No Woman So Fair

by Gilbert, Morris

  Many of the memories were fleeting, but he discovered the clearest, most vivid, and most pleasing of all were those that involved Zara. As he sat there quietly with the stars beginning to dot the ebony dome overhead, he went back to the time he had first met her, a frightened child—frightened of him as well as every other man. But he remembered how she had lost her fear of him quickly and how she had clung to him as her only solid portion of the world. She had been such a sweet girl, anxious to please, and his heart had gone out to her from the first. He recalled how many times during her growing-up years she had come to him with one of the fears young girls have and how he had been able to comfort her. He continued to review those times, thinking how she had seemingly overnight become a beautiful young woman instead of the leggy girl, awkward and unsure of herself.

  His thoughts were interrupted as she appeared unexpectedly to his right, from where her tent was located.

  “You’re still awake?” she whispered.

  “Yes. Can’t sleep. Sit beside me.”

  Zara at once sat down beside him, and he could smell her fragrance. He did not know what she used to make herself smell so fresh and pleasant in this hot climate.

  For a long time the two sat there, neither saying anything. Finally he turned and studied her face, which was three-quarters turned toward him as she regarded the camp. He was gripped by the ivory shading of her skin and the gentle turn of her lips. Her black hair was free and cascaded down her back. The silver moonlight spilled over the full, soft lines of her body, and then she turned to him and smiled. A small dimple appeared at the left of her mouth. He admired the will and the pride that showed itself in her eyes, her lips, and her carriage.

  As he sat there admiring her, Eliezer felt something begin to grow within him. Part of it was a recognition of how much of his life was tied up in this woman who sat beside him. He knew there was a fire in her that made her lovely, and within her was a rich quality often hidden behind the cool reserve. The feeling grew, and he knew now that he had thought of her as a child for a long time but that this was wrong. Now he saw her as a woman, and he suddenly felt the strange things a man feels when he looks upon beauty and desires it for himself.

  Zara turned and looked him full in the face, a provocative look in her eyes. Something had touched her. Her breath came quicker, and color ran freshly across her cheeks. And then, without intending to do such a thing, his mind broke through a barrier that had been there for a long time. It came as a shock to him, and he thought, Why, I’ve been waiting for this all my life! He reached over and took her hand, and then when she turned more fully toward him, he put his hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. “I nearly died, Zara. I would have if it hadn’t been for you.”

  Zara saw something in Eliezer that brought a stillness to her. She found it difficult to breathe. She had loved this man for so long, yet he had never returned her love in the same way. Now something in his eyes held her, and she knew that what she saw there was not created by her wishful thinking. “What is it, Eliezer?”

  Eliezer was basically a lonely man, and as he studied Zara’s face, he saw a quiet waiting, as if in anticipation. He stood poised and balanced. The step that he considered could change his life forever, and yet he knew what he had to do. A recklessness came over him, and he reached forward and slowly pulled her to him, waiting for her to resist. If she had, he would have been forever silent about the thing that he felt in his heart. But she did not pull away. He lowered his head and kissed her. Her lips were soft beneath his own, and it was with a shock that he realized, This is right!

  As for Zara, she sensed Eliezer’s desires. She reveled in the strength of his arms and the demand of his lips. She put herself against him, and her arms went around his neck, pulling him ever closer. She had loved him for so long, and now she knew she would never again be to him a small girl or a leggy adolescent but a woman, full of the things a mature woman brings to the man she loves.

  Lifting his head, Eliezer whispered, “I love you, Zara, and I want you to be my wife.”

  The words fell on Zara’s ears, and a joy she had never known seized her. She put her hands on his cheeks, holding his face, and said, “Of course, Eliezer. I’ve always loved you.”

  And then Eliezer gave a glad cry and pulled her to him. It hurt the wound in his chest, but he did not care. For a long time he simply held her, inhaling the fragrance of her hair. And then he whispered, “I feel like a man who’s just come in from a long, tiring journey. You’re all I ever want, Zara!”

