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The following is the next installment of a serialization of the novel, Abinadi by H.B. Moore. To read the previous installment, click here. More information about H.B. Moore can be found: www.hbmoore.com.
Chapter Nineteen
Serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all.
(1 Chronicles 28:9)
Abinadi’s heart hammered as he ran, but not from exertion. The high priest had been right—King Noah did have an order for his death. Mobs of men seemed to come from every corner, every road. Raquel will kill me if I am caught, Abinadi thought with irony. Now we have one more thing in common—both of us are hunted.
After he sprinted across the fields, away from the high priest who’d warned him, he saw a block. Men were stationed along the line of trees where the forest began. Abinadi spent the next hour retracing his steps and finding another passage through the forest. The safest way was to stay near the river, wading or swimming when necessary. And now he was soaked.
Regardless, he continued to run, his clothing clinging to his body and the water dripping down his legs. He’d spent only one day preaching in the city. He thought he’d noticed a few people listening with interest. But that was before the crowd had started to argue and call out insults. Still, as he preached to them, the words flowed into his mind as if the Lord were guiding his every sentence.
He traveled most of the night until he finally collapsed in sleep in the early hours of the morning. Worry prevented a deep sleep though. He was anxious to see Raquel and the others, yet his heart was heavy. He’d done as the Lord had asked him to but felt as if his mission weren’t complete. Was there more he could have done? Should he have tried to befriend citizens in small groups, and only then share the message he had to give?
His shoulders felt weighted with an incredible burden. It had been up to him to warn the people. Yet they hadn’t listened. They’d run him off, and the king had ordered his death. Surely if they could be made to understand—even a few of them—they’d change their ways. And one could influence many.
Did I influence anyone? he wondered. That high priest had done something out of the ordinary, and Abinadi had seen something spark in the man’s eyes. And even though the priest had denied any belief, he had been reared to believe. Perhaps . . .
Abinadi let out a breath of frustration as he walked. He hoped he’d reached at least one person. He looked up. The sun was at its zenith now, and he should come within view of the settlement soon.
He’d done what the Lord had asked, but was it enough? Had he succeeded or failed? Abinadi shook his head. Would the Lord flee from an angry crowd or persecution if He still had a mission to complete? So why did I?
His thoughts turned to Raquel, and the answer came. Because he wasn’t willing to sacrifice her. He wanted to marry her and raise children together.
A form dropped from a tree behind him. Abinadi turned, reaching for his dagger, then relaxed. “Ben!”
The boy ran to him, wrapping his arms about Abinadi. “I knew you’d come today.”
Abinadi squeezed Ben. “How did you know that?”
“I just knew,” Ben said, his wide grin revealing his missing teeth.
“How is everyone?” Abinadi asked as they walked together over the last rise.
“Tia and your mother are preparing for the wedding,” Ben said, starting to skip. “Raquel is mad, and Neriah is mad.”
Abinadi grabbed Ben and stopped him. “About what?”
“Well . . .” Ben stalled, seeming to enjoy the attention. “Raquel is mad that everyone is ignoring the real work and making wedding preparations. She keeps saying, ‘I don’t need that. I don’t need this.’” He imitated a girl’s high-pitched voice—although it wasn’t much of a stretch for him.
Relief washed over Abinadi. That sounded like Raquel, and he could deal with that type of anger. “And . . . Neriah?”
“She’s mad it’s Raquel getting married and not her.”
Abinadi smiled. “She’ll have her turn soon enough, I’m sure.”
Ben scrunched up his nose. “That’s not what she wants. She wishes that you had asked her to marry you.”
He stared at the boy. Neriah? “Who told you that?”
“Adriel teased her about it, and Neriah chased her out of the fields.” Ben lifted his hands. “Now she snaps at everyone and won’t talk to Raquel.”
Abinadi let out a breath. He’d known Neriah for years yet had never seen her as more than one of Gideon’s daughters. Yes, she had turned into a beautiful woman, but how could she expect to marry him? He thought over any interactions they’d had, but his mind came up empty.
“I’m going to tell the others you’re here,” Ben shouted, running ahead.
Abinadi laughed at the boy’s endearing, dependable enthusiasm. Too bad Ben wasn’t older, then Neriah would have someone . . . Or too bad Helam was so standoffish on the subject of marriage. His brother was a good, decent, and hard-working man. There had to be a woman who could overlook his appearance, but Helam wouldn’t even show his face to give a woman that chance.
Soon he arrived at the settlement. Several people were working to clear the fields, but his mother was waiting to greet him. After embracing her, he looked around for Raquel.
“You’ll find her weaving this time of the day,” his mother said. She studied him closely. “How was your message received?”
“Not well,” he said in a quiet voice. “I was chased out of the marketplace. When the king heard of my message, he placed an order for my . . .” He glanced away.
His mother brought her hand to her mouth. “No . . . Oh, Abinadi.”
“It’s all right. I’m safe,” he said.
“You can never return to that place. None of us can. The people will be destroyed because of their—”
“Shhh. I know.” Abinadi placed a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “Still, I worry that I could have done more to soften their hearts.”
“No, son. No.” Esther’s tone was adamant. She reached up and placed both of her hands on his face. “You risked your life to deliver the Lord’s message. You did what was right in leaving.”
