Her words snapped Peter back to his predicament.

“Nothing!” he growled.

The woman’s eyes ran up and down the length of him.

Her voice grew suddenly tender. “You do not wish to hurt me, do you?”

Peter stared, unsure what to say.

The woman nodded. “I can see that you are not like them.” She closed her eyes. Whispered, “You are … different.”

At this Peter’s cheeks began to burn. “I am the same as any man!” he shot back.

The woman shook her head. “Of course, of course I can see that. I only meant—”

“Silence!” he roared. She fell silent. After a moment he saw her struggle against the ties at her wrists. Terror swelling inside her.

Something about the woman’s subjugation unleashed a fury within him. Bound and trapped, she could cause him no harm. Could not inflict her wiles. Nor have her way. He grinned as a rush of power surged through his limbs.

“Roll over,” he commanded. She did as she was told.

And upon her he exacted a lifetime of revenge.

When the band of shepherds entered the next town, the ragged-eared man sold the woman they had kidnapped for a good sum. Dropping a handful of coins into Peter’s palm, he said, “Let us abandon our dirty trade and adopt a more lucrative one. For there is greater reward in women than in sheep!” He then swung an arm around Peter’s shoulders and said, “Since you have proven your worth, you will now work beside me.” He grinned before whispering, “And you shall have all the women you could ever want!”

Peter smiled at the flattery, but inside he wanted to scream.

CHAPTER 35

Somewhere within ancient Palestine—33 A.D.

A breeze blew between the stars as the three journeyed under cover of night. Though cloaked by darkness, they were not alone.

Having witnessed, or heard of, the miraculous healer, people from outlying villages had begun to accompany Jesus and his sisters.

Ruth glanced over her shoulder. “Their number has grown,” she said.

Tabitha, too, looked back. “Yes,” she confirmed. “Almost double since this morning.”

Jesus shrugged. “What would you have me do? Their eyes have been opened. They are not mine to control.”

Ruth frowned. “Yes, their eyes have been opened, but they need not follow us. They need only seek their own light, not that of another. And the crowd will attract unwanted attention,” she said.

“But what am I to say to them? Be gone from me?”

“If you wish us to be safe, then yes,” Ruth said.

Jesus sighed. He turned around and approached the crowd. There were men and women, young and old, some carrying children, others carrying meager belongings. As he drew closer, Jesus was startled to see how vast the crowd. At least one hundred strong, perhaps more.

Ruth and Tabitha watched as he spoke. Some people nodded their heads, others waved their arms.

After a moment, Jesus returned.

“What did they say?”