Miriam's Secret

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “What are you thinking about?” Shirley asked as the car came to a stop.

  “I’m not saying,” Miriam replied as she opened the door and climbed out of the car. And that was the truth, Miriam told herself. Shirley wouldn’t want to know what she’d discovered in her heart.

  Shirley glared at Miriam, but thankfully she didn’t ask more questions.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Later that afternoon Miriam slipped through the back door of the greenhouse to see if Uncle William and Wayne needed help. With the parking lot still full, it seemed likely she could do something to help out. She peeked around a tall bunch of bushes.

  Uncle William caught sight of her. He rushed over with a big grin on his face. “Glad to see you, Miriam! I thought I’d never get more help this afternoon.”

  “I’m sorry about that.” Miriam smiled. “I guess we got carried away with our shopping, and the library, and…” Miriam caught herself before she mentioned the ATM.

  “Reading novels while Wayne and I are rushing about here working up a sweat?” Uncle William scolded, but his smile belied his words.

  “Well, I’m here now. Put me to work!”

  Uncle William waved his hand toward the cash register. “If you could help check out the items and, when necessary, carry them out to a customer’s car that would be great.”

  Miriam didn’t hesitate. “Sure, wherever I’m needed.”

  Her heart pounded when she saw Wayne was running the cash register at the moment. She moved forward and told herself to “act normal.” She liked the man, yes, and he obviously liked her. She would allow herself to be open to whatever God brought about.

  “Hi, Miriam!” Wayne called as she approached. “Good to see you. I’ve been waiting all day for the privilege.” He smiled.

  The customer standing at the register with three flowerpots in her hands gave Miriam a kind look. “Help has arrived, I see,” she commented to Wayne.

  “And the best kind of help!” Wayne said with enthusiasm. “Let me carry those pots out for you now that we have help. Miriam can run the register.”

  Miriam moved around the counter. “You’ll have to show me how. I’ve never operated this brand of cash register. Maybe I should just help carry out purchases. She didn’t wait for a response from Wayne. She grabbed the woman’s flowerpots and waited as she finished paying the bill. Miriam followed the woman out to her car and watched as she opened the trunk.

  The customer turned to Miriam with a smile. “This is the best place for them—if they don’t tip over.”

  Miriam nodded and set the pots among the grocery bags. She guessed, “Shopping down the road at the Amish store?”

  The woman’s face glowed. “Yes. Exactly. I love the place and come by here every week, if I can. Wholesome people, you are.”

  “We try to be.” Miriam lowered her head. She didn’t want to think about the secret money in her pocket, but the thought flashed unbidden through her mind.

  “That’s such a sweet and humble spirit to have.” The woman closed the trunk lid. “Is that young man your boyfriend?”

  As her face got red, Miriam sputtered, “Ach, nee, not really. See, I’m rather new here and…”

  The woman was still smiling. “Well, perhaps when I come by next time, you’ll have a different answer.” She winked at Miriam and then climbed into her car and drove away.

  Miriam watched the car disappear down the road. What had the woman seen that made her think Wayne was her boyfriend? She pulled her thoughts away from the woman’s words and hurried back inside.

  “I thought she’d kidnapped you,” Wayne teased.

  She looked down. Under no condition would she tell Wayne what the customer had said. Miriam glanced up apologetically. “We got to talking a little and I dawdled. I’m sorry.”

  “I was only kidding,” Wayne protested, giving Miriam a genuine and encouraging smile.

  The line at the register had grown longer. Miriam grabbed the two hanging baskets the next customer purchased and bolted out the door. She had to pause and wait for the customer to catch up. “Get it together,” Miriam told herself silently. Wayne had her all flustered. Ivan had never affected her this way. Why was Wayne getting to her in the short time she’d been here? She couldn’t seem to stop smiling.

  When the elderly customer caught up to her, he muttered, “You young people are sure spry. What’s the big rush? Don’t you Amish have all the time in the world?”

  Miriam was instantly contrite. “I’m sorry.”

  The man clucked with his tongue. “No apologies necessary. I was just teasing, young lady.”

