Chapter 13

"All right, folks, all out. I'm going to lock up the station for the night."

The ticket agent came out of his enclosure and addressed them in a tired voice. He was a small, bent figure of a man, but his voice had the ring of authority. Two disheveled men and a plump woman were the only ones there in addition to Shirley and her cousin and Dan. The homeless ones wandered off into the night. Dan said briskly:

"There's an all-night diner across the street. We'd better get some coffee and then start back."

"I'm not going home," Dolly repeated sullenly.

"So you're going to New York," Dan retorted. "But I still want that coffee. Come on."

With a hand under each of their elbows, Dan started them toward the diner with a purposeful stride.

They enjoyed a quiet late-night snack and some coffee while talking for a long time. Dolly admitted that she had been foolish to spend so much of her time and energy on Tom. And even though Dan was his friend, she admitted that she had gone too far with Tom, and that he was not actually the marrying kind.

Much to Dolly's relief, Dan agreed with her, and he even offered a short toast with his coffee cup, congratulating her on coming to her senses.

After their conversation in the diner that night, Dolly vowed she would not be so hasty to leave town. She knew she would be leaving a good thing if she did anything so foolish as to run off.

No one much believed her, but they were glad to have her back. But when Dolly announced some surprising news a few days later, there wasn't a person in town who doubted that Dolly was sincere about remaining right where she was.

Because Dolly and George had decided to get married.

After the initial shock had worn off, everyone helped in the preparations for the wedding day.

With the house a bustle of activity, Dan and Shirley decided to step outside for a walk. Dan had to be leaving soon, and he told Shirley that he had some unfinished business he wanted to take care of.

As they went down the path, Dan told her that he had heard from Tom, who was still in Kansas City. However, that job was finishing, too, and he would meet Dan back home. Doll Palmer had set the wedding date, and Dan was supposed to be the best man.

"Weddings seem to be in the air," Shirley commented as they approached the fallen tree where Tom and Dolly had made love only a few weeks before. "It's strange how things work out. I didn't think so much could happen in a little over a month."

Dan put his hand on her arm. "Let's sit here for a while in the shade," he said, nodding at the fallen tree.

Shirley sat down. Her heart beat faster at the sound of Dan's voice. Apparently, he was going to tell her something very important, and she could only guess at his actual intentions.

After a long silence, he said, "You told me last night that I had told you I was the 'kiss-'em-and-leave-'em' type. Why did you say that?"

"Don't you remember?" Shirley decided she had better come right out with it. "You were helping me with the dishes one night, and you said you would not marry anyone unless you had a more stationary job and could have a home for your wife and family."

"Don't you remember," Dan mocked her, "that night we went for a ride I said a man could change his mind?"

Shirley was momentarily silenced. She did remember he had said that. At the time, she had thought to follow up the remark, but she had been too concerned with Dolly to think of it since.

Finally Shirley said in a small voice: "And have you changed your mind?"

Dan h-edged. "If a man fell in love with a girl who didn't mind living in a trailer and was willing to go wherever the job called him, I think he might be foolish to wait until he could build a house," he said as if discussing an imaginary man. "Of course, a lot would depend on the girl, too."

"Of course," Shirley agreed. Dan was not looking at her and not touching her. He seemed entirely impersonal in his remarks. He was silent for so long that Shirley grew impatient.

"There is more to it than just that," she said with spirit. "When we went for a ride and you kissed me as if you expected me to act like Dolly and believe you were making love to me so that I would run off with you, just like that! The way all girls run after highwaymen," she added bitterly. Dan turned to her with a smile so tender that Shirley caught her breath.

Suddenly she was in his arms and Dan was saying softly: "You little nitwit. You can't argue from the general to the particular. There's always the exception that proves the rule. But we're talking too much. When I kiss you this time, you can believe I mean it."

When he released her, he demanded: "Well?"

"I believe you," Shirley said breathlessly. "And you'll live in the trailer at first?"

"And I'll live in a trailer for as long as you like," Shirley said as if she were taking a vow. It was some time later that Dan released her and reached into his shirt pocket where, Shirley had noticed, a small box was making a lump. As he took it out she saw that it was a ring box. Her eyes opened in astonishment.

"Were you so sure of me?" she demanded.

For an answer, Dan pressed the spring, and Shirley gasped at the beautiful ring she saw. It was a carved amethyst in a raised setting with a wide band. On the face of the stone a thistle was carved in gold and studded with three small diamonds.

"It belonged to my mother," Dan explained. "It is to remind you that the road of marriage often has thistles as well as daisies, but that the thistle is strong and has beauty, too."

He slipped it on her finger, and Shirley felt her heart bursting with joy as he kissed it in place.

"I had Cindy send it up to me after she had met you," Dan added.

"You knew, even then?" she asked, her eyes beginning to brim with tears of joy.

Dan looked at her for a long time, enjoying what he saw, confident that Shirley was just the woman he was looking for.

"Yes, Shirley," he said softly, holding her close. "I knew from the minute I saw you that I loved you and that I wanted you to marry me."