A Merry Heart (19 page)

“Brr,” he said, briskly rubbing his hands together. “It’s getting colder by the minute out there.” He started across the room but halted when he saw Miriam. “I didn’t realize you were here, sister.”

“I came to bring Rebekah some valentine cards the scholars made for her.”

“That’s nice, but do you really think you should be out on your own this close to dark—especially with the roads being so icy?”

“I did fine on the way over here,” she said, wrinkling her nose at him. “I’m sure I’ll do fine going home.”

“Maybe so, but being out alone after dark is not good. Too much could happen between our place and yours.”

“Like what?”

“The horse could lose its footing on the icy pavement, or the buggy might slide off the road.” He made a swooping gesture with his hand as though he thought she needed a picture drawn.

“Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’m helpless, and for your information, I think I’m doing rather well on my own.”

Andrew removed his jacket and hung it on a wall peg. “I’m thinkin’ what you need is a man in your life.”

Miriam’s face flamed, but before she could open her mouth to reply, Anna spoke up. “I’m sure Miriam wouldn’t have driven over here if she didn’t believe she could handle the horse and buggy in the dark or on the icy road,” she said, coming to her daughter’s defense.

“It’s nice to know that somebody’s on my side,” Miriam said with a smug smile.

Anna held up her hand. “Only on that one issue.” She nodded at Andrew as he took a seat at the table. “I must agree with your bruder on the other issue. When I was your age, I was happily married, and your daed and I had already begun our family.”

Miriam’s lips compressed into a thin line as her eyes
narrowed. “Isn’t there anyone in this family who doesn’t think I need a man in order to be happy?”

Andrew stared at his sister. “Can you honestly say that you’re happy now?”

She shrugged.

“Miriam, why don’t you take the valentines into the living room and give them to Rebekah? After you’ve visited awhile, you can join us for supper,” Anna suggested.

“I’d be happy to follow you home in my buggy,” Andrew put in.

Miriam shook her head. “I’ll visit with Rebekah a few minutes, but then I’ll be heading for home. Lewis will no doubt expect
his
supper to be waiting.”

T
he first sign of spring came on Saturday morning when Miriam, preparing to leave for the mud sale in Strasburg, discovered some yellow crocuses poking their heads between clumps of grass that were surrounded by patches of snow not far from the barn. How she wished the new life spring brought could give her a new life, too. She wanted to wake up every morning with a feeling of joy and peace. She wanted to find a reason to begin each new day with anticipation, knowing it truly was a day the Lord had created, and she wanted to enjoy every day to the fullest.

The sound of a horse and buggy plodding up the graveled driveway caused Miriam to turn away from the flowers. She shielded her eyes against the sun, wondering who would be coming by so early in the morning. As the buggy approached, she took a few steps toward it to get a better look.

When the buggy was a few feet away, it stopped, and Amos Hilty stepped down. He smiled at Miriam and said, “Guder mariye. It’s a beautiful day, wouldn’t you say?”

Her only reply was a quick nod.

“I know there’s still snow on the ground in places, but
the sun’s shining bright as a new penny, and there’s a definite promise of spring in the air.”

Miriam mumbled something about the crocuses she had just seen, then quickly added, “What brings you out here so early in the day, Amos? There’s nothing wrong with Mary Ellen, is there?” She really did feel concern for the young girl who always seemed so determined to make “Teacher Mim” like her.

“Mary Ellen’s fine. Since this is Saturday, and there’s no school, I allowed her to spend last night with her friend Becky Weaver.”

“I see. Then if it’s not about Mary Ellen—”

“I came by to see if Lewis has any horses he might like to sell.”

“If you’re looking for a new horse, then why not ask Henry Yoder? He raises horses for the purpose of selling, you know.”

“That’s true, but I thought maybe Lewis could use the money.”

“We are not destitute, Amos Hilty!”

“I–I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I don’t think you need charity. It’s just that. . . well, with Lewis planning to get married in the fall, I thought he could probably use some extra money to put away. I’m in need of a couple of horses anyway, and—”

“Married? Who told you Lewis is planning to be married?”

“He did. I thought you knew.” Amos looked flustered, and he shifted from one foot to the other.

“I know Lewis has been courting Grace Zepp, but he hasn’t said anything to me about marriage in the fall,” Miriam said, trying to gain control of her quivering voice.

“I—I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have said anything. I
think maybe I’ve put my big boot in my mouth.”

“No, you were only telling me something you thought I already knew.”

“I can’t believe Lewis hasn’t told you,” he said with a shake of his head.

“Since the wedding is several months off, he probably figured it could wait awhile.” Miriam frowned. “Or maybe he didn’t want to upset me.”

“Why would it upset you if Lewis married a nice girl like Grace?”

“I have nothing against Grace. It’s just that our life has been full of so many changes in the last year or so. If Lewis marries Grace, it will mean more changes—especially for me.”

“You mean because she’ll be moving into your house?”

“I suppose she will. The farm is Lewis’s now that Papa’s gone, and Mom isn’t likely to move back since she’s needed at Andrew’s to help with Rebekah.” Miriam shrugged. “The only logical thing for me to do is move out before they get married.”

“But where would you go?”

“I’m not sure. I just know I don’t want to stay here once they’re married.”

“Two hens in the same henhouse? Is that it?” Amos asked with a crooked grin.

Miriam had to bite her lower lip to keep from smiling. She could almost picture Grace and her running around the kitchen, cackling and chasing each other the way the hens in the coop often did. “Grace and I would probably get on fine together,” she said. “But it wouldn’t be fair to the newlyweds to have Lewis’s big sister hanging around all the time.”

