When Miriam opened her eyes, Aunt Fannie approached her with a tense look on her face and clutched Miriam’s elbow. “Katie just spoke with me. That visiting minister wants to stop by our place this afternoon.”
Miriam froze. “Who? Mose Stoll?”
Aunt Fannie stared at Miriam. “You know his name?”
“Well, yah, it’s no secret. Deacon Phillips just introduced us. But why is he coming to our place?” Miriam managed.
“I’m not exactly sure why. All I know is, he’s coming,” Aunt Fannie said, and moved on.
Miriam took several deep breaths and pinched herself. She would soon wake up from this dream and find herself the community’s schoolteacher with no visiting minister showing her interest and, most especially, no thoughts of a handsome Englisha man!
Chapter Four
Later that afternoon Miriam stood at the stove churning the popcorn popper with one hand while holding on to the handle with the other. Heat from the stove rose around her and flushed her face. Behind her, the low murmur of the men’s voices rose and fell in the living room as Deacon Phillips and the visiting minister, Mose Stoll, spoke with Uncle William. Aunt Fannie was squeezing oranges at the kitchen table while Katie, Deacon Phillips’s wife, stirred the mixture into a large pitcher.
Miriam could feel the frequent glances both women sent her way. Her suspicions at the Sunday service must have been correct. The visiting minister was interested in her attentions, and Aunt Fannie must have approved. But that wasn’t a great surprise. Aunt Fannie would accept any Amish man as her husband, even if he wasn’t a minister. The question was how Mose Stoll had learned so much about her that he would travel all this way in search of a frau. Or had Mose noticed her for the first time this morning? That seemed unlikely, but obviously Mose Stoll was interested in her now. Perhaps this was the blessing Mamm had referred to in her letter. But how had Mamm known?
She had tried to stay out of sight when Mose arrived an hour ago with Deacon Phillips and Katie by slipping out of the washroom door with Jonathon and playing with the neighbor children in the yard. That had lasted until Aunt Fannie had called her in on the pretense that they needed someone to make popcorn.
Now Katie’s whisper grew louder. “Don’t you think we had best tell Miriam?”
Miriam didn’t turn around. She wouldn’t act as if she knew a thing until Katie volunteered the information.
“I think we should,” Aunt Fannie answered in the same tone.
Clearly she would have to respond now, Miriam told herself. Above the sound of the popping popcorn, she asked, “What is it you think I should know?” Her arm slowed, and the white kernels pushed against the lid, spilling some out of the popper. Miriam quickly dumped the contents into the large bowl Aunt Fannie had placed on the counter.
Katie stood to her feet before she answered. “I don’t want this to come too suddenly, Miriam, as I know you are perfectly happy in the work the Lord has given you as the community’s schoolteacher.”
Miriam pasted on a bright smile. “Yah, I am.” Perhaps the less said, the better.
Neither Katie nor Aunt Fannie had a hint of a smile. Katie clasped and unclasped her hands as she stepped closer, “This is gut news, Miriam, of the very best kind, but of course it may come as a shock. I know I still haven’t gotten over my own surprise once I heard why Mose was here.”
“Why is he here?” Miriam tried to keep her pasted smile in place.
Katie’s face appeared tense. “Mose Stoll has taken a serious interest in you, Miriam, though I know you don’t know the man at all.”
Aunt Fannie spoke up. “I know what you’re probably thinking. What in the world? Or how is this possible? But you shouldn’t say no at once. It’s perfectly explainable… and so exciting!”
“Maybe you should start explaining then.” Miriam leaned against the counter, her smile gone now.
Aunt Fannie’s face brightened. “She’s considering it, Katie. I knew she would.”
