They’d fallen into a routine, walking behind everyone else and stopping from time to time for Obadiah to stop and sketch in his book. It was calm and quiet out in these woods. The most she’d seen or rather heard had been some wolves during the first night. Some rabbits as they hopped through the fields without a care. A deer or two passed through with their beautiful big eyes, as they had looked curiously back at the people. She ached to touch them but decided against it. They must have soft fur from they way it shone in the sun.
She leaned back and let the sun beat on her face, loving the feel of the warmth without no buildings in the way. No voices or noise around, just nature alive and well. One lone rock sat to her right and Obadiah took refuge there with his bag at his feet. He lifted his sketchbook onto his lap and began to draw. The charcoal glided against the paper, his gaze fixed ahead at the field where the animals had been.
She took a drink from the canteen. Cool, refreshing water. She’d never tasted any so clean. She was also glad she was able to work on her needlepoint during the day. One thing she had missed on the journey was the light from lanterns back home. It was hard to see without them. This man annoyed her many times, and yet at other times, he showed a kind side. When they were alone, she’d witnessed this many times. While around the group, he’d become protective ever since she mentioned how odd she felt around James.
What made her husband tick? She wanted to learn more. For the last few days he’d been quiet. Had she done something to upset him? She could not recall anything. Once he finished his sketch she would ask him, or maybe Lenna knew. She could ask Lenna if he didn’t want to talk to her. A knot formed in her gut, like someone had taken a rope and twisted it into loops before pulling tight.
A crunch of pebbles near the water turned her attention back to the present. Her mouth was dry. Danger! She opened her mouth several times, trying to speak or scream. Anything. Her hands shook as she raised them to point. Less than six feet away, there stood a grizzly bear! The bear noticed her at the same time. She tried to scramble to her feet but stumbled and fell to the ground. The commotion caught Obadiah’s attention.
“Are you okay?”
Pointing again, with sweat beading on her forehead and down her neck, fear raced through her veins and turned them ice cold. She’d heard about bears, but had never seen one before. Esther could have lived all her life never seeing one and it would have been fine with her. Her husband raised a brow at the crazy way she was acting.
Glancing over his shoulder. She knew the moment he saw the bear. His back became stiff, and he became so still she wasn’t sure if he was in shock. Who would protect them now? Something brown and green, caught her attention near her fingers. A big oak branch. She grabbed it and sprang to her feet. Someone had to get the bear away and if Obadiah had frozen, then it has up to her. She understood full well she could die.
“Go away! Shoo!” Esther shouted at the big bear, shaking a stick as she walked closer to it. Her heart beat faster in her chest. Her legs shook so much she wasn’t sure how she was still standing. She’d read in a book somewhere that if a bear came into your camp you should make noise and it would leave.
Please God, protect us.
“Quiet.”
She stopped in her tracks at the sound of his rough word. At least he hadn’t died from shock. The anger in his voice took her aback for a moment. He had to be out of his mind if he though she’d stand around and let this bear attack either of them. “No,” she hissed back.
“Women, stand still, and don’t talk.” He was still as quiet as before. She didn’t even think he had breathed. Why? Esther looked from him to the bear and couldn’t understand why he wanted her to be quiet. She also didn’t like the tone in his voice. No man had ever snapped at her like that and he sure wasn’t welcome to be the first one.
The bear moved a few steps back before it jumped into the lake. The bear stood in the water and rocked forward and backward on its legs its body shaking from head to tail. The beast stood on its hind legs and let out the loudest roar she’d ever heard. She jumped without even thinking. The stick in her hand dropped to the ground and she screamed. Obadiah cursed as he sprang to his feet and stood in front of her. She didn’t even see him move.
“Do as I tell you.”
“U-uh-okay.” The only words she managed to get out. The hairs on her body stood on end, a pit of fear was in her gut. She clung to her husband’s waist burying her face in his back. Her body shook and she tried hard to will it to stop. She tried hard not to move like he asked her to. The beast roared again, shaking the ground. She peeked around her husband’s back.
Her eyes popped. The bear started to charge at them. Obadiah reached in his pocket and pulled out a knife. There’s no way he’d be able to defeat this with only a pocketknife. This is how her life would end then… a rough start and a rough ending. Maybe she wasn’t meant to be happy, to have a family or children.
She didn’t know if children paid for their parents’ sins or not, but it sure seemed true now. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she blinked them away. No, there’d be no break down now. She moved with Obadiah as he backed up while he kept one arm around her and hugged her closer to him. The bravery he showed impressed her. She wanted to tell him this, but realized this wasn’t the time to talk.
“I will distract the bear and you run to the trees over there and hide.”
Esther nodded not trusting her voice. She wished the other travelers were with them right now, but they’d already be a few miles away more than likely. Deep inside she wanted to scream so they’d hear their plight but she recognized that upsetting the bear wasn’t the right thing to do. She didn’t listen to her husband before and look where it had gotten them. Killed. Soon.
Obadiah lunged forward and let her go. She reached to pull him back to her side, but realized he’d done this to buy her some time. She ran as fast as her legs would propel her. They burned from the force. She grabbed the trunk of a tree, and slipped behind it. Her fingers dug into the bark. Her knuckles were white from how hard she pressed her nails into the trunk.
