Free The Greatest Gift by Michael John Sullivan Page A

window.
    Michael recognized Leah’s husband from when he observed them at Elizabeth’s gravesite. He looks upset. Oh, I hope it’s not bad. He has to know where Leah and Elizabeth went. We can find them together.
    He heaved a deep sigh, got control of his emotions and ran outside, yelling to the two men. “Please help me.” He put his hand out in a gesture of friendship. “My daughter is in trouble.”
    Leah’s husband glared at him. “Who are you? What are you doing in my home?”
    “I have come looking for my daughter,” Michael said.
    “Are you the man from the burial site Leah has spoken about?”
    “I am.”
    “Go on your way.”
    Michael shook his head. “I cannot leave until I find out what happened to my daughter. Her name is Elizabeth. She has hair like mine,” he said, pointing to his head. “The same color eyes.”
    “Elizabeth? The woman Leah and I visited at the burial site?”
    Michael thought fast on how to spin this without having this man think he was insane. “No. A different daughter. I renamed her Elizabeth after my first daughter died.”
    “I cannot help you.” Leah’s husband walked past him.
    “Something terrible has happened,” said Michael, following him.
    “It was the Romans,” Leah’s husband said, turning around. His face was pale. “The soldiers have come for us.”
    “What soldiers?”
    “The ones looking to avenge us for killing another one some sunsets ago.”
    “My God, Aharon,” his friend yelled. “Is this so?”
    Aharon jolted the man with a thrust to his shoulder. “Stay silent. Do you know how many hands around here would love to fetch a reward? Go home. Protect yourself.”
    The man ran out of the house as Michael took a few steps toward Aharon. “It was Marcus. Right?” he asked.
    Aharon nodded.
    “Where would they take Leah and Elizabeth?”
    Aharon went to the bedroom and came back with a spear. “The fortress.”
    “The one by the wall?”
    “Near the big temple,” Aharon said.
    Michael smothered a loud sigh of intense fear. “There have to be hundreds of soldiers there.”
    “Many,” said Aharon with a frown as he walked away.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To the fortress to get my Leah back. She was not responsible for killing that soldier. I am. I will give myself up to save her life.”
    Michael ran after him and grabbed his arm. “No. There has to be a better way. We can think of a plan, find a way that can save everyone.”
    Aharon turned toward Michael and knocked him to the ground. “Get your hand off me or my sword will take it.”
    Michael backed away on his knees.
    “There are many Romans with better weapons than we have,” said Aharon. “How are two people going to take on the most powerful army?”
    Michael stood and thought about what Aharon had said for a few moments. “I do not have the answer for that question. I do know two of us are better than one.”
    Aharon walked several paces out of the courtyard. “Well, I know I have to go there and defend my Leah. I am prepared to give up my life. You should do the same for your daughter.”
    “I cannot disagree with you, my friend.”
    Aharon took several steps back to him, facing Michael nose-to-nose, and glared. “You are no friend of mine. We can help each other. Whatever happens, I will go my way with Leah or not. You will go your way with your daughter or not. Do you understand?”
    “I do. But you understand as well. I will save and protect my daughter at all costs. We can either help each other or not. That is your choice. Are we clear?”
    Aharon didn’t respond and kept walking, picking up the pace with each step. Michael stayed behind a good distance for fear of antagonizing him more. I am going to need him to help me get Elizabeth out safely. His thoughts percolated, ideas swarmed in his mind. Yet, none seemed reasonable and rational against the odds he faced.
    I’ll make this journey alone if I have to.
    Michael looked skyward, fighting off his peaceful