THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART FIFTY SIX )

As the men surrounded the little group, one of them
looked with hateful eyes. Jermiah would never forget that face, it was Jonah, this was the one
thing he dreaded more than anything.

"So," said Jonah, "we meet again Jermiah...and who
are your friends?"

Jermiah looked Jonah in the eyes. "Why can't you
just leave us alone?" he pleaded, you don't need us, you have many men."

"Well," said Jonah, scratching his chin, "now let
me see, my men have been working really hard lately, perhaps the two women can help them relax."

At that last remark, Ivan became angry and went to
pick up his spear. One of Jonah's men quickly kicked it out of the way. "Leave the women alone!"
he called out.

"Men take that man and tie him up. You will regret
trying to go for me," said Jonah...glaring at Ivan.

Some of the men grabbed Ivan roughly and took him
away. As he was being dragged, he turned...
pleading with Jonah, "please, please don't hurt the
women."

Jermiah then turned to Jonah and said, "Look...you
have us, so just let the women go," but he knew in
his heart of hearts, he was wasting his time, Jonah
would take them all.

"And why should I do that?" said Jonah, "are you a
man with two wives?"

"No!" said Jermiah, "but these women have families
and children...who need them, I'm pleading with you
Jonah, don't hurt them."

Jonah was not deterred, "tie the women up." he
called to his men.

Meradith and Evelyne did not have the energy to
fight back, they just stared at Jonah, tears ran
down Meradith's face, as she watched them take Ivan.

All of a sudden, without warning, Jermiah jumped up
on to Shadow, and rode off...before anyone could
stop him.

Jonah had been so busy staring at the women, he
never had time to stop Jermiah. "You blithering
idiots, why did you let him get away? someone will
pay for this."

Jonah turned his attention once more, back to the
women. "So Jermiah, you ride off like a coward,
leaving these two women in my hands." Addressing
the woman, he said, "for someone who cares so much
for you, it looks like he doesn't really care at all." Then he laughed in a sly way.

He looked the women up and down, admiring them...
he was not about to kill these two beauties, it had
been along time, since he had seen two women such as these.

"Men!" he shouted, "we will make camp here, tie the
women to a tree, I'll see to them later."

Evelyne turned to Meradith...and told her to stay
calm, she knew that to upset Jonah at this point,
would not be a good idea.

To be continued .........