Love Inspired Historical March 2014 Bundle: Winning Over the Wrangler\Wolf Creek Homecoming\A Bride for the Baron\The Guardian's Promise (76 page)

Chapter Ten

L
ight filtered through the curtain of water, waking Sh'mira from a fitful sleep. Nightmares of armed men chasing her through crowded streets continued to haunt her, even after she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She stretched and realized the small body that should be next to hers was missing. She sat up, curled her legs beneath her and massaged the soreness from her fingers. “Joash,” she whispered.

Only the sound of the rushing water and the echo of her own breathing met her ears. “Joash.”

Nothing.

How long had she slept? She had only intended to close her eyes a short while. She had not planned on sleeping, especially since she did not know if the soldier watched them.

She slipped her sandals onto her feet and rose from the makeshift bed. A quick look told her Joash was no longer in the cave. Panic seized her. Where could he have gone? Wrapping a tunic around her shoulders, she stepped to the edge of the cave and followed the path of rocks leading to the small pool of water this side of the falls.

She let out a sigh of relief when she spied the child wading in the water. Caution warned her against calling out his name lest she startle him causing him to cry out. It would not do for the soldiers to hear him if they remained camped beside the pool.

She climbed down the stones and sat at the edge and waited for him to acknowledge her presence.

“I must prepare for my journey,” he said in a tone that spoke of authority.

She had no idea what he meant by his journey, but she would not question him now. “I was only concerned.”

“Of course, Mira. I did not mean to cause you worry.”

She wrapped her arms around her knees and watched the wall of water stream into the pool. As beautiful as this place was she wanted to go home. She fought the tears threatening to burst forth. Had her mother and sister been unharmed? What of her father?

And what of Ari? If he knew of this place why had he not come for them yet? Had something happened to him, as well?

She swiped her fingers across the corner of her eye. “Do you think they are still out there, waiting for us?”

Thank the Lord the man who'd found them chose to keep their whereabouts hidden.

“I do,” he responded.

For some reason Joash understood their precarious situation more than she did. She'd been afraid to ask questions of him. At first, because she did not want to worry him further. But then, after searching the confines of Ari's secret cave she feared the truth. If it was as she suspected, Ari not only lied to her family, but he brought trouble to her father's doorstep. And now, with worry heavy on her heart, she needed to know what they were fighting.

“I wonder, what are they after?” she asked.

Joash shrugged in a way that told her he knew.

She slid her hand down her leg and played with the ties on her sandal. “What do they want?”

“I am bound by an oath.” He turned to her, his dark eyes filled with apologies. “Soon your questions will be answered.”

The child had barely seen seven summers, yet he held a bearing fit for a king. Mira blinked. Her thoughts caught in her throat. The conversation with Ari fought to the forefront. Could it be? Could this young child somehow be related to the royal family? Is that why Athaliah's guard had attacked their little village?

“Impossible,” she spoke to herself as she rose from her perch and brushed her hands over her tunic. It was more likely he belonged to the priests given some of the items in the cave, but then what did that make Ari? “Come, the day grows late. We must decide what we will do.”

Mira climbed back into the hidden cave and waited for Joash. After a few minutes he entered, back stiff, his head held high. He wore a tunic trimmed with a humble weave and a simple turban wrapped around his unruly locks, but one would have thought he was covered in gold.

He bowed to her as he entered. “My apologies, Mira. The wait is long and difficult, but I fear...” His bottom lip began to quiver and for the first time she saw the child he should be.

She stepped to him and enfolded him in her arms. “All will be well, my brother. You'll see.” She rubbed circles upon his back with the tips of her fingers. “God is with us.”

He pulled back and looked her in the eye. “You are correct. And soon Ari will come for us, I know it.”

“And you know this how, Joash?” It'd been hours and Ari had yet to come.

“Ari promised. If aught happened he would come for me.” The child spoke with complete faith.

His faith tore at her heart, made her want to fall to her knees and cry. She had trusted Ari, too. Had trusted him completely, even when she'd been angry with him. But now she knew him for the liar he was. And for all she knew her family had perished because of his lies. How could she tell this child that his faith had been misplaced?

What if Ari never came? What if he broke his promise to Joash? What if he lay injured, or worse, dead?

She pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “We will wait one night. If he does not show, we must return home.”

“But what if the guard...what if they are still there?”

She saw the fear and something else she could not ascertain. “I cannot leave you here alone.”

“Come,” he said, grasping her hand. He led her deep into the cave where natural light filled the entire room. She glanced around and noticed cut windows. Mira gaped in awe. They were slanted in such a way that if any were to come upon them from the outside they would not be seen from above.

“Here,” Joash said, unrolling a parchment.

She squinted at the drawing. A picture of a waterfall showed their position, and the large body of water depicted the Sea of Salt. “What is this?” she asked pointing at what looked to be a box on a pyre.

“This is where we must go.”

She'd lived in this valley her entire life and had never heard of such a place. But then she'd never known of this cave, either. It looked as if they would have to leave the cave after all in order to get Joash to his destination, but she'd heard the terrain was unfriendly. And even if Athaliah's guards were not lying in wait for them there were many other dangers. “I do not understand.”

