A Book of Ruth (2 page)

Don and Joshua, the town banker, were just coming out of the general store, when Boaz came running in.  Running right behind him was another young boy, Nathan.  Don’s voice came loud and firm, “you both need to stop, now!”

Both did stop.  Tears were streaming down Nathan’s face, “I’ll get you back Boaz, daddy won’t always be there,” and tossed the switch aside and walked back down the street.

“Boaz?” Don asked.

“Nothing Pa, he’s just jealous because he thinks he has a chance with Lucy and he doesn’t.”

“Stay away from that girl,” Don scolded.  “I don’t like any of this. Nathan is your best friend.”

Joshua’s eyes met Don’s.  Josh shook his head, “I’ll see you tomorrow about those papers.”

“See you Josh, thanks again.”

Mabria and Lucy came through the door.  Lucy was a small girl, 5’2” and beautiful blue eyes that offset her dark hair tremendously.  She was used to getting what she wanted.  What she wanted, was this General Store.  What Mabria knew, was that whatever it took, she wanted for Boaz, a girl who would love him because God drew them together, not because a young spoiled girl decided she wanted everything Don had worked for through the years.  Lucy was flushed, and had decided that she wanted to make Boaz just a bit more jealous.  That seemed to her to be the way to solidify her standing with him.  Of course they were both just 14 years old now, but surely she needed to needle him, just to make sure he didn’t even think about those other girls in town. 

“Hello, Boaz,” she stuttered.  “I hope you are not still angry with me?  Nathan just was trying to be friends.  He stopped by and brought me some of those chocolates that your father has right there on that front shelf.  They sure were yummy.  I promise he didn’t stay long.  Just long enough to leave them, and promise me he would bring me some more tomorrow.”

Boaz stood stock still and very quiet for a moment.  He looked at Mabria and said, “Ma?”

“Yes son?”

“Can I speak with you?”

“Sure, come on upstairs, I need a hand anyways.  If you’ll both excuse us?”

Don nodded and Lucy looked surprised and a bit flushed.

Boaz closed the door behind them. “Ma, how do I get out of this?  I can’t deal with my feelings.  I pray, and it seems as though God doesn’t even hear me.”

“What are you praying?”

“That God would make her love me.”

“God doesn’t work like that from my experience.  He draws you to someone who already does.  Who will love you for you.  Not for what she can get out of you.  Just for you.  For your care, for your kindness, for your covering.  Just for you.”

“You always say He gives handfuls on purpose.  I just want my handful.”

“He will son, he will.  He will pour out life into you, on purpose.  And in the meanwhile, you will know, you will know, that it is Him and His will for your life, when He places a good girl in your midst that will just love you for you.  Please don’t try to buy this girl any longer.  And look what it is doing with your friendship with Nathan.  It is not supposed to be like that son.”

“Then you think I should give up?

“Give up?  No son, you pray for that handful on purpose, you never stop praying for it.  But you never give up.  You never give up on Christ.”

“I meant give up on Lucy.”

“What do you think?”

“I love you ma, thank you.”

They hugged and Boaz went about his day.  Nathan came by later that evening to apologize.  Boaz let him know that he wished the two of them well.  Nathan laughed, “She just dumped me.  She said she couldn’t let me and her come between you and her.  I told her I agreed.  I thought I better just look for someone who loved me, and was more in my price range.”

The two friends laughed, but Boaz learned a lesson.  He wasn’t quite sure how he would get out of it.  But he vowed he would never get in it again.  As far as he was concerned, it was God, his folks, other folks, then himself.  And never, never a wife.  That would be just fine for him.  That love stuff, well it just wasn’t for him.

Long Roads

Peter and Naomi had made camp just south of the Ohio River on that first night.  It was still very hot that night.  He was sure that the heat would probably just intensify on the way to Savannah but he didn’t want to worry Naomi about that.  She seemed so excited with her new life. 

