rekindled(英文版)-第31章

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water。〃

Anne　laughed　in　delight。　〃Maple…sugaring？　We　can　do　it　ourselves？　I'd
planned　on　visiting　a　local　farm　to　watch。〃

He　gave　a　satisfied　grin。　〃Why　go　elsewhere　when　we　have　everything　we
need　right　here？〃

〃Do　you　know　what　to　do？〃

〃Do　I　know　what　to　do？　Since　when　have　you　had　cause　to　question　my
expertise？〃

She　grunted。　He　was　all　too　appealing　when　he　was　in　good　humor。
〃Modesty　seems　to　have　escaped　you　entirely。〃

He　gave　a　short　laugh。　〃No　one's　perfect。〃

In　Anne's　biased　judgment；　Mitch　was　as　close　to　it　as　anyone　could　be
on　that　day　and　the　ones　that　followed。　Though　they　hiked；　read；　and
rested；　the　bulk　of　their　attention　focused　on　the　maple…sugaring；　about
which　he　did　indeed　know　almost　everything。

〃The　best　trees　have　to　be　big；　forty　years　old　or　more；〃　he　explained；
when　they　left　the　house　carting　the　tools　he　had　produced　from　a　shed。
〃We're　using　metal　spouts。　This　is　the　old…fashioned　method　of　tapping
trees；　but　it　works　for　me。〃

〃You've　done　this　before？〃

〃Many　times。〃

At　the　first　maple　that　fit　that　bill；　he　drilled　a　small　hole　and
inserted　a　metal　spout　that　extended　several　inches　beyond　the　bark。　He
did　the　same　at　each　large　tree。

〃The　sap　generally　flows　between　mid…March　and　mid…April。　I　do　this
whenever　I'm　here　then。〃　With　a　shove；　he　pushed　a　spout　into　place；
then　inserted　one　on　the　back　side　of　the　same　tree。

〃More　than　one　per　tree？〃

〃With　a　tree　this　size；　there'll　be　enough　sap　for　two。　Here；　you　slide
this　one　in；　while　I　get　more　buckets。〃

By　the　time　he　returned；　she　had　done　as　he　asked。　He　fit　a　bucket　on
the　spout。

〃A　sliding　lid？〃　she　asked；　studying　it。　〃I've　never　seen　lids　on　sap
buckets；　period。〃

A　smile　touched　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　〃Then　you've　never　seen　a
stray　horse　or　a　field　mouse　drink　the　sap　as　it　collects。〃

She　laughed。　〃No；　I　haven't。〃

〃This　lid　doesn't　always　keep　them　out。　A　persistent　animal　can　get　what
he　wants。　But　it　helps。〃

They　picked　up　the　equipment　and　moved　on　to　the　next　tree。

〃How　much　sap　will　we　get？〃　she　asked；　but　she　was　distracted　watching
him　as　he　debated　where　to　drill。　He　was　a　sight　to　behold；　larger　and
more　rugged…looking　than　ever　in　a　high…collared　sheepskin　jacket　and
faded　jeans。

He　knelt　before　the　tree　and　applied　the　drill。　〃On　a　good　day　the
bucket　will　fill　and　overflow。　On　a　poor　day　we'll　get　only　a　few
inches。〃

He　grunted　as　he　pushed　the　bit　forward　into　the　tree。　〃If　we　were　to
continue　for　the　entire　length　of　the　sapping　season；　we　might　get　ten
or　twenty　gallons　from　each　tree。〃

She　was　startled。　〃That　much？　Whoa。　What　would　we　ever　do　with　all　that
sap？〃

The　hole　drilled；　he　straightened　and　motioned　with　his　finger　for　her
to　insert　the　spout；　which　she　deftly　did　this　time　with　the　aid　of　a
hammer。

〃〃All　that　sap；〃'　he　said；　〃boils　down　to　very　little。　To　get　one　gallon
of　syrup；　you　have　to　boil　down　anywhere　from　thirty…five　to　fifty
gallons　of　sap。〃

〃Ah。　That　explains　why　genuine　maple　syrup　costs　so　much。〃

Mitch　went　on　with　the　lesson　as　he　continued　to　work。　〃New　York　and
Vermont　produce　the　most　syrup　in　this　country；　though　the　province　of
Quebec　yields　more　than　the　two　states　bined。　Today；　most　of　the
monly　used　syrups　are　actually　a　bination　of　maple　syrup；　cane
sugar　syrup；　and　corn　syrup。　If　you　ask　me；　though；　there's　no　contest。
The　straight　stuff；　the　real　thing；　beats　all。〃

