A Man To Marry – Mary Ellen Boyd (1)

We are agreed there.” But his face did not look satis- fied. Rather, he looked worried, furrows between his brows, and a tightness to his mouth. “There is Ladan, the shoemaker on the other side of the village. He is established, a man with a solid shop and a solid, respectable reputation. His sandals wear well.” “I want more than a man who can put shoes on my feet.” The furrows between Father’s brows grew deeper. “Of course, of course. But a man who cares for his shop and his reputation also cares about his good name.

He would do nothing to bring a stain to it.” Miriam felt her shoulders tighten, and her jaw clench, but she kept still. Maybe, just maybe, Father might suggest someone worth looking at. She shoved aside the prickle of guilt. There were no promises between herself and Kemuel. But her throat grew tight, and a heaviness settled in her chest.

This was not a true betrayal. There was nothing yet to betray. Yet it felt a bit like that. Father left for the vines again right after the meal, though the day was hot and the sun brutal on head and skin. Most of the village rested. The marketplace was quiet, as even the shopkeepers dozed in the back of their stalls.

They closed up their stores, folding down the awnings that sheltered those who came to buy. Having Father go out when the heat was at its most intense was unusual. Perhaps he had to stay away or he would pressure her to give up her wish to pick her own husband. She had too much work to do before the Sabbath to brood.

Miriam tried to tuck her father and his plans and worries out of her mind as she set about finishing the meal big enough for two families. Two small families, but it was still going to keep her busy. Smells rose from nearby houses.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover art © Victoria Cooper Art 1kitap1.com/en Many thanks to my beta readers, Shelina and Nicole G, for graciously going over my manuscript and giving me such wonderful suggestions. The book is so much richer for your advice!

And to Ruthia, my editor, who is never afraid to tell me when I’ve gone off the rails, and knows exactly how to put the book back on track. Where would I be without you? 1kitap1.com/en Contents 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5 6. Chapter 6 7. Chapter 7 8. Chapter 8 9. Chapter 9 10. Chapter 10 11. Chapter 11 12. Chapter 12 13. Chapter 13 14. Chapter 14 15. Chapter 15 16. Chapter 16 17. Chapter 17 18. Chapter 18 19.

Chapter 19 20. Chapter 20 21. Chapter 21 22. Chapter 22 23. Chapter 23 24. Chapter 24 25. Chapter 25 26. Chapter 26 27. Chapter 27 28. Chapter 28 29. Chapter 29 30. Chapter 30 31. Chapter 31 32. Chapter 32 33. Chapter 33 34. Epilogue About the Author Also by Mary Ellen Boyd 1kitap1.com/en Chapter 1 “When will you make an offer for my daughter?

You know I have forgiven you for your harsh words. I would welcome you as her husband.” Her father’s voice. Miriam halted behind the wall of a shop, care- ful not to let the basket for her goods brush against anything that might reveal her presence, and caught her breath. Who was he talk- ing to? A flutter of nerves made her heartbeat skip. Father was bar- gaining for her future. She ached to peek around the corner to see her future husband.

The moment the impact of what he had said hit her like a blow— I have forgiven you for your harsh words—she heard Joshua’s voice, low but unmistakable. “Hophni, I have not changed my mind. I told you then, I have told you times without counting since, I am happy with my wife. I seek no other.” A brief pause, the whisper of movement as if he was stepping away, and Joshua said in a voice that invited no argument, “You will have to find Miriam a husband elsewhere, because I will not be that man.”

It had been nearly three years since that awful day when her fool- ish younger self stopped at his shop the very day after his wedding to Hannah, his brother’s widow. What possessed her to throw her- self at him like that? Her words came back as clearly as if they hung on the air.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: be98f745c5e086ec
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 3,596,549 bytes (3.43 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 196
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 322.44 minutes
• Total Words: 64,489
• Total Characters: 341,593
• Average Words per Page: 329.03
• Average Characters per Page: 1742.82

Most Frequent Words

miriam (385), father (291), one (270), kemuel (260), back (248), man (191), time (175), hannah (165), joshua (164), know (159), even (138), came (137), away (134), still (132), around (131), wife (127), now (125), hand (125), see (124), house (122), eyes (121), face (121), looked (115), child (114), want (113), abdi (112), vines (108), like (107), enough (106), nahash (98), said (93), turned (93), come (93), get (92), village (92), knew (91), words (90), think (90), much (89), day (89), well (89), two (88), hands (88), door (88), husband (87), first (87), took (87), let (86), take (84), head (79), last (79), voice (78), gaze (78), make (77), herself (75), thought (75), long (75), woman (74), find (72), good (72), look (71), walked (70), went (70), need (70), little (69), held (69), father’s (67), hophni (67), perhaps (67), gave (67), chapter (66), wanted (66), made (65), arms (65), smile (65), daughter (64), walk (63), heart (63), behind (62), saw (62), give (62), another (60), something (60), mouth (60), yes (60), without (59), set (59), felt (58), table (58), nothing (57), left (57), say (56), bread (56), happy (55), land (55), children (55), breath (54), new (54), way (54), toward (54).

PDF Download