Just heard that someone needs cajoling...

I don't know much about touring bikes, but it sounds like a road bike is what you need for now. If you go with a reputable bike shop (not a big box store) and get a good fit, you really can't go wrong with any manufacturer you choose. The choice may come down to what's available to you locally, and which LBS you like best. Trek makes great bikes, as do Specialized, Cannondale, Lemond and many others. At your size you should probably be looking at women specific design (WSD) bikes too.

The Bicycling magazine web site has a bike finder on the gear page, not sure how helpful it is, though.