The Chronicles of Gan: The Thorn (36 page)

Pekah’s face reddened.
“
Me?
I have no
experience with these types of matters.”

“Experience can be both
good and bad,” Jonathan said. “Isn’t Rezon
experienced
?
He’s
experienced in deception, ambition, and warfare. What I desire is
an honest and true heart, one I can trust with my life. There is
none better qualified.”

Pekah’s eyes were low. He did not answer at
first. “I will serve, as requested,” he finally said, looking
up.

Jonathan shook Pekah’s hand with vigorous
congratulations and thanks.

Turning to Amon, Jonathan made one more
request. “General, as I said before, I cannot choose the fourth.
Please do me the favor—will you sit in council with Mehida and
Pekah, and make an invitation to one you trust? Will you fill the
seat for me?”

“We will,” Amon replied as he glanced at
Pekah.

Now satisfied, Jonathan remembered there was
still much to be done before the next day.

“Amon,” Jonathan began, “we’ll ride at the
first hour of light in the morning, with as many riders as you can
spare. I need some of Gideon’s faithful to identify those who
escaped. Tavor’s men and Ezra’s men ride with me also.”

“I’ll attach a company of fifty to your
contingent. Will that suffice? There cannot be more than twenty who
escaped.”

“I believe you’re right. Although Rezon’s
men have great skill riding in mountainous terrain, they should not
be able to get far on foot. And I have the best archers of Uzzah
with me.”

“Very well then, prepare your men, and fifty
riders of Gideon will join you. They’ll meet you in front of the
city gates at dawn.”

“Thank you, General.”

“No, thank you,” Amon answered. “Thank you
for living this wonderful dream of a new day with me and my people.
I’ve never had so much hope for the future.”

Jonathan shook the general’s hand as a
friend, and they parted.

Chapter 34

Matched

P
ekah wandered through the market, paying very little
attention to the street vendors around him. Instead, he watched
customers as they went about their business of choosing and
haggling. Weary from spending eight days in the Hara Mountains with
the cold ground for a bed and rations they rarely had time to warm
up, he looked forward to a hot meal and a proper place to sleep.
Once again he had been invited to stay with Eli’s family while in
Ramathaim—and recent experience had taught him never to turn down
the hospitality of Uzziel’s wife. Miriam was a fabulous
cook.

I should bring something
with me
, he thought. He spotted a fruit
and vegetable stand nearby that looked promising. After weaving
between customers, he intended to survey the two well-organized
racks, but his gaze locked on a large bin next to them, filled to
overflowing with what looked to be fresh almonds.

Picking one up, he got the attention of the
vendor, who brushed off his hands on a white apron. “Are the
almonds from last year’s harvest?”

“No, these are the first fruits, just
brought in from Karmel. They’re wonderful. Would you like a
sample?”

“Please.”

The vendor dropped an almond into a slot
between four sticks that had been banded together on one end, then
gave the bundle a twist. The shell cracked easily. He tapped out a
perfect, undamaged nut, handing it to Pekah.

Still chewing on the delicious almond, Pekah
covered his mouth and said, “I’ll take two solars’ worth, please.”
As he handed the man his coins, Pekah looked up to see Abigail
across the street, her back to him. “Thank you, but could I have
one more solar’s worth, please?”

The man obliged, and Pekah thanked him as he
gripped his treasures, hurrying to be sure he wouldn’t lose Abigail
in the crowd. He approached her from the side, giving her the
opportunity to see him coming. Pekah didn’t want to surprise her.
Although they had talked several times since the day Jonathan and
Eli had literally raised him from the dead, he still felt a little
uneasy around her, and expected her feelings were much the
same.

“Hello, Abigail,” he said, catching her
attention.

“Captain Pekah. Good afternoon.”

Pekah wished she wouldn’t be so formal with
him. But he glanced down at his chest and realized he was still
wearing armor, and his sword was strapped to his belt, both of
which made him look very official. A dusty spot on his sleeve
caught his eye, and he brushed it off. Then he remembered that it
had been two days since he had been able to bathe, and he suddenly
felt very self-conscious, even wishing he hadn’t approached her. He
looked back to see she held a bulky reed basket on her shoulder,
balancing it with both hands. It appeared to be heavy.