Anne　couldn't　argue　with　that。

For　a　while　they　proceeded　in　silence；　but　it　was　a　friendly　silence；　an
intimate　one。　She　noted　that　he　favored　his　right　arm；　cranking　the　hand
drill　around　with　it；　while　the　other　held　the　shaft　in　place。　When　she
offered　to　take　a　turn；　he　indulged　her；　enjoying　her　struggle　with　a
smug　smile。　When　she　finally　gave　up　and　turned　the　chore　back　to　him；
he　said；　〃That's　okay；　Annie。　I　could　never　have　cleaned　the　house　the
way　you　did　this　time。〃

〃You　noticed？〃

〃How　could　I　help　it；〃　he　teased　with　a　rewarding　grin。　〃I　was　nearly
blinded　by　the　sparkle。〃

Anne　knew　the　feeling。　She　was　nearly　blinded　now　by　the　sparkle　in　his
eyes。　When　he　pushed　two　spouts　into　her　hand；　she　was　temporarily
disoriented。

〃In　the　tree？〃　he　prodded　with　a　cockeyed　grin；　leaving　her　to　recover
while　he　went　for　more　buckets。

That　first　day；　they　drilled　holes；　inserted　spouts；　and　hung　buckets　on
the　largest　of　the　maples　near　the　house。　On　succeeding　days　they
collected　the　sap　that　had　flowed。　It　was　no　mean　feat；　carting　heavy
buckets　from　tree　to　house　and　back。

〃If　we　had　the　most　modern　equipment；〃　Mitch　teased　as　she　massaged　the
nagging　muscles　of　her　shoulders；　〃we'd　have　used　plastic　spouts
attached　to　plastic　tubing　that　would　take　the　stuff　directly　from　the
tree　to　the　sugarhouse。　It's　much　more　efficient　in　terms　of　time　and
labor。〃

〃That's　all　okay；〃　she　reasoned。　〃We　don't　have　a　sugarhouse。　Besides；
I'm　gaining　weight。　The　exercise　will　do　me　good。〃

He　looked　her　over。　〃Well；　you're　not　scrawny　anymore；　but　。。。　in　danger
of　being　overweight？　Not　a　chance。〃

〃Fine　for　you　to　say。　You　did　most　of　the　work　this　week。〃　And　he　had。

He　had　cooked　nearly　every　meal；　in　addition　to　doing　the　lion's　share
of　the　sugaring　work。

He　threw　an　arm　across　her　shoulders　and　drew　her　to　his　side。　〃I　owed
you　for　being　such　a　bastard　when　I　first　got　here。　Most　women　would
have　packed　up　and　left。〃

She　managed　a　gruff；　〃The　thought　did　cross　my　mind。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　stayed；〃　he　said　with　affection。

There　was　a　gleam　in　his　hazel　eyes；　a　softness　in　his　smile；　gentleness
in　the　fingers　that　cupped　her　shoulder；　and　a　velvet　edge　to　his　voice。
All　in　all；　it　was　a　warm　moment。　Anne　mitted　it　to　memory。

By　Friday　morning；　there　was　enough　sap　in　the　large　vat　to　begin　the
boiling　process。

〃They　usually　do　this　in　long；　shallow　pans　called　evaporators；〃　Mitch
explained。　〃The　one　we're　using　is　a　little　deeper　than　we　need；　but
it'll　have　to　do。　When　all　the　water　has　evaporated；　we'll　have　pure
maple　syrup。

No　matter　that　he　had　done　this　before；　his　enthusiasm　and　genuine
enjoyment　of　the　process　were　in　no　way　watered　down。

As　for　Anne；　she　was　enchanted　watching　the　thin；　colorless　liquid
bubble　and　thicken　to　a　dense　golden　brown。　On　impulse；　she　slid　an　arm
around　his　waist；　happier　in　that　moment　than　in　any　in　recent　memory。
Regardless　of　what　the　future　held；　she　would　cherish　this　memory。

He　grinned　down　at　her。　〃What？〃

She　sighed　her　pleasure。　〃It's　been　a　tin　week。　This　is　a　great　finish
to　it。〃　She　was　leaving　in　the　morning。　As　it　was；　she　had　stayed　a　day
longer　than　she'd　planned；　but　he　had　asked　her　to。

