第33部分(第2/7 頁)

〃There　won't　be　any　more　mix…ups；　Annie。　I've　taken　the　house　off

Miles's　rental　list。　From　now　on　we'll　be　the　only　ones　who　use　it。〃

Before　Anne　could　grasp　the　full　implication　of　that；　a　new　shudder

shook　her。　She　burrowed　against　him；　seeking　warmth　for　her　extremities。

Gently；　he　laid　her　down　and　disappeared。　He　returned　moments　later　and

lifted　her　head。　〃Aspirin；〃　he　explained　before　she　could　ask。　〃Open

your　mouth。〃

She　was　a　docile　patient；　too　weak　to　protest　his　pampering；　too　pleased

by　it　to　want　to　protest。　He　kept　her　pumped　with　broth　and　aspirin　for

most　of　the　night；　dozing　beside　her　under　the　quilt。　One　part　of　his

body　always　touched　her。　She　couldn't　so　much　as　turn　over　when　he　was

up　on　an　elbow；　concerned。　In　other　circumstances；　the　sleeping

arrangement　would　have　been　heady。　But　Anne's　senses　were　blunted　by

fever。

The　next　day　was　a　mass　of　hours　blurred　together。　Her　fever　stayed　high

despite　the　medicine。　Increasingly；　her　whole　body　suffered　when　she

coughed。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　me？〃　she　cried　in　frustration；　when　she　awoke

late　in　the　afternoon　feeling　no　better。

Mitch　took　her　hot　hand　in　his。　〃I'm　not　sure。　As　soon　as　the　road　is

plowed；　I'm　taking　you　to　the　doctor。〃

〃Has　it　stopped　snowing？〃

〃Finally。〃

〃How　much　is　on　the　ground？〃

〃A　little　over　a　foot。　It　makes　the　plowing　slower；　though　the　folks　up

here　are　well…equipped。〃

〃Mitch？〃　She　rolled　onto　her　back　to　see　his　face；　as　he　sat　beside　her

on　the　bed。　Her　voice　was　weak；　but　something　had　been　nagging　at　her。

〃Yes？〃

〃If　you　own　this　house；　then　you　have　access　to