Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
He stripped off his jacket. “Come on out of there. You’ll catch
pneumonia. If you want a bath that badly, I’ll tote the water.”
“Go away!” she screamed, dropping to her knees and hunching over.
“Don’t be a fool!” He waded in and caught hold of her, yanking her to
her feet. Her fists were full of gravel. Her breasts and belly were raw from
scrubbing. “What are you doing to yourself?”
“I have to wash. You didn’t give me the chance—”
“You’ve washed enough.” He tried to put the jacket around her, and she
pulled away.
“I’m not clean yet, Michael. Just go away and leave me alone.”
Michael grabbed her roughly. “Will you be finished when you’ve stripped
your skin off? When you’ve bled? Is that it? Do you think doing this to yourself
will make you clean?” He let go of her, afraid he would do her physical
harm. “It doesn’t work that way,” he said through gritted teeth.
She blinked and sat down slowly, the icy water swirling around her
waist. “No, I guess not,” she said softly. Her tangled wet hair hung limp
around her white face and shoulders.
“Come back inside,” he said and helped her up. She came without resistance
this time, stumbling as they reached the bank. When she bent for her
clothing, he pulled her along without them. Half shoving her into the cabin,
he slammed the door.
Yanking a blanket from the bed, he threw it to her. “Sit down by the fire.”
Angel pulled the blanket around her shoulders and sat. She didn’t raise
her head.
Glancing back at her, Michael poured her a cup of coffee. “Drink this.”
She did as he told her. “You’ll be lucky if you don’t get sick. What are you
trying to do? Make me feel guilty you went back to prostitution? Make me
feel guilty for dragging you out of that brothel again?”
“No,” she said quietly.
He didn’t want to pity her. He wanted to shake her until her teeth fell
out. He wanted to kill her.
I could. God, I could kill her and be glad of it!
Seventy times seven.
I don’t want to listen to you. I’m sick of listening. You ask too much. It hurts.
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