Giant of Mesabi

Around ten the next morning, the telephone rang. Alanna was closest, so she answered it. "Powell residence. Alanna speaking," she said automatically.

"How's your headache?"

Her first thought was that it was Kurt phoning as promised. "All gone," she replied with forced lightness. The low mocking laughter that followed her words made her realize her mistake. It was Rolt. "How did you know about that?" she breathed angrily.

"When I saw Kurt this morning, I couldn't help commenting on how rested he looked. He explained that he'd had an early night last night because you'd had a headache." His taunting voice laughed at her excuse.

"Why did you call, Rolt?" she demanded.

"Do I have to have a reason?"

"No, but I'm sure you do." And it was probably to gloat.

"Maybe I wanted to hear your voice."

"Well, I hope you enjoy hearing this." Alanna slammed the receiver on the hook, wishing she had broken his eardrums and doubting if she could be that lucky.

She glowered for a second longer at the telephone, then pivoted away.

Her mother was watching her, a bemused twinkle in her eyes.

"Was that Rolt Matthews on the phone?" she inquired.

"Yes." Alanna's answer was abrupt, a leftover piece of her temper.

"I was wondering when he would get around to calling," Elinore Powell commented with a knowing tilt of her head.

"What made you think Rolt would call?" She was wary and on edge.

"Remember when he and Kurt were over here during Easter? Well, I could tell by the way Rolt kept watching you that he was interested. You were probably too wrapped up in Kurt to notice, but I did," her mother declared.

"Well, I can't stand him!" Alanna snapped.

"He makes you angry, does he?"

"Yes! He's—" She stopped short, suddenly recognizing the sparkle in her mother's eye, and guessing its cause. "And don't look at me that way, mother," she declared impatiently. "It's not what you're thinking. He may enrage me, but he will never raise me to some heavenly plateau!"

She spun away and raced blindly from the room. Even her own mother was going over to the enemy camp!

She railed against the unfairness of it. Rolt cast a long shadow, a giant's shadow, and it seemed to be looming over more and more of her life.

DURING THE REST OF THE WEEK, Rolt didn't attempt to make any further direct contact with Alanna. He didn't have to, since he had managed to interfere quite successfully in one way or another. Twice she had seen him briefly when she was with Kurt, and her parents had invited him over for dinner one evening. Luckily it had been an evening she had already planned to spend with Kurt.

Most of the time it was simply the thought of him that disturbed her. Each time she was with Kurt, Alanna would remember that afternoon and the things that Rolt had said and done. She couldn't forget then. She couldn't relax with Kurt. When he touched her or held her, she kept measuring her reaction, wanting to avoid a repetition of that night on the porch. In consequence, she was tense and unnatural. To cover it, she became overly friendly and affectionate to prove to herself as well as to Kurt how much she cared for him.

With her fingers twined in his, she led Kurt from the, dance floor to their small table in the crowded bar, laughing over her shoulder into his handsome face. Saturday night had filled the bar with people, and their voices and laughter made it difficult to hear the music of a local band. Not that it really mattered. Everyone was there to have fun. Music was the background.

White slacks and a white tunic was not perfect choice of clothes to wear in these crowded circumstances, but Alanna knew it set off her slim figure and the light golden tan she had acquired. And the silk underblouse of swirling lavenders and grays highlighted the unusual violet shade of her eyes. In this carefree atmosphere she felt quite bewitching.

The ardent glow in Kurt's eyes seemed to affirm that he was definitely under her spell. He didn't release her hand as they reclaimed the chairs they had vacated to dance. Their chairs were drawn close together so that their shoulders touched.

Kurt leaned over and nuzzled the tawny curls near her ear lobe. "I love you, Alanna," he murmured huskily. He drew back a few inches, a faint look of wonder in his eyes as if he was surprised by the words he had spoken. "I love you, Alanna," he repeated with conviction.

She had been waiting for these words since Easter. Now, more than ever before, they made her feel safe. Rolt's threats became meaningless, and her spirits soared with the release.

"I love you, too, Kurt," she said with genuine warmth.

"It's a crazy place to tell you." His gaze swept the noisy room briefly before returning to her face.