第29部分(第3/7 頁)

　first

chance？

Unsettled　by　that　thought；　she　exchanged　her　city　skirt　for　a　sweater

and　jeans；　grabbed　her　heavy　parka；　and　ran　down　the　stairs。　She　needed

fresh　air　and　a　long　walk。

She　barely　got　out　the　back　door　when　she　spotted　Mitch　in　the　yard

splitting　logs　for　the　fire。　Bundled　in　a　sheepskin　jacket　with　its

collar　raised；　he　didn't　see　her。　Time　and　again　he　raised　the　ax　and

struck；　time　and　again　splitting　each　new　log　with　a　single　sweep　of　the

blade；　and　all　with　his　right　arm。　She　wondered　how　the　left　had　been

injured。　It　was　none　of　her　business。　Still　she　wondered。

She　joined　him　in　the　yard　and　sat　quietly　on　a　pile　of　logs　while　he

finished　his　work；　then　as　quietly　helped　carry　the　wood　into　the　house

and　stack　it　by　the　fireplace。　Shortly　after　that；　they　left　for　the

village。

In　the　confines　of　the　car；　he　was　more　imposing　than　ever。　His　hands

were　strong　on　the　wheel；　his　thigh　strong　when　he　braked。　In　profile；

his　hair　was　a　thick　silver…blond；　his　eyes　alert；　his　nose；　lips；　and

chin　classically　chiseled。　Everything　about　him　spoke　of　mand；　of　a

man　with　a　mind　of　his　own。　But　she　knew　that　already。

They　bought　food。　They　drove　home。　They　did　fine　right　through　dinner；

sticking　to　general　topics　like　politics；　the　economy；　and　the　oning

winter　in　the　mountains。　They　disagreed　on　some　things；　but　could　listen

to　the　other's　point　of　view。

They　didn't　run　into　trouble　until　the　last　of　the　peach　melba

disappeared。　Then　he　asked；　〃Why　did　you　decide　to　e　up　here　this

time；　Anne？〃

It　was　inevitable　that　the　talk　would　turn　personal　on　some　level；　and

sh