第24部分(第4/7 頁)

hands　out　to　the　sides　for　an　instant；　then　dropped　them。

The　right　went　to　his　waist；　the　left　to　his　pocket。　〃Be　my　guest。　Sit。〃

She　retreated　to　the　wing…back　chair　and　watched　him　add　logs　to　the

fire。　He　used　his　right　hand。　His　left　remained　in　his　pocket。　It　struck

her　that　he　avoided　using　it。

He　approached　her　again；　tall　and　imposing。　〃Why　did　you　e？〃

She　tipped　her　chin　in　defiance　of　his　stance。　〃I'm　here　on　vacation。　I

arranged　it　with　Mr。　Cooper　and　prepaid　for　the　week。〃

〃You　have　proof？〃

〃Of　course。〃

〃Let　me　see。〃

She　scowled。　〃Why　should　I　show　you　anything？　You're　the　one　who　barged

in　here　uninvited。〃

He　leaned　forward；　resting　his　hand　on　the　arm　of　her　chair；　bringing

his　lips　infuriatingly　close　to　her　ear。　〃Get　it；〃　he　demanded　under　his

breath；　then　slowly　straightened　to　let　her　pass。

Moments　later　she　reappeared　to　find　him　studying　the　fire。　He　took　the

paper　she　offered　and　skimmed　it。

〃Looks　authentic　enough；〃　he　conceded。　With　a　muttered；　〃That　fool；〃　he

turned　back　to　the　fire。

〃Where's　your　proof？〃　she　challenged。

He　…clenched　his　jaw。　〃You'll　have　to　take　my　word　for　it。〃

〃No；　thanks。　I　want　proof。　Or　you　can　just　take　your　things　and　leave。　I

didn't　drive　all　the　way　up　here　to　share　a　cabin　with　a　man　I　don't

know。〃

His　mouth　thinned　to　a　grimace。　〃Looks　like　you're　stuck　with　me；　lady。〃

She　was　suddenly　angry。　〃No　way！　I　came　up　here　to　be　alone；　and　that's

what　I　plan　to　be。　If　there　was　a　telephone；　I'd　call　the　local　police

to　get　you　out；　but　there　isn't　one；　and　I　don't　relish　the　thought　of

driving　out　in　this　weather。　So　I'm　ask