Page 45 of The Guardian's Promise

“Have you told her?”

Ari furrowed his brow in confusion, for he hadn’t told Jesse of the contract. “You amaze me, Abba. How did you know about the marriage contract?”

His father smiled in approval. “I did not know, Ariel. But I am pleased. She will make you a wonderful wife. But I take it even she does not know of it.”

“No. I will wait until my vow to Jehoiada is complete before I make another. If you did not mean the contracts, what did you mean, Abba? Have I told her what?”

“Have you told her you love her?”

The air rushed out of his lungs as if his father had swatted his staff across his midsection. His first thought had been to deny the very words his father spoke. Of course he cared for her, but love her? “I cannot tell her something I do not know myself and have her believe it the truth.”

Ishiah laid his hand on Ari’s shoulder. “My son, there is nothing wrong with loving your wife. Your mother is the very air I breathe. I would perish without her.”

Ari placed his hand on top of his father’s. “I know, Abba. I cannot deny that I feel something for Mira, and as strong as it is I’m still unsure of its origins.” He thought back to Caleb and his excitement at offering his daughter to him. “Is it possible that I only feel this way because her father has offered her to me? Is it possible I only feel here,” he said, thumping his chest with his fist. “Because I feel as if she is my responsibility? That is a truth I cannot live with. I want her by my side, Abba, but I want to be assured of love between us.”

“I cannot give you the answers you seek, Ariel. Although, I believe you have just done so yourself.”

Ari glanced at the vast landscape, so wild and so beautifully untamed, much like Mira. “Answers will do me no good if Mira does not feel the same.”

“I would not be so sure, my son. You would stand in awe at what speaking your heart to a woman does to her knees,” his father said with a knowing twinkle in his eye. He patted him on the shoulder. “We welcome her with open arms, my son, no matter what you decide.”

“My thanks, Abba.”

His father returned to the cave. Ari took a deep breath, confusion weighing heavy on his mind. He was pleased his family would accept Mira, but would they be as open when they discovered in order for Ari to marry her, he would have to reside with her father?

If he had been his father’s only son, his considerations would have been different. But he had brothers, all of whom carried their father’s legacy. Mira’s father had no sons. Only Nathan, who had shown he would not care for Caleb’s land. The thought of Mira at the mercy of him in the event of Caleb’s death left a bitter taste on his tongue.

Chapter Nineteen

The batter sizzled as Mira poured it into a pan over the fire. Although it made her heart glad to have her hands busy, she would have much preferred something more taxing on her mental faculties. Her mind continued to wander to Ari.

She flipped the cake, taking note of the perfect golden hue, just like Ari preferred them. Ari, Ari, Ari. She thought of him much more than she should.

Mira shook her head. She had always thought of Ari, but where her thoughts once considered how to thwart his efforts when he helped her with her chores, they now moved to pleasing him with perfect cakes. Of course, those thoughts were interrupted by the renewed sensation of her hand wrapped in his. A simple, breathtaking, touch of the lips.

Heat flooded her cheeks. Incidents like that would not be repeated. She would ensure they never spent another moment alone. No more. Not even a peck on the cheek in greeting. Nothing.

“Is that cake mine?”

She squeaked. Her eyes widened in horror at the smell of charred cake. She hesitated to flip it over knowing it would not be the perfect golden-brown, but as dark as the tunnels they had traveled through for the better part of the day.

Ari moved his plate toward her. She pursed her lips wondering if she should toss it away or place it on his plate. If she tossed it aside she would have to admit that she hadn’t been paying attention to the task Ari’s mother had given her. She smiled, scooped it up and plopped it onto his plate, golden-brown side up.

She poured another helping of batter into the oil and watched as Ari sat his plate on the leather table beside the other men. Lydia set a bowl of figs and grapes in the center, along with a jug of water.

“We have only another two miles before we reach Manna.” Elam’s gravelly tone interrupted her thoughts.

“Yes, but it is over narrow mountain paths. And we would be walking in the heat of the day,” Jesse added.

“I will rest much easier when we reach Manna.” Ari broke off a piece of cake and popped it into his mouth. Mira winced. It had to taste awful. She watched in amazement as he chewed without spitting it out, or even making a face.

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