nd　slicing　apples；　piling　skins

on　a　piece　of　paper　towel；　turning　the　slices　into　a　large　glass　pie

plate　and　sprinkling　them　with　cinnamon。　Her　supplies　were　dwindling；

but　she　found　adequate　amounts　of　flour；　butter；　and　sugar　for　the

topping。　Once　the　pie　was　in　the　oven；　she　spotted　the　unused　apples。

She　washed　each；　polished　it　to　a　high　gloss；　and　set　it　in　a　dish　in

the　center　of　the　table。　It　wasn't　until　the　dish　was　filled　that　she

saw　Mitch　eyeing　her　from　the　doorway。

She　was　quickly　defensive；　〃Is　something　wrong？〃

〃Just　looking　to　see　that　you're　all　right。〃

〃I　am。　I　actually　forgot。。　。〃　She　gestured　toward　her　bruises　with　a

sheepish　grin。

〃Glad　to　hear　it。〃　With　a　dip　of　his　head；　he　left　the　room　and；　soon

after；　the　house。

Anne　immersed　herself　in　the　last　of　her　work；　while　the　scent　of　baking

apples　filled　the　air。　The　pie　was　delicious；　by　her　immodest　estimate；

a　perfect　finish　for　the　early　dinner　she　ate　alone。　Again；　dusk　found

her　reading　before　the　fire。

〃Anything　good？〃

She　looked　up　and　blushed。　〃Just　a　romance。〃　She　was　actually　enjoying

it　without　thinking　of　Jeff　at　every　turn　of　the　page。　When　Mitch　set

off　for　the　kitchen；　she　called；　〃There's　apple　pie　on　the　counter。　Help

yourself〃　She　grinned　when　he　looked　back　and　arched　a　brow。　〃Even

bad…tempered　tomboys　have　their　merits。〃

〃Thanks。〃

〃You're　wele。〃

〃By　the　way；　I　put　the　peels　out　for　the　deer。〃

〃I　wondered　where　they'd　gone；　but　I　wasn't　about　to　look　a　gift　horse

in　the　mouth。　Do　deer　like　apples？〃

She　learned　the　answer　the　next　morning。

A　warm　hand　shook　her　awake。　〃e；