Miriam and the Stranger

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Mose grinned. “Don’t you think I’ve asked enough questions for one day? I’m sure the woman can cook.”

  Ellen smiled but still answered, “I don’t know that much about any of our young community girls’s cooking, but Fannie is among the best, and I can’t see where she’d have failed to teach Miriam—if Miriam hadn’t already learned at home. Possum Valley is known for its tasty dishes, is it not?”

  “That it is,” Mose agreed as he took another spoonful of soup. “This is excellent, by the way. And thanks for the hospitality.”

  “Mose was afraid he’d starve,” Bishop Mullet teased, “if Miriam agreed to wed him.”

  Ellen eyed Mose for a moment. “Miriam is dear to our hearts, you know. She’s had a rough row to hoe when it comes to men.”

  “That’s what I’ve heard,” Mose managed. “You don’t think I’d…”

  “I’m just expressing my concern,” Ellen said. “Miriam doesn’t need her heart broken again.”

  “I wouldn’t, of course…” Mose searched for words. He hadn’t expected this line of questions. “Surely you don’t think I’d give the woman hope only to jilt her?”

  Ellen gave him a sharp look. “I just wanted to get in my two cents. If you walk away now, Miriam won’t get hurt, but don’t decide in a few months to leave her after you’ve made wedding plans.”

  “I will treat the woman properly, as the Lord directs,” Mose protested.

  “I think my frau means this well,” Bishop Mullet replied, taking charge again. “This just shows you, Mose, how well-regarded Miriam is in the community.”

  “I do see this,” Mose allowed. “And I assure you that I’ll be careful with Miriam’s heart.”

  “That’s all we can ask,” Bishop Mullet said.

  Silence settled in the kitchen as they finished their soup. Ellen got up to bring over the pecan pie from the counter.

  “This is gut cooking, that’s for sure,” Mose offered as he took a large bite.

  Ellen smiled. “So how are you finding the rest of the community?”

  “Friendly and open,” Mose said. “I have no complaints.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” Ellen pushed the pie pan toward him. “Another piece perhaps?”

  Mose shook his head and finished moments later. They bowed their heads, and Bishop Mullet led out in a final prayer of thanks.

  Mose pushed back his chair and stood to his feet. “I’m so glad you had me in to lunch, and everything was delicious. I’m sorry I can’t come back for supper.”

  “Maybe next week,” Ellen said with a smile.

  “We’ll have to see, I guess,” Mose said as he took his leave. He untied Ralph to drive north toward the schoolhouse. He pulled his pocket watch out to check the time. At two o’clock school would still be in session. Maybe he could catch the last recess if he hurried. Afterward he’d stay and watch how the classes were run. He was sure Miriam would have things in order, but he wished to see for himself.

  Mose jiggled the reins and pushed Ralph to a fast trot. He soon saw the playground ahead filled with schoolchildren, and he slowed down. The children stopped in their play to watch him drive in, but no one paid him any further attention once he parked his buggy. After Mose tied up at the hitching post, he approached the schoolhouse doorway. Miriam met him there with her eyes downcast.

  “You have come to visit?” she whispered.

  “Yah, if I may.” Mose regarded her with a steady gaze.

  Miriam seemed flustered but welcomed him inside with a small hand motion. “I’ll ring the bell in a few moments, but you’re welcome to look around.”

  “I’ll do that,” Mose said.

  She led him up the steps, and Mose glanced around. Everything appeared neat and in order, even for the end of a long school day. This spoke well of Miriam. If she could manage a schoolhouse, she could keep their house in order and raise any kinner the Lord gave them with decency and decorum.

  “You can have a seat over there,” Miriam said, motioning with her hand again as she reached for the bell, “if you want to stay longer.”

  Mose smiled and nodded. “I believe I will, if you don’t mind.”

  “Things can get a little hectic the last period.” Miriam glanced down again. “But I have nothing to hide.”

  “It’s okay,” he assured her. “Everything looks as it should.”

