My Enemy, My Love (Truly Yours Digital Editions) Page 4

  “My lady.” Barak almost choked on the title. “Your father sent me to see you safely to the market.”

  It wasn’t a lie exactly. Surely it was the Lord who had led him to that alley this morning, and even Samaritans claimed Abraham as their father.

  Anna’s mouth had dropped open at his announcement. Now she lifted puzzled, searching eyes to his face.

  Barak squeezed her arm ever so slightly, his glance flicking to the side. The confusion never left her face, but she was obedient to Barak’s urging as he pulled her forward.

  A look behind told Barak that they were being followed. He lowered his voice until it was a mere whisper.

  “Those two men are not beggars. I will explain as soon as I get you out of here.”

  Barak had presumed that the two would give up their chase when the market came into view, but they showed no signs of doing anything of the kind. He took them on a meandering course, thinking that he could shake them in the crowds, but no matter how hard he tried, Barak couldn’t lose them. Finally, he pulled Anna into the Court of Gentiles and mingled with the crowds gathered there. He saw Kasim and Uzzah follow, but the crowds were so thick the two couldn’t locate Barak and Anna immediately.

  Barak watched the two as they moved among the people, searching.

  “What is happening?”

  His look focused on Anna mere seconds before returning to their pursuers.

  “Shhh. I’ll tell you later. Just do as I say.”

  Anna’s lips set mutinously. “I won’t do anything you say, nor go any farther with you until I know what is going on.”

  Angrily, Barak jerked his head toward Kasim. “Do you see those two men?”

  She scrutinized the people coming and going before she finally caught sight of Kasim. Her eyes went wide. “The beggars. They followed us?” she questioned, studying the two from the concealment of the group of pilgrims gathered around the rabbi.

  “They intend to abduct you.”

  Her mouth dropped open and she turned puzzled eyes to Barak. “That’s ridiculous! How do they even know who I am? And why should they wish to kidnap me? And how do you know such a thing?”

  Ignoring her for the moment, Barak saw the two men slip to the entrance and take up guard.

  “Thunder! Now we will never get by them!”

  Anna jerked her arm from his punishing grip. “Barak. Tell me what is going on!” she demanded, rubbing the spot where she knew bruises would appear by morning. She knew Barak had no idea that he was hurting her. His attention had been solely on the two beggars.

  “Stay here,” he hissed. She watched him as he slipped away to get a closer look at the two. His dark beard was attractive against his swarthy skin, and although he looked much like any of the other Jews surrounding the area, his size distinguished him from others. It was no wonder the two beggars had not accosted him when he took her from their presence, at least if what he had said was true. It would take someone of stronger character than those two appeared to have to tangle with such a muscular specimen of manhood.

  Barak returned to her side. “Come with me.”

  They wandered around the swarming, chattering people until they were not far from the gate. Barak opened his mouth to say something, when suddenly two other men appeared at Kasim’s side. They whispered together furiously, Kasim gesticulating madly.

  Anna drew in her breath sharply, and Barak turned to her, lifting one brow in question.

  “That’s Micah. He is a servant in my aunt’s house.”

  Barak’s lips pulled down into a frown. He looked around at the large group of people, thinking. Finally he spotted someone he knew, and an idea began to form in his mind.

  “Stay here,” he told Anna again. “And stay out of sight.”

  She watched him slip unobtrusively among the crowd until he was at the side of a young man. They greeted each other warmly, clasping forearms. Barak began talking quickly and the other young man’s eyes went to the ragtag group at the gate. Even from that distance Anna could see the young man’s eyes darken. Nodding his head, he moved toward the group while Barak returned to her side.

  “Come on.”

  “Where are we going? What are you going to do?” she asked as he pulled her hurriedly along.

  “Just do as I tell you, okay?”

  She wanted to argue, but she bit her lip firmly instead. Why she should trust this Jew when he so obviously despised her was something she couldn’t fathom. Still, trust him she did, even though she had known Micah far longer. It was hard to believe that her aunt’s servant meant any harm to her.

