A Stray Drop of Blood (31 page)

“
Before or after he had him beheaded?” Jason shook his head. “I thought his contention with this John was that he accused Herod of adultery.”

“
So he did,” Cleopas conceded, amused. “As well he should have. He took Phillip’s wife into his bed, dishonoring his own brother. But that is not the issue, Jason. Jesus of Nazareth speaks the truth. I know this. What I do not know is how to convince my family.”

Jason held his gaze for a long moment. “You cannot, Father,” he said at length. “If his lessons are the truth, then judging by what I have heard of them, each person must come to the conclusions within his own heart. All you can do is be an example; and at that, you have never failed. Watching you has taught me how to be a man, a soldier, a husband, and hopefully now a father. Watching you has taught me that a man need not be weak to have a faith, but is made strong by it. So watching you will undoubtedly convince us all that a teacher to whom you give such credence, you, a man of such wisdom, must be right.”

Cleopas reached out and clasped his son’s arm. “Thank you for your trust in me, Jason.”

Jason’s smile held wisdom where once there had only been self. “I am only returning the favor.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Abigail was bored. Her headaches kept her from reading, her swollen hands from playing the lute, and her otherwise altered shape from any other form of employment. She spent most of her days lounging around, going on the one walk her protective family allowed her, and talking or listening to Ester and Dinah. When Jason and Cleopas returned, she was subjected to a session of questioning in which they demanded how she had felt during every minute, then had to bear their demands that she get more rest, eat the food Dinah offered her, or perhaps jump over the moon. . . .

What she needed was a distraction. Like a baby. If she would just have the baby, all would be well, and they could all stop fussing over her and focus on someone else, instead. But if she dared mention her hope that the newest Visibullis would come early, she was admonished by Ester, who claimed that such a thing would be unhealthy for the child.

In her brooding mood, she found herself thinking much about the words Jason had told her he had had with his father, about the Nazarene. But she would inevitably decide she did not have enough information to form an opinion so just frustrated herself more. It did not help that both her husband and his father talked of little else for the days following their initial conversation. She was getting very weary of it.

This was Jason’s day off, and Abigail knew he would be returning soon from the markets, where he had gone with his friends at their insistence. He had promised to share the midday meal with her, though, so she expected it when she heard the sounds of his approach. What she did not expect was the sound of someone else’s with his.

By the time she managed to stand to go investigate whom he had brought him with him, Jason had appeared in the doorway to the room, hand-in-hand with a small boy. Abigail’s brows flew up of their own accord, and her eyes shifted from the beautiful, terrified child to the man who stood before her smiling.

The boy could not be more than six. His eyes were wide, flecked with gold, his hair burnished curls that fell over his forehead. His features were remarkable, finely chiseled and arranged, though he looked as though he had not had a decent meal in quite a while. He stared up at her, soulful and forlorn.

Abigail tore her gaze away from the child and focused it on her husband.

“
His name is Samuel,” Jason said by means of introduction. “I just purchased him. I thought we would need the extra help when the baby comes.”

Abigail replied in Latin because she knew the boy would not understand her. “Jason, we do not need a slave.”

Jason kept his countenance neutral and his words in Latin. “His mother was desperate, my love. She would have sold him as a catamite to another if I had not stepped in.”

Her questions turned to sympathy, softening into pride for her husband. When had he become so gentle and considerate?

The boy spoke in Hebrew, drawing their attention back to him. “I am strong. I will work hard.”

Abigail lowered herself slowly to her knees so she was on a level with him. His eyes, so serious and intense, reminded her of herself as a child, when she was sold by her supposed family. She tried to keep her face serious, though she wanted to smile. She suspected, however, that this tiny child would be wary of mercy.

“
Do you speak Greek?” she inquired in her native tongue.

“
Yes,” he replied in the language he spoke of.

“
And have you begun your lessons on the Law?”

Samuel hesitated. “I have learned of Passover, and the commandments.”

Abigail nodded solemnly. “It is a start. You will be expected to study with me, Samuel. I will not have an uneducated boy in my house. You will have to learn how to read and write, in both Hebrew and Greek, and then we will have lessons on Latin as well.”

Samuel seemed to fluctuate between confusion and acceptance. “My mother said I would be a slave, that I must do as my masters bade me in all things.”

She smiled. “Well, I bid that you learn.”

He hesitated a heartbeat more, then nodded.

Her heart broke. It had not been so long ago when she had been in his place, a waif of a child with too much knowledge of the cruelties of the world and not enough faith in its goodness. A tear slipped from her eye, and she put her small hand on his smaller shoulder. “Samuel, you will be well taken care of. I am glad you have come.”

Samuel solemnly reached out and wiped away her tear. “Have I made you cry, Mistress?”

“
No.” It was true enough. Nothing he had done, nothing he had any control over elicited her tears. It was his situation, her own, and the kindness this house offered. It was unbelievable to her that she had come full circle, that there was now someone who called her what she still tried to call Ester.

Seeing that his eyes had fallen to her abdomen, she took his hand and put it where the baby was moving, watching the wonder that moved over his face. “There is a babe in there, Samuel. He will be born soon, in just a few weeks. Have you ever been around a baby?”

Samuel shook his head, curls bouncing.

Abigail smiled. “Neither have I. But you will aid me, will you not? I may need you to help me care for him. I have heard it said,” she continued, pitching her voice down in conspiracy, “that every new child needs someone to be his older brother. Can you do that, Samuel?”

Samuel, eyes wide with the seriousness of his promise, nodded once more. Then paused. His golden brows drew together. “What will I have to do?”

Abigail’s smile only grew. “Well, you may have to sit beside him sometimes and make sure he stays where he needs to. Perhaps sing to him. And as he gets older, he will need to know how to play games.”

