The Chosen

by Patricia Bell

  “This won’t hurt a bit.” The girl smiled to comfort her as she lifted Rachel’s shirt and squeezed out a warm, clear liquid onto her stomach. With each step, the tech explained what she was doing. Rachel stared at the monitor to the left of her. A fuzzy looking lima bean came on the screen.

  “Is that . . .”

  “That’s your baby. Wanna hear the heartbeat?” the tech asked.

  Rachel nodded.

  The girl rolled the wand around until a strange sucking sound could be heard. As she continued to roll, the sound grew into a loud whoosh.

  “That’s your baby,” Shelly said excitedly. “Look at the little peanut.”

  That’s precisely what it looked like to Rachel. A peanut with a heartbeat. The most beautiful peanut she’d ever seen . . . or heard. Tears escaped her eyes.

  “He is beautiful.”

  “Or she.” Shelly patted Rachel’s arm.

  “In a couple weeks we should be able to make that determination,” the tech said. “That is if you want to know.”

  Rachel was in awe at the sight of the living being growing inside of her. She and Jacob, through their lustful immorality, had created something beautiful.

  Could God forsake something so magnificent?

  The only unpardonable sin is the sin of unbelief. The preacher’s words came back to her. All our works are like filthy rags.

  Everything the man had said contradicted everything she thought she knew. All of what the elders had taught. And yet, it had all been preached from the same Bible. Had they been wrong? Could she be forgiven? Could this child, though a product of sin, still be loved by God?

  RACHEL SAT QUIETLY through the drive home, contemplating her life, and she came to several conclusions. One of which was the need for her to be educated. If she were going to know for sure, read for herself what God said in His Holy Word, she would need to learn how to read. And second, she’d have to come clean with Shelly.

  “I know where she is.” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

  “What is that?” Shelly asked as she turned down the radio.

  “I know where she is,” Rachel repeated.

  “Where who is?” Shelly eyed her.

  “The girl. Luna. I lied to you, and I am sorry. I was afraid. But she is there.”

  “She is? With your people? She’s there?” Shelly whipped the car onto the side of the road, placed it in park, and stared at Rachel. “Have you seen her?”

  Rachel nodded. “Her name is Rebecca now. She is not happy to be there.”

  “How do you know for sure? What does she . . . wait a minute.” Shelly dug in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. I have a picture here. It’s from the newspaper.” She swiped a finger across her phone until she came to a picture of Rebecca . . . Luna. Same short brown hair, light-brown, probing eyes, and thin lips.

  Rachel nodded. “It is her.”

  Shelly stared at her for several seconds before she threw the car back into drive and made a U-turn in the middle of the street. Another car blared its horn, making Rachel grab for the dash. Shelly was likely to kill her.

  “Sorry.”

  Chapter 29 - Linda

  Linda had spent the entire morning handing out flyers at the mall. She’d done it every weekend for the last several months. Nothing had cropped up from it, but Linda couldn’t bring herself to stop, to give up on finding her daughter.

  Now, she sat on the couch and fidgeted with her cell phone as she waited for the doorbell to ring. Blake and his three kids would arrive soon. Bella, age six, Blake Jr, age five, and Ceecee, age three. She repeated the information in her head so she wouldn’t forget it. Bella was short for Isabella, Blake had said, and Ceecee was for Cecilia. Neither of the girls answered to their given names.

  Bella’s six, she hates veggies and loves — A knock sounded at the door. They had arrived.

  They’re just kids. Don’t worry, they will love you. Kids love you. She tried to assure herself, but the truth was, she was scared half out of her mind. What if they didn’t love her? What if they hated her?

  Linda stood and checked her reflection in the decorative mirror on the wall by the door. She’d aged so much in the past few months. The worry lines were much more pronounced, and she looked tired. She smiled. There that’s better. It would have to be. It was all she had.

  Hesitantly she opened the door. Blake, as handsome as ever, sat in his wheelchair with the sweetest little girl curled up in his lap.