  Miriam held up the baskets and regarded them for a moment. “Who are these for?”

  “My wife, of course.” The man laughed. “Did you think I had a girlfriend at my age?”

  Miriam winced. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to…”

  The man patted her on the arm as he opened his car door. “Don’t be so serious. No offense taken. I was teasing again.”

  Miriam nodded. “Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be more cheerful next time you come.”

  The man glanced back at the greenhouse. “I know it gets busy in there. Hang in there.”

  “It’s not just that.” Miriam set his last basket inside the car. “I have some things I’m working through.” Why had she said such a thing to a man she didn’t even know?

  He seemed to take it in stride. “Don’t we all!” He got into his car. “Now you take care. Take time to enjoy what the Lord gives you in life. Take that from someone who knows.” He nodded and looked very wise as he started his vehicle and shut the door.

  Miriam quickly headed back to the register. Already two customers had come out with their purchases. At this rate she’d prove herself next to useless. Wayne would want to know why she’d stayed out so long each time. She wouldn’t defend herself even though it seemed as if the Englisha insisted on small talk.

  Miriam’s heart was pounding when she entered the greenhouse.

  Wayne glanced up. “I declare! You vanish forever every time you go out that door.”

  Miriam forced herself to relax and shot back, “You would too if you’d been through what I’ve been through today.”

  “Baby cries getting to you?” Wayne grinned.

  The next customer was ready to leave. Miriam didn’t respond to Wayne as she followed the young lady and her small child. They could have carried their purchase by themselves, but she wanted to get away from Wayne. The elderly customer’s words were still ringing in her ears: “Enjoy what the Lord gives you in life.” Was she to enjoy Wayne’s attention? The prospect delighted and overwhelmed her at the same time.

  “Thanks so much!” the young woman gushed as Miriam set her flowering plants in the backseat of the car. “Joshua, get in the car, please.”

  “He’s cute and obedient,” Miriam commented as the child climbed into his seat and buckled up.

  “My husband and I are trying to raise him right, but it’s hard,” the woman said. “You Amish are such good examples for the rest of us. We’re so honored to have a small Amish community near where we live.”

  “Thank you.” Miriam’s voice caught. “That’s kind of you to say.”

  The woman smiled. “I guess we all do the best we can with the Lord’s help.”

  “That’s true,” Miriam agreed.

  The woman waved as she pulled out of the parking lot. Little Joshua sitting in the back did the same.

  Miriam didn’t watch long. She returned to the greenhouse.

  “Getting better at this, I see.” Wayne teased at the sight of her.

  Miriam gave him a sweet smile. “I’ll get even better, you’ll see.”

  Wayne chuckled. “That’s not hard to believe.”

  Eventually the line of customers thinned out, and Miriam could relax a bit. “Is it always this busy on Saturdays?” she asked.

  Wayne nodded and leaned against the counter. He motioned with his hand. “Come closer and I’
ll teach you how to run this thing. It’s not right that you carry the customers’ purchases out while I stand around.”

  “You’re working just as hard as I am,” Miriam protested.

  Wayne didn’t answer as he punched some buttons on the register. “There’s nothing to it. You enter the numbers, hit this button, and when you’re finished, press this one. There—just like this.”

  “It can’t be that simple,” Miriam said. She was distracted by standing so close to Wayne. She backed away a couple of steps.

  Wayne laughed. “It’s not going to eat you, you know.”

  But you might, she wanted to tease back, but the words stuck in her throat. She didn’t want to be ruffled by his presence and yet she was. Could she really open her heart again? The danger that Wayne might bruise and break it made her emotions throb. What if his obvious affection for her turned out to be based on the fact she was rich?

  Wayne joked, “We have to learn this job well and help Uncle William make his millions.”

  Uncle William’s voice rumbled from a few feet away. “I heard that.”

  Miriam swallowed hard but didn’t say anything. Millions of dollars…

  Wayne continued. “We must be close to those millions with all the sales we rang up today.”

  Uncle William grinned. “In my day and time it won’t happen. Who needs that much money anyway? We have the Lord’s grace, do we not?”

