Martha (22 page)
Authors: Diana Wallis Taylor
 30 
Martha opened the gate and stared at Zilpah, then remembered her manners. “Come in. May I fix you some refreshment?”
“Perhaps a cup of . . . ?” Zilpah looked at her hopefully.
Martha for once was flustered. What could Zilpah possibly want here, now? Did she know about the wedding or had she come to speak to her about Mary?
She went to the storeroom and got a small wineskin, pouring the wine carefully into a wooden cup. She took some cheese from the stone crock. Placing the cheese on a small platter, she set the cup of wine in front of Zilpah and waited. Knowing the woman, she would get around to the purpose of her visit in her own time.
Perhaps if I help her along,
Martha thought. “Mary is not here at present, Zilpah.”
“I didn't come to present a proposal to Mary.” Zilpah gave her a sly look and almost purred. “I came to present a proposal of marriage . . . to you.”
Martha sat down suddenly on the bench. “To me? But I am . . .”
“Yes, yes, past the most marriageable age. But I have been approached by a worthy man of the village. Naturally, under your circumstancesâyour brother gone and your sister off with . . .”
“She is with friends in Jerusalem, Zilpah. She has not run off. She is wed to Thomas.”
Zilpah's eyes widened. “I did not know this.” Zilpah prided herself on knowing everything that went on in Bethany. She recovered her composure. “Well, that is another matter.” She waved a hand dismissing Mary for the moment. “As I said, it is you I have come to see. Now you realize you cannot be choosy at this time of your life.”
Martha resisted a comment and kept her lips tightly closed.
Zilpah went on. “This man is a widower, no children, and has a good business so he is able to provide for your household. He would be a fine husband.” She paused for effect.
“Who is this man who is asking for me, Zilpah?”
“None other than our blacksmith, Nathan.”
Martha could not contain her astonishment. “Nathan? Why has he not said anything to me? He has been a friend of the family for a long time.”
Zilpah reached over and patted her condescendingly on the knee. “My dear, you are a woman alone. Your father is dead, your brother has gone off to who knows where . . . to whom would he present himself?”
Nathan. Yes, he would want to do things in a proper way. Zilpah was right. He couldn't just walk into her courtyard and ask her to marry him. That was not the custom of her people. Thaddeus, a Gentile, might have felt free to say those things, but Nathan was a Jew and she could see that he felt Zilpah was the way he needed to go.
“I understand, Zilpah.”
The woman gathered herself together and stood up. “Thank you for the refreshment. May I take an answer back to Nathan? As a family friend, of course, he felt sorry for you in your circumstances. It is a kind offer he makes, and a generous one.”
Kind offer? In her circumstances? Martha kept her temper. The woman was insufferable. What did Zilpah know of Martha's needs? She didn't want someone who felt sorry for her. If that was his motive, he could keep his offer.
Out loud she said, “This is indeed kind of Nathan. I will consider his proposal and give him an answer tomorrow.”
Zilpah huffed. “Seems to me there is little to think about. You need a man to help you. Nathan is willing.”
Martha escorted the matchmaker to the gate and thanked her kindly for coming. When Zilpah had gone, she went back and sat on the bench, looking up at the sunset that painted the sky with glorious red, orange, and gold. Is this what she must settle for? Someone being kind to her? Torn between frustration and reality, she finally lay down on her pallet and cried out to the One who knew her heart.
A sense of peace filled her heart as she prayed, knowing that in Jesus she was fulfilled. He had shown her the love of God. It was his strength that would sustain her and he knew her needs. She saw the kind face of her Lord in her mind and the gentle eyes of love that had changed her life. He was with her still.
The next morning she ate some bread and fruit and let her mind run with all the possibilities of Nathan's offer. She had always been a practical woman, and now she must think of more than herself. She had fields to tend, trees to reap from, and it was more than she could handle herself. There was no way of knowing how long Lazarus would be gone; indeed, he may not return at all.
There was a knock at the gate and she went to answer it, annoyed that Zilpah would return for her answer so soon. When she opened the gate, the words she intended to say died on her lips. It was Nathan.
“I thought it was Zilpah,” Martha murmured lamely. She wasn't sure what she wanted to say to Nathan right now.
He stepped into the courtyard, just inside the gate and searched her face. “I am aware that Zilpah presented my proposal, but when she returned and told me what she said to you, I realized she gave you the wrong reasons.”
“Wrong reasons? Nathan, I appreciate that you felt the need out of kindness to provide for me, that you felt even a duty toâ”
His voice was soft. “Woman, it was not for pity or duty. That's why I came. You could not know the feelings I have had for a long time. Your kind heart, your care of your father, all touched me more than I can tell you. I would have spoken sooner, but the Roman soldier convinced me that you could not care for me. When he was killed, I felt your grief. You have considered me only a friend of the family. I do not wish to just be a friend.”
At her startled look, he shook his head quickly. “I mean, I wish to be more than a friend.” He took a deep breath and sputtered. “It is not for pity that I wish you to be my wife.”
He looked so relieved that the words were out and so like a lovesick schoolboy that suddenly joy bubbled up inside her, filling her up and spilling from her eyes. How had she been so blind?
She looked up into his face and there saw all the love and tenderness her heart had been longing for. He raised his bushy eyebrows in question as he waited for her to speak.
“I would be honored to be your wife, Nathan.”
Suddenly he cried out, “I am the most fortunate of men!” In his exuberance, he picked her up and swung her around once before realizing what he'd done. He set her down quickly, embarrassed by his show of emotion.
She laughed then, and reaching up, put a hand on his cheek. He covered it with his own and they stood smiling at each other as a small breeze swirled the leaves around their feet.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Joyce Hart, my friend and agent, for your belief in me over the years and your persistence in finding a place for my work.
To my editor, Lonnie Hull DuPont, for her enthusiastic reception of
Journey to the Well
and now
Martha
. Thank you for all your encouraging words.
To the ladies of my Spiritual Life Book Club, thank you for all your prayers and support over the years and for your joyful thumbs-up on
Martha
.
Last but not least, thank you to my dear husband, Frank, who patiently puts up with my long hours on the computer and my one-track mind as I immerse myself in research.
Diana Wallis Taylor
is an award-winning author, poet, and songwriter.
Journey to the Well
debuted in 2009, as did her Christian romance,
Smoke Before the Wind
. Her collection of poetry,
Wings of the Wind
, came out in 2007. A former teacher, she retired in 1990 as director of conference services for a private college. After their marriage in 1990, she and her husband moved to northern California where she fulfilled a dream of owning a bookshop/coffeehouse for writers' groups and poetry readings and was able to devote more time to her writing.
The Taylors have six grown children between them and ten grandchildren. They now live in the San Diego area, where between writing projects Diana is an inspirational speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, participates in Christian Women's Fellowship, serves on the board of the San Diego Christian Writer's Guild, and is active in the music ministry of her church. She enjoys teaching poetry and writing workshops, and sharing her heart with women of all ages.
Visit Diana's website at
www.dianawallistaylor.com
.
Another book by Diana Wallis Taylor
Journey to the Well
