A Blessing for Miriam (4 page)

“Oh, Wayne!” Miriam tried to breathe evenly. “How did you know I needed this?”

“I didn’t.” He turned right at the stop sign. “It’s been six months or so…sort of an anniversary, I thought.”

Miriam’s words came out in a rush. “You’re a
wunderbah
man. I’m so blessed.”

Wayne laughed. “I’m glad you feel so, but I’m the one who’s blessed. The Lord has done a great work in our lives, Miriam. I can never be thankful enough for the moment you appeared in the community.”

Miriam clung to his arm. She wasn’t about to bring her awful fears about Esther into this precious moment.

Wayne glanced at her with a question on his face.

Miriam spoke up quickly. “I have to tell you something. I told Uncle William and Aunt Fannie about the money the other evening. I hope you don’t mind.”

A smile played on Wayne’s face as he pulled the buggy to a stop. “Sure, that’s fine. But let’s think about us now, Miriam. And what lies ahead—if the Lord grants us a long life together.”

Miriam nodded and waited while Wayne climbed out of the buggy with the tie rope. He returned after tying the horse to a tree and offered his hand to help her down.

She extended her hand to his strong arm as her foot reached for the buggy step. With deftness she leaped down to stand beside him. “Thanks, Wayne. That’s so sweet of you.”

He waved off the compliment. “Come. Our special occasion was right down here. Hopefully the winter storms didn’t wash everything away.”

Miriam followed him down the slight bank with the help of his offered hand again. They ended up beside a rushing brook, the quick flow of the water a soft noise around them.

Wayne’s voice added to the charm of the moment. “The log’s gone…where we sat last time.”

Miriam leaned on Wayne’s arm. Silence fell and neither of them moved. Here she’d told Wayne about the money, and here she’d kissed him for the first time. There hadn’t been many kisses since. Wayne was a man of principle, and the Oklahoma community had a stricter
Ordnung
for dating couples than Possum Valley. But she could use a hug this afternoon. He didn’t have to kiss her. She’d understand if…

Wayne’s hand reached for hers. “Let’s walk downstream a bit.”

They wouldn’t get far before the overgrowth stopped them, Miriam thought. But she allowed Wayne to lead the way. Perhaps he was looking for another log where they could sit and talk and think about the past and maybe the future—their hopes, and dreams, and, perhaps, a date for their wedding.

Wayne paused in front of a low-hanging branch. His laugh was dry. “No logs. I guess we’ll just have to stand.”

Miriam’s fingers tightened around his hand.

Wayne smiled down at her. “We should have come back here sooner. This place has so many
gut
memories. I should get that
Englisha
artist in town to do a painting of this spot.”

“
Yah
, it does hold special memories.” Miriam looked up to hold his gaze for a moment. “And we have the future…if the Lord wills it.”

Wayne’s arm slipped around Miriam’s shoulders and pulled her close. “That’s another thing we should talk about.”

“Yah?”
She looked up again, her face expectant.

“Well…” He held the word out for a long moment. “We’ve been moving along at a rapid clip with our relationship, so perhaps we should speak of a wedding date.”

“Oh, Wayne!” Miriam grinned and leaned against his shoulder. “I so hoped you would say that!”

“You did?” Wayne’s voice caught. “So you think this fall would be okay? That’s not too soon for you?”

She pulled away to regard his face. “Not too soon at all. I can’t wait!”

He laughed softly. “This was much easier than I’d imagined.”

“That’s what I like about you.” She touched his hand. “You’re so confident, and yet underneath you’re so kind.”

Wayne smiled and lowered his head to look into her eyes. “So late October then?”

Miriam couldn’t keep the eagerness out of her voice. “That sounds
gut
to me. I’ll have to write
Mamm
to be sure the date will work for them. They do have to plan the wedding back in Possum Valley. But I’ll go home in early May after my teaching job is done. We can begin the major planning then.”

His face fell. “I’ll miss you all those months, but I understand. The time will fly though. And then we’ll be together on the farm.”

Miriam smiled. “You know I look forward to that day. So let me ask
Mamm
. October shouldn’t be too soon for her at all.”

Wayne found Miriam’s hand again. “The Lord has been in our relationship from the beginning.”

“
Yah
, He has,” Miriam whispered. Memories of the first time she’d seen Wayne’s face filled her mind. She looked up at him. “You
made quite an impression on me when I arrived in Oklahoma with Shirley.”

He smiled down at her. “You mean when you arrived with Mr. Whitehorse? I thought you were a vision of heaven when you stepped out of the car.”

“Wayne,” she scolded, “don’t say such things.”

He grinned. “You’re a beautiful girl, Miriam. I want you to be my
frau—
and soon.”

“Oh, Wayne!” She wanted to wrap her arms around him. It seemed like years since Wayne had really hugged her, and her heart ached for the comfort. But she couldn’t reach for him first. It wouldn’t be right.

His free hand touched her face. “I love you, Miriam. Don’t ever doubt that. I will always love you with all my heart. Only the Lord will be first before you. I’m so glad you’re okay with a fall wedding date. I know most couples date for longer than a year, but it’s like I know you so well, and…” Wayne’s voice trailed off.

Miriam caught her breath. His fingers warmed her entire body. She decided she could wait a while longer for the comfort of his arms. October would come soon enough, helped along by the rush of wedding plans. Already she could see the letter she’d write to
Mamm.
It would be full of questions of where, what, when, and how everything would be done.
Mamm
would be thrilled. Miriam was sure of that.
Mamm
had given her approval, and nothing would change now.

Wayne interrupted her thoughts. “I should meet your parents, you know. What if they don’t approve of me?”

