A Woman's Touch (10 page)

He’d had too much experience in that department already.

Rebecca chided herself for the anguished uncertainty she had been enduring since the scene in Kyle’s condo. He had wanted her trust but he had no right to demand it, she told herself. What had he given her in exchange for the love and trust she’d already given him?

He’d kept his secrets well. She wondered how much longer he would have remained silent about Harmony Valley and Rebecca’s role in a feud that spanned three generations. Kyle must have known time was running out on him. Yet he had stalled right up until the lawyer’s letter had landed on Rebecca’s desk.

That wasn’t like Kyle, she reflected. He was a man of action.

It was almost as if he hadn’t wanted to deal with the situation he himself had created. It was as if he’d been crossing his fingers and hoping his luck would hold out. He had trusted to fortune that everything would go smoothly instead of blowing up in his face.

The Stockbridges were known for their luck, he’d said.

In certain matters.

Rebecca could well believe in the Stockbridge luck when it came to business, although she would have said it was luck based on a certain aggressive boldness, a savvy intelligence and shrewd instincts. A gunfighter’s luck.

She’d been right when she’d first decided that Kyle Stockbridge had been born in the wrong era. He belonged back in a more lawless time when men made their own rules out here in the Colorado wilderness.

Rebecca made good time. The small town named on the lawyer’s page of directions hardly warranted the label. It consisted of little more than a couple of gas stations, a cafe, a grocery store, tavern and one tiny motel.

Rebecca decided she had little choice in the matter. She checked into the motel and considered herself fortunate. If the place had been full she would have had to drive on to the next town which was some distance away.

The room was paneled in fake wood, making the small space seem even darker and more confining that it already was. But the facilities worked and the bed was not as lumpy as it might have been under the circumstances. Rebecca unpacked her clothes and went in search of a bite to eat.

She had all afternoon to find Harmony Valley, she told herself. Now that she was near her goal, she wasn’t quite so intent on reaching it. A part of her was suddenly reluctant to come face-to-face with the land that had destroyed her relationship with Kyle Stockbridge.

The cafe was filled with men wearing battered cowboy hats and caps that bore the famous logos of the makers of farm machinery. Rebecca was treated to a series of curious stares as she made her way to the one empty booth at the back. She suppressed a small smile. Strangers were obviously a rarity around these parts.

She took a seat and picked up the menu. It struck her that this miniscule burg was Kyle Stockbridge’s hometown.

Somehow it didn’t seem odd that Kyle came from a place like this. She could envision him growing up in these mountains, becoming as hard and forbidding as the Rockies themselves.

„Hamburger and fries, please,“ Rebecca said to the waitress who came to take her order.

„Cheese?“ the young woman asked, tossing her ponytail back over her shoulder. The gum she was chewing snapped cheerfully.

„Yes, please. And a cup of coffee.“

„Be right back.“

The waitress turned her head as a murmur of recognition and welcome went through the cafe.

Rebecca glanced toward the door along with everyone else and stiffened with shock.

„Hey,“ the waitress said with a pleased grin. „That’s Kyle Stockbridge. Haven’t seen him around here for ages.“

She waved enthusiastically, and her gum snapped again. „How you doin’, Kyle?“

It was Kyle, all right, but not the Kyle Rebecca was familiar with. He wasn’t dressed in a business suit, for one thing. He was wearing a pair of faded, snug-fitting jeans, a denim shirt and old, scarred boots. He had a black Stetson pulled down low over his eyes. It was obvious he was on familiar turf. He walked with the long, easy stride of a man who has spent time in the saddle and in the mountains.

There were a variety of friendly nods and laconic greetings as Kyle made his way down the aisle to Rebecca’s booth. Strangers might be treated to cool, assessing stares around here, she thought wryly, but someone with roots in the area obviously got a different sort of welcome.

A part of her was thrilled to see him. The wave of longing that went through Rebecca made her dizzy for a moment before she managed to clamp a lid on her errant emotions.

But she knew from the gleam of satisfaction in Kyle’s eyes that she had betrayed herself for a dangerous instant.

„Hello, baby,“ he said smoothly as he took the seat across from her. „Surprised to see me?“

„Yes,“ she said tightly.

