know。

She　stood　with　a　start。　〃I'll　go　make　dinner。〃　He　caught　her　wrist。

Suddenly　gentle；　he　said；　〃It's　my　turn。　You　did　it　last　night。　This

time　I'm　cooking　for　you。〃

His　gentleness　threw　her；　as　did　his　eyes；　which　begged　her　to　let　him

do　this。　It　wasn't　exactly　the　begging　she　wanted；　but　it　was　something。

Trying　to　be　as　nonchalant　as　she　could；　she　sank　back　into　the　chair

and　held　up　both　hands。　〃It's　your　house。〃

He　chuckled；　in　a　suddenly　lighter　mood。　One　agile　movement　brought　him

to　his　feet；　another　brought　him　to　her。　He　planted　a　kiss　on　her　cheek

before　she　had　time　to　pull　away。

〃What　was　that　for？〃　she　asked。

〃For　being　a　saint；〃　he　said　and　set　off。　Dinner　was　so　panionable；

that　when　Tuesday　morning　brought　bright　sun；　Anne　wasn't　surprised　to

see　Mitch　up　early　to　join　her　for　breakfast。

〃It's　a　perfect　morning　to　set　in　the　spouts；〃　he　said；　wiping　the

dishes　as　she　washed。

〃Spouts？〃

〃We've　had　cold　nights　and　warm　days。　The　sap　should　be　flowing　like

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