“Could I help you with that?”

“I can manage,” she said flatly.

“I didn’t mean to insinuate that you
couldn’t,” he said quickly. “I’m sorry.”

She held his gaze for a moment, her eyes
searching his. She smiled. “Actually, it would be a help.”

Pekah grinned, handing her the two bags of
almonds in trade for the basket. It was heavier than it looked.
“Shopping for rocks?” he teased as he followed her down the
street.

“Iron shot from the catapults. Mementos. I
wanted a few for doorstops.”

Taken aback, Pekah looked sideways at the
Gideonite woman, studying her expression. At first she appeared to
be serious, but then her lip quivered in an effort to suppress a
grin. She broke out into a wide smile.

Pekah laughed. “You had me believing
you.”

“I did?”

“Yes. Because of the weight of the basket, I
wasn’t about to doubt you.”

“It’s only peaches. And some bread. The
bread doesn’t weigh much.”

“Maybe I’m just weak.”

Abigail smiled at him again, but didn’t say
anything. Now out of the market, they continued to walk down the
sloping street toward the residential areas. Pekah wondered where
they were going, suspecting that they were headed to Uzziel’s
place. But when they came to the first intersection, Abigail
turned, and Pekah followed.

“Tavor and Sarah’s home?” he asked.

“Yes. Rachel and I are going to help Sarah
prepare the fruit. She has a large drying rack and plenty of
storage. Besides, with you and Eli returning today, I didn’t want
to be underfoot.”

Pekah suddenly felt uncomfortable, wondering
if Abigail was avoiding him. He could feel his face turn red, and
was glad she didn’t seem to notice. He chose to change the subject.
“How do you like it here in Ramathaim?”

Abigail looked around as if admiring the
architecture. “It’s very beautiful here. And the weather is
nice.”

Pekah nodded. “I agree. It feels like home,
but still has its own character.” He paused to move the basket to
his other shoulder, then increased his pace to keep up. Rounding a
corner, they arrived at Tavor’s home. Sarah peeked out from a
window as they approached. Before they even passed under the simple
arch that linked two sides of the low, stone wall around the modest
property, Sarah opened the front door to greet them.

“Here, let me take that, Pekah,” she
said.

Pekah didn’t argue. He helped Sarah to
shoulder the basket. She then scurried into the house. Abigail
turned and handed the two bags of almonds to him. As she did, he
caught the faint scent of lavender on her hands.

“Thank you,” she said.

“It was my pleasure.
Besides, it’s not every day I get the chance to walk with a
beautiful lady of Gideon.” As soon as the words slipped out of his
mouth, he regretted them.
She’s going to
be offended by my forwardness
, he thought.
He could still smell the perfume.

Her reaction surprised him. She smiled,
kindness in her eyes. He gulped, quite uncomfortable. “Oh, I almost
forgot! These are for you.” Pekah extended his arm, the small bag
of almonds in his hand.

“Thank you, Pekah.” She took the bag and
held it close to her chest. She held his eyes for a moment, her
expression far more pleasant than the feeling in Pekah’s stomach—as
though he had just been kicked by his horse. He felt a sudden urge
to be on his way.

Abigail turned as if to head into the house,
but paused and looked back over her shoulder. “Jasher was right to
have liked you.” She then hurried in and shut the door.

Pekah stood there for a
moment, amazed.
Why did she say
that?
Replaying the words in his mind,
hearing again the tone of her voice, and visualizing the friendly
expression on her face—he realized her statement was a hint that
she liked him too.

Leaving, Pekah’s step was light, his body
full of energy. As he walked, he whistled.

* * *

Cool morning breezes fluttered down upon the
broad canopy that had been erected next to the garden fount, ready
to be the focal point of the marriage celebration. The fountain
jumped and gurgled, and some of the spray drifted into the orchids
that were lined up behind it, giving them an occasional wind-blown
sip. Jonathan’s gaze lifted to just behind the beautiful flowers,
and he saw the courtyard wall of the Temple of Sacrifice: tall,
white, and brilliant in the morning suns-light.

