第36部分(第7/7 頁)

〃we'd　have　used　plastic　spouts

attached　to　plastic　tubing　that　would　take　the　stuff　directly　from　the

tree　to　the　sugarhouse。　It's　much　more　efficient　in　terms　of　time　and

labor。〃

〃That's　all　okay；〃　she　reasoned。　〃We　don't　have　a　sugarhouse。　Besides；

I'm　gaining　weight。　The　exercise　will　do　me　good。〃

He　looked　her　over。　〃Well；　you're　not　scrawny　anymore；　but　。。。　in　danger

of　being　overweight？　Not　a　chance。〃

〃Fine　for　you　to　say。　You　did　most　of　the　work　this　week。〃　And　he　had。

He　had　cooked　nearly　every　meal；　in　addition　to　doing　the　lion's　share

of　the　sugaring　work。

He　threw　an　arm　across　her　shoulders　and　drew　her　to　his　side。　〃I　owed

you　for　being　such　a　bastard　when　I　first　got　here。　Most　women　would

have　packed　up　and　left。〃

She　managed　a　gruff；　〃The　thought　did　cross　my　mind。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　stayed；〃　he　said　with　affection。

There　was　a　gleam　in　his　hazel　eyes；　a　softness　in　his　smile；　gentleness

in　the　fingers　that　cupped　her　shoulder；　and　a　velvet　edge　to　his　voice。

All　in　all；　it　was　a　warm　moment。　Anne　mitted　it　to　memory。

By　Friday　morning；　there　was　enough　sap　in　the　large　vat　to　begin　the

boiling　process。

〃They　usually　do　this　in　long；　shallow　pans　called　evaporators；〃　Mitch

explained。　〃The　one　we're　using　is　a　little　deeper　than　we　need；　but

it'll　have　to　do。　When　all　the　water　has　evaporated；　we'll　have　pure

maple　syrup。

No　matter　that　he　had　done　this　before；　his　enthusiasm　and　genuine

en