Miriam and the Stranger (7 page)

“You’re a deep thinker.” Bishop Mullet paused to nail on a board. “So what do you think of Miriam so far?”

Mose looked away. “She seems to be what she’s reported to be. But I should ask you. You know her better than I do.”

“I know her quite well,” Bishop Mullet agreed. “Miriam’s a real asset to the community, and everyone loves her.”

“She’s almost too perfect,” Mose said. “But I take comfort that at least she has experienced sorrow in her past with the death of her fiancé. And I hear that her childhood sweetheart from Possum Valley jilted Miriam before she moved out here.”

Bishop Mullet nodded. “This is all true, and I have nothing to add. I assume Deacon Phillips told you about the money an
Englisha
man left her in his will.”

Mose pulled himself up with a start. “Money? Left in a will! What does this mean?”

Bishop Mullet waved his hammer about. “Miriam doesn’t have the money any longer, so don’t worry. She gave it all away.”

“Oh.” Mose let out a long breath. “You had me there for a moment.”

Bishop Mullet chuckled. “Couldn’t let it look as if you’re marrying for money?”

Mose remained sober faced. “Not just that, but an abundance of money calls one’s character into question—at least in my book. I’m surprised Miriam’s
daett
didn’t tell me this if it’s to her credit.”

Bishop Mullet grinned. “Sounds like you’re having a difficult time believing the reports already. Maybe Miriam’s
daett
thought she should tell you this about herself.”

“Then you shouldn’t have told me either,” Mose said, raising his eyebrows.

Bishop Mullet didn’t back down. “I think Miriam will be glad I told you. She doesn’t like to speak of the matter—not to anyone, and I am the bishop.”

Mose nodded. “So tell me more about this money. Are we talking about a few thousand dollars?”

Bishop Mullet sobered. “No, try two million.”

“Two million!” Mose paled.

Bishop Mullet had a shy look on his face. “Are you wishing perhaps that Miriam hadn’t given the money away?”

Mose sputtered. “Of course not, but… oh, my, that’s a ton of cash. Did she really give it all away? That would take a character fashioned of the Lord’s hands indeed.”

Bishop Mullet hesitated. “It’s not like I saw the money, but Deacon Phillips assured me she handed him a two-million-dollar check made out to the Clarita Relief Fund. If she spent a few dollars before that, what does it matter?”

Before Mose could think of a response, the barn door rattled behind them, and the bishop’s
frau,
Ellen, called out. “Lunchtime, you two. Or do you plan to talk about church matters all day?”

“Coming,” Bishop Mullet called back. “We were talking about…” The protest died on his lips when the barn door closed.

“Does your
frau
think well of Miriam?” Mose asked.

Bishop Mullet snorted. “You are an impossible man, Mose. After what I told you, you still have questions?”

Mose looked away. “I know. I guess I’ll never stop asking questions. That’s just me.” He followed Bishop Mullet out of the barn toward the house.

Bishop Mullet turned with an amused look and said, “Soon Miriam will be asking questions about you if you don’t make up your mind.”

Mose laughed. “Oh, I’ve made up my mind. It’s just that the questions keep coming.”

The two chuckled as they entered the house and sat down at the kitchen table. Ellen joined them, and they bowed their heads in thanks for the food laid out on the table.

With the amen said, Ellen pointed to the bowl in the middle of the table. “Dish it out. It’s potato soup, and I have pecan pie for dessert. Not much, but we’ll have more if you stay for supper.”

“You should, you know.” Bishop Mullet glanced at Mose. “Ellen sets a nice spread for supper.”

Mose filled his bowl with steaming potato soup before he answered. “Thanks, but I have to see Miriam tonight. I’m sure Ellen’s a fine cook, but I’ll have to find out more some other time.”

“Oh, she’s the best,” Bishop Mullet assured him. “Why don’t you ask Ellen how Miriam can cook? That’s one question I haven’t heard you ask, and it’s one I can’t answer.”

Mose grinned. “Don’t you think I’ve asked enough questions for one day? I’m sure the woman can cook.”

Ellen smiled but still answered, “I don’t know that much about any of our young community girls’s cooking, but Fannie is among the best, and I can’t see where she’d have failed to teach Miriam—if Miriam hadn’t already learned at home. Possum Valley is known for its tasty dishes, is it not?”

“That it is,” Mose agreed as he took another spoonful of soup. “This is excellent, by the way. And thanks for the hospitality.”

“Mose was afraid he’d starve,” Bishop Mullet teased, “if Miriam agreed to wed him.”

Ellen eyed Mose for a moment. “Miriam is dear to our hearts, you know. She’s had a rough row to hoe when it comes to men.”

“That’s what I’ve heard,” Mose managed. “You don’t think I’d…”

“I’m just expressing my concern,” Ellen said. “Miriam doesn’t need her heart broken again.”

“I wouldn’t, of course…” Mose searched for words. He hadn’t expected this line of questions. “Surely you don’t think I’d give the woman hope only to jilt her?”

Ellen gave him a sharp look. “I just wanted to get in my two cents. If you walk away now, Miriam won’t get hurt, but don’t decide in a few months to leave her after you’ve made wedding plans.”

“I will treat the woman properly, as the Lord directs,” Mose protested.

“I think my
frau
means this well,” Bishop Mullet replied, taking charge again. “This just shows you, Mose, how well-regarded Miriam is in the community.”

“I do see this,” Mose allowed. “And I assure you that I’ll be careful with Miriam’s heart.”

