“He has anguished over this for weeks. He’s very attracted to Abigail, but didn’t dare let her know it. He told me he didn’t want to pressure her to accept Jasher’s will. He wants nothing less than Abigail’s independent decision on the matter. If she is not comfortable with remarriage, he will release her.”
Rachel now had tears in her eyes. “Jonathan,” she said as she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands, “I am so happy for Abigail! She feels the same way about Pekah. Her days of mourning are past, and now she’ll be able to choose. From the very moment Jasher placed her hand in Pekah’s, she has struggled with what he requested. But now, after getting to know Pekah, she feels that she will do it.”
“Out of duty? Or out of respect for Jasher?”
“Abigail loved Jasher, but they were still newlyweds of only a few months. With all the travel Jasher had done among the provinces of Gideon, she’d hardly seen him. And she has no other living family. She feels alone. She told me she feels that her chances of marrying again will be slim. If she’s worried that men will look down upon her, as being someone ‘less desirable,’ what more could she hope for?”
“Did Abigail use that term?”
“Yes. That’s how she feels.”
Jonathan put his arm around Rachel and squeezed her. “She deserves to be happy. Maybe you should go find the young lady and tell her what we talked about. Perhaps it will help her confidently approach Pekah to discuss the matter.”
“I love you.” Rachel gave Jonathan a quick peck on the cheek. Her long auburn hair flowed behind her as she ran.
Chapter 35
The next morning, the day before the Sabbath, dawned as beautiful as the last-nearly cloudless skies, and a slight breeze tugging at the hem of Jonathan’s priestly robe. He held Rachel’s hand tightly, drawing strength from her touch. But today, more than ever, he felt the void left by his absent parents deep within his heart. I’m getting married today-they should be here. He took a long breath. Perhaps they will be. Self-conscious of his distracted thoughts, he tried to refocus on the present. After all, wasn’t this supposed to be a happy day?
He snapped back into the moment, once again aware of those circled around the octagonal font in the temple court-Pekah, Uzziel, Miriam, Tavor, and Sarah, all dressed in white. The beauty of the scene struck him. These were his friends. They were his family. He realized he actually was surrounded by those whom he loved, and he smiled. And I am about to witness a miracle, he thought
Less than a day had passed since he sat with Rachel, watching songbirds and enjoying the sweet scent of orchids in the gardens when Abigail had come looking for Pekah. By the end of the day, Pekah had proposed marriage to her, and she had accepted. Since Abigail had previously been married, and neither of them had any living family to participate in the celebrations, they decided, at Rachel’s insistence, to share her day and formalize their own union.
And much like the Gideonite captain, who had been taught in his youth about a King and Creator, Abigail had been prepared by her own parents. Spending time with Pekah, she had learned more about The One Who Would Suffer and had decided to follow Pekah’s example.
She now stood in the waist-deep baptismal font with Eli, a temple priest, his hand gently on her arm. Eli committed her into the care of the Great King of Heaven, then lowered her into the water and brought her up again.
Jonathan’s gaze rested on Uzziel, watching for his approval. Presiding, Uzziel looked down at Eli and nodded, indicating that the covenant was acceptable and complete. Eli supported Abigail as he guided her toward the steps.
Rachel let go of Jonathan’s hand and moved past Pekah so she could be closer to the top step. She offered a dry towel. Dripping wet, Abigail took the towel and pulled it fully around her soaked white dress. With a free hand she wrung out her hair. The gazes of the two women met again, tears of joy trickled down their faces, and they embraced.
“Thank you, Rachel.” Abigail said, her voice full of joy.
Rachel hugged her again. “I’m so happy for you. How do you feel?”
“Wonderful. Like fresh rain on a summer morning.”
Starting with Uzziel and his wife, each guest approached in turn and offered heartfelt congratulations and well-wishes. The last to greet her, Pekah stretched out his hand. Abigail reached forward, and Pekah clasped her palm gently between his own. He stared into her eyes, making her blush like a suns-set. She trembled, shivering.
Rachel threw a teasing look at Pekah. “I need to get her into dry clothing,” she said, then led her off to the vestments house.
Jonathan assisted Eli in climbing the last of the font’s steps. “Pekah and I will wait here for you.”
“I’ll hurry!” Eli said, sloshing his way toward another chamber to don dry clothing.
After promising to meet Jonathan at the pavilion in the gardens, Tavor, Sarah, Uzziel, and Miriam excused themselves.
Jonathan studied Pekah. Even with his new short beard, as dark as midnight, the young Gideonite’s face glowed. “This will be a memorable day. Are you pleased?”
“Yes. Immensely.”
Jonathan snickered. “You know, she’s smitten.”
Pekah’s face reddened. “Do you think so?”
“I’ve never seen such a case. What have you done to her?”
Pekah grinned. “Nothing. She likes the beard, I guess.”
“Well, if that’s the reason, you’d better keep it.”
Seeming preoccupied, Pekah only nodded. Jonathan stretched, letting out a yawn. Even though he had tried his best to avoid getting involved in the wedding plans, all the excitement of the past week had made him tired. Now that the day had arrived, he hoped to be able to relax on the morrow.
When Eli returned in his dry temple robes, the three of them left the courts together. They walked out under the graceful, white granite archway into the gardens, where a massive crowd of people thronged between flowerbeds and fruit trees of all kinds. Jonathan was startled to see so many gathered.
As if on cue, the crowd shouted, “Hail to Jonathan, Heir of Daniel, King and Judge!”
Jonathan paused mid-step, somewhat embarrassed by the unexpected attention. Eli urged him to continue. He gathered his composure and strode forward, noticing he was flanked on his right by Eli, friend of his youth and priest of Uzzah, and on the left by Pekah, brave protector, captain of the Host of Gideon. He mused over the fact that using the important titles made him more comfortable-and much less conspicuous.
They marched in perfect synchronization down the cobbled pathway between rows of orchids and under a canvas canopy that had been placed there the previous day. They turned smartly on their heels before they reached the carved stone chair at the center and faced the greeting crowd, composed of Uzzahites, Danielites, and Gideonites of all ages. At a wave from Uzziel, the crowd stilled. Those who had seats took them, while the others stood in respectful silence.
Jonathan noticed that two seats right at the front of the open pavilion remained empty. One of them was next to Miriam. Uzziel motioned to the chairs as if he needed to explain. “Those are for the brides. Can we have two more seats brought forward?”
A couple of men in the back lifted chairs high above their heads and walked through the crowd.
“Here,” Uzziel said, pointing. “And here. I want the honored witnesses to sit on either side.” He invited Pekah to sit on Jonathan’s left and Eli on his right. Jonathan took his place in the stone chair at the center. Uzziel remained standing.
Jonathan wished he hadn’t sat down. He craned his neck upwards, searching the garden path and the white granite archway leading to the temple court. Taking notice of the excited whispers floating through the crowd, he
