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events； and a first…rate photographer to record the nuptials。 When those details had been agreed upon； he telephoned the Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas； which was a family…oriented enterprise that boasted a recreational…vehicle campgrounds behind the hotel itself； he arranged for camp space beginning the night of Sunday； August 8。 With another call to an RV campgrounds in Barstow； he also secured reservations for Saturday night； when they would pull off the road halfway to Vegas。 Next； he went to a jewelry store； looked at their entire stock； and finally bought an engagement ring with a big； flawless three…carat diamond and a wedding band with twelve quarter…carat stones。 With the rings hidden under the seat of the truck； Travis and Einstein went to Nora's house； picked her up； and took her to an appointment with her attorney； Garrison Dilworth。
〃Getting married？ That's wonderful！〃 Garrison said； pumping Travis's hand。 He kissed Nora on the cheek。 He seemed genuinely delighted。 〃I've asked around about you； Travis。〃
Surprised； Travis said； 〃You have？〃
〃For Nora's sake。〃
The attorney's statement made Nora blush and protest； but Travis was pleased that Garrison had been concerned about her welfare。
Fixing Travis with a measured stare； the silver…haired attorney said； 〃I gather you did quite well in real estate before you sold your business。〃
〃I did all right；〃 Travis confirmed modestly； feeling as if he were speaking with Nora's father； trying to make the right impression。
'Very well；〃 Garrison said。 〃And I also hear you've invested the profits rather well。〃
〃I'm not broke；〃 Travis admitted。
Smiling； Garrison said； 〃I also hear you're a good； reliable man with more than your share of kindness。〃
It was Travis's turn to blush。 He shrugged。
To Nora； Garrison said； 〃Dear； I'm delighted for you； happier than I can say。〃
〃Thank you。〃 Nora favored Travis with a loving； radiant look that made him want to knock on wood for the first time all day。
Because they intended to take a honeymoon of at least a week or ten days following the wedding； Nora did not want to have to rush back to Santa Barbara in the event her real…estate agent found a taker for Violet Devon's house。 She asked Garrison Dilworth to draw up a power of attorney； giving him authority to handle all aspects of such a sale in her name during her absence。 This was done in less than half an hour； signed and witnessed。 After another round of congratulations and best wishes； they were on their way to buy a travel trailer。
They intended to take Einstein with them not only to the wedding in Vegas but on the honeymoon。 Finding good； clean motels that would accept a dog
might not always be easy where they were going； so it was prudent to take a motel…on…wheels with them。 Furthermore； neither Travis nor Nora could have made love with the retriever in the same room。 〃It'd be like having another person there；〃 Nora said； blushing as bright as a well…polished apple。 Staying in motels； they would have to rent two rooms…one for them and one for Einstein…which seemed too awkward。
By four o'clock； they found what they were looking for： a middle…size； silvery； Quonset…shaped Airstream with a kitchenette； a dining nook； a living room； one bedroom； and one bath。 When they retired for the night； they could leave Einstein in the front of the trailer and close the bedroom door after themselves。 Because Travis's pickup was already equipped with a good trailer hitch； they were able to hook the Airstream to the rear bumper and haul it with them as soon as the sale was concluded。
Einstein； riding in the pickup between Travis and Nora； kept craning his head around to look out the back window at the gleaming； semicylindrical trailer as if amazed at the ingenuity of humankind。
They shopped for trailer curtains； plastic dishes and drinking glasses； food with which to stock the kitchenette cabinets； and a host of other items they needed before they hit the road。 By the time they returned to Nora's house and cooked omelets for a late dinner； they were dragging。 For once there was nothing smartass about Einstein's yawns； he was just tired。
That night； at home in his own bed； Travis slept the deep； deep sleep of ancient petrified trees and dinosaur fossils。 The dreams of the previous two nights were not repeated。
Saturday morning； they set Out on their journey to Vegas and to matrimony。 Seeking to travel mostly on wide divided highways on which they would be fortable with the trailer； they took Route 101 south and then east until it became Route 134； which they followed until it became Interstate 210； with the city of Los Angeles and its suburbs to the south of them and the great Angeles National Forest to the north。 Later； on the vast Mojave Desert； Nora was thrilled by the barren yet hauntingly beautiful panoramas of sand； stone； tumbleweed； mesquite； Joshua trees； and other cacti。 The world； she said； suddenly seemed much bigger than she had ever realized； and Travis took pleasure in her bedazzlement。
Barstow； California； was a sprawling pit stop in that enormous wasteland； and they arrived at the big RV campgrounds by three that afternoon。 Frank and Mae Jordan； the middle…aged couple in the next camper space； were from Salt Lake City and were traveling with their pet； a black Labrador named Jack。
To Travis's and Nora's surprise； Einstein had a terrific time playing with Jack。 They chased each other around the trailers； took playful nips at each other； tangled and tumbled and sprang up and went chasing again。 Frank Jordan tossed a red rubber ball for them； and they sprinted after it； vying to
be the champion retriever。 The dogs also made a game of trying to get the ball away from each other and then holding on to it as long as possible。 Travis was exhausted just watching them。
Einstein was undoubtedly the smartest dog in the world； the smartest dog of all time； a phenomenon； a miracle； as perceptive as any man…but he was also a dog。 Sometimes； Travis forgot this fact； but he was charmed every time Einstein did something to remind him。
Later； after sharing charcoal…grilled hamburgers and corn on the cob with the Jordans； and after downing a couple of beers in the clear desert night； they said goodbye to the Salt Lakers； and Einstein seemed to say goodbye to Jack。 Inside the Airstream； Travis patted Einstein on the head and told him； 〃That was very nice of you。〃
The dog cocked his head； staring at Travis as if to ask what the devil he meant。
Travis said； 〃You know what I'm talking about； fur face。〃
〃I know； too；〃 Nora said。 She hugged the dog。 〃When you were playing games with Jack； you could have made a fool of him if you'd wanted to； but you let him win his share； didn't you？〃
Einstein panted and grinned happily。
After one last nightcap； Nora took the bedroom； and Travis slept on the fold…out sofa bed in the living room。 Travis had thought about sleeping with her； and perhaps she had considered allowing him into her bed。 After all； the wedding was less than four days away。 God knew； Travis wanted her。 And although she surely suffered slightly with a virgin's fear； she wanted him； too； he had no doubt of that。