Chapter 4
Gracie was so excited about being with her new friends, she wanted to keep them to herself a little longer before she allowed them to meet Shaela.
When she met with her great-grandmother, Jane, for history lessons, she was all smiles. Jane called her to her side and said. “You look very happy today. Have you given up the idea of meeting the twins from Jahyah Mountain?”
“Oh, no, ma’am.”
“Good, because tomorrow all the Elders from here and Jahyah Mountain will meet and talk about this thing. You’re a very smart child. We should have done this a long time ago.” She held Gracie’s hand and got to her feet. “As a matter of fact, we should not have allowed this feud to happen at all.” She let go of Gracie’s hand and laughed, then motioned for Pamela to come to her.
“The Bible says ‘a child shall lead them,’ and I think that child may be yours.”
Pamela smiled and nodded. “This is a very good thing, Grangran.”
“I know my child,” Jane said.
It was Jane’s nap time, so, as usual, she and Solomon walked hand in hand to their cottage.
Pamela wasn’t surprised when Gracie asked if she could go riding by herself. She’d scarcely given her permission before Gracie turned, laughed and waved. Pamela shook her head and waited for Mary and Shaela to walk down the mountain with her.
“What’s that little girl of yours up to?”
“You’ve got me,” she replied, wanting to keep her daughter’s secret.
Little Isha ran up and pushed her tiny hand into Pamela’s. Pamela looked down and laughed. “How are you, little one?” She scooped her up and looked behind for Myah.
Myah caught up to them. “She wants to play with Gracie.”
“Will Shaela do? I think Gracie wants to be by herself for a little while today. Maybe Isha can come over before supper and stay a little bit after. Will that be all right with you?”
“Of course. I’ll come for her after.”
“Or I can walk her home, it’s no bother.” How could she tell Myah that she had a date with her brother? She was hoping he would understand if she was just a little late.
Pamela, true to her promise, walked little Isha home twenty minutes after supper. Gracie, who’d sat cross-legged on her bed with her head buried in a new book, hardly nodded when her mother told her she’d be back soon. She looked around to see if Tim or anyone else was watching, then walked casually to the stables and jumped bareback onto her horse.
Saul was patiently waiting for her. He stood up as she approached and caught her as she slid from her horse. “I’m so sorry. I’m never late for an appointment, but I had to wait while a little one played with my little one.
He laughed at her. “I’m not in a hurry to go anywhere. You said you’d be here and I knew you’d be here. Being a little late is inevitable sometimes.”
She sat on the damp sand. “Thank you.”
“Do you care to translate what you were saying into plain English?”
She laughed. “Myah’s daughter...”
He stopped her. “Myah... My Myah... My sister. You were talking about my sister?” He held her hand. “Tell me all about her.”
She looked at his hand holding hers and felt the softness and warmth that it exuded. For a second she couldn’t speak. Composing herself, she said, “Yes, your sister. She has a four-year-old daughter named Isha.” She slowly curled her fingers over his. “She played with Gracie after supper and I took her home.”
He let go of her hand and rested his hands on his knees. “I have a niece that I don’t even know. I miss being a part of my sister’s life.”
She balled her fingers to keep the essence of his touch within her. “She misses you a lot, Saul. She speaks of you so lovingly.” She nodded. “I think Isha has your eyes.”
He smiled. “I have to come to your village, Pam. I don’t care if everyone looks at me as if I’m mad. I don’t care if I’m persona non grata.” He waited for her to say it was a bad idea.
She nodded. “You should.”
His eyes brightened as he turned and spoke in an excited tone. “Tomorrow. I’ll come tomorrow. I won’t let anyone know that I know you. I’ll ride into the center of the village and you can take me to them.”
“Tomorrow is Friday,” she said.
“I know. Is that a bad idea?”
“No, it’s a great idea. Perfect, actually.” Great because there’s always an evening of merriment after supper, she thought. “When will you come?”
“When should I come?”
“Before supper, and bring the children.”
