Martha Read Free Page B

at his son’s frowning face. “Is there another matter that troubles you?”
    Lazarus lowered his voice. “Will Simon have to live away from his family?”
    Ephraim nodded solemnly. “It will depend on the words of the priest. Simon must go to the priest to be examined.”
    Martha shuddered. She prayed the priest would not find one in their village with leprosy. Still thinking of Esther, she asked, “Abba, what will his family do?”
    Ephraim put a hand on her shoulder. “God will provide, and we will help them, as we do for those in need in our village.”
    Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a young boy calling Ephraim’s name. It was Joab, the son of their neighbor, Shaul. He ran breathlessly across the fields waving his hands.
    Joab caught his breath and then blurted out, “Adah sent me for you. It is Mary. She has been hurt.”
    Ephraim sought out Anna, who was preparing to return to the village with her water jug. She nodded. “I will go and get my healing bag and meet you at the house of Adah.”
    Lazarus would have come with them, but Ephraim shook his head. “You will be more help to remain in our field. The men will need you here. Your sister and I will see to Mary.”
    He nodded reluctantly and turned back toward the field as Martha and her father hurried to the village. They found Mary lying on a pallet, sobbing with pain. Her left leg showed a huge bulge and the skin was turning purple. To Martha, it appeared broken, but at least no bone protruded through the skin.
    Adah sputtered apologies. “One moment she was talking with the children and the next moment she was lying in the courtyard.”
    Ephraim looked down at Adah, his face stern. “You did not see what happened?”
    The older woman looked away. She spread her hands and shrugged. “Something about a bird, the children said . . .”
    Ephraim turned to Joab and the other children. “What happened here?”
    One of the children stepped forward, her eyes wide with fear. “It was a baby bird. It fell out of its nest.” The other children nodded solemnly.
    â€œMary climbed the tree to put it back,” said Joab.
    Martha caught her father’s eye. Mary was tenderhearted when it came to small creatures, and also impulsive. He sighed deeply. They both knew it was something Mary would do.
    Mary’s sobs of pain tore Martha’s heart as she cradled her young sister gently and rocked her, crooning softly with words of comfort.
    â€œI didn’t know she’d climbed the tree,” Adah murmured defensively. “I heard her cry out, but I was in the house. How could I get to her in time?”
    Anna walked swiftly into the courtyard and squatted down to examine Mary’s leg. With practiced fingers she probed the wound, now swelling and red.
    â€œHold her tightly, Ephraim, I must set the bone.”
    Ephraim wrapped his arms around Mary’s shoulders and Martha held Mary’s good leg firmly. Anna grasped the injured leg and gave a quick pull. Martha felt she heard the bone lock into place. Mary screamed in pain and then lay still.
    â€œMary!” Martha turned to Anna. “Is she dead?”
    â€œNo, child, the pain was just too much for her. Her leg must now heal on its own.” She turned to Adah. “Do you have a couple of straight sticks?”
    Adah hurried to find something and came back with two pieces of narrow wood.
    Anna worked quickly splinting the leg so it would stay straight. She turned to Martha. “I will give you some herbs to put in boiling water. It will help her to sleep and ease the pain.” She reached in her bag and produced two packets of herbs.
    â€œThank you for your help, Anna.” Ephraim reached into his sash and produced a couple of coins which he gave to her. She nodded her thanks and picked up her bag. She had done all she could.
    Ephraim gathered the limp form of