Her husband lunged forward, knife out in front of him. The bear slammed him on the ground hard. A scream burst from her lips. He stabbed the bear in the side. It didn’t seem to affect the bear. He rolled away from the animal before he could get hurt. He got to his feet, making sure the bear turned away from where she was crouched. This man that she didn’t know ver well was risking his life for her. Why? Not one person had ever done anything like this for her.
The bear raised its paw, as it stood on its hind legs. Man and bear stared each other down. Neither moved. She held her breath. Fear raced through her veins. Sweat, beading down her neck and forehead, her hands slipped from the bark, She had to do something to help him. One of their bags had somehow ended up at her feet.…poles for the tent.
Maybe these will be strong enough to hurt the bear or scare it off. She snatched up the metal, holding it tight and said a quick prayer for safety. She moved toward the two fighters. The bear slammed its paw across his chest. A scream came from Obadiah as he stumbled back. Red seeped through his shirt. She had to do something now. Esther raced to the scene, waving the pipe. She smacked the bear in the back. Her husband got to his feet, reached back and hit the bear’s nose.
This would be the end. She closed her eyes not wanting to see the beast coming for her. Holding her breath. Moments passed. The presence of the bear was no longer felt. She opened one eye to peek and see. Maybe she’d died and didn’t feel anything.
Gone. The bear wasn’t anywhere in sight. Obadiah lay on the ground, eerily silent.
She ran to his side and fell to her knees, grateful for his sacrifice and laying his life down to save hers. This wasn’t how it was supposed to turn out. Widowed. That other man would be after her for sure now. It would have been better if the bear had killed her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She brushed the hair gently away from his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Esther fell backward, her hand pressed to her chest. The breath in her lungs left her body. Dead people don’t talk. She scrambled to her knees and she lunged at him, hugging him close. Warmth seeping into her chest. He grunted in pain and uttered an oath in her ear
“Careful.”
She pulled away, ashamed she had acted in such a way. Hurting him wasn’t what she meant to do. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He grunted as he laid back down. Sweat ran down his face. His brows scrunched together tightly. Crimson red oozed through his shirt. She began unbuttoning it…nothing to indicate a wound so far. One button later, and there was the blood. A huge scratch stretched across his chest. Deep and blood oozing fast. She leapt to her feet to get one of their bags and ran back to his side. She scrambled to get the whiskey, and tipped the container to his lips.
Muscles outlined his chest, just as the other night when she had gotten a glimpse of them, except now it was daylight and she could see every groove and curve. Swallowing hard, she resisted the urge to touch them and see if they were as delicious to the touch as they looked. Clearing her throat, she looked up at him. He watched her from under hooded eyes. He threaded his hands through her hair which had fallen during the struggle. Proper women don’t let their hair down in public. She had to get it back up, but the feel of his hands in her hair made butterflies dance in her stomach.
“It’s ok.” He closed his eyes and pulled her down to him as if he would kiss her. Obadiah rested his head against her forehead and took in a sharp breath. “Can you sew?”
She had expected his lips on hers. Did she hear him right? Pulling back to reality, she blinked several times as she backed away in order to look at his wound once again. A four to five-inch gash, red and angry was between them. “Yes.” Esther opened the bag looking for the needle and thread. She poured whiskey on the needle, then handed him the flask.
***
Obadiah closed his eyes tight and tried not to scream from the pain. He knew the moment he had made the mistake when he fought the bear off. He couldn’t let it hurt her. He had to protect her at all costs and his chest was the cost. It wasn’t like he wasn’t used to injuries and scars, but this was his first for a woman. His wife. The frightened look on her face had driven him faster and harder to protect her. She had her claws in him and he wasn’t sure he would not come out injured again.
He took another deep drink from the flask. It burned his throat as it went down…not as bad as his chest hurt, but close. The first prick of the needle made him tense his body. Her sweet voice cut through the pain.
“Sorry.”
He opened his eyes, she turned to look at him with concern showing in her gaze. At times, she acted so brave and tough, and then at other times, she showed her caring side. He wasn’t at all sure that she showed many people that caring side. Her abandonment as a baby may be the reason she was closed off to others. She reached over and brushed some hair away from his face which was plastered by the sweat running down his forehead.
As long as he lived, he’d cherish this moment, her. He might not be able to repay her for taking care of him, but he’d do his best to keep her safe. She turned and continued to sew the wound. Pain shattered his thoughts. Every stick of the needle sent searing explosions of pain through his body. His arms began shaking and he tried to hold still.
His Ma would have been horrified that he’d taken on a bear for someone. Not because she would want anyone hurt but because she wanted to protect her children. He blinked hard and his Ma came into his vision, sitting next to Esther. She shook her head at him, her lips pursed together in a tight line. She threw her hands in the air. She didn’t need to say anything at all to him. He’d scared her.
This wasn’t normal…seeing someone who had passed on as if they were alive. It sure wasn’t how he and his brother Jeremiah had been taught He wanted to cry out to God in anger. A loving God wouldn’t take his Ma away. It had happened and now they all lived with the emptiness.
