rekindled(英文版)- 第29部分

The　evening　passed　quietly。　Anne　left　her　chair　only　to　feed　the　fire。
After　a　time；　her　lids　grew　heavy。　She　fell　into　deep　sleep　from　which
only　the　sensation　of　movement　much　later　disturbed　her。　She　opened
groggy　eyes　to　find　herself　in　Mitch's　arms。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　she　cried　and　began　to　squirm。

He　held　her　tighter。　〃Putting　you　to　bed。〃　They　were　already　at　the　door
of　her　room。

〃Put　me　down。　I　don't　need　your　help。〃

He　dropped　her　on　the　bed。　〃Don't　worry。　I'm　not　doing　you　any　favors。
I'm　thinking　of　me。　You　were　sleeping　in　my　chair。〃

Before　she　could　begin　to　call　him　out；　he　pivoted　and　left；　slamming
the　door　behind　him。

Sunday　brought　more　of　the　same。　On　the　plus　side；　the　weather　was
grand；　crisp　and　clear　once　the　early…morning　fog　lifted。　Having　slept
her　fill；　Anne　was　up　early；　putting　on　her　own　pot　of　coffee　to　assure
herself　a　cup　to　her　liking；　before　showering　and　dressing。　The　door　to
the　attic　remained　closed。　If　Mitch　was　still　asleep；　he　slept　soundly。
Everything　overhead　was　silent。

After　breakfast；　she　rewalked　yesterday's　route；　this　time　extending　it
to　the　brook　that　babbled　down　the　far　hillside。　In　keeping　with　the　nip
in　the　air；　the　first　of　the　birch　leaves　were　starting　to　yellow。　The
sun　picked　them　out　from　the　rest　and　added　a　glow。

Removing　her　sneakers；　she　rolled　up　her　jeans　and；　where　the　water　was
shallow；　waded　across　flat　granite　boulders。　It　was　the　kind　of　thing
she　and　Jeff　would　have　done。　Now　she　was　alone；　yet　strangely　peaceful。
Enjoying　herself；　she　leaped　lightly　from　stone　to　stone。

Returning　invigorated　to　the　house；　she　tackled　the　first　of　the　papers
she　had　to　translate；　making　good　headway　with　the　English…to…Spanish
piece　until　her　stomach　grumbled。　By　then　there　were　stirrings　from　the
upper　quarter。　She　worked　until　he　was　in　the　bathroom　and　dallied　in
the　kitchen　until　he　returned　to　his　room。　When　he　came　downstairs；　she
was　back　at　work；　sitting　at　the　small　desk　that　stood　beneath　a　side
window　of　the　living　room。

Then　the　trouble　began。　For　nearly　ten　minutes　he　looked　over　her
shoulder　while　she　worked　as　best　she　could。　Then　he　made　a　racket　with
pots　and　pans　in　the　kitchen。　When　that　ended；　there　was　whistling；　loud
and　persistent；　the　same　tune；　over　and　over　and　over　again。

Worst　were　interruptions　of　the　〃Hey；　where　is　。。　。〃　variety。　First　it
was；　〃Hey；　where's　the　salt？〃　Then；　〃Hey；　where's　the　ketchup？〃　Then；
〃Hey；　where's　the　large　spatula？〃

By　this　time　she　knew　he　was　baiting　her；　so　she　didn't　scream。　Calmly；
she　put　down　her　pen；　set　her　glasses　aside；　and　made　for　the　kitchen　to
register　a　civil　plaint。

〃Are　there　any　more？　migod；　what　are　you　doing？〃　She　ran　across　the　room；
only　to　drop　her　outstretched　arms　in　disgust　and　raise　her　eyes
heavenward　in　search　of　patience。

〃What's　the　trouble？〃　He　was　all　innocence。

She　peered　once　more　into　the　half…empty　jar　in　his　hand。　〃Those　are　my
macadamia　nuts。　I've　been　saving　that　itty…bitty　jar　for　this　vacation！
〃

〃So　I'll　buy　you　another　jar。　Is　money　that　tight？〃

Anne　scowled。　She　reached　for　the　jar　and　clamped　on　its　lid　before　he
could　take　more。　〃It's　not　the　money。　It's　the　principle。　I　love
macadamia　nuts。〃

〃I'll　get　you　more；〃　he　repeated　calmly。

She　returned　the　jar　to　the　cabi。　〃Can　I　trust　you　to　leave　it　alone；
or　do　I　have　to　put　it　in　my　room？〃