  They were hidden behind a group of people who were about to exit the Temple area. As they drew closer to the gate, Anna noticed the young Jew Barak had been speaking with move closer to the beggars. His eyes briefly met Barak’s, and at a nod the young Jew began to berate Kasim in a loud, angry voice.

  Immediately, people began turning their way and Anna could see Kasim and his friends draw closer together as they began to argue back with the Jew. The opening this interchange had created allowed Barak the time he needed to slip through the gate unnoticed.

  He quickly put distance between them and those at the Temple, hurrying them along the still crowded streets. Finally, Anna could stand it no longer. Jerking her arm from his grasp, she turned suspicious eyes to her would-be rescuer.

  Her face wrinkled into confusion. “I don’t understand any of this.”

  Barak sighed, rubbing a hand around to the back of his neck in agitation. “Look. It has to do with Amman. But we can’t stop now for me to explain it all.”

  At the name of the Arab, Anna’s face went pale. “What about Amman?”

  “I overheard him plotting with those two beggars in the market. From what I can tell, he’s paying those two to abduct you. He needs your father’s money, and since you obviously decided not to marry him, he determined to get it another way.”

  “You heard him say this?”

  “I did.”

  He studied her a long time before turning away. It was obvious that she didn’t altogether trust him, and in reality she had no reason to do so. Even now Barak wondered what had come over him.

  As he turned from her, Anna could see the same puzzlement she was feeling mirrored in Barak’s eyes. She laid a hand gently against his, and seemingly of its own volition his own hand turned and curled around hers for a moment before he dropped her fingers as though they had burned him.

  “Thank you, again,” she told him softly. “Twice you have saved my life.”

  He turned back to her, and she could tell he was angry. “I haven’t saved you yet. You need to decide whether you wish my help or not.”

  It was obvious that he wanted nothing to do with her. She should just turn and walk away. Hurt, she turned from him, looking back the way they had come. “Can’t we return to my aunt’s villa? My aunt will take care of me.”

  “Amman is an evil man,” he told her seriously. “I would not trust your aunt’s ability to care for you against someone such as he. It might be safer for all of you, your aunt and cousin as well, if you don’t return there.”

  Anna felt her stomach tighten. Surely her aunt and Pisgah would come to no harm. Surely Amman’s power didn’t extend that far. Still, there was always that chance. She had heard stories of Amman through others, but her father had called them preposterous lies. Anna believed every one of them.

  “What can we do?”

  Barak turned to face her. “I have an idea, but you will have to trust me.”

  Anna sighed, her shoulders drooping. There was too much happening too fast, and she was unable to think clearly. Her eyes lifted to his in bewilderment, but she could read nothing in his face. It was as though it was carved of granite.

  “What would you have me do?”

  She saw his shoulders relax. “Come with me.”

  Barak led her among the winding streets until he reached a poorer section of the city. He was almost sure Kasim wouldn’t follow them
here. He would probably expect Anna to return to the villa.

  Anna trailed him to an abandoned house. Barak glanced furtively behind them until he was sure they were not being followed. Quickly, he slipped to the back of the house.

  “I will hide you here until I can return for you. Give me time, but know that I will return.”

  Anna shivered as she peered into the unused cistern he indicated. The walls were still sturdy, but beginning to crumble around the edges. “In there?”

  He nodded, awaiting her decision. Again their eyes met. Could she really trust him? The hatred of the Jewish people toward the Samaritans was well defined. Had been for years. Still, there was something in his eyes that spoke to her soul. Anna was the first to look away. “As you wish.”

  Barak helped her into the small well. “No one will bother you here. This was my uncle Simon’s house many years ago. He still owns it, but he never comes here, so it is considered abandoned. You will be safe until I return.”