Abinadi looked at his mother, hoping she was right. But he wasn’t entirely convinced. The burden of failure still weighed on his shoulders.
“Now go and find Raquel,” his mother said. “Put some happiness on that long face of yours.”
Abinadi’s mouth lifted at the corners. “Yes, Mother.” He kissed her cheek then turned away. He knew the place where Raquel weaved—a clearing set away from the group of huts. It was on the opposite end of the ridge that he’d just crossed.
As he approached, he paused, watching her while she was still unaware of him. Her hands worked swiftly, nimbly, in a steady rhythm. Her beautiful hair was pulled back and tied with a strip of cloth.
Suddenly she turned, startling Abinadi. He hadn’t realized she’d heard or sensed him.
“Hello,” he said.
Her eyes brightened, but she didn’t smile. “You’re back.”
He walked toward her. She looked down at her lap, staring at her hands. Why is she acting so strange? he wondered. He wanted to reach out to her, embrace her like he had his mother. It was a relief to see Raquel sitting here, in peace, away from the tumultuous city of Nephi.
Abinadi crouched so that his face was level with hers. “Not too glad to see me? I can leave for a few more days, but I don’t think the trees need to hear my message. They’re probably even more stubborn than the people in the city.”
She finally raised her head. Her eyes were rimmed in red.
Abinadi was taken aback. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling well?”
She shook her head. “I—You . . . You’re all right?”
“Yes,” he said, trying to understand.
She sighed and looked past him. “I had a terrible feeling last night, and I couldn’t sleep. I thought something had happened to you.”
“It wasn’t a pleasant night. I didn’t sleep either.” Abinadi moved to her side and took her hands. “The king put out an order for my life.”
Raquel pulled her hands away. “I knew it.” She was silent for a moment. “Promise me you’ll never go back there.”
“I—” Abinadi hesitated as Raquel met his gaze again. He didn’t know what the Lord wanted. He didn’t know if he’d accomplished his mission. He didn’t know what might come next. “It’s not that simple.”
Grabbing his hands, she squeezed. “Promise me!”
Abinadi looked at her hands. He wanted to make that promise. But somehow he knew he couldn’t. If the Lord spoke again, was he supposed to ignore Him?
She dropped his hands and turned away.
“Raquel, I’m sorry.”
She wiped at her eyes but wouldn’t look at him. “I understand. It’s foolish of me to even ask such a thing.” She cast a sideways glance at him. “It seems that you have a decision to make.”
What kind of decision? Would she demand that he never return to the city or else not marry her?
“You have an admirer.”
Abinadi smiled with relief. The subject had been most gratefully changed. He touched the edge of her hair. “I should hope so.”
Raquel turned and looked at him. Their eyes locked for a long moment. Abinadi was tempted to ask if she’d marry him right now, right here—Gideon could perform the ceremony with the loom as a backdrop . . . But his mother would be furious.
“Not me,” she said.
Abinadi narrowed his eyes. “You said you’d wait for me.”
She flushed. “I—I did. It’s just that . . .” She looked down, wringing her hands. “Neriah has been very upset these past few days, and—”
“Raquel.” Abinadi placed his hands over her fidgeting ones. “I know I didn’t say this when I asked you to marry me . . .” He finally had her full attention. “I love you.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“What’s wrong now?” he asked. “It’s true. I love you. Not anyone else—not Neriah. Not any other woman for as long as I’ve lived . . .” He touched her cheek. “Or will live.”
She shook her head, causing tears to slide along her cheeks.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing,” she said. She threw her arms around his neck. “Absolutely nothing.”
Abinadi nearly lost his balance. He wrapped his arms about her waist for a brief moment, then drew away.
“Sorry,” she said, a sheepish look on her face. She picked up the shuttle and turned it over in her hands.
“I’ll take that apology anytime,” he said.
She laughed, and he joined in.
“Am I missing a good story?” a male voice cut in.
Abinadi turned to see Gideon. He stood to greet his friend, and the two men embraced.
“You’ve arrived safely,” Gideon said. “Your mother told me what happened. Are you all right?”
Abinadi rubbed the back of his neck. “As well as can be expected.” He glanced at Raquel. She’d gone back to her weaving. He and Gideon walked a few paces away, then Abinadi said, “One of the high priests warned me.”
Gideon lifted an eyebrow. “Which one?”
“Never saw him before. A younger man, about my age.”
“Alma maybe—the newest priest?” Gideon said. “What did he say?”
“He said his father taught the same things.”
“It was Alma then. His father was a high priest in Zeniff’s court—I remember Alma as a young boy. His parents both died tragically,” Gideon said.
Abinadi remained quiet for a moment. Then he said, “Can I ask you something—man to man?”
“Of course,” Gideon said.
“Did you or your wife have any expectations for me and Neriah . . . perhaps marrying some day?”
Gideon rubbed his chin. “Tia may have mentioned it once or twice.” He clapped a hand on Abinadi’s shoulder. “You know how women speculate. Tia didn’t mean any harm.” He cast another look at Raquel. “When I first saw you two together, I suspected. And I now know you found the right woman.”
Relief passed over Abinadi. “So I haven’t upset things?”
“No,” Gideon said with a smile.
“Then I’d be honored,” Abinadi said, “if you’d perform the marriage ceremony.”
“I’d be honored to oblige.”
The men clasped arms as Abinadi grinned.
