Giant of Mesabi

"This is one woman who's completely immune to his brand of primitive charm," Alanna declared emphatically.

"Everyone has violent feelings toward him one way or another," Kurt insisted, "sometimes feeling both ways at the same time, including myself. But I don't think anyone can remain immune."

Alanna knew which category she fell in—the one feeling violently against Rolt. He had made a fiasco of her homecoming. Nothing had gone as she had planned. He had dominated nearly every second of it. Even now, she was sitting here alone in the car with Kurt and what were they talking about? Rolt.

Gazing at Kurt, so dark and so handsome, Alanna knew he was everything she had ever dreamed about. Rolt would never change that. He would never he able to come between them no matter how hard he tried. She was foolish to remain upset, nurturing her anger for him.

"I've missed you," she murmured. The shimmery fire of frustration became a glow of loving adoration as she gazed at Kurt.

A crooked smile slowly moved across his mouth. "Have you?" The troubled light was slow to leave the eyes that searched her face. Then one hand reached out to clasp hers. "I wanted to meet you at the airport," he declared huskily. "If only that damned equipment hadn't broken down, I would have."

"We can't change what's past." Alanna implied that it wasn't important any more. "But we can forget it and start from scratch."

"Yes, we can," Kurt agreed, "starting now."

He curved his other hand around the back of her neck and gently drew her half-way to meet him. A long, satisfying kiss claimed her lips and this time, without the disconcerting presence of his brother, she responded to it. When it was over, he remained close to nuzzle her cheek and tease the corners of her mouth.

"I could continue in this happy vein for much longer," he murmured softly, his warm breath caressing her skin. "But bucket seats are simply not designed for making love with any degree of comfort.' Lightly he kissed her lips once more and moved away. There was a wry twist of his mouth as he started the engine. "Of course I doubt that Rolt has made love in a car in a very long time."

Forget, she had said. Yet already Rolt's name had crept into the conversation. She sighed inwardly as she leaned back in her seat. Something told her that Rolt was not going to be an easy man to forget or ignore.

Irritatedly, she brushed a silky curl away from her cheek. The downward movement of her hand touched the collar of her blouse, and its gaping plunge to a vee immediately brought back the recollection of her struggle in this very same car with Rolt. Her flesh burned where he had insolently touched her. An angry resentment again rose inside her.

"Let's celebrate your homecoming tonight," Kurt stated as he drove out the gate. "I'll pick you up at six and we can get an early start. How's that?"

Alanna glanced at her watch, readjusting the direction of her thoughts. "It's my first night home. Mom and dad will expect me to spend some time with them."

"Make it seven, then," he compromised, sliding her a sparkling look. "You'll be home all summer. They can see you every day and I'll see you every night."

"Every night?" she teased.

"Well, I can't leave any free time open for Rolt to slip in," he stated. "He will be coming around, you know."

"He's going to be in for a very rude surprise if he does." There was a defiant tilt of her chin. "Because I'll show him the door so fast that he won't realize what's happened until it's over."

"I'd like to be there," Kurt laughed. "That would have to be a first for him."

Alanna joined his laughter, suddenly relaxing, no longer angered by Rolt's assertion that he would win her, only amused. There was vengeful pleasure as she anticipated the moment when she would tell him to get lost. She would enjoy dealing that blow to his male ego. It sorely needed deflating.

After their laughter had erased the subtle tension, it was easy for their conversation to switch to less disturbing topics. Alanna chattered happily away about the university, her exams and her plan for the summer vacation, not mentioning the large role she hoped Kurt would play in the latter.

Her high spirits at returning home were in full bloom when the car pulled into the driveway of her home. With a suitcase in hand and Kurt following with the rest, Alanna walked eagerly to the front door. It was opened before sh

e had a chance to reach for the doorknob. A tall, spare woman stood within the white frame, her angular face wreathed in a smile of astonished delight.

"We didn't expect you until tomorrow!" she exclaimed.

"Hello, Ruth, I finished my exams a day early and caught the first flight out of Minneapolis," explained Alanna.

"You should have let us know," the woman remonstrated, giving her a quick hug before ushering her into the house and holding the door open for Kurt, laden with the rest of Alanna's suitcases.

"I wanted to surprise mom and dad." She glanced around the empty living room. "Where are they?"

"Your father is out playing some golf and Elinore is upstairs, resting before dinner." The housekeeper motioned for Kurt to set the bags inside the door.

"How is she?" Alanna's smile became slightly serious as she gazed earnestly at Ruth Ewell.

Referring to the woman as a housekeeper was really a misnomer. She had been hired first as a daily help when Alanna's mother had been expecting her. It had been doctor's orders that Elinore Powell do as little as possible, hoping to avoid the miscarriages that had ended her other three pregnancies.