“That’s
considerate, Miriam. You’re a good woman.”

Miriam’s face grew warm and she looked away, hoping Amos wouldn’t notice. The truth was, the idea of living in the same house with Lewis and his new wife was too painful for her. It would be a constant reminder of what she would never have—a loving husband and the hope of children to raise someday. It would also mean giving up the control she had gained in the house since Mom had moved out, and that wouldn’t be easy.

Amos could see that he had embarrassed Miriam, and impulsively he reached out and touched her arm. “I—I think I might have an answer to your problem.”

“Oh?”

He nodded. “You could marry me and move to my place. Mary Ellen loves you, and—”

“Are you joking?”

“About Mary Ellen’s feelings toward you?”

She shook her head. “Are you joking about me marrying you?”

“No, I. . . that is. . . I’ve been thinking on this for some time.” Amos paused a moment to calm his nerves. “I’ll admit that I do have some concerns because you don’t seem to be as interested in spiritual things as you should, but from what I know of you in the past—”

“My spiritual life is none of your business.” She squinted. “Besides, how would you know what I think or feel about God?”

Amos cleared his throat. “I–I’ve been watching you for
some time, and I’ve noted during our preaching services that you often stare out the window rather than concentrate on the sermons being preached. You don’t even participate much during the time of singing. Are you bitter because of your daed’s untimely death, or does the problem go back further, to when William Graber jilted you?”

“Why must you bring that up?” Miriam stared at the ground. “Are you trying to pour salt in my wounds?”

“Of course not. It’s just that William and I used to be friends, until he—”

“My personal life is none of your business, and I think this discussion had better end now.”

Gathering up a bit more courage, Amos took a step toward her, but she backed away, almost bumping into her buggy, which was parked next to the barn. “I–I’m sorry if I’ve taken you by surprise or said things that hurt you,” he mumbled. “But I hope you’ll at least give the matter of marrying me some deep thought. I believe we can work through your bitterness together.”

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but he rushed on before he lost his nerve. “My main concern is for Mary Ellen. If we were to marry, I would hope you wouldn’t let your attitude affect her. I don’t want my child to have feelings of distrust toward God.”

Miriam shook her head. “I would never do anything to hurt Mary Ellen’s belief in God. She must draw her own conclusions as she matures and is dealt more of life’s harsh blows. Now, regarding your proposal of marriage—you haven’t said anything about love.”

“I told you that Mary Ellen loves you, and—”

Miriam held up her hand. “You needn’t say anything more, Amos, because I’m not in love with you, either.”

Amos gave his beard a quick tug. Miriam’s truthful words had stopped him from making a fool of himself, yet her announcement had hurt his pride more than he cared to admit. Even so, he was still willing to marry her in the hope that someday she might come to care for him the way he did her. For now, he would bide his time and keep praying for a miracle. He moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue and forced a smile. “There’s. . . uh. . . still plenty of time before Lewis and Grace’s wedding, so you don’t have to give me your answer right now. But I hope you will at least pray about it.”

Miriam looked dumbfounded, but she didn’t say a word. He figured her silence probably meant she had no plans to change her mind about marrying him.

With a quick nod in her direction, Amos headed into the barn to find Lewis.

“Men,” he heard Miriam mutter. “They would trade their heart in exchange for a live-in housekeeper.”

Nick had never been to a mud sale before, and if he’d had his way he wouldn’t be at this one, either. It was only ten in the morning, and already the ground outside the firehouse had been churned into mud by the hundreds of people milling around.

Despite the fact that he knew the Amish didn’t like to have their pictures taken, Nick couldn’t resist this chance to get some good shots of the Plain People buying and selling
their wares while they interacted with others not of their faith. He spotted one teenage Amish boy pedaling furiously on an exercise bike. Two Amish girls stood in front of an English vendor’s table, playing with the brightly colored plastic toys that were for sale, while a couple of young English boys pretended to shoot each other with plastic squirt guns. Adults stood around, conversing with one another and bidding on the merchandise being sold in the auction rings. Everything from plain, old-fashioned wringer washing machines to fancy, modern speedboats was available to buy or bid on. Nick noticed a tent had been set up to shelter the horses that would soon be auctioned off. He started toward that area but stopped when he spotted an Amish woman plodding through the mud, carrying a box in her arms. It was Miriam Stoltzfus.

“Miriam, wait up!” he called, slipping his camera back into the bag and trudging after her.

She halted and turned to look at him. “What are you doing here, Nick?”

“Came to cover the mud sale for an article I’ve been asked to do for the newspaper.”

“I’m not surprised,” she said with a sniff. “You seem to be good at doing stories that involve my people.”

“You’re still mad at me for writing that article about your niece, aren’t you?”

“It wasn’t what you said in the article; it was the picture you took of Rebekah that upset me so.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“Yes, but then you went back to her room again and bribed her with a stuffed animal so you could take more pictures.”

Nick knew he was caught, so he decided to change the subject. “Are you here to buy or sell?”

Miriam nodded at the box in her arms. “I’ve brought a couple of quilts for the auction that will be held later on. The money will go to help with Rebekah’s hospital bills.” She started walking in the direction of the building again, and he followed.

“How’s your niece doing? Is she getting along okay?”

She halted before they reached the door. “Rebekah’s legs are paralyzed, and she’s in a wheelchair. My mother has moved to my brother Andrew’s house to help care for her.”

“Does that mean you’re living alone?”

She shook her head. “My brother Lewis is still at home, and he will continue to live there even after he’s married in the fall.”

Miriam’s serious expression made Nick wonder if she might disapprove of her brother’s choice for a wife. “Are you opposed to the idea of your brother getting married?” he asked.