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Seven
~~~
I ran over to Leah. Mischa had her by the shoulders, saying, "Whatever do you mean, gone?"
Leah was stumbling over her words. "Varash said, his neighbor told him, a servant of Lehi in the marketplace said Lehi's house ... was abandoned! When they arrived to work, there was not so much as a chicken in its pen, or any on their lands, north of the city, either."
Bathsheva asked, "Was there any sign of violence?"
Leah shook her head. "Varash said nothing even looked disturbed."
We just stood there, looking at each other, wondering what could have happened. Mischa forced a laugh. "Most likely they are visiting friends, or kinsmen."
Leah shook her head. "With their animals? Surely not."
With wide eyes, Bathsheba's eldest daughter, Hannah, whispered, "Do you think ... they have been taken?"
"Taken? Who would do such a thing?" Mischa replied. "Lehi may have ruffled some feathers—"
So, they had heard something of the troubles.
"—but surely nothing to merit such a thing."
Bathsheva said, "Perhaps they have gone with a caravan, on business. We probably are concerned over nothing."
Mischa looked at her. "Sariah would never go on such a journey."
"Perhaps she is visiting elsewhere," I offered.
"Without telling the servants?" Leah answered. "No. Something is very wrong here."
For once, we all agreed on something.
Of late, Mischa and Leah had become most interested in making matches with Laman and Lemuel. But it was not a good time for marriages, and now there was another problem. When Father took Bathsheva to wife, her daughters became part of our family. As the oldest daughter in our household now, Hannah must be betrothed --- before any of us could be.
And that was a problem, for Hannah had no desire to wed.
Somehow, Mischa had found out what happened to her. A few weeks earlier, she had told me and Leah all about it.
"Hannah was already betrothed before," Mischa explained. "Her espoused husband was several years older than her, but still a fine match, very wealthy. He owned a large herd of sheep outside Bethabara, and built a fine home for Hannah, with many conveniences. Their wedding celebration was set to happen in a few weeks, and then ... " Misha whispered, "he disappeared."
"What happened to him?" Leah asked.
"After several days, he was found ... at the bottom of a cliff, dead. His body was terribly mangled, as if torn apart by a wild animal."
We gasped. Poor Hannah.
Mischa continued, "But something about it did not seem quite right. A servant had heard him say he was heading out to the groves to search for some lost sheep. It seemed unlikely that he was taken unaware by an animal. He was an experienced hunter, once having killed a young lion all by himself, to protect his sheep."
No wonder Hannah was so withdrawn and quiet. She had gone through so much, losing her father and her betrothed in one season, and now, with her mother's marriage to our father, she also had to leave her own home and friends.
We felt bad for her, but it had become a difficult situation for us, too. None of us could enter a betrothal, until she did first. And, even though her year of mourning had passed, she still had no desire to be taken to wife.
Father stated he had no intention of forcing her to marry, until she was ready, so Mischa and Leah would simply have to wait. And they were not pleased. Good-looking, wealthy traders like Laman and Lemuel would not be available forever.
And now ... they were gone. And Nephi with them. What could have happened to them? Would they return?
