第40部分(第4/7 頁)

aring　that　others　might　hear。

〃I'll　never　be　there　again。　Now；　leave！〃　Every　muscle　in　her　body

quivered。

〃Fine；〃　he　gave　in。　〃I'll　leave；　but　I'll　be　back。　If　not　here；　I'll

catch　you　somewhere　else。　On　the　street；　in　a　restaurant；　even　at　your

parents'　house；　if　need　be。　I　can　be　devious。　You　can't　stay　holed　up　in

this　place　forever。　And　I　won't　give　up！〃

When　his　foot　slid　back　into　the　hallway；　Anne　slammed　the　door　shut

then；　she　turned　and　ran；　trembling；　toward　the　bedroom；　where　she

huddled　against　the　headboard　like　a　hunted　animal。　He　could　be　devious；

that　was　putting　it　mildly！　She　would　see　him　again；　and　the　thought

filled　her　with　dread。

Determined　not　to　be　made　a　prisoner　in　her　own　home；　Anne　booked　even

more　jobs。　She　was　all　over　town；　with　varied　and　interesting　people；

but　the　diversion　she　wanted　came　only　in　bits　and　snatches。　Ever　on

guard　against　running　into　Mitch；　she　found　herself　looking　over　her

shoulder　wherever　she　went；　half　expecting　to　find　him　ready　to　pounce。

It　was　nerve…racking；　to　say　the　least。　After　more　than　a　week　of

running　from　place　to　place　and　feeling　haunted；　she　grew　discouraged。

The　worst　of　it　was　that　that　she　didn't　see　him；　and　that　deep　inside；

in　a　place　she　didn't　want　to　know　about；　she　was　disappointed　because

of　that。　The　pain　went　on。

Relief　came　from　her　parents　in　the　form　of　an　invitation　to　spend　time

with　them　at　the　shore。　Yes；　they　tended　to　smother　her；　but　she　could

use　a　little　smothering　now。　She　wanted　to　be　pampered　and　loved。　She

wanted　to　be　protected　from　Mitch。　The　change　of　scenery　would　be　good。

She　planned　t