Sarai (Jill Eileen Smith) Read Online Free PDF Page B

sharp breath, finding the air suddenly too painful to breathe. Sarai was the most beautiful of women, fairest of anyone in the land of Ur. But in Ur, where his presence was well-known, she was protected. No one would harm the wife of one of Ur’s leading elders. What would become of her in foreign lands, where they were not known?
    “What should I do?” The question formed before Abram had a chance to process another thought. He had to protect Sarai, yet he had to obey Adonai’s call.
    Eliezer looked up, his expression carrying a hint of surprise, as if a master should never need advice but would be the one to give it instead. “I don’t know, my lord. Unless . . .”
    “Unless what?” Abram ought to know what to do, should have considered the matter the moment he’d heard the rumors and planned for the unknowns of the future. But it was too late now to look back on what should have been.
    “You could pretend to be your wife’s brother. A brother has more rights, can protect the women in his charge. Men might seek you for her hand in marriage, but you would have the right to refuse them. Or at the very least put them off until you could get out of their city. It would buy you time.”
    Abram plucked a blade of grass from the ground and chewed on the end. Such a plan would be the truth, what he would tell of it. Sarai was indeed his half sister, as they shared the same father. And if it would ensure her safety, and his . . .
    He pushed to his feet, noticing the mild stiffness in his back, the slightest twinge he’d not felt before. After seventy-three summers since his birth, he shouldn’t be surprised at these initial signs of aging, but he was. Shaking the thought aside, he turned to find Eliezer waiting for instruction.
    “I will speak to Sarai and request her to tell everyone who asks that she is my sister. Let those coming with us know of our plan. For Sarai’s protection.”

    Sarai sifted through her sewing supplies, running her fingers along the smooth, multicolored threads. Piles of fine linen fabric, balls of colored wool, and a variety of sizes of bone needles filled the basket to the top. She closed the lid at the sound of footsteps behind her and turned to find Abram standing at the threshold of their bedroom.
    “My lord, I didn’t expect you so soon.” She looked into his strong, handsome face. The faintest hint of silver threaded the strands of his dark hair at the temples, and his full beard held a mix of black and gray with strands of red mingling in, as though the hair could not decide what color it should be. His bushy brows were drawn, and little lines appeared on his normally smooth brow. For his age, Abram was a striking man, still strong and virile, still her heart’s only love.
    She smiled as she took two steps toward him. He met her in the middle of the room, his hand extended.
    “We must talk.”
    She placed her hand in his and accepted his kiss. Memories of their nights together since the One God had made His promises to Abram stirred her thoughts now, making her ache with longing. Surely El Echad had quickened their desire. Surely He would soon fulfill His promise.
    “Talk about what, my lord?”
    Servants’ voices came to them from the halls of the house, and the clatter of carts and braying of donkeys filtered through the open windows. While they were making quick work of packing to leave, Nahor and Milcah were moving in, creating a chaotic commotion.
    Abram glanced behind him, then looked at her again. “Let’s take a walk.”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to remind him they still had much to do and didn’t have time for a frivolous visit that could wait until they shared their bed that night, but she silenced the thought. She could read his expressions like a scroll, and his look told her to do as he’d asked. “Yes, my lord.”
    He released her hand and turned, leading them through the house, past the servants working in the courtyard, across the sun-drenched