“Okay, I see. So why are you telling us now?” Uncle William regarded Miriam steadily.
Aunt Fannie interrupted before Miriam could answer. “You really have two million dollars?”
“Would you like to see proof?” Miriam started to stand.
Aunt Fannie waved her back down. “Of course not. I believe you. It’s just so…well, such a shock.”
Uncle William raised his eyebrows. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to see this proof.”
Miriam got up and walked up the stairs. Aunt Fannie sputtered something behind her, which she couldn’t understand. Once in her bedroom, Miriam found the latest bank statement in a dresser drawer. With it clutched in her hand, she made her way back downstairs. Surely Uncle William believed her, Miriam told herself. He just wanted to see the proof for himself. A man would want to see proof. Still, she had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Daett had always said money bred distrust and dishonesty. Perhaps Uncle William felt the same way.
Uncle William and Aunt Fannie looked up as Miriam entered the kitchen. She handed the statement to Uncle William and slipped into her chair.
He stared at the page for a few moments and then let out a long breath. “Well, you do seem to own close to two million dollars.”
“That’s an awful lot of money.” Aunt Fannie’s voice was filled with awe.
“Well, I inherited two million dollars”, Miriam admitted uncomfortably. “I withdrew some when I wasn’t sure the money was real. According to the lawyer, compounded interest will increase the funds substantially. To simplify matters, I just think of it as two million.”
“That sounds reasonable” Uncle William said. “So, you haven’t told anyone among us except Wayne?”
Miriam nodded.
“What did Wayne say?” Aunt Fannie’s awe still lingered in her voice.
Miriam felt a smile leap across her face. “Wayne loved me before, and he still loves me now. That’s what I like about him. He’s so…so unlike Ivan.”
Uncle William nodded. “That was a rotten deal…what Ivan did. But I hope he saw his mistake. He was married last fall, wasn’t he?”
Miriam let her gaze fall to the table. “Yah.” She wasn’t sure about the lesson part. Ivan wasn’t a man to learn things easily. Look how he’d refused for the longest time to take her no as her answer. Likely he’d married Laura without repentance for his actions toward her.
Uncle William gave Miriam a penetrating look. “I wish you’d told your mamm and daett about the money. Keeping secrets is never a gut idea, Miriam.”
“Yah, I know,” Miriam said, her head hanging low.
“Don’t be too hard on the girl,” Aunt Fannie said, reaching for Miriam’s hand.
Uncle William continued. “Well, what’s done is done. I think you made a wise decision in telling Wayne. It wouldn’t be right to be his promised one and hold such a secret.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Miriam agreed.
Uncle William continued. “I advise you to write home at once with this news, and allow your parents to offer their input. They may have gut instructions that only parents can give. In the meantime, you can pray that the Lord gives you protection from the evils of money. It’s not a small matter to have access to such a large amount of cash. You seem to have handled things well so far—except keeping it a secret. But one never knows. Temptation is always lying close to the door. Money can make it even easier to leave the faith or doubt the provision that only the Lord can provide.”
“I won’t leave the faith!” Miriam exclaimed. “I’ve never thought of such a thing. And I will pray now as I’ve been praying up to this point.”
Uncle William smiled and got to his feet. “Then I’ll get back to my Budget. May the Lord bless you for sharing this with us. May He also give you and Wayne wisdom on this matter. You will need it, believe me.”
Aunt Fannie touched Miriam’s arm again once Uncle William left. “I hope that helps, dear. I’d follow everything William advised.”
“Yah, but I still have a problem,” Miriam whispered.
Aunt Fannie sat up straight. “You have more secrets?”
“Not secrets—fears,” Miriam corrected.
“Fears? Fears about what?” Aunt Miriam asked.
“Do you think I have anything to worry about regarding Wayne’s affections for Esther Swartz? I think she’s sweet on him. And I worry that…”
Aunt Fannie snorted. “Wayne dotes over you every time I see the two of you together. And Esther? She’s in Wayne’s past. And to speak the truth, it was Esther, not Wayne, who pursued that relationship.”
