By this time everyone in the family had gathered around, and they were all looking at the bracelets. “Where? How? Who?” they chorused.
Rebekah pulled away from Laban and smiled as she fingered the new earrings. “The most wonderful thing has happened,” she said breathlessly.
“You’ve no doubt been out acting the flirt. Spoiling your chances to marry Nazzim,” Laban shouted in frustration.
“Don’t you see?” she said impatiently, “My prayer to the God of our uncle Abraham may have been answered.”
A stunned silence greeted her announcement and then Laban spoke. His voice was low and controlled but his words shot out like poisoned arrows. “You can’t spoil our agreement with Nazzim. There’s gold and influence at stake. No simple trader can equal that.”
Rebekah was unmoved by his hostile demeanor. “Go see for yourself,” she said. “His servant is still by the well with all his camels.”
Laban cursed. “By the gods I’ll soon put an end to this,” he said, whirling around and hurrying out the gate.
The minute he was gone the whole courtyard sprang to life. Deborah reached her first. “Oh my dear child,” she said. “How are you so sure this is an answer to our prayer?”
Rebekah pulled back her mantle so her nurse could see the gold earrings more clearly and held out her arm for all of them to see the bracelets sparkling in the morning sunlight. “The servant said these were for me from the son of my uncle. I need no greater proof.”
Her old nurse began to wipe the tears of joy from her eyes, but Nahor, sitting under the grape arbor, roused himself to say, “Laban has set great store by this marriage to Nazzim. He’ll not be easily turned aside.”
Rebekah ran to him and held out her arm so he could see the bracelets. “Grandfather, I am not afraid. I prayed with Deborah and now see what has happened already.”
Nahor reached out and touched the bracelets, and with his almost sightless eyes, he struggled to see the earrings. “Have no faith in the gods,” he said. “My brother Abraham trusted the unseen God and it brought nothing but heartache to our family. He has no family, no connections. How can he be anything but a poor shepherd?”
Rebekah hugged her grandfather. “I know you don’t trust the gods,” she said, “but your brother trusted his God, and we will soon hear from his servant what has become of him.”
“Don’t hope for too much, my dear,” he said. “You have your brother Laban to deal with. When he wants something he usually gets it, one way or another.”
Laban had mixed emotions as he hurried toward the city gate. He doubted that the stranger, if sent by their uncle Abraham, intended anything but some sort of reconciliation. Abraham was probably in trouble of some kind and wanted to be reinstated as head of their family. Then the very idea that he had a son by Sarah was preposterous. Sarah had never had a child. What could all this mean?
When he came to the gate he paused. By this time many of the women were returning from the well, and they were all abuzz with amazement at what they had seen.
“A messenger from your uncle Abraham,” an old woman gasped breathlessly as she shuffled toward him. She was too old to be shy. She was the go-between in family quarrels and the matchmaker for any young daughter. At times she even condescended to tell fortunes. She carried no water jar, as she went to the well only for the gossip. It was obvious that on this day she felt she had plenty to tell.
Laban was her first target. She clutched him by the sleeve. “Ten camels loaded with treasure,” she hissed just loud enough for those around to hear.
Laban pulled away but she lunged after him and clutched his sleeve even more firmly. “You’ve not heard the strangest news.”
Laban turned toward her, scowling but interested. “What do you know?” he urged.
The old woman cupped her hand around her mouth and stretching up whispered, “Be careful. The man lies.”
“What do you mean?” Laban could not resist hearing more.
“He says your grandfather’s sister, Sarah, has had a son. We know that can’t be true. She’d be too old.”
Laban was again puzzled. He hesitated while he juggled the information around the known facts. His face took on a crafty look. “You can be sure, old one, I’ll not be fooled,” he said finally. With that he turned and walked more slowly toward the well.
His mind was spinning with all sorts of possibilities. Who could this stranger be? What did he want of them? He must remember what was at stake. He had seen the gold earrings and the bracelets, gifts fine enough for a bride. He must not let this sway him. Rebekah must marry Nazzim. He must not let her get her hopes up. At the same time he determined to treat the stranger with all the courtesy and hospitality their family was known for.