A Woman's Touch

needed strong women who didn’t put up with too much nonsense.
    Another couple of weeks of flowers and candlelite dinners, Rebecca decided, and she would tell Kyle it was time to give her the ring.
    But the following Friday afternoon, Rebecca’s plans went awry. Kyle appeared in her office shortly before five o’
    clock. He had changed his clothes. He was no longer wearing the suit and tie he’d had on all day. In their place were the familiar denims and the black Stetson. Something in Kyle’s green eyes put Rebecca on the alert. A strange shiver of anticipation went through her.
    „You have plans for the weekend?“ she asked blandly.
    „Yes, ma’am, I do.“ Kyle smiled, showing a lot of teeth.
    Rebecca did not trust that smile. „What sort of plans? Are you going up to the ranch?“
    „Right, first time. I always did say you were one sharp administrative assistant.“ He slapped the hat against his thigh and smiled again. „You’re coming with me.“
    She put down the pen she had been holding and regarded him warily. „Am I?“
    „Yeah.“
    Rebecca thought about that. „I don’t think so. I’ve already explained to you that I’m not going to spend a night with you until after we’re married.“
    „The problem with you, lady, is that you’re too damned rigid. You need to learn to give a little here and there.“ Kyle
    ’s teeth flashed.
    „You think you can behave yourself for a whole weekend? Will you let me have the spare bedroom without pestering me?“
    „You can have whatever bedroom you want,“ he said as he came around the desk. „But whichever one you choose, you’d better expect to find me in it.“
    „Kyle!“
    Rebecca yelped and jumped out of her chair, but there was no room to run. He caught her before she could even blink and tossed her lightly over his shoulder.
    „Kyle Stockbridge, don’t you dare carry me out of here like this. What will everyone think?“
    „They’ll think I’ve finally had enough of jumping through hoops. And they’ll be right. Lately I’ve been feeling like a bull being led around by a ring in its nose. I’ve given you courtship, Becky. Now I’m going to take you to the mountains and make love to you until you can’t think straight. I’ve had enough of your managing ways for a while.“
    He carried her out of the office, heedless of the astonished, delighted stares of his staff. When he reached the elevator, Rick Harrison held the door and then stepped in behind his boss. He was smiling broadly.
    „You two have interesting plans for the weekend, I take it?“ Rick asked blandly.
    „We’re going up into the mountains,“ Kyle explained, patting Rebecca’s derriere. „Becky needs some fresh air and exercise.“
    „I see. Have a good time,“ Rick said as the elevator doors opened on the ground floor.
    „We will,“ Kyle promised as Rebecca made a muffled, unintelligible comment.
    He stepped out of the elevator and carried his burden outside to where his black steed was parked in the president’
    s slot. Then he put Rebecca into the Porsche and drove away with her into the night.

ELEVEN
    The night was chilled and clear, and there was virtually no traffic on the mountain road. Rebecca felt safe and snug inside the Porsche. Beside her Kyle drove with an easy control that reminded her of the way he handled his horse, Tulip.
    The atmosphere in the car had been one of thoughtful serenity. Rebecca knew it was because they were both aware that the war was over. Kyle had accepted his punishment with relatively good grace but felt it had gone far enough. For her part Rebecca realized she had made her point and that it was time to end the sparring. They were two strong people who understood and accepted each other’s limits.
    They were in love and now, finally, that was the only thing that really mattered.
    They stopped for dinner at a small cafe. Neither Kyle nor Rebecca said much during the meal, but the silence between them was a comfortable one.
    The Flaming Luck ranch house was waiting for them, dark and alone in the night. But when they entered and started turning on lights, the shadows were dispelled.
    „I think this place may have a few possibilities after all,“ Rebecca said as she surveyed the stark, rustic interior.
    „What it needs,“ Kyle said as he finished building a fire and went to pour two drinks, „is a woman’s touch.“
    Rebecca smiled lovingly up at him as she accepted her glass. Then she stood on tiptoe and brushed