A Woman's Touch (16 page)

Trust me, this is a serious feud. It’s for real. Ballards and Stockbridges always quarrel when they run into each other.“

Rebecca ignored her. The crowd parted with suspicious eagerness as she made her way swiftly to poolside. When the last of the guests stepped out of her way, she found herself within a couple of feet of the two men. She was stunned to hear a familiar topic of conversation.

„I’ll give you credit, Ballard,“ Kyle was saying. „You nearly pulled it off. But I recognized your hand behind the scenes as soon as my man started trying to explain why Jamison had changed his mind. I know your style. You’ll be happy to know I got Jamison’s name on that contract Monday afternoon.“

Glen shrugged. „It was worth a shot,“ he said, taking a swallow of his beer. „When I found out you’d gotten to Jamison first on the bank deal, I was a might perturbed.“

„You’re getting slow in your old age, Ballard,“ Kyle taunted.

„I’m only six months older than you, Stockbridge, and I can still whip you with one hand tied behind my back.“

„You never could take me and you know it. Remember what happened at the wedding? You wound up face-down in the punch.“

„And you wound up with a face full of wedding cake, as I recall. Hope your style has improved. Not much fun beating up a guy who trips over his own feet. Like shooting fish in a barrel.“

„Shooting fish in a barrel is about your speed,“ Kyle said derisively. „You can’t handle anything tougher than that.“

„I can handle you any day of the week and you know it. But I’d just as soon not have to do it here. Darla doesn’t approve of public brawling.“ He caught sight of Rebecca. „And I get the feeling Becky doesn’t approve of it, either –

do you, Becky?“ He gave her a wide grin.

„No, I do not.“ Rebecca glared at Kyle. „What are you doing here?“

„My invitation got lost in the mail but I knew Ballard would be disappointed if I didn’t show.“

She heard the slight slur in his voice and was genuinely shocked. „Are you drunk, Kyle?“

„Not too drunk to rip off Ballard’s arm and beat him to a pulp with it.“ Kyle braced his feet slightly apart in a fighter

’s stance and took a long swallow of beer. He kept his eyes on his opponent. „Well, Ballard? You gonna try to throw me out of your party?“

„If I decide to throw you out, there won’t be any ‘try’ about it. I’ll do it. Period.“

„Just like you
tried
to snaffle Jamison away from Flaming Luck?“ Kyle scoffed.

„Stop it, Kyle,“ Rebecca hissed, furious with him. „You’re causing a scene. I won’t have it.“

Kyle and Glen both looked at her as if she were incredibly naive.

„So what?“ Kyle asked pointedly. „I’ve had some time to think about it, and I’ve decided you won’t sell Harmony Valley to a bunch of weirdos. Your threat has lost its teeth, lady. I don’t buy it any longer.“

„This is a very nice party and you’re going to ruin it if you don’t behave in a civilized manner,“ Rebecca snapped.

„Yeah,“ Glen drawled. „You’re going to ruin things, Stockbridge. You’re going to cause a nasty little scene. Shock the neighbors. Maybe you’d better leave before you have to be carried out.“

„There’s only one way I’ll leave here, Ballard, and that’s with Becky. I came here to get her and I’m not going home without her.“

Rebecca glared at Kyle. „I’ll leave when I’m good and ready. I’m a guest here, and I intend to enjoy myself. I was having a lovely evening until you arrived.“

„The hell you were.“

Glen Ballard grinned again. „I’m real happy to hear you’ve been enjoying yourself, Miss Wade. Darla has certainly taken to you. Says the two of you are going to be good friends. That’s nice, seeing as how we’re going to be neighbors.“

„Don’t listen to him, Becky,“ Kyle said through his teeth. „You don’t want to have anything to do with this jerk.“

„Why not?“ she demanded furiously.

„Because he’s a Ballard,“
Kyle roared. „And you belong to me, remember?“ Heads turned quickly. The whole crowd was listening to the confrontation taking place beside the swimming pool.

Rebecca shivered. She had told Darla earlier that Kyle had never really frightened her, but she had to admit that there were times when he certainly made her aware of his displeasure. „Keep your voice down, Kyle. You’re embarrassing me.“

„And you’re embarrassing Darla, too, Stockbridge. Why don’t you just leave?“ Glen’s taunting smile gleamed in the lamplight. „And don’t you worry about Rebecca. We’ll take real good care of her.“

„You’re not going to get your hooks into her,“ Kyle shot back. He tossed his beer can aside and stood with his hands on his hips.

