Evie got dressed, then listened at Cal's door. She heard water running, so she knew he was bathing. She went to the rec room to wait for him.

She'd put on a short skirt and a tight, short-sleeved top. Her arms and legs were bare and she didn't have shoes on. No time like the present to give it a shot. From what she could tell, they'd have to make port the moment they were done mining this claim. And when they did, unless Cal's mind was changed somehow, she was going to be handed over to the authorities-and she knew what would happen to her then.

Cal came in. His hair was still wet and tousled. It made her want to run her fingers through it. He saw her and stopped dead, his mouth open. She grinned at his expression. "Sometimes a girl likes to get dressed up."

"Even when there's nowhere to go?" His voice sounded strangled.

She stood up and shrugged. "There's always somewhere if you know where to look." She held his gaze. He looked panicked and trapped. Evie sighed to herself, trying not to let her disappointment show. Despite her hopes, he wasn't interested and had no idea of how to tell her so. "If you want me to change clothes, I will."

He shook his head and took her hand. "Come with me."

Evie knew she looked surprised and he hesitated. She squeezed his hand and he relaxed a little. "Where are we going?"

"My old room. Not for any improper reason," he added hastily. "I just want to show you something."

Her lips quirked but she stopped herself from smiling or laughing. "I could take that as an improper suggestion." She sighed. "But I know you don't mean it that way, Cal. Lead on."

He took her to the room she'd seen on her first day on Goldie, the one with the domed ceiling, high bed, and all the pictures in it.

"This is where I grew up, I guess," he said when they got inside, confirming her suspicions. He crawled up the step ladder and onto his bunk. "Come on." He reached his hand down.

Evie laughed. "Brilliant plan." She took his hand and climbed up.

Cal lay back. "Lie down, and watch."

Evie lay next to him. "Big bed."

"Yeah, my parents spoiled me."

"No, they didn't," she said softly. "Believe me, I've met plenty of people who were spoiled." Far too many, really. "Some of them turn into loathsome adults. You're not like that."

He looked at her for a long moment. "Neither are you," he said finally. "Now, watch." He pressed a b.u.t.ton and the steel plating drew back.

Evie gasped and grabbed his arm. "What's happening?"

"This was the observation deck, originally. My father refurbished it as my bedroom because I liked it here so much. Don't worry, the gla.s.s is thick and well insulated. I check every month."

Evie couldn't help it, she still clutched his arm.

Cal put his hand over hers. "It's okay," he said gently. "I won't let anything hurt you. The plates go back quickly and there're patch kits everywhere, including right here at the head of the bed."

She took a deep breath and relaxed. They lay there, staring at the stars together. The view was amazing. Evie could see more stars this way than she ever had before.

"When I was . . . in the shuttle waiting to . . . die I looked at all the stars," she admitted finally.

"Did that make you feel better?"

"No. It's very beautiful but so . . . vast and . . . uncaring. It made me feel lost and alone."

"I don't see them that way," Cal said softly.

"I counted them, to keep from thinking about dying. Have you ever done that?"

Cal chuckled. "I used to try. It was how I'd fall asleep. Some people count sheep, I counted my stars. The most I ever got to was about two hundred. Most of the times I'd lose my place and have to start over."

My stars. He thought of them as his. "You worried about skipping some?"

"Every star is another sun, and that means it's got the potential to have someone lying there, counting our sun while they try to fall asleep. I wouldn't want to miss them, any more than I want them to miss me."

Evie turned on her side and looked at him. "It doesn't make you feel lonely?"

"No. It makes me feel . . . connected. To everyone and everything." Cal swallowed. "That's why I sleep in here at least half the time. With my stars, I'm never really alone."

Evie's throat was tight again and so was her chest. She wanted to tell him she understood loneliness and that it was worse when you were surrounded by thousands of people who didn't really know you or care about you. She wanted to tell him she didn't feel like that with him, the few times he let her in. She wanted to tell him what she was hiding from and why.

She put her hand on his cheek. She opened her mouth to try to say something, anything, that would make him want her to stay. But instead she kissed him.

She knew she'd surprised him, but Evie hadn't given it a lot of thought. She'd just finally done what she'd wanted to for a long time. And now she didn't want to talk, she wanted to keep on kissing him.

He kissed her back, gently at first, but she slid her hand into his hair and suddenly his arms were around her and he wasn't being tentative any more. Her arms tightened around him while his hands ran over her body. Evie moaned softly as Cal rolled on top of her.

He pulled away. "Are you . . . okay with this?"

She stroked his hair. "Make love to me under your stars, Cal. Please."

He smiled, bent, and kissed her. And this time he didn't pull away or hesitate.

They lay there together, hours later, still under the stars. They didn't seem remote any more; they seemed warm and comforting, like the universe was watching over them. Evie kissed Cal's chest while he stroked her arm. She'd never felt like this before, ever. It took a while to come up with the right word: contentment.

"Why don't you want to be part of a conglomerate?" she asked.

"I don't like to take orders from other people." He kissed her head. "A man's only supposed to take orders from his wife."

"Your father tell you that?"

"Yes. He meant it, too."

Evie sighed and snuggled closer. "I could stay here forever."

"You can if you want to."

She looked at his face. "Really? You're not going to leave me at the first port?"

"No, not if you don't want me to."

"Why not?"

He swallowed. "Because-"

Something caught her eye. Evie jerked and froze. "Cal? I don't think we're alone."

There was a Galactic Police cruiser hovering above them.

They had time to get dressed before the cruiser attached to them. "Give them what they want. I'm sure it's in that lockbox."