“Ari always said it was a place of safety. If he did not come for me, then I am to follow the signs to make it there.” He pointed to the place on the map. “And I am to give them this.”

He unfolded his fist. In the palm of his hand he held a gold ring. She touched it with the tip of her finger and turned it over. She inhaled a sharp breath, and looked the child in the eyes. This child was not meant to be a priest at all. Before she could stop herself, she fell to the floor on her knees and bowed at his feet.

* * *

He waited long, tense moments for the pair of soldiers to leave. He could only pray and trust that the Lord had seen to Mira and Joash's protection, and that any foolishness on his part would be hidden from his enemies.

Wrapping the cloth satchel high on his shoulder, he slipped into the cool spring and waded to the edge of the falls. Ari closed his eyes and breathed deeply. There was no time to waste, but he lifted up another beseeching prayer.

Then with one last look around, ensuring that no one watched, he dove into the water and swam beneath the falls. His gaze gradually followed the stone pathway to the entrance. No evident sign of what he sought.

A boulder slammed against his heart. He chastised his lack of faith in the Lord. Finding an empty cave was near impossible to grasp, yet his feet refused to carry him to the landing. He feared the unknown too much.

“Forgive me, Lord, for my lack of trust.” He bowed his head, his wet hair falling over his shoulders. Ari waded to the edge and pulled himself onto the rock. The faint scent of cinnamon wafted in the air, a scent unfamiliar to this place. Hibiscus, rose, lilies, even henna, but never cinnamon. Mira had been here.

He lifted up a prayer of gratitude. His heart much lighter than moments before, he climbed the steps and entered the cavern. He untied the satchel from his shoulders and allowed it to slip to the rocky floor. He slipped off his sandals.

Ari blinked his eyes and fought to clear his vision. Her warmth and scent infused every orifice of the cave. She had to be here, somewhere. He blinked again. His eyes focused on the rumpled makeshift mat. Then he scanned the corners and hollows.

The things on his wooden chest had been moved around. His heart threatened to rip apart as he eyed the circle pit where no ember of fire flickered.

Had they been discovered? “Oh, Lord,” he prayed.

His knees threatened to buckle with grief. He rubbed the back of his neck. Where could they be?

A slight whisper echoed off the walls. The hidden cove. How could he have forgotten? In three long strides he rounded the corner.

“Rise, Mira.” Joash's childlike voice was a little shaky as if he were uncomfortable with making demands of those around him.

Chapter Eleven

I
nstinct told him to rush into the hidden cove and wrap his arms around Mira, to fuse her so deep inside his soul that he'd never have to worry over her well-being again.

Instead, he tamped down his urges with steely self-control. The fear that had prodded him to race the distance from Caleb's house refused to be soothed. He continued to shake. No matter what he'd heard with his very ears, no matter that he'd felt Mira's presence, he still continued to shake.

“They are safe. They are safe,” he chanted to himself. “Thank you, Lord.”

Ari breathed deeply, and then exhaled. One step. Two. Three, and then four. One long stride and he exited the long pathway and stood inside the entrance to the cove. He gazed with awe at this proud woman prostrate before her young king. No wonder Joash sounded bewildered. Even he had no idea who he really was.

A ray of light filtered through the windows carved hundreds of years ago. The light illuminated her beauty as locks of unveiled burnished gold cloaked her frame and Joash's feet. It reminded him of the first time he'd seen her.

“Mira, I beg of thee, rise,” the child's voice quavered, then as if he had just become aware of Ari's presence, Joash turned his dark, frightened gaze to him.

“Ari, you came! I knew you would.” Joash ran to him, leaving Mira where she knelt. The child propelled his small body into Ari's thighs and wrapped his arms around his legs. Ari lifted him in his arms and hugged him tight, but not once had he taken his eyes from Mira.

“Did you, now?” Ari asked.

“Yes, of course, Ari. You promised, remember?”

He smiled at the boy and dropped a kiss to his head and then set him on his feet. Joash shifted his gaze between Ari and Mira. He shuffled his feet as if he were about to be chastised. At last, Mira turned her head and peered through the tresses hanging around her. Ari grinned as he ruffled Joash's unruly mop of curls. Mira rose to her knees and pushed back her hair.

“I know I should not have shown Mira the ring, but I wanted to ease her worries.”

A hearty laughter burst from Ari's gut as he took in the wariness and shock on her face. “And did you?”

Joash stared at Mira for a few long seconds before he answered. “I do not think so, Ari.”

He laughed once again. “No, I do not believe you did either, my young friend.”

“Will you forgive me?” Joash said with genuine concern. “I know I was not to show anyone the map or the ring, but—” Joash dropped his gaze to the floor.

Ari hugged him closer. “There is naught to forgive. You did as you thought necessary.” His eyes fell upon Mira. “Rise, Mira, before your knees become sore.”

* * *

It took longer than she would have liked for her mind to understand all that had occurred in the past few moments. She offered a puzzled look at Ari who seemed amused at her position on the floor before she glanced over at Joash.