Rachel placed her hand on Jonathan’s arm
affectionately as they sat together on a bench enjoying the fresh
air together. Jonathan held her hand tight.

“Look!” Rachel said, pointing to a songbird
that settled into an almond tree nearby. Moving to a higher perch,
it started to sing.

Utter contentment radiated from Rachel’s
face, drawing Jonathan in. His gaze remained affixed to the lines
of her face and her soft, brown eyes, rendering him almost
breathless at her beauty. Feeling peaceful, he kissed her softly on
the forehead and put an arm around her shoulder, watching the
orchids sway in the breeze.

His mind drifted for a moment to dwell on
the taxing and unsuccessful excursions to find Rezon and his men.
They had spent days in the mountains of Hara. His troops had gone
not once, but three times in the last month. Signs of the fugitives
had been sparse, and Rezon’s followers—most of them from
Gideon—were well acquainted with mountaineering. Jonathan wondered
if they would ever be found. Catching himself, he put thoughts of
disappointment away. He just had to believe that Rezon would
eventually be found and brought to justice.

Thinking of more positive things, he
mentally reviewed reports from Amon and Mehida, who just had
returned to Ramathaim from the mountains of Gideon, bearing tidings
of the successful creation of their new council. They had brought
with them an old man, a goatherd named Eder. When Jonathan was
introduced to him at the home of Uzziel, all four of them,
including Pekah, were in complete agreement. Eder was undoubtedly
the right man to fill the final council seat being offered to
Gideon—unpretentious, never in a hurry to speak his mind, and
rarely eloquent when he did so, but full of proper respect for all
the tribes. Prejudice did not exist in any fiber of his makeup.

Instantly drawn to the man, Jonathan
marveled at Eder’s optimism. Eder was blind, and yet, he had
immense vision. It only took five minutes of conversation for
Jonathan to see there was no guile in this simple goatherd.

When Jonathan found out that Eder was a
widower, his invitation became more than just a seat around the
council table of Hasor. Eder had no living children to care for,
and his meager existence was hardly sufficient to allow him to
travel to and from Hasor as needs would arise, especially since an
escort would be needed each time.

Therefore, Jonathan offered the old man a
room in his own home, the palace of Hasor, and complete freedom to
come and go as he pleased. Eder graciously accepted. The best part
of Jonathan’s kind offer was Rachel’s reaction—she was thrilled
with the arrangement.

Jonathan smiled at the memory. Her
compassion for others had always warmed his heart, and this part of
her personality was one of the many reasons he looked forward to
spending a lifetime with her at his side. No man would ever have a
brighter jewel for his treasure than this woman would be for him.
Everything felt so perfect. Peace. Friends. Rachel.

“Where are you?” Rachel asked.

“I’m sorry. Just thinking about things.”

“Our marriage tomorrow?” Rachel asked,
teasing.

“Yes,” Jonathan said with a smile. “Of
course. And reflecting on everything that has been accomplished in
such a short time. I’m pleased that Amon and Mehida have returned
to share our joyful occasion. And the Council Hall of Hasor will,
for the first time, be honored by the presence of Gideon within its
walls. All these things give me peace—I think they will allow me to
truly enjoy our day to its fullest.”

Rachel laid her head on Jonathan’s shoulder.
“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The sound of sandals upon the cobbled garden
path caught their attention. Rachel ran to greet Abigail as she
approached.

“Abigail! Good morning!” The two women
embraced warmly.

Now standing next to Rachel, Jonathan dipped
his head toward Abigail. “Peace to you, daughter of Gideon.”

“And to you, Jonathan.” Abigail hesitated.
“I’m looking for Pekah. Have you seen him?”

“Not this morning. Have you checked with the
guards of the gatehouse? He has spent a lot of time out in the
hills lately.”

“I have . . .” Abigail replied in a
distracted manner. She glanced over her shoulder as if expecting
Pekah to be there.

Rachel’s brow furrowed. “Is something
wrong?”

Abigail looked away again. Jonathan sensed
she wished he wasn’t there. “No. I just need to talk to him. I’ll
keep looking, thank you.”