Miriam and the Stranger

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Besides all that, we are in the middle of Shirley’s wedding preparations. That is also such a great blessing in our lives. Shirley is getting such a decent Amish man, and to think how things could have turned out—my heart shudders to even write these words, so I will think only of what did happen. That being said, below is the list of all the table waiters and the witnesses.

  Miriam paused again to take in the long list. This explained the extra pages. Mamm continued to write:

  Now don’t you feel one bit guilty about not being here to help out. I know you’re taking off the week of Shirley’s wedding, and that’s more than can be expected from a busy schoolteacher in Oklahoma. Shirley wanted to tell you that Mose will be a witness with you. Daett will speak with him once he returns from Oklahoma, and I’m sure Mose won’t object. Neither should you, now that you are likely his promised one. And even if you aren’t, I’m sure Mose will make his intentions of marriage clear very soon.

  Mamm had drawn a huge smiley face, and Miriam felt her face grow red. She lowered the page to push open the schoolhouse door and walk back inside. Mamm’s letter was one more sign that she was on the right path with Mose. She would love the man someday just as she had loved Wayne, and if not—then marriage was still the Lord’s will. He would supply the grace needed.

  Chapter Fourteen

  An hour later, Miriam closed the notebook where she had written out Tuesday’s lesson plan, and stood to her feet. Darkness on the prairie was still a few hours away, but Aunt Fannie would have supper on the table soon and she should get home. Since Betsy had driven out of the schoolyard, Miriam had been absorbed in Mamm’s letter and her school work, but that was finished now.

  Miriam’s thoughts drifted to Mose. He would still be settled in on the Greyhound bus, the long night ahead of him. Thankfully the memory of Mose from the weekend now seemed distant, as though she had known the man only in a dream. But that was how things should be, wasn’t it? Life should move on. She had met Mose only a little over a week ago, but time would change all that. She would see him again at Shirley’s wedding, and things might go better in Possum Hollow than they had in Oklahoma. Mose might not be as suspicious on his home turf.

  Miriam pulled herself out of her reverie and hurried through the front door of the schoolhouse. With her hand still on the doorknob, Miriam came to a sudden stop. She had not heard anyone drive in, but a familiar car was parked beside her buggy. Miriam tried to still the quick intake of her breath. Tyler Johnson had come back.

  Miriam’s hand twitched. She was tempted to dash back inside and hide, but Tyler had already seen her. He had climbed out of the car with a big grin on his face. He waved toward her. Miriam forced herself to breathe. The man had more nerve than two foxes in a henhouse.

  She would get rid of him quickly and that would be that. Miriam set her chin and walked toward the car. Tyler didn’t wait by his car but met her halfway.

  He greeted her with a solemn, “Good afternoon, Miss Yoder.”

  “It’s practically evening.” She tried to speak calmly. “And I have to get home.”

  He smiled. “Don’t you have a few moments for a friend?”

  You’re not my friend, she wanted to tell him. But that wouldn’t have been right. Tyler was a human being and deserved the respect she should give him.

  “I’ll take that as a yes… or should I say a yah?” Tyler grinned again and pulled a paper out of his pocket. He held it toward Miriam. “Here’s the article I wrote. I thought you might wish to see how harmless I turned out to be.”

  You’re not harmless to me, Miriam wanted to say but pressed her lips together.

  Tyler didn’t seem to mind her continued silence. “When you get a chance to read it, you’ll see that your name isn’t even mentioned, or your secret. That lies between us and will go no further.”

  “You do take your liberties though, don’t you?” she finally said.

  A slight smile played on his face. “I have been accused of that, but I’ve been gracious enough by the standards of journalism.”

  Miriam stared at the ground. She wasn’t used to the Englisha’s ways, so Tyler might be right. But by the standards of the community, Tyler was on dangerous ground with her, or rather she was with him. That he was even here was…

  “Sorry if I’ve offended you.” Tyler interrupted Miriam’s thoughts. “I guess I forgot how different things are in your world, but I mean no harm.”

