Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
trunk. “When I get married, my husband and I are going to build a loft for
the children, and we’re going to have a nice cozy bedroom next to the
kitchen.”
“There’s Michael!” Ruthie pointed. The children shouted and whistled
until he turned and looked up the hill. He strode toward them. When he
reached the tree, he looked up, fists planted on his hips. “What’s this?” He
saw Angel aloft and laughed. “You, too?”
“They tricked me,” she said with great dignity.
Miriam winked at her and called down to him. “You’re going to have to
get her down. She’s stuck!”
Angel laughed when she saw Michael pull his boots off and start up.
When he was just beneath her, he slid his hand up her calf. “Shall I tie
Ruthie’s rope around you and lower you away?” he asked, knowing perfectly
well she could make it down on her own.
“This would make a great swing tree,” Leah said, climbing down next to
him. “See that big fat branch? You could tie the rope right there.”
“Hmmm, good idea,” Michael said. He lowered Ruthie and sent Andrew
to the tack room in the barn for rope. Climbing back up, he tied both ends
around a sturdy branch and let the loop hang for a swing. “I’ll fix a seat for it
later,” he said, dropping down.
The children squabbled excitedly over who would get the first turn, but
Michael caught Angel and set her in it. “Hang on,” he told her before she
could stop him, and he sent her flying. The exhilarating rush made her
laugh. Michael gave her another push and then headed back to the field and
his work.
When everyone, including Miriam, had had a turn on the swing, Angel
took the children down to the cabin and fixed them something to eat. The
boys went out to watch Michael, and Leah and Ruthie went to pick flowers
on the hill.
Miriam leaned against the doorjamb and looked out at her brothers
perched on top of the corral fence, watching Michael working with the
horse. “Michael knows how to enjoy life. He doesn’t sit about brooding all
the time.”
Angel came to stand with her. It disturbed her the way Miriam was
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