  “I agree.” Wayne turned back to Miriam. “There, that’s about it. Easy, just like I said.”

  She had no time to argue because another customer walked up. She punched in the numbers like Wayne had done, and it really was easy. It was good that Uncle William didn’t take credit cards. That would have made it harder, and every sale would remind Miriam of her own debit card hidden in her pocket.

  Wayne smiled his encouragement as he walked out the door with the purchases a young man had made. By the time he returned, Miriam had another customer rung up.

  “Now who’s slow?” Miriam’s voice trembled with the tease, but it was the best she could do.

  Wayne’s grin was broad. “I supply quality service to Uncle William’s customers, and that includes conversation. And we can’t rush about and drop plants now, can we?”

  “You said none of that about me!” Miriam reminded him with a chuckle as he disappeared out the door with another customer.

  When he returned, Miriam continued. “Slow people always make excuses, I’ve heard.” It was a clumsy joke, Miriam knew, but Wayne didn’t seem to mind.

  He stepped closer and whispered, “You don’t need excuses. I’m sure you have gut reasons for everything you do.”

  Her face turned crimson. Did Wayne understand her that well? The thought took her breath away.

  Wayne continued as if he hadn’t noticed her flustered condition. “I think you and your sister are adjusting really well to our ways out here on the prairie. It’s not everyone who could fit in so easily.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Miriam responded. “But I did come out here looking for the promise of a different kind of life.”

  “Have you found it?”

  Miriam lowered her head shyly. “Maybe.”

  “Serious troubles at home, then?”

  “Oh!” Miriam pulled in her breath before exhaling. “Nothing like that. Mamm and Daett are wunderbah. It was just time to get away for a bit…and help Aunt Fannie, of course.”

  Wayne didn’t appear convinced, but he still smiled. “Well, I’m glad you came. I’m sure you and Shirley will be a blessing to our community.”

  What would Wayne say if he knew the truth? Miriam wondered. Would she still be a blessing in his eyes? Already her resolve to trust him was being tested! Miriam glanced at his face. The kindness was still there. She gave him a warm smile. She wasn’t about to blurt out her problems. Not yet and not for a long, long time. After Ivan’s shenanigans, trust didn’t come easy to her. Thankfully Uncle William walked up again, so no further talk was necessary.

  “Well!” Uncle William exclaimed. “Things are wrapping up nicely on this Saturday afternoon. Thanks so much to both of you for your help.”

  “I was glad to,” Miriam replied.

  “And I’m getting paid!” Wayne laughed. “And spending a few moments with…” Wayne glanced at Uncle William as he let the sentence hang.

  Unspoken words passed between the two, Miriam was certain. Something about her. But they were surely gut thoughts, she figured with comfort. And for that she was very thankful. Uncle William approved of Wayne and his interest in her. That helped build her ability to trust the young man. Wayne wasn’t Ivan Mast. She’d have to remember that. Wayne wasn’t Ivan Mast. She found her voice again. “I’ll head back to the house if that’s all you have for me to do.”

  “Yep, that’s all,” Uncle William said. “Thanks again.”

  Wayne didn’t say anything, but he waved as Miriam walked out the door.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Sunday afternoon after the morning service, Shirley was sitting on a long bench in Bishop Wengerd’s yard listening to the chatter around her. The service had been held in the bishop’s home this morning, and after the noon meal the youth had taken benches out to the yard to sit on as they relaxed and swapped stories. The unmarried young men were sitting on a bench near the unmarried young women. Mahlon Troyer was in the middle of a story of some sort. Shirley leaned forward to pick out his voice from the happy chatter around her. Mahlon hadn’t even glanced at her all day, but she still wanted to hear what he had to say. Just because he ignored her didn’t mean she would act stuck-up. Nee, she would learn from these new circumstances and not grow bitter.

  “You should have seen that old cow.” Mahlon gestured with his arms. “Never have I seen such a fast track made for the back forty as when one of our cats came out of the haymow and landed on her back. You’d think a sensible cat would let go, but not this one. She must have been scared to death—the cat, that is. The cow just wanted to leave everything behind.”

