Read Online A Blessing for Miriam by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
Ads: Link
daughter?” Laura leaned forward.
“ Yah , I think so.”
“How bad was the accident?” The single egg still lay on Laura’s plate.
Ivan shrugged. “I’m not a doctor, but a deer went through the windshield. Shirley’s head and face looked cut up. There was a lot of blood.”
“And you didn’t tell me this last night when you got home?” Rebuke was in her voice.
“I had other things on my mind,” Ivan said. “You didn’t have much to say last night either, you know.”
“But this was your boss, Ivan. And Shirley is Miriam’s sister. She meant something to you…at one time, anyway.”
“Miriam Yoder means nothing to me now.”
Laura gave him a long glare before continuing. “Tell me about the accident. How did it happen?”
“Right after Jonas passed me, going pretty fast, a line of deer chose to cross 39. When Jonas saw the deer, he must have braked and swerved, but he still hit one.”
“If Shirley was hurt, it might bring Miriam home for a while,” Laura mused.
“Could be,” Ivan allowed.
A smile spread across Laura’s face. “This might be Esther’s chance to get Wayne. With Miriam gone for more than a week Esther could state her affections for Wayne without interference.”
His spoon stopped halfway to the sugar bowl. “The two of you are shameless.”
Laura giggled. “It worked for me, and I don’t see you complaining.” She glanced at the swell of her stomach. “You don’t have regrets, do you?”
Ivan didn’t hesitate. “Of course not. But still—”
“Then don’t complain,” she said, cutting him off. “Miriam’s not married to Wayne, and it’s probably her farm that’s drawing him into her net anyway. That girl couldn’t get a decent man to date her until she had bait to offer. I say Esther is doing Wayne a great favor. He’ll see it eventually, just like you did. And aren’t you glad, Ivan?”
“ Yah , of course,” he repeated.
Laura reached for Ivan’s arm and squeezed it. “I’m glad you didn’t fall for Miriam’s farm. I do love you, and our child is a blessing from the Lord. How could it be otherwise? He won’t be tainted by the things of this world.”
He swallowed quickly. “Are you saying the bobbli ’s a boy?”
Her face glowed. “I don’t know, Ivan. I’m just making my point that Esther is doing the right thing. We should help her where we can.”
Protest died in his throat. What could he say? She’d only turn his objections around somehow.
“I’m glad you agree with me.” Laura smiled as she pulled her hand back and started on her egg.
Ivan gulped the last of his oatmeal. Let Laura think she’d won the argument. He rose and walked to the kitchen window. Outside the clouds had opened up with a deluge. He would have to work in the basement on Laura’s shelves. He’d tinker in the barn after the rain had let up—if it ever did.
Laura’s voice called to him. “I’m finished eating and ready to give thanks again.”
He returned to the table and bowed his head. Silence filled theroom. How he’d ever get the words of prayer out of this mouth, he wasn’t sure. Maybe he should begin trying sooner rather than later. Postponement wouldn’t help, and Laura had purchased the prayer book. She was trying to help, and he should be grateful. He opened his mouth and managed to get a few words out. “Dear Lord in heaven, forgive us our sins and help us live righteous lives. Thank You for the food we’ve eaten, and Laura for her hard work in preparing it. Amen.” Ivan waited a long time before he lifted his head.
Laura appeared pleased as she led the way into the living room.
Ivan picked up the Bible on the desk before he joined Laura on the couch. Laura had wanted to place two hickory rockers in the living room right after the wedding, but he’d put his foot down. Rockers were for old people—or maybe for couples with children. With their child now on the way, he figured the rockers would soon appear. He’d cope, Ivan
“ Yah , I think so.”
“How bad was the accident?” The single egg still lay on Laura’s plate.
Ivan shrugged. “I’m not a doctor, but a deer went through the windshield. Shirley’s head and face looked cut up. There was a lot of blood.”
“And you didn’t tell me this last night when you got home?” Rebuke was in her voice.
“I had other things on my mind,” Ivan said. “You didn’t have much to say last night either, you know.”
“But this was your boss, Ivan. And Shirley is Miriam’s sister. She meant something to you…at one time, anyway.”
“Miriam Yoder means nothing to me now.”
Laura gave him a long glare before continuing. “Tell me about the accident. How did it happen?”
“Right after Jonas passed me, going pretty fast, a line of deer chose to cross 39. When Jonas saw the deer, he must have braked and swerved, but he still hit one.”
“If Shirley was hurt, it might bring Miriam home for a while,” Laura mused.
“Could be,” Ivan allowed.
A smile spread across Laura’s face. “This might be Esther’s chance to get Wayne. With Miriam gone for more than a week Esther could state her affections for Wayne without interference.”
His spoon stopped halfway to the sugar bowl. “The two of you are shameless.”
Laura giggled. “It worked for me, and I don’t see you complaining.” She glanced at the swell of her stomach. “You don’t have regrets, do you?”
Ivan didn’t hesitate. “Of course not. But still—”
“Then don’t complain,” she said, cutting him off. “Miriam’s not married to Wayne, and it’s probably her farm that’s drawing him into her net anyway. That girl couldn’t get a decent man to date her until she had bait to offer. I say Esther is doing Wayne a great favor. He’ll see it eventually, just like you did. And aren’t you glad, Ivan?”
“ Yah , of course,” he repeated.
Laura reached for Ivan’s arm and squeezed it. “I’m glad you didn’t fall for Miriam’s farm. I do love you, and our child is a blessing from the Lord. How could it be otherwise? He won’t be tainted by the things of this world.”
He swallowed quickly. “Are you saying the bobbli ’s a boy?”
Her face glowed. “I don’t know, Ivan. I’m just making my point that Esther is doing the right thing. We should help her where we can.”
Protest died in his throat. What could he say? She’d only turn his objections around somehow.
“I’m glad you agree with me.” Laura smiled as she pulled her hand back and started on her egg.
Ivan gulped the last of his oatmeal. Let Laura think she’d won the argument. He rose and walked to the kitchen window. Outside the clouds had opened up with a deluge. He would have to work in the basement on Laura’s shelves. He’d tinker in the barn after the rain had let up—if it ever did.
Laura’s voice called to him. “I’m finished eating and ready to give thanks again.”
He returned to the table and bowed his head. Silence filled theroom. How he’d ever get the words of prayer out of this mouth, he wasn’t sure. Maybe he should begin trying sooner rather than later. Postponement wouldn’t help, and Laura had purchased the prayer book. She was trying to help, and he should be grateful. He opened his mouth and managed to get a few words out. “Dear Lord in heaven, forgive us our sins and help us live righteous lives. Thank You for the food we’ve eaten, and Laura for her hard work in preparing it. Amen.” Ivan waited a long time before he lifted his head.
Laura appeared pleased as she led the way into the living room.
Ivan picked up the Bible on the desk before he joined Laura on the couch. Laura had wanted to place two hickory rockers in the living room right after the wedding, but he’d put his foot down. Rockers were for old people—or maybe for couples with children. With their child now on the way, he figured the rockers would soon appear. He’d cope, Ivan
Similar Books
