off.
Alexandria tucked her shaking hands into her lap. She wasn’t one to back down from a confrontation but they always left her shaken.
“Still think he isn’t interested?” Jonathon asked her as they started from town. Alexandria’s expression said she wasn’t amused. Jonathon bit back a smile and urged the team forward.
***
From his window in his bank office, Simon Moody watched Alexandria’s wagon roll from town. Alexandria Morris was a beautiful woman and now the owner of one of the most valuable pieces of property in the area. How fortunate for him that she was now available. He had watched her exchange with Lane Wilson and knew the younger man was interested. Simon knew that at forty-five he was still an attractive man with his dark hair and eyes. He hoped that Bank Owner, a title he wore proudly, would only sweeten the deal. How had Elijah won her hand, certainly not his looks or charm? Elijah had been short on both. No, he suspected that Alexandria had married the man for the position that such a marriage would give her. He had watched many women marry their way up the social ladder in his lifetime and for the first time in his life he didn’t mind providing that ladder himself.
“Mr. Moody, Dalton and Zeke Wiley are here for their appointment,” a young bank clerk announced.
“Send them in,” Simon nodded. A few moments later the two men entered and claimed seats.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Moody. What services can we provide for you?” Dalton asked. The young man was attractive, with dark hair and dark eyes, and was always well groomed. The fact that the young man was so clean cut in appearance was the reason Simon had chosen him. His slow wit brother had come in the deal.
“I want you to rustle some cattle. I’m willing to pay and pay well. Are you interested?”
“Just how well?” Dalton’s eyes were lit with interest. Simon smiled.
***
“So just why are so many of the young ladies at church fixated on me?” Jonathon asked to make conversation as they returned to the ranch.
“The word is they think you’re attractive and terribly romantic,” Alexandria informed him.
“There are other younger and more eligible men…”
“Yes, I see what you mean, you are so terribly old,” Alexandria said in mock disdain.
Jonathon was surprised by her teasing but couldn’t help smiling; he was several years younger than Elijah had been.
“I’m relieved you see it my way,” Jonathon said with a nod. Alexandria chuckled.
“Seriously these girls don’t even know me,” Jonathon pointed out.
“Oh, you’re quite a legend didn’t you know? Everyone knows all about you.” Alexandria’s eyes were lit with mischief when he glanced at her.
“Really?” Jonathon asked cautiously.
“Really, Mr. Stewart, you are a most remarkable man if the stories are to be believed.”
“What stories?”
“Well you should know. You remember the time that you rescued you’re future wife from a horrible fire?”
“Can’t say I do.”
“That’s how you met.”
“I thought that Emily and I were neighbors and childhood sweethearts.”
“No, you rescued her.”
“Thank you for informing me.”
“You’re welcome. Of course your proposal was quite remarkable.”
“Was it?”
“Yes, proposing in front of the whole town like that.”
“And I thought I had done a bang up job of it after crashing her engagement party to another man.”
“What?” Alexandria asked attentively.
“We had a falling out; she went to visit an aunt in the city while I was working for my uncle and wrote to inform me she was marrying another. I hopped the first train I could catch.”
“Wow, that’s better than the rumors,” Alexandria informed him.
“Anything else I should know?”
“Yes, you camped by her grave for three days and had to be pulled away by several men.”
“No, I rode away before they were even through with the burial; I couldn’t bear to look
Alexandria tucked her shaking hands into her lap. She wasn’t one to back down from a confrontation but they always left her shaken.
“Still think he isn’t interested?” Jonathon asked her as they started from town. Alexandria’s expression said she wasn’t amused. Jonathon bit back a smile and urged the team forward.
***
From his window in his bank office, Simon Moody watched Alexandria’s wagon roll from town. Alexandria Morris was a beautiful woman and now the owner of one of the most valuable pieces of property in the area. How fortunate for him that she was now available. He had watched her exchange with Lane Wilson and knew the younger man was interested. Simon knew that at forty-five he was still an attractive man with his dark hair and eyes. He hoped that Bank Owner, a title he wore proudly, would only sweeten the deal. How had Elijah won her hand, certainly not his looks or charm? Elijah had been short on both. No, he suspected that Alexandria had married the man for the position that such a marriage would give her. He had watched many women marry their way up the social ladder in his lifetime and for the first time in his life he didn’t mind providing that ladder himself.
“Mr. Moody, Dalton and Zeke Wiley are here for their appointment,” a young bank clerk announced.
“Send them in,” Simon nodded. A few moments later the two men entered and claimed seats.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Moody. What services can we provide for you?” Dalton asked. The young man was attractive, with dark hair and dark eyes, and was always well groomed. The fact that the young man was so clean cut in appearance was the reason Simon had chosen him. His slow wit brother had come in the deal.
“I want you to rustle some cattle. I’m willing to pay and pay well. Are you interested?”
“Just how well?” Dalton’s eyes were lit with interest. Simon smiled.
***
“So just why are so many of the young ladies at church fixated on me?” Jonathon asked to make conversation as they returned to the ranch.
“The word is they think you’re attractive and terribly romantic,” Alexandria informed him.
“There are other younger and more eligible men…”
“Yes, I see what you mean, you are so terribly old,” Alexandria said in mock disdain.
Jonathon was surprised by her teasing but couldn’t help smiling; he was several years younger than Elijah had been.
“I’m relieved you see it my way,” Jonathon said with a nod. Alexandria chuckled.
“Seriously these girls don’t even know me,” Jonathon pointed out.
“Oh, you’re quite a legend didn’t you know? Everyone knows all about you.” Alexandria’s eyes were lit with mischief when he glanced at her.
“Really?” Jonathon asked cautiously.
“Really, Mr. Stewart, you are a most remarkable man if the stories are to be believed.”
“What stories?”
“Well you should know. You remember the time that you rescued you’re future wife from a horrible fire?”
“Can’t say I do.”
“That’s how you met.”
“I thought that Emily and I were neighbors and childhood sweethearts.”
“No, you rescued her.”
“Thank you for informing me.”
“You’re welcome. Of course your proposal was quite remarkable.”
“Was it?”
“Yes, proposing in front of the whole town like that.”
“And I thought I had done a bang up job of it after crashing her engagement party to another man.”
“What?” Alexandria asked attentively.
“We had a falling out; she went to visit an aunt in the city while I was working for my uncle and wrote to inform me she was marrying another. I hopped the first train I could catch.”
“Wow, that’s better than the rumors,” Alexandria informed him.
“Anything else I should know?”
“Yes, you camped by her grave for three days and had to be pulled away by several men.”
“No, I rode away before they were even through with the burial; I couldn’t bear to look
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