On This Foundation by Lynn Austin

Author:Lynn Austin [Austin, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC014000, FIC026000
ISBN: 9781441228925
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

27

JERUSALEM

Nava stood in the rear of the temple courtyard with all the other women, waiting in the place where she’d promised to meet Dan. She had been terrified for him when he walked up to the front of the mob to stand with the other men and confront Governor Nehemiah. Now he was safe. The governor had listened to their pleas. Nava stood on her tiptoes, trying to see above everyone’s heads, watching for Dan. She finally spotted him pushing past the others to hurry back to her, and she laughed out loud with relief and joy.

“Dan, that was amazing! You were wonderful!” She grabbed his hands and squeezed them tightly, her heart aching for the day when they could finally hug each other at moments like this. His tanned face beamed with happiness.

“Did you hear what the governor said, Nava? He’s angry about what rich nobles are doing, and he’s going to find a solution.”

“I hope he helps us.”

“Me too. Maybe this nightmare will finally end. Maybe you can come home, and we can get married.”

“I’m almost afraid to hope that anything will change.”

“Wealthy men like Malkijah probably won’t give up easily. But we’ve all agreed not to go back to work on the wall until we get relief. The governor will have to help us if he wants his wall finished.”

“I’m late, Dan. I have to get back to the house. Walk with me.” They hurried toward the stairs, still holding hands so they wouldn’t become separated. The crowd moved slowly as they filed out, the men not in a rush since they weren’t going back to work. Nava and Dan threaded their way around them.

“Malkijah and most of the other rich noblemen were probably here at the temple today,” Dan said when they reached the bottom of the steps. “If they heard what the governor said, they’re probably conspiring together, scrambling to find a way to keep all their money and servants.”

“I’ll try to hear what my master says when I serve his meals,” Nava said. “And I have more good news to tell you since I saw you last. The other night, my master became engaged to that nice woman named Chana who defended you the night you came to the estate. She’s very kind, so when I go back to Beth Hakkerem, I know I can ask her for help if Master—” Nava stopped, horrified. She had nearly blurted out the truth about Master Aaron.

“If what?” Dan asked.

“If . . . if Master Malkijah is unkind.”

Dan pulled her to a stop in the middle of the street. “That wasn’t what you were going to say, was it?”

“Please . . . I’m already late. I need to hurry.”

“Nava, we’ve never lied to each other. Tell me the truth. What are you hiding?”

“Nothing.” It was the truth because nothing had happened with Master Aaron—yet.

Dan held her shoulders and made her look at him. “We promised that we would always tell each other the truth—remember?”

She nodded. She also remembered that Dan had threatened to kill Malkijah and his sons if they ever laid a hand on her.

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