第32部分(第5/7 頁)

noring　the　heat　on　her　cheeks。

Snow　continued　to　fall；　creating　a　fairyland　that；　to　Anne's　bleary

gaze；　was　nightmarishly　grotesque。　She　imagined　being　lost　and　freezing

to　death。　The　road　had　never　been　this　long。

Her　senses　blurred　black　with　the　onset　of　night。　Dizzy；　she　fell　to　her

knees；　then　forced　herself　back　up　and　struggled　on。　Tears　of　fear　mixed

with　melting　snow　on　her　fevered　cheeks。　Her　clothing　chafed　against　her

sweaty　body。　Still　she　moved　on。

Finally；　though；　she　was　too　weak。　She　collapsed　on　her　knees　and　sank

into　a　billowing　drift。　Head　bowed；　panting　with　exhaustion；　she　fought

hysteria　and　swayed　in　the　gusting　wind。

〃Mitch　。。。　Mitch　。。　。　please　help　me　。。　。〃　she　whimpered。

〃Annie！〃

Mirage　or　reality；　she　didn't　care。　When　a　large　form　knelt　before　her；

she　fell　against　it；　aware　only　of　the　support　it　offered；　the　warmth　it

held。

He　lifted　her　from　the　snow。　〃Hold　on；　Annie。　It's　not　far　to　the

house。〃

〃Mitch？〃　she　cried　against　his　jacket　as　she　shielded　her　face　from　the

driving　snow。

〃It's　me；　honey。　Quiet　now。　Save　your　strength。〃

The　light　from　the　house　filtered　through　the　snowy　darkness　like　a

beacon。　Once　inside；　he　kicked　the　door　shut　with　his　boot　and　gently

lowered　her　feet　to　the　floor；　only　to　catch　her　up　again　when　her　knees

buckled。　Without　a　word；　he　carried　her　to　the　downstairs　bedroom。

Depositing　her　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　he　began　to　quickly　remove　her

wet　clothing。　He　paused　once　to　throw　off　his　own　jacket　and　pull　back

the　bed's　quilt；　then　returned　to　undress　her。　Anne　didn't　protest。

Chilled　to　the　bone；　she　trembled　unco