Miriam's Secret

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “I’ll be happy to assist you,” Mr. Rosenberg said.

  “May I please go home now?” Miriam stood. “I really don’t feel well.”

  “I’ll have the papers ready for you to sign tomorrow,” Mr. Rosenberg said, also rising. “There will be the property deed, bank account, tax forms, inheritance forms, and more paperwork. Can you come to my office?”

  Miriam rubbed her forehead. “Yah…I think. I don’t want to meet at my home. I need to think about this. I’m not sure I want my mamm and daett to know about this just yet.”

  “I’m not sure I understand, but that’s your prerogative.” Mr. Rosenberg appeared puzzled.

  “I can barely grasp this news,” Miriam said. “This news will be quite a shock and change a lot of things.”

  Mr. Rosenberg wiped his brow again. “Whatever you deem best.” He handed her his business card. “Please call me as soon as possible to set up an appointment.” He looked at Rose. “I’ll take care of the check, of course.”

  Rose also stood and took Miriam’s arm. “Thank you, Mr. Rosenberg. We’ll be in touch.”

  “Yes, of course,” Mr. Rosenberg said.

  As Miriam turned to leave with Rose, she glanced back at Mr. Rosenberg. He was still standing by the table. He was uncomprehending as to what this would do to her life. What this all meant for the future was so unknown. Right now, she couldn’t feel anything. Would she travel through the rest of her life feeling this numb? Slowly, though, she felt a new sensation—one of deep apprehension. With this much money her life would never be the same. She knew what awful things money did to people. Wasn’t that what Daett always warned about? Would she grow proud now? Full of herself? Trusting in great riches and forgetting all about depending on the Lord for His provision and grace?

  Miriam climbed into Rose’s car, fastened her seat belt, and then clutched the armrest. Rose gave her a sympathetic look as they pulled away. “I’m sorry, dear, that this is such a shock. But I think my brother knew what he was doing. He always was a good judge of character. Look at the saint of a wife he picked out. The Lord knows she did him good all the days of her life.” Rose paused for a quick glance toward the sky. “Now they’re together again, and he’s left his farm and his money in good hands.”

  “Maybe I should just give it all away.” Miriam’s words came out in a croak. “Maybe I should go somewhere else so people won’t gossip about this situation.”

  “That is, of course, your choice.” Rose didn’t appear pleased. “I wouldn’t, if you ask my opinion. My brother gave you that money and farm for a reason.”

  “But I know nothing about managing money and very little about running a large farm!” she shrieked. The sound pierced the air in the closed car.

  Rose didn’t appear shocked. “I’ll help you, and so will Mr. Rosenberg. He’s one of the best attorneys in the area. My brother picked him carefully, I can assure you of that. Mr. Rosenberg won’t steal your money.”

  “Steal?” Miriam clutched her hands together. Such a thought hadn’t crossed her mind. She’d never owned anything that anyone might want to steal. But now…Miriam pinched herself, and pain ran all the way up her arm. Nee, this was not a dream.

  “I know this must be hard,” Rose said. “And, yes, some people will misunderstand. Your godly character will win out, Miriam. Just keep a low profile, and someday you’ll find the reasons for what happened today. You’re a rich woman now. You shouldn’t try to avoid your destiny, Miriam. God will help you, I’m sure.”

  Miriam took deep breaths. Then the words came out. “Do I own Mr. Bland’s farm? Really? And all that money?”

  “Yes.” Rose took her eyes off the road for a brief glance at Miriam. “Do you want to wait a while yet before you have to face your parents?”

  “No.” Miriam studied the landscape outside the car window. “But I don’t want them to know quite yet..”

  “I don’t think that’s realistic, dear.” Rose’s voice was kind. “Shall I come in and help you explain it to them?”

  Miriam’s head spun. Maybe that would help. It might make better sense to Mamm and Daett if Rose explained. And they had to be told. Rose was right. She couldn’t hide or delay this news.

  Miriam turned toward Rose. “Yes, I’d like that. But let’s only tell them about the farm for now. Daett will know what needs to be done with that. Don’t tell them about the money beyond the fact that some operating expense funds are included. I’ll say something later…someday about the total amount.” Miriam tried to think straight. “Maybe by then I’ll know why this has happened and what to do.”

