A Woman's Touch (14 page)

„Soaking up a little local atmosphere.“ She stepped forward through the smoky haze and smiled at the red-haired man. „You, I take it, are Glen Ballard?“

„I am.“ Ballard straightened up and tipped his wide-brimmed western hat in an old-fashioned gesture. The taunting look left his eyes as he studied her. A slow smile curved his mouth. „And you must be Miss Rebecca Wade.“

She inclined her head. „I’m afraid so.“

„Becky, this is no place for you.“ Kyle dropped his pool cue on the table and came around the corner to grab her arm. „For Pete’s sake, don’t you know any better than to wander into a tavern? This isn’t exactly a cocktail-and-sushi bar.“

„I figured that out right after I opened the door.“

„Miss Wade is safe enough in here,“ Glen Ballard said with soft challenge. „I’ll protect her myself, if need be.“

„The hell you will. Touch her and I’ll feed you that pool cue.“

„Kyle, please,“ Rebecca interrupted quickly. „Don’t be an idiot.“

„That’s good advice. You ought to pay attention to the lady, Stockbridge.“ Ballard grinned wickedly. „‘Course, that’s probably tough advice for a Stockbridge to take.“ He looked at Rebecca. „Stockbridges just naturally tend to make idiots of themselves,“ he confided. „It’s in the blood.“

„Shut up, Ballard.“

„Now why should I, Stockbridge?“

„Gentlemen, please.“ Rebecca said very firmly. She sensed the gathering excitement in the room. The men at the bar were edging closer. She thought she saw money being put on the counter and she knew it wasn’t to pay for drinks. It was time to take charge of the situation. „There seems to be a misunderstanding here.“

Neither man was paying any attention to her now.

„I
said,“ Rebecca repeated in a louder voice, „there appears to be a misunderstanding here.“ She turned to face the crowd. „Instead of providing a show for you all today, Mr. Ballard and Mr.

Stockbridge would like to buy a round of drinks for everyone.“

„Get out of here, Becky.“ Kyle was eyeing his opponent. „I’ll be out as soon as I teach Ballard a few manners.“

„I’ll send him out to you minus a few basic parts, ma’am. I’m not sure he’ll be much use to you after I get finished with him. But, then, Stockbridges have never been much use to anyone,“ Ballard said.

„I’m afraid I’m not making myself clear,“ Rebecca said coolly. „You will both cease and desist from this childish behavior at once. And then you will fork over enough cash to buy everyone in here a drink. If you don’t, I will deed Harmony Valley over to one of those crazy religious cults that has its members out soliciting in airports. I understand they’re always looking for places to build their communes.“

„Don’t be ridiculous, Becky.“ Kyle muttered.

„You know very well that I am seldom ridiculous. I mean every word I say. You both have sixty seconds to make up your minds.“

Kyle swore and looked at Ballard. „I hate to say it, but she probably means it. I do know her. Unless you want this town filled with a bunch of weirdos and their gurus, you’d better do as she says.“ He fished his wallet out of his back pocket, walked over to the bar and put down several bills.

Ballard watched in astonishment. Then he looked at Rebecca’s face as if seeing her for the first time. Something he saw there must have convinced him the threat was real. Thoughtfully he followed Kyle over to the bar and put down a stack of bills.

Rebecca was keenly aware of the stunned silence behind her as she turned and strode out of the tavern. She didn’t need to look over her shoulder to know that Kyle and Glen were following her.

„If you’re the new owner of Harmony Valley,“ Glen Ballard said as he trailed after Rebecca who was heading back toward the grocery store. „I’ll tell you straight, ma’am, you aren’t quite what I expected. Bet you weren’t what Stockbridge here was expecting, either. Hey, here comes Herb. What’s up, Herb? You look agitated.“

Herb Crocket came to an awkward halt in front of Rebecca. He looked from her composed face to the scowling faces of the two men following at her heels. „Everything okay, Miss Wade?“ he asked uneasily.

„Everything is just fine, Herb. Kyle and Glen just did their charitable deed for the day. They bought a round of drinks for everyone in Cully’s Tavern. If you hurry, you might get a beer on the house.“

„They chipped in together to buy a round of drinks? I don’t believe it.“ Herb stared harder at Kyle and Glen. „Must be some mistake. I thought there was gonna be a…“ He broke off quickly as the two men behind Rebecca fixed him with quelling stares.

