It was the worst time of the day, yet she knew she must go to the well soon. The midday time of rest would be over and the merchants would return to their shops. Women and children would again be on the streets. She opened the door and the oppressive heat pushed against her. Sorrow and weariness pressed like weights upon her shoulders. She didn’t want to hear the remarks of the men and greet the open hostility of the women. They no longer accused her of having the evil eye, for their whispers were now of another nature. It was as if a pot was nearing the boiling point and would erupt, spewing its contents on everything around it. When Ahmal had been home, she had been safe. She had family. Now, everyone was gone. Dear Ahmal, he had treated her as one would treat a special child in whom one delighted. Oh Ahmal … where are you? Were Caleb and Demas still alive?
She turned back to look at Reuben. His eyes were closed as he reclined back on the cushions. She regarded him pensively and then turned back toward the door. She was reaching for the water jar when his voice interrupted her thoughts.
“It is much too hot to go out,” he murmured.
“We are in need of water,” she answered simply.
He lay back on the cushions, studying her. His long, lean body was relaxed in the way of a man totally at ease and sure of himself. Reuben was like no man she had ever known. Since that fateful evening when he had taken her, she was his at his whim. He seemed to know her very thoughts. It was as if he had cast a spell over her. Even in her shame, he made her feel she was strangely drawn to him. Absentmindedly she ran one hand over her hip and smoothed her skirt. Reuben stroked his beard and watched her. His eyes twinkled and then became somber in a way she knew well. Her heart beat faster. She needed to get away, if only for a little while.
“You are very beautiful, Marah, very beautiful.”
She felt the blood come to her face. She looked away and adjusted the soft folds of material that would protect her face from the fierce heat. “The street is quiet, it is best that I go to the well of Jacob now.”
He cocked one bushy eyebrow. “Ah, the good women of Shechem are avoiding you then?”
“I go where I please. Their clacking tongues weary me.”
“And it pleases you to go in the heat of midday?”
She sighed. “You are here when there is no one else. Your servant is often gone for days on your errands … they suspect… .” She shrugged her shoulders and did not look at him.
“And to think that they do not trust the brother of your dear, departed husband?” His smile was mocking. “I only pay respects to the widow of my dear, departed brother.”
Marah looked at him quietly. “Respects? Your respect has continued for over a month.”
He threw back his head and gave such a shout of laughter that she moved quickly to close the door.
“Please, Reuben, someone will hear you!”
In answer he rose quickly from the couch and with two strides was at her side. Clasping her around the waist, he kissed her firmly on the mouth, silencing her protests. “Let them gossip, my treasure, they have no proof.”
“They do not need proof to tear me apart with their tongues.” She looked at him sadly. “You believe that Ahmal is dead?”
He gave a snort of derision. “Surely you do not think that he is still alive after all this time?”
“I do not know what to think.” She felt weary.
“Do you wish him to live, Marah?” His words were dangerously soft. “Shall he return to the wife who waits so patiently, so faithfully?” This time his tone was mocking.
The last struck her like a blow and her head came up defiantly, her dark eyes flashing.
Reuben’s voice became soft and soothing. “I find you most interesting when you are angry, my love.” He believed his nearness was having its desired effect. She stood very still against him. She knew better than to fight him … even with words.
“We could leave Shechem and no one would know. You would have someone to take care of you,” he said against her cheek. “Do you not want that also?”
Panic filled her. Leave Shechem? What would become of her? She stalled for time.
“I … I do not know what to do. I cannot think.” She swayed against him, her mind racing. Gathering her courage, she pulled away, looking earnestly up at his face. She knew he didn’t like her pulling away, for he scowled. How could she make him understand?
“My lord, you have taken me, yet I do not know if I am still a married wife. God will surely punish us.”
He snorted. “Surely God must have more important matters to concern Himself with. All the more reason we should leave Shechem.”
Marah opened her mouth to reply and promptly closed it again. Did he see only what he wanted to see? She had tried to speak to Reuben about Ahmal, to make him understand what was in her heart. He did not want to see what he had done. He had been annoyed, impatient as he was now, that she as a woman would try to speak to him about things of God.
Suddenly a strange thought came to her and she voiced it without thinking. “Reuben, do you think the Messiah will truly come?”
The change of topics caught him by surprise and he stared at her a moment. His eyes narrowed and then he gave another shout of laughter. “You are much more interesting, my love, when you don’t concern yourself with matters best left to men.” His hands tightened painfully on her arms.
She had gone too far. Reuben had an easy manner on the outside but liked having his way. He could be unpleasant when he was angry. She stood silently, submissively, waiting, her emotions conflicting as he turned away from her abruptly.
“Go for your water. I have matters to attend to.”
“Will you be here when I return?” Perhaps he would leave at last.
“You will miss me?” There was a gleam of satisfaction as he turned back to her. He reached out and pulled her close again. “See how your heart flutters. Have I not made you happy?”