"Cal, it's not like that."

His mouth was a straight line. "I'm sure I'm about to find out exactly what it's like." His eyes flashed. "You knew they were on their way, didn't you? That's why you . . . not because you . . ." He turned away and stalked off to the airlock.

Evie wanted to cry, to run after him and explain, but it was too late. She heard voices.

Mule joined her. "I'm sorry. I should have warned you they were nearby."

"You knew?" She felt betrayed, for no good reason. She hadn't trusted them and now that was going to cause her to lose what she'd discovered she really wanted.

"I've existed much longer than Cal and I'm not swayed by beauty or loneliness, in any direction. I made logical inquiries and gathered data I didn't share with Cal."

"You brought them here?"

"No. But I gave you as long as I could. They would have found you the moment we docked at a port." He put a metal hand on her shoulder. "I understand what you're running from, and why."

"You'd be the only one, then."

Footsteps came closer and there he was, surrounded by Galactic Police-the owner of the A-Cla.s.s Mining conglomerate, also known as the richest man in the Belt. He looked older, more haggard, and Evie felt guilt hit her. "I'm sorry. I had to. You wouldn't listen."

He shook his head. "We'll talk about this at home, Evelyn."

Cal looked back and forth between them and she saw realization dawn. "Your father is Howard Akers?" Evie nodded miserably. "You stole from your own father?" Cal sounded horrified.

"Stole?" Daddy bellowed at Cal. "She didn't steal anything. It's my d.a.m.n cruiser, so if she wrecked its shuttle, well, so what?" He glared at Evie. "Young Leonard's willing to take you back."

Evie groaned. "Can't you understand? I don't want to marry him!"

"Nothing wrong with the boy. Rich, smart, successful, reasonably good-looking. Comes from an excellent Earth family, too."

Evie lost it. It didn't matter who was here. It didn't matter what Cal heard any more. Daddy never listened to her, he probably wouldn't now. But she couldn't stop herself. "I hated Earth! I hated Mars! I hated the Lunars!"

"Nonsense. I sent you to the best schools, on the finest holidays, gave you anything you wanted. What every girl dreams of."

"You sent me away!" she sobbed. "I'm a Belt girl, I like it here. And no one likes us there. You're someone here, Daddy, but we're considered rich trash on the planets. The new nouveau riche. You think Leonard loves me? He loves your money and I'm a convenient way to get it, without him ever having to dirty himself by coming within a million miles of the Belt. And all the others you shoved me at were the same. No one loves me for me." She looked at Cal. He looked shocked and furious, more angry than she'd ever seen. "No one."

Evie turned and ran for the nearest room, which happened to be the one she and Cal had just left. She beat them there, slammed the door shut and locked it. They'd get her out soon and this time Daddy would lock her up until she was married to someone who treated her like pretty, expensive trash.

She raced up the ladder, lay back on the bed, and let the tears flow. The cruiser blocked the stars. Now that she knew how Cal thought of them, it would be worse. She'd never see his stars, never see him, again. She wouldn't even get to say good-bye.

It was worse to have had a glimpse of what she could have had and have it taken away. She lay there, sobbing, until she cried herself to sleep.

Something woke her up. Evie opened her eyes and stared at the sky. Something was missing, there was nothing but Cal's stars. The cruiser was gone.

She turned in time to see him climbing the ladder. "What happened?"

He lay down next to her. "They've left. You'll meet up with your father when we dock at Pallas Station. It'll give him time to calm down and think things through. He doesn't want you miserable."

"Oh. It's not typical for Daddy to lose quietly."

Cal chuckled. "I wouldn't call it quiet. But, once he was done shouting and threatening, and once Mule verified that I'd had no idea who you were, I reminded him of a certain Belt law."

"Which one?"

"The one that says as long as no crime is accused, a miner's ship and any of his claims are his sovereign property. Including all equipment, robots, relatives, and crew members living on-ship or working a claim. Meaning no one can take any of my crew without their consent or my permission."

"I'm a crew member?"

"Per the logs you've so accurately kept and the work you've put in, you're due a third share of everything we've mined since we found you. It should be enough for you to get wherever you were running to."

Her throat was tight. "I don't want to go there anymore."

Cal rolled onto his side and looked at her. "Where do you want to go?"

"Nowhere." She gulped. "Unless you're there, too."

"Not worried I want to keep you around for your money?"

She shrugged. "Won't have any. It's all in Daddy's control."

Cal grinned. "So he told me. Right after he told me that he didn't care that he could tell you were in love with me." His expression softened. "Is he right?"

Evie stroked his hair. "Well, he has known me all my life."

"What's in the lockbox? Your father checked it but wouldn't take it."

"You didn't look?" He shook his head. "My valuables. Pictures, mostly. Of him and my mother and me. From when I was young and we had a little house on Ceres."

"You want that again?"

Evie smiled. "As long as there's a place for Goldie to park there."

Cal's eyes shown, like all of his stars reflecting back at her. "Sounds like a brilliant plan."

AN OFFER YOU COULDNOT REFUSE.

Sylvia Kelso with Lillian Stewart Carl.

The fuse popped and the big aerial sh.e.l.l flew hissing up exactly two hundred feet, then burst with a satisfying Crump! Darryl almost felt the Aaaahh from the crowd behind the safety fence. A perfect Chrysanthemum, he thought, as the great globe expanded in a deluge of brilliant blue meteors. And this time I didn't just get to carry in the sh.e.l.l-boxes and haul the rails around. This time I was the one trusted to bed the mortar, to set and connect the sh.e.l.l itself.