a young couple , who had been strolling toward us on the sidewalk and had been all smiles for each other , loudly discussing horseback riding and their mutual excitement with our towering variety of cacti , scooted ahead nervously at the explosion of raucous crowing from the derelict ; the young woman turned her face away from the vacant lot and sought the protection of her youthful mans chest ; i could see the muscle in her forearm clench as she worked the strap of her purse under the lapel of her blue blazer and clutched the strap and the lapel together as though faust and the devil had begun to wrestle for her .