Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
wood to last the night and brought some of it to Miriam, where she and the
others were gathered in the tent. She opened a small flap at the ceiling.
“Learned this from the Indians,” she said with a grin as she built a fire inside
a wash tub right inside the tent. Amazingly, the smoke went up and out the
hole.
Elizabeth looked so worn out, Angel insisted she lie down. Michael
brought some of their supplies in, and she put together a meal. Still awake,
Elizabeth was silent, watching her. Troubled, Angel glanced at her, wondering
what she was thinking.
“I feel so useless,” Elizabeth said tremulously, and Miriam bent to stroke
her face gently.
“Nonsense, Mama. We can manage. You rest.” She gave her an impish
grin. “When you’re better, we’ll let you do it all by yourself again.” Her
mother smiled at the tender teasing. “I’ll get some heavier wood,” Miriam
said and went out. She came back with a large chunk and stacked it with
the kindling. “The rain’s letting up.”
Elizabeth pushed herself up. “Where are the boys?”
“Papa’s got them. Leah and Ruth will stay put right here. You’ve no need
to worry. Now, lie down again, Mama.” She looked at Angel. “She’s always
worried about Indians,” she whispered. “A little boy wandered away from
the wagons a hundred miles shy of Fort Laramie. There was no trace of him.
Ever since then, Mama’s been terrified one of us would be kidnapped.” She
glanced back at her mother resting on the pallet. “She’ll get better now that
she can rest.”
Miriam warmed her hands over the fire, smiling across at Angel.
“Whatever you’re cooking, it smells good.” Angel kept stirring without comment.
“How long have you been in California?”
“A year.”
“Oh, then you didn’t marry Michael until you came here. He said he
arrived in ’48. Did you come overland?”
“No. By ship.”
“Is your family in the valley Michael’s been describing to my father?”
Angel had known the questions would come and that making up lies
would only tie her into tighter knots. Why not get it over with now, and
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