„Kyle, stop it this minute. Do you hear me?“ Rebecca gritted, growing alarmed. The brushfire these two men had created was escalating rapidly out of control. „You’ve had too much to drink and you’re acting like an idiot.“

„I’ll go along with that,“ Glen Ballard said cheerfully. „You’re acting like an idiot, Stockbridge. But, then, I guess it runs in the blood, doesn’t it?“

„You want me to leave, Ballard? Why don’t you try throwing me out?“ Kyle unbuttoned the cuff of one shirt and started rolling up the sleeve.

„Don’t mind if I do,“ Glen said, setting down his beer can.

„Kyle! Don’t you dare start a fight here. Do you hear me?“ Rebecca raged. „Don’t you dare.“

„Stay out of this, Becky.“ He didn’t look at her. His attention was on his opponent.

„I will not stay out of this,“ she hissed. „Stop it right now, or so help me…“

But Kyle was paying absolutely no attention. He was readying himself for the fight. Glen Ballard had rolled up his own sleeves and dropped into a fighter’s crouch.

„I don’t believe this,“ Rebecca stared at first one man and then the other. „I just don’t believe it. I’m going to put a stop to this right here and now.“

She planted both hands on Kyle’s shoulders and shoved with all of her might. With a yelp of outrage, he toppled into the pool.

„Now why didn’t I think of that?“ Darla Ballard said, moving up behind her husband who was doubling over in laughter at the sight of his opponent sinking under water.

Darla pushed hard and a second later Glen Ballard joined his nemesis in the swimming pool.

The crowd that was gathered around the pool held its collective breath as the two would-be combatants surfaced.

Without a word both men stroked to the edge of the pool. The laughter didn’t start until each hauled himself up over the edge and got to his feet.

Kyle and Glen stood there dripping wet and contemplating Rebecca and Darla with expressions of disgusted amazement.

„I
think I’d better take this one home,“ Rebecca said, stepping forward to clasp Kyle by his arm. „He’s in no condition to drive and if he hangs around here in those wet clothes he’ll probably catch a chill. The image of a big, macho gun-fighter with a bad cold doesn’t do much for the imagination, does it?“

„She’s right, Glen.“ Darla surveyed her husband. „You’d better go change your clothes, too. It’s getting cool out here. Run along now.“

Glen muttered something unintelligible and then meekly turned and headed for the house.

„This way, sport.“ Rebecca started to lead an unresisting Kyle through the amused crowd. „Good night, Darla. I enjoyed myself up until these two decided to stage their big showdown. Maybe we can get together again one of these days?“

„I’ll look forward to it,“ Darla murmured. She saw Rebecca as far as the edge of the patio. „You know, this night will probably go down in local history.“

„Why?“ Rebecca asked.

„Because for the second time in one day someone tried to stop a Ballard and a Stockbridge from getting into a fight.“

„We not only tried,“ Rebecca pointed out, „we succeeded.“

„Thanks to you. Obviously Ballards and Stockbridges aren’t quite as tough as they’ve led everyone to believe over the years,“ Darla remarked thoughtfully.

Kyle stiffened under Rebecca’s hand but he said nothing. Rebecca smiled fleetingly.

„We didn’t witness a show of weakness on either side back there, Darla,“ Rebecca said. „What we saw was a demonstration of common sense. Apparently, contrary to popular myth, given a big enough hint, even a Ballard or a Stockbridge can figure out when to quit. I think that’s a very hopeful sign. See you later.“

„I’ll see you get your car tomorrow,“ Darla called. „How about lunch?“

„Sounds great,“ Rebecca called back.

Darla laughed as she waved farewell. „I think this is the part where I’m supposed to ask ‘Who was that masked lady?’ as you ride off into the sunset.“ She turned and went back toward the pool where the crowd was busy rehashing the scene that had just taken place. Rebecca had a hunch everyone in the community would be discussing the events for days.

