Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
Morning light spilled slowly over the mountains, across the valley to the
cabin and the woods behind, and up the hillside. She felt Hosea’s strong
hands on her shoulders.
“Mara, that’s the life I want to give you.”
The morning sunlight was so bright it hurt her eyes, blinding her more
than the darkness ever had. She felt his lips against her hair. “That’s what I’m
offering you.” His breath was warm against her skin. “I want to fill your life
with color and warmth. I want to fill it with light.” He put his arms around
her and held her back against him. “Give me a chance.”
Angel felt a heaviness building inside her. He had pretty words for her,
but words weren’t life. Life wasn’t that simple, that straightforward. It was
tangled and twisted, writhing from birth. She couldn’t erase the last ten
years, or even the eight before Rab had led her through the streets to the
brothel and left her there for Duke to ruin forever. It had started long before
that.
She was guilty of being born.
Her own father had wanted her cut out of her mother’s womb and
thrown away like garbage. Her own father. And Mama would have done it
had she known she would lose him over her small defiance. All those years
of endless weeping had told Angel that.
No, not a hundred dawns like this, not even a thousand, would change
what was. The truth was there forever, just like Duke said in the dream. You
can’t get away from it. No matter how hard you try, you can’t escape the
truth.
Her mouth curved into a sad smile, and her soul ached. Maybe this man
was all he seemed. Maybe he meant every word he said, but she knew
something he didn’t. It was never going to be the way he wanted it. It just
couldn’t happen. He was a dreamer. He wanted the impossible from her.
Dawn would come for him, too, and he would awaken.
Angel didn’t want to be anywhere around when he did.
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