  “Whatever you say, dear.” Rose reached over to touch her arm. “I know all of this is so sudden. Give yourself some time to adjust. Think things through, and you’ll be okay. And I’ll help smooth things over with your parents.”

  That’s much easier to say than do, Miriam almost said, but that would be rude. Rose had been more than kind to her. The elderly woman believed in her and would help her. She gathered herself together as the car pulled into the Yoder driveway. The clock on the dash read a little after two. They weren’t too late, so Mamm shouldn’t be worried. At least they wouldn’t start off this conversation on the wrong foot.

  “Thanks for coming in with me,” Miriam whispered on the walk toward the house.

  She felt guilty about her decision regarding the money. How could she deceive her parents like this? Each step felt like she was walking in quicksand. Daett had been correct. Money was not a blessing. For now, she would simply wait and see why all this had fallen to her. She must encourage herself. Rose was right. Mr. Bland must have had his reasons for what he did.

  Mamm opened the front door for them with a surprised look on her face. “Is something wrong, Miriam?”

  Miriam couldn’t find her voice, but Rose answered for her. “We need to speak with you and Mr. Yoder, if you have time.”

  “Sure.” Mamm looked puzzled even as she attempted to smile. “Please be seated on the couch.” Mamm hurried into the kitchen, and seconds later the washroom door slammed. Miriam glimpsed Shirley hurrying toward the barn, probably to fetch Daett.

  Mamm reappeared and seated herself in her rocker. “Daett will be with us in a minute, I’m sure. May I get you something to drink, Rose?”

  “No, thank you,” Rose said with a smile. “This won’t take too long once Mr. Yoder arrives.”

  “He’ll be right in,” Mamm repeated, clearly nervous.

  “Mamm, this is good news…I think,” Miriam said.

  Silence settled over the living room. Several minutes later Miriam saw her daett hurrying as fast as he could up the front steps. His awkward gait was more pronounced than usual. As he entered the room, Daett glanced from one face to the other.

  Rose stood and nodded to him. “I’m sorry to intrude on your afternoon, Mr. Yoder. My name is Rose, and I’m Amos Bland’s sister. Miriam and I thought it would best if we explained the current situation together.”

  Daett turned pale. “Situation? Has something bad happened? Is that why you’re late?” he asked Miriam.

  “Everything is okay, Daett,” Miriam assured him.

  “Yes, everything is okay.” Rose looked frustrated. “I’m sorry for the confusion. I would have called ahead if you had phone service. I made arrangements to conduct some business after the funeral, and then Miriam and I came here right after that.”

  “Business?” Daett was puzzled now. “After the…?”

  “There was something we needed to do,” Rose said. “Because Miriam was mentioned in my brother’s will, we met with his attorney, a Mr. Rosenberg. He wanted to meet Miriam before we talked about the specifics of my brother’s will. I apologize again if this has caused worry for you.”

  “Miriam was mentioned in Mr. Bland’s will?” This came from Mamm.

  “That’s correct. My brother left Miriam his farm…and some other things, including everything needed to run the place. It’s the farm we’d like to tell you about.”

&
nbsp; Miriam tried to breathe evenly. Rose was handling the deception so well. It was almost as if the two million dollars didn’t exist.

  “And why did your brother do this?” Daett’s eyes blazed.

  “Well, he was a very kindhearted and wealthy man,” Rose said. “And he thought very highly of Miriam. I suppose he wanted to show his gratitude for the kindness Miriam showed him the last three years of his life. Without Miriam’s help, Amos would probably have had to go to a retirement home instead of staying on his beloved farm. Miriam gave him excellent care.”

  Daett swallowed hard, as if overcome by what he heard.

  “This was surely a wonderful gesture on your brother’s part,” Mamm said. “But surely Miriam can’t accept such a gift.”

  Rose glanced at Miriam and then said firmly, “Mrs. Yoder, my brother gave Miriam this gift. That was what he wanted. That is the arrangement he made. I believe we should honor his last wishes.”

