"Oh!" Laura exclaimed, flustered. She stepped in front of the head-height mirror provided and adjusted the hat so that it sat squarely on her head like Monty's, not tilted far back on the head the way long-ago movie cowboys wore theirs. "I do like the way it looks, but I think I've had more than enough foolish extravagances for one day."
"No, this is on me," said Monty, handing the seller several twenties. "This is your souvenir of your visit to the Cow Palace."
"Oh, Monty, I couldn't. I saw what these cost in the store in San Francisco today, and that's way too much for you to spend on a souvenir. But thanks for the thought. That was nice of you."
"No, I insist. It's perfect with your outfit - you look really great. Besides, I paid a lot less for the bulls I bought yesterday than I'd planned, so I can easily afford it," smiled Monty.
"I don't know how I'll take this on the plane with me, and I still think it's too much, but thank you very much," Laura said sincerely. "I do love the hat." She liked how the hat completed her look, and was secretly pleased with the fact that Monty apparently was very happy with how she looked, too. But at the same time, she had a sudden momentary feeling of a coming loss, the loss that would happen when this night ended and they returned to their respective homes, and lifestyles, so many thousands of miles apart.
She brightened suddenly. "You didn't tell me you'd bought bulls yesterday. Are they still here? Can I see them?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes, they're still here, and we can certainly go back down below and I can show them to you. In fact, I should load them in the trailer after the barbeque because I have to have them removed tonight. But don't worry, I won't strand you here after the show tonight - it's not a problem to go into the city with the truck and trailer," smiled Monty. He turned his face slightly away for a moment to hide the look of pain he couldn't hide, as he, too, suddenly thought how in just a few hours he and Laura would be parting.
He could never have imagined the circumstances which instead would mean that shortly they'd be thrown together closer, and for a longer time, than few other newly-acquainted couples had ever experienced.