Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
made his pulse jump. She straightened and smiled at him, and his knees felt
weak.
“Sit down, Paul,” John said, slapping him on the back. “We haven’t seen
you in awhile.”
Paul found his gaze drifting to Miriam again. He lost track of what John
was saying as he watched her roll out biscuit dough, cut it, and place the
pieces in a cast iron pan. John’s silence drew his attention again. Elizabeth
was smiling at him. So was John. He could feel the heat rising in his face.
“I came to offer you my land, John.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw
Miriam straighten and look at him. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “I’ve decided
to go back to the mountains,” he said with finality.
John’s brows flickered.
Elizabeth frowned. “This is rather sudden, isn’t it, Paul?”
“No.” He could feel Miriam staring at him now, hands on her hips.
“Have you thought about what you’re doing?” John asked. “You’ve put a
lot of work into that land.”
“I’ve thought about it. I guess I’m just not cut out to be a farmer.” Miriam
turned her back and slammed a lid down on the pan. Elizabeth and John
jumped and glanced at her in surprise. “I’m not asking much for it,” Paul
said, trying to ignore her. He named his price, further shocking them.
“It’s worth far more than that,” John said. He rubbed his chin, troubled
by the offer. “Why are you doing this?”
Miriam swung around. “Because he’s a fool!”
“Miriam!” Elizabeth said, stunned.
“I beg your pardon, Mama. He’s an idiot, a dunderhead, a blockhead, a
dunce!”
“That will be enough!” John said, rising from his chair, his face darkening
with outrage. “Paul is a guest in our home!”
Miriam just looked at Paul, her eyes blazing as tears ran down her pale
cheeks. “I’m sorry, Papa. I guess I forgot my place. Excuse me.” She hurried
across the room, snatched down her shawl and opened the door. She looked
back at Paul. “Go ahead. Run away to your mountains and your gold panning.”
She slammed the door behind her.
Paul sat motionless, shattered. He wanted to go after her and explain, but
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