„You thought there was going to be a fight?“ Rebecca smiled politely. „Not today. Mr. Ballard and Mr. Stockbridge are going to behave themselves today. Aren’t you, gentlemen?“

Kyle braced one hand against the nearest wall and bunched the other one into a fist at his hip. „This isn’t funny, Becky.“

„You can say that again,“ Glen Ballard muttered.

Herb looked from one man to the other with a dazed expression. „What isn’t funny?“ he finally asked.

„I’ve explained to both Mr. Ballard and Mr. Stockbridge that if either of them gets into a brawl this afternoon, I will be turning Harmony Valley over to a tribe of cultists. As you can see, Mr. Ballard and Mr. Stockbridge appear to be able to agree on a few things, one of which is that they don’t want Harmony Valley going to a bunch of strange people in purple togas.“

„Purple togas?“ Herb Crocket looked more confused than ever.

„Run along to Cully’s, Herb.“ Kyle looked bored. „Someone down there can explain the joke.“

„I think I’ll do that.“ Herb stepped around Rebecca and her entourage. „Your groceries are waiting for you, Miss Wade,“ he called back over his shoulder.

„Thank you, Herb.“ She resumed her determined stride toward the store. Both Glen and Kyle fell into step behind her again.

Neither said a word as she collected her sack of groceries from an astounded-looking Ethel and headed back across the street toward the motel.

Glen Ballard finally spoke up as he realized she was about to let herself into her room without another word to either of the two men who had been shadowing her like wary wolves.

„Miss Wade,“ Glen said, shedding some of the western twang in favor of a more businesslike tone, „I’d like to talk to you.“

„Would you?“ She turned on the step and eyed the two men assessingly. The difference between Glen Ballard and Kyle Stockbridge was the difference between night and day. They were clearly opposites. If Kyle was a man of dark, brooding shadows, it was fair to say that his counterpart was full of sunlight and roguish charm. It took a while to get to know Kyle well enough to figure out if you could ever like him, but Glen was the kind of person everyone responded positively to on sight. Unless of course one knew why he was turning on the charm.

„I certainly would,“ Glen said easily. „But my wife never allows me to talk business before dinner. She claims its bad for the stomach. Darla likes to fuss over me, and I’ll be the first to admit I like being fussed over. She’s the reason I

’m here, by the way.“

„Perhaps you’d better explain.“

Glen’s engaging smile brightened by a few thousand watts. „I’m getting ahead of myself. Guess I’d better start from scratch.“ He executed a small, amusing bow. „Glen Ballard at your service, ma’am. My wife, Darla, and I got word you were in town. We wondered if you’d care to join us for a little get-together we had planned for this evening. Just a casual barbecue for a few of the neighbors. From all accounts, you definitely qualify as a new neighbor. Like to meet a few of the local folks?“

Meeting the neighbors sounded fine as far as it went. But Rebecca experienced a very odd sensation at the thought of socializing with the woman who had once been engaged to Kyle. Still, sooner or later she knew she was going to have to deal with the Ballards. A casual barbecue might be the easiest way to feel out the situation.

„That sounds wonderful,“ she said politely. „I accept.“

Kyle swore. „Don’t be a fool, Becky. I thought you were smart enough not to fall for the snake oil and greasy charm.“

„Why don’t you let the little lady make up her own mind, Stockbridge? You’ve had your chance with her. Kept her tucked away out of sight for over two months, from what I hear.“

„The
little lady
makes her own choices,“ Kyle grated. „And she chose to stay with me for the past couple of months.“

„Maybe that's because she didn’t know why you were keeping such a close eye on her, hmmm?“

„The
little lady,“
Rebecca broke in deliberately, „has no intention of listening to this kind of garbage on her own doorstep. If you will excuse me, I’m going to make myself a snack.“

„My apologies, Miss Wade,“ Glen Ballard said with quick, apparently genuine contrition. „Didn’t mean to upset you. Don’t pay any attention to Stockbridge or me. We can’t be in the same room together for more than five minutes without wrangling. It’s in the blood, you know. Our daddies and granddaddies were the same way.“

Kyle shot Glen a savage glance. „Don’t let him charm you, Becky. He’s good at it, I’ll admit. But it’s all fake. He’ll smile like that while he’s taking you for everything you’ve got.“

„Miss Wade appears to be an intelligent woman. I expect she can tell the real thing from the fake when she sees it,“

Glen Ballard said gently. „Lord knows she’s had long enough to figure out which category you fit into. Why don’t you stand aside and give her a fair chance to get to know me?“

„I don’t plan to stand aside for you or anyone else, Ballard.“

„Why not?“ Glen asked. „You ought to be used to it. You’ve had to stand aside in the past once or twice.“

„Not for anything that mattered,“ Kyle said bluntly.