  Ceecee, age three.

  And to his left was a handsome young man dressed sharply in navy blue slacks and a light-blue, button-down shirt. His hair was slicked back, resembling his father’s.

  Blake Jr., age five.

  And peeking at her from behind, wearing a pink and white dress with matching sandals was the oldest of the three.

  Bella, age six.

  “Come on in, guys. I’ve been waiting for you!” She did her best to sound upbeat, but her insides trembled with fear.

  Blake rolled in with Ceecee on his lap. The other two followed quietly.

  “Would you guys like some cookies and milk? I made some fresh this morning. Well, I didn’t make the milk, the cows made that, I mean―” Her face heated. “I don’t have a cow. The milk came from the store. Oh, you know what I mean.”

  Blake gave her a warm, understanding smile.

  “Blakey’s allergic to milk. Makes his tummy hurt,” Bella said.

  “Oh? Oh, well, I have juice too. Come on in.” She waved them into the kitchen. “Have a seat. Uh well, I mean the kids—”

  “Linda.” Blake smiled at her compassionately. “Don’t worry, they will love you,” he whispered.

  The kids heard him and giggled.

  “Oh. Right.”

  As the kids sat down at the table and devoured the plate of cookies, Linda and Blake chatted over their own cups of coffee.

  “How’s the search for Luna going?” he asked.

  “Not so good. I haven't heard much of anything since Chief Collins came by.” Her voice was unstable at the mention of it. “I've been so . . . I can't believe they can’t find a single clue as to where she is.”

  “They’re really closing the investigation?” Blake asked.

  “They . . . they have other things more important than looking for a girl who doesn’t want to be found.”

  “Who’s Luna?” Bella asked with a handful of cookies.

  Linda hadn’t realized the kids were listening. She turned to the girl, unsure how to answer. She and Blake hadn’t spoken about what they would tell the kids. She looked at him.

  “Well, Bella-belle, Luna is your big sister.”

  Bella’s mouth opened wide, and so did Linda’s. She had no clue Blake would blurt it out like that. Her idea would have been to ease into it, slowly.

  “Daddy, stop it.” Bella laughed.

  “I’m not teasing.” Blake put his hand on his daughter’s. “A long, long time ago, Ms. Linda and I,” he said, giving Linda a look that made her heart melt. “We made a baby together. Daddy wasn’t very smart back then. He made some pretty bad decisions, and well, he chose not to be a part of his baby’s life.”

  “You wouldn’t do that, Daddy,” Blake Jr said, entering the conversation.

  Blake nodded his head in shame. “Daddy was a bad boy, Blakey.” He turned to Linda. “And he’s regretted it ever since.”

  “I wanna see! I wanna see! Where is she?” Ceecee asked excitedly.

  “Well the problem is, Ceecee-bear,” He lifted the girl onto his lap. “Luna is missing. She left one day and never came home.”

  Linda’s eyes glossed at the way Blake interacted with his children. He’d have been such a good father to Luna. She swallowed down the regret and smiled at the exchange.

  “We can find her,” Ceecee said. “I’m a good finder.”

  “That you are, Ceecee-Bear, but I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.”

  “Why not, Daddy?” Blake Jr asked. “Didn’t she know better not to leave he
r mommy’s side? Maybe she’s still in the store.”

  “She’s not still in the store, dummy. Don’t you think her mommy would have looked there?” Bella chided her brother.

  “Hey, we don’t say that word, young lady,” Blake said. “But yes, Blakey, your sister is right. Luna is not lost in a store. She’s not a little kid like you guys, she’s almost an adult now.”

  All of their eyes grew to the size of golf balls. They were too young to comprehend how their father could have a grown child from out of nowhere.

  Linda got up, left the room, and came back with three large binders. “Would you like to see her? Here she is.” Linda opened Luna’s baby book first. The three kids were in awe to see the evidence that they did have a big sister, who, at one point, had been a baby.

