Miriam and the Stranger

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Miriam kept her head down, but still she protested. “I would feel better if I took up my duties as your frau once I returned from Oklahoma. People will wonder why we are waiting.”

  “They will understand.” Mose didn’t back down an inch. “And I won’t be bringing you home every Sunday evening once you’re back from Oklahoma. We’ve both dated before, and we’re past that stage. Things will appear more appropriate if we don’t hang around each other like love-struck teenagers.”

  Miriam didn’t answer. What she thought apparently didn’t matter. If Mose didn’t want to act like a love-struck teenager, that was fine, but she didn’t want to wait around all next year when there was a task in front of her just to impress people who wouldn’t be impressed anyway. Widowers always married quickly. Did Mose expect to change that?

  When Miriam didn’t say anything, Mose added, “And I will not be visiting again in Oklahoma. Letter writing is the Lord’s way of conducting a relationship under our circumstances. And it will be best if we are not around each other all the time.” Mose gave Miriam a quick glance. “When are you going back to Oklahoma?”

  “Tomorrow morning, early. Mrs. Faulkner is taking me to the bus station.”

  Mose nodded. “You’ll be back then in time for schoolteaching on Monday.”

  “Yah, that’s the plan.” This was the first Mose had asked about her, but she wouldn’t allow bitterness to fill her heart.

  “Then we have today yet.” Mose appeared pleased at that at least. “You are a woman of the Lord, Miriam,” he said.

  “Thank you,” Miriam whispered. A cold chill tingled up her spine. She knew by now that Mose’s kind words didn’t lead anywhere. But she would have to learn patience. Maybe this was what the Lord wished to teach her by this experience. Her heart had much to learn—of that, she was certain.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Miriam waved to Aunt Fannie and Mr. Whitehorse as she came down the steps of the Greyhound bus. The bus trip had been long and tiresome, but now that she was back in Oklahoma, it seemed as if no time had passed. Even Mose was a distant memory. The thought of her husband-to-be caused Miriam to wince, but she gathered her courage and put on a smile. Whatever was going on with Mose simply had to do with him adjusting to his new role as bishop. A change that sudden would be a shock for any man.

  “Please move along, young lady,” the bus driver urged, interrupting Miriam’s thoughts. “I have your suitcase right here.”

  “I’m sorry,” Miriam said, reaching for her suitcase. “And thank you.”

  The driver had already turned his attention to the next passenger awaiting her luggage.

  Aunt Fannie hurried forward with open arms, and the two embraced for a long time. “You’ve come back to us,” Aunt Fannie gushed. “It’s so gut to see you again. It seems like forever.”

  Miriam laughed. “I’ve been gone for only two weeks.”

  “That’s long enough,” Aunt Fannie continued. “How was Shirley’s wedding? I hope your mamm understood that we would have loved to be there, but…”

  “Everyone understood,” Miriam assured her. “Especially Mamm.”

  “And what of you and Mose? When will he visit here again?” Aunt Fannie asked.

  Miriam hesitated. “Mose won’t be making the trip again to see me. It’s so far…”

  “Oh, no,” Aunt Fannie said, patting Miriam’s arm. “Well, look on the bright side, dear. Your qualifications are no doubt well settled in his mind.”

  Miriam tried to look grateful. The two women approached the car, and Miriam greeted Mr. Whitehorse. “It’s nice of you to pick me up on a Sunday afternoon.”

  “You know I’d do it anytime,” Mr. Whitehorse said with a grin. “You’re the community’s favorite teacher, but I also hear that wedding bells will be ringing for you.”

  Miriam blushed a little. “I see Aunt Fannie has been keeping you up to date.”

  “It’s about time I heard about your plans!” Mr. Whitehorse declared as he loaded Miriam’s suitcase into the trunk. “I can remember when I first picked you and your sister up here several years ago. She’s the one that just got married, right?”

  “Yah, she’s the one,” Miriam said as she climbed into the car. Aunt Fannie waited until Mr. Whitehorse was in the driver’s seat before she got in.

  “I’m sure you heard that Mose was made bishop,” Miriam whispered to Aunt Fannie as Mr. Whitehorse drove out of town. “And to think that I was able to be there and watch him choose the book with the lot in it.”

