CHAPTER 117

Everybody at the case square widened their eyes in disbelief. They were amazed at how Ryan was willing to protect Ruth to any extent because of the love he had for her.

They mambo cell policemen started dropping their machetes on Ruth, Ryan and Purist but they missed them and started beating the policemen. Everybody were astonished as they saw many of the mambo cell policemen lying on the ground unconscious.

" Stop! " shouted Vivian when she saw that many policemen were already heart and yet Ruth, Purist and Ryan were not hurt.

" Why did you stop this fight Vivian? Does this have to mean that we are the winners and we are going with Jackson? This is just to teach you to do a fair justice to people of Mambo town next time. I hope you understand me" said Ruth who left the case square accompanied by Ryan and Purist while carrying Jackson in her arms. 

Ruth decided to accompany Purist to her matrimonial home. She knew that that was the perfect chance to convince Purist to put an end to her marriage. 

As soon as they almost arrived at Purist's matrimonial home, Purist suddenly stood aghast for a while which astonished Ruth. She therefore turned towards Ruth and took Jackson away from her. 

" You cannot go with me into my matrimonial home if you are not married yourself Ruth. It's one of the rules in this community that must be followed. I appreciate for everything that you have done for me and Jackson and that is the main reason why I seek to meet you tomorrow at Mambo market. Tomorrow is not a market day therefore you can dress to any clothes of your choice. Looking forward to meet you tomorrow" said Purist who left. 

Ruth watched Purist leave as tears welled down her eyes. She wondered how she was going to help Purist yet she divorced Martin and never remarried after then. She slowly walked back home and found Ryan seated at the gate waiting for her. 

" I have been waiting for you. Naomi and Magdalene are really worried about you after they heard everything that happened to you at the case square. You have to go and see them and assure them that everything is alright" said Ryan smiling.

" Do you sincerely love me Ryan?" Asked Ruth in a pellucid voice. 

" I love you from the moon and back Ruth but I don't want you to take advantage of my love. Do not marry me in order to save you or your family from any danger. Marry me because you love me if ever you decide to love me someday. Go in and see your parents" said Ryan who signalled to Ruth to enter the house. 

Ruth gladly entered the house and found Naomi, Magdalene and Nelly seated at the living room. She immediately went towards them and hugged them passionately which astonished them. Naomi investigated Ruth all over her body to find out if she was hurt but was glad to find out that she was not hurt at all. 

" Nelly! Purist is doing well and I am surprised that you healed her with only lemon juice. How is this even possible? I never saw this kind of treatment in Olam town before" said Ruth filled with lots of curiosity as she went and sat beside Nelly. 

" People who fall without any purpose are always given lemon juice in our town. I am not a doctor but it's one of our traditional ways of healing people. I hope she has arrived home safe and sound" said Nelly smiling.

" She has arrived  home safe and sound. Although she has told me that she cannot allow me to enter into her matrimonial home as a guest since I am not married. I was really astonished since I did not know that that was one of your traditional rites" said Ruth filled with lots of curiosity.

" Yes it's true. Purist is like a daughter to you and therefore, our traditional does not allow you to visit her when you are unmarried. It will bring curse upon her marriage and upon the people of that home including the man's eldest wives" said Nelly a bit hesitant.

" Eldest wives! Are people in this community allowed to marry more than one woman?" Asked Ruth astonished.

" Yes! Marrying more than one woman means wealth. I know you want to want to ask me why Lawrence is married to only one woman and Ryan has never married. The truth is that Lawrence loves Vivian unconditionally and he has never been willing  to leave her despite the fact that she hasn't given birth to any children. Ryan on the other hand claims that he has never found the flower of his heart not until he met you" said Nelly smiling. 

" I lack words to say. Where is Faith?" Asked Ruth filled with lots of curiosity. 

" She left right after you left with Purist to the case square and hasn't come back home till now. She said that she was going to Olam town to fix a few things and that she would take a few hours then come back" said Nelly in a pellucid voice. 

" Do you have any idea of where she went to?" Asked Ruth filled with lots of curiosity.

" I have no idea of where she went to but it seemed a very serious place. It's as if she went to Olam town to accomplish something. Is there anything that we don't know?" Asked Nelly which astonished Ruth.

" No! Everything is in their right state of position and mind. Let's just wait till she comes back" said Ruth smiling.

Vivian entered the house at that instant accompanied by Lawrence. They both went towards Ruth and forcefully held her arm making her to stand carelessly. Vivian therefore slapped her twice on her cheeks but was astonished to find out that Ruth did not shed even a single tear. 

" What? You are pretending to be tough since you were able to defeat those policemen who were carrying machete in their arms. You should know your limits if you gave me back my position as the case manager. You should understand that you have no right to make any decisions at the case square. We won't be arguing right now if we just kept our boundaries between each other" shouted Vivian at Ruth angrily. 

" Arguing! Boundaries! I, ve been wondering how we turned out to be enemies ever since I came here. Do you love Ryan and married Lawrence just to get close to Ryan?" Asked Ruth in a pellucid voice.

" How can you speak about my wife like that? Don't you have respect" shouted Lawrence as he tried to hit Ruth but Nelly stopped him. 

Lawrence pushed Nelly away which made her to hit her head on the wall. Ruth forcefully freed herself from Vivian and Lawrence then went towards Nelly. Luckily, Nelly was still breathing but was in a state of shock. 

She remembered some of the first aids she was taught while still in the university studying law. She tried to revive her till Nelly suddenly woke but was feeling a little bit weak. Ruth helped her to stand and led her to sit on the couch. 

" Are feeling alright now? I will get you water Nelly" said Ruth. 

" How did you know how to treat me ?" Asked Nelly in a hoarse voice. 

" You were suffering from shock and we were taught on how to deal with somebody suffering from shock while I was still at the university Nelly. That is how I knew how to treat you. Besides, how could I let you go after the fact that you tried to treat my Purist and suceeded in it. That is enough for me not to let any harm go your way" said Ruth smiling. 

" Nelly! I will take you to your room" said Vivian who came towards Nelly a bit hesitant.

" I am alright here. Ruth is taking good care of me. The only thing that I need is for you and your husband Lawrence to change. Just go and leave me alone" said Nelly in a calm voice.

" She is right Vivian. Just like she took care of my daughter is the same way I am going to take care of her. I will not let harm come her way. She's like a sister to me too" said Ruth smiling. 

Ryan who was listening from the living room door entered the house smiling. He was carrying a machete full of blood in his arms which astonished Ruth. Ruth immediately went towards him and took the machete away from him. 

" Ryan! Have you been fighting again?" Asked Ruth filled with lots of fear. 

" I have only done this to protect your sister Faith and my people. She was under attack here at the boundaries of our town by people of Olam town. I could not have been able to save her if the guards at the boundaries would not have informed me" said Ryan.

Faith entered at that instant with a big sore on her mouth. This made Ruth to go towards her who was astonished to see Faith in a pool of blood also and found it hard to differentiate between her tears and blood. She still wiped her face using her hands. 

" Now you have to tell me all about it" said Ruth in a commanding voice. 

Everybody at the living room were astonished by Ruth's statement. It was as if Ruth was not bothered by the fact that Faith seemed weak . All she felt was that Faith needed to explain to her everything that had happened.

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.