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 with dandelions and pink with crab apple blossoms。 It was the countryside at its gayest and most promising。 Not so her heart。 Its sadness was all the more poignant by contrast。 Pebbles scattered before her shuffling feet。 She kicked a boulder or two。 When she finally buried her head on her arms； the tears flowed as fast and free as the brook beside her。 But while the brook"s course was one of liberation； Anne"s was the opposite。 She was in an emotional prison。 Loving Mitch did that。 In time； she knelt on the stones and splashed her face。 The water was so cold that she gasped； but the pain felt good； and the invigoration was wele。 She headed slowly back toward the cottage； winding in and out among the forest paths； physically relieved from the cry； if no closer to a solution。 Under the warmth of the high noon sun； she arrived at the house to an unexpected silence。 Assuming that father and daughter were out in the woods themselves； she passed through the kitchen to the living room； only to stop short at the sight of Mitch； standing tall and lean at the front window。 His hands filled the pockets of his jeans in a pose that was more idle than she would have expected； given the presence of a vivacious six…year…old。 〃Where"s Rachel？〃 she asked。 He faced her。 〃She"s gone。〃 〃Gone。〃 But he wasn"t upset。 〃What do you mean gone？〃 〃My parents came by to pick her up。 They"re continuing on to Montreal for a few days。〃 〃You mean； she"s gone？〃 The implication of it was only slowly seeping in。 〃Yes。〃 His eyes held hers。 〃You"ve been crying。〃 〃No。〃 She felt justified lying。 He had tricked her again！ 〃Your eyes are red；〃 he challenged softly。 〃I have hay fever；〃 she snapped； feeling a growing fury。 〃You planned this； didn"t you？ You had it all arranged with your parents。 You orchestrated the whole thing； using Rachel to get me up here； then conveniently having her vanish。〃 Every muscle in her body had tensed。 〃Yes；〃 he admitted and offered no excuse。 Anne"s eyes blazed。 〃And you really think I"m staying； now that she"s gone？ Hell； she was the only reason I agreed to e up here in the first place！〃 He began to move toward her。 〃Was it； Anne？ Was it really？ Be honest with yourself〃 She was suddenly afraid。 〃I am！ That was why I came up here。〃 She put up a hand to ward him off and took a step backward。 〃Don"t e any closer。 Don"t you dare touch me…〃 〃Or what？ Haven"t we been through this before？ We"re right back at the beginning； Annie。 Face it。 No child。 No deposition…taking。 No other pretense。 Just you and me。〃 〃It"s not that simple！〃 she cried and took another step back。 He was too tall； too attractive； too near。 〃I can"t forget those things。 They"re all here； even if you try to deny them； and nothing can change the fact that I didn"t want to see you； that I don"t want to have anything to do with you！〃 But her body was trembling。 It remembered how he felt and responded the closer he came。 He continued his advance until she was backed against a wall。 〃I don"t believe you；〃 he informed her smoothly。 〃I think you want the opposite。〃 She shook her head in denial。 〃Don"t； Mitch。 Get away from me。〃 But her warning was a whisper； and a faltering one at that。 She was between Mitch and the wall； between a rock and a hard place。 She was wondering where to go； when he flattened his hands on the wall by either shoulder。 〃This has gone on long enough。 I"m going to talk now； and you"re going to listen。 My patience is wearing thin。〃 〃Your patience？〃 she cried； raising her eyes to his。 〃What about mine？ And what about my feelings？ But then； you never were all that concerned about what would happen to me after you"d taken everything you wanted！ You are the most selfish； arrogant； ruthless…〃 The list of scathing expletives would have gone on if he hadn"t stopped them with his mouth。 She tried to pull back； to twist her head away； to push him off。 But he was bigger； stronger； and determined。 He drew her from the wall and into his arms； kissing her so vehemently that her breath was cut off。 At the instant she would have collapsed； he eased his grip； breathing raggedly for a moment before capturing her lips again。 This time was different。 His mouth was more persuasive now； moving with gentleness and sensual sureness。 Anne might have been able to resist force； but a caring kiss was something else。 Her body was weak； her mind muddled。 While her arms continued to apply a token pressure against his chest； her lips betrayed her。 Gradually they softened； then opened； then drank helplessly of his kiss。 When he finally raised his head； she bowed hers and dissolved into helpless tears。 〃Don"t cry； Annie。 Please。〃 Sounding tormented； he held her tightly until she gradually quieted。 〃I won"t hurt you。 Please believe me； honey。 I"ve never meant to hurt you。 I just want you to listen to what I have to say。〃 〃Do I have a choice？〃 she finally whispered。 He smiled。 〃No。〃 She remained docile as he led her to the chair before the cold hearth。 The same wings that had once been blinders against the dark； now blotted out all but Mitch。 He raked a hand through his hair。 〃I know what you must be thinking about me； but you"re wrong。 It"s unfair of you to blame me for w