“I don’t know about that,” Katie said as she sat down again and took a deep breath. “But let’s see. How did this all happen? First of all, Mose arrived at our place last week with a letter of recommendation from your bishop in Possum Valley—Bishop Wagler, I believe?” Katie paused and Miriam nodded. “Anyway,” Katie continued, “Bishop Wagler said all the usual things about how Minister Stoll is an upstanding member in his own district in Wayne County and has impeccable personal standards. All that stuff…” Katie’s voice trailed off for a moment. “We wondered at once why an Amish minister would be traveling by himself all the way out here. That he was looking for a frau was our guess. So we made him feel welcome but dropped hints that there weren’t that many unmarried women in the community his age. Mose didn’t respond until later the next morning when he enlightened us that his frau, Rachel, had passed this spring and that he had someone very specific in mind—you, Miriam. He proceeded to ask us all kinds of questions about you, which we answered in the most glowing manner possible. I mean, what else could we say with your wunderbah character?”
“But… I… shouldn’t someone have told me? Why should I be the last one to know about all this?” Miriam sputtered. She covered her face with both hands.
Katie reached toward Miriam to stroke her arm. “The truth is that Mose already knew quite a lot, and in fact he has spoken to your daett about a relationship with you.”
“Isn’t this just so exciting!” Aunt Fannie interrupted. “I’d say this is almost straight out of heaven. Just when we had all given up hope!”
“Who says I had given up hope?” Miriam protested.
Aunt Fannie ignored the question and continued, “Isn’t this just something? In your heart, Miriam, you must know this is right.”
Miriam opened her mouth to object, but Katie was already speaking. “I’m very sorry about the suddenness of this, but sometimes these miracles do happen out of the blue.”
Miriam’s thoughts spun. Surely this wasn’t already decided! Katie and Aunt Fannie knew she had a say in the matter. And yet did she? If she severely disliked the man, that would change things, but so far it hadn’t. And there was her preoccupation with Tyler Johnson that no one knew about. Maybe the Lord had sent her help in a way she hadn’t expected. An Amish husband would solve her fascination with Mr. Johnson.
“It’s such a miracle,” Aunt Fannie continued. “It’s one of those moments we pray and long for, and then the Lord moves in such clear ways. Think of it, Miriam. Mose had already spoken with your daett before he made the trip out here.”
More than likely that was so Mose wouldn’t waste his time, Miriam thought, but this was not a moment for snide observations, and Mose was a godly man. She could do much worse.
“Mose would like to speak with you this afternoon,” Katie added. “In fact, he’s probably been waiting impatiently this past hour.”
“Then we should let him get on with it,” Aunt Fannie declared. “Miriam will gladly speak with the man.”
“Is that okay with you?” Katie asked with a tender glance toward Miriam. “We don’t want to rush you into anything.”
Heat rushed into Miriam’s face, and she lowered her head.
“That’s all the answer we need,” Aunt Fannie said with a broad smile. “The girl’s in love with the man already!”
Katie nodded and appeared satisfied. “I’ll go tell Mose you’ll speak with him then.”
“You can go right out on the porch and talk with Mose there,” Aunt Fannie said, even before Katie was out of the kitchen. “I’ll personally keep the children away so you can enjoy some peace and quiet. Oh, Miriam, how wunderbah this is, and you’ll have lots to speak of in the short time he’ll be here. Surely Mose will bring you home from the hymn singing tonight. Tell him to stay for supper. Then he can drive you there with our buggy and bring you home. I’ll make a temporary bed for him in the basement, and he can make his way back to Deacon Phillips’s place tomorrow. Oh, Miriam this is so exciting!”
Aunt Fan
nie would have the wedding planned by this evening, Miriam told herself, and a wry smile crept over her face. She sobered moments later when Katie returned to say, “It’s all settled now.”
Aunt Fannie bubbled over with joy. “They can go out on the front porch with their popcorn bowls.”
“That’s perfect,” Katie agreed. She reached over to touch Miriam’s arm. “This is still a little sudden. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“She’s fine,” Aunt Fannie answered. “Remember that Miriam is a mature and sensible girl. And after what she’s suffered, she deserves this.”
Miriam attempted a smile. “It’s okay. I’ll speak with him, and we’ll go from there.”
Katie nodded her approval. Moments later Miriam found herself out on the front porch with Mose Stoll seated beside her. The transition was a blur that didn’t quite register. She remembered Mose’s pleased face in the living room, followed by Uncle William’s encouraging smile as he held open the front door. Aunt Fannie deposited the popcorn bowls in their laps and made a hasty retreat. Now Mose seemed at a loss for words as they both gazed across the open prairie beyond Uncle William’s greenhouse.
