Miriam and the Stranger

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Mose gulped for air and leaned out of the buggy. Had he heard correctly? How did these men know his frau-to-be?

  The men moved closer at once. A long pole was stuck almost into his face. “Do you have any comment, sir, about her affair with Tyler Johnson?”

  Mose jerked his head back inside the buggy. “Das ist ein leig,” he exploded, but surely the men didn’t understand Pennsylvania Dutch. Even if they did, he had best say this in English. Mose leaned out again. “This is a lie,” he said, his voice raised high.

  The long pole ended up inside his buggy as the men plunged forward. “Do you have personal knowledge of this affair, sir?”

  Mose’s ears rang with the question. His horse reared high into the air and took off. It was all Mose could do to hang on to the lines as they dashed between the two vans. The long pole caught on the buggy door and bent sideways. There was a loud twang, as the buggy dashed into the Bylers’ driveway. Mose came to a bucking stop beside the greenhouse with his head in a daze and his hands clamped on the lines.

  As Mose caught his breath, William stuck his head into the buggy with a grin. “It’s not every day we see a bishop come in like a rowdy youngster. Did your horse get away from you?”

  “There’re asking questions about Miriam,” Mose said.

  William sobered. “They are? How can that be?”

  “I don’t know,” Mose replied. “Unless Tyler is talking. Would he do such a thing?”

  “I don’t think so,” William muttered.

  “They say Miriam had an affair with Tyler,” Mose told him.

  “You don’t say!” Horror filled William’s face. “But that’s not true.”

  “I suppose not,” Mose allowed. “But we’d best tell them, don’t you think?”

  “Miriam would do no such thing.” William still wasn’t finished.

  Mose’s head spun. The shouted questions had deeply disturbed him. They were the sound of a world he knew little of, and yet they were here. He had spoken the truth. To ignore the reporters further would do no one any gut.

  “You don’t doubt Miriam, do you?” William stepped closer to ask.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Mose finally allowed. “The question is what must be done. This will be in the local papers tomorrow if I don’t miss my guess. How will the community live this thing down, or my community, since I’m involved? We must answer this charge more fully.”

  “But how? They are Englisha men…” William stared toward the parked vehicles by the road with their bright lights turned toward them. “All they can do is ask questions.”

  “Go tell Miriam she must go out with me and answer this matter,” Mose ordered. He climbed down from the buggy. “She must tell them there is nothing to this.”

  William appeared doubtful but turned to hurry toward the house. Mose unhitched his horse and waited for twenty minutes until three people appeared. Fannie was with William and Miriam. The two walked on either side of the white-faced girl.

  “Have you told Miriam?” Mose addressed William.

  “Yah,” William replied. “She will say what needs saying.”

  Miriam kept her eyes on the ground and said nothing.

  “I will also go with her,” Fannie said. “It will seem more appropriate.”

  He couldn’t argue with that, Mose thought. The woman was wise. He hadn’t thought of how it would appear if he stood beside Miriam alone.

  “You had best come too,” Mose told William.

  Together they approached the vans again. The workers on the barn stopped to watch as the Englisha men ran from their vehicles toward them. Mose came to a stop at the end of the driveway and held up his hand.

  “I am Bishop Mose Stoll,” he said, his voice steady. “And these are William and Fannie Byler, whose barn we are rebuilding today.”

  “Do you know Miriam Yoder?” a loud voice interrupted him.

  Mose stepped closer to Miriam and placed his hand on her arm. “This is Miriam Yoder, who is promised to me in holy marriage. We do not know where these rumors have come from about how Tyler Johnson spent his time in the community, but none of them are true.”

  The long poles ended up in Miriam’s face. “Are you Miriam Yoder?”

  “Yah,” Miriam managed.

  “Do you know Tyler Johnson?”

  Miriam nodded. The questions came thick and fast.

  “What was your relationship with Mr. Johnson?”

  “Does this affect your engagement to Mr. Stoll?”

  “Does the community’s vaunted forgiveness extend to fallen women?”

