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。
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