Miriam's Secret (41 page)

Wayne seemed to understand. He reached across the space between them and touched her arm for only a second. “It doesn't matter. I already told you that. And it wasn't your choosing anyway.”

“You are so kind! You don't know how much I appreciate you.”

“I couldn't be otherwise when it comes to you,” he said.

Companionable silence fell between them again. The fire crackled softly as the flames gradually decreased. The embers glowed deep-red and orange. If this time together became any more lovely, Miriam thought, she might burst into tears. Even then she believed Wayne would understand. He would also know when the best time arrived for their first kiss.

Deacon Phillip appeared holding packages of hot dogs. “Time to eat, everybody! But you have to cook your own food. That is, those of you hardy enough to face the fire's heat. And, by the way, there's homemade ice cream in the basement that I turned myself.”

Laughter rose around the circle as most of the men bounced to their feet. Wayne was among them. He grabbed one of the pointed sticks the deacon's eldest son, Michael, had toted in from somewhere.

“Don't let that hot dog get away from you now,” Mahlon teased Wayne. They both held sticks close to the coals and shielded their faces from the fire's heat. Wayne's sister Joy stood and moved closer to Mahlon. Already she was responding deeply to Mahlon's attention, Miriam thought. Just as I did to Wayne's. Perhaps in a year or two they would be sisters-in-law by marriage.
That was a thought too
wunderbah
to think about. Even this moment of joy and possibility was almost more than she could bear. She ought to get up and stand near Wayne like Joy was with Mahlon, but her legs likely wouldn't hold her up. She sent her love to Wayne from the chair. She'd do it by the pounding of her heart if nothing else. Wayne might even feel the power of her love across the distance.

Miriam shifted on her chair so she could watch Wayne. He was so handsome…so very handsome. And she was so blessed.

Chapter Forty-Two

T
he dreamy September sky filled the schoolhouse windows, as Miriam settled in behind her teacher's desk. Outside, the last of the children's voices lingered in the afternoon air. She'd waved goodbye to the last buggies moments ago. How she adored each and every one of her little scholars! She loved her school-teaching job—all of it. But she loved Wayne even more. They had planned a special afternoon together. Uncle William must have felt generous because he gave Wayne extra time off. Still, Miriam shouldn't be too surprised. Uncle William approved fully of her relationship with Wayne Yutzy. She figured Wayne only had to mention what his intention was—a special, late-summer afternoon stroll with Miriam down by the creek—to obtain Uncle William's full cooperation.

How Wayne came up with such a romantic notion, she had no idea. Likely he was up to something. In fact, she was sure he was, and she didn't have to think too hard to imagine what.
Miriam's heart beat faster at the thought. Would Wayne ask her to be his
frau
this afternoon? It still seemed a little early in their relationship, but, on the other hand, it felt like they'd known each other forever.

Miriam's chair squeaked as she reached for pen and paper. There was still time to finish her lesson plan for tomorrow. Wayne said he'd be here by four-thirty, and that was still an hour and a half away. If she hurried, she might even have time to write
Mamm
and Shirley the letters she owed them. In her last letter, Shirley hadn't said anything about Jonas Beachy. Miriam guessed that Shirley didn't wish to write more about the matter. Still, she hoped Shirley was keeping her resolution to stay away from the young man.

Miriam sighed. She definitely needed to write Shirley today, perhaps after her time with Wayne, even if that went late. Wayne had been invited to the Byler home for supper after their afternoon stroll. That had been Aunt Fannie's idea after Miriam had shared the afternoon plans with her. Likely Aunt Fannie had gotten her head together with Uncle William and coordinated the event. Miriam wondered if they knew what Wayne's plans were for this afternoon. If he was going to propose, would he have shared it with her uncle and aunt?

That wasn't likely. Uncle William and Aunt Fannie were probably guessing the same as she was. And they might all be wrong for all she knew. Her relationship with Wayne was still in its infancy when compared to most community courtships. Hope was a tricky thing. It could soar easily when one was in love. And right now her hope was soaring…maybe she'd finally get kissed by the man she loved! Miriam allowed a smile to creep across her face. If a kiss was forthcoming, maybe she would detail the experience for Shirley. That shocking thought caused Miriam
to blush. She would do no such thing! A kiss from Wayne was private and intimate and between just the two of them. And it would remain so.

Miriam forced herself to focus on her lesson plans for over an hour. When she glanced at the clock, she'd finished planning and decided to begin a letter to Shirley. She opened her tablet to a fresh page and began.

Dear Shirley,

Greetings of love, dear sister. I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. I'm sitting here enthroned in my swivel chair at the schoolhouse. It's after four o'clock, and the children have been gone for a while. I feel lonesome for them already, even though I'll see them tomorrow. I wonder how I'll feel when the school term is complete. Likely I'll weep buckets of tears, although I'll try to hide them on the last day of school. How quickly the little munchkins have thrown their heart strings around mine.

