Ruth
Rewrapping the bolt of cloth the last customer had disheveled Ruth lay it neatly with the others. Daniel had accompanied Melanie down the way to the booth of a friend. Ruth wondered about the wisdom of leaving Clarissa with Sarah. But Sarah was also nursing a young one, and Clarissa had been especially fussy lately. Sarah loved her. The child seemed to prefer to be with her. Ruth needed to sell her cloth to make money for the things her children needed. This season the crop from the vineyard barely provided for those tending it.
Alone in the busy marketplace, nodding to customers who passed, Ruth munched her lunch and refused to think. She could not make it through the day, every day, if she dwelt on all that had happened.
A regal-looking stranger with light eyes, short blond wavy hair and a clean-shaven face stopped at the booth.
"Are you the weaver, Ruth, from Nazareth?" he asked, examining the cloth, bolt by bolt.
"Yes."
"My name is Gideon of Leeds. A friend of mine told me I would find you here. This is excellent work. I was wondering if you would consider coming to work for me." He wore a robe of white, the fabric smooth, light in texture, yet sturdy and rich.
"I've never considered working for someone else," Ruth said.
"I live over there," he said, pointing across the water to a stone building in the distance. "You'd have your own quarters, a house by the sea. You could set your loom up there. I have an army to clad. If you know anyone who is a good seamstress I need to employ someone to do that as well."
"I don't believe in war."
"It's a figure of speech. I will have a raft of people working with me soon. They are a ragtag bunch. In the next month there will be changes coming down. They will need to present a whole different look to the Empire."
"I couldn't weave that much that fast." The thought taxed her. Lately it had been hard to force herself to do anything.
"Then you'll consider it?"
"Working for someone else doesn't appeal to me. Thanks, but..."
"If it's the others in your life who are the problem, I have lots of room."
"My husband was killed," Ruth said.
"I'm so sorry. Look, I know you don't know me, and you have no idea what you'd be getting yourself into. So I'd like to invite you over to have a look around. You could bring a brother or an uncle with you. If you decided you didn't like it, I'd move you back home."
"What if I stayed at home and wove for you exclusively until the project is complete?"
"That would work, I guess." A tall man of indecipherable age he bore a look of radiance, one she had seen somewhere else. She just couldn't remember where.
"I have a son, a daughter and a teenage girl who helps me."
"Not a problem. They can come, too. I'll be back tomorrow midday for your answer."
After Gideon had gone Ruth gathered her things and stacked them in the cart. Working for him would save her the need of coming to market. With two children it was proving more difficult. If he was a good employer life would be simpler.
James sauntered up the street and sat on the table she had just cleared.
"You look worried, Sis."
"Sarah told me you were here. I just had an offer of employment by a man named Gideon. He has a house over there," she said, pointing to the structure. "Do you know of him?"
"Can't say I do," James said. "Seems like Father mentioned doing work for Gideon a few years ago."
Simon came up behind James. "Good guy, I've heard. What about him?"
"He's invited me to work for him as a weaver."
"That could be good," Simon said, thinking she would be closer. The idea pleased him.
"So you think it's worth checking into?" Ruth asked. "He said I could bring someone with me to look over his place."
"I'd be willing to do that," Simon said.
"Me too," James said.
"He said he'd back midday tomorrow."
"I could go after morning fishing," Simon said.
"I'll meet you both here around noon," James said.
"I don't know exactly what time he'll show up," Ruth said.
"We can wait," they said.
James liked Simon. This would give him more time to see if he was good enough for his sister. The day she was born he had sworn to protect her. He planned to do that until his last breath and in every lifetime to come.
When Melanie and Daniel returned they took the cart to Simon's house. As they fed and watered Philipa, Ruth told Melanie of Gideon's offer.
"So what do you think, Melanie? Would you be willing to come with me?"
"Wherever you go, I will follow," Melanie said. She had always wanted to say that since she first heard the ancient stories of Ruth. If they moved it would mean she would be closer to Thaddeus. He'd gone to work for a carpenter in Capernaum after Father Joseph was killed.
"What do you think your mother would say?" Ruth said.
"Before she and Father David left for Jerusalem to tend Maria's home for orphans and destitute women, she told me I'm close enough to being a woman to make my own choices. She said she trusted me," Melanie said, with pride.
"Okay then, tomorrow we'll check it out," Ruth said. "But what about Mother? I don't want to leave her, not now. She just lost Father."
