A Headstrong Woman Read online

  Elijah moved back around his desk and studied the man across from him. He had noted the man was nearly equal to him in height but where he was thick and solid, the man before him was slender, though by all appearances well-toned. With a thick head of wavy black hair and startling blue eyes he was likely popular with the ladies; what Elijah wanted to know was what kind of hand he would make. That wasn’t as easily discerned.

  “Do you have any experience as a hand?” Elijah queried. The man didn’t bear the look of perpetual drifter as so many of the hands who shifted through.

  “Yes, sir, I worked my uncle’s ranch every summer for three years.”

  Elijah nodded in satisfaction; he was willing to give the man a try and expressed as much.

  Several minutes later the two of them rode from the house to find the men and the herd.

  “You say you worked your uncle’s ranch summers, what did you do the rest of the time?” Elijah asked to make conversation.

  “It’s been several years since I worked my uncle’s ranch. I own a farm in South Dakota.”

  “What brings you out here then?” Elijah eyed the man curiously. He watched pain cross the man’s face and wished he hadn’t asked.

  “I buried my wife and stillborn daughter six weeks ago.”

  The man’s voice was devoid of any emotion.

  “I buried mine about a year ago,” Elijah shared. He watched confusion fill the younger man’s face. “That was my second wife you met at the house this morning,” he was not quite able to stop the grimace that accompanied the words. “I had my daughter to consider after Martha died and she needed a mother.”

  “I see,” the man nodded and Elijah had a feeling he saw too much. He felt a kinship to this stranger that he had seldom found in lifelong friends. Perhaps it was the all too familiar haunted look that filled the man’s eyes when he was unguarded as he was now.

  “Her pa and I have been friends for more’n a decade.”

  They rode in silence a moment. In the distance the Bitterroot Range, today cold hard silver against an azure sky, jutted into the horizon. More immediately the land around them rose and fell in sloping well watered valleys ideal for the herds of cattle that grazed there.

  “Congratulations on your marriage,” the younger man finally ventured.

  “I hurt her,” Elijah blurted. “I hurt her and likely one of my closest friends in the process.”

  Elijah could hear the weariness in his own voice. It felt good to lay troubling thoughts out in the open and to finally confront them aloud.

  “Sorry,” Elijah realized that this man had his own problems without Elijah adding his own to them.

  “Don’t be, our problems somehow seem more bearable when we give them voice,” the man seemed to speak aloud Elijah’s own thoughts.

  “Yeah,” Elijah grunted.

  They topped a rise and the herd appeared below them, several hundred head of cattle being watched over by a half a dozen cowboys. The sight always lifted Elijah’s heart, even on his worst day and today was no exception; the change of topic was welcome too. He urged his horse forward to join the men below; the younger man fell in beside him.

  ***

  The rider sat atop his mount, his spy glass firmly trained on Elijah and the unfamiliar cowboy beside him. He sneered as he watched the man who seemed to thwart his plans at every turn. First Elijah kept snapping up parcels of land he had wanted for himself and then to add insult to injury he had married Alexandria before he, himself had ever made a formal attempt at courting her. Elijah had become the bane of his existence. Every night he couldn’t lay down to rest without torturing himself with thoughts of Elijah and Alexandria together; it ate at his peace of mind until he felt certain he would go mad. Perhaps he already had, he mused as he considered scenarios that would gain him the lovely Alexandria and with her would come the land; the land he had always wanted and then some. He smiled, the spy glass lowering as an idea began to take shape. He had made some connections over the past few years and they would serve him well now. He intended to make Alexandria and the Bison Creek Ranch his own and God help any man who got in his way.

  ***

  Alexandria entered the church and her gaze quickly singled out her sister. It was a relief to be off the ranch and among friends again, even if it did mean pretending she was happily enjoying wedded bliss. Anna spotted her and moved her direction with a wide smile. Alexandria felt some of the tension leave her shoulders and a real smile grace her lips.

