“Yes, I grew up here, but I rent a room at a house near the college. It’s so much easier; I can run back and forth to campus anytime I want to.”

“So you’re out on your own?”

“Almost like a grown-up!” she said, laughing. “Dolores is right, though, I don’t eat nearly as well as I would if I lived with my mother.”

“Well, that makes two of us.”

“Oh, did you grow up here, too?”

“No. No, I’ve only lived here a few years. I grew up in a little town called Pine Rapids. You’ve probably never heard of it. My parents still live there.”

“Are you able to visit them often?”

“Not really,” he said cheerfully.

She laughed, and the sound thrilled him.

He touched the small of her back lightly to turn her so they could cross the street to where the truck was parked. They cut across, leaving tracks in the snow.

“Actually, I might be going home soon. My nephew is getting home from the war.”

Her shoulder brushed his as they walked. “That’s wonderful,” she said.

He didn’t know why he had told her.

When they reached the passenger side of the truck, she waited for him to open the door for her, and when he did, she let him help her up into the seat. “I have to apologize,” he told her. “I’m sure this isn’t the most luxurious form of transportation you’ve ever seen.”

“Don’t be silly! It’s awfully exciting, riding in the Gazette truck.”

He grinned, then shut her door and walked around the front, opened the driver’s door, and hopped up into the seat, pulling the door shut behind him. He pumped the clutch and turned the key, and the truck roared to life. He rubbed his hands together to warm them. “You must think I’m an awful slacker,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, here your fiancé was killed in action and your brother’s a big hero and I’m just this broken down no-good 4-F.” He cocked his head at her, still rubbing his hands together.

“I think you’re a very important man,” she objected. “Why, I don’t know what people in this town would do without you! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten into discussions with other students about things that had run in the Gazette, especially your editorials. Now that I know you better, I’ll pay even closer attention, but everyone on campus always reads the editorials. You really keep a close eye on this town, and that’s important. Otherwise, who knows what folks would try to get away with?”

“Well, you’re right there,” he acknowledged.

“Of course I am! And furthermore, it isn’t as though you wanted to avoid serving.” Indignant, she straightened her hat, removed her gloves.