  Aunt Fannie’s eyes grew large. “Yah, I heard. Miriam, that is so wunderbah.”

  “Sorry to eavesdrop,” Mr. Whitehorse interrupted. “But did you say bishop? Would this be the minister that was here a few weeks ago?”

  “Yah, Mose Stoll. And he’s a bishop now.” Miriam said the words with care. Not for Mr. Whitehorse’s sake, but for her own. She wanted the proper reverence to sink deep into her heart.

  “Quite an honor, I suppose,” Mr. Whitehorse muttered.

  They drove on in silence until Aunt Fannie ventured, “Nothing much happened while you were gone—at least compared to what you must have experienced. A bishop’s ordination, and for your promised one at that! And Shirley’s wedding, of course. All we had to entertain ourselves with was Tyler Johnson’s occasional visits. We had him over again last Friday night for supper. He’s staying in Deacon Phillips’s basement now and making himself quite at home in the community. It wouldn’t surprise me if Tyler began to attend the Sunday morning meetings soon. Tyler told us how much he enjoyed that evening he drove you to the hymn singing.”

  Miriam jerked herself out of her reverie. That name. Tyler Johnson. She had almost allowed herself to forget.

  Aunt Fannie hurried on. “Just think where this might be going, Miriam. We’ve not had a convert in some time, and Tyler’s conversion would be quite an honor. Why, Mose might even be impressed. If I were you, I’d mention Tyler and all the latest developments in your next letter.”

  Tyler was the last thing she’d mention in her letters, Miriam decided. If she did mention Tyler, Mose would have more questions about the man than she wanted to explain. Thankfully, Aunt Fannie finally seemed out of breath and settled back in her seat in silence.

  In the distance, Clarita’s water tower came into sight, and Mr. Whitehorse turned left on Highway 48. Moments later they pulled into the Bylers’s driveway where Mr. Whitehorse popped the trunk, and Miriam dashed out to retrieve her suitcase. She paused at the car window to pay Mr. Whitehorse for the trip into Coalgate and added ten dollars for a tip.

  “That’s for the bother on a Sunday,” she told him. “And tell your wife hello for me.”

  “I’ll do that.” He grinned. “She’s with the grandbabies today, or she would have come along. And thanks.” Mr. Whitehorse waved the cash in the air. “Always can use this stuff. Social Security isn’t as secure as one would hope!”

  Miriam waved him goodbye and set out for the house with Aunt Fannie a few steps in front of her. Jonathon met them on the front porch and flew into Miriam’s arms for a long hug.

  “Oh, what am I going to do when I don’t see you anymore every day,” Miriam cooed into his ear.

  Jonathon giggled and retracted himself from her embrace to vanish around the corner of the house.

  “Home again, home again, jiggity-jig,” Uncle William sang out when Miriam walked in. “Just in time for popcorn making.”

  “Miriam will do nothing of the sort,” Aunt Fannie scolded. “You get up and get Star ready for her so she can make a trip over to the schoolhouse. I know that’s the first thing on her mind—not popcorn for you.”

  “I’ll make him popcorn,” Miriam offered.

  Aunt Fannie stood her ground. “No sacrificing right now. I’ll make the man popcorn, and mine’s as good as yours. He only wants to be babied.”

  Uncle William laughed and disappeared out the front door.

  “Now take your suitcase upstairs, and then you can go,
” Aunt Fannie said. “I’ll have supper ready when you get back, and you can relax for the rest of the evening—because you’re not going to the hymn singing after that long trip of yours.”

  “Thank you,” Miriam whispered. “I do appreciate your understanding about the schoolhouse. I promise not to work—just think and plan for tomorrow.”

  Aunt Fannie pursed her lips. “Yah, but no guilt feelings now. Anyone would understand your wanting to visit the schoolhouse. And you’re a bishop’s frau-to-be. Cheer up!”

  Miriam felt her face color a little.

  “Ah,” Aunt Fannie cooed, giving Miriam a quick hug. “You’re so modest about everything. Did the man kiss you?”

  Miriam gasped. “Aunt Fannie!”

  “Yah, I know.” Aunt Fannie smiled sheepishly. “I’m a terrible one, but kissing a bishop… now that would be something!”