  His head disappeared before she could respond. Crossing her arms, she began rubbing them, although it was far from cold. It suddenly occurred to her that since Barak was a Jew, he might well have plotted this whole thing. Jews had been killing Samaritans for many years now, and vice versa. But their war was not her war. She wanted only to live in peace. Groaning, she dropped to the ground. “Oh, Jesus. Master. Help me.”

  ❧

  When Barak returned to the marketplace, he could find no sign of Kasim. He made his way through the gate into the Court of Gentiles and found Bashan waiting for him.

  “You were able to get away with the girl?”

  Barak had neglected to inform his friend that Anna was a Samaritan or more than likely he would have had the same reaction as Barak had to begin with. Even now it was incredible to him how his opinion had been altering as he tried to help the girl.

  “I did. Where are the others?”

  Nodding his head, Barak followed the direction of Bashan’s gaze. Micah and the other one that had come with him were mingling among the crowd. There was no sign of Kasim.

  “Where is the Arab?”

  Bashan grinned. “He was forced to flee when the crowd turned on him.”

  “What did you say that caused such a reaction?”

  The grin spread and brown eyes sparkled. “I accused his friend of leprosy and trying to hide it beneath his rags. He made haste to remove the rags, but when the people saw that he wasn’t really a cripple, they became even more angry. Never have I seen two men move so fast.”

  Barak clutched his friend’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. Now I will see what I can do to help the girl.”

  “Do you need any more help? Is there someone we should tell?”

  Barak shook his head. “No, leave it to me. But if you would, keep an eye on those two. I will return this way soon to see what they are doing.”

  Barak left the Temple area and made his way quickly toward the Upper City. He didn’t understand what drove him on, but a voice inside his head kept spurring him forward. For some reason, he had to help Anna.

  When he reached the walls of the Upper City, there was no sign of Kasim. Barak made his way to the gate of Tirinus’s house, or according to Anna, her aunt’s.

  He peeked in the gate and saw the boy Micah pacing in the courtyard. Jerking back, Barak quickly turned and hurried away before he could be seen. Now what? Who on earth could he go to for help? How far did the Arab’s influence extend?

  He needed to hurry. He couldn’t leave the girl in the cistern long. He had hated to leave her there in the first place, but he knew that except for Kasim and his friend, no one knew who he was. He could move more easily on his own.

  Forget going to Uncle Simon for help. He would take one look at the girl and know that she was a Samaritan and then all the heavens would break open. No, far better for him to do this on his own.

  As he was passing the Antonia fortress, Barak spotted Kasim among a group of soldiers. They were listening to him intently, nodding as he handed each man a coin. Barak leaned back against the wall, trying to decide his next move. There was no telling what arrangements the Arab had made with the Roman guards. He would have to move carefully.

  Hastening back the way he came, he dodged among the throngs of people still on the streets. As he flew along, he was devising a plan, but he would have to enlist his mother’s assistance. He only hoped that she would understand, because he knew that Uncle Simon would not.

  The sun was growing lax in the sky as he finally reached his destination. Dusk was fast approaching and the first day of Passover was nearing an end. The others would expect him to return soon for the evening meal. His stomach rumbled loudly at the thought and he realized that he hadn’t eaten since early morning.

  He crossed to the well, leaned over the side, and peered into the darkness. The well was completely empty.

  Four

  As Anna watched Barak disappear, she felt a terrible sense of dread. What if he didn’t return? She felt abandoned, much like this old well.

  She offered up a prayer for her own safety and the safety of those of her aunt’s house. Then, while she was at it, she offered one for Barak as well. If Amman ever found out about the young Jew, there was no telling what might happen.

  Drawing her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them and buried her head in her tunic. Aunt Bithnia would be appalled if she could see Anna now, her tunic torn and dirty.

  Sniffing back tears, Anna berated herself for leaving her aunt’s house without an escort. Pisgah had come down with some stomach ailment, and now Anna wondered if that might have been deliberate. Her eyes grew dark with suppressed fury when she thought of her young cousin in so much pain, knowing that it could have been planned so that she, Anna, would go to the marketplace on her own.

