Miriam's Secret (24 page)

Uncle William laughed, obviously pleased with this evaluation. “Amish wonder woman Miriam. That's a little much to expect there, Wayne.”

Miriam was blushing furiously. Uncle William knew Aunt Fannie had made the pies before they arrived, and the same went for the rest of supper. Miriam and Shirley had done little but put on the final touches and prepare the table. Wayne must know this, but he was wasting no time to show his interest.

Wayne joined in the laughter. “I know she could have if she'd tried!”

Aunt Fannie jumped in. “Well, we Amish women do know how to cook delicious meals and desserts.”

Shirley could see her sister was enjoying being in this new place and having a handsome man shower her with praises and smiles. Miriam wasn't used to receiving it so quickly. Shirley offered a pleased smile toward her sister.

Uncle William said, “Well, that was an excellent meal!”

“I agree,” Wayne added.

“Wayne and I still have work to do in the greenhouse tonight. I'll come back in for evening devotions when we're done. But right now let's pray and give thanks.” Uncle William bowed his head.

They all followed his example, but not before Shirley saw Wayne take the opportunity for another glance at Miriam. He'd be back in before he left tonight, Shirley was sure. She pushed the thought aside as Uncle William spoke the prayer. It was time to support Miriam in her new venture, not oppose her.

“Amen,” Uncle William said.

The two men rose and headed toward the washroom.

After hearing the sound of water running, Shirley heard the outside door open and shut quietly.

“Shirley, is something wrong?” Aunt Fannie asked. “You haven't been the girl I know all evening.”

“I've just been thinking,” Shirley said distractedly.
Yah
, she had to admit being so silent was unlike her. She didn't spend
a lot of time in introspection. But perhaps that was going to change with their arrival here. Maybe this move was changing her already. She didn't know whether to smile or shudder at the thought.

Aunt Fannie smiled. “Oklahoma can set you to thinking. There's something about the open skies and the land. It deepens the soul.”

Catching Miriam's pleased expression, Shirley replied, “Maybe that's just what I need.”

“The Lord has His reasons for your arrival here. Never doubt that.” Aunt Fannie rose and picked up several plates.

Shirley didn't respond verbally. She touched Aunt Fannie's arm. “You go sit in the living room, Aunt Fannie. Miriam and I will clean up the kitchen. Then we'll come in and chat afterward.”

“You're both such angels!” Aunt Fannie gushed. “This is so
wunderbah.
I thought I'd have to make do the best I could until the baby came…and afterward because, well, Lester Weaver's eldest daughter, Mary, hasn't taken care of a mother and newborn baby before. So…” Aunt Fannie's words faded away.

Miriam placed her hand on Aunt Fannie's shoulder. “Just go. We're all thankful for the Lord's leading in this.”

“Well, okay.” Aunt Fannie set the plates on the counter and then vanished into the living room.

“Miriam, Wayne clearly likes you,” Shirley whispered, even though their aunt had gone. “And I have to admit that I'm glad of it.”

“Really?” Miriam glanced toward her. “That's a change. What brought that up?”

“I've been thinking.” Shirley lowered her head. “That's all.”

“Are you glad we've come then?” Miriam started filling the sink with water.

Shirley hesitated. “I don't know. It's too early to tell. There's a lot going on inside of me. And watching Wayne watch you…it just affected me a bit.”

Miriam smiled. “Don't write too much into his attention. He doesn't know me that well. I still think he'll go for you.”

Shirley picked up more plates from the table and brought them to the sink. “You underestimate your charms, you know.”

“Like my farm?” A pained look crossed Miriam's face. “Do you think Wayne knows? Why else would he choose me over you?”

“He might know…or he might not,” Shirley said. “But even if he does, don't make the same mistake you did with Ivan. If Wayne persists in his attention to you, why not accept it and be happy?”

“
Nee
, Shirley. It's right what I did with Ivan.” Miriam poured a small stream of dishwashing detergent in the sink. “And if Wayne has the same notion as Ivan, he'll get the same treatment.”

“There's a simple way to find out,” Shirley said. “I'm going to ask Aunt Fannie about Wayne.” With that she went into the living room and approached her aunt.

Aunt Fannie looked up from her knitting. “Is something wrong?”

“No, I just have a question.” Shirley twisted her hands together. She felt uneasy asking, but she felt they needed to know. “Does Wayne know about the farm Miriam inherited? Was he paying attention to her tonight just because he knows about it?”

Aunt Fannie shrugged. “I don't think so, although I'm quite sure William mentioned the inheritance to him at some point. Still, it's not that big a deal out here. Things aren't like they are back in Holmes County where money is such a focus and land is hard to come by. We trust in the Lord and each other here.”

“
Gut
. That's what I thought.” Shirley took a step backward. “I'll tell Miriam.” But she didn't have to. She turned around to see Miriam in the doorway, a troubled expression on her face.

“So Wayne knew?” Miriam said to no one in particular.

Aunt Fannie rose and wrapped Miriam in a quick hug. “
Yah
, but it's nothing to be concerned about. Wayne's not like that. Trust in the Lord to watch over you and guide you.”

Miriam didn't appear convinced as she turned and headed slowly back to the kitchen sink.

