Giant of Mesabi

"Tell her goodbye again for me," Alanna said, since her first attempt to leave her parents' home had been postponed when the car had refused to start.

Later, during the drive to the taconite plant, her father commented, "Rolt is really making a success out of this operation. You can be very proud of him, Alanna,"

"I am," she smiled briefly.

"Before your wedding, he hinted that there might be an increase in my stock earnings. It turned out to be quite a substantial one," he informed her. "He's quite a businessman, Rolt is."

"Yes, he's very clever." Silently Alanna realized that he had kept his word about helping her father.

She also noted that the lines of strain and tension had disappeared from around her father's mouth and eyes. The burden must have been heavy for its removal to make such a difference.

When they stopped at the entrance gate, the security guard smiled broadly in recognition. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Matthews, Mr. Powell." And they were waved on through.

Her father dropped her off at the door near where the black Mark V was parked, insisted that he couldn't come in with her if he wanted time for a leisurely meal before his meeting, and left.

Many of the office staff recognized Alanna when she entered the building. She hadn't been to Rolt's office since that night he had coerced her into marrying him. The curious glances and occasional smiles of greeting from the staff made her wonder if they were remembering the numerous times she had dated Kurt before suddenly marrying Rolt. She felt uncomfortable and defensive.

Rolt was in the outer office talking to a man in a dark suit when she walked in. The disturbing warmth of his gaze melted away the chill of apprehension that had hurried her through the halls. She moved eagerly toward him, ignoring the upturned face of his secretary.

"You wouldn't believe what's happened," Alanna smiled.

She would have stopped in front of him, but his arm encircled her waist and drew her against him to receive his kiss. Her lips automatically responded, bringing, a dark glow to his eyes that she found difficult to sustain when he raised his head.

Turning to the bemused man watching their greeting, Rolt said, "My wife, Alanna. Tom Brooks, with the shipping firm out of Duluth."

There was a self-conscious flood of color to her cheeks, brought on more by her unrestrained response than by the fact that it had been witnessed.

The man smiled briefly at Rolt. "I had heard you had left the folds of bachelorhood. I was hoping this was your new bride you were kissing." He turned to Alanna. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Matthews."

"Thank you." She shook his hand, Rolt's arm slackening its hold around her waist only slightly.

"Now what brought you, here?" Rolt prompted. "You said something had happened." For a blank instant, Alanna met his gaze. "Have you forgotten?" he chided mockingly.

"No," she breathed a shaky laugh. "My car broke down—something to do with a switch of some sort. It won't be fixed until the morning so I'm here to catch a lift home."

"I think that can be arranged." Then he frowned, a brow arching. "How did you get here?"

"Daddy brought me. I stopped by to see them today and the car wouldn't start when I went out to go home," she explained.

"I have a to go over a few things with Tom first." He glanced at his secretary over the top of Alanna's head. "There is nothing else after that, is there, Mrs. Blake?"

"No, sir."

"As soon as Tom and I are finished, we can leave," Rolt said.

"I promise I won't keep him long, Mrs. Matthews," the man smiled.

Alanna glanced around the room, the vague feelings of discomfort returning at the thought of waiting in the office until Rolt was free to leave. She didn't want to be the recipient of any more speculating looks from the staff. Sitting in the office would be like being on display.

"I think I'll wait in the car, if that's all right," she told Rolt.

"Of course." He removed his arm from around her waist and reached into his pocket. "It's locked. You'll need the keys."

Taking them, Alanna smiled politely at the other man. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Brooks." With a quick, faintly uncertain smile at Rolt, she walked from the room into the hall.

As she moved down the corridor, a familiar figure approached from the opposite direction. It was Kurt, but the ready smile was in absence and the easy charm wasn't sparkling in his eyes. He seemed so much different from the man she had once loved that he seemed a stranger.

Alanna's steps faltered as she realized she had referred to her love in the past tense. She hadn't seen Kurt since that night he had found her with Rolt. Suddenly he seemed the answer to her problem. If she could talk to him and explain what had happened, maybe she would be able to rekindle her feelings for him and thus provide herself with an immunity to the emotions Rolt was arousing in her.