Free Rebekah Redeemed by Dianne G. Sagan Page B

that problem if it comes up. Daniel is my son and his daughter was my granddaughter. You remind me of her. I couldn’t help her, but I won’t let the same fate befall you. You must go someplace Philip is not likely to look for you, someplace even I don’t know about for he may come to me when he sees you are gone and make me talk.”
    After midnight, Prisca packed a small bag with some bread and a skin of water and sent the girl on her way. She co-opted Aaron, Daniel, Jael, and her husband into the conspiracy.
    Where can I go? Where can I go? These were Rebekah’s last thoughts as she fled into the night.
    Later that night Rebekah found herself near the well in Bethany. The sun would not be up for a few hours. She needed a hiding place. She knew the penalty for a servant who ran away. What if someone recognized her and started asking questions? Then, as she passed one of the homes near the edge of the village, she saw a small shed. She could hide there until she could figure out where to go.
    She found a donkey, two goats and a tiny kid nursing from its mother. The animals never made a noise after she crooned and fed them with her hand. The back corner of the little stable was covered with fresh straw. The young woman lay down exhausted; shivering even through it was not cold. She pulled her cloak over her and scattered some straw over it. The moment her head rested on the bag Prisca had packed for her, she went to sleep.

Chapter 14
     
    Rebekah never heard the woman come into the stable. She never heard the soft voice speaking to the animals, never heard her milking the goat. She didn’t hear a sound when Mary came to get some of the fresh straw for the mother goat and her kid. As Mary reached for the straw, it moved. Jumping back, she screamed. In an instant the sleeping form sat bolt upright, wide-eyed and pale.
    Martha and Lazarus heard the screams and ran to Mary’s aid.
    “Rebekah?” Mary murmured. “Rebekah, how did you get here?”
    Rebekah recoiled in terror and drew up her knees, pushing herself back against the stable wall.
    Lazarus called, “Mary? Mary! Are you alright?”
    Then they saw Mary reaching out to the young trembling girl. Lazarus pushed past his sisters and reached his hand out to Rebekah. “Come, child. Come. I will not harm you.”
    Rebekah slowly reached out and took his hand. He drew her from the straw and she looked down at her bare feet, not wanting to make eye contact with him.
    Mary quickly threw her arms around the girl. “Are you hurt? Why are you here?”
    Martha said, “Stop asking questions. Rebekah, come into the house. You must be hungry and thirsty.” Giving Mary a side glance, she took the girl from her and ushered her into the house.
    Mary washed the girl’s feet and gave her some fresh goat’s milk. Then they all sat together for breakfast – bread, apples and more goat’s milk.
    After she had eaten her fill Rebekah said, “I’m sorry I scared you, Mary, but I’m glad it was you and not a stranger or a friend of my uncle’s. I didn’t know where I was, but I needed to find a place to sleep. I discovered the small hole in the stable wall behind the tree when I tried to hide myself there, so I crawled through. I didn’t know where else to go.”
    Martha said,” We heard your mistress sold you to someone in Jerusalem . If you’ve run away, there could be repercussions for my brother. We want to help you, but…”
    Lazarus reached over and touched his sister’s hand, quieting her. “There is time enough to speak of these things. Can you tell us what has happened to make you run away? You said you have an uncle. I didn’t know you had any living relatives. I thought Benjamin bought you from a man just passing through Bethany .”
    Mary put a protective arm around her.
    Martha exchanged troubled expressions with Lazarus.
    “I don’t want to make trouble for you,” Rebekah said in a soft voice. “I just don’t know where to go.” As if someone had broken