  And then Zara knew that she too had come home. She felt the tears in her eyes and could not speak. She clung to him, knowing this man was hers, and he was all she would ever need.

  Chapter 34

  Eliezer’s recovery seemed tied to his joy in his newfound love for Zara. Of course, he quickly realized his love for her was not all that new—rather he had finally released the love he had denied for many years. As the days passed and he grew stronger physically, things began to come together in his mind, and one day he spoke to Zara of the things on his heart.

  The two of them were walking along the edges of the small stream that fed the flocks. They both breathed in the spongy odors of spring. The season of renewal had come almost with a single bound, and the two were pleased with the birds, their morning twitter and clatter, their shrill cries and whistle notes. Zara ran ahead and pulled up a tiny yellow flower and came back smiling to share it with him. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Not as beautiful as another thing or two I might mention.”

  Zara laughed. “I’ve never seen a man change so much.”

  “Have I really changed?”

  “Yes, and for the better.”

  Eliezer put his hands on her shoulders and gazed into her eyes. The brook whispered as it fell over rocks, and the sun played a game of hide-and-seek from behind clouds that drifted in from the north. “It doesn’t seem to me that I’ve changed a great deal.”

  “Oh, you’re still the same man—the kindest man I’ve ever known.”

  “But you haven’t known many men,” he said, smiling.

  She reached up and pulled his hair. He winced and shook his head. “You’ve got a cruel streak in you,” he said, laughing. “Here I am being romantic and tender, and you pull my hair.”

  Zara flashed him a brilliant smile. “You’ll have to take me just as I am.”

  “I suppose I will. No other man would have you the way I’ve raised you. Spoiled to the bone!”

  As they walked on, talking foolishly and laughing at nothing, Eliezer said, “We need to marry right away.”

  Pleased at his eagerness, Zara said, “No, I’m going to make you wait awhile.”

  “Wait awhile! What for?”

  “Well, you’ve made me wait for years. It won’t hurt you to wait a few weeks.” She saw the expression in his face and smiled. “Maybe not so long, but we’ll have a big celebration. Sarah and Abraham both want to show how much they love us. Especially you.”

  “All right, but let’s not wait too long. I don’t think I could stand it!”

  ****

  Growing up in a land of little water, Isaac loved any kind of it, so he had been excited when Ishmael allowed him to come with him to the river. The two had spent the earliest part of the morning fishing and had caught several small fish. Isaac was often reserved around Ishmael because he did not know his older brother very well, but today he was joyful and talkative.

  As the sun rose in the sky, Ishmael jumped up and called out, “Come on. Let’s go swimming!”

  “Oh no, you go—I don’t want to.”

  “Oh, don’t be so quarrelsome, Isaac. Every time I suggest anything, you say no.”

  “No, I don’t. I came fishing with you, didn’t I?”

  “Well, swim with me now. It’ll feel good.”

  Isaac liked to be near the water but not in it. Ishmael, he knew, was an expert swimmer, but he himself had gone under once six months earlier, and the wat
er rushing into his nose and mouth had terrified him. He still had bad dreams about it.

  “You don’t have to get out far,” Ishmael assured him. “Just enough to cool off.”

  Isaac continued to resist, and finally Ishmael shouted, “Well, if you’re going to be that kind of a baby, you’ll not go fishing with me again!”

  Taken aback by the young man’s threat, Isaac acquiesced. “All right…but I don’t want to get out very deep.”

  With a yell, Ishmael plunged into the water, and Isaac stepped in with trepidation. He waded out as far as his knees and then sat down. He had to admit the water did feel good. It was cool, and he splashed and watched as Ishmael swam energetically back and forth in the river.

  Ishmael headed toward Isaac and said, “You need to learn how to swim.”

  “No, I don’t want to,” Isaac said, shaking his head vigorously.

  “Come on,” Ishmael said, a gleam in his eye. “You can’t swim in knee-deep water.” He grabbed Isaac and started dragging him out toward the center of the river. It was not a particularly fast river, but there were deep holes in it. Isaac began to cry and begged Ishmael, “Please let me go! I’m afraid of the water.”