He　grinned　and　folded　his　arms　on　his　chest。　〃I　haven't　had　macadamias
in　ages。　I'd　forgotten　how　good　they　are。　But　you　can　trust　me。　At
least；　when　it　es　to　the　nuts。〃

For　a　split　second；　she　thought　she　heard　something　sexual　in　his　drawl。
Then；　dismissing　it　as　a　figment　of　her　imagination；　she　turned　and
stalked　off。

By　Monday；　a　pattern　emerged。　Anne　rose　early　each　morning　and　hiked　the
countryside。　Mitch　slept　late　enough　to　ensure　a　replenished　supply　of
hot　water　for　a　long　shower。　Meals　were　widely　scattered　and　eaten　alone
from　supplies　that　remained　separate　and　distinct。

By　Tuesday　Anne　felt　well　rested　and　relaxed。　If　Mitch　continued　to　toss
in　his　sleep；　she　had　either　gotten　used　to　the　noise　or　she　slept
soundly　enough　herself　to　blot　it　out。

He　woke　up　earlier　than　usual　that　day；　packed　a　lunch　and　vanished；
leaving　Anne　with　the　solitude　she　wanted。　Strange；　though；　between
work；　books；　and　other　incidental　activities；　she　kept　thinking　about
him。

She　was　living　with　the　guy。　Well；　not　in　that　sense。　Still；　her　friends
would　be　stunned　if　they　knew；　her　family　appalled。　But　she　was
fortable　here；　physically　and　emotionally。　This　world　was　divorced
from　that　of　New　York。　Same　with　Mitch。　So；　she　didn't　know　his　last
name。　The　anonymity　here　felt　right。　With　Wednesday　morning　came　the
awareness　that　her　vacation　was　ing　to　an　end。　By　Friday　afternoon
she　would　be　heading　back　to　the　city。　Thinking　about　it　over　breakfast
coffee；　she　felt　a　pang　of　disappointment。　All　things　considered；　the
vacation　had　been　a　good　one。　She　would　miss　this　country　when　she　had
to　leave　it　behind。

Determined　to　make　the　most　of　the　remaining　days；　she　spent　more　time
in　the　woods　than　ever；　reveling　in　the　beauty　of　the　flora；　the　freedom
of　the　fauna；　and　the　luxury　of　time　itself　It　was　past　noon　when　she
returned　to　the　cottage。　Leaning　against　the　trunk　of　an　old　apple　tree
in　the　backyard；　bathed　in　its　sweet　scent；　she　tipped　her　head　back　and
squinted　at　the　sun　through　the　fruit。

Inspiration　struck　then。　Pulling　her　jacket　off；　she　spread　it　on　the
soft　grass。　Then　she　began　to　pick　apples；　selecting　only　the　fullest
and　deepest　red　of　the　lot　to　add　to　the　growing　pile。　When　the　last　of
the　best　lay　on　her　jacket；　she　calculated　her　own　agility；　studying　the
upper　branches；　taking　stock　of　her　options。　Casting　prudence　aside；　she
braced　a　rubber　soled　foot　against　the　trunk　and　carefully　hoisted
herself　onto　the　first　branch；　bringing　a　whole　new　batch　of　fruit
within　reach。　Balanced　gingerly；　she　plucked　one；　then　another；　filling
her　free　arm　slowly。

Then　she　looked　down　and　saw　Mitch　right　at　the　foot　of　her　tree。
Startled；　she　lost　her　balance。　Apples　rained　to　the　ground　in　a　crimson
storm。　When　she　began　to　fall；　she　twisted　sideways；　grabbing　back　at
the　low　branch　to　catch　herself。　Mitch　caught　her　before　she　hit　the
ground；　though　not　before　she'd　been　scraped　by　the　ragged　bark　and
jutting　offshoots。

〃Why　did　you　creep　up　on　me　that　way？〃　she　cried　the　minute　her　feet
touched　ground。　He　released　her　instantly；　but　not　before　she　saw　him
flinch　in　pain。　With　a　gasp　of　pain　herself；　she　sank　to　the　grass　and
rubbed　the　knee　she　had　bumped　on　the　branch。

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　asked。

She　probed　an　aching　elbow。　〃Fine。　I'm　fine。〃

〃Are　you　always　this　clumsy？〃

〃I　wasn't　clumsy。　You　frightened　me；　sneaking　up　like　that。〃

〃Who　did　you　think　it　was？〃　he　asked　dryly。　〃There　aren't　a　whole　lot　of
other　people　around　here；　or　hadn't　you　noticed？〃　Frowning；　he　bent　to
gather　apples　that　had　fallen。　〃You　should　be　more　careful。　You　could
break　a　leg　that　way。〃