  “I have missed you, where were you the last two Sundays?” Anna demanded.

  “Elijah is shorthanded and having to pick up the slack and he doesn’t want me traveling alone,” she explained the only answer she had gotten to the same question. Elijah seemed to avoid the house much of the day and spent his evenings primarily wrapped up in his daughter.

  “I’ll convince Daddy to send Michael for you.”

  “Thanks, Anna, but it’s okay; we come as often as we can. How’ve you been?”

  “Bored without you at home,” Anna’s pretty face settled into a pout. As the youngest of the family Anna had rarely been denied anything she wanted. Not because their parents were lax, more because when their parents said no, one of her older siblings usually gave into her anyway.

  “I’ve missed you too,” Alexandria admitted. “Haven’t you been overrun with suitors?” she teased; she knew her sister was seldom without admirers.

  Anna made a disgusted face. “Only the boys I knew in school. I want excitement and to be swept off my feet.”

  “Have you been reading dime novels again?” Alexandria teased.

  “So what if I have?” Anna demanded haughtily.

  Alexandria laughed and shook her head at her sister.

  She watched her sister’s eyes widen. “Who is that?”

  “Who’s who?” Alexandria turned her gaze in the direction her sister was staring. The new hand from the ranch stood hesitantly in the doorway, his expression uncertain before he snatched his hat off his head as though just remembering it was there. He moved into the room and smoothed his thick hair out as he did. Alexandria noted that all of her unmarried friends seemed to be tracking his progress into the room.

  “Elijah said his name is Jonathon, Jonathon Stewart, I think. He’s the new hand at the ranch.”

  “The new hand at the ranch?” Anna’s eyes lit instantly.

  Uh oh, Anna was notorious for her crushes, though she usually got over them quickly when the new object of her affection proved once again to be a mere man or as Anna often declared disdainfully, “A mere boy.”

  “Yes, he just started a couple of weeks ago.”

  “Maybe I should come visit now that you’ve had time to settle in,” Anna smiled widely.

  “You’re welcome to visit any time but I only see him in passing and that rarely,” Alexandria warned.

  “Well then we’ll just have to make sure our paths pass his, won’t we?” Anna’s smile was downright cheeky now.

  “Yes, of course, how silly of me,” Alexandria returned. Anna had looped her arms through her sister’s and was guiding her, presumably to a seat.

  “How’s married life?” Anna asked conversationally.

  “Fine. Lilly is such a sweetie, her dad has been so busy she is clinging to him today like rain to a window pane,” Alexandria forced lightness into her tone. Anna still frowned at her as though there was something wrong with her statement.

  “Alexandria, we need to be seated,” Elijah appeared at her elbow.

  “Of course,” Alexandria nodded.

  “Might I sit with you?” Anna requested.

  “Certainly,” Alexandria was quick to agree.

  “Oh! Excuse me!” Anna quickly apologized to the broad back she had just walked into. “I wasn’t watching where I was going Mr….?”

  “No harm done Miss.” Jonathon turned and assured Anna.

  Anna, her blue eyes wide, stared up at him expectantly. Alexandria realized that she was waiting for a
n introduction but she herself had never formally met the man.

  “Oh, um, Jonathon this is Annabella Cannon, my sister-in-law and this is my wife Alexandria Morris. Alexandria, Annabella, Jonathon Stewart, my new hand at the ranch.

  “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stewart,” Anna offered her hand and her most charming smile.

  “My pleasure, Miss.” he took her hand politely, “and it’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Ma’am,” he added to Alexandria with a quick nod.

  Anna still had not released his hand and Alexandria realized he was now staring down at it in consternation.

  “This is your first time here with our congregation is it not?” Anna finally released his hand.

  “Yes, yes it is,” he quickly tucked his hand safely inside his pocket.

  “So you don’t know anyone yet?” her look was one of concern.