  “She looks just like me when I was a baby,” Bella said.

  “Yes, she sure did. She was bald too.”

  “Daddy, stop!” Bella gave him a stern look, and Blake tickled her until she fell on the floor, laughing.

  Could this have been her own family if they had not been so careless? Succumbed to their fleshly desires? She couldn’t regret it, though. In the process, they had created a beautiful girl. As wayward as she was, Luna was her pride and joy. If only she could find her and tell her.

  Blake patted her leg under the table. He always had been good at reading her emotions. As the kids scrolled through Luna’s baby book, Blake spoke softly. “Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”

  Could there ever be a Blake and Linda again? The possibility of them making a life together had never in a million years crossed her mind. At least not since high school. She’d dreamed of it back then. The two of them in a cozy little house with three or four kids, a dog, and all the love they could hold. Dreams were for children. Linda had to keep her head above the water. Think about what was best for her . . . for Luna. If only she could find the girl.

  Chapter 30 - Jacob

  “I have called each of you here today to discuss a matter that is most distressing to the High Prophet, and to God, Himself.” Elder Aaron spoke to the community who sat quietly in the pews. It wasn’t Sunday, nor was there to be a sermon. They had been called there for a specific reason, and Jacob feared what it was.

  If only he had left earlier. He should have run as soon as he got the keys. But he’d wanted to plan it out. Wait for the right moment. And now that Jonathan was involved, they had decided to wait until after the burial of his mother. A decision Jacob now regretted.

  “In all my days as an elder of this congregation, I have never come across one thief. Not once in my entire life, have I encountered anyone so bold as to break a commandment such as this. But alas, there is a criminal among us.”

  Hands went to mouths all over the crowded room. Sharp intakes of breaths could be heard throughout. The people were appalled. Jacob sat stock-still in his seat and refused to move lest he be noticed.

  “The key to one of our very own vehicles has gone missing. At first, we thought that maybe it had been merely misplaced, but after further examination, we have come to the conclusion that they have been stolen.”

  Whispers buzzed throughout the room like a swarm of bees.

  “I know what you are thinking. Someone must have snuck in right under our very noses and stolen those keys. But I beg to differ. The electric fence that surrounds our community and keeps us safe is so strong that a mosquito could not pass through without being charred to death. And the guards who diligently keep us protected, have seen not a single living soul about. No, my brethren, the thief is from within. Someone right here in this very community.”

  Elder Aaron stared intently throughout the room. His eyes landed on Jacob for a moment. Jacob trembled inwardly. Could he know?

  Slowly Elder Aaron’s eyes moved away to intimidate the person next to him, and so on. He didn’t know. He couldn’t.

  “Does anyone have anything to say? A confession that needs to be made?”

  The room was silent.

  “This is your only chance to come forward and repent.”

  Still, silence.

  “No one?” Elder Aaron looked around, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits. “We have a thief among us, and not one person knows a thing about it?”

  All eyes remained straightforward, not a sound was uttered.

  “Well, then. If no one has anything further to say, measures will be taken to investigate the matter. Each and every house will be turned upside down and searched from top to bottom until the keys are found.” His eyes searched the people before him. “God help the person who has set out to deceive our community.”

  In his peripheral vision, Jacob could see Jonathan’s intense stare. He glanced over at the boy and then back to the front of the room. He couldn’t risk being obvious.

  “Each and every person will stay right here until their household name is called for inspection. Then and only then will each family member stand and lead the way to their home for inspection.”

  THE TIME HAD COME. Jacob and his family were called to the back of the congregation where the elders waited to escort them to their home. Jacob held his head up high and followed along. When they reached the home, the three elders made them stand in a line while they searched each and every one of them.

  His sister, Anna, cringed as Elder James rubbed his hands all over her body, invading her private space, and touching her womanly parts. Jacob’s face heated with a mix of anger and shame. He’d subjected his family to this. Yet he would not be shamed. They had done much worse than stealing. They had possibly committed murder. The thought made his insides quake. He prayed Rachel was still alive and well.

