第31部分(第7/7 頁)

　and　quaint。　For　Anne　it　was

like　a　first　date。　She　wore　her　favorite　navy　knit；　which　she　had　packed

for　the　occasion。　Its　softness　offset　her　darkness；　its　gentle　wrap

showed　curves　that　had　begun　to　return。　She　wanted　to　look

sophisticated；　and　to　that　end；　wore　makeup　for　the　first　time　here。

Mitch　rewarded　her　with　a　glow　in　his　eyes。　He　looked　gorgeous　in　his

fine　wool　slacks　and　tailored　blazer。　They　made　a　stunning　duo；　drawing

the　attention　of　more　than　one　pair　of　curious　eyes。

He　avoided　intimacy　beyond　a　light　hand　on　her　waist　when　he　escorted

her　to　their　table。　Later；　back　at　the　cabin；　they　rang　in　the　midnight

hour　with　champagne　toasts。

And　the　light…hearted　tone　held　through　the　week。　They　took　daily　walks

in　the　crisp；　cold　air。　The　woods　were　an　enchanted　place　in　winter；　a

safe　harbor　from　winds　that　whipped　across　the　meadow　but　couldn't

perate　the　evergreens。　Bundled　in　woolen　and　down；　they　hiked　over

ponds　of　solid　ice　and　followed　the　crusty　line　of　the　brook　from

mountaintop　to　valley。　The　snow　squeaked　under　their　boots；　but；　aside

from　their　voices；　it　was　the　only　noise　in　the　forest。

Shielded　by　spruce；　pine；　and　cedar；　they　walked　for　hours　through　the

blue…shadowed　land；　returning　to　the　cabin　only　when　their　hands　and

feet　were　numb。　More　often　than　not　then；　they　settled　in　at　the　kitchen

window　to　watch　chickadees　at　the　feeder　that　Mitch　had　staked　into　the

ground。