Chapter Twenty-Four

M
iriam awoke with a start. A quick glance at the alarm clock on the dresser showed the time was a little after two o'clock. What could have awakened her? Aunt Fannie's house was still new to her, but it wasn't known for creaks and groans like her home in Possum Valley was. And she usually enjoyed such eccentricities anyway. Something else had disturbed her. It was Sunday morning. Had the thought that she would see Wayne soon awakened her?

Miriam frowned. She didn't look forward to the questions Wayne's attentions were raising. Were his overtures genuine or influenced by his knowledge that she would come to marriage with a debt-free farm? Was she being overly suspicious because of Ivan? Whatever the answer, it didn't seem like enough to awaken her in the middle of the night. Had Shirley perhaps been disturbed by nightmares and cried out?

Miriam pushed back the covers and tiptoed out into the hallway.
Her nightgown swayed around her legs. She quietly opened Shirley's bedroom door across the hall. She was asleep, so that couldn't have been the cause of the disturbance. Miriam paused at the top of the stairs. At first there was no sound, but soon she heard faint noises coming from the living room. Someone was up.

Was Aunt Fannie in labor? Miriam clutched the handrail. That must be it! Perhaps Uncle William had gone for the midwife, and buggy wheels in the driveway had awakened her. Miriam hurried back to her room and pulled on her housecoat before rushing downstairs. She'd awaken Shirley later if necessary. The birth wouldn't happen right away, so they didn't both need to get up so early. She came through the stair doorway to find the kitchen lit by a kerosene lamp. Aunt Fannie was pacing the living room floor in her bare feet. Pain was etched on her face.

Looking at Miriam, Aunt Fannie asked, “Did I disturb you?”

“You're
supposed
to disturb me,” Miriam said. “Did Uncle William leave for the midwife yet?”

“
Yah
, but I told him to be quiet.” Aunt Fannie moaned quietly.

Miriam rushed to her aunt's side. “We're here to help no matter the hour. You should have awakened me. Now, is there anything I can do? Anything you need or want?”

Aunt Fannie tried to smile. “
Nee
, I just need to walk the floor a while. You should go back to bed.”

“But surely there's something.” Miriam tugged on Aunt Fannie's arm. “A water bottle for your back? Warm milk?”

Aunt Fannie's voice was firm. “You go back to bed. I'll call you when I need you.”

“You can't climb stairs.” Miriam stated the obvious. “Besides, there's no way I can sleep now.”

“Then rest on the couch,” Aunt Fannie relented. She began to pace again.

“I'll dress first.” Miriam didn't wait for an answer before she retreated up the stairs. She changed in her room and paused in the hallway. Should she let Shirley know? But that would mean the two of them would be downstairs, which wasn't necessary. Better just let Shirley sleep for now. It would be good to have someone rested to help later.

When Miriam came back downstairs, Aunt Fannie was still pacing in the kitchen. Miriam peeked in, but her aunt waved her away. “Get some sleep.”

Miriam lay down on the couch in the living room and pulled a light quilt over her. She dozed off and on until the sound of buggy wheels awakened her. Miriam jumped up and ran to meet the midwife at the door. She was middle-aged and introduced herself as Susie.

“Now, you must be either Miriam or Shirley, from what William told me,” she said.

“I'm Miriam. Shirley's upstairs asleep.”

Aunt Fannie appeared, and Susie's attention shifted to her. The two women disappeared into the downstairs bedroom.

Miriam paced the living room floor like her aunt had done in the kitchen earlier. She should be busy with something other than her own problems, but what? Maybe she should make tea for Aunt Fannie? Wasn't tea
gut
for pain? Oh, how little she knew about the birth of babies! Rather than tea she decided coffee was the answer. Although coffee wasn't
gut
for mothers-to-be, or so she'd heard, Susie might want some. And
she
certainly did. The same might go for Uncle William, who must still be outside. They'd also need breakfast soon, so she should plan that. She could prepare bacon, eggs, and toast. That should hit the spot for everyone. Miriam entered the kitchen and had the coffeepot on the stove when Uncle William came in from the barn. He grinned sleepily. “Coffee, I assume. I could use some of that.”

“It'll be ready soon,” Miriam promised. “There won't be much sleep for any of us now until the baby comes.”

Uncle William sat down at the kitchen table. His hands fidgeted.

“Aunt Fannie will be okay, I'm sure.” Miriam poured the hot water over the coffee in a filter. Moments later she set a coffee cup in front of her uncle.

Uncle William sipped as he mused in the quiet kitchen, “It'll be our first, you know. A boy, I'm thinkin'.”

Miriam gave him a quick glance. “Maybe. But I'm sure you'll be happy with a girl too.”

“
Yah
, I'll be perfectly happy. If Fannie's okay, the rest doesn't matter.” A concerned look flitted over Uncle William's face.

Miriam turned away to fill her own cup. Would someone one day love her as Uncle William loved Aunt Fannie? Would she find a man who cared for her above all else? Others had found such love, so why couldn't she? Miriam pulled a chair out from the table to sit down and consider breakfast preparations. Uncle William would need his food, as they all would.

“I'll have breakfast going soon,” Miriam offered.

He nodded but didn't reply, a distracted look on his face. Footsteps behind them brought Uncle William to his feet in a quick bound. His chair clattered against the wall.

Susie greeted him with, “Fannie's fine, William. Relax! This has happened many times.”

“But not to us!” The words burst out of Uncle William's mouth.

Susie didn't appear fazed. “It'll be okay.” She patted Uncle William's arm. “Just stay out from underfoot. Miriam will help me when the time comes.”