Angel woke up Dreaming about Duke.
“You can’t get away from the Duke, the Alpha and Omega. Four thousand miles was far enough, yet here I am”
Had it really been a year? Seemed like only yesterday. She knew he was still looking for his property. For now it is only in her dreams that Duke finds her.
Michael took her up to the place high on his property to see the stars. Like the night sky, full of bright shiny stars against black velvet, her reality would soon fade as the night sky turned back to day and the stars would fade. Bright hope would fade as daylight returned to her life.
No matter how hard you try, you can’t escape the truth. She was guilty of being born.
Four months and she was still walking wounded. That’s what Michael said as Angel moved about. She had seen the stars, he was offering her hope for the future but she was “walking wounded”.
I think I have “walked wounded”, unable to move on past the pain and hurt. I think it has taken me years, lots of therapy, love from my husband, many self-help books to finally see all I really need was to allow God to work in me and forgive myself. God has already redeemed me just like He is redeeming Angel but if you don’t walk in the Spirit you might be walking wounded.
Michael was not only hearing God’s voice but he was starting to hear a dark and powerful one.
Angel didn’t like the emotions that Michael was stirring up in her. She had never been treated like this before in her life. He complimented and encouraged her. He had a sense of humor and made her comfortable with her mistakes. HE GAVE HER HOPE.
Yet the same dark and powerful voice Michael heard was talking to Angel.
“You have to go back to Pair-a-Dice, get your gold, get a place of your own. Oh sure you can repay Michael first with chores and help him around the farm, but you must go back”
Michael could see some softening even though they had a huge fight, she was finally opening up some. Letting him in a little. He gave her another name now. Amanda, softer and happier name.
Finally admitted on that terrible last night at the Palace, she had wanted to die and Michael ruined it for her by saving her life. Now she was trapped as his wife.
Michael wanted desperately to show her the love between a husband and a wife. Finally with God’s help he did. Some unknown and unwelcome emotion opened deep inside Angel. Something hard and tight began to soften and uncurl. As it did, the dark voice arose.
“Get away from this man, Angel. You’ve got to get out of here! Save yourself and flee!
Paul is home. Michael’s brother-in-law.
I can’t believe how he treats Angel. Michael was a little naïve thinking he would accept Amanda, knowing the odds were good that Paul would have been to the Palace himself. Like a tattling little brother he runs to tell Michael all about the woman he loves and how she is no good for him. Michael wasn’t having it. I am glad. He should have hit him a few more times.
Michael forgave Paul but sent him on his way. Little did Michael know that Amanda would catch up with Paul and ask for a ride back to Pair-a-Dice. Hell more like it.
Paul didn’t think Angel was good enough for Michael. But he got his price for the ride. Then informed her she wasn’t worth more than two bits.
I loved her reply:
“I know what I am. I never pretended to be anything else. Not once. Not ever!.”
“Here you are, borrowing Michaels wagon and horses and his gold and using his wife….And what do you call yourself? His brother“
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Rest In His Word 
Paul seems tortured and a prisoner of his own making most likely his whole life since Michael said he could never really stay focused. But more so after the loss of his wife. I am sure his jealousy for Michael would have shined many times. And I believe that jealousy was at his heart when he really could not stand Amanda with Michael since he knew who Amanda was. But what seems so bad too was that he could not stand Amanda being happy when his Michael was. It was like no one could be happy since he was not. How many times do we see that and just break our hearts that there is nothing we can do. I have prayed for many a hurting heart and it is so easy for us to get jealous. Jealousy is a sure sign of listening to that darker voice and not the still small voice of our Lord. Every time I get jealous I try to remind myself to jump back in my good good Father’s Lap.
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I hadn’t thought of that. I bet you are right. Makes sense. Jealousy is so bad, it grows and grows. I agree, he wanted Micheal to be alone like he was ,maybe. Jealousy is a strong emotion. Good insights Deb!
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