  For a moment no one spoke. Then Daett bowed his head. He finally looked up. “Then we thank you, Rose, since we cannot thank your brother in person. We would not wish to disrespect his kindness.”

  Rose smiled. “I hoped you’d feel that way. Now, I need to go. You have a good afternoon, Mr. Yoder. Miriam, there are papers you need to sign. Consider your schedule and then call me. I’m more than happy to take you to the lawyer’s office and help you in any way I can. Okay?”

  Rose was gone before Miriam could catch her breath. Even Mamm was too stunned to get up and see Rose to the front door. Daett stood frozen in the middle of the living room.

  Miriam struggled to find her voice. “I hope you know that I had nothing to do with this.”

  “Yah, we know,” Mamm assured her.

  Still chills ran up and down Miriam’s back.

  Chapter Nine

  Saturday morning dawned with rain clouds and light squalls moving across Possum Valley at steady intervals like the waving of quilts drying on a wash line on a windy day. The weather fit Miriam’s mood exactly. Sorrowful, heavy thoughts swept through her heart. Mamm and Daett hadn’t stopped bemoaning the idea that Mr. Bland had left her his farm. “I still can’t believe this,” Daett had said when Miriam had come home yesterday after her first day at the Berlin Gospel Bookstore. Soon the people of Possum Valley would look at her strangely and wonder what she’d done to deserve such a gift from an Englisha man. All things considered, though, Daett was taking the news better than Mamm. Their reactions made Miriam all the more glad she’d said nothing about also inheriting two million dollars.

  Rose was scheduled to pick her up this afternoon so she could sign the papers Mr. Rosenberg had prepared. Daett was still downstairs. His presence in the house this late on a Saturday morning could be explained by the weather, yet Miriam was sure there were chores in the barn he could occupy himself with—if he wanted to. But, no, she figured he wanted to talk with her before she met with the lawyer.

  Well, she couldn’t hide out in her room all day, Miriam thought. She’d have to face Daett sooner or later. She looked in the dresser mirror and straightened her kapp. Seconds later she stepped out of the stairwell and into the living room. Daett was waiting as she’d expected. He lowered the latest copy of The Budget when she appeared. He cleared his throat. “Your mamm and I wish to speak with you before you leave, Miriam.”

  Shirley stuck her head through the kitchen doorway. “Can I listen in?”

  Daett sighed. “What we have to discuss is a serious matter, Shirley. Please be respectful and take the younger children upstairs. We don’t want to be interrupted.”

  Shirley appeared mournful as she gathered up her siblings, and then they all clattered up the stairs. Miriam almost wished Shirley could stay and listen in. She can even have the farm and the money, she thought. But in her heart she knew Shirley would do herself great harm if she were given a lot of money. Maybe it was best this way.

  Mamm appeared in the kitchen doorway and then took her seat in her rocker. She sat with clasped hands resting on her extended middle. Daett glanced at her. “Are the younger children all upstairs?”

  “Yah.” Mamm studied the floorboards in front of her.

  Daett turned to face Miriam. “Please sit. This may take a while.”

  Miriam moved toward the couch and sat on the end closest to Mamm’s rocker. The comforting presence of Mamm reached across the space between them. Mamm clearly felt deeply for her plight. Probably Daett did too, even if neither of them had found the words to express themselves that way.

  Daett cleared his throat. “Mamm and I have spoken at length about this matter, Miriam. You know how we feel about money, so you can imagine our feelings on Mr. Bland leaving you his large farm.”

  “I didn’t know he was going to do such a thing,” Miriam said. “Rose assured you of that. And the lawyer questioned me at the restaurant about it too. They are satisfied that everything is…was…in order.”

  Daett regarded her steadily but his voice trembled. “Were you inappropriate with him, Miriam? Is that why Mr. Bland left you the farm?”

  Miriam froze. How could Mamm and Daett think such a thing? Even the lawyer hadn’t asked such a question! Miriam tried to speak, but no words came out.

  Mamm stood and reached across the space between them to squeeze Miriam’s arm. “I’m sure Daett doesn’t mean to accuse you by asking so directly, but we have to know if there was any hint of improper behavior between you.”

