Miriam and the Stranger (2 page)

Star whinnied again.

Miriam laughed. “
Yah
, you are a dear. But now we’d best be heading home before it gets much later.”

Miriam hurried to hitch Star to the buggy and drove quickly out of the schoolyard. Star lifted his feet high and pranced down the road. Miriam laughed and allowed contentment to fill her again.

She was happy even if the prospect of marriage had not been granted her these past years.
Yah
, she would always mourn Wayne,
but in her heart healing had come. That the two could occur together seemed impossible, yet both were true. Uncle William and Aunt Fannie had experienced the grace of the Lord along with her. The tornadoes that had swept through the community and brought so much sorrow were a distant memory now. And back home in Possum Valley, the latest news was that her sister Shirley had fallen in love and would marry Glen Weaver next month. She would travel to Ohio for the November wedding. The Lord truly had blessed again. And now
Mamm
’s last letter had hinted of a new happiness soon to enter Miriam’s life.
Mamm
hadn’t given details, saying only that she was to trust in the Lord and in
Daett
’s guidance, which sounded like
gut
advice whatever this new thing should be.

Miriam pulled back on the reins to slow Star for the stop sign. With a quick look each way she turned west. She should be very thankful, Miriam reminded herself. A heart could be broken into a thousand pieces, and yet the Lord knew how to put them all together again. She still struggled at times with submission to the Lord’s will for her future. Was there to be a man in her life or not? No unmarried man in the community had paid her more than a passing glance these past two years. And surely the news
Mamm
wrote about couldn’t be about a man.

Miriam sighed. Not often did she dare entertain these thoughts. Daydreams weren’t wise, and even if another unmarried Amish man with an interest in marriage looked her way, could she open her heart again? At almost twenty-four years of age, she was an old maid in the Amish world. All the unmarried men from the community were younger than she was. Maybe she should travel more and put herself out there before she was a hopeless case? Miriam frowned and pulled back again on Star’s reins for the stop on Highway 48. She turned south after a quick check each way.

The road was the main thoroughfare through the community,
but traffic was usually light—unlike Possum Valley near Berlin, Ohio. There the place usually buzzed with people and automobiles. She couldn’t imagine Clarita, Oklahoma, jammed with cars like Berlin was on Friday nights. Clarita, with its empty streets, was an island of sanity on any day of the week. Its peace and quiet comforted the soul. The small Amish community followed course with its laid-back attitudes and slower pace of life. Not too many unusual things happened here. Even the violent fall storms had been quiet the past two years, as if their fury had been expended for a time.

Miriam hung on to Star’s reins and shivered at the memory of the evening she had spent in Uncle William and Aunt Fannie’s basement. Outside the winds had lashed from the tornadoes. Many of the
Englisha
people in Clarita had perished that night, and the Lord would not exempt the Amish from the tragedy. She did not blame anyone for Wayne’s and his sister Lois’s deaths—most certainly not the Lord. His thoughts and purposes were high above what anyone on this earth could comprehend.

Miriam slowed down as her Uncle William’s greenhouse with its rows of plants and bushes came into view. She turned into the driveway and pulled to a stop near the barn. A car was parked at the greenhouse door, which was unusual at this hour, but perhaps Uncle William had a late customer. Miriam climbed out of the buggy and unhitched Star. With another quick glance at the car, she led Star into the barn and left him in his stall with his nose deep in a bucket of oats.

Miriam slipped out of the barn and crossed the lawn. The car was still parked in front of the greenhouse, so perhaps a salesman was having a late conversation with Uncle William. She shrugged and entered the front door of the house and called, “
Gut
evening. Anybody home?”

“In here.” Aunt Fannie’s voice came from the kitchen.

Miriam peeked through the doorway with a big smile on her face.

“My, are we cheerful tonight?” Aunt Fannie asked, looking up from the kitchen stove.

“Students all got good grades on their arithmetic tests,” Miriam answered. She held out her hands to chubby baby Jonathon—who wasn’t a baby anymore but a toddler. He didn’t hesitate but ran out from behind the stove to greet her.

Miriam snatched him up to kiss both of his cheeks. “You sweet little thing! I hope you behaved yourself today.”

Aunt Fannie chuckled. “He’s been a
gut
little boy. William says he’s easy to train, but that we must not allow our heads to swell with only one child. The Lord will surely humble us once He’s given another little one.” Aunt Fannie glanced down at her middle with a wry look.

“You’ll be great parents to a dozen children,” Miriam reassured her aunt as she gave Jonathon another peck on his cheek.

Aunt Fannie smiled at the two of them. “Now don’t you be worrying, Miriam. I can hear it in your voice. There’ll be someone along for you. You’ll be a
frau
and a
mamm
someday.”

Miriam made a face. “I don’t think so. I’m an old maid now.”

“That’s not true,” Aunt Fannie protested.

Miriam smiled and changed the subject. “So what can I do to help with supper?”

Aunt Fannie waved her hand around. “I’m a little late as you can see, but the food’s ready. You can set the table. They’ll be one extra plate. Set that near William’s place.”

“We have company tonight?” Miriam paused to set Jonathon on the floor. “Surely you’re not inviting someone here to meet me?”

Aunt Fannie chuckled. “I only wish.
Nee,
it’s an
Englisha
man who stopped by today. William took a fancy to his project—whatever that is, something about the Amish—and invited him
for supper. They want to continue the conversation. William says the man has an interest in tasting the full flavor of an Amish home.” Aunt Fannie’s hand fluttered about. “It’s supper that he wants, I’m sure. A man and
gut
food. The two always go together, which is why I’ve been tense all afternoon and late with supper.”

