precious　thing

in　the　world。

Staying　indifferent　to　Mitch　was　a　problem；　but　she　did　her　best　and；　to

his　credit；　he　didn't　push。　She　slept　upstairs；　he　slept　downstairs；

with　Rachel　in　a　sleeping　bag　on　the　floor　of　his　room。　By　Wednesday

morning；　though；　Anne　felt　she　was　walking　a　tight…rope　of　conflicting

emotions；　with　Mitch　watching　from　morning　to　night　to　see　which　way　she

would　go。

Memory　nagged。　She　remembered　beautiful　times　here　with　Mitch；　innocent

times　of　fulfillment　and　love。　She　might　put　them　aside　in　New　York；　but

they　were　more　real　here　and　harder　to　flee。

Still　she　tried。　〃I'm　going　for　a　walk；〃　she　announced　after　a

postbreakfast　bit　of　brooding。

〃That's　a　good　idea；〃　Mitch　said　without　mockery；　but　then；　his

gentleness　was　part　of　the　torture。　〃Take　your　time。　I　think　I　can

manage　Rachel　for　a　few　hours。〃

Despite　the　little　girl's　protest；　Anne　left。　It　was　the　first　time　she

had　been　alone　since　they　had　arrived；　and　she　needed　it　badly。　She　was

feeling　frayed　at　the　seams；　but　there　were　still　two　days　left　in　the

week。　She　had　to　find　a　way　of　surviving。

Spring　was　everywhere。　What　had　been　damp　and　gray　a　month　before　was

now　a　fresh；　vibrant　green。　The　scent　was　of　rebirth；　spreading　upward

from　the　lush　carpet　of　new　grass　and　through　the　lime　leaves　that

clothed　long　tree　branches。　The　sounds　were　enchanting　ones…the　chirping

of　birds　from　nest　to　nest；　the　rustle　of　forest　creatures　in　the　newly

spreading　undergrowth。　Water　ran　freely　over　rocks　and　silt；　rushing

with　the　force　of　the　snows　that　melted　higher　up　the　mountain。　The

pasture　glowed　yellow　w