„You shouldn’t be. You must have known I’d follow you to Timbuktu.“

„This isn’t Timbuktu.“

He smiled faintly as he set his hat down beside him on the red plastic upholstery. „True. But it is the only cafe in town. I checked at the motel and they said you were having lunch. It wasn’t hard to find you. Don’t forget, I’ve found you before under more difficult circumstances.“

„You followed me,“ she accused softly.

„That’s why you make such a good executive assistant, Becky. You’re so sharp. So alert to the little nuances of a situation. So intuitive. Yes, ma’am, you’re right. I followed you. What are you having for lunch?“

„A hamburger.“

„Wise choice. I appreciate your not embarrassing me by trying to order pasta or Cajun chicken here. I’d be laughed out of town.“ He glanced up at the young waitress who had appeared at his side with a pot of coffee. „I’ll have a burger, too, Jan. Make it rare.“

„Sure, Kyle.“ She poured his coffee first and then poured Rebecca’s. „You stayin’ around long this trip?“

„Depends.“

Jan slanted him a knowing look. „We all expected you to show up right after Alice Cork died. Dad said he expected you and Glen Ballard to ride into town with guns blazing. Thought the two of you would shoot it out in front of Pat’s gas station. Just like in the movies.“

„Not much point.“ Kyle looked at Rebecca. „Had to find out who had inherited Harmony Valley first.“

Jan’s eyes went to Rebecca’s face in open speculation. „Are you the one?“ she asked with eager curiosity. „We’ve all been wondering who Alice would stick with the problem of that valley. Who are you?“

„Meet the new owner of Harmony Valley,“ Kyle said blandly. „Her name is Rebecca Wade. She’s my administrative assistant at Flaming Luck Enterprises. And,“ he added with calm possessiveness, „she’s the lady I live with.“

Rebecca’s fingers trembled with the force of her anger. „Not any longer,“ she bit out.

But the damage was done. Ears perked up in nearby booths. Jan was staring at her, curiosity turning to outright wonder.

„Well, I’ll be.“ Jan grinned at Kyle. „I guess this answers the question of who’s finally gonna get Harmony Valley, huh?“

„Don’t bet the cafe on it,“ Rebecca murmured. „I’d appreciate it if you’d put my order in, Jan. I’m getting hungry.“

„Yes, ma’am.“ Jan was brimming with excitement as she hurried off to the kitchen. It was only too obvious she couldn’t wait to be the bearer of fresh gossip.

„And I thought the talk would be bad at work.“ Rebecca glared at Kyle as she picked up her coffee cup.

„Folks around here have gossiped about Stockbridges and Ballards for three generations,“ Kyle observed. „Don’t worry about it. Stockbridges and Ballards sure don’t.“

„Easy for you to say. You’re the one who started the talk about me.“

„People were bound to talk about you. This way they’ll at least get the facts straight.“

„Not from you, they won’t. You just told Jan an outright lie. As of yesterday I am not living with you.“

„Do you want to drive out to Harmony Valley right after we eat?“ Kyle asked conversationally.

Rebecca fought her temper. She’d seen Kyle use this tactic before. When he didn’t care for the direction a conversation was taking, he simply changed it. It would be useless to try to force him to acknowledge the error of his ways.

„There is no ‘we’ about it. I intend to drive out to the valley after lunch. Alone.“

„I’ll take you. You’re liable to get lost if you go by yourself.“

„Then I’ll get lost. It will be my tough luck.“

Kyle gave her a level look. „I’ll take you out to Alice’s place, Becky.“

She knew it was a losing battle, but something made her struggle on to the last ditch. „And if I decline your offer?“

she inquired dryly. Kyle was always willing to let you know how big the club that he was holding over your head was.

„I’ll follow you,“ he said simply.

The thought of wandering around unknown roads for miles searching for the lawyer’s vague reference points while the black Porsche hovered in her rearview mirror was daunting.

„So kind of you to go out of your way like this,“ Rebecca said scathingly.

„My pleasure.“ Kyle paused, looking thoughtful. „Have I ever really been unkind to you, Becky? Be honest, honey.“

„Here come our hamburgers,“ Rebecca announced. She was not above changing the direction of the conversation herself.