  Miriam still said nothing but kept her eyes on the ground.

  “I really am sorry.” Tyler retreated a step. “Please accept my apologies. Now if you will excuse me…”

  “Please.” Miriam spoke quickly. “I didn’t mean to criticize you. I guess I’m touchy right now. Will you…” Miriam’s thoughts whirled. She couldn’t ask him into the schoolhouse. She wanted to, but she simply couldn’t.

  Tyler waited in silence, his hand half raised as if he meant to speak but had decided not to.

  “You’ll come to supper at the house perhaps?” Miriam asked instead. “Aunt Fannie will have the meal ready by the time we get there.”

  Now Tyler stared at her. “Are you serious?”

  “I think you would be welcome.” Miriam tried to smile. “That is, by Uncle William and Aunt Fannie, but I’d also…” She stopped, red-faced.

  He smiled. “I’d be honored to accept.”

  Miriam tried to focus, and the words tumbled out. “You’ll come then? You know where we live?”

  His smile grew wider. “Yes, but I can follow your buggy.”

  Miriam flinched. “Perhaps you shouldn’t. That will look like…”

  His smile didn’t waver. “I understand. I’ll be there soon then.”

  Miriam stared after Tyler as he walked back to the car and climbed in. Where had that come from? Well, at least it was on the up and up and not a secret meeting in the schoolhouse. Anything but that. With Uncle William and Aunt Fannie present, nothing untoward could be said… or suspected.

  Still, as she untied Star, she prayed, “Help me, dear Lord! I don’t want to be blushing all evening around an Englisha man. Take this wrong thing out of my heart. I don’t want to live with secrets again.”

  Miriam untied Star and drove out of the school driveway. Tyler’s car was already a faint blip in the distance. Thankfully, he turned toward Clarita at the stop sign and soon vanished from sight. Miriam would have urged Star to take up a faster pace, but he seemed to have wings for feet all on his own. They made the trip in the shortest time Miriam could remember.

  No one was in sight when Miriam pulled up to Uncle William’s barn. She climbed out of the buggy to unhitch Star and take him inside. After the horse was in his stall, Miriam hurried out the barn door and arrived in the house out of breath.

  Aunt Fannie came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on an apron. “You’re in an awful big rush. Calm down, Miriam.”

  Miriam tried to speak but no words would come.

  Aunt Fannie beamed. “What is it? Did the memory of Mose have this effect on you?”

  Miriam shook her head and exclaimed, “The other man! He’s coming tonight! Tyler! I invited him.”

  “Tyler?” Aunt Fannie’s mouth dropped open. “The Englisha man?”

  “Yah, I’m sorry, but I had to invite him. He had a paper he showed me, and I…” Miriam held out the article as if that explained everything.

  “It’s okay,” Aunt Fannie said as she collected herself. But she didn’t look twice at the paper. “I guess we are supposed to invite strangers home when we have a chance, and the man has been here before, so why shouldn’t you do so again?” Aunt Fannie appeared puzzled but soon turned to rush back into the kitchen.

  Miriam joined her. A quick glance around showed the table half set and pots of steaming food on the stove.

  “Just soup,” Aunt Fannie said when she caught the look. “I hope that’s okay.”

  “Of course!” Miriam exclaimed again.

  Aunt Fannie appeared relieved and continued, “Y
ou can set the table if you want to.”

  Miriam moved quickly, but she wasn’t finished by the time car tires sounded in the driveway.

  “William will take care of Tyler,” Aunt Fannie decreed.

  Miriam wasn’t sure about that. How would Tyler explain the invitation? He might not know enough about Amish ways to say the right things and could easily get her into trouble. “Lord, help us,” Miriam whispered as she finished setting the table.

  “Straighten the tablecloth quickly,” Aunt Fannie ordered.

  Miriam responded, and Aunt Fannie set the pot of soup in the middle of the table.

