Miriam and the Stranger (14 page)

“I’m afraid I’ll have to read it later,” Miriam said. “I want to check in with Betsy at the schoolhouse and see how today went.”

“Oh, I’m sure she did just fine,” Aunt Fannie assured her. “Relax a little. You’ve worked hard enough today, I say.”

Miriam blushed at the implied compliment. She
had
worked hard on pleasing Mose, but wasn’t that what a
gut
prospective
frau
should do?

“I need to go,” Miriam said hurriedly. “Betsy probably knows what she’d be doing, but I’ll feel better if I check in with her.”

“Always thinking of your duty,” Aunt Fannie said, clucking her tongue. “Let me at least help you get Star hitched. You’ll have to hurry to make it in time.”

Miriam tucked
Mamm
’s letter in the dress pocket and handed the rest of the mail to Aunt Fannie. She hurried toward the barn to throw the harness quickly on Star’s back. When Miriam led Star outside, Aunt Fannie held the shafts of the buggy high in the air, and Star was ready to go in no time. Miriam hopped in, and Aunt Fannie threw her the lines. With a quick wave, Miriam was on her way.

Star seemed to understand the need for haste, or perhaps he was feeling frisky since he hadn’t been driven all weekend. She had ridden with Uncle William and Aunt Fannie on Sunday morning, and Mose had picked her up with his borrowed buggy for the hymn singing on Sunday evening.

She had wanted last night to be a special time for her and Mose. But to her surprise, memories of her weekends with Wayne had intruded. She had seen Wayne’s face again and heard his laugh even while Mose was in the buggy with her. She had pushed the thoughts away at once. She had no right to compare Mose with Wayne. Mose was older and more mature, as was she now. She should no longer need warm flashes to her face and poundings of the heart to thrill her. Nor did she need kisses. She had told herself this several times last night. Yet how would it have been to kiss Mose? He had acted like he wanted to kiss when they were seated on the couch. She would have let him, though her face would have turned beet red.
Yah
, Mose was a man, and she had kissed a man before. She almost wished Mose would have followed on his impulse. But he was too proper to indulge in the usual affections of dating couples, but surely he would eventually. Wasn’t that part of marriage?

Miriam held the reins tight as Star took the next turn at a rapid clip. Mose probably figured they should wait until their marriage vows had been said before they kissed, or at least until he proposed. Mose thought she was decent, but he didn’t know everything. Somehow Mose had missed the fact that she had kept the two million dollars a secret for so long. That was her weakness. She could pretend well. In all that time
Daett
and
Mamm
had never suspected that she had such a large sum in the bank. They only found out because she had finally confessed.

Miriam’s fingers dug into the rough leather of the reins as she thought of another of her faults. Tyler Johnson. But she wasn’t about to confess her feelings for him. Those would go away soon anyway. That secret need never be told. If Mose had missed one of her faults, she wasn’t to blame. With all the scrutiny he had given her, it served him right that he had missed one. That meant Mose wasn’t perfect either. Miriam smiled and relaxed her fingers. That
she found pleasure in the thought was downright sinful, but she couldn’t help it.

“Everyone should be human,” Miriam muttered out loud.

She certainly wanted a husband who was human. Mose likely thought he was too perfect, but she was sure the man had flaws of which he wasn’t aware. She hadn’t dug for them because Mose would have taken that as a serious flaw in her own character.

Miriam drove the buggy into the schoolhouse lane as the children were bursting out of the classroom door and scattering around the schoolyard. Two of the older girls threw a softball back and forth, while their brothers brought the horse out of the small shelter. Miriam smiled at the sight and brought Star to a stop by the fencerow. She would wait a few minutes until the students were gone before she drove on in. The single gravel lane could only handle so much traffic.

Several students passed Miriam with happy smiles on their faces. They waved but didn’t stop to speak. Betsy must have done a good job if the students had such a
gut
cheer about them. But on the other hand, perhaps Betsy had allowed them to goof off all day. That would make children happy, but it wasn’t
gut
for them. Betsy wouldn’t allow that, Miriam assured herself at once. All the young women of the community were taught that duty came first, which was exactly why she wouldn’t allow herself to return to the playful days when she was in love with Wayne. How young she had been and so dreamy. Not unlike a schoolchild who saw only marvels in a day that contained no work. Now as an adult she knew of the test that lay ahead of her… as did the Lord. The truth was that Mose was better for her than Wayne would have been. At least now she must believe that and not doubt.

Miriam pulled herself out of her thoughts as more of the students worked their way past her. They all smiled and waved. A few hollered out, “Hi, teacher. See you tomorrow.”

“See you too.” Miriam smiled and waved back.

She loved these little ones with all her heart, as the Lord must love her with all His heart and wanted only the best for her life.

Miriam was still encouraging herself when moments later she drove Star forward to stop by the hitching rack. She would only tie up, Miriam decided. Star could stand outside in this nice weather. With a quick jump she made her way down the buggy steps and snapped the tie rope on Star’s bridle. Up the walk she went and met Betsy at the schoolhouse door with a worried look on her face.

“Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” Betsy gushed. “I’m all nerves and twitters. What if I ruined someone’s life today?”

Miriam laughed. “They all appeared healthy to me.”

Betsy clasped and unclasped her hands. “That’s so
gut
to hear you say. I was so worried.”

