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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

then the girl would let her be? Maybe if they all knew the truth, they’d winter

someplace else. Certainly that woman wouldn’t want to sleep in the same

bed where a prostitute had slept. “I came to California alone. I met Michael

in a brothel in Pair-a-Dice.”

Miriam laughed and then, seeing Angel meant what she’d said, fell silent.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Elizabeth was looking at her with an indefinable expression.

Angel’s gaze fell, and she kept stirring.

Miriam didn’t say anything for a long moment, and Elizabeth closed her

eyes again. “You needn’t have said anything,” Miriam said finally. “Why did

you?”

“So you wouldn’t have any shocking surprises down the road,” Angel

said bitterly, her throat tight.

“No,” Miriam said, “I was prying again, that’s why. Mama says it’s one of

my failings—always wanting to know everyone else’s business. I’m sorry.”

Angel kept stirring, troubled by the girl’s apology.

“I’d like to be friends,” Miriam said.

Angel glanced up in surprise. “Why would you want to be friends with

me?”

Miriam looked surprised. “Because I like you.”

Taken aback, Angel stared at her. She glanced at Elizabeth. The woman

was watching them, a tired smile on her face. Blushing, Angel looked at the

girl and said softly, “You don’t know very much about me other than what I

just told you.” She wished now she hadn’t said anything.

“I know you’re honest,” Miriam said with a rueful laugh. “Brutally so,”

she added more seriously. A thoughtful look came into her eyes as she studied

Angel.

The boys came in, and with them a blast of cold air. The girls awakened

and Ruth started to cry. Elizabeth sat up and held her close, admonishing

the boys to quiet their excited chatter. John came in and with one word

hushed them. Angel saw Michael just behind him. When he smiled at her,

her relief was physical. Then she worried what he would say when he found

out she had blurted out the truth.

Wet coats shrugged off, the men hunkered by the fire while she served

237

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