Winter of Faith Collection

by Rachel Stoltzfus

  “We are doing well. John is happy that I want to be baptized,” Miriam said.

  “You’re still on your rumspringe!”

  “Well, ya, but I can make that decision early,” Miriam said. As she and Anna talked, something was niggling at her, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. Passing the spot where the stranger had nearly hit her horse, she remembered.

  “Oh!” She told Anna what had happened the previous day.

  “And he knows your name? Miriam, that is not good! You are the only Miriam living here – he can find you, if he wants to, you know! And John won’t like that,” Anna said, censure in her voice.

  “Anna! I tried to get away without telling him my name – he wouldn’t let the horse pass. Besides, he said something about liking to know the names of those who help him.”

  “Pah! My bruder spent time with Englischers, working with them. He would tell you that this stranger did this so he could find you – and try to start spending time with you. Not good!”

  Miriam looked at Anna, dismayed. “No . . . he wouldn’t . . . I’m courting!”

  “Do you think he’ll care about that? Nee, he won’t! Miriam, Englischer men don’t care about the Ordnung. All they want is to get . . . close . . . to us, if you know what I mean,” Anna said significantly.

  At that dark pronouncement, Miriam blushed, wanting to sink into the earth.

  “No!” she moaned.

  “You’d better be on the lookout for this man. What kind of vehicle does he drive?”

  “A . . . a black truck. Shiny. It looks new. He had something to do at the Englischer high school yesterday.”

  “Hmm, I’ll ask Joshua what he tells me and I’ll let you know. Just . . . Miriam, you had better be very careful. You don’t want to lose John! He is a wunderbaar man, and he loves you!”

  “Ya, and I love him just as much. Anna, why didn’t I know this before?” Miriam said sadly.

  “Because you’re the baby of your family. They – your bruders – are too protective. Mine told me . . . well, as much as they could . . . without taking away my own innocence,” Anna said. “I know that some men are out only for themselves and what they can get from women. Those are the men to stay away from. I don’t know who this man is, but . . . he might be one to stay away from. We’re at your house. Let’s get your fabric inside so we can both get busy,” Anna suggested.

  Joseph and Sarah came outside so all four of them could get everything Miriam had bought into the house.

  “I will see you tomorrow at meeting, Miriam! Tell John I said ‘hello!’”

  “I will! Thank you for going with me!” Miriam said. She tried to smile, not wanting her parents to know just how upset she really was.

  “I’d better get this all sorted out and put away. I’m going to start with the Wedding quilt so it’s done first. It will take me the longest,” Miriam told Sarah.

  Are your patterns drawn and colored?” Sarah asked.

  “Ya. I’m ready to pin on the pieces and cut them out. I’m eager to get started!” she told Sarah, rubbing her hands together.

  “Let me know if you need any help!”

  “I will, denki!”

  Miriam spent the rest of that Saturday, pinning pattern pieces to the fabrics and cutting them out. Once they had been cut out, she separated them into different piles and began hemming them on her machine. By the time supper was ready, she had just about finished hemming every quilt piece she needed for the Amish Wedding quilt. Turning off her machine, she sighed in satisfaction, knowing she’d made a good start on the quilt.

  ***

  After services ended the following day, Miriam motioned to Anna that she needed to meet with Bishop Stoltzfus for a few minutes, then scurried off with her parents.

  “Miss Beiler, I understand you’ve made a decision to be baptized into the Amish faith, am I correct?” asked the bishop.

  “Ya. I would like to start receiving instruction and following the Ordnung,” Miriam said nervously.

  “Good! This makes me very happy, especially as your beau has also made the same decision,” said the bishop. “Now . . . are you quite sure that you are ready and willing to follow the Ordnung?”

  Miriam, knowing the significance of her decision, nodded slowly, with no smile on her gentle face.

  “I am very sure. I’m still on my rumspringe, but this is my home – my faith,” Miriam said, knowing her decision was the right one – and knowing that the blonde Englischer stranger scared her, for some reason.

