No Woman So Fair by Gilbert Morris Page A

him, but something in her eyes, a certain glint to which he was unaccustomed, warned him that this was no time to argue.
    â€œWell, you’re right, of course, wife. And he is getting a good girl. A little sharp with her tongue, but—”
    â€œShe’ll change for the better, I’m sure. Abram is very much in love with her. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
    Terah nodded. “I think you’re right. It’s a good thing all the way around. I’m looking forward to getting some grandchildren out of this.”
    The two of them donned their finest robes and made their way out of the guest quarters to the front of the house, where a large and noisy crowd had gathered in the street and the courtyard. It seemed Garai knew almost everyone in Uruk. The hired musicians played lustily on harps and other stringed instruments, while drummers beat out the rhythm on handheld drums. The air was thick with the smell of strong drink, which had been flowing for two days now.
    â€œThese people know how to have a wedding,” Terah said, grinning. He put his arm around Metura and drew her close. “I remember our own wedding.” He gave her a squeeze and said, “You were the prettiest thing I ever saw.”
    Metura was stunned, for her husband was not a man to pay a compliment. Tears came to her eyes, and she looked up and said, “That’s a nice thing for you to say, Terah.”
    Terah saw the tears and mumbled, “Well, no sense in making a big thing about it. I’ve always thought you were a beautiful woman. I guess I’ll have to tell you that more often.”
    Metura was overcome, but she blinked away the tears and looked around at the dancing team that was performing in the courtyard. “This is going to cost Garai a fortune,” she murmured.
    â€œWell, he’s got the money. He’s one of the richest men in the land. I can’t think of a better alliance for Abram to make for the family.”
    At that moment a crash sounded, and both Terah and Metura whirled to see a couple, obviously drunk, pulling themselves up from the ground. They had joined the dancers and then careened into a table covered with platters of food and jugs of drink. The woman was simpering and giggling, and the man was so drunk he could hardly get to his feet.
    â€œWe’d better have this wedding pretty soon,” Terah growled, “or everybody will be too drunk to know what’s happening.”
    Matura looked across the courtyard and saw Abram surrounded by a group that included Garai and several other men of the city. “He looks a little uncomfortable, doesn’t he?” Metura whispered.
    â€œEvery man, I suppose, feels a little afraid when he takes a wife.”
    As a matter of fact, Abram was not so nervous about taking a wife as he was about the business plans Garai was making for him.
    â€œThere’s no reason why we can’t go up the other river,” one of the guests said, a tall man with penetrating black eyes. “There are cities up that one as well as this one.”
    â€œExactly what I say,” Garai agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “And we’ve got a young man here who’s willing to back us. Isn’t that right, Abram?”
    Abram hesitated, then smiled faintly. “I’m planning on mostly taking care of our flocks and herds, while Nahor and Haran take care of business matters with my father.”
    Garai slapped the tall young man on the back. He was grinning broadly and had been imbibing freely of the wine. “It’s all right,” he said. “We will make a businessman out of you yet. You’ll do us all proud, Abram.”
    Abram said nothing at that point, but a few minutes later he pulled Garai off to one side. “Really, I’m serious, Garai. I think it will be much better if Nahor and Haran attend to the trading business. I’m better with sheep and goats than I am with matters like