When the man she fell in love with at a war time train station emerged from the back path to the farm, Merry was sitting up high on the seat of the new tractor. "I have given notice, but there is no one to take me home," she said.
"Captain Pete Lafitte, 10th Mountain Division US Army Reserves at your service. I have a truck. Do you have any luggage?"
"I knew you would come; I'm already packed. The Farm family are occupied eating lunch in the kitchen. This would be a good time to depart."
They reached the abandoned Farm truck at the bottom of the hill. Pete opened the door. "Before we leave the farm in my truck, in this truck, there is something of ours in the glove department." Wordlessly, into her pack, Merry put the unmailed and unreceived correspondence between her and Pete Lafitte. Up the hill, gun in hand, the farmers son, Ronnie, drill sergeant US Army Reserves, mounted the tractor, turned it on.
Merry and Pete reached his truck. He opened the driver's door. "Can you drive a truck?"
"I'm a Land Girl. I can drive a truck, and I know my Father's shortcut to Barre. No tractor can catch us on the open road."
In the tractor, Ronnie was rapidly moving down the hill. Pete handed Merry the keys. She started Pete's Ford truck. In the passenger's seat, he rode shotgun. "I'm a veteran of war in farm territory where it is illegal to harm civilians," he said, loading his pistol.
Before the tractor reached the bottom of the hill, Pete and Merry were on the open road to Barre. In her luggage was the medieval book of hours which from Italy, Pete had sent her for Valentine’s Day.
