Read Online Miriam and the Stranger by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
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closely. “I take it you know who this person is?”
Miriam managed to show no expression. “That’s not a proper question to ask among the community people.”
“I’m sorry,” Tyler said quickly. “I’m not trying to offend anyone, but this would be considered a great honor among my people.”
“You’d publish such a thing in your paper?” Horror tinged Miriam’s voice.
Tyler seemed to ponder the point. “I guess we do have a different perspective on the matter.”
Miriam remained silent.
Tyler tried another tack. “Would you tell me if I didn’t publish the name of this woman in my article?”
“No!” The word sprang from Miriam’s lips. “I would never tell you. And now it’s time for you to leave.”
Surprise was written on his face as Miriam ushered Tyler toward the door with one hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry about this,” he tried again. “I didn’t mean to offend you in any way.”
“Just go.” Miriam opened the door and pushed on his shoulder. Tyler left with a quick backward glance, as if he couldn’t figure out her sudden change in attitude.
As the sound of Tyler’s car died away in the distance, Miriam collapsed at a student’s desk and held her head. Now she still had all her grading of papers ahead of her, and Mose would be at Aunt Fannie’s for supper tonight. She couldn’t be late. Oh, how had this happened? She had entertained an Englisha man in her schoolhouse for more than an hour. There was no other way to look at this. Neither Mose or anyone else must ever find out about this. Never! Or how far her heart had strayed from the straight and narrow. How could she have such feelings for an Englisha man? Only Tyler’s sudden question about the two million dollars had brought her out of the stupor she had been in.
Chapter Eight
L ater that evening Miriam was filling the water glasses on Aunt Fannie’s kitchen table in preparation for the meal. Moments earlier, Mose Stoll had arrived, and Miriam had shaken hands with him. The blush on her face had clearly been interpreted by Mose to mean she had feelings for him. Miriam could see the delight spread across his face.
Aunt Fannie came up beside Miriam and whispered, “He’s so handsome, isn’t he? I saw you turn all sorts of colors when he arrived. Oh, aren’t the Lord’s ways just wunderbah ?”
The comment shouldn’t be allowed to pass unchallenged, Miriam decided. She whispered back, “I might have had other reasons, you know.”
Aunt Fannie still glowed with happiness. “Don’t try to dodge the point, Miriam. You already love the man.”
Miriam forced a smile. Aunt Fannie would have to think what she wished. Now if she could forget Tyler Johnson for theevening… but the memory of the stubble on his chin wouldn’t go away. Miriam turned her back to hide her face from Aunt Fannie.
“Call the men for supper,” Aunt Fannie said more loudly.
Miriam peeked around the edge of the kitchen doorway before she stepped out to announce, “Supper is ready if you are.”
“Sounds great to me,” Mose said. He stood slowly to his feet with a broad smile on his face as Miriam beat a hasty retreat.
Uncle William had a grin on his face when he carried Jonathon into the kitchen. He set the boy on the back bench and declared, “There you go, little man. All settled in for supper time.”
Aunt Fannie waved Mose to his place, and he sat down as if he owned the place. Miriam forced a smile as she took a seat across from Mose. At least Aunt Fannie hadn’t seated them side by side. Aunt Fannie must know she needed a little breathing room with the speed at which this courtship was proceeding.
Aunt Fannie took her own seat and smiled. “I think we’re all ready.”
“Then let us pray,” Uncle William announced.
They bowed their heads as Uncle William led out with the first words of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. We come tonight to give You thanks for this food
Miriam managed to show no expression. “That’s not a proper question to ask among the community people.”
“I’m sorry,” Tyler said quickly. “I’m not trying to offend anyone, but this would be considered a great honor among my people.”
“You’d publish such a thing in your paper?” Horror tinged Miriam’s voice.
Tyler seemed to ponder the point. “I guess we do have a different perspective on the matter.”
Miriam remained silent.
Tyler tried another tack. “Would you tell me if I didn’t publish the name of this woman in my article?”
“No!” The word sprang from Miriam’s lips. “I would never tell you. And now it’s time for you to leave.”
Surprise was written on his face as Miriam ushered Tyler toward the door with one hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry about this,” he tried again. “I didn’t mean to offend you in any way.”
“Just go.” Miriam opened the door and pushed on his shoulder. Tyler left with a quick backward glance, as if he couldn’t figure out her sudden change in attitude.
As the sound of Tyler’s car died away in the distance, Miriam collapsed at a student’s desk and held her head. Now she still had all her grading of papers ahead of her, and Mose would be at Aunt Fannie’s for supper tonight. She couldn’t be late. Oh, how had this happened? She had entertained an Englisha man in her schoolhouse for more than an hour. There was no other way to look at this. Neither Mose or anyone else must ever find out about this. Never! Or how far her heart had strayed from the straight and narrow. How could she have such feelings for an Englisha man? Only Tyler’s sudden question about the two million dollars had brought her out of the stupor she had been in.
Chapter Eight
L ater that evening Miriam was filling the water glasses on Aunt Fannie’s kitchen table in preparation for the meal. Moments earlier, Mose Stoll had arrived, and Miriam had shaken hands with him. The blush on her face had clearly been interpreted by Mose to mean she had feelings for him. Miriam could see the delight spread across his face.
Aunt Fannie came up beside Miriam and whispered, “He’s so handsome, isn’t he? I saw you turn all sorts of colors when he arrived. Oh, aren’t the Lord’s ways just wunderbah ?”
The comment shouldn’t be allowed to pass unchallenged, Miriam decided. She whispered back, “I might have had other reasons, you know.”
Aunt Fannie still glowed with happiness. “Don’t try to dodge the point, Miriam. You already love the man.”
Miriam forced a smile. Aunt Fannie would have to think what she wished. Now if she could forget Tyler Johnson for theevening… but the memory of the stubble on his chin wouldn’t go away. Miriam turned her back to hide her face from Aunt Fannie.
“Call the men for supper,” Aunt Fannie said more loudly.
Miriam peeked around the edge of the kitchen doorway before she stepped out to announce, “Supper is ready if you are.”
“Sounds great to me,” Mose said. He stood slowly to his feet with a broad smile on his face as Miriam beat a hasty retreat.
Uncle William had a grin on his face when he carried Jonathon into the kitchen. He set the boy on the back bench and declared, “There you go, little man. All settled in for supper time.”
Aunt Fannie waved Mose to his place, and he sat down as if he owned the place. Miriam forced a smile as she took a seat across from Mose. At least Aunt Fannie hadn’t seated them side by side. Aunt Fannie must know she needed a little breathing room with the speed at which this courtship was proceeding.
Aunt Fannie took her own seat and smiled. “I think we’re all ready.”
“Then let us pray,” Uncle William announced.
They bowed their heads as Uncle William led out with the first words of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. We come tonight to give You thanks for this food
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