Apologies for the (endless) wait. I understand it's annoying and I will have lost readers, however I am still writing and appreciate any feedback given.

Ch 10

By some miracle both Danny and Lindsay managed to make it to their respective beds later that night without causing any major upset. The other men in Danny's dormitory were mostly too far-gone to notice when he and Lindsay approached the large room from across the courtyard, and exchanged a few quiet words and a chaste, slightly blushing kiss at the door. He gingerly opened it and made sure it did not squeak to loudly or bang behind him. As he crept across the room he saw something in the corner of his eye and turned to see Frank awake and eyeing him with concern. He had obviously caught a glimpse of Lindsay at the door and as a close friend was concerned about her and Danny's activities. Danny shot him a contrite look, however he had a feeling he would be on the end of a stern lecture in the morning.

As Sunday was the next day, they were roused around seven for the weekly trudge to the church. Despite being the last to bed, Danny was definitely in a better condition than most of those around him having drunk very little the night before – in fact he awoke almost joyful as he remembered the night before.

As expected, Frank joined him on the walk down to the local church, and made no secret about what he wanted to discuss.

"She's a special girl" he said, there was no need to clarify who he was talking about. "I like you kid, and she needs someone like you who won't hold her back, but god help me if you hurt her…" he trailed off, the threat hanging heavy in the air.

"I know," Danny replied, keeping his eyes and voice low lest their conversation attract too much attention from the others around them, "I really like her, Frank. I'll treat her right."

"You better," was all he said, as he sped up to talk to the boss about the harvesting which would begin the next month.

Danny didn't see Lindsay as he exited the heat of the church, stretching his arms and scratching his neck. It was her week to help out with the Sunday School and would not be home until later, but he was itching to see her again.

He was ashamed to say that he had spent most of the service not in devotion, but in planning where he was going to take her out. Next Saturday, he decided, was the date. Maybe he would take her into town, but he wanted to do something special, open her eyes to things she had not done before. There was the cinema, but as the main source of entertainment for the county, everyone with a nickel went quite often and the range of pictures was sorely limited in this rural area. He thought about what he had done when he had taken other girls on dates back in New York, however looking back he didn't want to do anything with Lindsay that he had done with them. Nothing that he had ever felt for any of them compared with what he now felt for Lindsay and he didn't want to sully their date by reminding himself of other girls.

In the end he decided to keep it simple. A picnic.

Lindsay slammed the door to the truck and made her way inside the house. Sunday school had gone well and she was still on cloud nine after last night. As she made her way past the living room though she was halted out of her good mood by a call from inside. Making her way in she saw her mother and father deep in conversation. The mood was tense as they both looked at her with concerned eyes.

She stood there nervously between them waiting for someone to start until her father began,

"I saw Robbie after church today. He mentioned what happened last night". Mr Monroe gave her a look like he expected some reply.

Not knowing exactly how much of the story her father was privy to and trying not to incriminate herself she settled for a non-committal, "Oh."

"Yes," continued he father, "He mentioned that you were no longer seeing each other".

Lindsay nodded.

"Did he give you a life home?" asked her father, "I waited up but must have nodded off before you got back."

Not wanting to lie she answered, "No I actually came home with a friend, and we were a bit delayed after everything that happened with Robbie". Ok it wasn't technically a lie even though it did imply to her parents that she had received a lift rather than walked home alone with a man.

Whilst they were on the subject of her love life though she decided to divert attention away from last night to the future.

"Actually…Danny's asked me out, and I've said yes". She left it hanging there in the air.

"No. I don't think that's a good idea", Mrs Monroe spoke for the first time in the conversation, "I don't like him. He's not good for you". She spoke as if to end the matter but Lindsay was not giving up on the fight that easily.

"Mum, I know Danny isn't what you envisioned for me, but I still don't understand why you don't like him".

"Why don't I like him?" she yelled, "I know what his sort are like, I used to live in Portland before I met your father and I've seen how they move into a neighbourhood and elbow everyone else out. There are always thousands of kids, stealing, swearing, and fighting. Those families arriving on the railways from New York every week, of course they could afford to pay a higher rent than we could if they pack so many families into each house and only employ each other. They weren't even Americans, they come here because nobody else wants them, the Irish, the Mexicans, they're under the control of the Pope, they could never be patriots!" Mrs Monroe almost spat these words. She was red in the face by this point, seemingly years of repressed rage about her childhood pouring out. She paused to draw breath, and Lindsay cut in,

"That's not Danny though," she yelled just as loud.

"It might as well-"

"No Mom, it isn't the same-", she stopped herself. This tact was not going to work. "Mom," she said quietly, struggling to maintain the calmness in her voice, "I really like Danny. He's important to me. He is not one of the people you grew up with. Please, I'm asking you to give him a chance."

Mrs Monroe's eyes bulged but she bit her lip, holding back.

"Fine," she said through clenched teeth, "You're old enough now to make your own mistakes."

Just for a moment Lindsay thought she had won, however her mother's next words made her heart leap to her mouth. It was like Anna Monroe's voice had broken and sadness and weariness had overtaken her whole countenance,

"I just want you to be safe, and taken care of, and to live a good life".

"I know," Lindsay acknowledged with a sigh.

"Just don't come running to me if he gets you pregnant and leaves you, sweetheart. Because I won't be able to help you then."

Lindsay turned to her mother,

"That's not going to happen", she tried to convince her mother, "and he just wants to spend some time with me, take me to the movies, talk to me".

"Hmmm, well, we'll see won't we", was the only reply she got.