  The adults and younger children all left after lunch, leaving the Amish youth to participate in the singing scheduled for that day. Gathering under a tall tree with wide, spreading limbs, they sat on the grass and sang hymns of praise. Miriam and John sat next to each other, enjoying their time together. Other friends and couples joined them, sang with them for a short time, then moved on to other friends. By early evening, Miriam was pleasantly tired and ready to go home.

  “I am so happy you spoke to Bishop Stoltzfus today,” John said, a wide grin on his face.

  Miriam, looking at him realized how much she loved his honest, open expression – in comparison, she sensed secrets and an ulterior motive in the face of the Englischer stranger. Knowing what Anna had told her, she shivered slightly.

  “Are you cold? Come here,” said John, edging slightly closer.

  “Denki,” Miriam said, not wanting – or knowing how to bring up how the stranger had nearly collided with her.

  CHAPTER THREE

  After finishing the day’s work on the crops, John and Samuel Fisher sat on the fence, talking about the prospects for the harvest.

  “We have all that extra moisture from the blizzards this past winter. Unless something very unusual – like a drought or a very wet season – comes up between now and harvest, we should have a lot of corn to sell,” Samuel predicted.

  “Of course, the Lord will decide what happens,” John said.

  “Ya, he will,” Samuel agreed. He broke off his conversation as he saw a black, late-model truck ease up and stop by the fence. “May I help you?” he asked.

  Lance gave a crooked smile to Samuel as he sized up John.

  “Hey, man, I’m lost. I’m looking for the young woman who makes the Amish quilts,” he said.

  John felt a quiver of warning and gave the other man a very sharp look.

  “How did you learn if this young woman’s quilts?”

  “I got her business card. As it turns out, I’m glad I have it – my grandmother knows I live in Philadelphia and asked me to order a quilt. I told her that I knew of someone who could make one for her,” Lance said artlessly.

  “Well, that’s odd, because we Amish don’t use Englischer methods of advertising. That is, we don’t use business cards, billboards, the television or radio or newspapers. Instead, we rely on word-of-mouth only.”

  “Oh . . . why don’t you use those methods? You’d get a lot more business, you know,” Lance said, trying to draw the young man away from his lie.

  John would not be distracted. Instead, he answered the question and came back to questioning him.

  “We don’t call attention to ourselves. In living a Plain lifestyle, we give all the glory to God. Now, why did you try to lie to me? I know this woman of whom you speak. She’s a Plain woman and she follows our rules. She doesn’t have business cards. Her customers tell their families and friends about her work. That’s how she gets new business.”

  “Yeah, I lied. What of it?” Lance asked. All humor had left his face and his eyes grew glacier-cold.

  “Miriam is my intended. We will be getting married. I want you to leave her alone,” John said.

  Lance realized he wasn’t going to comply with John’s request. Instead, he fully intended to continue pursuing Miriam – fiancé or no.

  “Hey, man – no harm? I . . . I didn’t know that she was engaged. I’ll leave her alone, now that I know,” promised Lance.

  “What is your intent in trying to find h
er? Her reputation is valuable. If even the hint of misbehavior is attached to her name, she will be ruined in our community. She is not like that.”

  “I . . hey, man, I just wanted to get to know her better.”

  “You should not be trying to get to know an engaged woman better. Just leave her be and stop coming here. If you truly need someone to make a quilt for you, I know of several Amish artisans who can fill your order,” said John. As he spoke, all friendliness was gone from his face and voice, but he still spoke politely.

  After Lance drove off, Samuel looked at John.

  “That’s a serious matter there. Did Miriam tell you how she met this man?”

  “Nee, but I am sure that she has a good explanation. I’m going to go see her tonight, daed. I’ll find out what happened.”

  “See that you do, son. I am sure she has an innocent explanation, but you are right. If this man manages to get to her, it could be bad for her good name,” said Samuel.

