The big Scenicruiser bus rolled west on the Lincoln Highway across the late afternoon Iowa landscape. Its few well-dressed passengers chatted quietly about Christmas plans, noting their progress mostly by the grain silos they passed, buoys in a flat sea of gray-brown corn stubble. The matte steel structures matched the lowered gray sky above them. The travelors had boarded the express bus early in Chicago, their ranks thinned by those who disembarked during a brief stop in Cedar Rapids. Many had been Christmas shopping. Some were traveling to visit relatives for the holiday.
Snowflakes began to fall steadily outside the big windows. "Looks like snow's coming," one rider in the front remarked. Hearing that, the driver turned the bus radio up loud so all could hear the weatherman's chatty forecast, already in progress.
"And the approaching front has brought a big change in the weather on this Christmas Eve of '55. We already have heavy snow falling here in Omaha, and more is expected here and for western and central Iowa tonight. If you're on the road this afternoon, better expect to find a place to ride out the storm until morning. The snow should be past by dawn, and that will give the plows time to clear the major roads. So take care out there, drive carefully, and a Merry Christmas to all."
The driver turned down the radio and shouted loudly to the few remaining riders. "There's a little town coming up in just a few miles if any of you folks would like to get off there. Another bus will be coming through tomorrow when the road's cleared, and there's a motel there that can put you up for the night. For anybody else, I'm gonna keep pushing on to Omaha, this is a big new bus and I'm pretty sure she can make it. No guarantees, but I'll keep you safe!"
An elderly couple in the front seat area murmured anxiously for a few moments, and the old gentleman raised his hand. "We'll get off at the motel please." Similar sentiments were expressed by other passengers, and by the time the bus pulled away from the motel into the oncoming darkness, only two riders were left to brave the storm.
Snow fell heavily now as predicted, streaking through the headlight beams and rapidly coating the road ahead of them. The big bus rolled on, eerily smooth and quiet in the winter night.
The two remaining passengers exchanged quick glances. She sat beside the aisle in an upper-deck front seat; he nodded and smiled from two rows back on the other side. Both turned away momentarily to fumble nervously with their coats. Rising from his seat, he stepped forward to sit opposite the attractive stranger.
"Do you smoke?" he queried, smiling again. He tapped a pack of Luckies to extend a cigarette.
"I think this is a good time for one, thank you so much," she replied. "My, that's a very nice lighter you have!"
She noticed he wasn't wearing a wedding ring. He noticed she wasn't either.
"Thanks, it's German, my father found it in a bunker during the war." They drew deeply on their lit cigarettes, blew smoke quietly and then studied each other's faces.
His was angular, possibly mid 30s she thought, a Midwestern sort of countenance. His ears were a tad large but not ungainly, his eyes steely blue even in the dim overhead light, his dark hair neatly slicked back and side-parted. She liked the pleasing smell of his aftershave, and his friendly manner. He has the air of a successful businessman, she thought. Very attractive indeed, down to the neat white shirt, silk tie, dark wool suit and polished brogues he wore. A well-proportioned frame as well. She felt a sudden warmth through her body when he smiled broadly. Again they drew on their smokes.
He wondered if she was impressed. He certainly liked what he was seeing.
She was a mid 30s blonde, well-coiffed, blonde eyebrows too. The inevitable curtains/drapes thought flashed through his mind. Her lovely green eyes were captivating. She had a no-nonsense kind of beauty, a smooth face that would be radiant even without makeup. Red lipstick seemed in fact to be her only facial adornment.
She turned her head to draw on her cigarette again with slender fingers, exhaled the pale smoke, and resumed her penetrating gaze. His pulse began to quicken. He fought against repeating the furtive downward glance he had just made. Her breasts filled her blue cashmere sweater very nicely, her waist was small, and her gray wool skirt fell just below the knee of her beautifully proportioned crossed leg. Smooth nylon stockings shimmered in the faint light.
His cock stirred. He took a deep silent breath.
"I'm Ward," he said, extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you, I'm June," she replied, meeting his handshake. Her eyes flashed as she smiled. Their touch sent an electric intimacy through both of them.
"What's your destination Ward? Think we'll make it?"
"Omaha. Well, I'm still here, so I guess I believe what the driver's saying. He's the guy with the experience. But darn, that's a lot of snow out there."
"I'll get off before Omaha," she replied, "if he really does get us through. Are you a businessman?"
Council Bluffs, he reasoned. "I'm an insurance agent June, I was in Chicago on business. And are you employed?"
She paused. "I work yes, I manage a house where three students room. Do you live in Omaha?"
"I do. I...currently share a house with two other guys...if I'm being too bold just say so, but it's Christmas and I notice you're not wearing a ring. Are you meeting a boyfriend June?"
Again she paused. "I'm not offended. I don't have a boyfriend. And you?"
"No girlfriend."
They took final draws on their cigarettes and smiled at each other.
The driver's voice sounded worried now as he shouted from the front. "Folks, I hate to admit this, but I was wrong. For your safety I'm gonna pull up at the depot just ahead and wait out this storm overnight. If we go any farther we'll get stuck out here for sure. I'm real sorry if I'm spoiling your Christmas. I tried, but the snow is just coming down too heavy. We'll be there in about five minutes."
