669小说网

第34部分（第2页）

in　his　chest。　〃It　was　awful。〃

He　spoke　softly　against　her　hair。　〃I　know；　honey；　I　know。　But　it　was

only　a　dream。〃　His　nearness　forted　her。　〃Only　a　dream；〃　he　repeated

and　said　it　on　and　off；　between　gentle　rocking；　until　she　fell　back　to

sleep。

Mitch　seemed　preoccupied。　She　sensed　it　from　time　to　time　and　guessed

that　he　had　work　on　his　mind。　On　the　last　night　before　she　was　to　leave；

though；　she　looked　up　to　find　him　brooding　at　the　flames　in　the　hearth。

He　was　sitting　on　the　floor　by　her　chair；　with　his　legs　stretched　toward

the　warmth。

She　touched　his　shoulder。　〃Is　something　wrong？〃

Snatched　from　some　distant　place；　he　jerked　his　head　around。　〃Hmm？〃

〃You　look　bothered　by　something。　Im　back　to　normal；　and　you　havent

begun　to　fight　with　me。〃　She　gave　him　a　teasing　smile。　His　smile　was

oddly　sad。　〃I　seem　to　have　lost　my　taste　for　the　fight。〃

〃This　must　have　been　a　boring　week　for　you。〃

〃I　havent　minded。　Its　been　restful。〃

〃Too　restful。　Tomorrow　is　my　last　morning　here。　Will　you　go　walking　with

me；　or　do　I　sneak　out　alone？〃

He　looked　back　at　the　fire。　〃Ill　go　with　you。〃

She　had　expected　an　argument；　something　to　the　tune　of　Youre　not　well

enough　for　a　walk。　When　he　said　nothing；　she　knew　something　was

definitely　wrong。

But　he　wasnt　the　only　one　who　had　lost　his　taste　for　the　fight。　She

didnt　want　anything　to　mar　their　last　night。　So　she　let　it　go。　With　the

snowfall　still　fresh　on　the　deserted　mountain；　the　sight　greeting　them

the　following　morning　was　one　of　blinding　splendor。　The　sky　was　a　deep

blue；　the　air　cold　and　still。　Days　of　warm　sun　and　freezing　temperatures

had　created　a　crust　of　ice。　The　crunch　underfoot　echoed　as　they　made

their　way　across　the　hillside。　Bits　of　the　brook　that　werent　frozen　ran

through　crystalline　palaces　of　branches　and　weeds。　The　only　other　signs

of　life　were　those　frozen　in　the　snow；　the　tracks　of　the　snowshoe　rabbit

or　the　packed　path　of　the　deer。

It　was　a　scene　of　rare　beauty；　all　the　more　beautiful　for　the　week…long

wait　to　see　it。　But　time　was　short。　Too　soon；　afternoon　arrived　and　the

moment　of　parting。

〃Are　you　sure　you　wont　stay　the　weekend？〃　Mitch　asked。　〃You　shouldnt

be　driving　so　far　yet。〃　Her　car　was　packed。　They　stood　beside　it。