Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
“Oh, Mama. I love him so much it hurts.”
Elizabeth looked at her husband. “But he’s married. You know that.”
Miriam reared up, face red. “Paul, Mama! Not Michael.”
“Paul!” Elizabeth said, greatly relieved. “But we thought—”
“It’s always been Paul, and I know he loves me, too. He just too stubborn
to admit it, even to himself.” She looked at her father. “I can’t let him leave,
Papa. If you buy his land, I’ll never forgive you.”
“If I don’t, someone else will.” He tried to make sense of what was happening.
“If he loves you, why would he be selling his land so he can leave?”
“I think he might be going for the same reasons Amanda left Michael.”
“You never did tell us what she said to you,” Elizabeth reminded her.
Miriam blushed. “I can’t.” She sank down into the chair and covered her
face. “I just can’t.”
Elizabeth knelt down beside her and tried to comfort her.
“How do you propose to stop Paul from leaving?” her father asked. “He’s
made up his mind, Miriam, and that’s the way it is.”
Miriam looked up. “I could make him change his mind.”
Studying his daughter’s determined face, John frowned. “Just what did
you have in mind?”
Miriam bit her lip and looked between her mother and father. “Something
from the Bible.” She wiped the tears away and sat straighter.
“What part of the Bible?” her father asked sternly.
“I know what it’ll take, Papa, but you’re going to have to trust me.”
“How old is she, Duke?”
His mouth curved mockingly. “Jealous, Angel?”
She wanted to kill him. “Eight? Nine? She can’t be much older than that,
or she couldn’t arouse your interest.”
His expression became dangerous. “You’d do well to curb your nasty little
tongue, my dear.” He held out a chair for her. “Sit down. We have things to
discuss.”
Angel was dressed in a pink satin and lace confection. Though the gown
fit her slender body perfectly, Angel hated it. She hated having every curve
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