A Book of Ruth Read Online Free Page A

Don’s voice outside it seemed to calm her.  He was yelling though, and there was an argument. 
     
    “Now Don, I’ve been told Boaz snuck her in here last night.  A very reputable source said it.  You need to open up and let us have her.”
     
    “Boaz was with me last night.  You need to move along.  This is my establishment and I open when I open and you won’t be coming in here looking for anybody.”
     
    Then the back door from the alley creaked open.  Julia slipped quietly behind a barrel in the room and hoped that she would not be seen. 
     
    “Julia,” came Mabria’s whisper.
     
    Julia ran into her arms and wept softly.  Mabria stroked her hair and her slender back and attempted to soothe the poor child as she had so often done.  “Its ok girl.  Trust God.  He has a plan.  Trust Him.”
     
    “I should of ran last night Mabria.  I should of ran.”
     
    “No, you did right.  Joe is dead.  He died last night.”
     
    “Dead?  Oh Mabria?  Now what?  What will they do? They’ll sell me to another for sure.”
     
    “Stay still.  Shhhh.  Don is seeing what can be done.  He has the lawyers working on it.”
     
    “Sheriff why don’t you go talk to Joshua and see what is going on over there,” came Don’s voice from outside.
     
    “Ok Don, but I’ll be back.  Roy stay out here and make sure she doesn’t leave.  Caleb you take the back. Remember she’s property, Don.  You’re responsible.”
     
    Don came inside and motioned to them to stay in the back room.  Mabria made sure the curtains were tucked tight in the tiny window in the back room.  Mabria made coffee as Don stoked the stove.  Then Mabria brought some bread, butter and jam back for Julia to have some breakfast.  A short time later a knock came at the door. 
     
    “Don?” came Joshua’s voice.
     
    Don opened the door and allowed Joshua to come in, locking it in place behind him.  Mabria slipped the backroom door shut quietly.  Julia sipped her coffee and ate her bread thinking it may be her last meal for quite a while.  No telling what was in store for her today.  As she waited for word, she decided to take time to pray.  She fell to her knees near the bedside and asked her God to take care of her and these kind folks that ministered to her so often. 
     
    Then Mabria opened the door.  She had papers in her hands and a light in her eyes.
     
    “Julia, you have been sold to Don, by the estate of your master.  He had debts to the general store.  They have agreed to give Don, you, in lieu of those debts.  Joshua has also drawn up your freedom papers.  You are free Julia.  Your price has been paid.” Mabria could hardly control her voice or her tears.
     
    “Free?  You paid the price?  I can never pay you back?  Free?”  Julia fell at Mabria’s feet weeping.  “How shall I pay…” she could not speak.
     
    Don came in, “I just lost 2 workers,” he was laughing.  “There’s a huge opportunity right here for you to work this off.  Room, board, a little money, and we’ll work it out.” Don was beaming.  “Look what God did today!”  He was still laughing, the girls were crying, and hope came streaming into a young life that day.
     

Fate
     
    Naomi and Peter had two children, Jacob and Jonathan. 
     
    Jacob loved the south, and was determined to become a part of the elite.  Why shouldn’t he, his father was a land owner.  His father had refused to own slaves, but they did well with the servants that had agreed to work the land and become part of their home, by building their own homes on pieces of the land that Peter had given them in return for their labors.  So he took a wife, Orpah.  They began a life on a piece of land that Peter had given them as well. 
     
    Jonathan, too, took a wife from the south.  Ruth was a servant girl, a daughter of one of Peter’s employees.  She came from a very poor white family that had lost all they had in some faulty land deals in