  “You’ll never get over your fear if you don’t throw yourself into it. Come on. You’ll be all right. I’m right here.”

  Isaac protested vigorously, but Ishmael dragged him into the deeper water until the older boy himself was chest deep. “Now just lie on your back and float. I’ll hold you up.”

  Isaac was petrified that he couldn’t touch bottom. The water flowed around his face, spilling into his mouth as Ishmael held him up. “Please, Ishmael, take me back to the shore.”

  “No, you have to learn to swim. Here—” Ishmael reached down and caught Isaac under the knees and brought him up. The water splashed into Isaac’s face and went into his nose, and he gasped. “Please take me back!” he cried.

  “Don’t be such a baby. See? You float.” He laughed, and there was a triumphant note in the sound. “Now I’m going to let you go.”

  “No, don’t—” Isaac panicked as he felt Ishmael’s hands disappear. He sank at once and struggled to get his footing, but the water was over his head, and he held his breath until he splashed to the surface and then gurgled, “Ishmael, help me!”

  Ishmael, however, paddled away from Isaac, letting him flounder. “You’re all right,” he shouted. “Just paddle your arms and kick your feet.”

  By now Isaac had lost all sense of reason. His head dipped again, and as he sucked water into his lungs, black terror filled him. He tried to scream, but the water choked him, and he could only flounder.

  “Ishmael!”

  Ishmael turned to see Zara and Eliezer, who had come to the edge of the river. He saw the fury on both of their faces and then Zara plunged into the river, calling Isaac’s name. Ishmael’s face turned pale, and at once he made a wild grab for the younger boy. He caught Isaac’s arm, pulled him up, and struggled to get the boy’s head above water. He backstroked toward shore, pulling Isaac by his head and shoulders. By the time they neared the shore, Zara was there grabbing for Isaac.

  “He’s all right,” Ishmael cried out quickly.

  “All right? He was drowning, you fool! Were you trying to kill him?”

  Ishmael protested. “We were just swimming.”

  Zara paid him no heed, and when he tried to help her lift Isaac, she shoved him back. She turned to Eliezer, who was beside her now, and the two of them pulled the choking, gagging boy toward shore. They pulled him onto the bank, and Zara made him lie on his stomach. Her eyes were filled with anxiety as she pushed at the back of his shoulders.

  After spitting up water, Isaac gasped and shuddered, then lay panting and quietly crying.

  “Are you all right, Isaac?” Zara asked quietly into his ear.

  Isaac started to speak, and then he saw Ishmael, who had come to stand close. He turned and grabbed at Zara. “Don’t let him put me in the river again, Zara!”

  “I won’t. Ishmael, get out of here!” Zara demanded.

  “You can’t tell me what to do,” Ishmael said sullenly.

  Eliezer stepped forward and grabbed Ishmael by the arm. He was still weak from his recent injuries, but even so, his hands were strong. “You heard what Zara said—and you can be sure that I’m going to tell your father about this. I hope he beats you until you bleed! Now, get out of here!”

  Ishmael flushed. “You can’t talk to me like that!”

  “Oh yes I can.” Eliezer shoved the young man away, and Ishmael stumbled back, sprawling on the ground. He staggered up, his eyes flaring with anger, his face suffused with blood. He did not speak, but a murderous fury was clearly delineated on his face. He whirled and ran away without another word.

  “He’s gone now, Isaac. You don’t have to be afraid,” Zara said, holding the boy and smoothing his hair. “It’s all right.”

  “I don’t want to be around him anymore. I’m afraid of him,” Isaac cried, clinging to Zara.

  “You don’t have to be afraid, Isaac,” Eliezer said. “Just stay away from him. I’ll have a word with your father. That’ll put a stop to it.”

  ****

  Abraham stared at Zara, noting the anger in her face. He had listened as she and Eliezer told him what had happened.

  “I can’t believe Ishmael meant any harm,” Abraham said quietly.

