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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

her father say he wished she had never been born, the same pain when

Mama died, the same when she learned of Lucky’s death. She had even felt

pain the first time Duke gave her to another man.

Everyone to whom she drew close left her. Sooner or later they walked

away. Or died. Or lost interest. Love someone, and it was a guarantee.

Mama, Sally, Lucky. Now Miriam, Ruthie, and Elizabeth.

How could I forget what it felt like?

Because Michael fed you hope, and hope is deadly.

Sally told her once that you had to be like a stone because people would

chip away at you, and that stone had to be big enough that they would

never reach the very heart of you.

Angel saw Michael standing in the sunlight, strong and beautiful. Her

heart twisted inside her. He of all of them had chipped away the most, and

sooner or later, he would walk out of her life and leave a hole where her

heart had been.

He came to her, and when he saw the look on her face, his eyes darkened.

“Did Paul say something to hurt you?”

“No,” she rasped. “No. He didn’t say anything.”

“Something’s upset you.”

I’m falling in love with you. Oh, God, I don’t want to, but I am. You’re becoming

the air that I breathe. I’m losing Elizabeth and Miriam and Ruthie. How long

will it be before I lose you, too? She looked away. “Nothing’s upset me. I’m just

worried what Elizabeth will say to all this.”

It wasn’t long before she had her answer. The wagon came over the rise

and drew close. Elizabeth stared in disbelief, looking from the cabin to John,

who jumped from the wagon seat, a broad grin on his face. Then Elizabeth

wept and threw herself into John’s arms, telling him he was a wretch and she

adored him.

“You should apologize, Mama,” Miriam laughed. “You’ve been horrid to

him ever since we left the Hoseas’.” John took his wife’s hand, and they

headed out for a walk to see their land.

Miriam set right to work in the cabin, but it wasn’t long before she

stopped and looked at Angel. “You and Paul aren’t on friendly terms, are

you?”

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