  “At least I have pie for dessert,” Aunt Fannie moaned. “I should have meat and potatoes and gravy for such fancy visitors as Mr. Johnson.”

  “He’s not that fancy,” Miriam protested, and she wished she hadn’t said the words. It implied an intimacy with the man she shouldn’t have.

  Aunt Fannie didn’t seem to notice. “If you’ll call Jonathon, we’ll be ready. He’s down in the basement playing.”

  Miriam opened the basement door and called down the stairs, “Jonathon, time for supper.”

  Miriam waited, and Jonathon soon pattered slowly up the stairs. Miriam gave him a quick hug when he arrived and helped him take his seat on the bench. He sat there with hands folded as if he knew company had arrived. But then, this was the way Jonathon had been trained to sit at the table until a prayer of thanks had been given. Tonight tears pressed against Miriam’s eyelids at the sight. If she were ever given kinner by the Lord, this was how she wished to raise them—obedient and in the fear of God. For that to happen she must banish all thoughts of Tyler from her mind. But oh, how had she sunk so low.

  Miriam pulled in a long breath when Aunt Fannie reappeared with Uncle William and Tyler in tow. Tyler nodded toward Miriam with a slight smile. Miriam dropped her gaze at once, but not before she caught the look on Uncle William’s face. He didn’t appear displeased, so Tyler must have used the proper approach when he explained the supper invitation.

  Miriam kept her gaze on the tablecloth as the men settled in.

  “Let’s give thanks,” Uncle William said. “Our visitor is back with gut news. I read the article he filed with his editor, and I’m well pleased, so I’m glad Miriam invited him to supper.”

  Miriam stole a look at Tyler before they all bowed their heads. The man must have a slick tongue, but then she already knew that. Somehow he had gotten a supper invitation out of her. How had that happened? Miriam ran the conversation outside the schoolhouse through her mind as Uncle William led the prayer. Every statement in her memory sounded perfectly innocent, so maybe Tyler hadn’t manipulated the situation.

  As Uncle William said amen, she raised her head and was able to match Tyler’s small smile. As uncomfortable as this supper would be, it sure beat talking to Tyler in the privacy of the schoolhouse. That had the appearance of impropriety, and if that was ever noticed… Miriam shuddered.

  Tyler turned to Uncle William. “I appreciate the confidence you’ve just expressed in my article. Do you think you could help me with another matter?”

  Aunt Fannie interrupted them with a wave of her hand. “No planning until the food is eaten.”

  “That’s perfectly fine,” Tyler assured her. “I shouldn’t have barged in here like this, but I did want to speak with Mr. Byler, and after she saw the article, Miriam was kind enough to invite me.”

  “That’s all right with me,” Aunt Fannie said. “I only wish I had known sooner. I would have had a meal fit for visitors.”

  “Oh, this is excellent, I’m sure,” Tyler said with a warm smile. “It definitely beats restaurant food.”

  “The soup, please,” Uncle William interrupted. “I’m hungrier than I knew.”

  “I can say the same,” Tyler agreed, as he filled his bowl.

  Aunt Fannie handed him the cracker plate. Tyler took several, but he waited until Uncle William had broken his into the soup before he did the same.

  Tyler was out of his element here, Miriam thought to herself. Yet he acted so normal and found a way to blend in. Deep admiration was all she could feel for the man. He was very intelligent and yet humble.

  Right now Tyler’s laugh filled the room as Uncle William lowered his voice and said something she couldn’t hear.

  “No secrets at the table,” Aunt Fannie ordered.

  “Mr. Byler just asked whether I planned to join the community,” Tyler explained. “I guess my article must have been sympathetic enough.”

  “Well, why not? You’re still hanging around,” Uncle William said. “I believe you’ve been here as long as Mose Stoll, and he was courting Miriam.”

  Tyler jerked his head toward Miriam but recovered quickly. A soft smile spread over his face. “So I missed the real story, I see. Right under my nose. So who is this Mose?”