  “I think Isaac would have drowned if we hadn’t come upon them,” Eliezer said. He wanted to say more, but the stricken look on Abraham’s face gave him pause. This was a man he loved more than any other man on earth. He knew also of Abraham’s great love for both his sons.

  “Ishmael is just rough,” Abraham said. “He doesn’t realize how strong he is.”

  “No, it’s more than that,” Zara protested. Ordinarily she would never have dreamed of confronting Abraham, whom she revered greatly. “If you had been there, sir, you would feel as I do. You need to keep those two separated.”

  Abraham sighed. “How can I do that?”

  “You must find a way,” Zara said and then fell silent, knowing she could say no more.

  “My advice is that you give Ishmael a good caning,” Eliezer said.

  “But—”

  “I know you love him, but he’s got a wild streak in him, and he needs to be brought up short. And I agree with Zara. Don’t let the two of them go out alone together.”

  Unconvinced, Abraham finally said, “I’ll have a word with Ishmael. I’m sure it was just one of those accidents that happen when boys play together.”

  Zara cast an incredulous look at Abraham. She could not believe Abraham would ignore such a plain, blunt warning! Without a word she turned and left the tent.

  Sarah, who had been listening to all of this, waited until the two had left and then said, “They’re right, husband.”

  Abraham turned toward her, deep pain in his eyes. “I just can’t believe Ishmael would deliberately try to harm Isaac.”

  Sarah then said firmly, “He is too rough, husband. I have worried about it many times. I want you to forbid him to take Isaac anywhere alone.”

  Abraham bowed his head and said heavily, “All right, Sarah. I will do that much.” He turned away, shoulders bowed, but Sarah was not happy. She knew Hagar’s disposition well, and it was clear to Sarah that she had passed on what was in her character to Ishmael. He was Abraham’s son, but it was Hagar’s blood that controlled this wild boy.

  Chapter 35

  Sarah was delighted when the two told her and Abraham of their desire to marry and Eliezer boldly declared his love for Zara. Sarah embraced them both, laughing with pleasure.

  Abraham was equally pleased, chuckling as he teased Eliezer. “She’s been bossing you around since she was a child, so she ought to make a good wife.” Then he gave them his blessing and said, “You will probably be wanting to go into business for yourself now.”

  Abraham smiled at Eliezer’s reply. “No, master, I will always serve you.”

&n
bsp; Tears dimmed Abraham’s eyes, and he hugged the young man fervently. “You are another son to me, Eliezer, indeed you are!”

  Everyone noticed a change in Eliezer after he and Zara had agreed to marry. He had always been a fair man, but he had also tended to be silent much of the time. Most attributed it to his being a deep thinker. “There’s no telling what goes on in that head of his,” people would say.

  But now there was a lightness, almost a frivolity, about the steward of the house of Abraham. He made jokes and laughed and played games with the children in a way he never had before.

  As for Zara, she felt she had found a new life. When she awoke in the morning, her first thought was of Eliezer, as was her last thought at night. Many times she would steal away from camp, find a quiet place, and kneel down to thank the Eternal One for bringing Eliezer into her life. She had developed a deep love for the God of Abraham—as had Eliezer—although neither she nor Eliezer had ever heard His voice or seen Him in a vision. Still, their faith was strong, for they had witnessed miracles and heard the stories Abraham told of his ancestors who had served the Eternal One.

  Often, when the two were alone together, Eliezer would tease Zara in a way she pretended to dislike but actually enjoyed. She was sitting alone one morning outside of her tent, having finished her cooking, thinking with pleasure of her coming wedding day. He came by and asked, “What are you doing?”

  “Just thinking.”

  “I always hate to see a woman think.”

  “Why would you say a thing like that?”

  “Oh, it gives a woman notions when she starts thinking. And those can be dangerous!”

  “I’ve got a right to think the same as you have!”

  He continued to tease her and finally picked up a mirror she had brought out from the tent to polish. It was made out of highly polished brass, and he held it up and stared at his face. He was quiet for so long that she finally said, “What are you staring at?”

  “At myself,” Eliezer said. His face was solemn, and he shook his head in wonder. “I just don’t understand it.”