The child's brow furrowed in concern, his eyes held a wealth of worry. Blinking back her bewilderment, she did as commanded and rose.

“I—I...” She wrapped her arms over her stomach.

Ari held up his hand halting further speech from her. “You two must be hungry. I have brought food.”

Of course, she was hungry. Hungry for information on her family. Hungry for answers as to why he had hidden among them for so long. Why he chose her family to hide Judah's king. Why he never said a word. She was hungry all right. But since his arm draped over Joash's shoulders in a very protective manner—as if she'd harm the boy—and since he didn't seem to be forthcoming she would hold her tongue and wait.

Ari tugged on one of Joash's curls. “I left my bag by the entrance. You may begin the preparations so we can eat,” he said, ruffling the child's hair. Joash hugged Ari's legs, and then rushed to the other room.

Her feet were immovable, like the giant stones. Her knees like olive oil. And when Ari raked his hand through his hair as he did now, her thoughts became muddied. She near forgot she was angry at him.

“He does not know,” he said, his deep timbre raked down her spine. She swallowed past the knot in her throat. How could she have ever thought to be mad at him?
Because he endangered your family. Possibly even caused their deaths.

Mira shook her thoughts. “Who does not know what?”

“Joash.” He took one long stride and stood before her. His breath flowed over her like a cool breeze in the hot desert sun. He reached for her hand, the warmth of his touch raced to her toes. “He does not know who he is.” He uncurled her fingers and plucked the ring from her palm. A ring she had forgotten she held.

“Oh.” A small word, a small useless word. What was she supposed to say? Especially when he stood so close, his cheek so near hers. He moved closer, his lips a hair's breadth from her ear. She closed her eyes and swayed on her feet, swayed toward the strength offered in his arms.

Before she could allow her arms to wrap around his neck, he stepped away.

“And—” he hesitated, his black eyes boring into hers “—he will not know. No one can know. Do you understand what that means, Mira?”

If there was one thing she found difficult above all other things, it was concentrating when Ari spoke her name. When his
r'
s rolled over his tongue as if he were vowing his never-ending love. But his voice was flat, emotionless. This was not the Ari she knew. Her anger returned in full. “Of course.”

He arched his brow, an action that left her clinching her fists at her sides, causing pain to ripple through her marred hand. She shoved past him. Her feet quickly halted as he grasped her upper arm. Over the past few days she'd dreamed of him reaching for her hand just for the simple pleasure of it, but she never wished to kick him in the shins, until now.

“It is his life,” he growled. “A life I am bound by God to protect.”

She shook her hair over her shoulder and glared at him. “His life is worth that of my family?”

She knew what it meant to Judah to have King David's line restored. Knew the restoration was worth the lives of many villagers, yet she couldn't help the venom slipping from her tongue. Couldn't help the anger at Ari's betrayal. His lies.

“It is not what you think.” Ari released her.

Her heart cried out in rebellion. He crossed his arms over his chest and turned his back on her. The ever-confident bond servant cowered, and it was then she noticed the missing band from his arm. It was enough to break her heart. Ari was a free man.

He glanced over his shoulder. “I care very much for your father.”

“I will return home.”

Ari spun on his heels. “No,” he said with an authority that could command an army, and probably had.

A hint of anger flashed into his eyes and she remembered she didn't really know him. Not after all the lies he'd told.

“I will keep your secret.”

“It is not safe to take you home.”

“I will go alone.”

“No.”

“Ari, it is not far from here. All will be well with me.”

“You need to stay with me until the child is safe.”

She could not bear it, even if it were for only another day, she could not bear being in his presence another moment knowing he was a free man. Knowing he would walk away from her family. Her family depended on him too much. She depended on him—whether she liked it or not. “I cannot, Ari.”

“You have no choice, Mira. I will return you to your father when Joash is safe.” He took a step toward her and enfolded her in his arms. The curve of her cheek pressed against the beating of his heart. The warmth of his breath caressed her brow and she wondered if he was going to kiss her there as her father had done whenever she scraped her knees as a child.

A child she was no more, and the emotions swirling in her chest made her long for more than a touch of his lips to her brow. Her hopes of marriage fizzled and disappeared like a falling star. She could never marry, not with the knots he tied to her heart. Not unless it was to him.

If only he were in truth a man of humble means. A man in need of her father's kindness.

His arms tensed, and he finally pressed his lips to her head. Tears fought their way to her eyes. Why did he have to be an important man from Jerusalem? For he could be nothing but, given the honor he held guarding the king. Why, after all the years of disliking him for following her around and tending her tasks was it now she thought she could possibly share the kind of affection with him as her parents did for each other? She would have been better off had she accepted Esha's suit months ago, even if he did scorn her for her imperfections.

She slid her hands between them and pushed him away. She wouldn't look at him. She couldn't, for there was no doubt he'd see all the anguish warring within.

“If I may, I would like to cleanse.” Cleanse the pain tearing her apart.

“Yes, of course, Mira.” He released her. “I'll make sure the pool is safe.”