  Miriam turned and fled upstairs, her suitcase bouncing behind her on the stairs. If Aunt Fannie knew the half! But how could it ever be told?

  Miriam took a moment to look around. Aunt Fannie had obviously fluffed the quilt on the bed and dusted recently. Everything sparkled. In spite of Aunt Fannie’s instructions, Miriam took the time to hang her dresses in the closet before she returned downstairs.

  “All hitched up and ready to go,” Uncle William sang out.

  “Now remember, I’ll have supper ready,” Aunt Fannie promised.

  “Yah, I’ll be back soon.” Miriam made a dash out the door before Aunt Fannie could make another remark about Mose’s kisses.

  Miriam drove Star out the Bylers’s lane and toward the schoolhouse. Long before she arrived, Miriam searched for her first sight of the building. She loved her job and the community children she taught. Now that she planned to leave after this term was over, her heart was stirred even more deeply.

  Miriam reached up to rub her eyes. Why was there an Englisha automobile parked in the schoolyard right where her buggy would go? She gasped. Tyler. There was no doubt about it—and on a Sunday afternoon at her schoolhouse! Miriam pulled back on Star’s reins. She ought to turn the buggy around and flee back to Aunt Fannie’s at once. But there was no suitable explanation she could offer to Aunt Fannie for her sudden reappearance. Instead Miriam set her chin and drove straight up to Tyler’s car. This was her schoolhouse, after all. He had no right to intrude.

  “Hi, Miriam,” Tyler greeted, walking boldly over to greet her. He leaned against the buggy wheel as if he had every right to be there. “Gut to see you back.”

  “And you,” she said, biting her lip. That was exactly the wrong thing to say. She pondered whether to even climb down or just turn the buggy around and leave.

  Tyler turned his head sideways. “Your aunt told me you’d be back this afternoon, and she also mentioned you’d probably check in here, first thing. She knows you pretty well. And so do I.” He looked quite pleased with himself.

  “You have no business here,” Miriam snapped. “I came over for a few minutes of peace and quiet. Aunt Fannie didn’t tell you I’d be here so that you could disrupt my afternoon. And what if someone sees us?”

  Tyler grinned. “We could go inside, I guess.”

  “We will do nothing of the sort,” Miriam retorted. “You will leave right now.”

  “Fiery as ever,” Tyler muttered. “Did the ogre get to see this side of you?”

  “Mose is a bishop now.” Miriam glared at him. “So watch your words.”

  “Oh, my, a bishop.” Tyler raised his eyebrows. “Did the bishop get around to kissing you? Or is the bishop too holy?”

  Miriam was speechless. The nerve of this man astonished her. He was as brash as Mose was bossy. Yet to her dismay, her heart was pounding so hard she could hardly breathe. Miriam tried to collect herself as Tyler’s handsome face disappeared in front of her only to reappear on the other side of the buggy. Without permission Tyler climbed in beside Miriam and sat down. He gazed intently at her for a moment before he took Miriam’s hands in both of his. Then he moved closer, slowly at first and then in a rush at the end. Miriam felt helpless, but also somehow strangely content to return his embrace. And then he gently placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her softly. They clung to each other until Star twisted his head around to look at them.

  Miriam gasped and pushed Tyler away. “Tyler! No! How could we? This isn’t right!”

  Tyler didn’t bat an eye. “I think it’s very right. Our flames burn well together.”

  “Oh!” Miriam moaned. “How could this happen? Tyler, you must leave and now!” She pushed on him with both hands until he leaped out of the buggy. “Go! Go!” she commanded. “Please, Lord, forgive me. I didn’t mean what I just did.”

  “You do take this seriously,” Tyler said regarding Miriam for a moment. “That was only a kiss. And, for your information, a very enjoyable kiss.”

  “If you don’t leave right now, I will,” Miriam ordered. She grabbed the reins, but Tyler held up both hands.

  “Okay. I’m gone, but you’ve not seen the last of me. Remember that.”

  Miriam moaned again as Tyler drove out of the schoolhouse lane. He turned and waved, but she looked away at once. Oh, how had that happened? She had kissed another man. Mose would never understand this. She would have to tell him, and yet how could she? This would ruin everything. Everything! Oh, and the worst of it was that she had wanted to kiss Tyler. She had wanted to terribly!