“Yah, I’ve heard that.” Miriam kept her gaze on the kitchen wall. “Then I must be imagining things.” She hoped her voice carried more conviction than she felt.
Aunt Fannie wasn’t convinced. “What makes you so skeptical?”
Miriam took a deep breath. “Okay, it’s like this. I see Esther smile at Wayne all the time, although I admit Esther also smiles at the other unmarried men too. But Wayne smiles back at her! I worry that maybe he’s in love with her. Perhaps he doesn’t want to leave me because of the money. Esther’s quite beautiful, and I’m so plain.”
Aunt Fannie reached over to stroke Miriam’s arm. “I really think you’re imagining things. Wayne’s sister, Joy, has always been gut friends with Esther. Wayne probably looks at Esther as his sister. And by the way, you’re not ‘so plain.’ ”
Miriam wrinkled her nose. “But it’s not the same as being beautiful like Esther.”
Aunt Fannie clucked her tongue. “I never thought I’d see the day when you’d be worried about such things.”
Miriam felt heat rise up her neck. “I know it’s wrong, and that beauty is vain, but I also know that Ivan never asked me on a date because he was attracted to more beautiful girls. And Esther is Laura’s sister.”
Aunt Fannie clucked her tongue again. “You must forget about Ivan and Laura, Miriam. Would you want things to be any different? Look what you would have missed if you’d married Ivan—the community here in Oklahoma and meeting Wayne. Isn’t Wayne of much deeper character than Ivan ever was?”
Miriam nodded.
Aunt Fannie continued. “Besides, Laura seems a much better fit for Ivan, don’t you think? That’s, after all, why he married her.”
Miriam forced a smile. “I guess you’re right. I just needed to hear someone say it.”
Aunt Fannie peered into Miriam’s face. “There now. Don’t things look much better now that you have them out in the open? You should never have carried these secrets around by yourself. It’s a wonder you’re not a total nervous wreck. And with Esther showing up, why, it makes perfect sense that you’d think the same thing might happen all over again.”
“I feel kind of foolish.” Miriam hid her face in her hands. “You don’t have to tell Uncle William, do you? He might tell Wayne.”
Aunt Fannie frowned slightly. “I keep no secrets from the man, and you should file that concept in your mind. Don’t ever keep things from your husband. The Lord didn’t make marriage for secrets. Your Uncle William will know better than to pass this on to anyone else.”
“Okay.” Miriam managed a smile.
“Now you forget about Ivan and Esther.” Aunt Fannie wrapped her arms around Miriam for a tight hug.
“Thanks for the comfort,” Miriam said. “I know I partly accepted Wayne’s attentions at first because of the great hurt Ivan had left in my heart. But I do love Wayne now. I’m sure his feelings haven’t been affected by the money.”
“That’s the spirit.” Aunt Fannie patted Miriam on the arm. “Now, the best thing for you is a gut night’s sleep. No more thinking about money or Esther Swartz. You are Wayne’s promised one, so until your wedding spend your time building a strong foundation with the man. The Lord will bless both of you greatly. I know William approves of the match, and so do I. You are a perfect couple.”
Miriam laughed. “That’s a stretch, but thanks. I feel so much bette
r now. I don’t know why I didn’t tell you all this a long time ago.”
“We live and learn.” Aunt Fannie rose to her feet. “I’d better follow my own advice and get some sleep.”
Miriam listened to Aunt Fannie’s footsteps fade before she stood to blow out the kerosene lamp on the kitchen counter. Her lamp was still burning upstairs, and she knew the way to the stairs in the dark. With only the slightest touch of her fingers on the wall, Miriam found the stair door and went up the steps. The soft glow under her bedroom door welcomed her. She knew she shouldn’t have left the lamp lit while she was gone, but with all the stress this evening the small error was understandable. Now Uncle William and Aunt Fannie knew of her big secret, and the world seemed much the same. They took the news like Wayne had—as if it didn’t really matter other than for the dangers involved. Money was of this world, and it didn’t make life any better as the Englisha mistakenly thought.
