The Righteous (13 page)

Eliza could feel his leg pressing against hers and thought, not for the first time, that he was very cute. And that she shouldn’t be here.

“It’s not what I want that matters. It’s what God wants. And yes, if He wants me to be a plural wife, then I will obey His will.”

And here she was, talking about eternal marriage and suddenly Eduardo’s hand was on her leg. She froze. “Are you, uhm, are you sure that your friends aren’t coming back tonight?”

He must have felt her tense up. He pulled his hand back. “Not till tomorrow. Are you okay? You’re shivering. Can I get you a blanket or some dry clothes maybe?”

She wasn’t shivering because of the cold. It was plenty warm in here. She was trembling with nervous excitement. It was lust, she realized with equal parts horror and fascination. That’s what this was. And she didn’t want it to go away. Not yet. Soon, yes, soon she would get up and walk away from this temptation, but not yet.

“No, I’m okay. Maybe just a little cold.”

He leaned in close and took her arm. “You feel cold.” He put his other hand on her left cheek. She froze in place. Her breath was shallow and rapid in her ears.

“It’s not like women don’t have value, you know,” she continued. “We’re not property.” What did she come here to ask? Oh yeah, why was he following Taylor Junior?

“No, of course not. But what do
you
want to do?”

It was the sort of question that she didn’t ask herself. She had a role; she had to play it. Her own very small part in the great work that was God’s plan. Press too hard against herself and she’d find herself…well, in situations just like this one.

“I want to choose.” She nodded. “I want to map my own life. Even if it means I make mistakes. That’s not so bad, is it?”

“No, it’s not.”

Eduardo made no move to replace his hand on her leg. On impulse, Eliza ran her fingers along his arm. The muscles tightened under her touch. She had never touched such dark skin before and—yes, it was foolish—had been half expecting it to feel different. As if skin texture changed with color. What a sheltered, naïve girl she was. Already seventeen, but she might as well be a child.

His face was close now and he leaned even closer. She closed her eyes, still breathing hard and waiting for him to move.

“This is such a bad idea,” Eduardo said. His lips were so close to hers that she could feel his breath, but they didn’t close those last two inches. “On so many levels.”

“Yes, I know.” He was giving her the chance to back out now, before things went too far. “But what’s stopping you?”

And then he did kiss her. His lips entangled with hers and she didn’t know what she was doing, but let him lead and then she was lying on her back and his fingers dug into her back and she had her fingers in his hair, her breath coming faster and faster. Warmth spread through her body. She felt his body pressing against her down there and she was warm there, too. Burning.

He pulled his mouth away. She groped for more, but he was kissing her earlobe now, and then her neck. His hand untied her dress and his fingers brushed the bare, raw flesh of her shoulder. She drew her breath sharply at the touch. Her throat lay exposed now and his fingers moved down and brushed the top part of her breast. She lay back, vulnerable, motionless under his touch but for her breathing and a tremble, neither of which she could control.

Eduardo slid a hand down her dress and brushed one nipple with his fingers. She gasped in shock and pleasure.

Eduardo stopped at once. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know you don’t want this. It’s wrong.”

“It’s wrong,” she agreed, “but don’t stop. Not yet.”

He was breathing hard, but he pulled away and his expression changed. “No, I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

Eliza had heard a million stories about gentiles and their insatiable lust. She was surprised that he had pulled back. And she was flushed, unable to think straight.

“I’m so sorry,” he said again. There was a firm set to his mouth. “You should go.”

She was confused by how cold he’d become suddenly. “Are you angry?”

He looked surprised by the question. “Angry? Of course not. I like you, I really do, but this is just…I don’t know, not very smart.” He nodded. “You know what I mean, don’t you?”

“I won’t tell anyone,” Eliza said, feeling guilty. Because he was right. She’d put him in danger just by coming here. “You don’t have to worry. You’re safe. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

“And I won’t either. Nobody will know, right?”

And there was nothing to do but straighten her dress and make for the door. He put a hand on her back at the door, but she could see him tense as he looked into the shadows outside the trailer, looking to see if someone was watching.

“Take care, Eliza.”

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Just be careful.”