“I’m sure you did just fine,” Miriam assured her. She walked over to one of the pots and lifted the lid off the green beans to take a deep breath. “Perfect!”

Aunt Fannie laughed. “Thanks for trying to comfort me. I don’t know why the man has me so confused. It’s not like I haven’t made food for
Englisha
people before.”

There you go,” Miriam said, setting the first plate on the table. “This man will be so impressed he’ll want to come back every night.”

“One night will be plenty, thank you.” Aunt Fannie fanned herself with one hand. “Although I’m grateful for a husband who is so hospitable to strangers.”

“So what’s this man like?”

“Oh, he’s just another
Englisha
man. I saw him for only a few seconds.” Aunt Fannie looked the table over with satisfaction and said, “Now, Miriam, please remember to talk with the man. Help make a
gut
impression on him. We can’t have him thinking that Amish women are backward or stuck-up.”

Miriam laughed. “So that’s what you’re worried about. Well, don’t be. I worked for an older
Englisha
man for more than three years—Mr. Bland? Remember? I was with him almost every day, and they are just like everyone else, so relax. You’ll be more than comfortable around this
Englisha
man.”

Aunt Fannie took a deep breath but looked skeptical. “Everything is fine here. Now you run upstairs and put on a fresh dress. Take Jonathon with you.”

Miriam scooped the boy up and tickled him as they went up the stairs to Miriam’s room.

Chapter Two

T
hirty minutes later Miriam was holding Jonathon on her lap with one hand and clutching the edge of the kitchen table with the other as low voices murmured in the living room. Jonathon looked in that direction and chirped loudly, “That’s
Daett
.”

“
Yah
,” Miriam whispered and silenced him. “
Shhh
… you have to be quiet now.”

Jonathon appeared puzzled, as if he couldn’t understand why quiet was required around his
daett
. This had never happened before in his little world. But how did one explain to a three-year-old that a strange
Englisha
man was in the house. In spite of her earlier words to Aunt Fannie, she was tense herself. A glimpse of the
Englisha
man’s face had unnerved her. She set Jonathon on the floor and nudged him toward the kitchen doorway. “Go meet your
daett
. It’s okay.”

Jonathon toddled off, pausing at the living room doorway to glance over his shoulder, and Miriam motioned him on. She
listened as happy laughter filled the living room. Now she was alone in the kitchen. Aunt Fannie had rushed off without a word the moment they caught sight of the two men coming across the lawn from the greenhouse. Uncle William’s lengthy beard and homemade clothing had made quite a contrast to the young
Englisha
man’s clean-shaven chin and his fancy clothing.

Miriam jumped as Uncle William appeared in the kitchen doorway with Jonathon in his arms. “And here’s our charming schoolteacher who’s staying with us,” Uncle William called over his shoulder. He motioned with his hand. “Miriam, meet Tyler Johnson. Tyler, this is Miriam Yoder.”

Miriam felt herself flush. Surely her face was the color of red beets. Mr. Johnson stuck his head in the kitchen doorway as if he was perfectly at home. “Hi,” he said. “Glad to meet you, Miriam Yoder.”

“And you… too,” Miriam managed, which was a perfectly stupid thing to say to a fancy
Englisha
man. What was wrong with her? Thankfully she’d never see the man again after tonight. She’d pray that her face forever be a fog in his memory.

“An Amish schoolteacher!” Tyler studied Miriam with an appraising look.

“Yep, and the best!” Uncle William declared. “A real jewel.”

Please don’t say that,
Miriam wanted to say.

“What is your alma mater?” Tyler asked.

The room swam in front of Miriam’s eyes. She had no idea what the man meant. Mercifully Uncle William covered for her. “We choose our schoolteachers for their excellent character and reputation. Miriam has plenty of that, I can assure you.”

So Uncle William didn’t know what an alma mater was either, Miriam thought with a smile… but at least he had his wits about him sufficiently to formulate a sensible response. Why was she
always such a dunderhead? No wonder she didn’t have a husband yet.

“Well, I suppose that makes good sense. After all, this is an Amish community,” Tyler allowed.

“
Yah
, it is,” Aunt Fannie spoke up, appearing out of nowhere. “And supper is ready. Please come have a seat, Mr. Johnson, right here beside William. We’ll have the food served in no time.”

They all sat down, and Tyler focused on Aunt Fannie’s potatoes and gravy steaming on the table beside the freshly cut bread. A smile spread across his face. “Looks delicious, ma’am.”

Aunt Fannie’s faced colored, but she said nothing.

Uncle William broke in. “Let’s pray. We shouldn’t waste any more time before the food gets cold.”

“I agree,” Aunt Fannie seconded as the two bowed their heads.

Tyler hesitated only a moment before he followed their example. Miriam knew she shouldn’t follow the man’s every move, so she too closed her eyes and focused on the words as Uncle William concluded, “And now our most gracious Father in heaven, we give into Your hands this evening and the night that lies ahead. Be with us and give us Your forgiveness and blessing as we also extend to others the grace that You have bestowed upon us. Amen.”

A ghost of a smile played on Tyler’s face when Miriam looked up. He had probably never heard a prayer like that before, but Aunt Fannie had said he wanted to experience Amish life, so he shouldn’t be surprised. Heartfelt prayers were an everyday occurrence at Uncle William’s house.

Miriam returned her gaze to the table for a few more moments before she looked up again. Aunt Fannie’s hands were a whirlwind of motion as she passed the food. Tyler still had his smile as he took small portions from each bowl.