Page 82 of The Guardian's Promise

“Hello, Sh’mira, daughter of Caleb.”

Warm desert air caught in her chest, expanding to uncomfortable proportions as she stared into Ishiah’s eyes. What was Ari’s father doing here? Her body trembled such as a fig leaf in a windstorm. Her heart thundered like that of a drum. Believing her senses played tricks upon her person she squeezed her eyes closed.

Someone relieved her of her burden, leaving her to drop her hand to her side only to find it grasped with the warmth of another.

She lifted her eyes.

* * *

Caleb had sent for her when they first arrived. Her slow pace had given Ari time to negotiate a bride price. His anxiousness had led to impatience, and his impatience had led to worry when she had yet to show.

Of course he had not been pleased to discover Mira had been up moving about on her feet such as they were, for he had no doubt they remained raw. He had been ready to seek her when young Yousef ran down the hill.

He waited for her to appear. What seemed like long moments had passed. He held his breath. Waiting.

Now he looked deep into her amber eyes. Her tearstained cheeks told him that her days had passed much like his; in pure agony. He had wanted to curse his delay, yet there was a need to finalize the details of his former life.

When Jesse had failed to return to Jerusalem with their uncle, Ari had to know why. Feeling responsibility weigh heavy upon his shoulders, he left Mira to God and went in search of his brother whom he never found.

“Sh’mira,” he whispered. Finally she moved, taking a deep breath of air.

“Is it really you?”

Halting the movement of his thumb over the back of her knuckles, he gave her a slight squeeze. Over the course of the past few days he had dreamed of this moment. He had memorized each of the words he would say. Now, however, all thought beyond pure joy failed him. Any words that may have been meant to pass his lips remained locked inside him.

She lifted her free hand and swiped away the tears. “I did not think you would return.”

With a will of their own his eyes closed. He had feared insecurities would grip her. “You knew it here,” he said, tapping his chest.

“Yes. I did, but then—then...my sister told me of the contract, and how...”

Aware of the pairs of eyes watching him, he pulled her into his arms and buried his face into her hair. He inhaled her cinnamon and honey scent. “There were things that I had to take care of.”

She leaned back, peering into his soul. “This?” she asked, waving her hand indicating the livestock.

“And more.” He stepped away from her, yet his eyes did not break contact. “I sinned against your father with my deception. It was necessary that I seek his forgiveness and then make my sacrifice.”

Mira tilted her head, her brow furrowing. “Sheep are your way of restitution?”

“No.”

“The goats?”

“No.”

“The oxen?”

“No.”

“Do you intend to take them to Manna?”

“No, Sh’mira.”

She fisted her hands onto her hips and glared. “Then what, Ariel? Why have you brought them here?”

“It is my bride price.”

Her brows lifted and then she shook her head. “Certainly, one sheep would have sufficed.”

Reaching out, he drew his finger behind the cup of her ear, tucking a stray strand. “You, ahavah, my beloved, are worth all of my possessions.”

“You gave all you had?”

Ari would have laughed if she had not looked truly appalled. The truth of it was he would have given all. However, wise words had kept him from doing so. As his father had advised, he would need some of his wealth to provide properly for his future family.

“No. Although, I would have if your father would have been reluctant to relinquish you.”

He witnessed the hesitation in her eyes, watched as they pooled with tears. She closed them and bowed her head. His heart beat erratically within his chest, even as she took slow, deliberate breaths. Would she reject his intentions? He had been so very confident in her answer that he had brought his family and the documents.

Ari pulled the laundered veil from his neck and held it within his hands as if it were precious pottery. The delicate blue cloth shimmered in the breeze. “Sh’mira, if you will allow me to adorn you with this veil, it would be a sign of the covering of my love for you the rest of our days.” He stepped forward and lifted it above her bowed head. Just as he was about to drape it over her, Mira held up her hand. She lifted her eyes and shook her head.

His heart stopped beating.

“Ari, you honor me.” She closed her eyes momentarily. “We,” she said, looking at someone beyond his shoulder, “cannot accept the bride price you offer, for I can never leave my family.”

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