〃I'd　rather　a　more　personal　finish；〃　he　said　now。　〃Better　still；　I'd
rather　no　finish　at　all。〃

She　basked　in　the　tenderness　of　his　expression；　loving　him　and　aching　to
say　it。　But　she　wasn't　setting　herself　up　for　rejection　again。　And
anyway；　just　then　the　sap　gurgled　wildly。

〃It　shouldn't　be　long；〃　he　said；　lifting　a　large　wooden　spoon　to　stir
the　solution　and　test　for　its　thickness。　〃Should　we　have　pancakes　or
French　toast　for　dinner？〃

〃For　dinner？〃

〃I　don't　know　about　you；　but　I　don't　have　the　willpower　to　wait　until
breakfast　for　this。〃

Anne　drew　a　finger　across　the　back　of　the　cooling　wooden　spoon　and
licked　the　sweet　syrup　from　its　tip。　〃Mmmmmm。　You　may　be　right。〃　She
paused。　〃French　toast。〃

〃French　toast；　it　is。〃　Following　her　example；　he　tasted　the　syrup；　then
ran　his　finger　over　the　spoon　and　held　it　to　her　mouth。　The　syrup　was　as
rich　and　sweet　as　the　moment　itself。　Anne　thought　she　could　go　no
higher。

Suddenly；　a　faraway　gleam　entered　his　eyes。　His　voice　was　filled　with
gentleness。　〃Rachel　enjoyed　this　taste…testing　stage　the　most　last　year；
too。〃

Anne　froze。　Rachel？　His　〃obligation〃？　She　frowned；　then　stood
straighter；　then　backed　away　from　the　arm　on　her　shoulders。　Rachel？

With　that　faraway　gleam；　and　such　gentleness？　Oh；　yes；　he　loved　Rachel。
Anne　didn't　doubt　it　for　a　minute。

He　was　frowning。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃How　could　you？〃

〃How　could　I　what？〃　His　innocence　riled　her。

〃How　could　you　do　that　to　me？　How　could　you　mention　her　name　at　a　time
like　this？〃　She　felt　eviscerated；　as　though　he　had　bee　part　of　her
and　was　being　cut　free。

〃Her　name？〃　Then　he　realized　what　he　had　done；　and　his　frown　gentled。　〃I
mentioned　Rachel；　didn't　I？〃

The　softness　in　his　voice　at　the　mention　of　her　name　ravaged　Anne。　〃How
could　you？〃　she　repeated。　Tears　welled。　When　he　reached　out；　she
flinched　and　took　a　step　back。

〃Annie；　listen…〃

She　took　another　step；　then　another。　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　about　your
love　life。〃

〃You're　wrong…〃

〃Yes；　I'm　wrong。　I'm　wrong　to　want　to　stay　up　here　with　you；　when　I
should　be　back　in　New　York　trying　to　build　a　new　life。　I'm　wrong　to
think　that　you　really　wanted　me　here；　when　in　one　careless　minute　you　go
wimpy　over　another　woman。　How　could　you；　Mitch？　Can't　you　see　that　I
love　you？〃

Whirling　around；　she　ran　from　the　kitchen；　taking　the　steps　with
reckless　speed；　stopping　only　when　the　door　to　her　bedroom　was　slammed
and　flush　to　her　back。　Trembling　hands　covered　her　eyes　and　grew　wet
with　tears。　The　pounding　of　her　heart　drowned　out　the　sound　of　footsteps
on　the　stairs。

He　rapped　on　the　door。　〃Open　up；　Anne。〃

〃No。〃　She　was　mortified　by　what　she　had　said；　and　heartsick　that　it　had
e　to　this。

〃There　are　things　I　have　to　tell　you；　Anne。　Open　the　door。〃

Weeping；　she　only　shook　her　head。

〃Anne　。。　。〃

〃Go　away！〃　she　pleaded。　She　couldn't　face　him。　Nothing　he　said　mattered。

〃I　love　you；　Annie。〃　His　voice　filtered　soft　and　sensuous　through　the
ancient　wood　of　the　door；　and　suddenly　it　did　matter；　very　much。　If　this
was　a　cruel　hoax；　she　would　never　forgive　him。

Turning；　she　laid　her　wet　cheek　against　the　door。　Afraid　to　listen；
afraid　not　to；　she　waited。

