Ben strained to catch a glimpse of his village, but all he saw was an unbroken sea of treetops until the helicopter landed. He was disappointed that Moriah wasn’t there to meet him in the tiny clearing.
Several of the village children ran to greet him, ducking under the blades of the borrowed helicopter despite Ron’s shouts to stay away. As the blades ceased to rotate, Ben and Nicolas climbed out.
“Whoa.” Nicolas reached out a hand to steady him when Ben swayed. “You aren’t a hundred percent yet, friend, take it easy.”
He did not want to take it easy. He wanted to see Moriah. He wanted to see with his own eyes that she had truly come to him.
Lying in the hospital bed with little to do except think, he had driven himself nearly mad with worry about what she would do when she learned of Moawa’s presence near the village.
He had meant to tell her, of course. Eventually. When he got back to Manitoulin Island and when they were face to face so he could personally deal with the emotional fallout.
He had been so desperate to get back to her that Nicolas had become convinced he would heal more quickly in the village.
“I know you are anxious to see her,” Nicolas shouldered his bag with one arm and assisted Ben with the other, “but Fusiwe saved your life. Don’t neglect to thank him.”
Ben was so weak, the children nearly pulled him down as they clung to him in their happiness at having him back. While Nicolas shooed them away, Fusiwe walked toward him, hand extended.
Ben ignored Fusiwe’s Western gesture and pulled him into a close embrace. “Thank you, my friend. Thank you for saving me.”
“It was nothing,” Fusiwe said, modestly.
“If you hadn’t figured out how to work the computer and send a message, I would be dead by now—not to mention keeping my fever down until Nicolas could get here.”
“Karyona and Rashawe helped with the fever, but I worked the computer,” Fusiwe said, with some pride.
“How did you know what to do?”
“I watched you.”
“I should have thought to teach you. I’m sorry, Fusiwe. I didn’t know you were interested.”
“I am very interested.”
“Then as soon as I get settled, I’ll teach you more.” Ben glanced around, “Is Moriah alright? Why isn’t she here?”
“Little Green Eyes is too busy to come.” Fusiwe grinned, as though holding back a secret.
“Doing what?”
“Fixing things.”
“I know she likes to fix things… but here?”
“Come see.”
Fusiwe placed Ben’s arm around his shoulder, taking over the job of supporting him from Nicolas as the four men made their way through the jungle.
Ben’s first glimpse of Moriah astonished him. It was definitely Moriah, and she was most definitely busy. Busy building a new hut. She stood, holding a crossbeam of lashed bamboo above her head, while two of the village men secured it to supports they’d dug into the ground. From what he could tell, she had somehow managed to improve slightly on the design.
“Hello, Ben.” She grinned at him mischievously when she saw him “Good to see you again. Nice day, isn’t it.”
Her hair was in a ponytail and she had a blue handkerchief tied around her forehead. Her white t-shirt was stained with sweat, her khaki pants were smudged with dirt. Her arms were stretched above her head grasping the bamboo and her face was flushed with the effort.
She was the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen.
“I see you found a way to keep yourself busy while I was gone.”
“Oh you know me,” Moriah said. “Always looking for a project.”
They both burst out laughing at their absurd commonplace tone, as well as the sheer delight of being able to once again be together.
He wanted to run, grab her, twirl her around and kiss her senseless. Unfortunately, he could barely stand alone. It also appeared that, even if he were strong enough to do so, the structure she was supporting would collapse if she let go.
“Want to explain what you’re doing?” he asked.
“Well, I seem to have gotten myself adopted while you were away.”
“Adopted?”
“Yep. I’m building a home for the newest member of our family.”
As happy as he was to see Moriah, and as badly as he wanted to hear this, his legs felt like they were quickly turning to rubber.
Rashawe came running out of Ben’s hut with his chair and Ben gratefully collapsed onto it.
“Thank you,” Ben gasped. “I’m weaker than I knew. Now, tell me, Moriah. For whom are you building this new home?”
“I had nothing to do with this.” Fusiwe held his hands up and stepped away. “It was all Karyona and Moriah’s idea.”
Ben turned to Nicolas. “Do you know what they are talking about?”
“I’ve been at the hospital with you, remember?” Nicolas said. “Moriah, what are you up to? Wasn’t Ben’s hut big enough?”
A familiar voice quavered in Yahnowa from behind Moriah.
Ben was startled at the sound.
Moawa shuffled into view, supported by a rough stick, led by one of the children.
“Uh, Moriah, honey?” Ben said. “Do you know who that is?”
“Yes.” Moriah was finally free to release the crossbeam. She scooted out from beneath it, brushed her hands on her pants, then ran over and gave Ben a kiss. “I know exactly who he is and I know who he was. I also know why he did what he did. I’m building this new hut for him.”
“Why?”
