Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
“Oh, by the way,” Michael said, taking a packet from his pocket. “Miriam
asked me to give this to you.”
Angel had noticed Miriam leaning on the fence a long while talking with
Michael. “What is it?” she asked, glancing at the neat handwriting she
couldn’t read. Duke had seen no reason to teach her.
“Seeds for a summer flower garden.”
As spring warmth turned into summer heat, Angel learned she had her
mother’s gift for growing things. The flower bed she laid out around the
house became a grand profusion of color. She filled the pitcher daily with
pink phlox, yellow yarrow, red lamb’s ear, purple delphinium and white hollyhocks.
Blue flax and pristine daisies graced the mantel. But even more than
the pleasure she took from the flowers was the pride she felt when she
looked out at the cornfield.
She could scarcely believe that the small, shriveled kernels Michael had
given her to plant had become stalks taller than he. She walked the rows,
touching the towering plants and seeing the developing ears of corn. Had
she really helped make this happen?
“Amanda! Where are you?” Michael called.
Laughing, she stood on tiptoe. “Over here,” she called back and then ran
down the row to hide.
“All right,” he said, laughing. “Where did you go?”
She whistled at him from her hiding place. She and Ruthie had played
hide-and-seek in the rows the day before, and she was in a joyous mood
today, ready to tease Michael.
“What do I get if I find you?”
“What have you got in mind?”
“Oh, a little of this and that.” He reached through a row and almost
caught hold of her skirt. Laughing, she escaped again. He caught up with
her at the end of the row, but she eluded him again and disappeared into the
greenery. She ducked into a row and put her foot out as he passed, tripping
him. Laughing, she raced back the other way.
“I’m never going to get that fence repaired,” he said, coming after her. He
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