  The men around Mahlon roared with laughter.

  “A really gut life lesson, I would say. You should have seen Bert Weaver run away from his milking one evening. He got swatted on the face with a manure-loaded tail. He hightailed it for the water tank and dove in. His frau had to lead him back to the barn!” another man shared.

  The men exaggerated, Shirley knew. Both about the cow’s escapades and Bert Weaver, whoever he was. She laughed along with the rest of them.

  “Mighty tall tales they’re telling,” Mahlon’s sister said as she came up and sat beside Shirley.

  “Are they always like this?” Shirley chuckled as a new joke began.

  “Usually.” Betty rolled her eyes. “But I think you and your sister being here stirs them up.”

  Shirley gave a short laugh. This might be true in Miriam’s case. Miriam was sitting closer to the men’s bench listening with rapt attention. Shirley leaned forward again. Wayne Yutzy, who hadn’t been able to keep his gaze off Miriam all day, was in the middle of a tale.

  “And so I said, ‘Why don’t we stop for a drink of water?’ The threshing day was hot enough for September, and we’d been working hard trying to keep up with the best of us.”

  Here chuckles and glances passed between the men. They all tried to outdo each other in the fields. In this there was little difference between the Oklahoma men and the ones back home in Possum Valley, Shirley decided.

  Wayne continued. “My sisters had told me what they had up their sleeve, so I knew this was coming. One of the lemonade glasses would be spiked with extra salt.” Wayne paused for emphasis. “Like a lot of extra salt. Of course, a little salt makes for gut lemonade, but too much…” Wayne chuckled. “Let’s say a little harmless choking happens. And that day poor Emery Yoder got the glass. What a sputtering and fuming!” Laughter rolled down the line of men, including Emery.

  Mahlon joined in. “ ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I asked Emery—as if I couldn’t figure it out. Poo
r fellow.”

  “I’ll sure never forget it,” Emery said.

  Wayne continued. “My sisters finally jumped to the poor man’s rescue, unable to endure his sad cries any longer. They offered him cold water and a fresh glass of lemonade. But his trust was shattered for the day. Emery took small sips of both before he gulped them down. Right, Emery?”

  Emery looked sheepish but admitted, “Yah, I did.”

  “Can’t say I blame him,” another of the men spoke up. “I wouldn’t trust you or your sisters in the first place.”

  Another round of laughter followed. Shirley glanced again at her sister. Oddly, she was sure she’d seen a frown flash across Miriam’s face. What could be bothering Miriam? Shirley wondered. Whatever it was, Miriam was trying to keep a tight lid on it. Hmmm…Miriam was receiving attention from Wayne and some of the other men, but she still seemed distant. Was Miriam homesick for Possum Valley? Maybe even for Ivan?

  If so, Shirley could understand. Sometimes out of nowhere she sorrowed for Jonas despite her best efforts not to. Oh, if only things could have been different for them. What if Jonas’s parents hadn’t left the Amish faith and community? Or what if she’d been born Englisha or at least Mennonite? Then she might someday say marriage vows with Jonas. But that was impossible the way things stood. Still, she could imagine Jonas sitting among the men and laughing. They were worlds apart in their faith, yet he would fit in here. She and Jonas were more one in heart than they were different. Shirley sighed at thoughts that could never be. Her thoughts drifted back to her sister.

  Was Miriam perhaps thinking similar thoughts about Ivan? Did she wonder what would have happened if Ivan had never looked at Laura Swartz? What if he had stayed true to his earlier love for her? What if Miriam had been given the farm by Mr. Bland a few weeks earlier—before Ivan had given in to Laura’s charms? Miriam would have taken him on those terms, yah. But now the inheritance of the farm had changed everything. Shirley glanced again at Miriam. She was her old self now, joining in the laughter, her dark mood apparently gone.

  Now it was Emery Yoder’s turn to tell a tale. He’d apparently taken it upon himself to poke fun at the former storytellers. He lifted his chin high as the story unfolded. “And then the daett asked his son, ‘Now what was it you saw?’