  Miriam choked out the words. “He was like a daett to me. Was that a sin?”

  Daett’s face relaxed. “That’s gut to hear, Miriam. Even though you shouldn’t have regarded an Englisha man like a daett. But it does explain a lot. Mr. Bland must have looked on you like a daughter.”

  Miriam tried to breathe deeply as Mamm said, “We don’t hold that against you, do we, Daett?” Mamm glanced toward Daett in his rocker.

  Daett nodded. “I should have paid more attention to what was happening with Mr. Bland and you.” He hung his head for a moment. “I guess the regular paycheck blinded my eyes, and now we’re in this situation.”

  “Maybe the Lord can bring some gut out of this?” Mamm asked, looking for the positive.

  Daett didn’t say anything. He seemed lost in thought.

  “I did nothing to ask for this,” Miriam said. “But I’ll still repent if you believe I did something wrong.”

  “You did nothing wrong that I can see,” Mamm said.

  They both waited for Daett’s verdict.

  What he said would be final, Miriam knew. But how could Daett hold this against her? She couldn’t think of anything untoward that had occurred between Mr. Bland and herself.

  “You must give this farm away.” Daett’s voice was firm. “It’s not right for a twenty-year-old girl to have such riches. And how would you care for the place? You can’t. And if you could and did, that would be a scandal too great to imagine in our community. A young woman managing a large farm. It wouldn’t be seemly.”

  Miriam swallowed hard. Here was her answer, and it was an option she’d already considered and rejected. Rose and Mr. Rosenberg would consider such an action a great insult to Mr. Bland’s final wishes. How was she to explain this to Daett, let alone change his mind?

  Mamm’s hand had found Miriam’s arm again. “Your Daett is right, Miriam. And I can see you’re struggling to accept his decision. See how much of a hold wealth has on a person? Let this be a warning! Get rid of this farm at once. Surely Rose will know how this can be done.”

  “She’s coming this afternoon,” Miriam reminded them. From the look on Mamm and Daett’s face, this was a relief. The sooner she gave the place away the better. But how could she? And it wasn’t because money had a hold on her heart. It was because she wished to honor Mr. Bland’s wishes.

  A sob rose from her heart. “Mr. Bland’s memory shouldn’t be offended like this. He loved me like a daughter. Rose even said so. And this was a gift given from his heart.”

  Daett’s lips were set in a firm l
ine. “That is not a good reason, Miriam. Look where this path might lead. There lies nothing ahead but more trouble. And who knows how soon you might be tempted and be led by that temptation completely out of the Lord’s will?”

  A sudden thought rushed through Miriam’s mind. She pondered it for only a moment before she blurted it out. “If I must give the farm away, then I’m giving it to you, Daett.”

  Daett was speechless.

  Mamm spoke up immediately. “We couldn’t accept such a thing, Miriam!”

  “You don’t have a choice.” Miriam spoke calmly. “I will tell Rose and the lawyer this afternoon. I will have the lawyer draw up new papers. This is my answer.”

  Daett still hadn’t spoken.

  Was Daett stunned by her boldness? Miriam wondered. She’d never spoken to him like this. Had the inheritance already corrupted her soul and changed her attitude? Miriam trembled at the thought and hung on to the edge of the couch. What had taken hold of her? Only a few days ago her life had been so calm and secure and sane. They had been poor but happy.

  Miriam stood and looked at her daett.

  He still looked stunned as he sat there silently.

  Miriam’s body tingled as she fled into the kitchen. If she gave Daett the farm, it would change the family’s financial situation for the better completely. Why hadn’t this course of action occurred to her before? What a perfect solution! Daett would no longer be a poor man. Had selfishness blinded her eyes momentarily? Daett would just have to accept the farm, Miriam decided. However, she would figure out a way to give it to him so that it would always stay in the family…so he couldn’t give the farm away or sell it to someone outside the immediate family.

  Miriam leaned on the edge of the countertop. How did she dare think such thoughts about controlling what her daett could do? How could she even think that she knew what was best? But she had thought them. She would speak to Rose about the matter this afternoon. Mr. Rosenberg would know how to write things up so that Daett couldn’t sell the farm.