第29部分(第3/9 頁)

ile　she　unpacked　her　bags　in　the　attic　bedroom。　She

brooded。　She　agonized。　She　wondered　why　she　had　e　and　why　she　ever

wanted　his　kiss。　Mitch　whoever…he…was　was　stubborn　and　selfcentered。　He

was　the　exact　opposite　of　gentle；　caring；　generous…to…a…fault　Jeff。

But　Jeff　was　dead。

An　art　teacher　had　once　told　her　that　a　painting　was　successful　when　it

evoked　a　reaction；　be　it　positive　or　negative。　For　Anne；　the　months

since　Jeff's　death　had　been　devoid　of　reaction；　until　Mitch。

So　where　did　she　go　from　there？　Into　bed　with　the　man　at　the　very　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