The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-60142-061-9
Copyright © 1997, 2007 by Francine Rivers Study Guide written by P. Lynch.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
MULTNOMAH is a trademark of Multnomah Books, and is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The colophon is a trademark of Multnomah Books.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the original trade paperback edition as follows: Rivers, Francine, 1947–
Redeeming love/by Francine Rivers.
p. cm.
1. Frontier and pioneer life—California—San Francisco—Fiction. 2. San Francisco (Calif.)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3568.I83165R58 1997
813'.54—dc21
97-14694
Printed in the United States of America
2007—First Hardcover Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
redeem.00.HCversion 8/1/07 4:13 PM Page 5
To those who hurt and hunger.
redeem.00.HCversion 8/1/07 4:13 PM Page 7
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With special thanks to my editor, Karen Ball, for her belief in this book, and her help in redeeming it for the Christian reader.
redeem.00.HCversion 8/1/07 4:13 PM Page 8
Let anyone among you who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her.
J E S U S , J O H N 8 : 7
Redeem.000 7/25/07 4:38 PM Page 9
Child of Darkness
Redeem.000 7/25/07 4:38 PM Page 11
Prologue
The prince of darkness is a gentleman.
S H A K E S P E A R E
N E W
E N G L A N D, 1 8 3 5
Alex Stafford was just like Mama said. He was tall and dark, and Sarah had never seen anyone so beautiful. Even dressed in dusty riding clothes, his hair damp with perspiration, he was like the princes in the stories Mama read. Sarah’s heart beat with wild joy and pride. None of the other fathers she saw at Mass compared to him.
He looked at her with his dark eyes, and her heart sang. She was wearing her best blue frock and white pinafore, and Mama had braided her hair with pink and blue ribbons. Did Papa like the way she looked? Mama said blue was his favorite color, but why didn’t he smile? Was she fidgeting? Mama said to stand straight and still and act like a lady. She said he would like that.
But he didn’t look pleased at all.
“Isn’t she beautiful, Alex?” Mama said. Her voice sounded strange…tight, like she was choking. “Isn’t she the most beautiful little girl you’ve ever seen?”
Sarah watched Papa’s dark eyes frown. He didn’t look happy. He looked angry. Like Mama looked sometimes when Sarah talked too much or asked too many questions.
11
Redeem.000 7/25/07 4:38 PM Page 12
Rdeeeming love
“Just a few minutes,” Mama said quickly. Too quickly. Was she afraid?
But why? “That’s all I’m asking, Alex. Please. It would mean so much to her.”
Alex Stafford stared down at Sarah. His mouth was pressed tight, and he studied her silently. Sarah stood as still as she could. She’d stared at herself in the mirror so long this morning, she knew what he would see. She had her father’s chin and nose, and her mother’s blonde hair and fair skin. Her eyes were like her mother’s, too, although they were even more blue. Sarah wanted Papa to think she was pretty, and she gazed up at him hopefully. But the look in his eyes was not a nice one.
“Did you pick blue on purpose, Mae?” Papa’s words startled Sarah. They were cold and angry. “Because it brings out the color of her eyes?”
Sarah couldn’t help it, she glanced at her mother—and her heart fell.
Mama’s face was filled with hurt.
Alex glanced toward the foyer. “Cleo!”
“She’s not here,” Mama said quietly, keeping her head high. “I gave her the day off.”
Papa’s eyes seemed to get even darker. “Did you? Well, that leaves you in a fix, doesn’t it, darling?”
Mama stiffened, then bit her lip and glanced down at Sarah. What was wrong? Sarah wondered sadly. Wasn’t Papa happy to see her? She had been so excited that she was actually going to be with him at last, even for a little while.…
“What would you have me do?” Mama’s words were directed at Papa, so Sarah stayed silent, still hoping.
“Send her away. She knows how to find Cleo, I would imagine.”
Pink spots appeared on Mama’s cheeks. “Meaning what, Alex? That I entertain others in your absence?”
Sarah’s smile fell in confusion. They spoke so coldly to one another.
Neither looked at her. Had they forgotten she was there? What was wrong?