“I guess that would be hard,” she acknowledged. “I just can’t imagine being that far from my family. They are only a few miles away and I miss them more than I ever imagined,” Alexandria admitted.
“Schedule a standing dinner date for Sunday. Emily and I alternated our families every other Sunday so we could all stay in touch,” Jonathon suggested.
“I just might do that; thanks Mr. Stewart,” she offered him a wide smile.
“You’re welcome,” he nodded as town appeared on the horizon.
Chapter Three
Alexandria entered the store, her list in one hand, and Lillian’s small hand firmly grasped in the other.
“Well, hello, Alexandria,” Mrs. Lawson, a longtime friend of her mother’s greeted. “What brings you back so soon?”
“I’m afraid I forgot some things when I was last in here,” Alexandria acknowledged.
“Oh, I had hoped perhaps you were here to buy for a coming little one but I suppose it is a little soon for that isn’t it?” the woman offered a wistful sigh. Her own daughter seemed unable to conceive and the woman seemed to be casting her own wishes onto all of her friend’s children.
Alexandria tucked her head hoping to hide the pain the woman’s comment caused; she wasn’t likely to ever be in buying for a little one of her own.
“Listen to me; I’ve embarrassed you. I’m sorry dear, you never mind my meddling and let’s get that list filled shall we?” the woman offered her an apologetic smile.
Hoping to avoid further discussion of children and babies, Alexandria handed over her list and browsed some nearby merchandise. As soon as her packages were wrapped and ready, she added a stick of licorice to the order for Lillian and beat a hasty retreat. She was quiet on the return trip to the ranch, her thoughts heavy with all of her unrealized dreams. Beside her, Mr. Stewart seemed to respect her need for quiet and kept up a steady chatter with Lillian.
“Here we are,” Jonathon announced as they rolled to a stop by the ranch house. Alexandria startled and looked around in amazement. She had been completely unaware of where she was.
“Thank you so much for your help, Mr. Stewart,” Alexandria offered as he helped her down. She started gathering her packages; she tensed when Elijah moved to help her. As soon as they were in the door she turned to her husband, her head high and back once again rigid.
“I’m sorry I inconvenienced you and one of your men today. In the future I will try to make certain I do better.” With that said she turned on her heel and entered the kitchen.
Elijah stared after his wife and wished he could settle this matter but realized that with Millie bustling around the kitchen it would have to wait. He hadn’t meant to make his wife so tense she walked on egg shells around him and it had become clear she was.
It was with a heavy heart that he entered the barn several minutes later and greeted Jonathon where he was still busy grooming the horses.
“Hey, Boss,” Jonathon greeted.
“Hey, Jonathon,” Elijah returned on a sigh.
“I think something happened in town to upset your wife. She nearly talked my ear off all the way there and then barely said two words the whole way back,” he was hoping the man would show some interest in his wife’s wellbeing.
“She talked my ear off before we married, now she says very little to me,” Elijah’s mood soured more by the moment. “I made a mess of things and I don’t know how to fix it, Jonathon. I just don’t know where to start.”
Jonathon was quiet for a moment as he brushed the horse in front of him. He wasn’t sure what to say to the man. He decided to just be direct.
“It’s one thing to know someone…physically and another entirely to really know them and that is exactly my advice; get to know your wife all over again,” Jonathon offered.
“I’m not sure I ever really knew her,” Elijah admitted. “I thought she was a pragmatic, unromantic individual. I knew she was great with Lilly,” Elijah’s frustration was evident in his voice.
Jonathon winced at the idea of anyone being clueless enough to believe a woman unromantic; in his experience such a woman did not exist and if she did, he wasn’t certain he would be interested in knowing her.
“So get to know your wife,” Jonathon suggested.
“Thanks, Jonathon. I wanted to talk with you about something. I am in desperate