The day slipped by too quickly. Forced to pick up and move from the only home she'd ever known was too much for Mary to bear. She spent much of the day in tears, gazing off into space, lost in precious memories.

The unexpected order by the Romans to be gone by sundown, taking only what they could carry, was beyond cruel. It was unimaginable. If Jack was alive, this would not be happening. He was gone, however. Without him, there was nothing to be done but to comply.

She tried to focus on what to take. Should she pack a cherished perfume vial from her mother, a present from her wedding? Should she take an extra pair of sandals? She was forced to part with so much of her life today. What would be important in the future?

Fortunately, Eran was able to focus on practical needs, packing up tools and food for their journey. He had kept on top of the boys too. They were even less prepared than Mary for leaving, They had never had to think about the basic necessities of living. They needed much prodding to stay on task and, just now, Mary was unable provide it.

She owed Eran so much. He was dedicated to her family. It was beyond all logic. After all he was her father's slave, not really family. He owed her nothing. She wondered if the change in their situation would give him cause to leave, now that he was free. She hoped not.

The Roman soldiers would be back soon. Mary decided to give herself one last moment of quiet enjoyment of her home, and her life before. At one corner of the villa's walls facing west, was a favorite place where she would climb to the top and sit looking out over the landscape, She loved to go there at sunset. Sitting there now, she took in the gardens below and the trees that she'd watched grow from saplings into fruit bearing orchards.

From where she sat, Mary could hear sounds coming from almost every part of the property. As she sat, she heard a conversation from below that caught her attention. The voices were unfamiliar to her. She crawled a little further along the walls edge and looked down to see if she could hear the voices clearer.

"Governor Gratus will be quite pleased by this acquisition, I'm sure". It was the official she'd seen earlier. He was talking to the captain of the Roman guard.

They stood below, at the backside of the villa nestled against a hillside, a remote area rarely visited. Mary played there often growing up. It was one of her secret places.

"The wealth of this family and their properties have been a target for sometime now," the official said. "All that was needed was a little 'accident' on the road, away from prying eyes, for the assets to change hands." The two men sneered smugly, unaware they were being overheard.

"As you know, it's so easy these days, with all the foreign bandits about, to arrange for such an accident," they laughed. "And so convenient, to point to bandits as the cause. No one asks any questions. It's the perfect cover."

Mary listened closely, barely breathing for fear that she would be discovered. The sadness she'd felt all day for her parents' deaths was now rapidly eclipsed by the revelation that they'd been murdered by the Romans. Rage and fear washed over her. She pounded her fist against the stone and felt the pain spread from her hand and up her arm in a wave. She pounded her fist again and again to try to numb the emotional torment with the distraction of physical pain.

The men continued, "I understand that one of the men here is a slave. That makes him an asset to be confiscated. I have no name or description. The family will point him out," he said. "I'm sure they will cooperate. They are still in shock," he said.

"Understood", said the captain of the guards.

Mary immediately jumped down from her perch to the courtyard below. She ran into the house through the kitchen and to Eran's room, pushing the door open without knocking.

"Eran!" she gasped, out of breath. Mary ran into his arms. She hugged him panting, trying to regain her breath. "The Romans are are behind the villa waiting for sunset. They will be here soon. I just overheard a conversation between the official and one of the soldiers. There's no time to explain everything, but they are planning to take you because you are a slave and part of my parents' property, We can't let that happen!" She sobbed, her body trembling, her eyes staring intently into his.

In all the haste to be out of the house by sunset, Eran had not considered the effect of his status as a slave. Jack had always promised to free him, but there was no proof. The thought had not once crossed his mind today, He had been concentrating on making their exit as comfortable and safe as possible. He was momentarily stunned by the realization. For the first time since the morning, he was struck with pain and fear. Uncertainty crashed over him. He closed his eyes.

Mary was suddenly struck by an idea that filled her with strength.

"Come with me!" she said. She grabbed Eran's hand and pulled him out the door, down the hall to her parent's room where she pushed the doors open and dragged him inside.

"You will be my husband! She said. "You will put on some of Jack's clothes and some of his jewelry. We'll change your hairstyle. You will look like one of us. I'll tell them that the slave ran away right after their visit this morning. It could work! Say you'll do this, please!" It was the least Mary could think of to repay Eran for his loyalty and to demonstrate her commitment to him.

"But Mary," Eran said, "If they suspect you are lying, the will arrest us both!"

"I don't care Eran. You are part of our family. I love you like a brother. You are like a father to the boys. I can't let them take you away like this. Where will we go without you? What will we do?

Just then, the boys who had been listening at the door rushed into the room. "Please Eran," Jesus said. "Mother's idea is good!"

"Yes teacher!" John said, and held him close. Although they both wore looks of concern, there was a sense of excitement and adventure in their voices.

The three of them worked quickly to turn Eran into a proper Jewish gentlemen, As a finishing touch, Mary placed one of Jack's yarmulkes on Eran's head. "There," Mary beamed, "you are a fine husband indeed, at least until we are safely out of here." For the first time all day the four of them laughed.

Mary kept the bigger revelation about her parent's death to herself. She did not want to deal with the impact that news would have on the others for now. She would let Eran and the boys know what really happened when the time was right.

(End of Chapter 21)