Miriam's Secret Read Online Free PDF Page A

do.”
    â€œYou did what ?” Miriam heard herself shriek. She subconsciously pulled on the reins, and Mindy came to a dead stop.
    â€œI had to tell you,” Shirley admitted as she winced.
    â€œOkay, Shirley, I’m sure there’s more you’re not telling me. Out with it. Like every detail!”
    â€œWell…” Shirley began with a lilt in her voice.
    She’s a bit too animated, Miriam thought.
    â€œWell, it happened like this. I drove into the parking lot at the German Village Market like usual one Tuesday. And as I got out of the buggy, Jonas parked his car right near me.” Shirley’s eyes gleamed. “The car is a late-model convertible…some kind ofclassic sports car. Anyway, as soon as Jonas got of his car, he said, ‘Hi, Shirley!’ Miriam, he knew my name! And, of course, I knew his. Jonas Beachy!” Shirley spoke the last two words reverently.
    â€œSurely you didn’t say it like that to him!” Miriam exclaimed horrified.
    â€œHush!” Shirley chided. “It’s my story.”
    â€œYou’re the limit!” Miriam cut in. “Remember, you’re Amish even if you are in rumspringa . He isn’t even Mennonite, he’s…” Miriam searched for the words. “He’s more like Englisha— but worse.”
    Shirley ignored her. “I said ‘hi’ back and complimented him on his neat car. Then he asked if I wanted a ride in it. A convertible, Miriam! I said I did, of course. I am on rumspringa , after all. And we were right out in plain sight where everyone could see us. There wasn’t anything wrong with it.”
    Miriam groaned. “ Yah , you were out where everyone could see you. And I’m sure they did.”
    â€œSo he took me for a short spin,” Shirley went on. “We weren’t gone long. And then when we got back, Jonas came inside to help me with the groceries. That’s how I made it back in time so Mamm didn’t know I’d been doing more than shopping. I wasn’t a minute late.”
    Miriam moaned.
    â€œHe’s a nice man!” Shirley continued. “There’s nothing wrong with Jonas. He had the best manners I’ve ever seen in a man. He even held the car door open for me—like the Englisha do for the people they care about.”
    How Shirley knew what the Englisha did for their loved ones was beyond Miriam. What a day this was turning out to be! First Mr. Bland’s death, and now her sister had stepped way out of the boundaries of Mamm and Daett ’s vision of rumspringa for their children. If Mamm found out even a whiff of this…
    â€œYou must forget about Jonas Beachy starting right now,” Miriam stated.
    Shirley gave her a long look. “Jonas asked if he could see me some evening. He said he’d pick me up at the end of the lane right after dark. I said I couldn’t.”
    â€œWell, that’s the first smart thing I’ve heard you say today,” Miriam said, letting out a breath.
    Shirley appeared unfazed. “Let me finish. I said I couldn’t then , but that maybe I’d change my mind. And I have changed my mind.”
    Miriam stared at her sister. “Shirley, before this goes any further, I think you need to talk to Mamm .”
    Alarm was written across Shirley’s face. “I hoped you’d support me in this, but…”
    â€œYou have to tell Mamm !” Miriam’s voice was firm. “It’s best if things like this are out in the open—not done in secret. And you have to think about how this would hurt Mamm and Daett. ” Miriam shivered at the image of Daett ’s shoulders bowing even lower than normal at the news.
    Shirley seemed to sense the same dread and fell silent.
    Miriam considered that if Jonas Beachy was a poor man, Shirley wouldn’t give him a second glance. Clearly she understood where this could lead. Had Shirley entertained the thought