Miriam's Secret (36 page)

Now unto You, oh God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, be glory and honor and praise. Mighty are Your works, and everlasting is the strength of Your arm. Remember now Your children and the creation of Your hands as we forget not Your lovingkindness toward us. Give us power this day to walk in Your
will and wisdom to understand the guiding of Your Holy Spirit. Forsake us not and then call us home to the glories of Your heaven.

Bless also the food that Miriam and Shirley have prepared. Bless their willing hands and hearts. Remember them with favor and grace. Do likewise to those of our families who stand in need today. Give us of Your abundance, for which we give You deep and heartfelt thanks. Amen.

“Amen,” the others echoed. Shirley helped Miriam pass the food as silence settled over the table. The quiet moments of the early morning hour gave one a peace and tranquility in the midst of the rush of the day that would soon be upon them.

When they finished eating, Uncle William opened the Bible and began to read from Psalm 8: “O L
ORD
our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!…When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

Miriam could understand that sentiment. Why was she experiencing all these blessings from the Lord? Why wasn't Shirley? Was there something she could do to help and encourage her sister?

“O L
ORD
our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Uncle William concluded and closed his Bible. A hush settled over the table.

It was broken when Aunt Fannie bounced to her feet. “No sense in daylight a'wasting.”

“I'll do the dishes,” Miriam offered.

“You'll do no such thing.” Aunt Fannie sent Miriam off with a wave of her hand. “Shirley will help me because you're helping in the greenhouse. Get on outside and start your day.”

Uncle William grinned from the kitchen doorway. “I'll put her to work, don't worry about that.”

“Not too much work,” Aunt Fannie said as she shook her finger at him.

He laughed.

Uncle William would do nothing of the sort, Miriam thought as she followed him out the front door. As she suspected, they were only a few feet away from the house when he told her, “Take five or ten minutes and enjoy the beautiful morning. I'll be in the greenhouse getting things started.”

Miriam cleared her throat. “Those were
wunderbah
words you read this morning. Thank you.”

“They also spoke to me.” Uncle William gave Miriam a kind look before he turned, walked to the greenhouse, and then disappeared inside.

Miriam had returned his look and now continued to stroll. Her uncle knew more than he let on, she decided. He might even have chosen those words especially for her this morning. The thought sent warmth through her heart. She didn't deserve any of the blessings God was raining down on her life right now. But then she supposed no one really did. They were blessed by God because of His great mercy and grace.

With slow steps Miriam moved among the greenery lined up along the side of the greenhouse. The sun had peeked over the horizon, but the dew still lay heavy on everything. She touched the wetness with her fingers and tasted the moisture. This was water from heaven that the Lord gave. Her soul had been blessed this morning with the Word of God and His creation. Like the thirsty ground and water, she'd soaked in the Word's sweetness. Surely before long there would be answers to her problems. Eventually, if they continued dating, she would tell Wayne about the money. And after that, even if Wayne was the saint she
expected him to be and said the money didn't mean a lot to him and wouldn't change his plans—there was still…well, what to do with the money. What would they do with such a large sum? She hadn't forgotten her
daett
's many warnings about the corrupt influence money had on people's souls.

Miriam lifted her face toward the sun and shielded her eyes from its brightness. She didn't know the answers to her questions…and perhaps she didn't wish to know because then she'd have to make some difficult decisions.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

T
hirty minutes later Miriam was watching from inside the greenhouse as Wayne's buggy pulled into the driveway. She shouldn't hide here like a sneaky child, Miriam told herself. But the thought of her secret and telling Wayne about it had caused her heartbeat to accelerate. If Wayne saw her with this flushed face, he'd think she was ill.

Thankfully Uncle William was at the other end of the building and hadn't seen this acute tension attack that had gripped her. Perhaps if she hurried out and helped Wayne unhitch he would attribute her appearance to her rush to lend a hand. She forced herself to run outside, but slowed down when Wayne caught sight of her. His face lit up with a cheerful smile. “
Gut
morning, teacher!” he hollered from where he'd parked by the barn.

“
Gut
morning!” she called.

As she approached, Wayne was busy with a stubborn tug. He didn't seem to notice anything different about her.

“Stuck!” he muttered. Seconds later the leather piece came off with a jerk. Wayne laughed. “See? You fixed the problem just by walking up. Your grace flowed right over me and solved the problem.”

“I did no such thing!” Miriam retorted with a half smile. “And you embarrassed me with that teacher stuff. I haven't even taught my first class.”

Wayne grinned. “Maybe, but that's still my opinion. So let's not quarrel this early in the morning, seeing as we get to work together all day.”

“Suits me.”

Miriam waited while Wayne took his horse into the barn. She should get busy before he returned, but she was rooted to the ground. What if she followed Wayne around all day unable to think of anything except telling him about the money? But really, she shouldn't tell Wayne on Uncle William's time while they were at work. Such a startling revelation needed time to be absorbed and responded to, all of which couldn't be done while Wayne focused on work. But how could she look forward to Sunday evening with Wayne with this cloud of secrecy still over her head? Or even getting through today. She wanted to enjoy Wayne's teases and light chatter. And she would! The Lord would help her. She must forget about the money for now.

