Had she now relapsed and betrayed him?

The thought made him furious.

His mind returned to the day she and her family had arrived in his village. They had come up from the southern lands, carrying bags of salt for trade. He knew then that they were pagans. But the daughters possessed such infinite beauty that he could not resist! It was Mari’s sister who caught Yoseph’s eye and stirred his passions. She was the one he wanted. But the family would not allow him to take their eldest, saying that she was already promised. Hearing this, the younger daughter, being a fiery spirit, stepped forward and announced that she wished to become his wife. Though her request was unexpected, and caused her family much anguish, Yoseph was lulled by the beautiful girl’s desires, and agreed to take her.

How different his life would have been had he been given his first choice!

Tangled in these thoughts, he glared into the fire. The flames wavered for lack of fuel. Soon, he thought, they would die.

Anna pushed blindly through the camel skin, her eyes barely visible above the load of firewood she carried. Her face beamed with pride. It was the most wood she had brought back in months. She saw her father’s back and her mother kneeling at the fire. The silence between them made Anna nervous. She hoped that her prize would please them. But when she stepped past her father, the logs slid out of her grip and crashed to the floor, spraying hot coals and ash across the room.

Yoseph rose to his feet and grabbed his daughter. His eyes bore into hers. “What have you done?” he roared. His hand followed quickly behind his words and struck her face.

Anna staggered back, dizzied by the blow.

Yoseph turned to the sky. His anger began to feed on itself. “Have you no mercy, my Lord?” he bellowed. He pointed to Anna. “Night and day I have begged for your forgiveness. Yet you taunt me with false treasure! With a child who only looks like a son!” He fell to his knees sobbing. “I am cursed, I am cursed, I am cursed …”

Anna watched in horror as her father crumbled. She then felt her mother’s hand reaching for her. “Come to me, Anna,” Mari whispered.

Yoseph looked up to see his daughter cowering in her mother’s arms. “Let her go.”

“She is only a child,” Mari begged.

Yoseph lunged toward them, grabbed Anna by the arm, and yanked her to him. “I will not be disobeyed in my own house!” he shouted.

Mari held tight to her daughter.

His wife’s resistance infuriated Yoseph and he grabbed Mari by the neck. “You are my ruin!” he wailed, shaking her. “Would that I had never cast eyes upon you!”