A House Divided by Diane Stringam Tolley

Author:Diane Stringam Tolley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing
Published: 2017-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Hannah lifted her tunic to her knees and ran as fast as she could for the village.

Nephi met her just outside. “You found him?”

“No. But Zoram’s youngest boys say he went past them and into the forest. And Ezekiel and Fane both saw him walking through the trees.” She took a deep breath. “I think he has gone to find Jonah.”

Nephi shook his head and thought for a moment. Then he looked at her. “Tell no one what you’ve told me. You say Ezekiel is there in the forest?”

“Yes. He and Fane are guarding there today.”

“I need someone—Cephus!”

The young man carrying a load of chopped wood turned and looked at him. “Yes, Father Nephi?”

“I need you to come with me!”

“Could I just finish?”

“I need you now, Son.”

Cephus nodded, set his load of wood aside and joined Nephi.

“Cephus will take Ezekiel’s job as guard so Zeke can come with me,” Nephi told Hannah. “Remember. Tell no one.”

Hannah nodded and Nephi and Cephus started running toward the sheep pasture.

“What is going on there? Is that my wood?”

Hannah turned. Moriah was standing beside the pile of wood Cephus had abandoned, watching Nephi and the young man race toward the far field.

“I’m not sure about the wood, Morrie. Cephus was carrying it when Nephi asked his help with something.”

“Ah. And is that what he is doing now? Helping Nephi?”

“Yes.”

A young boy raced past, holding a cob of dried corn aloft. “I got one! I got one! Come on! Popped corn!”

Instantly, a half-dozen children joined him, racing up the street.

Anava’s daughter, Esther, appeared. “James! Come back with that corn!”

A storm of giggles was her only answer. She shook her head, smiled ruefully at Hannah and Moriah and disappeared.

Morrie shrugged and bent down to collect the wood Cephus had dropped. “Well, I guess I will have to just haul the wood myself.”

“I will help you,” Hannah said.

The day passed with agonizing slowness. Ilka was in Hannah’s hut a dozen times, asking if she had heard or seen anything. Each time, Hannah had patiently explained that, as soon as she had a bit of news, however small, she would share it with the worried girl. Finally, in desperation, she came up with some handwork for Ilka to do. That way, she could keep the girl close by and within her sight.

The following morning, there was still no sign of Nephi or Ezekiel. Or Yavin. Cephus had returned when his shift was over, but all he could offer was that Father Nephi had gone into the forest with Ezekiel—and Yavin, he added with a sidelong glance at Hannah—to do some scouting and would return in a day or two.

Ezekiel’s wife, Rebecca, had accepted the news in her usual, placid fashion and returned to her duties, caring for their numerous children.

Anava, however, was suspicious. “Why would he leave without speaking to his wife?” she asked Hannah. “It must have something to do with Ilka.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because the girl has been mooning around here for days.” Anava said bitterly.

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