telling you, you’re beautiful, Alexandria; I don’t know why you don’t believe that. You’re right though; I have no right to kiss you, so I’m sorry for taking what wasn’t mine.”
Jonathon pushed off the wall of the house and left Alexandria staring at the door. She moved slowly into her office and settled in her chair. He thought she was beautiful.
Chapter Eighteen
Jonathon was leading Raven and Lady from the barn a few days later when he looked up to find a rider approaching. He and Alexandria had finally managed to slip back into their comfortable routine after a couple of awkward days. He somehow had a feeling in his gut that this man was about to upset the delicate balance they had struck. The crazy thing was he had no logical reason for feeling so. He frowned when the man rode closer and he still couldn’t identify him. He waited impatiently and looked the man over as he neared. The man could be no more than five feet nine inches with a thick build. What hair he had left was brown and he had a rather homely look. When he dismounted, Jonathon noted that his eyes, behind his glasses, were brown as well.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“I’m here in response to the ad,” the man replied.
Jonathon looked the man over; he didn’t look as if he’d even been near a cow before.
“Do you have any experience?” Jonathon queried. He didn’t mind training a hand but this man looked more than a little green behind the ears.
“Experience?” the man squinted at him before shaking his head. “No, and frankly I didn’t think it would be required.”
“It isn’t required, just preferred. I can always show you how it’s done,” Jonathon responded.
“How it’s done? “ the man sputtered, his face was mottled red with embarrassment.
“Why don’t I show you around?” Jonathon offered; what was wrong with this man?
“I think it would be best to meet Mrs. Morris first,” the man countered, his brown eyes were large behind his glasses and his manner affronted.
“All the men go through me,” Jonathon said firmly.
“You her brother?”
“No, her foreman and friend.”
“With all due respect, I certainly don’t want to get started on the wrong foot here, but I’d like to meet Mrs. Morris first. I have my letter from my minister and letters of recommendation right here,” the man thrust several papers at him.
“A letter from your minister is hardly necessary; a former employer would be more useful.”
“Employer? The ad said a letter of recommendation from the family minister.”
“You’re confused sir, I helped write the ad it said letter of recommendation from former employer helpful but not necessary.”
“No, no, please can’t I just meet Mrs. Morris?” the man was seemingly at the end of his patience.
“Sir, do you want a job or not?” Jonathon demanded and watched the man frown.
A job?” the man’s brow furrowed before he smiled. “Whew, I must say, I am relieved; I was getting concerned. Name’s Victor Quentin and I am most certainly not here about a job, I’m here in response to this ad,” the man shoved a paper at him, one ad circled in ink. The man tapped the ad and Jonathon read it in disbelief before looking back at the man in front of him. The man pushed his spectacles back up his nose and watched Jonathon expectantly.
“I’m afraid that there’s been a mistake, you may go,” Jonathon informed the man.
“But the ad’s dated just a few days ago…”
“I said, you may go,” Jonathon repeated.
“Now look here, mister, I intend to meet Mrs. Morris. I think the misunderstanding is on your part,” the man was becoming red in the face, this time in anger.
“The misunderstanding is on Alexandria’s part but believe me it’ll be cleared up when I’m through; you can be on your way,” he told the man and turned to enter the house. “Rusty, see this man off the property,” Jonathon instructed.
“Will do,” Rusty said without question.
“Now look here I intend…whoa now, hey wait, okay, okay; I’ll go,” Jonathon could hear the man, though he never looked back. The last thing Jonathon heard before he entered the house was: “I didn’t even get my paper back.”