“So you’re from Wayne County?” Miriam asked, gathering her wits.
Mose’s smile was a little tense. “Yah. I’m from the district of your soon-to-be brother-in-law, Glen Weaver.”
“Oh!” Miriam couldn’t keep the delight out of her voice. “Shirley’s promised man.”
“Yah.” Mose seemed to relax and regain the confidence he’d displayed earlier in the day. “They are a sweet couple for sure, and Glen’s a gut friend of mine. It’s through his suggestion that I’m here. Glen spoke right highly of you when he learned that I felt the time had come to move on with life. Because I guess you know that my frau passed this spring.”
“Yah, I know.” Miriam let her gaze linger on the distant horizon. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Glen told me you’ve had your own similar loss,” Mose said. “You must have suffered greatly. I at least had some warning when the cancer came. But you have done well, Glen said.”
“Thank you,” Miriam managed.
Mose was silent for a moment before he continued, “Anyway, for the rest of my story… I finally traveled down to your district a few Sundays ago and preached for them.” A smile played on Mose’s face. “But my real reason was to speak with your daett, which I did after the service.”
“And Daett said what?” Miriam asked.
“He spoke very highly of you,” Mose answered. “As has everyone I’ve asked about you. And I clearly see it is all true. You have impressed me greatly so far, Miriam.”
Miriam looked away as the man’s gaze pierced into her soul. If Daett had approved of the man, that counted for something. Had not Daett spoken that wunderbah blessing to her over two years ago? She could still hear the words: “You are a woman among a thousand, Miriam, full of the grace and the glory of the Lord. Blessed may your days be on this earth, and may a thousand people see the light of heaven in your life. May you live fully and walk the fruitful path that has been chosen for you. And remember that your mamm and I will always love you.”
“Did I say something wrong?” Mose asked, his concerned eyes peering at Miriam.
“Oh, no.” Miriam collected her thoughts. “I was just thinking of something Daett once told me.”
“I’m sure they were gut words,” Mose said as he settled back into his seat with a smile. Clearly Daett had made an equally decent impression upon Mose.
“Daett and I are close,” Miriam managed.
Mose looked up with a pleased expression. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. A daett’s approval speaks well of any woman. I’m honored to have been told about you and to meet you, Miriam. Thanks for consenting to spend this time with me.”
“I am glad you came,” Miriam whispered.
Mose’s face had its tender look again. “I hope you’ll consent to seeing a little more of me—perhaps a lot more in the next few weeks. I can’t stay in the community very long, but I’d like to spend some time with you—whatever is decent, of course. I know this is all sudden, but I’m a cautious man, and I’ve proceeded the best I knew how. I didn’t feel comfortable writing a letter when you’d never heard of me, even though your mamm offered me the address.”
Miriam stole a quick glance at him before she said, “Yah, Mamm wrote there was a surprise coming my way, but I didn’t know it was you.” Mose was nothing like either her childhood sweetheart Ivan or Wayne, the man she had planned to marry, but maybe she should allow the Lord to choose her husband this time. Didn’t his request have all the markings of the Lord’s direction? There was Daett’s and Mamm’s approval, and that of Uncle William and Aunt Fannie, and Deacon Phillips and Katie.
“It’s okay,” Miriam said softly.
Mose’s pleased expression returned. “How do you spend your Sunday evening around here when you’re dating? I’m afraid I was married long enough to have forgotten.”
“I think Aunt Fannie already has the evening planned,” Miriam said with a smile.
Mose’s happy look remained on his face as he took his first bite of popcorn. They had forgotten to eat, Miriam noticed. She quickly picked up a few kernels herself.
Chapter Five
Tyler Johnson closed his laptop and slipped it into his carry-on bag. He couldn’t use the device for his meeting with the Amish Deacon Phillips Tuesday morning, but his technology would go with him on the trip regardless. How the Amish lived without such necessities of modern life was beyond him. He assumed there were side benefits. Maybe a connection could be made between a slower pace of life and the Amish’s fabled record of honesty and hardwork. That and the rosy-cheeked maiden named Miriam who had blushed at his presence the other evening.