  ***

  As he drove to the Beiler farm, John’s mind went from one possible explanation to another. She just got a very big order and that has been taking up much of her time. She just spoke to the Bishop about being baptized. I’m sure there’s a good explanation. Just talk to her and see what she says.

  In the Beiler living room, John took Miriam’s hand.

  “Miriam, a blonde stranger stopped by the farm today . . .” John paused, feeling Miriam’s startled response. “Is . . . is everything OK?”

  “Nee. That stranger – was he driving a black truck?”

  “Yes – he was. So you have met him?”

  “Not in the way you mean! No! He nearly ran me down after the Amish market on Friday. I was thinking of my order and he scared me. He said he was lost, looking for some Englischer high school. I gave him the instructions and tried to leave, but he wouldn’t let me go. He asked me for my name. I refused. He said something about . . . about wanting to know the name of someone who’d helped him so he could thank them. I gave him just my first name, then I left as fast as I could . . . I don’t even know who he is!””

  “Well, he knows who you are. I don’t think he knows where you live, but I wouldn’t count on that. Miriam, I’m worried. He knows your name and he knows you quilt. He seems to be driving through Ephrata, looking for you.”

  “Oh, no! Not now! I’m about to begin instruction for baptism. He could ruin everything for me! I know my actions must be above reproach and he could make it look like I’m doing . . . well, wrong,” Miriam said, trying not to cry.

  At this point, Miriam’s parents came into the living room.

  “What’s wrong?” Joseph asked.

  John told the Beilers everything that had happened.

  Joseph and Sarah became very concerned.

  “John, I think I am going to take a buggy drive. Sarah, I would like you to go with me. John, you and Miriam will need to take a ride as well, so you aren’t alone in the house together. Let’s see if we can find this Lance character,” suggested Joseph.

  Sarah nodded, feeling fear for Miriam.

  “If we find him, do you want me to watch him and see what I learn?”

  “Ya. I do. Let’s go,” Joseph ordered.

  After hitching the horse to the buggy, he and Sarah left the yard first with John and Miriam following at a short distance. After riding for several minutes, Joseph’s acute eyes spotted a black truck idling on a side road. Stopping, he motioned John to pull up next to him.

  “Is that his truck?”

  “Ya, it is.” Both John and Miriam nodded.

  “Okay. I am going to pull up to him. You stay behind me. I don’t want him to know who I am just yet,” Joseph said. Driving slowly, Joseph pulled up to the truck.

  “Do you need anything, sir?” he asked Lance.

  Lance simply shrugged, unable to come up with anything. He was not aware that John and Miriam were at a distance behind him. “I’m just taking in this beautiful countryside.”

  Joseph waved to John with his far hand.

  John, responding, drove up so he was across the road and abreast of Joseph.

  Lance, seeing his Amish “competition,” ground his teeth.

  Joseph, seeing Lance’s frustration and working jaw muscles, spoke, “John, here, is courting my daughter. For the sake of her good reputation, I would appreciate it if you would stop trying to pursue her,”

  Lance laughed, “‘Courting?’ You still use that archaic term? Yeah, OK, man, whatever. I get your drift. She’s taken.”

  Miriam, hearing Lance’s anger, realized Anna was right – Lance had an ulterior motive. Feeling embarrassed and angry, she leaned down so she could look directly at Lance. Never one to shy away from standing up for herself, she spoke up. “Just leave me alone. I have no interest in you. I want nothing at all to do with you. John, please take me home.”

  John, complied, pulling the buggy up and around, taking Miriam back to the farm.

  “She told you exactly what she wants – for you to leave her alone. I advise you to listen to her,” Joseph said. “She is very angry.” Flicking the reins, he signaled the horse to turn. Giving Lance a significant look, he drove off.

  At the farm, all four sat down to talk. “Miriam, I don’t think it’s safe for you to drive anywhere by yourself. We told him to leave you alone, but I don’t think he will,” Sarah said.

  “Nee, he won’t,” Joseph said. “When you need to go anywhere, get your mamm or your sisters. If I can take the time to drive you, I will. Tell Anna what’s happening and get her to go around with you. Just . . . don’t try to drive around by yourself. That Lance character is up to no good. Did you see his reaction when I told him that you and John are courting and engaged?”