  “She’s right, Jonathon, why don’t you join us?” Elijah invited as he led Alexandria into a pew. He seated himself on her left to allow Anna to sit beside her and Alexandria watched as Jonathon hesitated before seating himself beside Anna somewhat cautiously. Poor Mr. Stewart, he had no idea what he was in for, Alexandria mused as the first notes of music started from the front of the church.

  Chapter Two

  Jonathon considered himself to be a perceptive man, seeing things for what they were and calling them as such. He evoked in others a sense of confidence he himself didn’t quite understand. He mused on this as he watched Elijah’s young wife pin laundry to the clothes line. She was tall and slender, so delicately turned that she looked as though a strong wind should bend her to the ground like a young sapling.

  Elijah had shared his tumultuous thoughts with Jonathon over the few weeks he had been there and he found himself torn between understanding and compassion for the older man and frustration at him for how little thought he gave his wife. Whatever Elijah’s reasons for marrying the young woman, she deserved common courtesy from her husband.

  Alexandria glanced up at him as though aware of his scrutiny and he noted how flat her eyes were as he nodded a greeting and stood; he should get back to his chores. It couldn’t be easy to realize that the man you shard your bed and life with wasn’t in love with you; he could remember how excited and full of dreams Emily had been when they married. He glanced back at Alexandria one last time. Her back was now to him as she worked; her long hair hung in a single braid down her back like that of a schoolgirl. Just how old was she anyway?

  He entered the barn and moved toward a group of men who were moving a stack of crates Elijah wanted relocated. The men had easily accepted him and included him in their joking and talk. Oddly enough, though most were close to him in age and couple even older; he felt much older than them.

  “I don’t know why the boss married her but he sure don’t take much interest in her now,” Sparky commented as he handed a crate off to Russ. Jonathon had noted the Sparky often surreptitiously watched the boss’s wife but never crossed the line into inappropriate familiarity.

  “Well if he aint gonna pay her no mind I will,” Nick crudely joked.

  “Hey now,” Sparky stood to his full height and glared at the stockier hand opposite him. Sparky was young, best Jonathon could tell, and quick tempered, though he usually brought it under wraps before it got him into any real trouble.

  “Eli’ll have your hide if he hears you talking like that and I just might help him,” Russ added to the fray. Russ was closer to Jonathon in age perhaps a couple of years older than the others and seemed to have a level head on his shoulders.

  “What Elijah don’t know won’t hurt him,” Nick countered. Nick was cocky to a fault and seemed to have little scruples if his behavior since Jonathon’s arrival was any indication.

  “Your Ma not teach you how to treat a lady?” Jonathon was now standing behind Nick. Nick turned to him in surprise and seemed to size him up. The man visibly relaxed his shoulder and offered him an insolent grin.

  “Oh no hurt in lookin and talkin, is there?”

  “There is if it disrespects a lady,” Jonathon countered.

  “Fine,” Nick hefted another crate and fell into a brooding silence.

  “Need a hand?” Jonathon offered.

  “Thanks; appreciate that,” Sparky offered a friendly smile.

  Alexandria flipped her empty laundry basket upside down on the ground beside the line and turned to enter the house. She needed to alter her dress for church this Sunday; at least she assumed they would go. Elijah had been sporadic in attendance since their marriage but he had said something about going so she would plan as though they were.

  She had lost weight since her move to the ranch and didn’t want it to be immediately obvious to her mother come Sunday morning. Her mother was always fussing that she was too thin as it was. Both her older sister, Catherine, and younger sister, Anna were well rounded in all the womanly places and more fashionable in height. Catherine had taken the men of their community on a wild ride before she had up and married a California business man who was in town on business. Alexandria suspected that Anna would do the same before she settled down.