Kyle spoke for the first time, his voice low and grumbling. „If you two get any friendlier you’ll have to form a club.“

„Not a bad idea. We could call it the Society of Ladies Interested in Stopping the Stockbridge-Ballard Feud.“

Kyle shot her a dark glance. „What do you care about the feud? You’re planning to sell to Ballard and head back for Denver.“

„Am I?“

„Isn’t that why you were here tonight? To hear Ballard’s offer?“

„Nope. I came out of curiosity. And because I wanted to meet my new neighbors.“

„Sure you did.“

„It’s the truth.“ They approached the black Porsche, which was parked at the end of the driveway. „Let me have your keys, Kyle.“

He reached into the wet pocket of his jeans and fished out the keys, but he didn’t turn them over to Rebecca. „I’ll drive.“

„No, you will not drive. You’ve had too much to drink.“

Kyle hesitated, shrugged and handed over his keys. „Take it easy,“ was all he said. He climbed into the passenger seat, heedless of the damage his wet clothes might do to the upholstery. „Turn right on the road at the end of the driveway. You ever been behind the wheel of a Porsche before?“ He fastened his seat belt.

„No, but a car’s a car, isn’t it?“ Rebecca blithely shoved the key into the ignition and fumbled with the gears. „I’ve been driving for years.“

Kyle winced but stoically said nothing as finely meshed machinery ground in protest. Rebecca got the car in motion and spun the wheel. The Porsche jerked violently to the right.

„Tight steering,“ she remarked as she straightened out the nose of the Porsche and headed for the road at the bottom of the driveway.

„Very.“ Kyle’s voice was even tighter than the steering.

Rebecca slid her passenger a sidelong glance and stifled a small grin.

Her amusement faded, however, as she sped down the road. She lapsed into a silence that was thicker than Kyle’s.

It wasn’t until she had driven over five miles that she began to get suspicious.

„You’re taking this whole thing amazingly well,“ Rebecca finally observed.

Kyle leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. „Win some – lose some,“ he stated with admirable sangfroid.

The truth dawned on Rebecca slowly. „I get it,“ she said finally. „You think you won tonight, don’t you? You succeeded in accomplishing what you set out to do. You crashed the Ballard’s party and got me out of their clutches.

Congratulations.“

Kyle didn’t open his eyes. „Thanks. The victory wasn’t without its down side. I didn’t count on ending up in the pool.“

„I suppose you weren’t even as drunk as you appeared?“ Rebecca’s hands tightened on the wheel.

„The only thing I had to drink was half of that can of beer Ballard gave me.“

„I see.“

Kyle opened his eyes then, his gaze shadowed in the dark confines of the car. „No, you don’t, but maybe you will one of these days. Take a left up here where that other road joins this one.“

Rebecca obeyed, wondering if she should be furious at the deception. She couldn’t seem to work up the energy.

Too many other things were going through her mind.

„You can’t afford to hang around here keeping an eye on me for long, Kyle. You’ve got a company to run back in Denver.“

„I’m practicing delegating authority, just like you taught me. I left Harrison in charge.“

„You left Rick in charge?“ Rebecca was amazed. „After the way you chewed him out for nearly losing the Jamison deal?“

„He’s got a lot to learn,“ Kyle muttered, „but he’s basically smart enough to hold things together for a few days.

You told me that, yourself, once. Remember?“

„I didn’t think you were listening.“

„I always listen to you, Becky. You ought to know that by now.“

Rebecca was silent for a while, turning that over in her mind. „I read an interesting passage in Alice Cork’s journal today,“ she said finally.

„Yeah?“ Kyle didn’t sound encouraging.

„It was about something that happened on a Halloween night several years ago. Back when you and Glen Ballard were teenagers. Alice wrote that she had some trouble that night.“

„Kids get up to all kinds of things on Halloween.“

„She noted that a gang of boys from the neighboring town decided to trash her barn as a Halloween prank.“

„The kids used to tell each other she was a witch.“

„She was worried about her livestock that night. Afraid some of the animals might be injured,“ Rebecca continued.

„Alice always did like animals.“

„She wrote in her journal that she was nervous. She wasn’t sure what to do. There were a number of boys involved, some of them quite rough. She figured she couldn’t just start shooting. They were, after all, just kids.“

„I didn’t realize old Alice had such fine scruples. God knows she was always willing enough to wave her shotgun in my face.“

Rebecca ignored that. „Alice was scared that night, Kyle. Scared for her animals and maybe a little scared for herself, too.“