  She remembered, now, that Micah had offered to go with her. Shivering at the thought of what might have happened if she hadn’t slipped out unobserved, she threw back her head and glared at the sky overhead.

  “Protect them, Lord. Your power is greater than Amman’s.”

  How long she sat there among the coolness of the cistern she had no idea, but she was beginning to grow alarmed. The sun was descending rapidly and the well was growing colder by the minute. She shivered. Had something happened to Barak? Maybe this had been a plan after all between he and Amman.

  No, she could not believe that. His eyes were too open, too honest. It just couldn’t be. But then again she would have said the same of Micah.

  For a moment she grew still as she thought she heard the sound of voices close beside her. Listening carefully, she strained to hear any sign of human occupation. The only sound that drifted back to her was the shrill calls of the kites as they circled overhead.

  Before long she did, indeed, hear voices. From the sound of it, there were two men close by. She couldn’t discern what they were saying, only the sound of the voices.

  She didn’t realize that she was holding her breath until the voices grew fainter and she let it out in a rush. She had been hoping that it was Barak, and now that she knew it was not, the tears began to come. Rubbing at them angrily, she picked up a rock from beside her and threw it against the cistern wall. A shower of rock and dirt rained down upon her and she covered her head with her arms.

  “Foolish well,” she cried.

  A moment later two bearded faces peered over the sides of the well. Alarmed, Anna could only stare open-mouthed as a large man frowned down at her. He looked to be in his late fifties, but he had the build of a much younger man.

  The man beside him was slightly younger, his brown hair graying at the temples. Both men tried to peer past the gloom to get a good look at her.

  “What are you about, woman? Come out of there.”

  Realizing there was nothing else she could do, Anna got to her feet and allowed the men to lift her out.

  “Do you know her, Simon?” the younger man asked.

  “I have never seen her before in my li
fe, Ahaz.” Turning back to the girl, he studied her thoroughly. His eyes missed little in their inspection and his voice gentled.

  “You wear the Star of David. You are a Jew. How come you to be here?”

  Anna wondered how to explain her presence. She cast about in her mind for some explanation that would seem feasible.

  Simon studied the girl, her head down-bent. It was obvious that she was not destitute. Although her tunic was torn and ragged, it was of fine quality. He frowned again. Something was not right here. And how had the girl gotten into the cistern in the first place?

  Anna knew that if she lifted her eyes these men would know at once that she was a Samaritan. Her necklace proclaimed her Hebrew heritage, but she was not a Jew and these men would know it. Just as Barak had.

  She realized that wearing her necklace brought her trouble with the Jewish community, but it was a favorite of hers given to her by her father many years ago. Now she regretted the desire to wear it among the crowds of Jerusalem.

  Although her father was Samaritan, he was not held in high esteem by the leaders of Sychar. They considered themselves God’s chosen people, but they forgot how in times past they had prostituted themselves with Gentiles of captivity. When Sargon the Second deported most of the Jews living in Samaria, Gentile captives were brought in to settle the region. Anna had no doubt that that was where her unusual eye coloring had come from. The Jews of Jerusalem despised the Samaritans, and the feeling was surely mutual.

  But her father was a merchant, and a wealthy one at that, and he had learned over the years to recognize people as people and not nationalities. He showed no discrimination among any of the people he served. Amman was evidence of that. Her father would buy and trade with any who chose to do so. She was proud of him for this.

  “Girl?”

  The brusque question brought her back to the present.

  “I am sorry, sir. I wanted only to be alone for a time. I did not know there was anyone living here.”

  Simon cleared his throat and studied the down-bent head. “It is of no matter. You were right, there is no one who lives here now. However, my friend here was thinking of buying it as a wedding present for his daughter. Tell me, would a woman find favor in such a house?”