  “Will you be seeing Mr. Johnson in the future?”

  Mose stepped forward and pushed back the long poles. “Enough,” he shouted. “These questions are all unfair. Tyler came among the community as a sheep in…”

  Mose was drowned out by the chorus of shouts. “Let the woman speak for herself.”

  He had better, Mose decided, and he stepped back. Miriam would handle this properly. His future with Miriam hung on it.

  Miriam spoke softly. “I knew Tyler Johnson, yah. He’s a nice young man, and we saw each other at the youth gatherings. But that’s what all the young people from the community do. We talked and enjoyed each other’s company. I don’t know what Tyler… Mr. Johnson… told you, but any comments about an… affair…” Miriam choked on the word, “… are completely untrue.”

  “You did not date Mr. Johnson then?”

  “I did not.” Miriam kept her gaze steady.

  “What was your opinion of Mr. Johnson?”

  Miriam looked away. “He appeared to be a nice young man. He succeeded in uncovering a political corruption scandal, so his time in the community was not wasted.”

  “Can we see your classroom, Miss Yoder? Will you be teaching today?”

  Mose took over again. “This is enough. We have now answered your questions.”

  William turned to lead the way back, and Fannie had her arm around Miriam’s waist.

  “Is she really your fiancée, Bishop?” The last question was delivered with a laugh.

  Mose turned and walked away without answering. He had totally misjudged the situation. These people could not be trusted. Once again he had made a wrong decision and embarrassed himself.

  “What have we now?” the watching Amish workmen greeted him when he got back to the worksite. “An Amish television evangelist?”

  Mose forced himself to join in their laughter but said no more about the matter. They were all hard at work ten minutes later while the camera crews hugged the road and flashed their bright lights at them.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  After the hymn singing, Miriam slipped out of the washroom door with her shawl pulled tight over her shoulders. The brisk December air had a bite to it, not unlike the evening that lay ahead of her. She would speak with Mose tonight as the bann was lifted and he would drive her home. The horrible episode with the Englisha newspeople didn’t count as part of the bann. Mose had barely looked at her other than when the cameras had been in their faces. She had tried to play her part after Uncle William had explained why the media people were there. That Tyler would spread such an awful rumor caused more hurt than how Mose had acted.

  Her face had burned with shame at the accusation of what the world called an “affair,” but Uncle William was right. If she had refused to respond and had stayed in the house, Mose would have thought she was guilty of more than a kiss with Tyler. Now her only hope was to get a fresh start with Mose… if he would still have her.

  Miriam searched the darkness for the buggy Mose was driving while he was in Oklahoma. For once he had acted like a real suitor by coming to the hymn singing and now driving her home. Perhaps he was trying to make amends for the hard time she had gone through this past week.

  “Please help me, dear Lord,” Miriam whispered, offering a quick prayer as she caught sight of Mose’s buggy parked at the end of the line. She tried to slip past the other buggies unnoticed, but she knew all eyes must be on h
er. The bann wouldn’t affect her reputation greatly, but people were still curious. Mose still hadn’t revealed to the community what had been her moral failure. Nor would he, which was as much to shield himself from shame as anything.

  But those weren’t decent thoughts, either. Miriam pushed them away. Behind her, Miriam heard the soft footsteps of other girls as they hurried to their families’s buggies. Miriam kept her head down. The community currently had two other dating couples, and both of them had left earlier. Mose had waited longer. He must not want to appear eager to leave with her. He was big on his dignity, which was appropriate for a bishop. She might as well get used to it.

  Miriam pulled herself up the buggy step and slid into the seat beside Mose. His figure cut a stark outline against the prairie starlight that twinkled outside the open buggy door.

  “Gut evening,” Mose said, his voice gruff.

  “Gut evening,” Miriam responded.

  Mose didn’t offer a buggy blanket, and he kept his door open. Perhaps Deacon Phillips had borrowed the blanket for some other purpose, Miriam thought. The notion did little, though, to warm the chill that cut through her shawl.

