Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

Nine
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest.
J E S U S, M A T T H E W 11:29
Dressing was all Angel managed to do the first few days out of bed. After a
week on her feet, she ventured outside. It gave Michael an odd pang to see
her in Tessie’s clothes. No two women could have been more different; Tess,
sweet and caring, uncomplicated and open; Mara, cold and indifferent,
complex and closed. Tessie, dark and muscular; Mara, blonde and slender.
Michael didn’t try to fool himself that she’d come outside because she
was lonely and wanted his company. She was just tired of being cooped up
in the cabin. She was bored.
But Angel was lonely, and because of it she was edgy and defensive when
Michael approached. After all, she didn’t want him getting any wrong ideas.
“When do I start plowing the fields?” she said dryly.
“In the fall.”
She glanced up at him sharply.
Michael laughed and brushed the hair back off her shoulder. “You feel up
to taking a little walk?”
“How far?”
“Until you say stop.” He took her hand, trying not to let it bother him that
hers lay like a dead fish in his. Passive resistance. He showed her the corncrib
and the gear shed. He took her to the log bridge over the stream where he
planned to build the springhouse to store meat and dairy products—when
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