Free Unshaken by Francine Rivers Page A

and dipped it into the wine.
    Gradually, the whispering curiosity lessened as the young women around her talked and laughed, as did the young men on the other side of the enclosure.
    Ruth watched Boaz surreptitiously as he sat with his overseer. Despite the disparity of their positions, the two men talked with the ease of good friends. The overseer was young enough to be Boaz’s son. He was a handsome man, powerfully built with dark hair and eyes. Boaz was plain. His hair and beard were streaked with gray, the two thick curls at his temples white. He was not attractive in any way that would draw attention. Yet his kindness made her heart soften toward him. His tender care touched some deep place within her. When he turned his head slightly and looked her way, she lowered her eyes again. It was not proper for her to study any man, let alone one who was so far above her station. As she looked away, she encountered the open stares of several young men. One grinned at her. She looked away quickly so that he would know his attentions were unwelcome.
    She did not linger over the meal but returned quickly to the field, gleaning in the distant corner where she would neither offend the maidservants nor attract unwanted interest from the reapers.

          
    Boaz took Shamash aside before the reapers returned to the fields. “The young men have taken notice of the Moabitess.”
    He laughed softly. “Any man breathing would take notice of her.”
    “See that no one takes advantage of her.”
    Shamash’s grin faded. “Of course.” He nodded.
    Boaz put his hand on the overseer’s arm. “I know you wouldn’t allow her to be mistreated, but there are those, even among our workers, who are clearly disturbed by the presence of a Moabitess.”
    “The young women.” His mouth tipped.
    Boaz removed his hand from Shamash. “Did you notice her fingers are raw and bleeding?”
    Frowning, Shamash looked out into the field where Ruth was working. “She hasn’t the tools for the work.”
    “Precisely. When I’ve gone, go out and tell her to glean behind the workers. Give this young woman time and opportunity to prove herself.”
    Then Boaz called the younger men to him. When they gathered around him, he looked each in the eye. “You have all noticed the young gleaner among us. Her name is Ruth, and she’s providing for her mother-in-law, Naomi, wife of our brother Elimelech. Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her. And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time! Whatsoever you do to this young woman, you do to me.”
    Thus advised, the reapers returned to the field. Boaz mounted his horse.
    “Be at ease about the young Moabitess, Boaz,” Shamash said. “Everything will be carried out according to your will.”
    Boaz looked out over his field and the reapers and harvesters cutting and gathering the sheaves. He loved those who belonged to him, and he wanted them to behave with honor toward those less fortunate. Ruth worked alone. “Perhaps God will shine His countenance upon her and give her a young husband from among our people.” He looked down at Shamash and smiled. “May God be with you, my friend.”
    Shamash smiled. “And with you, my lord.”
    As Boaz rode away, he kept his eyes straight ahead on the road back to Bethlehem, refusing himself the pleasure of looking back at the young Moabitess working in his field. Instead, he thanked God for giving him the opportunity to help her, and thus help another who mattered greatly to him.
    Sweet, vibrant Naomi, the girl he had once sought for his wife.

          
    Ruth straightened and watched Boaz ride away. “Lord, please bless this man for his kindness toward me and my mother-in-law. Give him joy in his old age.” Smiling, she bent to glean again.
    The overseer came out to her. She paused in her labor and inclined her head in respect.