Free Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews Page A

drop of clear, cold refreshment. The sun’s rays peeked over the western sandstone cliffs, but the mountain heights also meant falling temperatures, and Dinah’s teeth chattered to the sway of her camel. Her speckled woolen robe would soon be no match for the chilly winds. Looking ahead, she saw a forest of trees and scrub covering a plateau and prayed the guide would find water there. Searching the back of the caravan for Nogahla’s white donkey, she found the girl, shoulders crouched and shivering, bouncing atop her little beast of burden along the mountain ridge road.
    “This looks like a good place to rest,” Job shouted ahead to the guide. “If there’s water, we’ll stop.”
    Dinah sighed with relief and noted Job’s kind smile. Had he noticed her discomfort?
    “But Master Job, Uz is around the bend at the next plateau. Why stop now?” The guide turned and met Dinah’s gaze. She tried to still her chattering teeth but couldn’t. The man made no pretense of hiding his frustration, but upon reaching the forest and bubbling spring, he reined his camel to a stop.
    By the time Dinah halted her weary camel, Job had dismounted and was waiting with blankets in hand. “A little colder than you’d expect in the desert, isn’t it?”
    Dinah’s cantankerous camel spit and squawked its protest all the way to its knees and belly. Talking to the beast gently, she patted its neck and stepped free from her four-legged throne.
    Job laughed. “You seem to enjoy travel far more than my wife and daughters.” He placed a blanket on her shoulders and walked toward Nogahla’s donkey with another blanket. “Sitis hates the smell of camels,” he said over his shoulder, “and our daughters think ‘sleeping under the stars’ means a tent, three layers of fleece for a bed, and servants fanning them with ostrich plumes.”
    Dinah was two steps behind Job when Nogahla nearly leapt off her donkey. “M-m-mistress, I’m c-c-c-cold!” Job’s laughter echoed between the mountain peaks. He wrapped the second blanket around the girl’s shoulders, and she cuddled in its warmth.
    “Thank you,” Dinah said, awed at his thoughtfulness. Job nodded, waving away her gratitude as if unnecessary.
    Pointing the way toward a cozy campfire, Job had taken only a few steps when Dinah saw two fingers claw at Job’s shoulder. “We cannot waste time here. If we are to reach Uz before sunset, we must be on our way within the hour.” The guide stalked away, leaving Job gawking. Dinah silently marveled that a hired man would speak to his master with such disrespect.
    “He’s up to something, Master Job. He’s no good.” Nogahla spoke offhandedly, as if anyone could have seen the truth had they been watching. “He’s had sneaky eyes since we left Elath.”
    Dinah was unsettled by Nogahla’s candor. “Nogahla, Master Job chose his guide with much care, and he trusts him implicitly.” Watching Job’s expression, she hoped for some sign of confidence. None came.
    “Actually, the man came highly recommended by my house steward, Atif.” Job glanced at the impatient guide, who was shouting orders at the camel drivers. “Atif and I have a long history of differing opinions. I’ll never take his advice on such a matter again.” Job effectively closed the subject by smiling and extending his hand toward the crackling flames. “Why don’t we sit by the fire so you two can warm up?”
    Dinah and Nogahla fell in step beside him.
    “Would you mind telling me about the rest of our journey to Uz?” Dinah asked. She and Job had spoken little during their last three days of travel. They’d enjoyed shopping for gifts and herbs in Elath and the short camaraderie of evening prayers before retiring to their tents. But Dinah had hoped Job would volunteer information about Ennon during the long days of travel. He’d been strangely silent. She was battling worry and losing the war.
    “We’ll travel the ridge road,” Job said, pointing to the