  Miriam sat in her buggy staring across the schoolyard. She had kissed Tyler. She, the community’s faithful schoolteacher and a bishop’s promised one, had kissed an Englisha man.

  Miriam placed her head in both hands and sobbed as Star nibbled the grass near the hitching post.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was Thanksgiving Day, and Tyler had retired to his basement apartment at Deacon Phillips’s house after a sumptuous feast. Now he opened the e-mail on his tablet and peered at the screen. Deacon Phillips’s basement had no wireless connection, but Tyler had long ago signed up for Internet service for just such occasions.

  A wry grin crossed Tyler’s face. What would Deacon Phillips think if he knew that his tenant had all the trappings of the world right in his basement? Or that he had passionately kissed Miriam Yoder on Sunday afternoon at her schoolhouse. Either revelation might motivate Deacon Phillips to ask him to leave this comfortable basement den.

  He had no doubt what his own motives had been on Sunday afternoon. He found Miriam fascinating and was drawn to her. He’d wanted to kiss her for a long time. That she had harbored equal feelings for him had only sweetened the temptation. And he had been correct. He’d expected all week that Deacon Phillips would accost him and demand an explanation. Though guilt had niggled at him, Tyler had pushed it away.

  He doubted Miriam would confess her transgression, so he didn’t fear a revelation from that angle. No, he was more concerned with the other buggy that had driven past the schoolhouse just after he’d climbed in next to Miriam. She hadn’t noticed… but he had. She’d been too taken with his sudden action.

  But so far no one had spoken up in accusation, so he simply took this as a warning to be more careful next time. Because there would be a next time. Of that he was sure. He should have gone to the Thursday evening youth gathering tonight, but Miriam wouldn’t be there if he had judged her correctly. She’d expect him to show up and would stay away. But he’d see her eventually, and he’d hold her in his arms again. He’d always had a way with women, and apparently his charms extended even into this cloistered Amish community. After all, Amish women were human too. But that thought brought the guilt again. He had no right to exploit Miriam’s innocence. He couldn’t marry the girl unless she left the community. He knew that much. And Miriam wouldn’t leave. Or would she? He’d have to find out.

  Tyler focused on the e-mail in front of him. It was his pressing problem at present, and a whole lot less enjoyable than his pursuit of Miriam. This e-mail could prove even more explosive than flirting with an Amish bishop’s engaged
girlfriend. “Better think twice about what you’re doing,” Tyler read out loud. “You know what will happen to your softhearted pacifist friends if this keeps up. Maybe that’s where the hurt should begin. Maybe a big ka-boom would temper your stubbornness!”

  Tyler stood to pace the basement floor. This wasn’t the first threat. The warnings had increased though through the past week or so. His continued inquiries into corruption must have stirred up things. Who would have thought it? He might actually be onto something big out here in the middle of no-man’s-land. Perhaps his ticket to fame as a journalist had indeed finally arrived.

  Tyler laughed out loud. He had to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground. No more big dreams that ended only in disappointment. He might have stumbled onto nothing more than a local corruption scheme, which would barely make the local paper once uncovered. Put that way, the pursuit hardly seemed worth the effort. He probably would have dropped his search already, focused as he was on his attraction to the community’s schoolteacher. But the two worked together. His search for corruption gave him a reason to stay in the community. Deacon Phillips and William Byler had spread the word among their brethren, but the cooperation came with limits. William had told him only yesterday, “Now you understand that the Amish won’t testify in court under any circumstance, Tyler. I wish you’d drop this thing anyway. It’s gone far enough. We don’t want the police on our properties or the authorities asking our children questions.”

  But because his real focus had been on Miriam Yoder, Tyler had laughed off the suggestion and assured William. “They won’t be asking you questions. I’ve done my research, and they’ll come after me.”

  But he wasn’t so sure now. He hadn’t told William about the e-mails, and this one upped the ante. But he couldn’t back down. No, not now.

  “What exactly do you think is going on?” William had asked him.

  Tyler had thought for a minute before he answered. “At the risk of oversimplification…”