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of sheep and goats quiet as they approached their pens.
    As expected, the clanging and bleating betrayed their presence. The two shepherds were within sight of his father’s house when light from Jesse’s door split the darkness. Jahra squeezed David’s arm reassuringly. When David saw Shimeah, the third-born, silhouetted in the doorway, he sighed with relief. He must have returned to be with his wife, who was about to give birth. Of the gang of six, he was by far the kindest. And there was an occasional sympathy in his eyes.
    Holding a small oil lamp, Shimeah approached with quick, compact steps. Barely taller than David, he had begun to develop a paunch since his marriage three years earlier.
    “What happened?” he asked, looking over his shoulder. “What took you two so long? Father was expecting you first thing. He is furious about the auction.” David could see several faces peering out of the doorway behind his brother. In the front of them all, David could make out the head of his father.
    He steeled himself.
    Jesse’s nasally voice cut the darkness. It shook with suppressed anger. “Shimeah, tell me—” Jesse stopped to control his rising indignation. He apparently preferred not to have all his neighbors hear him upbraiding his child. “Why were the flocks not here in time?”
    David took note of whom his father was addressing.
    “I don’t know, Father,” Shimeah responded. “Let me find out.”
    With a flick of his hand, David gestured at Jahra’s leg. “That’s why,” he muttered.
    “What?” Shimeah asked, leaning forward.
    Jahra hobbled up. Shimeah stuck out his lamp, then drew back slightly at the sight of the bloody cloths. Jahra glanced at David and began to mime the bear’s raking claws and fierce expression.
    “Looks like they ran into an animal,” Shimeah shouted at Jesse.
    “A bear,” David said.
    “And it looks pretty serious,” Shimeah continued.
    There was silence as they waited for a response. Jesse seemed to shrink a little in the doorway.
    “How are the flocks?” he finally asked.
    David smiled grimly. “Good to know he has his priorities in hand,” he murmured, hoping his voice would carry. “Let him know that the bear that almost killed Jahra only managed to take down two of his precious sheep. If you think he cares, you might mention that I risked my life to kill it.”
    Shimeah decided to summarize the bad news. “Only two.”
    “Did you say two?” David knew there was nothing wrong with his father’s hearing. “So, next time out, will he lose three?”
    David was about to spit out his defense when Jahra dropped his hand to his thigh and bent over, moaning.
    Jesse’s voice pierced the darkness. “Have David put the flock in their pens, and you take the servant boy to his mother.”
    “How are you ?” Shimeah whispered, looking at David with a touch of pity and embarrassment.
    David shrugged, then turned and headed to the pens, the flock trotting behind him. After making sure the animals were secure, David stalked toward the low, flat hill that ran along the back length of the enclosure. He pulled away a small piece of fence and ducked his head to make it through the low opening that led into a cave where he took the ewes during birthing season. The hideaway was filled with clean straw, and a crevice in the ceiling gave a view of the stars.
    This was where he stayed when he wanted to get away from everyone. Kicking a mound of straw into the middle of the cave, he threw himself down and stared up at the stars. One, larger than the others, winked at him. He shoved aside a wooden manger that was crowding his feet. Then, jerking himself onto his side, he threw a cloak over his head and shoulders and closed his eyes. He had, early on, learned the solace of plunging swiftly into the oblivion of sleep.

Chapter Five
    Saul’s eyes flew open.
    He cursed whoever had awakened him. He had no idea what had disturbed his slumber. Who in his household would dare? After