Rebecca saw the dangerous gleam in Kyle’s eyes and a sinking feeling hit her. Glen must have been referring to the time he had married Kyle’s fiancée, Darla. It was obvious from the expression on Kyle’s face that the past was far from dead. She wondered how big a torch Kyle was carrying for the other woman.

„Listen, you sonofa…“ Ballard began ominously.

„Excuse me,“ Rebecca interrupted crisply. „I’ve got better things to do than listen to this. Kindly remember my threat. I do not threaten lightly.“ She slammed the door hard enough to alarm anyone who happened to be in the neighboring room.

„I’ll pick you up in an hour, Miss Wade,“ Glen yelled cheerfully through the door.

„Don’t bother. I’ll find my own way out to your place.“

„If that’s what you want. Just ask the guy who runs this motel. He can give you directions. Darla will be looking forward to meeting you, Miss Wade. So long.“

Rebecca leaned back against the cheap wooden door and listened to Glen Ballard striding away. He was whistling.

Kyle was pounding arrogantly on the door before Ballard had driven out of the lot.

„Open up, Becky. I want to talk to you.“

„Not now, Kyle. I’ve got to get ready to meet my new neighbors.“

„Like hell you do. Ballard’s just trying to con you. If you’re smart, you won’t let him within a hundred feet of you in the future.“

„I’ll keep your advice in mind,“ she called back through the door. „Now go away, Kyle.“

There was silence on the other side of the door. Rebecca waited for Kyle to try another tactic, but the next sound she heard was the sophisticated growl of the Porsche’s engine.

For some reason she was vaguely disappointed that Kyle had given up so quickly this time.

With a sigh she unpacked her groceries, made a sandwich and then went back to Alice Cork’s journal.

Alice, she discovered after a few pages, had some illuminating observations to make on the two members of the third generation of Ballards and Stockbridges. Apparently Alice, too, had finally come to the conclusion that Glen and Kyle were not exact copies of their fathers.

A few hours later Rebecca finally located the Ballards’ sprawling home in the hills outside of town. She parked her compact behind an assortment of vehicles that ranged from a new Mercedes to a fifteen-year-old pick-up truck. It look as if most of the local community had been invited to tonight’s barbecue.

She walked up the stone path to the back of the house where a sizable crowd of laughing, chatting people was clustered around a large pool. A number of children flitted around, shouting and giggling. The fragrance of wood smoke and broiling meat filled the air. As Rebecca hesitated, wondering which of the women present was her hostess, one of them came toward her with a wide smile of welcome.

„You must be Rebecca Wade. I’m Darla Ballard. And I’m so glad you could make it. I told Glen it would be a miracle if you showed up. I’m sure you’ve had all you want of Stockbridges and Ballards.“

„I couldn’t resist the offer of a meal somewhere besides the cafe in town. I’ve had my hamburger quota for the month,“ Rebecca said. She assessed Darla quickly. Glen Ballard’s wife was a lovely brown-eyed blonde. She was about Rebecca’s age, and she was obviously pregnant. The condition seemed to suit her. Darla was glowing.

„A free meal is the least we can offer. Come with me. I want you to meet everyone. Heaven knows they’ve all heard about you by now. Nothing happens between Stockbridges and Ballards around here that stays private. I understand you amazed and astounded the entire clientele of Cully’s this afternoon. They’re calling you the new town marshal, you know. Word has it you actually walked into the local saloon all by yourself and kept the peace, just like in the bad old days when the guys in black hats tried to shoot it out.“

„It wasn’t quite that colorful.“ Rebecca followed her hostess into the crowd thinking about how fast gossip traveled. She wondered how much malicious talk there had been when Darla had broken off her engagement to Kyle.

The thought made her wince inwardly. Kyle’s fierce pride must have been lacerated when his ex-fiancée had turned around and married a Ballard.