by V. M. Franck
Two days later, morning dawned to a crystalline sky. A breeze drifted in through the window of Maria's seaside cottage, one she insisted Ruth and John use for their wedding holiday. Yeshua and Maria were staying at Maria's estate in Magdela.
Ruth awoke to see the eyes of her beloved closed, his face sideways against the pillow. Watching him take a breath, she saw it escape. He opened his eyes. Silently, he pulled her to him, her skin against his, her heart thumping with his. There was a gentleness to his hands, as though he had always known how to touch a woman. He caressed a large breast and then the other. He slipped his fingers over satiny skin and along her abdomen. There was wonder in his eyes, joy and building passion.
No one had told him how it would be, how different a woman's body could feel from his own. He relished it. After extended lovemaking, they slept.
Ruth roused to voices outside the cottage and peered through a window. Two children stood on the sand at water's edge, a boy and a girl of eleven or twelve.
The girl stood firm, facing him, her arms crossed over her chest.
"No," she said. "I'm not going to do that. You can't make me."
"You are female. You will do as I say."
"No, I won't. You're no smarter than me. You're no better than me. I am my own person. I will do what I want."
"It's a sin, and you know it."
"No, it isn't. The sin, the one true sin, my mother tells me is to violate who I am because someone else tells me to. She says you can lose yourself that way, and that women have been doing that for way too long. I'm not going to lose myself, not for you or anybody."
"It's the other way around. God is over man. Man is over woman. If you don't follow the law, you lose your soul. Women who don't submit are stoned."
"How mean. God would never do that. God isn't mean. God is wise. Men aren't," the girl said. "I will follow God, but I will not follow you."
The boy huffed away. The girl crouched on the sand and seemed to examine some shells.
John rolled onto his back and began snoring softly. Ruth dressed quickly and left the house, finding the girl kneeling on the sand. Her chest was heaving. Tears trickled along her cheeks.
"The shells are pretty, aren't they?" Ruth said. She picked up one shaped like a sun hat and pretended to examine it.
"Yes," the girl managed. "This is my favorite place. I find the prettiest shells here in this very spot. I make them into necklaces and bracelets." Self-consciously she wiped her tears and pulled a necklace from beneath her tunic.
"It's beautiful."
"Thank you. I sell them at the market. My father died two years ago in an uprising. It's been hard since then. Uncle Joseph is supposed to help us, but Aunt Sarah nags him, so he doesn't do much."
"There's no one else to help?"
"My big brother, Jed, was helping us, but he died last spring of the fever."
"How many are in your family?"
"Me, my little brother, Jacob, and Mother."
"How about grandparents?"
"They died before I was born."
"Do you have a place to live?"
"We've been staying with my betrothed. But they treat us, especially Mother, like slaves. We don't have enough to eat. So I make necklaces."
"Where's your mother now?"
"Over there," the girl said, pointing down the shoreline, "washing clothes."
Ruth walked with the girl toward her mother. The wind picked up, bringing a bite to the air.
"What's your name? Mine is Ruth."
"Melanie. My betrothed says I have to change it. He says it's not a proper name. I told him he's wrong. My father gave me that name, and I'm not going to change it. We had a big fight." She huddled to herself, her head down, watching sand pass beneath her feet. "I'm scared."
"Are you worried his family might kick you out?"
"Yes, and it'll be my fault."
"Things have a way of working out. God has ways."
"That's what Mother says. But I don't see how."
A woman approached Melanie's mother. The conversation became animated. They were too far away for Ruth to hear what was being said. By the time she and Melanie reached Melanie's mother, the other woman was gone. Melanie's mother squatted on the sand and began rocking back and forth. Nearby a young child slept.
"Oh, Melanie. What are we to do?" the woman said, cautiously eying Ruth.
"Did Rebekah kick us out because of what I said to Samuel?"
"Yes. She told me I should rebuke you, beat you into submission. I refused. Now we have no place, no place at all. She brought our things."
A small bag lay beside her.
Ruth took the woman's hands and raised her to her feet.
"You can come back to the cottage with me. My husband and I will help."
The woman looked uncertain, a proud woman stripped to nothing.
Ruth picked up the sleeping child, a boy of nearly three. He stirred but did not waken. "Please, come with me. We will figure it out."
"Thank you, but I...."
"The One has ways. You'll see. We'll help you find what's right for you. My name is Ruth."
"I'm Mariam." She picked up the bundle and the basket of wet clothes and walked with her daughter and Ruth toward the cottage.
"My husband and I just got married. We are here on a holiday."
"Are you the rich lady who owns this place?" Mariam asked.
"She's my sister-in-law. She just knew John and I had to stay here for a few days, even though we protested. Now I know why. Like I said, there are ways."
They arrived at the cottage. Ruth lay the boy on the grass under a tree.
"I'll go see if John is awake." She eased open the door and slipped inside, finding him still asleep. Gently she touched him.
"Ah, Ruthie, you do look good this morning and smelling of the sea. Come share some of it with me." He took her hand and pulled her toward him.
"John, we have guests."
"Guests?" He raised on his elbows and looked around. "I don't see anybody."
"Outside." She told him of the encounters.
"It's not really our problem, Ruthie. This is our holiday. It can wait until next week."
"No, it can't. These three people need help. Next week isn't soon enough."
"Ah, Ruthie, you're right, I guess. It's just that I want you all to myself. From what I see coming, it won't be long until that's impossible."
"These people were put in our path, John."
"In your path."
"Okay, my path. I'm going to do something about it."
"Like what?"
"Take them to Maria. She'll have work for them or know someone else who does. This girl and her mother believe women are people, not goats or cattle. They can help us teach it. They could be just what we need."
"Other souls to promote the cause?"
"Yes. Why don't you get dressed? I'll go tell them what we have planned."
"And what is that again?" He rubbed his eyes and sat up.
"To take them to Maria and Yeshua." She slipped outside.
Forlorn, Mariam, Melanie and Jacob sat crossed legged under the tree next to the water.
Mariam said, "I didn't mean to cause you and your husband trouble."
"No, trouble," Ruth said. "Have you eaten breakfast?"
The three stared at her.
"Okay," Ruth said. "I'll fix breakfast and then we'll go to Maria's. Like I said, there are ways. It's up to us to see that they work."