"She keeps herself busy with healing and such," James said. "It's not like she's alone. There's still Sarah and me, brother David and his family and Jacob and his family, although they are talking about moving to Elizabeth's to help with the farm. Mary Martha is moving back home, now that her husband is dead. Turns out she doesn't like her in-laws. She and her little ones will keep Mother company. She was going to move into Elizabeth's old place. This way she could move in with Mother."
"Mary Martha's kids are brats," Simon said. "They'd drive your mother crazy."
"True," James said. "Hopefully we, well Sarah actually, can straighten them out. She's good at that."
"Okay, it's something to think about. We need to get going if we're to make it to the inn before dark," Ruth said.
"Why don't you stay here?" Simon said.
"That wouldn't be proper." She hadn't stayed at his house since Sarah's death.
"Look, James," Simon said, "you said you have business here tomorrow. Why don't' you stay with me tonight. That way the women can stay, too."
"Sure, why not," James said. "Thanks."
"Okay, then, sure, we'll stay," Ruth said.
"Good," Simon said. "I fix a mean plate of fish."
That night on her sleeping mat in Simon's brother's empty room, Ruth thought hard about Gideon's offer. Something about it didn't set right. She had to find out what it was.
The next day at the market place after setting up the booth, Ruth said, "Did Mother tell you she's planning to call a meeting of the women?"
"No," Melanie said. "Isn't this a little soon? It's only been a month since the tragedies."
"That's what I said. But she said we can't wait any longer," Ruth said.
"Do you know when?" Melanie asked.
"Sometime next week, I think."
"How about the men?" Melanie said.
"Simon has called them together for the day after tomorrow. They both seem to think it's never been more important."
By lunch neither James nor Simon had shown up. Annoyed, nonetheless determined, Ruth waited for Gideon. Traffic was light in the market. She suggested Melanie take time to be with her friends. Late afternoon arrived. Gideon, James and Simon were still absent. Melanie returned and helped her pack.
Just as they were about to leave a man came running along the street yelling, "The soldiers are coming. Clear out. They're taking prisoners."
Little Daniel looked terrified. Melanie and Ruth hitched up the donkey and took the goods to Simon's. He was not home.
"He's always home by now," Melanie said.
The house had the air of abandonment, though it was difficult to identify why. Nothing was m
issing or out of place.
"Something has to be wrong," Ruth said. She paced back and forth in front of the hearth. She could still see Sarah there, tending fish stew. Blocking the image she considered what they needed to do.
"Yes," Melanie said. "I'm worried about Thaddeus, too. Normally he meets me sometime during the day. No one has seen him all day."
"This isn't good," Ruth said. "We can't stay here. If Simon's been taken, they're likely to ransack his house."
"It'll be dark soon," Melanie said.
"That's when we can get away."
"To where?" Fear crawled up Melanie's back.
"Gideon's," Ruth said.
"You don't even know the guy. He could be a horrible man. He could turn us in."
"True, but I don't think so. We'll need to take Philipa, too."
"What would they want with a donkey? Couldn't we sneak away better without her and the cart?"
"We'll leave the cart. They could kill her just because they can. And you don't leave animals to fend for themselves, not when they depend on you."
"What about the cloth?"
"Hopefully, they won't bother it. Daniel, you will need to walk inside my cloak. Can you do that, son?"
"Yes, Mother."
"I'm so glad I left Clarissa at Sarah's. At least I don't have to worry about her," Ruth said. "I think it would be better if we dress as men."
"They're throwing men in prison." Terrified, Melanie tried to block the scene that kept playing in her mind, the one at the temple when Joseph and Yeshua were taken.
"Yes, but they rape and kill women. If we dress as beggars they should leave us alone. Let's look around for the raggiest clothes Simon owns."
"What about Philipa? Beggars wouldn't have a donkey," Melanie said.
"Yes, but there's nothing we can do about that."
Night arrived, cloudy with a touch of moonlight. The two women, little boy and the donkey stole out of the enclosure. An occasional torchlight could be seen in the city. They crept along the shore, stopping to rest in outcroppings of trees. After some time they reached Gideon's big stone house. They were met at the gate by a guard.
"Be gone," he said.
"Gideon had an appointment with us today," Ruth said.
"Your name," the guard said.
"Ruth of Nazareth."
