A Blessing for Miriam (23 page)

Mamm
stopped in midstride. “And why was Rachel telling you this? If it’s even true, which sounds perfectly awful.”

“She said something about not wanting trouble between our families. Rachel thought we already knew.”

Mamm
shook her head. “Thank the Lord that Miriam has the sense not to write such gossip home.”

“I might write Miriam a letter just to encourage her,” Shirley said.

Mamm
hesitated for a moment. “I guess that would be nice, but I think Miriam can take care of herself.”

“I suppose she can,” Shirley agreed as
Mamm
left the room. She would still write. Shirley knew she would want a letter of sympathy from Miriam if Jonas had done such a thing.

Chapter Twenty-Four

S
hirley settled into the seat of Glen’s buggy. She wasn’t sure how he had talked her into leaving the
rumspringa
gathering north of Berlin, but here she was headed with him for the Mount Hope Auction. She was going to a horse sale! Maybe it was just as well. What trouble could she get into on a buggy ride with Glen? She’d risked far worse with Jonas, so there was no reason she shouldn’t enjoy time with Glen.

“You sure about this?” Glen gave Shirley a quick sideways glance.

“Sure. Happy as can be.” Shirley smiled. “I like horses.”

“So do I, and I like to spend time with you too.”

“Thank you. And you’re pleasant enough yourself.”

Glen looked ready to say more, but he was distracted by traffic as they pulled up to a stop sign.

“What do you call your horse?” Shirley steered the conversation in a safer direction.

“Buster,” he said with a straight face.

Shirley laughed. “Come on, don’t tease me.”

He pretended a hurt look. “Why? Don’t you like Buster?”

“No one calls their horse Buster.”

“Okay, so what do you suggest?”

“I’m not going to name your horse when he already has one.”

Glen chuckled. “How about Duke?”

“That’s better, but you’re still teasing.”

“No, I’m not. That was his name when I purchased him at the Mount Hope Auction.”

“I like it.” Shirley leaned forward to study the horse’s back. “He trots like a duke.”

Glen laughed. “Now how would that be?”

“I don’t know. It’s just how I imagine a duke would move, I suppose.”

Their laughter filled the evening air and blended in with the horse’s steady hoofbeats on pavement.

After the comfortable silence that followed, Glen glanced at Shirley. “How’s your sister in Oklahoma getting on?”

“Okay, I guess. I meant to write her a letter this week, but I haven’t gotten around to it.”

Interest showed in Glen’s face. “I like letter writing, though I’ve never had much chance to practice. I’ve heard of dating couples who lived apart and filled their courtship with letters. Wouldn’t that be romantic?”

Shirley thought of Jonas and his kisses. She stared straight ahead.
That
had been romantic. “I think I’d rather spend time together than write letters. I’m not
gut
at such things.”

“You would be with practice.” Glen gave her a warm smile. “You have a talent for writing.”

Shirley laughed. “And you can divine that how?”

“Your hands.” Glen ran his fingers lightly over hers. “See? They’re just made for writing.”

“You’re such a tease.” Shirley moved her hand closer to Glen’s.
She didn’t want to flirt with him, but she was in his buggy…and if he wanted to hold her hand…well, who was she to stifle romance?

Instead, Glen appeared lost in thought. “So, let’s see. I can imagine how this would go, so why don’t you compose your letter to Miriam while we drive. I’ll give you correction as needed.”

“Out loud?” Shirley asked, startled.

“Of course. You don’t have secrets, do you? I’m expecting you say only sisterly things.”

“Well…” Shirley’s mind whirled. “Maybe we do have secrets.”

Glen laughed. “You don’t tease well, you know.”

Shirley made a face at him. “I’m not teasing, and I don’t think it would be appropriate to share what I have to say, even if I could write it down right now.”

“Come on try,” he begged. “That’s why you never write. You put things off at the slightest excuse.”

Shirley gave him a quick glare. Maybe he needed a
gut
lesson. And surely he could handle the information.

“Please?” Glen begged again.

“Okay, here goes.” Shirley took a deep breath and cleared her throat. “My dear sister, Miriam…”

“That’s
gut
,” Glen interrupted.

Shirley ignored him. “Greetings in the name of the Lord. I hope all is well, but from what I’m hearing, I’m guessing there might be trouble in Oklahoma. This week Rachel Swartz spoke with me at the…”

Glen help up a hand. “You should do a little more breezy talk first, I think, instead of leaping right into the trouble subject.”

Shirley ignored him and kept on. “From what Rachel said, it sounds like Esther is trying to steal your boyfriend. I’m sorry to hear that. I know from my time out in Oklahoma that Wayne is a nice man, and I know you must love him if you plan to…”

“What are you saying?” Glen cut in.

Shirley gave him a fake smile. “See, I said we shouldn’t do this.”

“Someone is making a move on your sister’s boyfriend?”

“That’s what Rachel said. Well, not exactly like that. She said Esther, her daughter, was sorry for making a move on Miriam’s boyfriend while Miriam was visiting out here.”

“That is bad. And from the sound of things, Miriam hasn’t written you or your
mamm
yet if you had to get this information from another source.”

“Miriam’s a godly woman who bears her sorrows well,” Shirley said. “Better than I do.”

Glen didn’t say anything for a moment. “Do you think your sister will end the relationship?”

“I doubt it. Miriam’s probably already forgiven him.”