She would tell Wayne about the first part of the conversations she had tonight with Uncle William and Aunt Fannie. That would be her contribution to gradually adapting to the “no secrets in marriage” concept.
Picking up Mamm’s letter from the quilt, Miriam seated herself on the bed. She scanned the rest of the words. There was mostly news about the two farms that Daett ran with Lee and Mark. The roof had sprung a leak in Mr. Bland’s haymow. Thankfully Daett had discovered the problem before much hay was spoiled. Miriam read on, but Mamm seemed to have lost her enthusiasm after the sad news of Shirley’s transgressions.
Miriam prepared for bed and dropped to her knees by her bed to pray.
Oh, dear Lord, help Mamm and Daett at home while they deal with Shirley. And forgive my transgressions and secrets. I’m trying to find my way in life and don’t always do the best. Give Uncle William and Aunt Fannie a special blessing for their kindness tonight. Thank You for Wayne and his love. I also pray for Esther Swartz. Bless her for coming all the way out here to help her grandmother. Give Esther the extra grace she needs for the demands older people can make sometimes. Amen.
Miriam got up and slipped under the covers. She quickly fell asleep.
Chapter Three
A week later, the late-Friday-afternoon sun hung low on the horizon as Miriam stood by the schoolyard fence. Wayne Yutzy’s buggy had appeared in the distance moments ago. She could have stayed inside, and should have, Miriam told herself. It wasn’t gut for her to appear too eager. But she was Wayne’s promised one, and she wanted to wait for him where he would see her right away.
Thoughts of Esther Swartz drifted through Miriam’s mind, but since her talk with Aunt Fannie, she’d vowed there would be no more jealousy. Wayne loved her, not Esther. Besides, Wayne was coming to pick her up for a buggy ride in just a few minutes. Wayne had asked for this extra time together. He had something special planned—if she didn’t miss her guess. There had been a twinkle in his eyes when he came up to the house after work and asked, “Are you busy Friday around five?”
Her smile had come easy enough. “You know I’m always busy.”
He had returned the tease. “That’s what I like about you. What about a little buggy ride after your schoolwork is done?”
She’d allowed her eagerness to show. “I would love that.”
Wayne had left with a quick grin over his shoulder. When Aunt Fannie heard about Wayne’s plans, she extended a supper invitation for afterward. These extra hours together would be a great way to start the weekend, Miriam decided.
Wayne’s buggy came to a stop in front of her, and Miriam ran forward and pulled herself up onto the seat.
“Gut evening, Wayne!” she greeted.
He returned her greeting with a warm smile. “Did I arrive too early?”
Miriam settled herself on the buggy seat. “No, the timing is perfect. I finished the last of the students’ papers only moments ago.”
“I saw you waiting,” Wayne teased.
Miriam felt hot blood rising up her neck, and she laughed self-consciously. “Why should I wait inside when the weather’s so nice?”
Wayne chuckled. “That’s Oklahoma for you. Here we have splendid weather and splendid people.”
Miriam played along. “You don’t have to convince me.”
Wayne grinned. “Just making sure. You never know when folks from Possum Valley will bolt back home again.”
Miriam sobered. “Surely you don’t think I’m like my sister Shirley? She had reasons to return home that I don’t have.”
Wayne laughed. “Not a moment’s doubt. I’m just teasing.”
Miriam smiled even as she let out a small sigh. “Sorry. That’s a sensitive subject right now. Mamm wrote me that Shirley’s hanging out with Jonas Beachy again. Shirley should know better than that.”
Wayne reached for Miriam’s hand. “I’m the one who should apologize. That was careless of me. Does your Mamm think Shirley will get over him?”
“We hope and pray she will.” She sighed. “Let’s not think about her troubles right now.” Miriam forced herself to brighten up. “Where are we going?”
The twinkle was back in Wayne’s eyes. “Ahhh, to a very special place. Not too far.”
“Am I supposed to guess?” Miriam asked, but she already knew. There was only one place close that was special to them as a dating couple.
Wayne grasped the reins with both hands. “You can try.”
Miriam leaned against his shoulder. “You’re taking me back to where we were promised…down by the creek.”
