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Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

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F R A N C I N E R I V E R S

expected someone like Tess at the hearth, someone quiet and sweet, goodnatured

and devout. He came in behind Michael, eager to meet her. A slender

girl stood before the fire, her back to them. She was wearing a skirt

exactly like the one Tess had worn walking the Oregon Trail. The same

shirtwaist, too. Odd. He frowned slightly. She bent to her cooking pot, and

he was quick to notice she had a nice backside. When she straightened, he

noticed her tiny waist and a long, thick golden braid that reached it. So far

so good.

“Amanda, Paul’s here.”

When she turned around, Paul felt his stomach drop into his worn

boots. He stared in disbelief, but she was there staring right back, that highpriced

prostitute from Pair-a-Dice. He glanced at Michael and saw him smiling

as though she was the sun and moon and all the stars in the heavens.

“Paul, I’d like you to meet my wife, Amanda.”

Paul stared at her and didn’t know what to do or say. Michael was standing

beside him, waiting, and he knew if he didn’t say something nice real

soon, things would go from bad to worse. Paul forced a stiff smile. “Sorry to

gape at you, ma’am. Michael said you were beautiful.” And she was that. Just

like Salome and Delilah and Jezebel.

What was Michael doing married to a woman like this one? Did he know

she was a prostitute? He couldn’t. The man had never set foot in a brothel in

his life. He had never had a woman. Not that the chance hadn’t been presented

often enough. Against all reason and natural drives, Michael had set

his mind to wait for the right one. And now, look what he got for all his

purity. Angel!

What story had the witch concocted? What was he going to do about it?

Should he tell Michael now?

Michael was looking at him strangely.

Angel smiled. It wasn’t a friendly smile. Her eyes were a gorgeous blue,

but they had become deathly cold. She knew he recognized her, and she

was letting him know that she didn’t care. And if she didn’t care, then it was

clear she hadn’t married Michael for love.

He smiled back. Colder than she. How’d you get your claws into him?

Angel saw the world in one man’s eyes, and she felt every stone cast. Her

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