Faithful Daughter of Israel by Wanda Ann Thomas

Author:Wanda Ann Thomas [Thomas, Wanda Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-23T05:00:00+00:00

Shaken over the fact he had returned to Jerusalem barely in time to save Anna from being executed, Julian was torn between wanting to kiss her senseless and wanting to give her a tongue lashing.

Instead of staying in hiding, per his orders, his would-be harlot had somehow managed to make herself the featured attraction at a public execution.

The woman falls into trouble as though born to it. A verdict not very far from the actual truth, he feared, and explanation enough for how she had come to earn the name Cursed Anna.

Onlookers lurked from a safe distance.

Regrouping and armed with clubs, Zara and the Temple guard closed in.

Anna snagged a jagged rock and hefted it threateningly. “I did nothing wrong.”

Julian placed a protective arm around his resilient charge. Marrying her was a risky gambit on more than one level. “Stand back!”

Zara’s bull-like chest puffed. “Do not interfere in matters that do not concern you, Roman.”

“The law, Roman or Jewish, says otherwise.”

“We will take the matter before the council.”

“My wife will never see the light of your court. If there is a problem, it is me you have deal with, not her.”

“Your lies will not save the harlot.”

A commotion went up among the spectators, and they scattered at the sight of Julian’s men marching into the bazaar with their swords drawn and led by Crispus.

Anna dropped the rock and pushed closer. “Please, no more bloodshed.”

Julian shot a pointed look at Zara. “My men are here to restore peace.”

Hate and resentment simmered in Zara’s eyes. “I know why you are here. You and your men take pleasure in making harlots of our women and love nothing better than to spit on our holy ordinances.”

The Levite’s wife might not have left him for a Roman soldier if he was not such a nasty lout.

“Crispus, show him the marriage contract.”

Securing the document had not been not an easy task.

Zara had the effrontery to grab the scroll from Crispus. He broke open the seal and directed a ferocious scowl from the white linen parchment to Anna.

She trembled like a skittish colt. “A child threw the first stone. A child.”

He ached for her. Her need to huddle against the enemy, a Roman soldier, for protection laid bare the painful extent of her vulnerability.

He glanced around at the angry stares of the guards wishing him back behind the fortress walls, or more likely wishing him to Hades.

Let the Jews hate him. He did not care.

Why would he?

The spiteful thought brought his mother’s face to mind, and she looked sorely disappointed.

The truth was he did desire the favor of at least one Jew in the land of Israel.

Anna.

His wife.

The thought made him unaccountably light-headed.

The marriage contract had been drawn up as a safety measure. It was the reason he stayed behind in Caesarea. Well-trained soldier that he was, Julian had not underestimated the enemy. Zara was not one to forgive and forget. The one sure way to remove Anna from Zara’s power was to put her under his protection.

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