“That’s all we can ask,” Bishop Mullet said.

Silence settled in the kitchen as they finished their soup. Ellen got up to bring over the pecan pie from the counter.

“This is
gut
cooking, that’s for sure,” Mose offered as he took a large bite.

Ellen smiled. “So how are you finding the rest of the community?”

“Friendly and open,” Mose said. “I have no complaints.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” Ellen pushed the pie pan toward him. “Another piece perhaps?”

Mose shook his head and finished moments later. They bowed their heads, and Bishop Mullet led out in a final prayer of thanks.

Mose pushed back his chair and stood to his feet. “I’m so glad you had me in to lunch, and everything was delicious. I’m sorry I can’t come back for supper.”

“Maybe next week,” Ellen said with a smile.

“We’ll have to see, I guess,” Mose said as he took his leave. He untied Ralph to drive north toward the schoolhouse. He pulled his pocket watch out to check the time. At two o’clock school would still be in session. Maybe he could catch the last recess if he hurried. Afterward he’d stay and watch how the classes were run. He was sure Miriam would have things in order, but he wished to see for himself.

Mose jiggled the reins and pushed Ralph to a fast trot. He soon saw the playground ahead filled with schoolchildren, and he slowed down. The children stopped in their play to watch him drive in, but no one paid him any further attention once he parked his buggy. After Mose tied up at the hitching post, he approached the schoolhouse doorway. Miriam met him there with her eyes downcast.

“You have come to visit?” she whispered.

“
Yah
, if I may.” Mose regarded her with a steady gaze.

Miriam seemed flustered but welcomed him inside with a small hand motion. “I’ll ring the bell in a few moments, but you’re welcome to look around.”

“I’ll do that,” Mose said.

She led him up the steps, and Mose glanced around. Everything appeared neat and in order, even for the end of a long school day. This spoke well of Miriam. If she could manage a schoolhouse,
she could keep their house in order and raise any
kinner
the Lord gave them with decency and decorum.

“You can have a seat over there,” Miriam said, motioning with her hand again as she reached for the bell, “if you want to stay longer.”

Mose smiled and nodded. “I believe I will, if you don’t mind.”

“Things can get a little hectic the last period.” Miriam glanced down again. “But I have nothing to hide.”

“It’s okay,” he assured her. “Everything looks as it should.”

She appeared relieved and moved to ring the bell. Mose settled on the bench and observed the students as they entered. No one ran or stared at him after their first brief glances in his direction. By the time Miriam called the next grade to come up for their time with her, the students seemed to have forgotten him.

This was how a decent school was run, Mose told himself. Miriam was clearly a fine teacher. A fine woman. Truly the Lord had led him all the way here to find a virtuous woman the likes of which he hadn’t dared imagine. With a smile on his face, Mose slipped out the back door and untied Ralph. He’d see Miriam again tonight, and his approval of her would only increase. Of this he was certain.

Chapter Seven

A
n hour later Miriam watched from the schoolhouse window as the last of her students’ buggies disappeared in the distance. Her head still hurt from the tension of knowing Mose had been sitting on the bench near the window scrutinizing everything with an intense gaze while she had tried to keep a normal flow to the schoolhouse routine.

Thankfully, he’d left before she dismissed school, but her headache hadn’t. None of the students had asked embarrassing questions about her relationship with Mose before they left. Likely plenty of little minds would have queries for their
mamm
and
daett
at home, but that was to be expected. Most of the community knew about Mose Stoll and why he was here, and knew that Bishop Mullet and Deacon Phillips both approved of his mission. The whole world seemed to approve.

So why wasn’t her heart drawn in? Or had events simply happened too quickly? She hardly knew the man other than her
experience with his sharp and inquisitive glances. She hadn’t seen much more of the tenderness of his first looks. She understood that Mose wished to cover all the angles in his investigation of her. As a minister, Mose wouldn’t want a
frau
who would cause trouble for him once they had said the marriage vows.

Miriam sighed as memories of Wayne flooded her thoughts. Mose certainly didn’t court her like Wayne Yutzy had. She couldn’t imagine sweet nothings slipping out of Mose’s mouth or even an “I love you so much, Miriam.”

“But the Lord has taken Wayne away from me,” Miriam whispered to herself. “I shouldn’t complain over His choices.”

And
Daett
could be trusted in his judgment of Mose, Miriam reminded herself. Hadn’t
Daett
been right about the two million dollars? She had experienced nothing but trouble when she had kept the gift a secret.
Daett
hadn’t complained about her deception, but his heart had been much troubled once he found out about the two million dollars. And
Daett
had been right.

She would trust
Daett
with Mose, Miriam told herself. There was no other way to live. Hadn’t her heart proven itself deeply unworthy with its recent attraction to the
Englisha
man, Tyler Johnson?

Miriam steadied herself on her teacher’s desk with one hand. With the resolution a measure of peace settled on her, and her breathing became easier. Mose would see her again tonight, and perhaps things would go better when they spoke on Aunt Fannie’s couch. They could talk and relax in a more homey setting. That was what she needed.

Miriam turned away from the window but paused as a car appeared in the distance. Not too many
Englisha
vehicles came up the school road at this time of the day. Miriam studied the car and pulled in a sharp breath as it came closer. Her head tensed again until it throbbed. It was the
Englisha
man’s car. Surely Tyler
Johnson wouldn’t stop in at the schoolhouse. He had no business with her, and yet this was surely his car pulling in and halting right where Mose Stoll had parked his buggy not an hour ago.