Naomi was frying the beans and bacon, Peter was feeding the team, and resting them in the shade of the trees.  Naomi stood up and stretched her back; she took a fresh scarf and tried to tie her long dark curls up out of the way again.  The humidity was causing them to lose control.  “What shall I do with all of this hair? It’s just so hot,” she spoke without even thinking Peter was in hearing distance.

“I told you; those curls are your crown, why do you think I married you my queen? I love you girl, just the way you are.  Let’s have lots of little girls who look just like you.”

“And boys, lots of little boys that look just like their father, please Peter.  I just can’t wait to get to Savannah and start on that house. ”

“I’m going to bless you and those babies far beyond anything we have ever known.  I just know this is the will of God.  I just know we will have a good life down there.”

“You deserve a good life Peter.  And I intend on being a huge part in it.  I just love being a part of your life my dear husband, my best friend.  Let’s stay busy in life, prosperous in all we do, and have lots and lots of joy, together and for always.”

He loved this girl so, her joy of life, and depth of spirit.  Her love for God, the same God that Mabria loved and taught him to love and depend on.  This God, this God would help them along their way.  Finally, life and life more abundantly, he just knew it.  “I want to be their covering Lord, as you are mine,” he spoke as they fell asleep in each others arms below the stars that night.  The roaring fire next to them helped to encourage them for their rest tonight and their long journey ahead. 

Journeys

The night sky seemed so endlessly hopeless to Boaz this evening.  How could they just leave?  How could they just pick up and leave, especially when he needed Peter now.  Who would he talk to about such things? 

Boaz locked up the General Store.  His parents had left earlier; they said they had some business to do with Joshua.  That was fine; Boaz was used to taking care of the duties at hand, whatever they might be. 

Life without Peter and Naomi seemed unbearably bleak.  His two best friends in all of the earth really.  Well there was Nate, but this thing with Lucy had turned them into rivals and back to friends of course.  But the hurt was there.  Why did it have to hurt?  If she loved Nate, well then why not just say so.  If she didn’t love Boaz, well then go ahead on to somebody else. 

Ma had a favorite saying, “You have a choice. Complain about what you don’t have, or be thankful for what you do have.”  Boaz smiled as he could almost hear her saying it now, even though she was a few doors down.  He loved his mama.  She was so passionate about serving God. 

“Its settled!” he spoke to no one there.  Well he thought no one was there, until he heard the sound on the steps behind the store.  And then someone run down the alleyway.  “Who is that?” he wondered.  Then he dropped the broom and took off after them.  Up through another back alley, and up the rear stairs, and a slam of a door.  Boaz was right behind them in hot pursuit.  He banged loudly on the door, but no answer.  He banged again and the door slowly opened.  Just a crack mind you. 

“Well, look who’s sneaking around tonight.  What are you up to Julia?  You scared the life out of me.  And what are you doing in here, and dressed like a boy?”

Julia was scared; she really didn’t want to be noticed.  And she knew she shouldn’t be in this room this evening, her master had stepped out to the saloon across the way for some dinner.  He told her to wait outside the saloon doors for him. She had run home and stole some clothes from another at the house. Then she took off for the adventure of her life.  Or so she thought. But when she ran in this door, she was just hoping no one was here.  Turned out to be empty and swept clean.

“Don’t pay no never mind to me Boaz.  I’m just out for a walk.”

“Julia what are you up to,” he asked the young black slave girl.  He looked at her funny because he just couldn’t believe she was dressed like a boy tonight.  She was only 14 or so, close to Boaz’s age.

“Ok, might as well tell ya.  I’m running north.  I’m running north tonight, and no one is going to stop me Boaz. Not even you!  Now let me go!”

As Julia tried to shove past him, Boaz grabbed her by the arms and swung her back into the small room. He smiled at those bright beautiful black eyes dancing in the moonlight as he noticed, she’s a girl alright.  “Julia, you know Joe, he’ll whoop your hide.  Come on let me get you back home.  We’ll think up something to tell him.”