Kyle told himself the Stockbridge luck might be kicking in again. About time. Rebecca was obviously not pleased about the situation, but at least she was sitting beside him in the Porsche and she wasn’t yelling at him. A man had to take what he could get in a tricky situation such as this.

But part of him almost wished she was shouting at him. The silence was getting to him. Rebecca had been unnaturally quiet since leaving the restaurant. She seemed distant somehow, as if she were deeply involved in her own thoughts and didn’t have any intention of letting him know what those thoughts were about.

Kyle realized he didn’t especially like the feeling of being out of contact with her. It made him realize how accustomed he had become to the vague, but pleasant sensation of being
in
contact with Rebecca. During the past ten days he had begun to experience the novelty of learning to communicate with a woman. Rebecca had seemed to understand him. Hell, Rebecca had loved him.

As they approached Harmony Valley, Kyle tried to lighten the atmosphere by playing tour guide. „This is fine country,“ he said. He was aware of a familiar sense of pleasure as he pointed out the lushness of the small valley and the spectacular mountain slopes that framed it. „Good grazing or farmland on the valley floor, and the full potential of the hillsides was never really exploited during the mining boom. No telling what’s left up there in those hills. There’s a wide creek that runs year-round.“

„What did Alice Cork do out here all by herself for so many years?“ Rebecca asked wonderingly as she surveyed the verdant scenery. It was the first time she had spoken since leaving the restaurant.

Kyle glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to assess her mood. Rebecca’s moods had never been difficult to read in the past. Now he found himself struggling to second-guess her. It made him uneasy.

„Alice farmed for the most part,“ Kyle said. „Ran a few cattle for a while and later some sheep. The stock was all sold off before she died. Guess she knew the end was coming. Alice always had a way of knowing things.“

„What kind of things?“

Kyle shrugged. „I don’t know how to explain it. She just seemed to be aware of certain matters. Like when babies were due, for instance. She was a sort of local midwife. Folks living out here can’t always get to the hospital in time, especially if the weather’s bad. Alice would get out of bed in the middle of snow storms and drive that old four-wheel-drive truck of hers to a rancher’s house just in time to deliver a baby.“

„Really?“ Rebecca’s eyes were suddenly bright with interest.

„Yeah. Really.“ Kyle gave her a laconic glance, pleased at having finally elicited some genuine attention from her.

„The interesting part is that, half the time no one had to call her for help. She just showed up at the right moment. As if she knew exactly when things were scheduled to get serious. She was good with animals, too. The local vet used to consult with her on occasion.“ Kyle paused, remembering. „Once she saved a dog of mine.“

„What happened?“

„Joker got real sick. The vet said he wouldn’t make it and the best thing to do was put the dog to sleep. Dad said it was my decision but if it was up to him, he’d get a second opinion.“

„Your dad suggested you take Joker to Alice?“

Kyle nodded. „And the vet agreed. Said it couldn’t hurt. So I put poor Joker in the back of the truck and Dad and I drove out to see Alice. Dad warned me she might not let us in the driveway. She was known to greet Stockbridges and Ballards with a shotgun. But that day she let us drive right up to the front door. She walked out as if she’d been expecting us and just told Dad to carry Joker inside. Dad did it without saying a word. Alice told us to leave and we did.“

„What happened to Joker?“

„We got a phone call from Alice five days later. She just said it was time to come get Joker and then she hung up the phone. Dad and I drove back out to her place and Joker came racing out of the house to greet us, good as new.

Dad tried to pay Alice but she told him there were some things Stockbridge money couldn’t buy. She kicked us out the door. I went back later to try to thank her for saving Joker’s life but she wouldn’t let me past the front gate.“

„She sounds fascinating.“

Kyle wasn’t sure he liked the tone of open admiration. His eyes narrowed as he eased the Porsche onto the deeply grooved road that led to the old Cork house. „She was a stubborn, difficult, mean-tempered witch.“

„You’re a Stockbridge. Therefore, you’re prejudiced.“

Kyle shook his head. „Ask anyone.“

„I’ll make my own judgments. After all, she was my relative, even if I never heard of her.“ Rebecca leaned forward with sudden eagerness. „Is that the house?“