  Alexandria poked her head into Lillian’s room and noted that she was still sleeping soundly before she moved into the sewing room to alter her dress. It was one of her favorites; one she had always felt a little more confident in. Even this dress had elicited no response from her husband; his lack of response had made her realize that wedded bliss was not in her future. She had determined to be the best mother and to manage her house hold to the best of her ability and to be content with that. She would expect nothing from her husband therefore ensuring that she would be immune to being hurt by him or any man. It sounded good in theory but the pain that seemed to be perpetually below the surface mocked her new resolution as though reminding her that she had already failed yet again.

  She had just finished sewing the last tuck into her dress when Millie tapped on the doorframe and entered the room.

  “Alexandria, did you pick up the list I gave you on your last trip to town? I can’t seem to find the sugar,” the woman watched her expectantly. Alexandria closed her eyes and blew out a frustrated breath. She had tucked the list into her pocket and then promptly forgotten it when she started selecting material for Lilly some new dresses.

  “I forgot them, Millie; I’m sorry. I’ll go find Eli and arrange to go to town,” Alexandria promised and she stood and went to search out her husband.

  She found him and several men talking just outside the barn. She approached cautiously. She had asked him for little since their marriage and had spoken to him little more than necessary. She had attempted to establish lines of communication by asking him questions about how the ranch worked, but he had curtly reminded her that the house was her domain. She had given up after that and dreaded approaching him now.

  “Eli,” she called cautiously.

  He turned to her in surprise.

  “Is something wrong?” he frowned down at her.

  “I forgot several necessary supplies on my last trip to town and I need to go for them,” she announced; she was trying hard to keep her shoulders straight and chin high. If he would let her go to town by herself she could take care of it without bothering him; he refused however.

  “Alexandria, this is a busy, working ranch and I can’t run off to town every few days. You need to ask Millie to show you how to make a complete list and …” Elijah stopped short when he realized that the men were watching the whole exchange and that Alexandria stood, head bent as though defeated. Elijah rubbed his hands over his face. She had made a mistake. Everyone made mistakes, himself included and his marriage to Alexandria the biggest of those.

  He turned to the men. He could not be away from the ranch this afternoon; he would have to ask one of them to escort her. He eyed Sparky who was watching him; jaw clenched and anger radiating from his intense gaze. Elijah had already figured out that the young man was sweet on his wife. Russ refused to meet Elijah’s gaze a
nd Nick actually looked rather amused by the whole exchange. Elijah, not certain that he completely trusted the man, kept a close eye on that one. His gaze landed on Jonathon, the only one whose expression remained impassive, nothing in his demeanor suggesting that he was wondering if Elijah knew that his wife was afraid of him.

  “Jonathon, can you escort her please? I’m not comfortable with her making the trip alone.”

  “Sure thing, boss, no problem,” Jonathon assured him before he turned to enter the barn.

  When Elijah turned back to his wife it was to find her already half way across the yard. He excused himself and followed her. He caught up with her just inside the house where she was part way up the stairs.

  “Alexandria,” he called and watched as she turned to face him; her expression was cautious. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. You’re just a child, you’ll get the hang of it,” he intended his statement to be helpful.

  “A child?” Alexandria’s smile was brittle, “A child to raise your child; isn’t that ironic?” Alexandria turned, her back ram rod straight and continued up the stairs. Elijah propped his fist on the banister and dropped his head to his fist. What a mess he had made.

  Alexandria entered her room, rage and hurt causing tears to spill over. A child! The man married her and then had the audacity to call her a child. If she was such a child why had he chosen her to be a glorified nurse maid turned prisoner? Alexandria impatiently splashed her face with water and blotted it dry. She had no use for tears and no time. Mr. Stewart would be waiting to escort her. She dressed quickly and efficiently in an appropriate dress and wrapped her braid into a thick configuration on her head before securing it. Her task completed, she stood before the mirror and raised her chin, squared her shoulders, and fixed her composure back in place. She didn’t want a near stranger being privy to her quiet anguish and she didn’t want to give Elijah any more power to hurt her. With determination she went to collect Lilly and exited the house.