Free Rebekah Redeemed by Dianne G. Sagan Page A

remained frozen under his weight.
    Please, God, if you are there. Please stop this man. I am but a lowly servant and slave, but if you truly hear me, do not let me be shamed again.
    Marcus pulled at her tunic, but he suddenly relaxed. She felt his whole weight pushing down on her, but his breathing was that of a man deeply asleep. Frightened of awaking him, she tried desperately to slide away from him. After a few minutes, he began to mumble in his sleep. She froze again. Then he rolled over and snored. Rebekah rolled quickly and silently onto the floor. She lay there in her stomach barely breathing. Marcus never moved, and his breathing remained constant and deep.
    Rebekah silently crept from the bedroom, down the stairs and back to the servants’ quarters. Her whole body trembled violently. She huddled on her pallet, and silent tears poured from her eyes.
    She woke the next morning to the sound of men running and people yelling. She crept to a place where she could see and hear what was happening without discovery. A messenger from the Antonia fortress in Jerusalem had been sent to summon Marcus and the other soldiers immediately. The soldiers, still half drunk from the night before, struggled into their uniforms. Aaron and Joseph saddled and brought the horses, and the Roman’s were gone.
    On the way out Marcus had called to Philip, “We must go. The tribune summons us. These people are always causing trouble.”
    “Come back tonight. We still have much to celebrate.”
    When Philip back inside he began throwing things around and complaining that his time with Marcus had been cut short. He turned the household upside down and finally took his last few remaining friends jackal hunting.
    “Aaron, send the entertainers and women away. Return the servants to my mother.”
    After Philip’s departure, the servants went to work cleaning up the aftermath of the feast and Philip’s temper tantrum. Prisca found Rebekah working in the kitchen away from everyone.
    “What happened? Jael told me that the Centurion took you to his chamber with him. Are you…?”
    “I… he didn’t… I did what you said, but he…”
    “Did he… ?”
    “No. It was strange.” She shuddered. “I kept giving him wine, but it didn’t seem to stop him; and then I prayed.”
    “Does he know that he passed out and nothing happened between you?”
    Rebekah said, “I stayed hidden until he and his men were gone. I was afraid of what he would do if he thought I tricked him.”
    Prisca said, “We must get you out of the house. If Marcus returns and finds you here you could be in great danger.”
    “What kind of danger?”
    “Philip would beat you and probably sell you in the slave market. Marcus could kill you, and no one could lift a finger against him.”
    “But where can I go that Philip won’t find me?”
    “You must run away, girl. You must get away from Philip and his lands so he doesn’t discover you as he wanders the fields and the house.”
    “But if I run away, what will you tell him? He can send word to the garrison, and anyone would bring me back if they found me.”
    “I will tell him we need you in the fields. We have too many house servants already. He leaves things to Aaron and Daniel when it comes to the cultivating and management of the land. Philip will believe me. I have taken care of him since he was a child. He cares little if one of his many servants dies or disappears as long as he is pampered and can do what he wants. Aaron and Daniel answer directly to Philip’s father. They will help me protect you. They have seen and experienced too often what happens to servant women who are abused by Philip’s Roman friends. One of Daniel’s daughters died because of it only a year ago. But you must run away. If we can keep Philip thinking you’re working at the far end of the land then he will soon forget about you.”
    “What about his father? Won’t he ask about me if I disappear?
    Prisca frowned. “We will handle