She sighed contentedly. “Julian of Alexandria, I never knew this much joy existed.”
“I am Julian of Arsinoe now. It is the place I love best in the world. I feel selfish asking you to give up your beloved Jerusalem.”
“My place is with you.” She kissed his cheek. “And your place is in Arsinoe.”
“You are brave,” he said admiringly. “First we must go to Jerusalem.”
“But why?”
“Will it embarrass you to be seen with me in Jerusalem?”
She wrapped her arms about him. “No! Never!”
His chest rumbled with laughter. “I have missed you.” He rubbed his hand over her back. “I have a few things that need doing in Jerusalem. And I want to go to the Temple as a worshipper instead of as a soldier.”
“Zara the Levite will not be happy.”
“Now there’s something to look forward to.”
She covered her smile. “That is not very charitable of us. If it was not for Zara’s interference, we might never have married.”
His arms tightened about her. “My fate was sealed the first time I set eyes on you. Zara merely hurried things along.” He kissed her. “I think I can manage without his help this time.”
A delightful tingle coiled through her. “This time?”
“We must remarry. Remember, I divorced you.”
“How could I forget? Will it take long to undo the damage?”
“Mother had more faith in us than we did. All the arrangement for a proper Jewish wedding awaits us. All we need to do is to set a day.”
Her stomach growled again.
They laughed and rested their foreheads together.
“I ought to eat,” Anna said.
He retrieved the food tray. “Come, let’s get some soup into you.”
He fed her a sip or two, then she took over. She dipped a big savory spoonful and got it halfway to her mouth when a wonderful realization dawned.
She stared, amazed, from the broth to Julian.
In a few short months she had gone from a starved outcast to a cherished wife. Julian’s vast wealth aside, the riches she prized most were those she thought lost to her forever. A husband. A home. A family. The hope of bearing children. Restoration to her people and her God. What more could she want?
“Is something the matter, Wife?”
She dropped the spoon and it clattered onto the tray. Anna wrapped her arms around Julian’s neck. “All my prayers have been answered because of you.”
He hugged her back. “And, when I lie down at night, I will no longer be lonely, for you will be there.”
“I love you,” they said together,
Jerusalem’s harlot and the Roman soldier.
But now she was Anna the faithful daughter of Israel and he was Julian of Arsinoe.
Praise be the Lord.
The End
Thank you for reading FAITHFUL DAUGHTER OF ISRAEL! If you are so inclined, I’d love a review of Faithful Daughter of Israel. Reviews can be hard to come by. You, the reader, have the power to make or break a book.
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Other Books by Wanda Ann Thomas
The Herod Chronicles
The Herod Chronicles Series
The Herod Chronicles Complete Boxed Set
Book 1: The Warrior
(Nathan & Alexandria)
Short Story: The Stonecutter
Cephas & Mary)
Book 2: The Barbarian
(Kadar& Lydia)
Book 3: Warring Desires
(Gabriel & Shoshana)
Book 4: Apostate Priest
(James & Elizabeth)
Brides of Sweet Creek Ranch
Brides of Sweet Creek Ranch Series
Book 1: The Mail-Order Bride Carries a Gun
(Ty & Ella)
Book 2: Gunslingers Don't Die
(Boone & Maggie)
Book 3: The Cowboy Refuses To Lose
(Garrett& Brigetta)
Book 4: The Cattle Rustler and the Runaway Bride
(Wyatt & Kitty)
About the Author
Wanda Ann Thomas writes fast-paced historical romance centered on heart-felt love stories. She adores warrior heroes and courageous heroines, who together brave any danger for loved ones and struggle against overwhelming obstacles to win their happy ever after.
Wanda starts each day bright and early at her computer drinking coffee and writing. When the weather allows, she and her husband average three to four rounds of golf a week. She confesses to being overly fond of chocolate chips cookies, winter vacations spent in sunny Florida, and her large boisterous family.
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