“We’re planning to announce this in the general assembly tonight, but I think I can trust you to keep it secret until then.”
She was surprised he was even tempted to confide in her. Unless she approached him, he usually ignored her. Some of the other Guides pressured her to take the Covenant—and to show it with the brand—but Bartholomew had never mentioned it to her. Still, she wanted to comply, to display proof of her faith as others had, but every time she planned to go through with it, she backed out at the last minute. Do you swear absolute allegiance to the Church of the Covenant and to Ethan, as the Lord’s anointed, so help you God? She couldn’t make a commitment to what they asked, not unless she was completely sure it was right. She’d always reserved that loyalty for Christ alone. “I won’t breathe a word.” Keeping her mouth shut was never a problem for her.
“Last night the Holy One had a vision.”
“He did?”
“Yes.”
“And…were you there?” He acted as if he was, but she couldn’t imagine anything that sacred coming to the prophet when he had others around him.
Bart thought for a moment, then nodded. “Actually, I was.”
“Is it about the Vessel?”
“It is.”
Sarah felt her stomach tense. They’d been waiting for Ethan to name the Vessel for three years, ever since it was revealed to him that he was to select a very special woman to deliver him a son. Was Bart giving her advance warning because—she covered her heart with her hand and lifted her gaze to meet his—she was the one? She’d secretly been praying for such a privilege, but after helping Martha escape and now lying for Rachel who was a stranger, she doubted she was worthy. Besides, she hadn’t taken the Covenant of Brotherly Love and she expected him to choose from the women who had.
“The time has come,” she breathed.
“Yes.”
She licked dried lips. “Who is it?”
His good eye seemed to look right through her while the other one drifted off. “The guest we were just discussing.”
“Rachel Mott?” Although Ethan had told them it could be anyone, this came as a shock.
“Why not?”
“She—she’s married,” Rachel stammered.
“That shows God’s wisdom. Ethan is so busy with the church he can’t be expected to fulfill the role of father. This way, the Vessel will have a partner to help her raise the child.”
“But Rachel’s not even a member. She’s from the devil’s flock.”
Guilt overwhelmed her the moment those jealous words escaped. Maybe Rachel lived in the outside world because she didn’t know any better, because she hadn’t had the opportunity to receive the Lord’s gospel in its fullness. Who was she to judge?
“Not for long,” he said. “She will soon become a convert. And that will make her our equal, will it not? We are all converts in one way or another.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“You’re excited, then?”
Tears she didn’t understand and couldn’t explain welled up, but she blinked them away. How could she expect to be named anything special? Maybe she was a member, but she was a doubting Thomas. “Yes.”
“Bart? Shall we have lunch?” Ethan stood at the entry to the much smaller dining area he used when he wasn’t entertaining guests.
“Coming,” Bart said but didn’t move.
“Is something wrong, Brother Bart?” Sarah asked.
“You were friends with Martha Wilson, were you not?”
The horror of the stoning rose in her mind. “Yes.”
“And you like her a great deal.”
“Yes.” She hoped she didn’t sound as frightened as she felt. She knew it wouldn’t go well with her if Bart discovered that she was the one who’d helped Martha escape. Especially if Martha was causing problems on the outside.
“You don’t know how she managed to get away that night, do you?”
She went back to polishing. “No.”
“What did you say?”
She cleared her throat. “No.”
“You didn’t see anyone help her?”
Sarah thought her heart might knock a hole in her chest. “No.”
Kneeling beside her, he took her hands. “You’re aware of the penalty for rebelling against God, aren’t you?”
She was. But she kept finding herself in the same quandary. Was a sin against Ethan a sin against God? Or would God want her to help her friend? “Of course.”
“You’ve made Paradise your home.”
“Yes.”
“You wouldn’t want to lose what you have here.”
“No.”
“So you’d tell me if you knew anything about Martha, how she got away, where she might’ve gone, if she’s tried to make contact with you since?”
“I haven’t heard from her.” At least that much was true. Sarah was glad Martha hadn’t tried to contact her. She was frightened enough about what she’d done. She didn’t want to carry on a secret relationship with a fallen angel, a captive of the devil.
“Bart?” Ethan was growing impatient. “Can’t you deal with this later? She’s not going anywhere.”
“One second.” He clamped a hand on her shoulder. “I need to take you on a little errand,” he told her.
“An errand?” she repeated.
“As soon as I finish lunch, we’ll go to Willcox. If you need to do anything to prepare, I suggest you handle it now.”
“What’s in—” she swallowed to keep her voice from shaking “—Willcox?”
“Martha, of course.”
Now Sarah knew she was in trouble. “I—I’m not supposed to leave the compound. I’ve sworn never to do so.”
“It’s fine if you have the blessing of one of the Guides. I give you that blessing. And you have Ethan’s blessing, as well.”
Ethan seemed to be watching them with interest. Self-conscious under his perusal, she twisted the rag she’d been using. “But I—I don’t want to leave. Why would I? Martha’s been shunned. I want no part of her.”
“We need to find her.”
“I would help you if I could.” She cringed at yet another lie. “But I have no idea where she might be.”
“Maybe not. But it’s your job to help us reclaim her, since you’re the one who let her escape.”