  She appeared relieved and moved to ring the bell. Mose settled on the bench and observed the students as they entered. No one ran or stared at him after their first brief glances in his direction. By the time Miriam called the next grade to come up for their time with her, the students seemed to have forgotten him.

  This was how a decent school was run, Mose told himself. Miriam was clearly a fine teacher. A fine woman. Truly the Lord had led him all the way here to find a virtuous woman the likes of which he hadn’t dared imagine. With a smile on his face, Mose slipped out the back door and untied Ralph. He’d see Miriam again tonight, and his approval of her would only increase. Of this he was certain.

  Chapter Seven

  An hour later Miriam watched from the schoolhouse window as the last of her students’ buggies disappeared in the distance. Her head still hurt from the tension of knowing Mose had been sitting on the bench near the window scrutinizing everything with an intense gaze while she had tried to keep a normal flow to the schoolhouse routine.

  Thankfully, he’d left before she dismissed school, but her headache hadn’t. None of the students had asked embarrassing questions about her relationship with Mose before they left. Likely plenty of little minds would have queries for their mamm and daett at home, but that was to be expected. Most of the community knew about Mose Stoll and why he was here, and knew that Bishop Mullet and Deacon Phillips both approved of his mission. The whole world seemed to approve.

  So why wasn’t her heart drawn in? Or had events simply happened too quickly? She hardly knew the man other than her experience with his sharp and inquisitive glances. She hadn’t seen much more of the tenderness of his first looks. She understood that Mose wished to cover all the angles in his investigation of her. As a minister, Mose wouldn’t want a frau who would cause trouble for him once they had said the marriage vows.

  Miriam sighed as memories of Wayne flooded her thoughts. Mose certainly didn’t court her like Wayne Yutzy had. She couldn’t imagine sweet nothings slipping out of Mose’s mouth or even an “I love you so much, Miriam.”

  “But the Lord has taken Wayne away from me,” Miriam whispered to herself. “I shouldn’t complain over His choices.”

  And Daett could be trusted in his judgment of Mose, Miriam reminded herself. Hadn’t Daett been right about the two million dollars? She had experienced nothing but trouble when she had kept the gift a secret. Daett hadn’t complained about her deception, but his heart had been much troubled once he found out about the two million dollars. And Daett had been right.

  She would trust Daett with Mose, Miriam told herself. There was no other way to live. Hadn’t her heart proven itself deeply unworthy with its recent attraction to the Englisha man, Tyler Johnson?

  Miriam steadied herself on her teacher’s desk with one hand. With the resolution a measure of peace settled on her, and her breathing became easier. Mose would see her again tonight, and perhaps things would go better when they spoke on Aunt Fannie’s couch. They could talk and relax in a more homey setting. That was what she needed.

  Miriam turned away from the window but paused as a car appeared in the distance. Not too many Englisha vehicles came up the school road at this time of the day. Miriam studied the car and pulled in a sharp breath as it came closer. Her head tensed again until it throbbed. It was the Englisha man’s car. Surely Tyler Johnson wouldn’t stop in at the schoolhouse. He had no business with her, and yet this was surely his car pulling in and halting right where Mose Stoll had parked his buggy not an hour ago.

  Miriam clasped and unclasped her hands. Should she hide in the closet? But the s
choolhouse door was unlocked, and Tyler would know someone was around. And if she didn’t see him today, he’d only come back tomorrow. Weren’t reporters like that? Persistent? Tyler certainly seemed to fit the bill. Miriam gathered herself together. She would control her emotions in front of him, and he would soon leave. Then she would never see him again.

  Miriam set her face in a tight smile and went to open the door. Tyler was standing there, ready to knock. He paused with his hand upraised and said, “Howdy there, Miss Yoder. Remember me?”

  He appeared much too pleased with himself. Of course she remembered him. Her face burned from the memory, but he didn’t seem bothered by her tongue-tied condition.

  He spoke again, “If this isn’t a good time, I can come back later.”

  Miriam found her voice. “No, this is okay. The students left a while ago, and I haven’t started grading papers, and Mose…” Miriam cut off the words. Tyler had no right to all this information, and neither should he see her turn into a blubbering mess.

