Free Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews Page B

narrow watershed, “skirting the eastern side of the cliffs, and we should arrive at sunset.” He poked at the flaming dung chips with a stick. “Would you like to ask me what’s really on your mind?”
    Dinah’s cheeks suddenly warmed, and it wasn’t because of the fire. Did this man read everyone’s mind, or just hers? She would start with something simple. “How old is your son?” Her heart was pounding. She tried not to cringe, but she’d been dreading this answer for days.
    “Ennon is thirty-nine.”
    Oh! He’s a child! Dinah consciously slowed her breathing. How could a man only four years older look at her with love? She was an old goat compared to the young brides he could have married.
    But wait . . . A thought occurred to her for the first time.
    Dinah turned, but Job continued to study the flames. “I heard you tell Zophar that you promised to marry only one woman.” She paused. “Have your sons made a similar promise, or is Ennon already married?”
    Job remained silent, awkwardly so. His expression lost all signs of joy, and her heart sank at the words he didn’t speak.
    “Is he at least an honorable man, like his abba?” she asked quietly.
    “You will be Ennon’s second wife, Dinah, but I believe you will win his heart,” Job said. “My first son is not unkind.”
    “But he is not honorable,” she said, defeat and resignation lacing her tone.
    “Ennon is still finding his place in the world.” Job was almost apologetic. Then, as if grasping at some hope, he said, “He is respected among his peers.” More silence. They continued staring into the fire. “But I fear his peers set the standard too low.”
    Dinah slowly turned to Job in disbelief. “Why would you tell me this? I am merely a woman. He is your son and soon to be my husband. I am supposed to honor and obey him without question.”
    A small smile worked at one corner of Job’s mouth. “I tell you this because I saw your love and compassion for Grandfather Isaac. Your tenacity with Zophar. You are not merely a woman, Dinah, and I doubt that you could ever obey without question.” He chuckled then and turned to meet her gaze. “Ennon has no children. Perhaps a child—a seed of promise—will strengthen his faith. Perhaps the love of a woman like you can teach him that a worthy woman is worthy of an honorable man.”
    Dinah felt herself blush to the roots of her blonde hair, but if Job was willing to speak plainly, she would find no better time to ask her questions than now. “What about your other children? Do your other sons have wives? Do you have grandchildren?”
    “I have seven sons and three daughters,” he said. “Six of my sons are married, but El Shaddai has not yet blessed my household with grandchildren.”
    Job started to explain further, but Dinah interrupted. “Why is it that you don’t offer me to your unmarried son?”
    Job’s answer came quickly, and he was seemingly unperturbed by her boldness. “My youngest is barely thirty and not yet ready for marriage. Though the men of Esau’s clan are expected to marry at age twenty—so the Edomite tribes grow quickly—I ask my sons to wait until they are thirty so I can teach them the ways of the Most High. I believe they should rule their hearts before they rule their households.” He looked at her, lingering as if he wanted to say more, but then shook his head. “I ask my daughters to wait beyond marriageable age as well—until they are twenty—before I find a suitable husband for them, in order that they too can learn Yahweh’s teachings.”
    “Your daughters learn the ways of the Most High? I didn’t know women were allowed to see the sacred writings.” Dinah almost shouted her amazement.
    Job lifted an eyebrow, measuring her before he answered. “I don’t actually possess the covenant writings. Those belong to your abba—the bearer of the covenant blessing—but I have the knowledge of El Elyon’s teachings from my days in the House of