“Yes, Reuben,” she whispered against his chest, relieved that the mood had passed. She would tell him what he wished to hear. It served her better. His many moods puzzled her. He changed like the wind from one moment to the next. Cold, cruel, childlike when things did not go his way, he was a man who could be dangerous.
“There is a caravan coming into Sebaste. I heard the news yesterday.”
She stiffened and he murmured softly, “Perhaps the longlost Ahmal will return?” There was a hint of sarcasm.
She tried to draw away, but his strong hands held her fast, bruising her arms. “My lord, for both of our sakes, we must know.” It was almost a sob.
“Of all the caravans that have passed through Shechem, which one has brought you word that Ahmal lives and sends his love to his dear, faithful wife?”
She closed her eyes against the vehemence of his words as he continued to grip her arms tightly. “He was a good man. He was kind to my family and to me.” How could she wish the death of gentle Ahmal?
“And I am not kind to you, Marah?” There was no mistaking the inference in his tone as he drew her against him again and ran one finger slowly down her cheek. “I can be very kind, my love …” He tilted her chin up and kissed her slowly. When he released her, she swayed momentarily, staring up at him.
“You are mine, Marah. If Ahmal were to return, what would the good people of Shechem say to him about his wife and his half brother, hmmm? Even now, the women draw their skirts away from you. Where are the friends who were so anxious to help you? It is only a matter of time. I will take you with me. There are other lands, other towns to live in. You cannot remain in Shechem much longer.” Then, persuasively, “Nothing holds you here …”
She looked up at him. Who was he, and what power did he have over her? He remained a stranger in many ways. His garments were the finest quality, but she had yet to learn the source of his recent income. He was well liked as he laughed and moved among the merchants. He had come seeking resources, and yet now he seemed to have money. Where did it come from? She watched him closely in the marketplace, and she pretended indifference, noting that the eyes of the men and women of Shechem watched them both. She had also noticed that the women watched Reuben … with open admiration.
“This house is all I have, Reuben, and all that is left of Ahmal’s after the debts were paid. My son would return here. I pray he lives and is safe.” A tiny trace of doubt brushed her thoughts … as though on the verge of something she could not explain. She waited for his answer.
“All this concern is foolish. Why do you not face the fact that he is gone? He has a life somewhere else in another city or country. As young as he was when he left, no doubt the slave traders found him.” He shook her. “Or they are dead. Do you not understand? Why do you persist in this tiresome game of waiting?”
A sob escaped her lips at the cruelty of his words. She could not look at him.
“I will sell the house and the last of your belongings. You need little to take with you and the proceeds from my brother’s property will do us nicely.”
“But … Ahmal is not—”
“Enough!” he bellowed at her. “What difference can it make to you now? Who is the wiser? No one really knows. We can say we have finally heard news. As his relative, his brother, I can receive his possessions and do with them as I wish. All of his possessions.”
Marah continued to look down at the floor, hiding the turmoil within. Mistaking her silence for submission, he relaxed his grip and stepped back.
“Go for your water. I have other things to do. I will go to speak with the caravan master in Sebaste. Perhaps they bring news. Since it seems to concern you so, if my brother should return, we would do well to leave Shechem. I fear that stones would mar that lovely face, and I do not care for that end for myself.”
Marah gasped. It was the first time her unspoken thoughts about that had been voiced. It was true. She and Reuben were in great danger if Ahmal should return and accuse her of adultery. She tried to picture gentle Ahmal in the role of an outraged husband. He was kind, but yet she had seen him deal with his drivers and the men who worked for him. They respected him. Respect? She could not even claim self-respect since the night that Reuben had come to her room.
Reuben was speaking again, breaking into her thoughts. “… will go and see what I can find out.”
“When will you return?” She tried to appear casual. She must have time to think about what to do.
“I do not like to be questioned on what I do. Since you must ask, as soon as I find out what I need to know … what we need to know to proceed.”
She caught her breath sharply, her eyes wide.
“I shall return within the week. The thought of you will hasten my return.”
“You will take Tema?” She did not want the man skulking about while Reuben was gone. Reuben knew she disliked his servant.
“I will take Tema. He is useful to me in many ways.”
He adjusted the mantle to protect his head from the sun and gathered up his goatskin bag.
As he opened the door and nodded to Tema who had been lounging by the gate, Tema hurried away. She knew he had gone to prepare the horses. Before he left, Tema had looked at Marah and smirked. She wanted to throw something at the man.
Reuben thanked her loudly for her hospitality. He wished her good health and added, for the benefit of eavesdropping neighbors, “I will seek further word on your husband and my brother on my journey. Peace be unto you.”
Marah stood in the shadow of the house watching him for a moment. Then she sighed and reached again for the water jar, lifting it to her shoulder as she had done so many times before. When was the first time, she mused, that I went to draw water from the well of Jacob? She thought of the day she and Hannah had walked together. Tears came to her eyes as she remembered that happy walk with Hannah, and then the terrible news Reba had given her when she returned. It all seemed so long ago. She sighed, closed the door, and with her sandals making a soft slapping noise on the quiet, dusty street, began her journey to the well of Jacob.