Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

Fifteen
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how
often shall my brother sin against me and
I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him,
“I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to
seventy times seven.
M A T T H E W 18:21–22
The Palace was gone.
Angel stood shivering in the falling snow, mud up to her ankles, and
stared at the blackened rubble of what was left. She looked around and saw
that the streets were quiet and half deserted. Several buildings were half torn
down, the boards and shingles already loaded on wagons. What was happening?
Across the street was an open saloon. At least the Silver Dollar was still in
business. She remembered the proprietor, Murphy. He always came up the
back stairs. When Angel entered the swinging doors, the few men inside
stopped talking and stared. Murphy was at the bar.
“Well, I’ll be! If it ain’t Angel!” He grinned broadly. “I didn’t recognize you
in those rags. Max! Get the lady a blanket. She’s wet and half frozen. Hey,
gents, look who’s back! Little lady, you are a sight for sore eyes. Where you
been, sweetheart? Word was you got married to some farmer.” He laughed
as though it were a great joke.
Murphy was loud, and Angel wanted to tell him to shut up. “What happened
to the Palace?” she asked quietly, trying to still the shaking inside her.
“Burned down.”
“I can see that. When?”
“Couple of weeks ago. It was the last bit of excitement we had in these
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