rekindled(英文版)-第35章

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fine　wool　slacks　and　tailored　blazer。　They　made　a　stunning　duo；　drawing
the　attention　of　more　than　one　pair　of　curious　eyes。

He　avoided　intimacy　beyond　a　light　hand　on　her　waist　when　he　escorted
her　to　their　table。　Later；　back　at　the　cabin；　they　rang　in　the　midnight
hour　with　champagne　toasts。

And　the　light…hearted　tone　held　through　the　week。　They　took　daily　walks
in　the　crisp；　cold　air。　The　woods　were　an　enchanted　place　in　winter；　a
safe　harbor　from　winds　that　whipped　across　the　meadow　but　couldn't
perate　the　evergreens。　Bundled　in　woolen　and　down；　they　hiked　over
ponds　of　solid　ice　and　followed　the　crusty　line　of　the　brook　from
mountaintop　to　valley。　The　snow　squeaked　under　their　boots；　but；　aside
from　their　voices；　it　was　the　only　noise　in　the　forest。

Shielded　by　spruce；　pine；　and　cedar；　they　walked　for　hours　through　the
blue…shadowed　land；　returning　to　the　cabin　only　when　their　hands　and
feet　were　numb。　More　often　than　not　then；　they　settled　in　at　the　kitchen
window　to　watch　chickadees　at　the　feeder　that　Mitch　had　staked　into　the
ground。

It　was　a　time　of　quiet　serenity。　Anne　did　little　reading　and　even　less
work。　Rather；　she　spent　hours　in　calm　reverie　before　the　fire；　a　triumph
in　and　of　itself。　She　was　happy。　She　wasn't　brooding　or　mourning。　She
didn't　want　to　be　anywhere　else；　with　anyone　else　in　the　world。

During　one　of　these　relaxing　moments；　on　the　last　evening　of　their　stay；
Mitch　suddenly　went　to　his　bedroom　and　returned　with　a　small　box。　It　was
wrapped　in　white　and　had　a　pale　blue　ribbon。

〃What's　this？〃　she　asked　in　surprise。

〃Open　it。〃

She　pulled　at　the　bow　with　unsteady　fingers。　〃When　did　you　get　this？〃

She　hadn't　expected　a　gift。　His　presence　was　enough。

〃I　was　in　Brazil　right　after　Thanksgiving。　It　was　made　by　one　of　the
local　artisans　in　a　small　village　in　the　interior。〃

The　top　of　the　box　fell　back　to　reveal　a　ring；　a　rectangular　piece　of
enamelware　framed　in　gold　and　mounted　on　a　fine　gold　band。　Anne　gasped
at　the　beauty　of　the　intricately　painted　design；　a　semiabstract　por
trait　of　sand；　sea；　and　sun；　all　woven　together　in　blues；　greens；
yellows；　and　creams。

〃It's　beautiful；〃　she　breathed。　〃You　never　should　have…〃

〃Put　it　on；〃　he　said。

The　ring　fit　perfectly　on　the　third　finger　of　her　right　hand；　and　gave
her　pale；　slim　fingers　even　greater　delicacy。

〃There；〃　he　said　with　a　satisfied　sigh。　〃That's　a　little　color　for　you。
Maybe　next　time　a　bright　sweater　to　wear　for　me。〃

Next　time。

The　words　thrilled　her　as　much　as　the　ring。　〃I　will。　And　。。。　thank　you；
Mitch。　The　ring　is　beautiful。　I'll　cherish　it。〃　She　put　both　hands　up　to
frame　his　face；　to　trace　the　powerful　line　of　his　cheeks；　his　jaw；　his
chin。　Then　she　leaned　forward　and　gave　him　a　soft　and　heartfelt　kiss。　〃I
wish　I　had　something　to　give　you；〃　she　whispered　when　it　was　done。

In　a　trembling　breath；　he　said；　〃You　already　have；　Anne。　And　I　thank
you。〃

Anne　drove　north　again　on　a　Friday　afternoon　in　the　second　week　of
February。　As　the　first　flakes　of　snow　began　to　fall；　she　sniffled　and
pulled　another　Kleenex　from　the　glove　box。　For　the　better　part　of　the
week　she'd　had　a　cold。　If　she　had　known　Mitch's　number；　she　might　have
called　to　cancel　their　meeting。　But　she　didn't　know　it；　and　she　wanted
to　see　him。　She　was　counting　on　feeling　better　in　the　clean　country　air。
What　she　hadn't　counted　on　was　the　snow。

