“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Abigail said, her head dipping forward.
“I admire your courage to travel during wartime,” Jonathan said.
“Sometimes she does not concern herself with whatever danger may be out there in the world,” Jasher teased.
Abigail poked Jasher in the ribs, making him wince.
Jasher took Abigail’s hand. “Because of the change in conditions here in Ain, I asked her to stay, but we are still at war. Would it be acceptable for Rachel to stay with her as a companion?
“I would sleep much better knowing you were in the company of another woman, rather than by yourself,” Jonathan agreed.
“Yes, that would be fine,” Rachel said. “Thank you very much for your kindness.” She smiled at Abigail.
Eyes bright, Abigail reached to take Rachel by the hands, seemingly delighted to make a new friend.
“Abigail, let’s leave these two alone for a few moments. These dutiful soldiers can be their chaperones,” Jasher teased. The soldiers posted at the tent saluted sharply. The general then offered his arm to his wife as the two of them meandered toward Jasher’s tent.
Jonathan took no more notice of the guards, and reached forward to brush a strand of hair from Rachel’s face. He then pulled her to himself. Rachel’s eyes glistened with joy as he held her, and she shivered in the cool night air.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“I’m just thrilled to be here with you,” Rachel said as she stepped back.
Still holding her hands, he took in the beauty of her soft features under the lantern light. She took in a breath as if she wanted to talk.
“What is it? You seem to have a question.”
“When are you coming to Ramathaim with our letter of marriage? We’ve been betrothed for nearly a year now, and I’m getting anxious to know the date.”
Jonathan grinned at the prospect of finalizing their marriage. “That’s why we are going home, so I can tell Rezon to leave. He’s not invited to the celebration.”
Rachel let out a giggle as Jonathan pulled her close again, twirling her around as he did so. He held her there for a few minutes, warming her, and then bent down to kiss her tenderly on the forehead. Light from the two lesser moons bathed her fair skin.
“Don’t think you’re going to get away with a mere touch on my head, son of Samuel,” Rachel said, teasingly defiant.
He usually kissed her in a more subdued fashion, but now, with both hands, he brought her face to his and kissed her hard on the lips, making her flush. He did it again, just to show how much he enjoyed it. Rachel moved forward, resting her head on his chest. They held each other, Jonathan’s chin nestled against her warm cheek. Over Rachel’s shoulder, he could just make out a woman approaching, a glow-stone in her hand. As she got closer, he could see it was Abigail. He released Rachel with a final kiss.
“I pray you will sleep well this night, my dear lady.”
“And you, my prince.”
Both went away smiling, Rachel into her tent with Abigail, and Jonathan to his.
Chapter 18
"Kissing my sister again?” Eli asked with a low chuckle when Jonathan entered the tent.
“Guilty.”
“You’re a lucky man,” Tavor said. “I have not kissed the love of my life for more than two weeks.”
“How long have you been married now? Four years, right?” Jonathan asked.
“Almost five.”
“I still remember how hot it was that day. How is your family?”
“The twins have been very… busy lately. My Sarah is a wonderful mother, but the two boys really test her strength. I wish I were there to help.”
“I’m sorry you’re not home,” Jonathan said.
“I am too. Eli and I have been scouting about longer than I would have liked, and I worry about her.”
“I understand completely-I would feel the same way.”
Tavor’s gaze fell to the ground. He cleared his throat. “Jonathan, I’m very sorry to hear about your father. Samuel was one of the best men I have ever known.”
Jonathan briefly looked away. “Thank you, Tavor. I think so too.”
Eli’s loud yawn caused the others to do the same. Each man arranged his things by his cot and bedded down quickly. Tavor slid the door closed on the glow-stone lantern closest to him, muting the light in the tent. Jonathan closed the other lantern, but it still spilled faint streams of light onto the floor through its bent door. He reached for a tunic left behind by previous occupants and covered the lantern.
Soon Eli snored like a bear in hibernation. Even after Tavor’s breathing became deep and regular, Jonathan lay thinking about his father. He was troubled by the painful memory of finding Samuel on the floor of the Council Hall.
I am alone.
He had certainly not expected to lose both his parents before he was even married.
Now, neither will see their grandchildren grow up.
A tear rolled down behind his ear. He sighed.
Thank the heavens above Rachel still has her parents. I look forward to seeing them play with our children.
He forced himself to reflect on happier times. He remembered wonderful days full of sunshine, the outdoors, and talking about the simple things of life with his parents. Jonathan had learned so much from both of them as they worked together in the gardens of Hasor.
As he began drifting off to sleep, he could almost smell the beautiful rose bush Samuel had planted in the gardens for Jonathan’s mother, Rachel.
I will do the same for my Rachel. I will plant her a rose bush. It will be a tribute to both my mother and my wife.
Jonathan rolled over and slept.
Sometime in the middle of the night, near morning, before the sister suns began to paint the horizon in brilliant blue, Jonathan dreamed-a dream that seemed very real to him.
He saw Jasher in a field, standing beside his wife, Abigail. There were many Gideonite, Danielite, and Uzzahite soldiers gathered around, all gazing upon the admired military leader with great sadness. Pekah stood in the group, and Jasher called him out of the crowd. As Pekah approached, Jasher kissed his wife, then took her hand and placed it in Pekah’s hand. Jasher then removed his armor and sword, placed them at Pekah’s feet, waved to those gathered, and walked away, disappearing into the distance. Jonathan then noticed three small children next to Abigail, all of them tugging at her skirts. Pekah continued to stand next to her, and all the soldiers present in the scene took one knee before him. They stretched forth their hands as if to receive what he would have them do.
The dream broke, and Jonathan jerked upright. Darkness still reigned outside the tent, and he could barely discern the heaving chest of Eli or the smaller form of Tavor near the tent wall.
He mused over the dream and wondered at it. It made no sense to him.
Why would he leave his wife and his armor in Pekah’s care?
He reviewed the dream again in his mind, surprised by the vividness of the mental images left behind. He noticed that Jasher had been very deliberate in placing Abigail’s hand in Pekah’s, almost as if he were giving her to him in marriage. And then there were the children…
This bothered Jonathan. Apart from a formal divorce-which was quite rare, and usually only in a case where a spouse had been unfaithful-the only way Abigail would be released from her husband’s claim was if Jasher had died. And yet the dream did not necessarily indicate such a thing. Jasher was alive and well when he walked away.
Jonathan lay back down. He tried to close his eyes, hoping for sleep to come again, but it did not. He gave up, and rose to dress for the day. Pulling his boots on as he stumbled toward the exit, he grabbed his gray cloak and his weapons, including the Gideonite breastplate he had obtained the day before, then left his slumbering companions behind.