Inside the glove compartment, was an assortment of unopened letters on which his name was immediately apparent. Among them were unposted letters to him from Merry and letters from him to Merry, some slit open; some still sealed. It was clear that she had not received her mail and that many of her letters to him had not been posted. Whether or not the truck was still operable, he did not know; no keys were apparent in a cursory search. He left his own truck as it was positioned.
A man who had skied the unmarked trails of Jay Peak and been a core member of the 10th Mountain Division's assault on Riva Ridge and Mt Belvedere was well prepared to hike up the hill to the dairy farm where last he knew Merry Joliat worked.
Pete wasn't the only soldier who despite Army regulations still had his M1911 pistol. And, as an officer now in the Reserves, he still had most of his gear, including a pistol belt. He was not, therefore, unarmed when he moved up the hill towards the back of the dairy farm. it was a precaution that he was used to, whether or not it was needed.