The little boy studied her intently. “I will do all I can to help you, Mistress.”

“
I believe you will, Samuel.” She brushed the curls from his forehead, though they fell onto it again the instant her fingers moved away. She smiled at the errant locks, wondering how any mother could part with such a child. “Come, I shall show you to your room.”

Getting up proved to be more of a challenge than going down, however, and Jason ended up practically lifting her from the floor. She rewarded him with a sweet smile, trying to let him know he had done the right thing in bringing the boy home. She held out her hand to Samuel, who put his in hers with perfect trust.

She led him down the hall and into the room that had been hers until a few months before. The wooden chest was empty now, her belongings all in Jason’s room, and the pallet was clean and freshly made up. All evidence of her term there had been erased.

She kept her tone gentle. “This is where you will stay. This next door belongs to Andrew, who is my father’s slave. He will gladly help you in anything you need at any time. And across the hall is Dinah, who cooks for us, and her husband Simon, who manages the house. In fact, we should go meet Dinah now. She may need you to taste some of the foods she had prepared, to see if they are satisfactory.”

“
Clever,” Jason muttered in Latin into her ear. She jabbed him playfully in the ribs.

When the three entered the kitchen, Dinah did not even look over her shoulder. “Abigail, I thought you were resting. I promised to bring your meal in to you when the young master returned.”

“
The young master returned with a surprise.” Jason’s tone was bright with humor.

She turned now, and her face lit when she saw the boy. She immediately crouched down, with far more ease than Abigail had, and said, “And who are you, child? A young prince come to stay with us?”

Samuel did not smile as Dinah did, but his lips at least hinted at it as he shook his head. “I am Samuel. My mother sold me, and he,” he said, indicating Jason, “bought me so that the fat man could not.” His brows drew together once more. “The fat man looked at me strangely.”

Dinah’s eyes flew to Jason, who nodded once, his face serious. She was quick to put another smile on. “Well, no one will look at you strangely here, Samuel. Now. My mistress is dining with a friend today, so I only have to prepare the food for your master and mistress. If they allow it, you can help me.”

Abigail nodded. “I suggested he help you with the tastings, Dinah.”

Dinah caught her meaning and smiled. “An important job, indeed.” With a flourish, she scooped up the boy and deposited him on the top of the table. “There. You sit and I will give you a sampling of the meal. Anything you do not like, tell me.” She turned to Abigail with a pointed look and a matching finger. “Go rest.”

Abigail scowled because Dinah would expect it, but then let Jason lead her off. “Where did you find him?” she asked as soon as they were out of earshot, as they headed for the main room where Dinah would expect to find them.

“
In the markets.” All amusement left his voice. “Right there on a street corner, Abigail, his mother was hocking him along with baskets and palms. I could not let that man take him home.”

“
Of course not.” She sighed. “He is a beautiful boy. It is a dangerous thing to be when one is unprotected.”

Jason stopped in the threshold and turned to look at her, then drew her against him. “I am sorry, Abigail.”

Only then realizing how he would take her words, she rushed to say, “I did not mean–”

“
I know. But it is true nonetheless. You were helpless against me, and I showed no mercy because I wanted you.” He drew in a deep breath, his eyes averted.

“
You have changed, my husband.” She leaned into his embrace. “And I cannot wish away what gave us our child.”

Gazing into her eyes, he was apparently convinced. He smiled, then drew her the rest of the way into the room and made her sit. “I realize that Samuel will not actually be of much use right now; but I also thought you could use a companion, my love. Not to mention a distraction until the baby comes.”

She returned his knowing grin. “True enough. I will have to see to some clothing for him. And he is so thin! Dinah will remedy that quickly, I think. And your mother will fall in love with the child.” She chuckled. “She will probably spoil him as she did me.”

“
And you will not?” His smile made her flush. “You have a soft heart and a long memory. I imagine you will treat all of your slaves as you were treated.”

Abigail’s face reflected her disconcert. “I cannot imagine having slaves at all. I will always think of such people as my equals.”

“
I believe that is the point,” Jason said, shocking her. “Does the Law not say that slaves are not slaves because of any lack of worth, but rather because of a lack of fortune? Was not Joseph a slave, and the entire Hebrew peoples?”

She felt a slow smile sneak onto her mouth. “They were, husband, and it does. Although Aristotle and Plato would surely disagree.”

He picked up her hand and held it tenderly. “But Plato and Aristotle were only men, beloved. We must forgive them for their false opinions.”

Abigail laughed, full and bright. She looked over to the doorway before her mirth had been spent, saw Dinah and Samuel there. She held out a hand in invitation.

Samuel ran into her open arms and clung.

Abigail pulled the boy up into what remained of her lap and held him. He shed no tears; indeed, as he draped himself over her round stomach and rested his head against her breast, his perfect face reflected perfect contentment.

Within two minutes, he was asleep, and Abigail refused to let him be moved. Jason, smiling indulgently, simply shook his head and smiled at Dinah.

“
It seems,” he said to the elder woman, who was beholding the scene with sparkling eyes, “that we will soon have
two
children, Dinah.”

“
It seems you will.” She suddenly shifted back into her stern expression and glared at Abigail. “But he will be no cause for excuses. Eat.”

Abigail chuckled softly and picked up some bread.

~*~

Jason left for his night shift with a shake of his head, a fond smile on his lips. As he walked, he reflected on the differences between his family and his friends. He had left Menelaus and Titus and Apidius by the time he happened across Samuel, but he had a feeling his friends would mock him for the purchase of the boy. They would look at his beautiful face and tease him as a lover of boys, or else would deride him for having too soft a heart and wasting money on one who was useless. His family, on the other hand, lauded his quick judgement and acted as though he had just bestowed a gift on them all.