Free The Sons of Isaac by Roberta Kells Dorr

peace while he watched her watering the camels. Surely there can be no one more generous. When she had finished he could no longer restrain himself. “Whose daughter are you,” he asked, “and by chance is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”
    “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor,” she said. Then looking up at him with her light brown eyes flecked with gold and long, curved lashes, she added, “We have both straw and provisions for your animals and plenty of room for you and your men.”
    At that Eleazar was almost overcome with wonder and amazement. “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham,” he said, bowing his head, “who has led me straight to the house of my master’s brethren.”
    He took from his belt the small olive wood box Isaac had given him and drew out the golden earrings and the two bracelets. As he put the bracelets on her arm, he said, “The young son of my master sent these for you.”
    Rebekah stood for a moment arranging the bracelets and fingering the gold earrings, too overcome with excitement to speak.
    Finally with a quick, bright smile, she said, “I have heard my father and grandfather speak often of my uncle Abraham. They will be so happy. I must run quickly and tell them of your arrival.” With that she set the heavy jar down in the sand and went running along the worn path back to the city.
    When she arrived home and flung open the door to the courtyard, she was immediately confronted by her brother Laban. “Where’s the water you were to have brought?” he asked angrily.
    “And where’s the jar?” her mother questioned. They had all been waiting impatiently for the water she had gone to fetch. It was usually the job of the new bride to bring water for the family, but Laban had objected, saying his bride was not used to such lowly tasks. Rebekah hadn’t objected since she loved to be outside and getting the water was one of her favorite errands.
    When she hesitated and didn’t answer right away, Laban grabbed her by the arm impatiently. “Where have you been? It should take only a short time to get water …” He stopped suddenly as he looked down at her wrist and saw the bracelets. Immediately his eyes narrowed into suspicious slits while his mouth twisted unpleasantly. “And where did these come from?” he demanded.
    By this time everyone in the family had gathered around, and they were all looking at the bracelets. “Where? How? Who?” they chorused.
    Rebekah pulled away from Laban and smiled as she fingered the new earrings. “The most wonderful thing has happened,” she said breathlessly.
    “You’ve no doubt been out acting the flirt. Spoiling your chances to marry Nazzim,” Laban shouted in frustration.
    “Don’t you see?” she said impatiently, “My prayer to the God of our uncle Abraham may have been answered.”
    A stunned silence greeted her announcement and then Laban spoke. His voice was low and controlled but his words shot out like poisoned arrows. “You can’t spoil our agreement with Nazzim. There’s gold and influence at stake. No simple trader can equal that.”
    Rebekah was unmoved by his hostile demeanor. “Go see for yourself,” she said. “His servant is still by the well with all his camels.”
    Laban cursed. “By the gods I’ll soon put an end to this,” he said, whirling around and hurrying out the gate.
    The minute he was gone the whole courtyard sprang to life. Deborah reached her first. “Oh my dear child,” she said. “How are you so sure this is an answer to our prayer?”
    Rebekah pulled back her mantle so her nurse could see the gold earrings more clearly and held out her arm for all of them to see the bracelets sparkling in the morning sunlight. “The servant said these were for me from the son of my uncle. I need no greater proof.”
    Her old nurse began to wipe the tears of joy from her eyes, but Nahor, sitting under the grape arbor, roused himself to say, “Laban has