Wayne appeared again. He closed the barn door and walked toward her with quick steps. Miriam rubbed her face with both hands and smiled. “Got your horse all tucked in and tidy for the day?”

Wayne gave her a quick grin. “Yep. I'm ready for work. You didn't have to wait for me.”

“I wanted to.” Together they walked toward the greenhouse. She couldn't seem to stem her voice around Wayne. She
chattered away, the words coming out in what seemed to her a torrent. She didn't dare glance at his face as she continued on about the weather, the morning, and anything else that popped into her mind.
Be quiet!
she told herself to no avail.

As they neared the doorway, Miriam finally stemmed the flow of words.

Wayne paused, and his words stopped her short.

“I'm looking forward to Sunday evening,” he said.

Miriam reached for the doorframe with one hand to steady herself. “So am I, Wayne. But there's something I have to tell you then. Something important.”

“Deep, dark secrets.” His grin was broad.

Obviously he had no idea how deep and dark her secrets were. “Maybe,” Miriam managed. “I'm sorry for bringing it up here. I know we have work to do.”

“Don't worry about it.” His hand reached out to brush her arm. “I just want to spend time with you, Miriam. You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. Just serve me pie and ice cream and cheesecake and I'll go home happy.”

“All of that?”

His grip was firm as he held her arm this time. “I'm teasing. You don't have to serve anything. I'm just thankful to have learned to know you the little that I have. And I'll be thankful for a few more hours spent with you. Don't take your troubles—whatever they are, too seriously. We all have our imperfections and flaws, you know.”

“You have flaws?” She steadied herself with both hands.

He laughed. “
Yah
, but I'm not telling you them. At least not on the first date, so don't think you have to spill your secrets either. I'm hoping we'll have many more chances to get to know each other in a deeper way.”

“Oh, Wayne!” Miriam let go of the doorframe. “Thank you for understanding. But I still think I should tell you what's on my mind before we get much deeper into this relationship.”

His smile was warm. “I'm touched how serious you're taking this. It's a
gut
sign to me. I hope the Lord blesses you for it—as I know He will.”

Miriam nodded. “The Lord wants us to be honest. That's what
Daett
taught me.”

“And he's done that well, I'm sure.” Wayne slipped past her as Uncle William appeared from around some potted plants. “I'd better get to work.”

“I know,” Miriam whispered after him. “Me too.”

“No dating on my time now!” Uncle William teased. “There's work to be done.”

“Just a few looks and whispers here and there, I promise,” Wayne shot back. They both laughed.

Uncle William gave instructions to Wayne as a buggy pulled into the driveway, right after an
Englisha
car parked in front of the greenhouse.

From a distance, it looked like Ezra Mullet, the school-board chairman, but Miriam wasn't sure. The Lord knew she needed a distraction right now and timed this so perfectly. After a long, serious talk about school matters surely her mind would be in a much better state. She'd be ready to concentrate on work.

Although Wayne said they didn't have to spill secrets until they got to know each other more, she really wanted to tell him. She counted on him to understand and help her. Well, at least he'd understand
why
she felt she had to tell him. The thought of what Wayne would do beyond that sent a shiver up her spine. If he rejected her for keeping such a secret from everyone, that would have repercussions far and wide. Ezra Mullet might even reconsider her qualification as the community's schoolteacher.

With steady steps Miriam approached the buggy. Ezra peered out with a pleased look on his face. His voice boomed in the morning air. “Just the girl I want to see! And I didn't even have to go looking for you.”

Miriam paused near the buggy. “Uncle William told me you might be by this morning.”

Ezra glanced toward the greenhouse. “I hope I'm not interrupting your work. I tried to get here right after chore time, but the morning is getting on, I know.”

“It's okay,” Miriam assured him. “We're not busy yet.” Wayne appeared briefly in the greenhouse doorway. He waved and disappeared again.

“Nice young man there,” Ezra said. “Not that it's any of my business, but that's one of the questions we must ask our prospective teachers. Are you dating at this time?”

Miriam felt her neck getting warm. “Wayne has asked if he can bring me home Sunday evening after the next hymn singing.”

Ezra appeared quite pleased. “There's nothing wrong with that. Wayne's an up-building member of the community. I see you're fitting right in. That's what we like to see in our teachers. Oklahoma isn't for everyone, and we don't want you to hightail it back to Possum Valley in the middle of the term.”

“Oh, I wouldn't do that,” Miriam said firmly. But what would she do if it didn't work out with Wayne? Would she still be willing to stay in the Clarita community? Her head pounded. She couldn't approach Ezra later next week and tell him that she did, indeed, plan to return to Possum Valley after all—and in total disgrace. She had to clear this matter up with Wayne as soon as possible.

“Is something wrong?” Ezra scrutinized her face.

“I was just thinking through the responsibilities,” Miriam
shared. “You really don't know that much about me. Perhaps I'm not the best person for the position?”