verizon broadband laptop sharing net w/desktop?

i need to know if there is a way to connect my dell win2000 laptop with a verizon broadband card to my dell desktop w/ vista

by connect, i mean i would like to transfer files, and i would also like to share the internet connection from the laptop between the two computers.

i dont have anything to connect them, i have an additional wireless ethernet pci card, but i dont think that matters. i need to know what i need to buy, the cheapest solution i suppose. would a simple router and 2 cables work?

any info much appreciated.