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The heat searing her skin was unbearable "Well, not for you," Alanna hissed "Never for you!"

"Careful," he warned with laughter in his voice "Never is a long time"

Alanna was about to argue that it wasn't long enough as far as Rolt was concerned, but at thatat the road that would take her to her parents' house, he had stayed on the highway

"You missed the turn," she pointed out

"No, I didn't"

He sounded so certain that Alanna glanced back over her shoulder to the crossroads, nearly convinced that she was mistaken "My parents live down that road"

"I' you home"

He wasn't serious! One look at his face told her he was Her mouth opened, speechless for an instant "Where—"

"Kurt is at the mine You did want to see him, didn't you?" he mocked

"Is that where we're going?" Alanna deames,

"Of course—" taking his foot off the accelerator "—unless you want to go directly home"

"I would like to see Kurt," she ad at his deliberate failure to tell her Sarcasue as she added, "It never occurred to me that you would take ency on his hands"

Her gibe rolled off his back like water from a duck "I think he can be spared for a few minutes to see you I can take over for him"

"Just as you could have to let hiertips on the throbbing ache in her temple "The same way you've taken over froret the day he ever sold controlling interest to your company"

"The iron vein had played out Your father didn't have the financial ability nor the knowledge to switch the operation to processing taconite If he hadn't sold out to us when he did, in another year he would have been bankrupt That is the truth, whether he or you will ever admit it," Rolt stated in a cold, unemotional tone "Besides, you wouldn't have met Kurt—or me"