Our train rolled into Kansas City at 1 A.M. Dim lights came on to help the new passengers find seats. Many of us who had been riding home through the night had spread out to occupy two seats apiece.

An attractive woman made her way down the aisle with her bags. She was looking from side to side, hoping for someone to move. I turned toward the window and watched her in the reflection.

"May I sit here?" she asked.

"Sure." I looked up and smiled as I moved over. She threw her things into the rack above and sat down. Near the back of the car, only one of my colleagues from the church had managed to keep his extra space. Lucky guy.

"My name's Kathy. What's yours?"

I told her, and we talked quietly for a while. She was on her way to visit her mother after some rough spats with her husband. I was eager to get home and see my wife and family after an exhausting church leadership conference.

Soon we both slipped off the sleep. At some later stop, I awoke to find Kathy cuddled next to me. "You don't mind ...