“You don’t have to be.” Miriam took Betsy by the hand and led the younger girl inside. “So tell me how English class went. I know some of the grades were having trouble last week.”

Betsy took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I tried to explain things, but half the time my voice squeaked so much I knew everyone had to be laughing.”

“I’m sure you did just fine,” Miriam assured her. “Thank you so much for filling in for me.”

“Did you see Mose off on the bus okay?” Betsy’s eyes grew large.

“
Yah
.” Miriam felt a blush burn on her cheeks. Betsy’s open admiration of the relationship caught her by surprise.

“He’s so handsome and manly.” Betsy caught herself and clasped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t say such things. He’s not my boyfriend. But see what I mean. I haven’t been able to say anything right all day.”

Miriam forced a smile. “I understand. Mose can be a little intimidating, but he’s a man like everyone else.”

Betsy didn’t appear persuaded, but she nodded her head in agreement.

“Well, I’m here now,” Miriam said with a happy sigh. “Can I help you get anything ready to leave?”

“I just have my carry bag in here.” Betsy gave a nervous laugh. “The horse
Daett
had me drive, Ronny, is a little skittish. Maybe you could help me get on the road.”

“Of course.” Miriam led the way outside again and waited until Betsy brought out the driving horse. True to predictions, Ronny tossed his head repeatedly while they hitched him to the buggy.

“He’ll be okay once I’m on the road,” Betsy said with another nervous laugh.

Miriam hung on to the bridle until Betsy had climbed in before she let go. Then Betsy waved as the buggy went by, and Miriam waited until Ronny had cleared the driveway before she breathed evenly. But Betsy had been right. Ronny calmed down and settled into a steady trot. Miriam turned toward the schoolhouse and as she walked, she reached into her pocket to find
Mamm
’s letter. She pulled the envelope out to unfold the pages.
Mamm
had written three pages in all, so there must be plenty of news from Possum Valley.

Miriam read the first words…

Dearest daughter Miriam.

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have waited to write until I felt sure that Mose Stoll had left the community. If I’ve misjudged the timing, that’s okay. I just didn’t want to disturb you while he was still there. I’m sure you enjoyed your time with him, and maybe you’re a promised woman again by
now. My heart leaps with joy at the thought. I had so hoped that eventually the Lord would supply your need for a husband—because you do need one, Miriam, even though you thought that life had settled down to a blessed state without a husband. There was still a need, and
Daett
and I have such high hopes for Mose and you, which is why I waited on the letter. I know that you should arrive at these decisions on your own without undue pressure from your parents. But that being said, we are thrilled to the bottom of our hearts with the gracious way Mose has spoken with
Daett
about the matter, and with the concern the man has for a godly
frau
. I know you fill the requirement perfectly, Miriam, but he had to learn that for himself, I guess. Which I’m sure happened in the past few days.

Besides all that, we are in the middle of Shirley’s wedding preparations. That is also such a great blessing in our lives. Shirley is getting such a decent Amish man, and to think how things could have turned out—my heart shudders to even write these words, so I will think only of what did happen. That being said, below is the list of all the table waiters and the witnesses.

Miriam paused again to take in the long list. This explained the extra pages.
Mamm
continued to write:

Now don’t you feel one bit guilty about not being here to help out. I know you’re taking off the week of Shirley’s wedding, and that’s more than can be expected
from a busy schoolteacher in Oklahoma. Shirley wanted to tell you that Mose will be a witness with you.
Daett
will speak with him once he returns from Oklahoma, and I’m sure Mose won’t object. Neither should you, now that you are likely his promised one. And even if you aren’t, I’m sure Mose will make his intentions of marriage clear very soon.

Mamm
had drawn a huge smiley face, and Miriam felt her face grow red. She lowered the page to push open the schoolhouse door and walk back inside.
Mamm
’s letter was one more sign that she was on the right path with Mose. She would love the man someday just as she had loved Wayne, and if not—then marriage was still the Lord’s will. He would supply the grace needed.

Chapter Fourteen

A
n hour later, Miriam closed the notebook where she had written out Tuesday’s lesson plan, and stood to her feet. Darkness on the prairie was still a few hours away, but Aunt Fannie would have supper on the table soon and she should get home. Since Betsy had driven out of the schoolyard, Miriam had been absorbed in
Mamm
’s letter and her school work, but that was finished now.

Miriam’s thoughts drifted to Mose. He would still be settled in on the Greyhound bus, the long night ahead of him. Thankfully the memory of Mose from the weekend now seemed distant, as though she had known the man only in a dream. But that was how things should be, wasn’t it? Life should move on. She had met Mose only a little over a week ago, but time would change all that. She would see him again at Shirley’s wedding, and things might go better in Possum Hollow than they had in Oklahoma. Mose might not be as suspicious on his home turf.

Miriam pulled herself out of her reverie and hurried through the front door of the schoolhouse. With her hand still on the doorknob, Miriam came to a sudden stop. She had not heard anyone drive in, but a familiar car was parked beside her buggy. Miriam tried to still the quick intake of her breath. Tyler Johnson had come back.

Miriam’s hand twitched. She was tempted to dash back inside and hide, but Tyler had already seen her. He had climbed out of the car with a big grin on his face. He waved toward her. Miriam forced herself to breathe. The man had more nerve than two foxes in a henhouse.

She would get rid of him quickly and that would be that. Miriam set her chin and walked toward the car. Tyler didn’t wait by his car but met her halfway.