Wayne nodded. “I hope you don’t object. I know it’s not been that long, but I wanted to go there again to remember…and to rejoice in our future together. And the weather’s just like it was last fall. Isn’t that wunderbah?”
“Oh, Wayne!” Miriam tried to breathe evenly. “How did you know I needed this?”
“I didn’t.” He turned right at the stop sign. “It’s been six months or so…sort of an anniversary, I thought.”
Miriam’s words came out in a rush. “You’re a wunderbah man. I’m so blessed.”
Wayne laughed. “I’m glad you feel so, but I’m the one who’s blessed. The Lord has done a great work in our lives, Miriam. I can never be thankful enough for the moment you appeared in the community.”
Miriam clung to his arm. She wasn’t about to bring her awful fears about Esther into this precious moment.
Wayne glanced at her with a question on his face.
Miriam spoke up quickly. “I have to tell you something. I told Uncle William and Aunt Fannie about the money the other evening. I hope you don’t mind.”
A smile played on Wayne’s face as he pulled the buggy to a stop. “Sure, that’s fine. But let’s think about us now, Miriam. And what lies ahead—if the Lord grants us a long life together.”
Miriam nodded and waited while Wayne climbed out of the buggy with the tie rope. He returned after tying the horse to a tree and offered his hand to help her down.
She extended her hand to his strong arm as her foot reached for the buggy step. With deftness she leaped down to stand beside him. “Thanks, Wayne. That’s so sweet of you.”
He waved off the compliment. “Come. Our special occasion was right down here. Hopefully the winter storms didn’t wash everything away.”
Miriam followed him down the slight bank with the help of his offered hand again. They ended up beside a rushing brook, the quick flow of the water a soft noise around them.
Wayne’s voice added to the charm of the moment. “The log’s gone…where we sat last time.”
Miriam leaned on Wayne’s arm. Silence fell and neither of them moved. Here she’d told Wayne about the money, and here she’d kissed him for the first time. There hadn’t been many kisses since. Wayne was a man of principle, and the Oklahoma community had a stricter Ordnung for dating couples than Possum Valley. But she could use a hug this afternoon. He didn’t have to kiss her. She’d understand if…
Wayne’s hand reached for hers. “Let’s walk downstream a bit.”
&nbs
p; They wouldn’t get far before the overgrowth stopped them, Miriam thought. But she allowed Wayne to lead the way. Perhaps he was looking for another log where they could sit and talk and think about the past and maybe the future—their hopes, and dreams, and, perhaps, a date for their wedding.
Wayne paused in front of a low-hanging branch. His laugh was dry. “No logs. I guess we’ll just have to stand.”
Miriam’s fingers tightened around his hand.
Wayne smiled down at her. “We should have come back here sooner. This place has so many gut memories. I should get that Englisha artist in town to do a painting of this spot.”
“Yah, it does hold special memories.” Miriam looked up to hold his gaze for a moment. “And we have the future…if the Lord wills it.”
Wayne’s arm slipped around Miriam’s shoulders and pulled her close. “That’s another thing we should talk about.”
“Yah?” She looked up again, her face expectant.
“Well…” He held the word out for a long moment. “We’ve been moving along at a rapid clip with our relationship, so perhaps we should speak of a wedding date.”
“Oh, Wayne!” Miriam grinned and leaned against his shoulder. “I so hoped you would say that!”
“You did?” Wayne’s voice caught. “So you think this fall would be okay? That’s not too soon for you?”
She pulled away to regard his face. “Not too soon at all. I can’t wait!”
He laughed softly. “This was much easier than I’d imagined.”
“That’s what I like about you.” She touched his hand. “You’re so confident, and yet underneath you’re so kind.”
Wayne smiled and lowered his head to look into her eyes. “So late October then?”
Miriam couldn’t keep the eagerness out of her voice. “That sounds gut to me. I’ll have to write Mamm to be sure the date will work for them. They do have to plan the wedding back in Possum Valley. But I’ll go home in early May after my teaching job is done. We can begin the major planning then.”
A Blessing for Miriam Page 2
