Desired: The Untold Story of Samson and Delilah (Lost Loves of the Bible) Read Online Free PDF Page B

them out for a beating. Astra ran toward her at once and scooped the blankets from her arms. Of course she would do that, I grimaced, before the idea had even entered my head that Mother needed help. And yet, wasn’t it Astra’s quick thinking that was responsible for us hiding like criminals at the moment?
    “Thank you, Astra,” Mother said, gesturing to the front door. “Set them there. I’ll take them outside later in the afternoon and hang them up for a beating.” She turned her attention to me next, taking me in, then frowning. “Where is the bread?”
    My cheeks burned from shame.
    “Sirena is baking it for us today.”
    Mother raised an eyebrow. “Should I ask why a woman, so heavy with her first child, is baking bread for me, when I have two able-bodied girls standing right here?”
    “My cycle started.” Astra lifted her tunic and showed just the edge of the blood smear.
    Mother stared at Astra, who gave her the biggest, widest, most innocent smile I had ever seen. Mother frowned, sensing mischief but unable to resist Astra’s charm.
    “I have to go to the fields. I can’t stay with you.”
    “It’s all right, Mother. Amara will stay with me. She’ll show me what to do.”
    Mother looked between us, her eyes boring into our very souls. I squirmed under her intense gaze; Astra did not. I think she enjoyed it a little.
    “Very well. Amara, show her how to bind herself with the linens. But I’ll expect you both to work while you’re home. Get the late meal prepared, ready our beds for tonight, and check the baskets to see if any need to be repaired. I don’t want them to break while carrying the wheat. And make sure the crocks are clean, and carry them all to the roof. I don’t want to lose any time once we bring the last of the olives home.”
    I was going to twist Astra’s arm, hard, for this. Her ingenious plan had not completely saved us. We were still in for a day of backbreaking labor.
    Mother wrapped her scarf over her head, careful not to obscure her face. She wanted protection from the sun, not a veil to announce she was a prostitute. We had to be careful with our scarves. A strong breeze could ruin a reputation. With her scarf tucked into place, framing her face but not obscuring it, Mother left.
    I folded my arms and looked at Astra. “Get to work.”
    “What? By myself?”
    “You got us into this. I’m going to take a well-deserved nap, and when I wake up, if Mother’s chores are not finished, I’ll tell Father and Mother everything you’ve done.”
    “You would not!”
    “And how do you know that?”
    “Because I know you, sister. You would take a secret to the grave.”
    She was right, and I knew it. But I kept my arms crossed, keeping my own secret this time, glaring at her until she set to work with a pitiful pout.

    I woke, sweat beading down my neck into my tunic. The room was dark; Astra had let the oil lamps burn out. She slept soundly beside me, curled into a ball like a kitten.
    Father’s voice shook the reed walls as he approached the house. “Good news, girls!” He threw open the door and swept in, lighter on his feet than he had been all year. We were in the year of less, the year when we worked harder and ate little. He and Mother were never light or happy in these kinds of years. They aged terribly, each lean year making them two years older. I wished we had a way to make the fields produce more even harvests, especially the olive trees. We had no command over nature.
    Mother was right behind him, lifting her tunic with one hand so she could keep pace. From her anxious face, I could tell he had waited to share this good news.
    “Astra! Wake up!” I nudged her awake before jumping up, fumbling for a lamp. I stumbled toward the door, thankful for the soft light shining behind Father in the doorway.
    “Let me light a lamp, Father. Wait for me!” I picked up a crock of oil, tucking it under my arm, and grabbed a small lamp before dashing into the courtyard