Eliza turned to walk away. She could feel him watching, but she didn’t turn around. When she reached the sidewalk, she heard the door of the trailer shut behind her. She stopped for a moment, closing her eyes tightly. A complex stew of emotions simmered within her.

There were no others on the streets. Dawn threatened from the east and all too soon the town would shake itself to life again. It took about fifteen minutes to reach the Kimball house. She used the back entrance and let herself in with her key and crept up the stairs to her bedroom.

She opened the door, ready to slip out of her dress and change into pajamas before crawling into bed. A movement from the far side of her bedroom drew her short. There was someone waiting for her.

“And where have you been, Eliza Christianson?”

It was Taylor Junior.

Eliza tried to back her way out of the door, but Taylor Junior blocked her way with one arm. She should have screamed, but she was too caught up in shock and everything that had happened. Instead, she stood frozen. The room was dark save for the reading light by the bed.

“What were you doing?” he demanded. “Why do you look like that?”

She found her voice. “I was working. There was a flood, if you didn’t notice. Rain, mud, and all that.”

“Yes, and everyone else came back an hour ago. They’ve cleaned up and gone back to sleep and here you’re just coming in. So what were you doing?” There was an unpleasant insinuation in his voice and she felt a twinge of panic. Had he seen her go into Eduardo’s trailer?

No, he couldn’t know. “None of your business. Get out of my room.”

He seized her arm with a painful grip and leaned in close. “It, by God,
is
my business. You’re going to be my wife and that makes it my concern. What, they haven’t told you yet?” he sneered. “That’s right, you’re going to be my wife. What do you think your brother is doing here? He could easily be staying with his cousins out by the bluff. He’s checking out my sisters, that’s what. And you, you will honor and obey and submit to my will as the Lord commands.”

In her fear, she found herself half-believing him. “You’re lying. Jacob wouldn’t…”

He chuckled. “It’s just a question of whether he wants Jessie Lyn or Annabelle. Once he decides, we’ll be married, you and me. It might even happen by this weekend. Since it’s already done in all but name, maybe we should get an early start.”

“Don’t do this.”

He threw her down on the bed. She struggled, but still couldn’t find her voice. He put his mouth on hers and grabbed her breast with one hand.

“Get off me you son of a bitch.”

He laughed. He yanked out her breast and squeezed painfully. The other hand he shoved between her legs.

And all she could think was,
It’s my fault. Oh, Heavenly Father, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sin with Eduardo. I’m so sorry. Please, don’t punish me like this.

She found her voice and screamed. Once it came, it would not stop. She only paused to draw in a ragged breath, then screamed again. Once Taylor Junior recovered his initial shock, he tried to clamp his hand over her mouth, but she bit down hard and he drew back, cursing.

And then the door burst open and several women were there and Taylor Junior was pulling away, his hand shoving her away disdainfully as the lights came on and they blinked and Eliza stopped screaming. His sisters and Elder Kimball’s wives stood in the threshold of the room.

“Let go of her, you bastard.” Her sister, Fernie.

“What are you doing?” Charity, her voice equally scathing.

And then Jacob arrived. Eliza didn’t know if someone had called him or if he had heard the screams. She didn’t care. She scrambled off the bed and rushed to her brother, throwing himself in his arms and crying.

Taylor Junior started to sputter. “It was her fault. She came on to me. I told her no, but she wouldn’t stop tempting me.”

Jacob’s voice was hard. “ ‘Woe unto the liar,’ sayeth the Lord, ‘for he shall be thrust down to hell.’ ” He released Eliza very slowly. As she stepped aside, she could feel the violence in his body.

But Taylor Junior didn’t comprehend. “She did,” he insisted. “She tried to seduce me.” He gave Eliza a look of disgust. “Slut. Whore.”

Jacob moved swiftly. He grabbed Taylor Junior by the neck with both hands and hurled him to the floor. Taylor Kimball sprawled out with a cry. He lifted his hand to shield his face from a kick or punch.

But Jacob held back. “You ever touch my sister again and I will kill you.” He did not shout and remained perfectly calm, his voice cold enough to draw heat from the air. “I will rip out your lying tongue and then I will take a knife and un-man you, and then I will cut your throat. Do you understand me?”

