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　she'd　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。　I'm　fine。〃

〃Are　you　always　this　clumsy？〃

〃I　wasn't　clumsy。　You　frightened　me；　sneaking　up　like　that。〃

〃Who　did　you　think　it　was？〃　he　asked　dryly。　〃There　aren't　a　whole　lot　of

other　people　around　here；　or　hadn't　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。　〃It's　fine。〃

〃You　favor　your　right。〃

〃It's　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。