  “Ya. I did. He was . . . he was mad. He spoke disrespectfully to you,” Miriam said.

  “He was quite a different person this afternoon,” John said. “Friendly, smiling and looking for help to find you. I had the feeling he was up to no good, though, and, when he lied about how he learned about your quilting, I knew I was right.”

  “What did he say about my quilting?” Miriam asked, feeling apprehensive.

  “He said he learned of your quilting – through your business card,” said John.

  “‘Business card?’ I don’t use them! I rely only on word-of-mouth!” Miriam said angrily.

  “We know,” said Sarah soothingly. “We are here to help you, protect you from him. He is up to no good. I am only grateful that we found out now, instead of after him trying something.”

  “Mamm, daed, I’m sorry I forgot to tell you about nearly being hit by him. I was so excited about my big order that I forgot,” Miriam said apologetically.

  “We wish you had remembered to say anything. We understand your excitement, so don’t worry,” said Joseph. “We know now, so we are doing all we can to make sure you stay safe.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The next Sunday was not a meeting day. Miriam and her parents stayed at home, reading their Bibles and reflecting on the messages they got. Miriam was still upset after the events of the day before. Setting her Bible down, she wandered to the back porch to get some sun.

  Thinking, she allowed her eyes to roam over the countryside immediately surrounding her parents’ farm. The back porch was not visible from the road. Thinking about this, she was grateful, fearful that Lance would still try to seek her out, in defiance of her father’s and John’s warnings.

  That evening, John came by to visit with Miriam. As he drove the buggy to the farm, he saw the now-familiar black truck poking around first one road, then the next. John decided to take a different route to the Beiler’s farm – one that would not put him in the pathway of Lance’s truck.

  Arriving at the Beiler farm, he suggested that they take their snacks to the front porch. He was quiet as he did so – Miriam, getting the snack, picked up on his mood.

  As they drank the tart lemonade and munched on cookies, their moods improved. After several minutes, Miriam spot
ted Lance’s truck, nosing down the main road. Grabbing the lemonade, she ran into the house. John followed closely behind, holding the plate of cookies.

  Joseph, reading his Bible, looked at John with a quizzical expression on his bearded face.

  “He is out there again. If he knocks on the door, please tell him Miriam’s not available to speak to him,” John asked.

  Joseph nodded, returning to his reading.

  A few minutes later, he stood, hearing a knock at the door. Gazing into the kitchen, he motioned John and Miriam to hide themselves a little better. Opening the door when he was satisfied that the couple was completely hidden, he gazed at Lance.

  “Uh, hi. Is your daughter here? I’d like to see her,” Lance looked nervous.

  “Nee. She is not coming to the living room. It is up to me to make sure she is not exposed to any situations – or people – who would cause harm to her reputation. You must leave – now,” said Joseph firmly.

  “Aww, c’mon! Even just to say hi?” Lance asked.

  “Even then. We are a close-knit community. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing. Word gets around fast. If you had tried to come by here and I had been gone, you could have done some real harm to her reputation. I must ask you to leave. Now,” Joseph said. His tone brooked no nonsense or resistance.

  “Wow. You people are . . . Wow! OK. I’m leaving now. But, before I do . . . would you please give this to her?” Lance handed a small, gaily wrapped box to Joseph. Joseph barely looked at the box before giving it right back to Lance.

  “No I cannot allow you to give her gifts. It would be highly inappropriate. Take that gift and please leave – right now!”

  Sarah had come up to stand next to her husband.

  “I don’t know who you are, but I don’t get a very good feeling from you. My daughter wants nothing to do with you. Please respect my husband’s authority in this house. Go. Now,” Sarah ordered.

  “OK, whatever. Fine,” Lance muttered, raising his hands in defeat. Jamming the box into his jacket pocket, he turned, bounding down the porch steps. A minute later, he was gone.