“No I can’t Boaz.  You know how he treats me.  The only time I eat more than a slice of bread and that soup with no meat is when you or your folks sneak it to me.  I sure do appreciate that Boaz.  And then when he is drunk he… well he…,” she was stammering but Boaz fully understood.  He had found her beaten and compromised many a morning at the front door of the general store, unable to speak what had happened to her the night before.  “But I can’t ...,” she straightened her small frame up, and she almost looked like a different person, and spoke with firmness.  “I just gotta go north.  This is over.  I got to be free.  You will never understand Boaz.  You just can’t.”

“Ok Julia, come on to the store.  Let’s make ya something to put in a bag and help you on your way.  It’s a long way you’re going to have to go.  Probably all the way to Canada.  Joe will be chasing you, I am sure of that.”

Just then the sound of Joe, drunk as usual, was screaming Julia’s name.

“Julia, dag blasted kid, get over here.  Where you at?  I’ll tan your hide!”  Then Joe fell out right in the middle of the road.  Dropped right there.  Some folks from the saloon came and picked him up and carried him on back to his place.  Julia and Boaz froze in place as they witnessed the men drag him down the alley and to his back door, just a few feet below from where they stood

Thirst

“These mountains, these endless mountains,” Naomi thought as they drove on.  She had seen them in the distance but Peter had not said anything about them except how beautiful they were.  She sure hoped after the last range, they would not see any others.  However, there were more.  The poor beasts, she thought.  Few roads and long climbs.  It seemed they didn’t make much more headway than the stagecoaches they saw along the route.  The only difference for them was they camped out under the stars and decided not to stay right inside the towns along the way.  Peter had told her this morning that Savannah was the next town they would get to.  He was excited because they were well on their way.  They had not saw one Indian, which seemed to make Peter nervous.  He said they were sneaky savages.  If you don’t see them, that means they are staying hidden, and that could mean they are more dangerous, was his thought.  He attempted to stay near stagecoaches and along their routes on the way.  For the safety of the roads, and the comfort of knowing someone else was not too far away should some trouble with Indians arise.  Naomi had tasted dirt for almost a month now.  Certainly the town of Savannah would offer some refreshment.  Peter had a friend there, who knew his great grandfather.  He would be accompanying them on the way to the plantation.  He said he would like to help Peter find the place. 

Peter decided to pull up to the stream they had been traveling along for a rest, “for man, woman and beast,” he said with a weary smile.

As he pulled up near the stream, Naomi could feel her thirst surge.  They had plenty of water that they carried, but oh, the freshness of the cool streams.  She jumped down the opposite side of the wagon, not waiting for Peter and heard the sound of the rattler before she hit the ground.  Fear gripped her, but thank God, Peter heard it too.  She didn’t move a muscle.  Peter climbed back in the wagon and crept over her side.  “Boom,” came the shot from behind her. 

“Can you believe I got that with one shot?” he whooped with delight as Naomi fainted in spirit.  She was so scared she hadn’t realized how shaky she was.  “Come on Naomi, let’s get in this stream.  You need a bath, girl.” 

“Peter! I cannot believe you expect me to get in that water after a snake right there.  Right there right next to me. There is no way I am getting in that water.  No way!” she was exasperated.

Peter stripped his clothes right down to his knickers and jumped off the huge rock on the bank.  “Come on!” he yelled while splashing in the water, laughing at her fears.

“I will not.”

“Suit yourself, the water is great.  I’ve already checked.  Not a snake in sight.  Come on Naomi,” he teased throwing water at her from the stream.

But moving in the early evening shadows was someone who was not a snake by name, but was definitely trying to move like one today.  He moved quietly, and carefully, attempting not to make a noise in the woods.  Slowly he made his way around the wagon.  Noting that the rifle was far away from the young white man and his wife, he saw what he wanted and had every intention of taking it.  Quick as lightning he grabbed for it, but quicker than that, the whip struck him in the back.  Over and over and over again, the lash came down. Screaming and hollering came the young man’s voice.  Naomi was so struck by the scene that she ran and fell, no jumped; right into the stream with her husband Peter for what she thought was her only protection from this violence.