Tyler grinned at the memory of his meal with the Bylers. The community’s schoolteacher was no dashing beauty, but she exuded a wholesomeness and depth of character he liked. The world could use more of those qualities. All the Amish he had met on this trip were good examples of what society should be. His article would have no criticism of the Amish, despite their old-fashioned refusal to adapt to modern American life.
His editor would be happy at that. The man had made it clear he wanted an article complimentary of the Amish, and especially of their unselfish efforts in that horrible tornado season a couple of years back. The two million-dollar donation to the Clarita Relief Fund had been impressive. But he wondered, where did these people find that kind of money to donate? And that wasn’t the only question that niggled at him. Had the funds been collected in small donations from here and there? That was difficult to imagine. The community only had so many members. Still they seemed prosperous enough, and friendly. William Byler and his wife, Fannie, had welcomed him into their home on the slightest of introductions. He could have been a mobster on the FBI’s most-wanted list for all Mr. Byler knew, but his story had been accepted without question.
Tyler shook his head as he left his motel room and allowed the door to slam behind him. His cell rang on the walk to his rental car. Tyler checked the number before he answered. Ah. Hilda.
“Good morning, dear,” Tyler said, tossing his carry-on on the backseat.
“Where are you, Ty?” Hilda cooed.
“Amish country,” Tyler chirped.
Hilda was nice enough, Tyler reminded himself, but he had no illusions about their relationship. He was a rich trust-fund kid, which did have an upside in addition to getting dates. For one thing he took on writing projects only when he wanted to—projects he liked.
“Amish country?” Hilda questioned. “What is Amish country?”
“You should educate yourself,” he teased. “The Amish are nice people.”
“I didn’t say they weren’t, but why are you with them?” Hilda probed with tension in her voice.
“Because I’m on an assignment, and they are the subject.”
“Oh, yes!” Comprehension dawned, and Hilda said, “I
think I did hear about them once. They are a Stone Age people, aren’t they?”
Tyler laughed. “Something like that. So what can I do for you, dear?”
“Just wanted to hear your voice and ask when I’ll see you again.”
“Maybe when I’m back in town,” he hedged. “Don’t know when that will be, though. This might take a while.”
“What is there to know about Stone Age people?” she pouted. “They can’t be that interesting. Not like me.”
“No, that’s certainly true,” Tyler chuckled. “But assignments are assignments.”
“Okay.” She didn’t sound convinced. “But don’t forget to call.”
“How can I forget, dear?”
They both knew he wouldn’t have the chance. Hilda was the one who called him, and she would be the one to do so again.
“Goodbye,” Hilda twittered, and disconnected before he did.
Tyler slipped his cell phone back into the clip and climbed into the car, the face of the young Amish schoolteacher drifting through his mind. He couldn’t help but compare her simple grace and unadorned face with that of Hilda. Tyler grinned. Now there was a comparison. Hilda was a fully modern, dashing woman. She didn’t step out of the house without her beauty aids. Nor did a week pass without her appointment with the hairstylist. Not that he cared; he did admire the results.
Tyler shook his head at the comparison between the two women and drove out of the parking lot. In a very real sense, to people like Hilda the Amish were a Stone Age people. Even to him, the Amish world was a foreign world. But he had tasted a sample of their life the other evening at the Bylers’s home, and foreign or not, he had liked it. It was in some strange way… well… appealing. He had seen a genuineness in Miriam Yoder that he liked. Were the Amish all as kind and peaceful as the ones he had met? Were there no closets with skeletons in them? Perhaps this morning’s interview with Deacon Phillips would be revealing. Maybe a flaw would pop up. He didn’t like the prospect, but the Amish lived with the same human nature as everyone else, even if they tried to hide out in communities. The truth was he hoped the Amish would survive the scrutiny. He didn’t need an additional ring of cynicism around his heart.
Miriam and the Stranger Page 3
