第28部分(第6/7 頁)

Anne　tossed　her　coat　on　a　chair。　She　made　coffee　strong；　and　eggs

scrambled　moist。　When　the　food　was　hot　on　the　table；　she　went　to　the

window。　The　backyard　looked　bare。　A　dull　apple　or　two　clinging

stubbornly　to　lonely　branches。　The　firs　stood　out；　towering　over　trees

that　were　deleafed。　They　swayed　gallantly　in　gusts　of　wind　that　sent

shivers　through　the　tall　grass　below。

But　the　chill　was　out　there；　and　Anne　was　in　here。　She　was　warm　and

content。

〃You're　looking　well；〃　Mitch　said　from　the　door。　〃A　little　pale；　but

better　than　last　time。〃　He　was　groomed　meticulously　now　and　looking

devastatingly　fresh　in　an　opermecked　wool　shirt　and　clean　denims。

〃There　wasn't　much　in　the　fridge；〃　she　said。　〃I　hope　the　eggs　are

enough。〃

He　took　a　chair　and　helped　himself　from　the　platter。　〃I　thought　we'd　go

marketing　today。　Unless；〃　he　shot　her　a　look　over　the　rim　of　his　coffee

cup；　〃you　brought　groceries。〃

〃Not　this　time。　I　wasn't　sure　I'd　be　staying　here。　I　made　reservations

at　an　inn　in　Woodstock　just　in　case。〃

He　sat　back。　〃Were　you　afraid　I'd　attack　you　again？〃

〃No；〃　she　said　with　care。　〃I　wasn't　sure　you'd　be　here。　It　was　tentative

when　you　mentioned　it；　and　since　I　had　no　way　of　contacting　you　in

between…〃

〃You　could　have　called　Miles　Cooper；〃　he　suggested　lightly。

She　looked　him　in　the　eye。　〃No；　I　couldn't。　So　there　was　no　fortable

way　of　my　learning　your　plans。〃

〃Did　that　bother　you？〃

〃No。〃　She　didn't　look　away。　〃I　don't　want　to　cope　with　identities　yet。〃

〃Then　we　agree　on　that。　No　more　said。〃

〃No　more　said。〃　She　felt　proud　of　herself；　if　a　little　wistful；　as　she

watched　hi