“And why don’t you sound happy about that? Forgiveness is a right Christian thing.”

“Would you kiss a girl while you dated someone else?”

Glen didn’t hesitate. “No, of course not. But everyone has a weakness.”

Shirley glared at Glen. “If it were me, I’d bonk his head.”

Glen chuckled. “I like your spirit.”

Shirley ignored the compliment. “Lee and Mark wouldn’t act like that, and I know
Daett
wouldn’t. And I can’t imagine Uncle William kissing another girl while he dated Aunt Fannie.”

“Uncle William?”

“William Byler. Why? Do you know him?”

“
Daett
does.” Glen grinned. “They were
gut
friends in their
rumspringa
years. Small world, huh?”

“I guess,” Shirley agreed.

Glen rattled on. “As I remember it from
Daett
, William almost married an
Englisha
girl. They were secretly engaged until she broke off the relationship.
Daett
said William took it so hard he went to the bishop and wanted to make a church confession. Of
course he couldn’t since he wasn’t a member yet. The bishop said coming back to the church was a
gut
enough sign of repentance, and that the years of
rumspringa
time were there for a reason. He said he was thankful William had found his way back.”

“I think I’ve heard enough secrets for one night,” Shirley murmured, in shock at Glen’s revelation.

Glen acted like he hadn’t heard. “So that’s the end of the story—and not a very pretty one at that. But I suppose we all have our faults.”

“Do you have faults?”

Glen laughed. “I suppose so, but not serious ones like that.”

Shirley held still on the buggy seat. Would Glen ask her if she had secrets? She didn’t really—unless kissing Jonas counted.

Glen didn’t say anything as Duke slowed on the climb up a long hill.

When they reached the top, Glen still hadn’t spoken, and Shirley sighed in relief. Her thoughts turned to Glen’s story. Did Uncle William still miss his lost
Englisha
girlfriend? She had a similar situation in her life. Jonas Beachy wasn’t
Englisha
—in fact, worse perhaps, but he was still forbidden. Maybe she should go to Bishop Wagler and confess. She could see why Uncle William would seek such a thing. Jonas would stay in her heart for a long time if something wasn’t done. Did Uncle William wish things could have been different? Like she did with Jonas? A relationship with Jonas wasn’t possible, but still…A tear slipped down Shirley’s cheek.

Glen gave Shirley a sideways glance. “Did I say something to disturb you? I’m sorry if I did.”

Shirley shook her head. “It’s not that. I was just thinking.”

“I see,” Glen said. Silence fell again, and he broke it a few minutes later. “I’m sure your Uncle William found peace with your Aunt Fannie.
Daett
said William was so happy when he began dating his Amish girlfriend.
Daett
even introduced us at a wedding
once. She’s a very nice woman. No man who married her would have regrets.”

“That’s nice of you to say.” Shirley smiled. Her problem wasn’t Uncle William. She was worried about her own heart—and that was something she wasn’t ready to share with Glen.

The man seemed to read her thoughts though. “Has Jonas Beachy—that boy in whose car you wrecked—been in touch with you?”

“Jealous?” Shirley forced herself to tease.

Glen smiled. “I hope not. I have no claim on you, though if I were him, I’d sure make contact.”

Shirley looked away. “Jonas stopped by, but I told him not to come back anymore. We are worlds apart—have always been, really. Jonas understands that. He and his family aren’t part of the Amish community.” Shirley kept her voice steady. “I don’t want his attention because of pity for the way I look.”

Glen looked like he wanted to say something but kept silent.

The noises of a crowd of people and horses rose in the distance. “That’s the stockyards,” Glen said. “Where the auction is held.”

“Okay.” Shirley forced herself to chatter cheerfully as they approached the site. “It’s exciting, these auctions. At least the few times I’ve been to one with Lee and Mark. Especially when horses are involved. They are such beautiful animals. I like to think they’ll find homes where they’re wanted and loved. Makes you want to buy all of them yourself and fill up the barn.”

Glen didn’t appear scornful at her impracticality. He nodded as if he agreed and brought Duke to stop. Leaping down, he grabbed the tie rope. Shirley followed and stood by his side while he tied Duke securely to a hitching rack. All around them the roar of the auctioneer’s voice through loudspeakers could be heard. Glen grinned as he shouted above the din. “Want to get something to eat first?”

“
Yah
,” she hollered back. Now that she thought about food, she was starved.

“This way,” he gestured. “The best-made sandwiches are at the Troyer’s stand.”

Shirley kept close to him as the crush of people increased. True to Glen’s statement, the Amish selection of meats and cheeses was extensive. A cheerful, young girl waited on her. Shirley selected pan-roasted turkey, German bologna, and corned beef. To this she added butter cheese and lacey Swiss.

“That should be
gut
,” the young girl said with a bright smile.

Glen ordered after her, and Shirley waited for him. Together they walked to the bleachers and found comfortable seats near the ringside.

“These spots aren’t open often,” Glen hollered to Shirley.

“Maybe someone just left,” she said.

He nodded and settled in. In front of them horses were being led back and forth in a corral by young boys, while the auctioneer blared away from his stand high on the other side.

Shirley didn’t know much about auctioneering, but the man sounded like an expert. And he was Amish, which didn’t surprise her. The
Ordnung
among all the districts left that career field open to Amish men with the talent.