〃Did　you　hear　me；　Annie？〃　Again　the　velvet　sound；　too　dear　to　be
dismissed；　too　real　to　be　denied。　〃I　love　you。〃

Her　pulse　raced。　She　wanted　to　believe　that　he　did；　wanted　to　believe　it
more　than　anything　in　the　world。　But　there　was　a　crucial　question　still
to　be　answered。

Slowly　she　turned　the　knob　and　drew　open　the　door。　Fearful；　she　raised
her　eyes　to　his。　And　she　saw　love；　surely　she　did；　unless　she　wanted　it
so　bad　that　she　was　imagining　it。

〃Do　you　love　Rachel；　too？〃　she　asked　in　a　faltering　whisper。

When　he　reached　for　her　arms；　she　didn't　resist。　Neither　did　she　melt
toward　him；　but　held　her　line；　waiting；　waiting　for　his　answer。

His　smile　was　sad　but　tender。　〃Yes；　I　love　Rachel。〃　His　hands　tightened
when　she　would　have　pulled　free。　〃But　I　love　her　in　a　very　different　way
from　how　I　love　you；　Annie。　Rachel　is　my　daughter。〃

Anne　was　shocked。　His　daughter？　She　had　been　jealous　of　his　daughter？

〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃　she　cried；　wanting　to　hit　him　but　slipping　her
arms　around　his　neck　instead。

He　held　her　tightly。　〃I've　wanted　to　so　many　times。　But　it　never　seemed
appropriate。　At　the　beginning；　there　was　a　part　of　me　that　wanted…God
forgive　me…that　wanted　to　forget　her　existence　while　I　was　up　here。
Fatherhood　has　its　merits；　but　it's　been　my　greatest　challenge　since
Bey's　death。〃

He　had　a　daughter。　Anne　could　only　begin　to　imagine　that；　much　less　the
challenge　of　going　it　alone。　〃Maybe　I　could　have　helped。〃

〃You've　had　enough　to　face　without　having　to　cope　with　a　child。〃

〃How　old　is　she？〃

〃She　turned　six　last　week。　And　she　came　down　with　the　chicken　pox　the
day　after　her　birthday。　It's　the　first　time　she's　been　sick…really
sick　since　her　mother　died。〃

Anne　understood。　〃That's　why　you　were　late　arriving　last　weekend？〃

He　nodded　against　her　head。　〃My　parents　have　been　wonderful；　taking　her
for　weeks　at　a　stretch。　They're　often　more　cheerful　than　me。〃　He　looked
down　at　her。　〃But　I　couldn't　leave　them　with　a　sick　child　who　only
wanted　her　mother　to　hold　her。〃　His　voice　broke　at　the　last。

〃Why　didn't　you　bring　her　up　here　with　you？〃　Anne　scolded。

He　studied　her　closely。　〃I　wasn't　sure　how　you　felt　about　kids。　We've
never　talked　about　that；　you　and　me。　I　only　know　you　have　none　of　your
own。〃

〃Not　through　choice；　Mitch；　not　through　choice。〃

〃But　to　foist　a　sick　child　on　you？　How　could　I　do　that？〃

Anne　spoke　from　the　heart。　〃I　would　have　loved　to　have　met　your
daughter。　I'd　have　loved　helping　you　take　care　of　her。　She's　your
daughter。〃　Her　voice　fell。　〃And　I　love　you。〃

He　crushed　her　in　his　arms。　The　force　of　it　said　all　that　he　didn't；　but
seconds　later　he　was　kissing　her。　If　she　hadn't　already　gotten　the
message；　he　did　then。　There　was　a　vow　in　his　kiss；　a　declaration；　a
promise。

〃I　love　you　。。。　love　you　。。。　love　you；〃　she　whispered　at　the　very　first
chance；　loving　being　able　to　say　it　at　last。

When　his　hands　moved　down　to　frame　her　face　and　tip　it　up；　she　savored
the　devotion　she　saw。　His　eyes　asked　a　question；　hers　answered。　Then　he
lifted　her　into　his　arms　and　carried　her　back　down　the　narrow　staircase
to　the　room　with　the　large　bed；　his　bed。

This　time；　when　he　lowered　her　and　reached　for　the　hem　of　her　sweater；
she　caught　his　hands　and　stilled　them。　〃Let　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　need　to
know　you。〃

He　searched　her　eyes　for　a　minut