Captive Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions) by Darlene Mindrup Read Free Book Online

obvious that he was well known by the many soldiers who saluted him along the way. Often he stopped to share a word with one of them. Their interest in her was obvious, but he declined to explain her presence. He kept his conversations brief.
    When he reached the market, Cassius slowed his steps. He turned to Samah.
    “Are you hungry?”
    Surprised that he would consider her, Samah quietly agreed that she was. Nodding briefly, Cassius turned back to the shops around him.
    “Let’s see. What can we get?”
    He bypassed the tavern, knowing that it would be extremely crowded at this time of day. Since most of the poorer families had no kitchens of their own, they chose instead to get their meals at the local tavern.
    The crowd mingled around them, the noise level increasing with each passing minute. Samah watched the people haggling at the vendor’s stalls, adding their purchases to already heaping baskets that they carried. It didn’t take her long to realize that most of those doing the carrying were slaves. It seemed that even the poorest people owned slaves of their own.
    Several musicians played their instruments, their trumpets, tambourines, and lyres adding to the already surging din. People dropped coins into the small baskets at their feet. When Cassius passed them, they smiled hopefully at him. Digging a coin from his pouch, he dropped it in with the others. For some reason, this gave Samah an oddly warm feeling.
    A long queue of men waited near a Roman with a basket of wheat. At Samah’s interested look, Cassius explained, “Those men have no jobs. The government gives them free wheat to support themselves and their families.”
    Samah remembered the times that fellow Christians gave to a communal pool so that other Christians who were in want would not go without. Brothers and sisters cared for each other as Jesus had commanded. In doing for others, Jesus had said that they were doing also for Him. Having the government do so relieved the people of that obligation. She regretted that this was so, for the people missed out on one of Jehovah’s true blessings. The difference was, one was done by taxing the people severely, the other was done in love.
    Cassius stopped beside a fruit vendor’s table. “How about a pomegranate?” he asked, lifting one up for inspection.
    The bright fruit made Samah’s mouth water. She nodded her acceptance. Handing her the fruit, Cassius took one for himself, giving the shopkeeper the required coin.
    Cassius polished his on his sleeve before taking a huge bite. The juice dribbled down his chin, and he wiped it away. There was laughter in his eyes when he looked at Samah delicately pecking at her fruit, but he said nothing.
    Samah thanked the vendor for the fruit, and he quickly glanced at her in surprise. He continued to study her periodically, albeit surreptitiously. She could feel his regard, and wondered at his continued interest.
    Cassius’s attention was suddenly caught by a ruckus across the street. He frowned.
    “Wait here.” His command was brusque, and obviously meant for both her and Sentinel. Both watched him cross the street and become embroiled in an angry conversation with two other citizens.
    Though the dog kept his attention riveted on Cassius, Samah turned back to study the vast array of colorful fruits on the counter, some she had never seen before. The vendor obligingly told her their names and what countries they originated in. He smiled at Samah, and she found herself returning his smile. There was something soothing about the young man, and his courtesy went beyond the bounds of vendor propriety. It wasn’t forced, but was actually an integral part of him.
    He seemed to be studying Samah as thoroughly as she had studied his fruit. Growing uncomfortable under his perusal, she dropped her gaze.
    “Pardon me,” he spoke softly, “but you don’t seem to be from these parts.”
    Samah lifted her look to his face and found him intently watching