第10部分(第6/7 頁)

horde　of　private　ghosts。　If　only　she　had　never　seen　Ross　again。　To　be

free；　once　more；　of　this　gnawing　at　mind　and　body。

But　she　had　seen　him　again　and；　if　he　stuck　to　his　plan；　would　see　more

of　him　before　he　left。　There　was　only　one　solution；　as　she　saw　it。

Indifference。　What　man　would　put　up　with　that　for　long？　Indifference。　It

would　turn　him　off；　wouldn't　it？　Surely　then　he　would　leave　her　in

peace。

She　awoke　the　next　morning　on　an　optimistic　note；　showered；　dressed；　and

sailed　downstairs　for　breakfast。　It　was　with　momentary　dismay　that　she

found　her　kitchen　in　use…until　she　recalled　the　night's　resolve；　tilted

up　her　chin；　and　advanced。

〃Ah；〃　she　said　as　she　helped　herself　to　a　cup　of　the　coffee　he　had

brewed；　〃　you've　made　yourself　at　home。〃

His　grin　was　as　bright　as　the　morning　sun　that　slanted　across　the　porch

beyond　the　screen。　〃It's　a　luxury。　I'm　enjoying　it。　It's　not　every　day

that　I　get　to　putter　around　a　cozy　kitchen；　much　less　wait　on　a

princess。〃

〃Flattery　will　get　you　nowhere。〃　She　hoped；　prayed　it　was　so。　By　way　of

diversion；　she　eyed　the　stove。　〃Bacon；　eggs；　home　fries？　You're　going　to

eat　all　that？〃

〃With　your　help。〃

〃Ohhhh；　no。　After　a　breakfast　like　that　I'd　barely　be　able　to　keep　my

eyes　open。　I　have　too　many　things　to　do…〃

〃…for　which　you　need　energy。　And；　anyway；〃　he　called　over　his　shoulder

as　he　turned　the　bacon；　〃if　you　don't　eat　breakfasts　like　this；　why　such

a　full　stock　of　goodies？　Lee's　refrigerator　was　bare。〃

〃So　that's　it；　huh？〃　she　asked；　eyes　narrowing。　〃You're　starved　and　my

old　buddy　Lee　couldn't　help　you　out？〃　She　chuckled。　〃Lee　eats　out。　A