Moriah glanced meaningfully at the villagers crowding in around them, eavesdropping as Karyona translated every word.
“He asked my forgiveness and I gave it. Then he offered himself in place of my father whom he killed. I accepted that offer.”
Who was this woman! Apparently she was not the same person he had carried sobbing off the Little Current bridge. “I’m impressed. But why the hut?”
“Oh that. He shouldn’t be out there in the bush by himself, Ben. He’s old and blind. He needs to be close where we can take care of him.” Moriah walked over to where Moawa stood, placed one hand on his shoulder and glanced around at the people as though daring them to argue with her. “Family should take care of family.”
Ben felt tears sting his eyes. In all she had done, in all she had overcome, he had never been prouder.
Moawa stood up straight as Karyona translated Moriah’s last sentence. He lifted his chin as though challenging anyone to question his right to live within the village. No one did.
Moriah untied the handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her face.
“You need to excuse me now, Ben. I can’t talk any longer. I was hoping to get this finished and Moawa moved in by nightfall.”
Nicolas had quietly watched the entire scene from behind Ben’s chair.
“So.” Nicolas’ voice was emotionless as they watched Moriah go back to work. “The man who murdered my mother is now to be considered some sort of an in-law?”
“Apparently so,” Ben said.
“Interesting.” Nicolas was quiet for a while as they watched Moriah work. “Hatred is a heavy thing to carry.”
“I’ve found it to be so.”
Nicolas sighed. “I suppose if Moriah can forgive this man, I shall try to as well. She’s the one who has suffered the most.”
“We all suffered from his actions, Nicolas. But no longer, by the grace of God, no longer.”
Nicolas cleared his throat. “We need to get you to bed now. You’ve done enough for one day.”
“Nicolas?”
“Yes?”
“Thank-you buying the lighthouse. Thank-you for saving my life. Thank-you for bringing the four of us together so we can help heal one another.”
“I am a selfish man, Ben. I bought the lighthouse solely as an excuse to be close to Katherine. I hired you because you were a skilled stonemason and available. I saved your life because that’s what doctors do. I never expected any of the rest of this to happen. It never once crossed my mind.”
“A selfish man wouldn’t have put his own life in danger to save a missionary’s life,” Ben said. “A selfish man couldn’t possibly love Katherine as whole-heartedly as you do. But I believe you when you say you never expected any of this to happen. God used you, my friend.”
“I would be pleased to believe that.” Nicolas steered Ben toward his hut. “Come. You need to rest.”
Reluctantly, Ben allowed Nicolas to tuck him into his sleeping platform. Exhaustion soon overtook him and he fell asleep listening to the unbelievable sound of Moriah building a hut for Chief Moawa.
“Ben?” Moriah whispered.
He awoke with a start.
“Everything is alright,” she reassured him. “It’s me.”
“Did you finish the hut?” Ben said.
She sat on the platform and he wrapped one arm around her waist, loving the feel of her. So many times he had dreamed of this. It was hard to believe she was here and real. Living, breathing—and smelling like she had done a hard day’s work in the tropics. Yep, she was real, alright.
“I have a little more to do in the morning, but it’s mostly finished.”
“Never, in my wildest dreams did I ever think you would react this way to Moawa.”
“Neither did I.”
“Why did you?”
Moriah hesitated. “One minute I was so filled with hatred I could barely breathe. The next minute, my heart was in pieces and all I could feel was compassion for him. It’s hard to explain.”
“I know. I went through a similar experience when I found him.”
“It felt as though God, himself, touched my heart.”
“Maybe that’s because He did.”
“You felt it too?”
“I couldn’t have forgiven Moawa on my own. I loved my father too, Moriah.” He gently tweaked her nose. “But you didn’t have to adopt the man, babe.”
“He adopted me. At least that’s the way I remember it. He’s no monster, Ben. He’s just a sad old man. Karyona said that, since I’ve chosen to adopt him, the rest of the village will accept him too. Building the hut for him is sort of a visible symbol to them.”
“And besides that, you’re enjoying it.”
“I am. Is there any rule that says a missionary wife can’t build?”
“Honey, you can swing from the vines and sing Zippity Doo Dah for all I care. Just as long as you’ll stay with me. I’m afraid you’ll leave now that I’m better.”
“Why would I leave?”
“I don’t know. To prepare for that wedding in the lighthouse? Wasn’t I supposed to fly up there?”
“Well, about that wedding…” She pulled her feet onto the platform and hugged her knees to her chest. “…is having that lighthouse wedding really important to you?”
“No. I just want be married to you. It doesn’t matter to me how we get there.”
“I talked to Ron. He said he can fly a preacher in when he comes to pick up Nicolas. I hope I’m not being too pushy.”
“Moriah. Please. Be my guest. Be pushy.”
She smiled and gave him a quick kiss. “Good. You rest. I’ll take care of everything.”