第24部分(第1/7 頁)

Her　threat　reached　its　mark。　He　didn't　move　a　muscle。

Silence　hung　heavy　in　the　air。　Even　the　rain　had　eased　to　a　gentle

patter　on　the　roof。　The　storm　was　ending。　But　what　was　she　to　do　now？　As

the　gravity　of　her　predicament　settled　in；　a　fit　of　trembling　shook　her

with　such　force　that　the　poker　waved　precariously。

Appearing　to　sense　her　terror；　the　man　rose　slowly；　palms　open　and　out

from　his　sides。　〃Take　it　easy。　I　won't　hurt　you。〃

〃You　already　have。〃　She　raised　the　poker　higher。

〃Put　that　thing　down；〃　he　ordered；　but　gently；　all　anger　gone　now。

〃You're　apt　to　hurt　yourself〃

She　shook　her　head　and　held　the　poker　at　the　ready。

〃Look。〃　He　sighed；　running　his　fingers　through　the　damp　hair　that　had

fallen　across　his　forehead。　〃Let　me　turn　on　a　light。　At　least　then　I　can

see　what　manner　of　woman　has　the　upper　hand　on　me。〃

She　eased　up　on　her　stance。　Light　would　help　her；　too。

He　crossed　to　the　nearest　lamp　and　turned　it　on。　It　bathed　the　room　a

warm　yellow。　〃That's　better；〃　he　said　and　turned　to　face　her。

Anne　took　a　good　look　at　her　would…be　assailant。　He　was　tall　and　rugged；

thinner　than　she　had　first　suspected；　though　the　breadth　of　his　chest

and　shoulders　spoke　of　strength。　His　sweater　was　black；　his　jeans　faded；

though　darkened　by　rain　at　the　hem；　where　they　fell　over　sodden　brown

leather　boots。

She　had　expected　a　dark　and　glowering　face。　What　she　saw　were　features

that　were　strong　but　kind；　skin　that　was　clear　and　only　faintly　tanned；

hair　that　was　thick　and　blond；　turning　silver；　in　damp　waves。

There　was　an　underlying　gentleness。　But　his　lips　were　stern；　his　cheeks

lean；　his　jaw　set。