Miriam laughed. “You don’t have to doubt them, Wayne.
Mamm
already told me she approves.”

He didn’t appear convinced. “But they haven’t met me yet.”

Miriam looked up into his eyes. “Shirley had a lot of
gut
things to say about you when she got back, and there’s my opinion, of course.
Mamm
and
Daett
trust me.”

Wayne reached out, and Miriam stepped into his arms. He held her tight and whispered into her
kapp
, “This is a great honor, indeed.”

Miriam said nothing as she cuddled into him. She wanted this moment to never end.

Chapter Four

L
ater that evening, Miriam and Aunt Fannie were putting supper on the table as the low rumble of Uncle William and Wayne’s voices drifted in from the living room. A plate in Miriam’s hands almost slid from her grasp. She caught it before it crashed to the floor.

“Slow down!” Aunt Fannie’s order came in a whisper. “What has gotten into you, child?”

Miriam caught her breath. She could barely say what she was feeling:
Excitement! Exhilaration! Euphoria!
She was going to marry Wayne! And soon. She turned to Aunt Fannie. “Wayne and I drove to the creek after school. It was wonderful.”

“I see.” Aunt Fannie didn’t move as she waited for more information.

Miriam set the plate on the table and stepped closer to her aunt. “Wayne wants a late-October wedding. Tonight I’m going to write
Mamm
to see if it will suit.”

A delighted smile crept across Aunt Fannie’s face. “So that’s what all the excitement is about.”

“Do you think it’s too soon?” Miriam asked. “You seemed to hesitate.”

Aunt Fannie laughed. “No, I’m not surprised at all. And remember how little your fears about Esther the other evening had to do with reality. I’m excited for you!”

Miriam let out a breath. “Thanks for hearing me out the other night. It was
gut
to speak of them, even if they were unfounded.”

Aunt Fannie looked wise as she shared, “The two of us speaking in private was better than you bringing it up with Wayne. I hope you didn’t mention your fears regarding Esther to him.”

“No, I didn’t say a word about her.”

Aunt Fannie resumed supper preparations. “
Gut!
The less said about her the better. Our people trust in promises given, and Wayne has given his to you twice now. You ought to thank the Lord each day for such a decent, prospective husband.”

“Oh, I do!” Miriam said dreamily.

Moments later Aunt Fannie motioned toward the living room. “Call them. We’re ready.”

Both men looked up when she appeared in the doorway.

“Supper ready?” Uncle William boomed before Miriam could speak.

“
Yah,
” Miriam said with a smile.

Wayne sent her a quick smile, and Miriam beat a quick retreat, taking her seat at the kitchen table. Aunt Fannie smiled as the men filed in. Baby Jonathon was in Uncle William’s arms.

Wayne settled into his seat with a pleased look on his face.

Her intended’s nearness rushed over Miriam.

Uncle William set baby Jonathon on his blanket beside the kitchen stove. He took his seat and cleared his throat. “We’re so happy to have the two of you here tonight. Right now you’re my favorite couple in the community.” Uncle William chuckled. “Of course, Miriam’s my niece by marriage, and Wayne’s my hired hand as well as my nephew, so maybe that has something to do with it.”

“We’d still be thrilled,” Aunt Fannie countered. “The whole community is so happy with what the Lord is doing in your lives.”

Miriam hid her face behind her hands, and everyone laughed. The young woman from Possum Valley wasn’t used to such plain talk about love.

“I agree with that,” Uncle William continued. “Let’s pray now.”

They all bowed their heads and Uncle William led out.

Our gracious and merciful heavenly Father, blessed be Your name. Great is Your lovingkindness toward us. Each morning Your grace is poured out fresh into our lives, for which we express our feeble and inadequate praise. Bless now this evening and the food that Fannie and Miriam have prepared. Be with us as we spend the rest of the evening together. Give us a peaceful sleep tonight. Amen.

“Amen,” Wayne echoed.

Miriam kept silent, as did Aunt Fannie. Amish women didn’t participate in public expressions of worship, for which Miriam was grateful. She didn’t know how the men could speak of the Lord’s ways in front of other people. She had a hard enough time talking to God when she was alone. Thankfully, she could look forward to life under Wayne’s direction. He would lead out as a godly man should and supply what she lacked. Hadn’t Wayne already given her direction on how the two million dollars should be handled? She could trust him with her whole heart.

Wayne gave her a warm smile as if sensing her thoughts.

Miriam returned the smile. She looked toward Aunt Fannie as she passed around the food.

“So what’s the latest news on the happy couple?” Uncle William’s voice filled the kitchen as he dipped out some potato salad.

Miriam drew in a quick breath but said nothing. This was Wayne’s place to comment.

“Plans, I guess.” Wayne chuckled. “
Gut
ones. Miriam is agreeable to an October wedding—if it works out with her folks. But, of course, this is to be kept under wraps until we know for sure.”

“Of course.” Uncle William didn’t hesitate. “I won’t tell a soul. Not even the bishop will hear a whisper from me!”

Everyone laughed.

Miriam’s hand trembled as she dipped mashed potatoes onto her plate. She didn’t know Bishop Wengerd from the Oklahoma community that well. She only saw him at the Sunday services. The bishop was a young man with a wife and two young children. But he wouldn’t be the one Wayne and she would need to visit to request a wedding announcement. Wayne would have to make the trip out to Possum Valley because that’s where Miriam’s family lived. Wayne and Miriam would visit Bishop Wagler together. Because Bishop Wagler didn’t know Wayne, the young man would likely bring along a letter of recommendation from Bishop Wengerd. That would expedite things and take care of any character questions—if Bishop Wagler had any.