Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

F R A N C I N E R I V E R S
She didn’t.
It began to rain, a few drops at first, then more, plastering her hair to her
head and soaking through the shirtwaist. Cold, stiff, and exhausted beyond
pain, Angel sat down and put her head in her hands.
What was the use? So what if she did make it to the road? She couldn’t
walk all those miles. She would never make it. She was already exhausted,
aching, and hungry, and she couldn’t even find her way.
Who would be there to give her a ride back to Pair-a-Dice? What if it was
someone like Magowan?
Thoughts of Michael’s warm hearth, a heavy quilt, and food tormented
her. She hadn’t thought to bring any food with her. Her stomach was already
knotted with hunger.
Dejected but resolved, Angel got up and went on.
After another mile, her feet hurt so badly, she took off the shoes and tucked
one in each skirt pocket, unaware when they dropped out along the way.
When Michael came in for breakfast and found Angel gone, he saddled his
horse and went looking for her. He blamed himself for not expecting it. He
had seen the look in her eyes when he made her say his name last night. He
had smashed through her defenses for one brief instant, and she hadn’t liked
it.
He followed the road to where she left it and trailed her to the stream. He
found Tessie’s shawl. He spotted a shoe print on the bank and followed her
trail up the hill.
It began to rain. Michael was worried. She would be soaked and cold
and probably frightened. It was clear she didn’t know where she was or
where she was going.
He found her shoes. “Lord, she’s heading away from the road.” He galloped
to the top of the knoll and looked for her. He could see her in the distance,
walking across a field of grass. He cupped his hands. “Mara!”
She stopped and turned. He could tell even at this distance by the set of
her shoulders and the tilt of her head that she had made up her mind to
leave him. He rode slowly toward her. When he was within a hundred
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