Miriam's Story: Part 2 Romance in Amish Country

Miriam's Story: Part 2 Romance in Amish CountryChapter OneMiriam splashed water on her face and looked up into the small round mirror hanging over her dresser. Even though the bedroom window’s curtains filtered the morning sun, Miriam’s eyes were red and swollen, and it was obvious that she’d been crying. Thankful that,her mother-in-law, Rachel, had taken the girls to the frolic, where they would be practicing their stitching and quilting, Miriam had begged off because she had genuinely felt sick that morning. Since Shem, Miriam’s father-in-law, had been called away for an emergency, Miriam was alone in the house with her seven-year-old son, Ezra, sure to be too busy taking care of his beloved animals to notice that his mother was under the weather.Chapter TwoA half hour later, Miriam descended the stairs to the kitchen. She had washed her face once more, rebraided her hair, and changed her blouse in an attempt to make herself look more presentable. She still had two hours before Rachel would return, and since Shem was helping one of Jacob’s brothers with the calving of a troublesome milk cow, he would not likely be home until long after the girls returned. With Seth visiting her own family’s farm to work with her father on the stable they would build before Naomi and Seth’s wedding this fall, Miriam only had to plan for a meal for two. Though she didn’t really feel like eating, she knew Ezra would be hungry. As she thought about it, she realized that she had more than just her own needs to think about – she had Jacob’s baby to consider as well. She’d sit down with Ezra and force herself to eat something. Miriam smiled to herself as she thought about nourishing Jacob’s unborn child – the only bright spot she’d known in weeks.Chapter Three“And then Aenti Ruth brought Dawdy Ezra and Uncle Seth and Uncle Daniel these great big, cold mugs of cider,” Ezra said, completing his narration of their busy afternoon at the Miller farm.Chapter FourMiriam woke early the next day, both surprised and pleased that she had actually slept quite soundly. She shook her head as she dressed and thought about her discussion with her mother-in-law the night before. Rachel had genuinely surprised her. Knowing her own uncertainties where Daniel was concerned, the Rachel’s show of support somehow made it easier to contemplate being ready at some point to move on and begin a relationship with a man other than her beloved Jacob. Miriam knew that she would miss and love Jacob for the rest of her days, but that didn’t mean that she had to live alone. God wanted His children to be fruitful and multiply, and Miriam knew that the Lord wouldn’t have sent her Daniel if He expected her to live alone forever..Chapter FiveAfter dinner was cleaned up, many of the women brought out various projects and settled under the shade of the trees to quilt or sew. Miriam looked for Ruthie and Rebecca and was thankful to see them with a group of girls who were learning needlepoint from Rachel and another woman. Miriam took a turn holding Hannah Yoder’s newborn, and the slight weight of the tiny baby filed Miriam with hope for the life that grew inside her. Reluctantly returning the child to its mother, Miriam realized that she felt unusually tired and needed to rest for a bit. She slipped out by the side door, headed for her childhood haven. Coming around the main barn, she found herself on a high bank that overlooked open fields below. The winter wheat had already been harvested, and hay had been planted for the summer. The long, even rows showed the path taken by her father and his horse-drawn plow. The bright summer sunlight reflected off the pale green shoots of the new crop.Chapter Six“Oh, my,” Miriam murmured to Naomi as they approached the lunge yard. All six of the surviving Fisher brothers, along with their father, Abram, Isaac, and both her father and son, stood in a row along the fence watching Daniel work the new stallion on the lunge line. However properly and plainly they were all dressed, there was no disguising the fact that the men in both the Fisher and Miller families were a fine looking bunch. Healthy, hard working, and fit, the easy camaraderie of the crew was the picture of what every Plain woman yearned for: stability, family, and security.Chapter SevenA week later, Miriam heard the horse before she saw the man, and when she glanced out the kitchen window, she recognized Daniel’s new blood bay gelding right away.Chapter EightSeptember turned into October, the change of calendar bringing the end of the harvest and the fall Communion service. Sunday’s service had been to meet at the Fishers’, as the rotation of the service location between families came around to their home for the first time this year. It had been quite crowded, as usual, but there had been plenty of food at the dinner following the service, and everyone had gone home satisfied, both physically and spiritually.Chapter Nine“You have a son!”Ruth's StoryRuth Miller has been blessed, even though her life didn’t exactly turn out the way she’d expected. She has lived through her nieces, Miriam and Naomi, and is content to have them married and having families of their own. Ruth is at peace, except for the shame of having been left by the man she loved twenty-five years before. Never married and resigned to her fate, Ruth takes pleasure in caring for her brother and her grand nieces and nephews.Also By Melanie SchmidtMOREWord-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. Only 1 in 500 ebook downloads leads to a review being left on average. That is only 0.2%! If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review at Amazon, even if it is only a line or two; it would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated.AMISH NEWSLETTERSign up for email alerts to get an automatic email when new Amish books are released click here or go to http://eepurl.com/AY3J9. Your email address willl never be shared and you can unsubscribe at anytime.