As　she　crossed　the　border　from　New　York　into　Vermont；　the　flakes　grew
larger　and　more　feathery。　They　were　sticking　to　anything　and　everything
in　sight。　Traffic　had　slowed　with　the　decreased　visibility；　but　that　was
a　double…edged　sword。　Yes；　it　was　safer　driving　slower。　But　it　meant　the
trip　took　longer；　and　the　longer　she　was　on　the　roads；　the　worse　they
became。

She　was　impatient　to　reach　the　cottage。　Even　aside　from　a　hacking　cough
and　the　accumulation　of　snow　on　the　windshield；　she　wanted　to　be　in　a
place　that　had　bee；　in　some　ways；　more　real　a　world　than　the　other。
The　past　six　weeks　in　New　York　had　been　a　way　of　passing　time　between
trips。　She　was　happier　here；　more　relaxed　and　alive　with　Mitch　than
anywhere　else。

Traffic　slowed　another　notch。　She　glanced　at　her　watch。　Two　hours
behind；　already！　It　was　late　afternoon。　Darkness　would　be　here　before
long。　She　didn't　relish　driving　through　the　storm　in　the　dark。

She　thought　of　stopping　at　an　inn　for　the　night；　but　feared　that
tomorrow　wouldn't　be　any　better。　Besides；　she　had　no　way　to　contact
Mitch。　He　would　be　worried　if　she　didn't　show　up。

Her　snow　tires　clung　tentatively　to　the　road　as　she　turned　off　the
highway　at　last。　There　were　still　miles　to　go；　but　at　least　the　road　was
smaller。　Unfortunately　it　was　also　deserted。　She　pushed　the　small　car
through　a　blinding　rage　of　white。　Vistas　were　obliterated。　Only　the　low
fencing　at　the　side　of　the　road　kept　her　on　course；　though　how　long　it
would　be　before　they　were　covered　by　drifts；　she　didn't　know。

Her　hands　were　white…knuckled　on　the　wheel。　The　snow　was　a　thick　wall
behind　her；　so　there　was　no　turning　back。　She　peered　nervously　through
the　windshield；　praying　for　a　plow。　With　each　passing　mile；　she　drove
more　slowly　through　accumulating　depths。

When　her　pace　was　down　to　fifteen　miles　an　hour；　and　she　couldn't　see
more　than　a　single　car's　length　ahead；　she　felt　a　wave　of　panic。　The
sense　of　isolation　was　utter　and　intense。　Fighting　a　sudden　dizziness；
she　kept　her　foot　on　the　gas。

Dusk　had　fallen　by　the　time　she　reached　the　cottage　cutoff。　She　was　so
relieved　to　see　it；　that　she　took　the　turn　a　hair　too　fast。　The　car
skidded　and　fishtailed　before　ing　to　an　abrupt　halt　several　yards
into　the　private　way；　lodged　firmly　in　a　snow　bank　at　the　side　of　the
road。

Swearing　under　her　breath；　Anne　worked　the　gear　shift；　alternating
between　forward　and　reverse　in　an　attempt　to　free　the　car　from　the
drift。　Her　nerves　were　already　taut。　Now　she　cursed　her　luck　as　she
fumbled　with　the　door　handle；　tripped　out　of　the　car；　and　promptly　sank
in　snow　nearly　as　high　as　her　boots。　Even　through　rose…colored　glasses；
hopes　for　the　car　were　low。

She　peered　up　the　hill　in　the　direction　of　the　house。　In　ideal　weather；
the　walk　was　a　mile's　mild　uphill　challenge。　But　in　this　blizzard？　And
then　there　was　the　possibility　that　Mitch　was　stuck　somewhere；　too。　But
he　was　the　one　with　the　key。

She　sneezed　and　raised　a　parka…covered　arm　to　her　face。　If　the　door　was
locked；　she　would　just　have　to　break　in。　There　was　no　other　choice。　She
couldn't　go　back；　and　she　couldn't　stay　here。

Packing　her　pockets　with　KLEENEX；　she　closed　up　the　car。　She　zipped　the
parka　all　the　way；　pulled　its　hood　over　her　wool　hat；　pushed　her　hands
into　gloves；　and　set　off。　She　trudged　as　fast　as　she　could　through　the
mounting　snow；　lifting　one　leg　high；　then　the　other。　Her　muscles　began
to　ache。　Tucking　her　head　deeper　into　the　hood　of　her　parka；　she　plodded
on。