  Tyler continued in his pleasant manner, “Then perhaps you have a few moments for some questions. And a tour of the schoolhouse afterward? This would go along well with the article I’m writing on the Amish.” He flashed a grin.

  “Well, maybe… yah, come on in.” Miriam stepped aside. “I do have a few minutes.”

  That sounded too eager. She should order the man to leave, but that would have been unwomanly and unkind to boot. Even pushy strangers must be treated with respect. If only they weren’t so handsome and didn’t take her breath away.

  Tyler followed her inside and looked around. His glances weren’t piercing like Mose’s had been. He appeared genuinely interested. “So this is where it all happens.”

  “I suppose so,” Miriam allowed. “I know you don’t have a very high opinion of our one-room schools, but I do try.”

  “I’m sure you do a fine job,” Tyler assured her. “And one-room schools are great for what your community needs.” He appeared concerned and stepped closer with one hand out. “Are you okay? You look a little pale. I’m not startling you, am I?”

  “I don’t faint easily, Mr. Johnson.” Miriam met his gaze but looked away at once. His eyes were so blue, so clear—his chin with the slight stubble was… Miriam tried to breathe evenly. Maybe she was going to faint.

  “It’s Tyler,” he said. His hand came down gently on her arm. “Maybe you’d better sit down. Over here perhaps.”

  Miriam allowed him to guide her, and sank down at a student’s desk. Tyler peered at Miriam before he settled into a seat beside her.

  “I’m okay,” she assured him. At least her face didn’t burn like a gas lantern right now. There didn’t seem to be much blood left in her body. It had all drained to her feet.

  “Are you sure?” he persisted. “I could call 911.” He reached for his phone.

  Miriam gasped. “No, not that! Don’t call.” She grabbed his hand, and he lowered the phone. Horror gripped Miriam. How could this be explained if the community found out she had been alone at the schoolhouse with Tyler, and worse if an ambulance was called.

  “Okay. If you say so,” Tyler finally said, but his gaze didn’t leave Miriam’s face.

  Miriam struggled to collect herself. “You had some questions,” she whispered.

  Tyler hesitated. “If you’re sure you’re okay.”

  “I’m fine,” Miriam insisted, but she knew her smile was crooked and lame. And her face still had no blood in it.

  “Tell me how a one-room schoolhouse works, then.” Tyler settled back into his desk. “The last time the general public used one of these was an awful long time ago.”

  “We’re not backward.” Miriam sat up straighter in her desk. “We use the latest curriculum. If you plan to write a bad story about our school, you’d better leave now.”

  Tyler chuckled. “Heaven forbid I do such a thing. I like the Amish, and my editor wouldn’t publish a negative story anyway.”

  “Oh.” Miriam relaxed. She should still ask him to leave, but she didn’t have the strength. And his presence soothed her ruffled spirit. Perhaps this came from the years she had taken care of the ailing Mr. Bland in Possum Valley. That would explain why she was somewhat comfortable around Englisha men. Miriam’s face began to burn as she stole a glance at Tyler’s face.

  Tyler noticed and smiled. “Feeling better, I see. Apparently I must ask charming questions.”

  Miriam tried to glare at him, but her face wouldn’t cooperate. The effort must have appeared as a horrible grimace because Tyler laughed. “You are feeling better.”

  Miriam set her face into an emotionless expression. She took a deep breath and rattled off the words. “Well, this is how it goes. The schoolchildren arrive and put their horses in the shelter if their parents don’t drop them off. They play in the yard until I ring the bell at nine. When they come in and have caught their breath, we open each morning with a short reading of Scripture and a prayer, after which…”

  He leaned forward in his desk and interrupted her. “You lead out in reading the Bible and with prayer?”

  “Why, of course.”

  Tyler smiled. “Just asking. It just seems your community has some very patriarchal ideas, and I would have expected a man to arrive each morning to read the sacred pages.”

  Miriam stared at him. “Do you think a woman shouldn’t teach or read the Scriptures to her students?”