  Mose didn’t seem to notice as he said, “The Lord’s blessing has returned to us as we humbled ourselves and sought His grace this past week.”

  Miriam hung her head. “I’m so sorry for what happened. I hope you can forgive me.”

  “I suppose we all have our weaknesses.” Mose’s tone had lightened a little. “I was stirred in my heart today as I thought of your gracious spirit this past week, Miriam. You are a true woman of the Lord who has humbled herself in the sight of the congregation. I’m glad we decided to work through this problem.”

  “You are kind to forgive me,” Miriam whispered.

  “Things will go better for us this way,” Mose said with confidence. “Whatever happened between you and Tyler has now been properly repented of. A woman who humbles herself is a truly beautiful woman, Miriam.”

  Miriam kept her head down and said nothing.

  Mose continued, “Our wedding day will be a day of great gladness, not only on this earth but in heaven. The cause of God and His church will be glorified. Together we will stand and serve the congregation and each other in holiness and godly fear. I believe the Lord will give me kinner this time, Miriam. I feel a great hope rising in my heart.”

  Heat streaks ran up her face at Mose’s words, but thankfully the darkness hid them. She would marry the man, but he didn’t have to speak so openly about kinner. Not yet, at least. The wedding wasn’t until next fall, unless… perhaps she should bring up the subject again. They might as well get this over with and begin their lives together.

  Mose ignored her for a moment to gaze out into the star-filled skies. “The world cannot harm the people of God, Miriam,” he said. “That Englisha man tried to spread those awful rumors about you. But the Lord knows you have repented, and He protected us on Friday morning. Let the world say what they will, but we will find hope in the Lord. God has given us a fresh start now.”

  The horrible thought rose again, and Miriam spoke this time. “Mose, you don’t think I really… Mose, please. Tyler and I did nothing more than kiss, and I have confessed that.”

  Mose regarded Miriam for a long moment. “I know how the Englisha people are. This Tyler must have many girlfriends. Why wouldn’t he think of you as another one of those?”

  “But Mose,” Miriam protested.

  He silenced her with a stern glance. “We will say no more about this. The bann has cleansed whatever you have done. Tyler’s actions with the fires and bringing the police into the community are enough to explain why such a harsh method was necessary. Any righteous man or woman would see what needed to be done, and you agreed quite readily to the punishment, so surely you felt the guilt of your actions.”

  Miriam clutched her hands together. Her whole body felt so weak it couldn’t move. “But I told you, we only kissed. We did no such evil thing as was rumored.” Miriam struggled to keep her voice steady.

  “Okay.” Mose smiled. “If that’s the way you want it, I will say no more about the matter.” Mose settled back in the buggy seat. “I hope there will be no more indiscretions in the future. Not that I can imagine how there could be, since Tyler’s gone, but I still say this as a godly warning.”

  “I don’t suppose there can be,” Miriam told him. “But if you feel any doubts, maybe you had best assign someone to watch me each day until the wedding.”

  Her sarcasm seemed to escape him.

  “I have spoken with your Uncle William,” Mose said. “He will make sure that things are watched more closely from now on. He now sees where he made grave mistakes in trusting this Tyler fellow and welcoming him into his home. If that hadn’t happened, perhaps you would not have been tempted like you were.”

  The tears stung, but Miriam tried to hold them back.

  Mose slowed for the Bylers’ driveway and parked by the hitching post. Miriam climbed down from the buggy to wait while Mose tied his horse. She expected flashbacks from the times when Wayne used to bring her home. Wayne would tie his horse at this exact spot, and her heart would sing with joy as she waited for him. Only she wouldn’t have been on her side of the buggy but right by Wayne’s side, perhaps even with her hand on his as Wayne secured his horse.

  But none of those visions returned. Rather, she saw Tyler parked down the road on that evening he had taken her to the youth gathering. Tyler had known enough to stop well short of Uncle William’s driveway before he had taken her in his arms. Miriam stifled a whimper and pushed the memory away.

