第30部分(第7/7 頁)

or

white。　With　the　superhighway　far　behind；　her　small　car　slid　often　on

patches　of　ice。

Anne　drove　as　fast　as　she　dared。　The　midafternoon　sun　cast　a　feeble

shadow　through　bare　trees　lining　the　road。　She　was　mesmerized　by　the

grid　it　formed；　so　much　so　that　she　lost　track　of　her　speed；　until　the

loud　blast　of　a　car　horn　from　the　village　road　on　her　right　brought　her

back。

She　recognized　the　light　blue　Honda　instantly。　With　a　smile　of　delight；

she　pulled　up　on　the　shoulder　of　the　road。　The　Honda　stopped　just

behind。　When　Mitch　climbed　out；　Anne's　heart　throbbed。　Any　doubts　she'd

had　about　ing　vanished　on　the　spot。

Smiling　more　widely　than　ever；　she　rolled　down　her　window　and　called　a

breathy　〃Hi！〃　even　before　he　reached　the　door。

His　glower　took　her　by　surprise。　〃What　are　you　trying　to　do；　get

yourself　killed？　You　can't　speed　on　this　road。〃

〃I　was　only　going　forty。〃

Anger　and　all；　he　was　a　sight　to　behold。　Looking　her　fill　through　dark

glasses；　she　kept　right　on　smiling。　His　hair　was　more　blond　than　silver

in　the　dull　sun；　making　him　look　younger　and；　for　a　tall；　hard　man；

oddly　soft。　Then　she　realized　that　despite　the　show　of　anger；　he　was

glad　to　see　her　again。

As　though　he　sensed　she　had　him　figured　out；　he　blew　the　anger　off　with

a　misted　sigh。　〃Look；　Annie；　you　stay　behind　me　for　the　rest　of　the

trip。　Okay？〃

She　humored　him。　〃Did　you　get　everything　at　the　market？　All　the

perishables？