  “No.” His face darkened. “Not me. Them! The men of the community. I would have expected them to object.”

  Comprehension dawned. “It’s not like that at all,” Miriam hastened to say. “Our men lead in the home, but here I’m the teacher.”

  “Okay.” Tyler looked like he was ready to say more but didn’t.

  If Tyler knew about Mose Stoll and how their relationship had begun and proceeded, he would think quite ill of everyone, Miriam thought. Which was exactly why Tyler wouldn’t find out. Such things were not for an Englisha ear. Especially not handsome men who wouldn’t understand how love really worked among the Amish.

  Miriam gathered herself again and continued. “After prayer we go straight to classes with a schedule I’ve drawn up and worked the bugs out of over the years. The students know when the class time for their grade is scheduled, and I call them up and go over the next lesson and answer any questions they have. It’s all very effective, really.”

  “I can imagine.” Tyler smiled again. “Can I look around?”

  “Sure!” Miriam followed Tyler to his feet.

  “I’m impressed,” Tyler said after he had poked around the desks. “Can I look at the workbooks?”

  “Of course.” Miriam didn’t hesitate. “Their grades aren’t too bad. They’re good students.”

  Tyler grinned. “With a teacher like you, I’m not surprised.”

  Miriam felt herself color again. “You don’t have to say that.”

  “I don’t just say it,” Tyler protested. “I mean it. I think I would have learned a lot more in a school like this and with a teacher like…” Tyler sent Miriam a meaningful look.

  Miriam lowered her head and didn’t respond. The words seemed stuck in her throat at the moment. She had to remember that this was an Englisha man, and he often used flowery words that had no meaning. But if Mose Stoll would use more of them like Wayne Yutzy used to, she… Miriam clutched her hands together. What terrible thoughts she was having about a minister, and one who sought her hand in marriage. She shouldn’t complain about what the Lord had sent her way.

  “You could have taught me quite a few things, I think.” Tyler still looked at her, and Miriam’s heart pounded. She needed to break her fascination with this man. But how?

  “I’m sure you have a college education and could have taught me much more than I could ever have taught you,” Miriam finally managed.

  He laughed. “Always humble. Are all your people like that?”

  “We try to place others above ourselves,” Miriam said at once. “It’s the godly way.�
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  “But not the human one,” he teased. “Aren’t you still human?”

  If he could hear her heart beat, he’d know the answer to that question. With her face ablaze, Miriam turned away from him. “And over here is the blackboard where we work out problems with the students. They learn better with a hands-on approach than with hearing only lectures.”

  “That’s true enough,” Tyler allowed.

  He acted as if he didn’t notice her discomfort, but the man didn’t miss much. Well, now he knew she was human. Thankfully she’d never have to see him after today. She would confess her weakness to the Lord tonight and beg for forgiveness. Maybe she should confess to Mose, but that would send him on a straight beeline back to Wayne County… which she didn’t want. There might not be another Amish husband sent her way anytime soon, or one who came with such high recommendations.

  “You wouldn’t know who gave more than two million dollars to the Clarita Relief Fund, would you?” Tyler cut through Miriam’s thoughts. “I understand it was a woman.”

  Miriam choked for a moment. “Did Deacon Phillips tell you this?”

  Tyler shrugged. “Not really, but he said enough that I got the gist of the idea. This is correct then?”

  Miriam pressed her lips together. The suddenness of the question left her cold. Nothing she could say could make things better. And what if the secret slipped out of her mouth? That must never happen.

  Tyler looked at Miriam closely. “I take it you know who this person is?”

  Miriam managed to show no expression. “That’s not a proper question to ask among the community people.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tyler said quickly. “I’m not trying to offend anyone, but this would be considered a great honor among my people.”

  “You’d publish such a thing in your paper?” Horror tinged Miriam’s voice.

  Tyler seemed to ponder the point. “I guess we do have a different perspective on the matter.”

  Miriam remained silent.

  Tyler tried another tack. “Would you tell me if I didn’t publish the name of this woman in my article?”