NanoSteps Brainstorming 2 - Stepping Out

[Bob Schroeck]

It was about half an hour into the ride when Betty felt someone
drop into the seat next to her. Even after two stops, the
afternoon train from Pine Tree into New York City was still all
but empty, and she had been the sole occupant of this car until
now. Betty suppressed a groan at having to deal -- not for the
first time -- with unwanted male attention.

Without opening her eyes, she said, "I am not in the mood for
company, thank you. Please find another seat or I shall complain
to the conductor."

"Complain all you want. I'm not moving until you talk."

Betty's eyes snapped open at the familiar voice, and she twisted
in her seat to find herself facing Doug. He was still in the
red-and-white striped jacket and white slacks he wore for his
portion of the show, but resting in his lap was a strangely-
shaped grey helmet. "You? But how...? I *know* you were in the
middle of a rehearsal when I left the Inn. And I'd've seen you
at the station if you'd followed me."

He just smirked at her, his eyes half-lidded in amusement. "I
have my ways, Miss Haynes. Ask me no questions and I'll tell you
no impossible tales you won't believe." He settled into the seat
and twisted slightly so that he was facing her more directly.
"As I'm sure you expected, your letter to Judy left the entire
Inn in an uproar. So I decided to come after you and ask you one
small question." He fixed her with an intent, burning gaze
terribly unlike his usual clowning manner. "Just what the *hell*
is your problem?"

Betty refused to be intimidated. "My problem is Bob Wallace."

An eyebrow raised. "Oh?" was all he said, but the tone was a
demand to elaborate. More than a demand -- an *order*, with no
less force behind it than the General could deliver. For a
moment, Betty wondered what had happened to the pratfall comedian
she thought she knew, then she dismissed the thought.

"Bob Wallace," she snarled, "is a hypocrite and a parasite. What
he's planning to do to the General is disgusting!"

"What he's planning..." Doug scowled in confusion. "Just what
are you *talking* about, Betty?"

"You mean you aren't part of his plan to humiliate the General on
television?" she demanded.

Doug closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Please
explain to me just how arranging a reunion of his division at the
Inn is 'humiliating' the General?"

"Arranging a..." Betty trailed off, her mouth open in surprise.
Suddenly all the righteous anger she'd felt at Bob's betrayal
drained away. "But Emma said she overheard Bob planning to put
the General on display on the Ed Harrison show!"

"Emma said..." Doug switched from rubbing the bridge of his nose
to rubbing his temples. "Betty, I don't care what Emma *thought*
she heard, she's about as wrong as she can be. Bob's going on
the Ed Harrison show to ask everyone from the General's old
division to come to the Inn on Christmas Eve. And there *won't*
be any TV cameras there. I *know*, I'm helping out with the
logistics."

"Oh, no," Betty breathed, as the impact of it all struck her.
"Oh, no. I've got to go back."

Doug smiled for the first time since he'd found her. "Yes, yes,
you do." He stood, taking his helmet in his left hand while
holding out his right to her.

Betty stared at it, uncomprehending. "What are you...?"

"You want to get back to the Inn right now, don't you?" Doug
asked. "I can arrange that."

Without thinking she took his hand and let him help her to her
feet. "How?"

He smiled again, the warm smile Betty had come to associate with
him. "Trust me."

"But my bags..." she objected.

The smile turned into a genuine grin. "Give me your claim check
and I'll get them back to you before bedtime." Gently but
undeniably Doug began to draw her down the aisle and toward the
back of the train. "Trust me," he repeated.

"All right," Betty murmured. Although her tone was dubious she
somehow found herself believing him.

As he opened the door at end of the car, Doug turned back to her
and asked, "You don't have a problem with heights, do you, Betty?"

Spoiler

White Christmas (1954)

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.