Thirty　minutes　passed；　then　another　fifteen。　Exhausted；　she　looked
around　for　something　to　rest　against。　But　all　was　white；　lonely；
uninviting；　and　bleak。　Looking　back；　she　saw　nothing　but　her　own
footsteps。　Looking　ahead；　she　saw　nothing　at　all。　She　pushed　on；
absolutely；　positively　refusing　to　believe　that　she　may　have　taken　the
wrong　road。

Bone…weary　and　weak　from　coughing；　she　grew　more　frightened　as　the
minutes　passed。　Signs　of　life　were　nonexistent。　The　cabin　had　to　be
somewhere。　For　another　half　hour；　she　pushed　herself　forward；　pausing
occasionally　to　blow　her　nose；　huffing　hoarsely　at　the　exertion；
ignoring　the　heat　on　her　cheeks。

Snow　continued　to　fall；　creating　a　fairyland　that；　to　Anne's　bleary
gaze；　was　nightmarishly　grotesque。　She　imagined　being　lost　and　freezing
to　death。　The　road　had　never　been　this　long。

Her　senses　blurred　black　with　the　onset　of　night。　Dizzy；　she　fell　to　her
knees；　then　forced　herself　back　up　and　struggled　on。　Tears　of　fear　mixed
with　melting　snow　on　her　fevered　cheeks。　Her　clothing　chafed　against　her
sweaty　body。　Still　she　moved　on。

Finally；　though；　she　was　too　weak。　She　collapsed　on　her　knees　and　sank
into　a　billowing　drift。　Head　bowed；　panting　with　exhaustion；　she　fought
hysteria　and　swayed　in　the　gusting　wind。

〃Mitch　。。。　Mitch　。。　。　please　help　me　。。　。〃　she　whimpered。

〃Annie！〃

Mirage　or　reality；　she　didn't　care。　When　a　large　form　knelt　before　her；
she　fell　against　it；　aware　only　of　the　support　it　offered；　the　warmth　it
held。

He　lifted　her　from　the　snow。　〃Hold　on；　Annie。　It's　not　far　to　the
house。〃

〃Mitch？〃　she　cried　against　his　jacket　as　she　shielded　her　face　from　the
driving　snow。

〃It's　me；　honey。　Quiet　now。　Save　your　strength。〃

The　light　from　the　house　filtered　through　the　snowy　darkness　like　a
beacon。　Once　inside；　he　kicked　the　door　shut　with　his　boot　and　gently
lowered　her　feet　to　the　floor；　only　to　catch　her　up　again　when　her　knees
buckled。　Without　a　word；　he　carried　her　to　the　downstairs　bedroom。
Depositing　her　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　he　began　to　quickly　remove　her
wet　clothing。　He　paused　once　to　throw　off　his　own　jacket　and　pull　back
the　bed's　quilt；　then　returned　to　undress　her。　Anne　didn't　protest。
Chilled　to　the　bone；　she　trembled　uncontrollably。

〃Lift　your　arms；　like　a　good　girl；〃　he　said　softly　and；　one　at　a　time；
drew　the　sleeves　of　her　heavy　sweater　off　and　pulled　it　over　her　head。

〃I　thought　I　was　lost；　Mitch。　I　walked　for　so　long　and　I　couldn't　find
the　house。〃

〃Shhh。　You're　safe　now。〃

She　clutched　at　his　shoulders　for　support　when　he　knelt　to　pull　off　her
boots；　then　her　socks。　〃Lie　down；　honey。　Your　jeans　are　drenched。〃　With
infinite　tenderness　he　eased　her　back　and　pulled　them　off；　tugging
impatiently　only　when　the　sodden　denim　resisted　his　hands。

〃I　feel　so　sick；〃　she　said　in　a　hoarse　whisper；　throwing　an　arm　over　her
forehead。

In　an　instant　he　was　bending　over　her。　〃I　know；　Annie。　But　you'll　be
fine　now。　I　just　have　to　warm　you　up。　Okay？〃　She　didn't　answer；　not　even
to　protest　when　he　drew　off　her　cold；　drenched　panties。　He　tucked　the
lower　half　of　her　body　under　the　weight　of　the　quilt　before　turning　to
remove　her　turtleneck　and　bra。　With　the　covers　bunched　around　her
shoulders；　he　crossed　the　room　to　his　suitcase；　pulled　out　a　clean
cotton　shirt；