SIN and HONEY: Seven Years of Longing

Chapter 20: Leah

 "What's going on?"she asked Levi, who gripped her arm protectively.

 "Could be thieves,"he said, his voice hoarse with urgency. "Hide, Leah."

 But she didn't move, for as the riders grew closer, she heard them shouting. Besides, there was nowhere to hide—this settlement was out in the open. "Stop! In the name of Laban!"

 Levi broke apart from her, grabbing the reins of their donkeys and placing them in Leah's hands.

 "Get out of here, Leah,"he said. "Ride fast, I can hold them off!"

"There are three of them,"she shouted. "And I'm not leaving you."

"There they are! Someone grab them!"a voice proclaimed, and Leah froze. She recognized that voice.

            Jacob.

            There he was, high above her on Laban's favorite of the beasts, his eyes narrowed as he stared down at them. She knew him immediately, though something was different. His voice was cut from poisoned leaves—each word he spoke made her feel drugged.

            The kindly man who had wished Leah and Levi well approached nervously, urging Jacob to keep the peace in his settlement.

 "They have stolen precious goods from Laban, the owner of a camp near Haran," Jacob informed him. Eli got off his donkey and walked under the awning, coming out a moment later with Leah's bag. His hand disappeared inside before revealing, as Leah knew it would, the silver bracelets and earrings her mother had left her.

 "Those are mine!"she shouted. Laban had never taken any interest in them. But she knew protesting would do no good. Something had happened to make Jacob do this. He had his own precious jewel to protect.

            Rachel.

 "Seize their goods and animals,"Jacob instructed Achan, who dismounted and advanced toward them. "We're going home."

            "Where is Rachel?" Leah asked Jacob, but her question went unanswered as Achan grabbed her arm. Beside her, Eli drew a blade and pointed it at Levi. Panic choked Leah's throat and she lost her footing. If Jacob was helping her father, then they had failed. Rachel had been caught; her sweet, obedient sister, would never have betrayed their father if it weren't for Leah's need to be free.

            "Jacob, is Rachel alright?" Leah shouted. Achan ripped her away from Levi and thrust her atop the red donkey, holding a blade at her stomach. She could barely believe Achan's cruelty; were these the young boys who rattled The Birds with their mischief and flirting? Now they had become soldiers of Laban, no doubt out of fear. What he would do to them if they did not obey? Levi was barricaded by Eli's bronze blade drawn in front of him. He kept calling after her, but Leah could not hear him over the drumming of blood in her ears.

            "What did he do to her, Jacob? Jacob!" 

            Cloaked in black, Jacob didn't answer. His jaw was fixed into a hard line—and Rachel knew he blamed her for what had happened. Without a word, he took charge of the reins and headed out into the desert.

            She remembered Amit's words: I helped your mother once this way, and it led to her death. I've been paying for it ever since. 

            Leah fought for breath.Amit had tried to warn them. Was this what she had meant? That she'd tried to help her mother escape and then Laban ...

            "Rachel!"Leah sobbed. Her hands were shaking, barely able to hold onto the reins. Achan jumped up and rode behind her, holding her steady.

            Jacob would only do this is if he thought it would save Rachel's life. But he was wrong—Laban had seen this happen once before. History was repeating itself, and Leah knew he would burn the camp to the ground before he let any of them survive it.

            As they slowly made their way along the endless path back home, Leah thought of what her mother had told her right before she died. I am in the air, and in the earth, and in your blood. You can never be without me, even when I am gone, she had said, touching her cheek. And then she made her promise to be the same for Rachel. Leah had failed.  

 Wiping her tears with the sleeve of her robe, she steadied herself. Her only hope now was that Laban would kill them more swiftly and mercifully than he had their mother. Then they would be with Ummī again.

 Come home, Leah. Her mother's voice, which Leah thought she had forgotten, burst forth from beneath the past like the now bright and shining sky. Only I will set you free.

****

Sorry for the posting delay! Now that Leah and Levi have been caught, what will Laban do to them? Is Rachel safe back at camp, or has Laban taken his anger out on her? And finally...are Rachel and Jacob EVER going to get married? 

Pre-order SIN AND HONEY's 2nd novella THE TOUCH OF BETRAYAL (a retelling of Samson and Delilah) now! 

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