  “Did you say something?” Mose asked as he appeared in front of her.

  “No, I was just waiting.” Miriam fixed her gaze on the ground. Soon this would end, she comforted herself. Courage gripped her, and she reached out to grab Mose’s arm. “Can’t we move up the wedding date, please? Don’t you think this has gone on long enough?”

  Mose hesitated before he pulled his arm away. “That is not the Lord’s way, Miriam. We must not give in to a solution that seems easy.” Mose paused, and a fierce look filled his eyes. “Is this why you pushed for an early wedding date before? Because of this temptation with the Englisha man? You had to have known of Tyler when you were in Wayne County, and you did not tell me? Is this not so?”

  Miriam’s head spun. Now she had only made things worse. Mose had obviously not thought of this angle yet. “Is that any worse than what you already suspect me of?” Miriam tried to breathe evenly as she waited for Mose’s answer.

  Mose was silent for a moment and then said, “We had best leave that alone. The bann has taken care of your past. There isn’t much else we can do beyond what we have done.” Mose studied Miriam’s face as the tears trickled down her cheeks. He seemed touched, finally, and took her hand. “Come, there has been enough sorrow now. The great apostle told us that we must take up the erring member after a proper repentance.” Mose led the way toward the house. “We must leave this behind us now and move on.”

  Miriam didn’t pull her fingers out of his hand when she opened the front door, and Mose didn’t either. Together they entered the house and seated themselves on the couch. Mose faced Miriam, and a smile crept over his face as he placed his free hand over the one he held. “You wouldn’t have something to eat, would you? I’m starved.”

  Miriam forced herself to stand but had to grab the back of the couch for support. “Whoa there,” Mose teased. “Looks like you need some food yourself.”

  She needed something else worse, Miriam told herself, but Mose wouldn’t understand. She wanted to be held close and comforted after what she had been through. Mose could at least give her a hug, couldn’t he? They were promised to each other. Would a hug be such an unholy thing?

  Mose regarded her for a moment. “Do you need help in the kitchen perhaps? Maybe with finding the pies? I’m sure my nose will lead me right to them,” he joked.

  Miriam forced a smile, though the effort cost her
more than Mose would ever know. But she might as well get used to forced smiles. Mose wouldn’t change much—if at all—after they said the marriage vows. The bann he had prescribed for her this past week shattered that illusion.

  “Come,” Miriam forced the words out. “You can sit at the kitchen table while I find something.”

  “That would be gut,” he said. “I would love to watch you. I haven’t had that much chance to be with you this week, and I do have to leave tomorrow. I won’t be seeing you again for a long time. I won’t make the trip again. You know that, don’t you?”

  “Yah, I know that,” Miriam answered.

  Mose smiled his thanks as he followed Miriam to the kitchen. He had once again misunderstood her, and she wouldn’t correct him. She would need all the months until school was out to prepare her heart to see Mose again. Much prayer and submission would be needed. That was something Mose obviously wouldn’t understand either.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  It was Christmas Eve, and Miriam was driving home from school with the lines held loose in her hand. Star seemed to sense her mood and responded with a slower pace as they approached Highway 48. School hadn’t let out for the Christmas holidays until noon today because a week had been lost as a result of her bann. The pain of that memory lingered, and her work seemed to take twice as long to finish. Miriam hadn’t completed correcting all the student papers until a few moments ago. But it was better to work late now so she wouldn’t have to return to the schoolhouse until the Monday after New Year’s Day.

  Miriam’s gaze lingered on the open prairie, and a sigh escaped her lips. More than a week had passed since Mose left on the bus for his return trip to Wayne County. She had written him last Friday evening and mailed the letter on Saturday, even though Mose hadn’t written yet. There would be no repeat of her mistakes from before. She would do her part to make her engagement with Mose work. Her marriage to Mose would be the end of the road for her. All choice would end once the vows were said, but joy would surely come afterward. It would have to. Didn’t love grow in the hearts of all married couples who lived in the fear of the Lord?