  When the elders were satisfied that each and every person was violated sufficiently, Elder Aaron spoke. “All younglings will sit outside.”

  Jacob was not a youngling, still, he stayed with his younger siblings to help his sisters, Anna and Leah, care for them. His older brother, Malachi, followed the adults into the house.

  “Why would someone steal a truck?” Anna asked.

  Jacob pretended not to hear.

  “I do not think they have stolen the truck, only the keys,” Leah answered.

  Anna glanced at the girl, strangely. “Why would anyone want the keys but not the truck?”

  “I do not know.” Leah shrugged.

  “David!” Jacob jumped up, looking for any excuse to leave the banter of his sisters. “Do not eat the dirt.” He rushed over and picked the toddler up. “Come on, let us go to the well and wash you up.”

  He led the boy to the back of the house and out past the big Saguaro to the well that his family shared with Rachel’s. Rachel . . . Would he ever see her again? Even if he did manage to get away with this, how would he find her?

  David stuck his dirty fingers in his mouth. Jacob brushed the boy's hands off as they made it to the well.

  “Thank you, Jacko,” the boy said.

  His little brother’s sweet pronunciation of his name brought a glisten to Jacob’s eyes. He had twelve younger siblings. Malachi only a year older and Anna was his age. He would miss them. And his mothers. Could he possibly leave them? His life, his family, his faith. Could he pay that high a price for one girl? Was she worth it?

  He sat down on a nearby rock and stared at the old Saguaro as David played in the water that trickled from the pump. Before long, the sun beat down on them, making beads of sweat bubble up on their faces.

  “Come. Let us go back to the shade,” Jacob said, taking his brother’s wet hand.

  As they walked back to the front of the house, the elders and his parents were just making their way out.

  “You are excused. You may go inside and tidy your home,” an elder said.

  Jacob didn’t bother to ask if they found what they came for. They hadn’t.

  He walked into his house with the rest of his family, and stopped in the doorway.

  "Look what they have done to our home!" Mama Elizabeth cried.

  The entire place was in a s
hambles. Chairs were tipped over, tables on their sides, rugs were thrown aside and intermingled with dish rags and utensils. Dishes and silverware lined the counters. Not one space had gone untouched.

  "It is well," his father said. "Our home has been cleared."

  Malachi shot Jacob a glare. Did he know?

  Jacob looked away. "I will help the younglings put their rooms back in order."

  His father and Malachi got to work placing their furniture back in position.

  Upstairs was just as bad. The beds had been overturned, clothes, and what few personal belongings they owned, had been rummaged through and thrown carelessly onto the floor.

  Furious, Jacob helped the younglings clean up their room before turning to the room he and Malachi shared.

  Soon Malachi would be married, and Jacob would have the room to himself until the fall when Phillip turned of age and would share the room with him. Jacob would not be around for it. Either he would break free, or he would be forced to marry Abigail. There was a third option, but he didn’t want to contemplate the chance that he would die in the process of trying to gain his freedom. He put it out of his mind as he fixed his bed and hung back up his clothes on the hooks provided.

  The thought of being forced to marry Abigail fueled his longing to be with Rachel. He did love her. He’d never loved another girl and couldn’t see himself married to anyone else.

  The rules of The Chosen were foolish.

  Why had no one ever challenged the authority of the elders before? The authority of the High Prophet? Who was he, that God would choose to speak directly to him and no one else? Jacob had read the Bible enough to know that some of the things the elders taught were just not so.

  But until now, he’d never questioned it.

  No one had.

  “What did you do this time?” Malachi stormed into the room and drew his face close to Jacob’s. “I know you had something to do with this.”

  “I did nothing,” he lied. “They did not find any keys here, did they?”

  Malachi pushed Jacob back onto his bed. “I do not know what you are trying to get away with, little brother, but you better let it go. Rachel is gone.”