Read Online Miriam and the Stranger by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
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statement, but Mose’s further approval might help remove her obsession with Tyler Johnson.
Miriam brought the pies from the counter, and Aunt Fannie began to cut large pieces. Mose lodged a protest, “Just a small piece for me, please.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve been sitting around for days now with no work, and the pounds are staring me in the face.”
Uncle William chuckled. “I can put you to work tomorrow in the greenhouse. Or you can pull weeds in Fannie’s garden.”
Aunt Fannie glared at Uncle William. “I’ll get to those weeds tomorrow. I was making supper today.”
Mose laughed. “Far be it from me to introduce disharmony into a family’s life. The garden looked fine to me.”
“Thank you,” Aunt Fannie replied. “See there.” She gave Uncle William another glare. “The man’s on the poor woman’s side.”
“My deepest apologies for my error,” Uncle William said with mock gravity. “I see I could not have been more wrong.”
“Men!” Aunt Fannie grumped, but a smile played on her face as she settled into her seat and took a slice of pie.
A comfortable silence settled over the kitchen.
Uncle William finished his last bite with a sigh. “Nothing like cherry pie to settle the mind and body at the end of the day.”
“You can say that again,” Mose seconded. “Even a small piece has that effect.”
Laugher filled the kitchen again, and moments later they bowed their heads for a prayer of thanks. Miriam was on her feet seconds after the amen.
Aunt Fannie waved her out of the kitchen at once. “You’ve been enough of a help, so go, Miriam.”
Go meant go off to the front porch with Mose. Miriam opened her mouth to protest, but Mose was already halfway to the kitchendoorway. She could do nothing but follow. They walked through the living room and found seats outside on the far end of the porch. Dusk had begun to fall, and the occasional lights from a passing Englisha automobile flickered from the road.
“Nice evening out here on the prairie,” Mose said. His gaze swept the horizon. “Have you become fairly attached to the place?”
“I like it,” Miriam said, “but I’m not fastened to the prairie like some people are.” Mose still probed, but he didn’t have to worry. She had learned that the Lord’s grace reached wherever one lived.
“That’s gut to hear.” Mose’s voice was low. “I really meant what I said about your school and the fact that you gave away those two million dollars. I must say nothing I’ve heard about you was exaggerated in the least.”
“You shouldn’t say such things.” Miriam hid her face. “I’m just an ordinary woman.”
“But with extraordinary grace given to you.” Mose studied Miriam. “I feel very blessed to have met you, Miriam.” Silence settled for a moment before Mose continued, “But what about you? Do you have any questions for me? Here I’m asking all the questions while you must also have some. I drop in out of nowhere, and…” Mose let the words hang.
She really had no questions, but Mose would expect some. Well, she was interested in his former frau . She could ask about her.
Miriam framed the words with care. “Your frau , Rachel—can you speak of her? What she was like?”
“Sure.” Mose didn’t seem uneasy. “We dated for several years before we were married. Happily, I might add. The only sorrow we had was that the Lord failed to add kinner to our union, but that was His choice, which we didn’t wish to question. We had several happy years together, but cancer came soon after that, quickly and without warning. Breast cancer.” Mose’s voice faded for a moment. “Rachel was a dear woman, too wunderbah for me. I never couldsee what she saw in me, but we had been sweet on each other since our rumspringa days. I suppose she didn’t think it worth the effort to look for someone else.” Mose let out a deprecating laugh. “I was deeply attracted to Rachel, and a piece of my heart passed
Miriam brought the pies from the counter, and Aunt Fannie began to cut large pieces. Mose lodged a protest, “Just a small piece for me, please.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve been sitting around for days now with no work, and the pounds are staring me in the face.”
Uncle William chuckled. “I can put you to work tomorrow in the greenhouse. Or you can pull weeds in Fannie’s garden.”
Aunt Fannie glared at Uncle William. “I’ll get to those weeds tomorrow. I was making supper today.”
Mose laughed. “Far be it from me to introduce disharmony into a family’s life. The garden looked fine to me.”
“Thank you,” Aunt Fannie replied. “See there.” She gave Uncle William another glare. “The man’s on the poor woman’s side.”
“My deepest apologies for my error,” Uncle William said with mock gravity. “I see I could not have been more wrong.”
“Men!” Aunt Fannie grumped, but a smile played on her face as she settled into her seat and took a slice of pie.
A comfortable silence settled over the kitchen.
Uncle William finished his last bite with a sigh. “Nothing like cherry pie to settle the mind and body at the end of the day.”
“You can say that again,” Mose seconded. “Even a small piece has that effect.”
Laugher filled the kitchen again, and moments later they bowed their heads for a prayer of thanks. Miriam was on her feet seconds after the amen.
Aunt Fannie waved her out of the kitchen at once. “You’ve been enough of a help, so go, Miriam.”
Go meant go off to the front porch with Mose. Miriam opened her mouth to protest, but Mose was already halfway to the kitchendoorway. She could do nothing but follow. They walked through the living room and found seats outside on the far end of the porch. Dusk had begun to fall, and the occasional lights from a passing Englisha automobile flickered from the road.
“Nice evening out here on the prairie,” Mose said. His gaze swept the horizon. “Have you become fairly attached to the place?”
“I like it,” Miriam said, “but I’m not fastened to the prairie like some people are.” Mose still probed, but he didn’t have to worry. She had learned that the Lord’s grace reached wherever one lived.
“That’s gut to hear.” Mose’s voice was low. “I really meant what I said about your school and the fact that you gave away those two million dollars. I must say nothing I’ve heard about you was exaggerated in the least.”
“You shouldn’t say such things.” Miriam hid her face. “I’m just an ordinary woman.”
“But with extraordinary grace given to you.” Mose studied Miriam. “I feel very blessed to have met you, Miriam.” Silence settled for a moment before Mose continued, “But what about you? Do you have any questions for me? Here I’m asking all the questions while you must also have some. I drop in out of nowhere, and…” Mose let the words hang.
She really had no questions, but Mose would expect some. Well, she was interested in his former frau . She could ask about her.
Miriam framed the words with care. “Your frau , Rachel—can you speak of her? What she was like?”
“Sure.” Mose didn’t seem uneasy. “We dated for several years before we were married. Happily, I might add. The only sorrow we had was that the Lord failed to add kinner to our union, but that was His choice, which we didn’t wish to question. We had several happy years together, but cancer came soon after that, quickly and without warning. Breast cancer.” Mose’s voice faded for a moment. “Rachel was a dear woman, too wunderbah for me. I never couldsee what she saw in me, but we had been sweet on each other since our rumspringa days. I suppose she didn’t think it worth the effort to look for someone else.” Mose let out a deprecating laugh. “I was deeply attracted to Rachel, and a piece of my heart passed
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