"Good. Good. He's been hoping you'd come." The guard was suddenly cordial. "Hurry. No one must see you."
Carrying a small lamp he led them in through a basement door, along a narrow hallway and into an interior room. When her eyes had adjusted, Ruth saw others seated on the floor, silently watching. One of them rose.
"I'll take your donkey to the stable," the guard said, leading Philipa down the hall.
"I'm glad you made it," Gideon said. "There was no time to send anyone to get you."
Daniel waddled to Gideon and clung to his robe. Ruth was about to reprimand him.
Gideon said, "It's all right, son. You are safe with me. Now that you're all here, it's time to lay out the plan."
It was a woman who spoke next. "We must move quickly. We have to change strategies."
"Mother?" Ruth said.
"Yes," Mother Mary said. "Gideon informed me some days ago that he wanted to call a meeting. I was on my way to talk with him about it when word came of a crackdown. The Sanhedrin is trying to flush us out, all of us who were ordained at the temple the day they killed Joseph. They're calling what we did blasphemy, an offense against God, a stoneable offense."
"The plan is to move the base of operations here," Gideon said. "That's why I asked you to move your loom here, Ruth. You all need a different look. The soldiers will be looking for you with the type of fabric and the clothing you're wearing now. We need to change that. Ruth, do you think you could weave enough to clothe us all?"
"Yes, but it'll take time," Ruth said.
"How about the rest of you, are any of you weavers?" Gideon asked.
No one spoke.
"Melanie, here, is getting pretty good at it," Ruth said.
"Okay, have any of you done any sewing?" Gideon said.
Most of the women murmured they had.
"My workers are scouring the countryside for looms. Ruth, do you think you could teach weaving to those who are willing."
"Sure," Ruth said.
"Excellent. We are going to need all of the skills all of you have in the days ahead," Gideon said.
Mother Mary said, "With Yeshua and Maria gone, we have to reorganize. Peace is a process, not a destination. Enlightenment happens one at a time, although masses can experience it at the same time given the right conditions."
"So what do you think we should be teaching?" Simon said. He looked across the group and caught Ruth's eyes, holding them a long while.
Relieved he was there, along with her brother, James, and a number of the twenty-six, she smiled at Simon.
"It's not only a matter of what, it's a matter of how," Mother Mary said.
"It's a pretty simple message," Gideon said. He had a radiance about him, even in the darkened room.
He still reminded Ruth of someone. He did. A dream. She had seen him in a dream.
"And," Mother Mary said, "we must no longer teach together the way we'd started doing before Joseph was killed, with Yeshua speaking to large groups. If we are together, it'll be too easy for them to capture us all and silence the message. Two by two is still the best choice."
"If men and women go out together, people are more likely to think you're a family unit and leave you alone," Gideon said.
"There are those who aren't married, who have been thinking of taking the person Joseph and I partnered you with as husband or wife. This would be a good time to do that, so no aspersions can be cast and negate the message," Mother Mary said.
"I can arrange it," Gideon said. "I think you all should stay here until dangers have eased. Some of my people are out checking around. When they think it's safe, you can go."
"What about the others?" Ruth said, "like Sarah and the children. My daughter is with her."
"I'm heading out to get them, now," James said.
"I think you should wait," Gideon said.
"Not a chance," James said. "It's my wife, my family we're talking about. Don't worry, Sis. I'll make sure baby Clarissa is safe." He hurried from the group into the hallway.
"Well," Gideon said, "that's it for now. We'll give you time to think about what you need to do."
The group broke into chatter.
Simon unkinked himself and picked his way to Ruth.
"I'm so glad you're safe," she said. "I was worried when you didn't show up."
"I worried about you, too. One of Gideon's men met me while I was still out in the boat. I wanted to come get you. By the time we got back to shore the soldiers were everywhere. There was no way we could have made it.
"Ruth, would you.... You're one the finest woman I've met," he said. What he was about to say made him feel guilty. Loyalty to Sarah loomed in his thoughts. "I was wondering, would you consider becoming my wife?"
"Yes." It hurt her to say it. The eyes of her beloved, John, filled her mind. "It seems natural."
"Yes, you will learn to care about me. I promise to be a good husband."
"I already do."
Simon blushed, glad for the shadows.
Grinning, Melanie and Thaddeus plopped down beside them.
"We're going to get married," Melanie said, beaming. "Gideon said it could be as early as tomorrow. I'm so excited."
Chapter 33