Taylor Junior gave Jacob a sniveling look. Had he been a dog, he would have tucked his tail between his legs and whimpered. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It was a mistake. I just, I couldn’t help myself. I
love
your sister. I really love her, I want to marry her. I don’t know what came over me, I just…it was a mistake. I swear it will never happen again.” He hesitated. “It was the devil. Satan tempted me. He wants to stop our marriage. You know it, Jacob. Please.”

Eliza snorted in disgust and turned away.

“Be very, very careful,” Jacob said. “One more misstep and you will meet your destruction this very night.”

Taylor Junior took another look at Jacob’s face, then climbed slowly to his feet. He looked at the women, and at the even younger girls and children arriving and standing in the doorway, then back at Eliza. A dark, unreadable look crossed his face. And then he turned and stormed off.

Jacob turned to the women. “Thank you for coming.” He looked at Eliza’s sister, Fernie, and gave her a separate nod. “Thank you.”

The women gathered the children and left Jacob and Eliza alone. He went to the door and shut it.

“Don’t wait so long before screaming next time,” he said. A forced smile came to his lips. A vein throbbed on the side of his head.

She swallowed, aware of how closely she had come to being raped. But not as close as Taylor Junior had come to death. Thoughts of violence still clouded Jacob’s face.

“I’m sorry. About everything.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

But she did. When she’d left Eduardo’s home, she’d had no intention of confessing what she’d done to anyone. Now, it weighed on her shoulders. “Jacob, it’s my fault this happened.”

A frown. “I thought you knew better than that. How can it be a woman’s fault when a man assaults her?” He lifted a hand when she started to reply. “It doesn’t matter what you said or did, it didn’t justify his attacking you.”

“It’s not that. Believe me, I didn’t say anything to encourage that jerk.” She hesitated, ashamed. “I think this was God punishing me for something I did.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You think so?”

“Yes, what happened was—”

Jacob stopped her for a second time. “Liz, it doesn’t matter. Taylor Junior acted through his own aggression and need to dominate. It has nothing to do with you.”

She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. “You’re the best brother in the world, you know that?”

He pulled away and a flicker of uncertainty passed over his face. “You might not say that if you knew the conversation I had with Father tonight.” He walked to the window and drew open the curtain. Dawn spread in the east. He looked drawn, exhausted.

His words drew her short. “Is it true, then?” she asked. “Am I really going to marry Taylor Junior?”

He turned with a scowl. “Do I have to dignify that with an answer?”

“Yes,” she insisted. “Yes, you do. I know what I think and I know what you’re going to tell me, but I need to hear you say it. I need you to tell me that you’d never make me marry that man.” She grabbed his sleeve. “Please, Jacob.”

Jacob looked her directly in the eyes. “Liz, you will not marry that man. Now or ever. I swear it.” He hesitated. “But, well, your time is running short.”

“How short?” she asked.

“Father is saying a week.”

She was incredulous. “I have a week to choose a husband with whom I will spend time and all eternity?”

“No,” he corrected. “We have
two days
to choose your husband. You’ll be married in a week.”

She was shaken by the news. “And my choices?”

“Apart from Taylor Junior? The first is Elder Johnson, back home.”

Yesterday, this would have brought a shudder, but considering the alternatives, she could no longer rule out Elder Johnson.

“And you’d marry Dorothea Johnson?”

“Yes, if necessary. The other choice is Stephen Paul Young, son of William Young and nephew of Jameson Young, whose house we saved tonight.”

“I don’t know anything about Stephen Paul.” She’d heard the name, and had the vague impression that he was in his thirties, but knew little else.

“I don’t either, but I’ll call in the morning and invite ourselves over.” He covered his mouth to stifle a yawn. “Now, Liz, I’ve got to get some sleep or I’ll be dead on my feet later. Lock your door and scream a little sooner next time, will you?”

#

Fernie Kimball set down her basket of tomatoes and watched as Jacob approached. He’d slept a couple of hours, then dragged himself out of bed and to the gardens where they’d said he could find Fernie working. Children worked by her side, picking green beans, or clearing debris from irrigation channels, left behind after the heavy rains.