〃Is　that　the　voice　of　experience　talking？〃

His　jaw　was　tight。　〃You　could　say　that。〃　He　tossed　more　apples　onto　her
jacket。　But　he　only　used　his　right　arm。　The　left　hung　idle。

〃Is　your　arm　all　right？〃　she　asked。

He　glanced　sharply　up。　〃It's　fine。〃

〃You　favor　your　right。〃

〃It's　fine。　Can　you　walk？〃

As　she　stood；　testing　the　knee；　he　pulled　her　jacket　around　into　a
bundle；　lifted　it；　and　set　off　for　the　house。

She　limped　after　him。　By　the　time　she　reached　the　kitchen；　he　had　put
the　apples　beside　the　sink　and　disappeared。　Grateful　for　the　privacy；
she　collapsed　into　a　chair；　twisting　her　arm　to　see　the　scrapes　on　her
elbow。

〃Here；　let　me　take　a　look　at　that。〃

Before　she　could　resist；　Mitch　deposited　a　bottle　of　disinfectant　and　a
washcloth　on　the　table；　pulled　up　a　chair；　and　took　her　arm。　His　touch
was　warm。　When　she　tried　to　pull　back；　he　held　her　arm　more　firmly。　She
winced　at　the　antiseptic's　sting。

〃THAT'S　That's　enough！〃

But　he　disagreed；　repeatedly　dabbing　the　dirt　from　the　wound　before
kneeling　and　reaching　for　her　knee。

〃It's　all　right；〃　she　insisted。

He　raised　his　head。　His　jaw　was　hard；　his　cheeks　lean；　but　his　eyes　were
surprisingly　soft。　Something　stirred　inside　her。

〃I'll　do　my　best　not　to　hurt　you；　but　it　should　be　cleaned。〃　Very
gently；　he　pushed　the　jeans　past　her　knee。　He　applied　disinfectant　to
the　scrape　there；　blotting　it　to　ease　the　sting。

Anne　watched　his　shoulders　flex　as　he　worked；　easy　to　see　since　his
turtleneck　fit　him　as　snugly　as　each　of　his　others　had。　This　one　was
dark　green。　By　contrast；　the　silvery…blonde　of　his　hair　was　striking。

〃There；　now；〃　he　murmured。　〃That　wasn't　so　bad；　was　it？〃　With　both　hands
cradling　her　leg；　he　surveyed　his　work。　His　tone　was　gentle；　his　touch
even　more　so；　and　when　he　raised　his　eyes；　they　were　the　gentlest　yet。

Her　breath　faltered。

He　curved　a　hand　to　her　neck。　His　thumb　feather…touched　the　soft　swell
of　her　lips。　For　an　instant　he　hesitated；　and　Anne's　breath　held。

With　eternal　slowness；　he　raised　his　mouth　to　hers　in　a　kiss　that　was
little　more　than　the　tantalizingly　light　movement　of　his　lips。　When　she
made　no　protest；　he　deepened　it；　coaxing　her　mouth　open　with　a
gentleness　that　was　worlds　away　from　the　first　night's　force。

Anne　was　entranced。　She　couldn't　think；　because　this　wasn't　part　of　her
plan。　But　she　could　feel；　and　what　she　felt　was　overwhelming；　the　purest
pleasure　in　a　meeting　of　mouths；　a　touching　of　tongues。

Abruptly　he　pulled　away；　and　sanity　returned。

With　a　gasp　she　bolted　from　the　chair　and；　ignoring　a　twinge　in　her
knee；　went　to　the　far　side　of　the　room。　Mitch　stood；　keeping　his　back　to
her　as　his　breathing　steadied。　When　he　finally　faced　her；　he　had　his
passion　in　check。

By　that　time；　she　was　trying　to　understand　herself。　Because　she
couldn't；　she　lashed　out　at　him。　〃You　had　no　business　doing　that。〃

His　lips　thinned。　〃I　don't　seem　to　recall　your　objecting。〃

〃You　didn't　give　me　much　of　a　chance。〃

He　approached；　studying　her　eyes；　the　heat　on　her　cheeks；　the　tiny
quiver　of　her　lips。　He　frowned。　〃It's　been　a　long　time