You didn't mention Jonas in your last letter, so I hope you haven't been seeing him…or spoken with him, for that matter. Keeping in touch with him is not for the best, Shirley. You know that. I want to encourage you to go down the right path. There's so much of your life and mine that lies before us. We don't want to spoil it with bad choices. Stay strong, Shirley. Safety and happiness are found on the straight and narrow way. That certainly has been true for Wayne and me.

Miriam tapped her pen on the desk as her thoughts drifted. Had she said too much? Surely her sister would understand where she was coming from. But still this was probably enough heavy advice for now. Breezy news would be best for the rest of the letter. She'd add that later. Miriam slipped the tablet into her book bag and grabbed her lunch bucket. She'd wait outside on the lawn for Wayne.

Miriam had just locked the door when Wayne's buggy appeared in the distance. He was right on time. But then Wayne usually was. He was close to perfect—at least in her eyes. Miriam ran the short distance to the road, arriving just as Wayne drove up.

He pulled on the lines and leaned out of the buggy. “Whoa, there! What a welcome!”

Miriam hopped in on the other side of the buggy. “Only what you deserve for being on time. I knew you would be, so don't get all swelled up about it.”

Wayne grinned as he turned the buggy around. “Nice afternoon. Just what I ordered, you know.”

“You
are
swelled up,” Miriam said with a fake glare.

He laughed. “I think the Lord is on my side today.”

Wayne
is
up to something special. She was sure of it. And now she'd overreacted and he'd think she'd guessed something. She believed a man should be allowed his secrets until he chose to reveal them.

Wayne didn't seem to notice or be fazed. “Our creeks around here aren't anything glamorous, but it's all Oklahoma has to offer.”

Miriam wanted to slip her arm around his, but she didn't. It wasn't time yet, but hopefully that would be soon. Instead she glanced at his face. “I'm just happy to spend time with you.”

Wayne's grin returned. “The same goes for me with you.”

He was occupied with his plan, Miriam told herself as they drove in silence. Wayne would ask her to be his
frau
this afternoon. She was sure of it now.

“Whoa!” Wayne called out as they approached the small creek. Miriam waited while Wayne tied up his horse before she climbed down. He flashed her a bright smile, but then he looked away at once. A serious look lay just beneath the surface, and she liked that. Wayne wasn't taking their future together lightly. This was an important time, and he was taking the necessary steps like a man should—with honor and sincerity.

Wayne's hand briefly touched Miriam's arm as they climbed down the gently sloping bank of the stream. An easy flow of water filled the bed. Upstream a fish flipped out of the water with a small splash.

“Not much in the way of fish around here.” Wayne's laugh was nervous.

“Is that why you didn't bring your fishing pole?” Miriam teased.

Wayne shifted on his feet.

She shouldn't try that tack today, Miriam decided. She wasn't
gut
at teases.

Wayne became serious. “I've not known you for that long, Miriam.” He glanced at her. “What has it been—a few months or so?”

“Just since the middle of July,” Miriam whispered. Wayne just wanted her to reassure him, she thought. Perhaps she should wrap her arms around his neck right now and give him a big hug. But she'd wait. Wayne needed to say what he had to say in his own time. The hugs could come later.

“It's like I've always known you.” Wayne's smile was thin. “I
hope you don't think I've been too forward—that I've rushed things between us. It's just that…” Wayne stopped and gazed at the water in the creek bed.

“You've been none of those things, Wayne.” Miriam reached over to touch his arm. “I think I've loved you since we climbed out of Mr. Whitehorse's car.”

“Really?” Relief filled his voice. “I think I felt the same way. Do you think…” He paused again.

“I think so.” Miriam met his gaze. “I think so with all my heart.”

He took a deep breath. “Then you will be…you feel what I do?”

Miriam moved closer. “
Yah
, I do, Wayne.”

His fingers found hers. “Then you agree to be my
frau
…sometime in the near future? Maybe next fall already?”

“
Yah!
” She whispered the words. “You know I will!”

He touched her face. “The wonder of you, Miriam. How am I so blessed?”

Miriam reached for Wayne with both hands, and he responded in kind. Her face burned like fire as Wayne's lips touched hers for the first time. Her mind was a blur of emotion. Wayne's presence overwhelmed her as his fingers pressed softly on her neck.

“Miriam…” He pulled back.

She trembled and didn't answer.

He pulled her close again and lingered long.

She would soon not be able to breathe, Miriam realized, but she didn't care. Each moment of this should be enjoyed to the fullest and remembered forever.

“Come,” Wayne said moments later, with his hand under her arm. “There's a fallen log we can sit on downstream a bit.”

Miriam followed him and then sat beside Wayne with their fingers entwined. When she could breathe again, Miriam whispered. “Just hold me tight, Wayne. I don't want this moment to ever stop.”

He nodded. “May the Lord continue to guide and keep us as we plan our life together.”

“I will always love you, Wayne.” She hugged him. “I love you for loving me just the way I am.”

Wayne's face filled with a wide smile. “That was the easiest and best thing I've ever done. Believe me! And it will always be so.”

She leaned against his shoulder as tears stung her eyes.

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