He nodded. “Thank you. The children will be very excited.” He, too, was keeping Gracie’s secret. He’d seen the children together today and had stayed out of sight.
“Are you scared?”
He laughed as his earnest eyes sought hers. “Should I be?”
“I don’t know. I think I would be scared.”
“But I’m a man, not to mention a Rahjah. I’m not supposed to be scared.”
She laughed at his bravado, but then became serious. “Being a man or a Rahjah, as you so bravely put it, does not stop your apprehension or it shouldn’t. You’re human. Men don’t hesitate to show their anger, why not their fear or love or...” Realizing how preachy she sounded, her voice trailed off. “Sorry, I do go on.” She lowered her eyes to her lap and saw that her fingers were still curled. She opened them, hoping he would take her hand again before he left.
He looked at her face in the moonlight and noticed the concerned crease in her forehead. “Okay, but you can’t say anything to anyone. Actually, I do feel a bit apprehensive. These are my people and I don’t want to be rebuffed again. I will definitely come, and I promise I won’t show any fear.”
She laughed. “You’re not being condescending, are you? I was kidding when I asked if you were scared.”
“I know, but conversing with you about anything is so much fun, I’d do or say anything to prolong it.”
He reached behind him and pulled four books from his saddlebag. He would have brought more but he didn’t think she could carry them. He handed her the books and she peered at them in the moonlight.
“Thank you so much. World history, African history...” She looked up at him, then at another book. “And a dictionary.” She shook her head and laughed. “These are great. But don’t you think I’m smart enough to know the meaning of the big words in these books? Don’t answer, that’s rhetorical. I have a small dictionary with tiny writing, but this is great, thank you.” On impulse she kissed his cheek.
He smiled. “I’m leaving for two weeks in a few days. What should I bring back for you? Don’t tell me more books.”
“We just met and you want to give me gifts already?”
“Is that all right?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I have to go to France for a few days. I’ll bring you back a book of famous artwork.”
“You know that I paint!” she gasped.
He shook his head, “No, I didn’t. You’re very busy, aren’t you? I bet you’re very good.”
“Not always. I haven’t painted in a while, but it relaxes me.”
“I have to admit that while I can build an entire house, I cannot make a stroke on canvas.”
“Not everyone can. I won’t see you for two weeks?” She kept looking at the books in her hand.
“Will you miss me?” he teased.
“Yes. After two meetings, I was just beginning to enjoy our secret rendezvous.” She laughed and touched his hand.
“When I come back we can pick up where we left off. I’ll miss you.”
She laughed and reiterated, “We just met.”
“Really?” He gave a conspiratorial wink.
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Yes.”
She caught his infectious laughter and once again his eyes held hers. “You’re beautiful in the moonlight.”
To cover her embarrassment, she said, “Maybe we should only see each other by moonlight.”
He got up and pulled her to her feet, took the books from her and placed them back in his bag. “Walk with me a bit.” He dropped the bag on the sand.
As they walked, he talked. “I’ve been to so many places, but no matter where I go, after two or three weeks I yearn for this place, this island. There’s no place like it. It’s my safe haven.”
“You can let your hair down, so to speak. Do anything, say anything without fear of recrimination,” she said.
He stopped and, with a smile on his face, nodded. “Yes, that about sums it up. And tomorrow will be the great test.” He laughed.
So did she. “I think I should go now.”
“Okay.” They walked back to her horse, and he slung the saddlebag over its back. “You felt like a daredevil tonight?”
She glanced at her horse and laughed. “Bareback? You might say so.”
Saul helped her onto her horse, then got on his. Tonight he’d ride with her until she took the path up the mountain. He had to admit the anticipation of seeing his sister and niece was almost overwhelming. He couldn’t wait. They rode side by side along the shore. The ocean seemed dark and mysterious when a thin cloud passed over the moon. She touched his hand and turned onto the path for home.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t be afraid.” She laughed softly.
“I can’t wait.” He watched her go up the mountain, her long skirt billowing in the wind. She gave a backward wave. Then he nudged his horse into a gallop.