Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
“Your husband?” He looked her over and shook his head. “What’s he
doing inside with someone like you at home? What’s his name?”
“His name? Oh. It’s Charles.” As soon as the man went back through the
swinging doors, shouting up the stairs for the nonexistent Charles, she hurried
on, crossing the street and heading up another. Men stared as she raced
past them. She spotted a freshly painted sign: Hochschild’s General Mercantile,
and headed straight for it like a beacon in the darkness.
A heavyset elderly woman came out with a broom and swept the steps
and boardwalk. Unsmiling, she worked diligently, swishing dirt onto the
street and rapping the broom against the boards. She glanced up when
Angel stepped onto the boardwalk. “Men,” she muttered with a faint smile.
“Can’t even use the boot scraper before tracking their mud into the store.”
Her gaze dropped to the tied bundle in Angel’s hand. Angel gave a selfconscious
nod and went inside. She looked for Joseph, but he was no where
to be seen.
“Can I help you find something?” the woman asked, standing just inside
the door, broom held like a rifle at rest.
“Carpetbags,” Angel said. “A small one.”
“Right over here,” the woman said and led her to a shelf against the wall.
“This one’s nice.” She took one and handed it to Angel. Another woman,
dark-haired and robust, came out from behind the back curtain and set a
box down on a counter. She wiped perspiration from her forehead.
“Joseph,” she called back, “would you bring out that crate for me, please? I
can’t lift it.”
Angel wished she hadn’t come here. Why hadn’t she given it a thought
before plunging in? Joseph was fond of Michael. What would he say about
her running off the way she had? She couldn’t expect any help from him.
And who were these women with him? Hadn’t he said something about his
mother coming and bringing him a wife?
“Do you like it?” the woman asked her.
“What?” Angel stammered. She had to get out of here.
“The carpetbag,” the woman said, curious now.
“I’ve changed my mind.” She handed it back. Joseph came through the
curtain with the crate and saw her immediately. His face split with a wide
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