Darkness closed around him, took him under it and he welcomed the quietness.
Chapter Six
As Esther finished sewing his wound up, she glanced over at him. His eyes were closed, he lay limp on the ground. Sweat ran down his face. She nudged him. “Obadiah.”
Silence. He didn’t move. She chewed on her bottom lip trying to think of what to do next. She hoped and prayed he’d only passed out and not…she couldn’t bring herself to say what her mind thought. Sure, when they first met, it would not have seemed so bad if she was widowed. Now, there was more at stake. Now she wanted this husband to keep her safe.
She didn’t want to shake him and cause more pain to his injury. She brushed her hand against his cheek to rouse him. The sparks this man ignited in her want to run into the woods and never come out again. To hide away for the rest of her life. It didn’t make sense. Why?
“Please answer me. I can’t take it if you died because of me. I’m not worth someone dying.” Her heart ached as the words came rushing out of her mouth. Words she hadn’t even known she wanted to say in the first place. The wind brushed against her skin and a cool breeze washed over her and him.
“Esther. What happened?” Lenna asked as she knelt next to her. She had not missed the concern written all over the other woman’s face. Lost in the moment, she had not even hear the others coming up. Lenna didn’t waste any time and Obadiah’s shirt open even more and poured whiskey over the wound.
Obadiah cursed, his eyes flew open and narrowed in Esther’s direction. “Crazy white woman, what are you doing?”
Of course, he’d blame her for this. “I’ll have you know it wasn’t me. You did not answer me and I was concerned. I see you're alive so, I’ll go.”
Lenna smacked him in the head which caused him to turn in her direction. Lenna and Obadiah had an odd relationship thought Esther. She didn’t act the same way as other women, thought Esther. While out in the woods previously, Esther had heard her curse and say some cross words to her husband as well as the other men. It would have never been accepted in the home she and Ruth had grown up in. They were told to be soft, meek and act like the women God intended them to be.
“I swear Lenna, if you do that again…”
“You’ll what? Now, tell me what happened so I can help.”
Eric and James had rushed to their side by this time. Eric ripped open his first aid kit. Bev stood back, her face pale as she looked at the slash on Obadiah’s chest. She pressed a hand to her lips, turning away from them. Esther wanted to run to her and offer some help, but her husband needed her more now. Her skin crawled as James bent at her side, putting a hand on her back. She tried hard not to flinch.
“A grizzly bear attacked us and Obadiah fought it off.” She’d never be able to repay him for this, but she’d tried hard to be the best wife she could. They couldn’t go back to civilization and let the marriage dissolve. She owned him and he owned her.
“Oh dear, come with me.” James lifted her to her feet before she had time to protest, and led her away from her husband.
“I need to be with him.”
“Let Lenna handle him. She is a healer and knows what she’s doing.”
Esther tugged away from his touch as he moved in front of her and did not let her go back to her husband. She folded her arms and looked around to see a way to get away from him. The other two men were busy at Obadiah’s side, assisting Lenna. She caught Obadiah’s eyes. They softened a touch when he looked at her, but then turned to stone as he saw James with his hand on her. His nostrils flared, a tick showed in his cheek. He tried to get up, but the others pushed him back down.
James didn’t notice the commotion going on around them. He acted like it did not matter to him. Why did he lead her away? The sight of blood did not make her weak. She had sewn him up and wanted to make sure he didn’t develop any problems.
“I need to get back to him.” Esther jerked
her arm away from his hold and ran back to her husband’s side. She had to get away from this man and back to her spouse whom she trusted with her life. Blast it all, he fought a bear off for her protection. He would protect her from this man or anything else. This much she knew keep inside. She did not notice as James yelled her name.
“Please tell me you’re okay?” She begged her husband as he drank something from a cup Lenna held to his lips.
He swallowed, cupping her cheek as he turned to her. His calloused hands, rough against her smooth skin. She enjoyed the touch and the way his eyes lit up when he looked at her. A deeper part of the feelings frightened her. Would he later brush her away?
“Don’t worry.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb. She did not think, just leaned down and pressed her lips to his cheek.
“You saved me. I’m sorry I didn’t listen.”
“Always. I’ll always protect you. Next time, try not to anger a bear.” He winked as he laughed. This amazing man was already joking about what happened to them. She tried hard to be mad and couldn’t, and a smile formed on her lips. She shrugged her shoulders.
“I’ll try and make sure it is smaller next time.”
The other men talked with him and helped him to his feet. She stood off to the side with Lenna and Bev and hugged the two of them. This pull toward her spouse was new and something she couldn’t describe. Why? She fought feelings of flight down and stood next to the women and did as she should and not what she wanted. There was a reason they had others with different talents on this expedition and luckily, one was good with medical emergencies.
“So, how did you handle the bear?” Bev asked, took Esther’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. Lenna offered a smile in her direction as she turned to make sure Obadiah could get up. Pain stabbed in Esther’s chest as she watched another woman look at her husband. She needed to relax. There’s no need to worry. They grew up together. That’s all...
A Bride For Obadiah Page 4
