小说园

第27部分（第1页）

Startled；　she　lost　her　balance。　Apples　rained　to　the　ground　in　a　crimson

storm。　When　she　began　to　fall；　she　twisted　sideways；　grabbing　back　at

the　low　branch　to　catch　herself。　Mitch　caught　her　before　she　hit　the

ground；　though　not　before　shed　been　scraped　by　the　ragged　bark　and

jutting　offshoots。

〃Why　did　you　creep　up　on　me　that　way？〃　she　cried　the　minute　her　feet

touched　ground。　He　released　her　instantly；　but　not　before　she　saw　him

flinch　in　pain。　With　a　gasp　of　pain　herself；　she　sank　to　the　grass　and

rubbed　the　knee　she　had　bumped　on　the　branch。

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　asked。

She　probed　an　aching　elbow。　〃Fine。　Im　fine。〃

〃Are　you　always　this　clumsy？〃

〃I　wasnt　clumsy。　You　frightened　me；　sneaking　up　like　that。〃

〃Who　did　you　think　it　was？〃　he　asked　dryly。　〃There　arent　a　whole　lot　of

other　people　around　here；　or　hadnt　you　noticed？〃　Frowning；　he　bent　to

gather　apples　that　had　fallen。　〃You　should　be　more　careful。　You　could

break　a　leg　that　way。〃

〃Is　that　the　voice　of　experience　talking？〃

His　jaw　was　tight。　〃You　could　say　that。〃　He　tossed　more　apples　onto　her

jacket。　But　he　only　used　his　right　arm。　The　left　hung　idle。

〃Is　your　arm　all　right？〃　she　asked。

He　glanced　sharply　up。　〃Its　fine。〃

〃You　favor　your　right。〃

〃Its　fine。　Can　you　walk？〃

As　she　stood；　testing　the　knee；　he　pulled　her　jacket　around　into　a

bundle；　lifted　it；　and　set　off　for　the　house。

She　limped　after　him。　By　the　time　she　reached　the　kitchen；　he　had　put

the　apples　beside　the　sink　and　disappeared。　Grateful　for　the　privacy；

she　collapsed　into　a　chair；　twisting　her　arm　to　see　the　scrapes　on　her

elbow。

〃Here；　let　me　take　a　look　at　that。〃

Before　she　could　resist；　Mitch　deposited　a　bottle　of　disinfectant　and　a

washcloth　on　the　table；　pulled　up　a　chair；　and　took　her　arm。　His　touch

was　warm。　When　she　tried　to　pull　back；　he　held　her　arm　more　firmly。　She

winced　at　the　antiseptics　sting。

〃THATS　Thats　enough！〃

But　he　disagreed；　repeatedly　dabbing　the　dirt　from　the　wound　before

kneeling　and　reaching　for　her　knee。

〃Its　all　right；〃　she　insisted。

He　raised　his　head。　His　jaw　was　hard；　his　cheeks　lean；　but　his　eyes　were