The Brother's Keeper by Tracy Groot

Author:Tracy Groot
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Historical, FICTION / Historical
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2018-04-03T04:00:00+00:00

She was leaving tomorrow. The silence in the workroom spoke of it; the bundles at the doorway spoke of it.

All morning Mary passed through the workroom from the courtyard to the doorway, adding another bundle or package for the journey. She would murmur things as she did. “For Devorah’s little one,” and a small parcel was stashed in a wicker basket. “Spices for Devorah’s mother-in-law,” and a packet went into the side pocket of a burlap bag. She spoke perhaps to fill the silence, or to buffer her leaving.

“James, make sure Jorah remembers to water the potted plants. The mint should be watered every other day. She will forget otherwise.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Simon, please replace the goatskin on the churn when you get a chance. That old one is just about done in.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Nathanael came well after sunrise. His coming brought welcome relief from the chore of ignoring Mother’s leave-taking.

He stood at the threshold for a time before anyone noticed. James looked up and straightened when he saw him. Judas followed his gaze and straightened from his work too. Joses was already at market, trading for purpleheart brought back from Gaza, but Simon wasn’t. He looked up from his bowl and once he recognized the lad, turned a deliberate look on James.

Mother came through the curtain and hesitated only a moment on her way to the bundles. “Good morning, Nathanael,” she said pleasantly.

He nodded respectfully and murmured his greeting.

“You have seen Raziel out of Nazareth?” James asked, his voice low.

He nodded, sending a fast glance at Simon. “He is well on his way. Left a few hours ago when it was still dark.”

“Are you going to finish that chair for the widow Esther?” Mother asked him as she rearranged a few parcels in a tall willow-branch hamper. “She asked about it at the well this morning.”

James gave her a wry glance. He would miss the way she . . . smoothed . . . the goings-on around here.

Nathanael licked his lips and glanced uncertainly at James. James let him sweat a moment while he took his nail jar from the shelf and rummaged about in it.

“Simon, I need a four-inch. Do you have one?”

Simon dragged his stare from Nathanael to his own shelf.

James poked some more in his nail cup, then looked again at Nathanael as if surprised to see him still lounging at the doorway. “I pay you for dawdling? The widow Esther wants her chair.”

“Sorry,” Nathanael murmured and hastened to the corner bench.

Simon slapped the nail into James’ palm, making sure he saw the displeased look on his face. It was almost worth ignoring Nathanael’s misdeed just to annoy Simon. On inspiration, James tossed the nail onto his bench and went to Father’s bench to pick up the heavy money box. He removed the lid and studied the coins until at the corner of his eye he saw Simon looking his way. He selected a Tyrian shekel and a silver dinar, replaced the cover, and set the box on the shelf.

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