  Uncle William laughed this time. “You want me to spill the beans, I see. How will that article look?”

  “Better than the first one.” Tyler didn’t miss a beat.

  Uncle William laughed, but Aunt Fannie spoke first. “I think Miriam should tell the story. That is, if she’s comfortable telling it. But it’s such a blessed tale of the Lord’s grace.”

  “I would love to hear the story,” Tyler said.

  His face was kind when she dared a glance in his direction.

  “Well,” Miriam began. “Mamm had written that there was a surprise coming my way, but I had no idea a man would arrive who wished to court me.”

  “Oh, it’s such a wunderbah story,” Aunt Fannie gushed.

  Miriam waited a few seconds before she continued. “I had accepted my lot in life as that of a single woman. At least I thought I had.” She gave Tyler a quick look. She wanted him to hear this. “But when Mose arrived and stated his intentions, I saw at once the Lord’s hand in the matter, and now my heart is open again to what life might hold for me, even a husband, kinner, and…” Miriam’s voice caught. She couldn’t say the word “love.” Not in front of Tyler.

  “Oh, I’m almost moved to tears,” Aunt Fannie whispered.

  Miriam noticed Tyler’s face had lost its smile.

  “And who is this old fogy who is hiding behind the will of God?” Tyler couldn’t keep the sharpness out of his voice.

  Uncle William looked up in mild surprise. “Well, he’s maybe a few years older than Miriam, and a widower, and a minister. Quite impressive, if I must say.”

  And almost a bishop, Miriam came close to saying. She looked at the tabletop instead. Tyler wouldn’t be impressed with that.

  “That’s a little better,” Tyler allowed. “But still… well, it’s none of my business. Now what I wanted to ask you about, Mr. Byler…”

  Miriam got up to bring the pies over to the table. Tyler’s abrupt change of the subject stung, and her ears rang. Why did an Englisha man’s opinion mean anything to her?

  Chapter Fifteen

  That Thursday evening Miriam turned Star into Deacon Phillips’s driveway. A long line of buggies already lined the barnyard, and a volleyball court had been set up behind the barn. Miriam caught a glimpse of the game in progress as she approached. She was late, but she had had to grade tests again after school. That wasn’t the real reason, though. She could have finished the papers in the morning before classes began. In reality she hadn’t wanted to face the sly looks and glances from the other young people now that Mose was gone. Everyone would assume she was engaged to the man.

  And she couldn’t blame them. She was a part of the community. They had a right to know the basics of what had transpired. But what was she supposed to say? I’m being dated by an Amish minister? They already knew that. Maybe, We’re writing? But Mose’s decision to write sounded a little weak, coming from a widower who no doubt wanted a frau as soon as possible. Everyone would assume she already had wedding plans. Still, Mose deserved to court her in his own way, and she shouldn’t spill his secrets.

  At least Tyler was no longer a secret. Her spur-of-
the-moment invitation on Monday had been an inspiration. Everything was aboveboard now, and Tyler hadn’t shown his face at the schoolhouse again.

  Miriam climbed down to unhitch Star from the buggy. She didn’t want to think about Tyler, so maybe an evening spent with the community’s young people would clear her mind. In hindsight she shouldn’t have worked late at the schoolhouse. She needed the company of people her own age.

  Miriam left Star in the barn and walked along the line of buggies. She stopped short at the sight of a familiar rental car parked behind the buggies. Her head began to throb at the sight. Tyler was here? Why? She hadn’t invited him. Maybe Deacon Phillips had. But why would Deacon Phillips invite Tyler? Now her haven for the evening was the most dangerous spot in the community. She should go home, but she couldn’t. She’d have to do too much explaining if she harnessed Star to the buggy again and drove out of the lane.

  Miriam forced her feet forward. She would live through this somehow. She’d have to remember that none of this was her fault. She had invited Tyler to supper at Aunt Fannie’s, but not this.