Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith

Author:Jill Eileen Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: FIC042030
ISBN: 9781441207715
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-01-31T22:00:00+00:00

Stars sprinkled the night sky as Abigail set a three-pronged griddle along the middle partition of the goat-hair tent that separated David’s side from hers and Ahinoam’s. With the new wealth she had brought to the marriage, they would each have a tent of their own one day, or, better yet, a room or home of their own, but for now, David kept them together in this large enclosure. Who knew what kind of dwellings they would have in Philistine territory?

She closed her eyes, then opened them again, willing her nerves into submission. If only Yahweh would hear her and change her husband’s mind. Perhaps if she were a man . . . Did God care about the prayers of a mere woman?

She turned at the swish of sandals on the swept dirt floor behind her and felt David’s arms go around her waist, his lips close to her ear. “Your mother said you wanted to see me.” He turned her around and kissed her. “You’ve been quiet on this journey. I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong. Ahinoam finally seems happy, but now all I see is sorrow in your eyes. Are you missing your old home in Maon?” He held her at arm’s length, his dark eyes hopeful. “You’re not regretting your decision to marry me, are you?”

She shook her head. “Never.” She smiled at his boyish grin, wanting desperately to please him. She had no desire to be the one to take the joy from him—a joy he’d had since his announcement to move out of Israel. What if God had spoken to him and told him to do this? Maybe her worry about temptations and false gods was just her own fear of change.

“So what did you want to talk to me about? Your mother made it sound urgent.” He let his fingers slide slowly down her arms, then captured both of her hands in his.

She glanced through the tent opening at the pockets of men and women sitting in front of their nearby tents, playing games and chatting by firelight. “Can we go somewhere quiet?” People could overhear, especially Ahinoam, who could walk in on them at any time.

His look grew sober as he studied her again. “There is a place up the hill a ways. Or we can go to my side of the tent.” His bed of soft wool was there, but she feared he would be less likely to listen in such an intimate place.

“Up the hill would be nice.” She gave him a coy smile. “Then we can come back to your side of the tent.”

“Let me get a torch.” His eyes lit as they often did when they were alone, as though he could think of no one else but her. But if he walked away . . .

“Is that necessary?” Someone else might grab his attention, and she would never get this chance again. “The moon is nearly full. Isn’t that enough?”

He looked doubtful but nodded. He tightened his grip on her hand and led the way up the hill behind their tent.

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