Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
dotted the landscape. A stage came up the hill, horses in full gallop. Michael
leaned protectively toward Angel as it roared past, splattering mud up as it
went.
As they reached the outskirts of Sacramento, Angel was amazed at what
she saw. A year ago she had traveled through a swarming tent-and-clapboard
settlement with the Duchess, Mai Ling, and Lucky. Now it was a booming
metropolis with a look of permanence. Streets were thronged with wagons
and men on foot. Some men looked prosperous in their suits while others
appeared to have just arrived from the goldfields, packs and shovels on their
hunched backs. There were even some women in dark linsey-woolsey dresses
and woolen capes. A few had children with them.
As Michael drove down a wide street, Angel saw a grand hotel front, two
eateries, half a dozen saloons, a barber shop with men standing in line outside,
and a real estate office. On the next block were a construction company
and a haberdashery with a display of denim pants, heavy overcoats, and
wide-brimmed hats. To Angel’s left stood a miner’s variety store, a theater,
and an assayer’s office. On the other was a two-story building advertising
bailing and barbed wire, nails and horse shoes. More mining supply shops
and a seed store followed, flanked by a wagon-wheel and barrel warehouse.
An apothecary advertising plasters had more than a dozen men lined up on
the boardwalk.
Another stage rolled by, kicking up more mud.
“Paul said Joseph was down near the river,” Michael said, turning down
another street. “Makes it easier for him to get his merchandise from the ships
coming up the American from San Francisco.”
Michael saw how the men noticed Angel all along the drive through
town. She was a rare gem in a city of mud. They would stop and stare, some
thinking to remove their hats despite the rain that had begun. Angel sat
beside him, back straight, head up, completely unaware. Reaching back over
the seat, Michael got the blanket. “Wrap yourself in this. It’ll keep you dry
and warm.” She unbent enough to glance at him, but he saw the uneasiness
in her expression as she put the blanket around her shoulders.
Angel saw ships’ masts ahead of them. Michael turned up a street that
ran along the river. Hochschild’s store, which was next door to a big saloon,
218