第34部分(第7/7 頁)

　blouse；　had

brushed　her　hair　to　a　high　luster　and　draped　it　over　her　shoulders。

Though　the　soft　pink　glow　on　her　cheeks　needed　no　help；　she　had

carefully　applied　a　sheen　of　lavender　to　her　eyelids　and　a　coat　of

mascara　to　her　lashes。　On　the　third　finger　of　her　right　hand　was　the

exquisite　enameled　ring　he　had　given　her。

Well　after　midnight；　she　wrapped　the　food　and　cleaned　up　the　kitchen。　At

two　in　the　morning；　she　went　to　bed；　but　she　barely　slept。　One　ear

listened；　always　listened　for　the　sound　of　a　car。　It　never　came。

Saturday　morning；　she　was　heavy…eyed　and　disturbed。　She　went　through　all

the　possible　explanations　for　his　failure　to　appear。　He　might　have　been

hung　up　with　business　and　unable　to　reach　her。　He　might　have　forgotten

that　she　would　be　waiting。　He　might　have　decided　not　to　e　at　all。　Now

that　she　had　a　key；　she　didn't　need　him　to　let　her　in。

The　minutes　crept　by；　one　after　another；　after　another。　By　late

afternoon；　when　there　was　still　no　sign　of　the　Honda；　Anne　was　convinced

that　she　had　simply　blown　the　relationship　into　something　it　wasn't。

Then　came　the　blare　of　a　horn。　She　ran　from　the　window　seat　in　the

kitchen　to　the　front　door。　But　it　wasn't　his　horn…she　had　known　that

instantly。　While　everything　about　Mitch　oozed　of　charm；　this　sound

carried　the　rough　edge　of　a　local　pickup　truck。

〃Mrs。　Boulton？〃　barked　a　gruff　voice。　The　stocky　form　of　a　farmer；　clad

in　h