Miriam's Story: Part 2 Romance in Amish Country Read Online Free PDF

back to her, and he lifted an eyebrow in question, his concern evident. Miriam smiled and nodded. Whatever Daniel’s problem had been this morning, he was still looking out for her son, and she was thankful.

Chapter Five

    A fter dinner was cleaned up, many of the women brought out various projects and settled under the shade of the trees to quilt or sew. Miriam looked for Ruthie and Rebecca and was thankful to see them with a group of girls who were learning needlepoint from Rachel and another woman. Miriam took a turn holding Hannah Yoder’s newborn, and the slight weight of the tiny baby filed Miriam with hope for the life that grew inside her. Reluctantly returning the child to its mother, Miriam realized that she felt unusually tired and needed to rest for a bit. She slipped out by the side door, headed for her childhood haven. Coming around the main barn, she found herself on a high bank that overlooked open fields below. The winter wheat had already been harvested, and hay had been planted for the summer. The long, even rows showed the path taken by her father and his horse-drawn plow. The bright summer sunlight reflected off the pale green shoots of the new crop.
    It had been a long time since Miriam had looked for solace in this place. She and Naomi had often come here as children, seeking a peace the valley offered. She supposed her brothers had their own hiding place, but she and Naomi had never been privy to its location. Not that it mattered, she mused, as long as she could still come to this place on those rare occasions when she was back in her childhood home and needed to get away.
    She heard soft footfalls on the grass behind her and expected Naomi or Ruth to join her. When Daniel sat down beside her, she started, surprised that he would seek her out. He spoke not a word, just followed her gaze out across the tilled fields. The whistle of the vintage steam locomotive heading the tourist train back to Strasburg from Paradise broke the late afternoon stillness, and they watched the gray and black plume of smoke and steam rising on the breeze.
    “Seth told me about the steam train, but I have never heard anything like it before,” Daniel said, as though it were the most important thing on his mind.
    Miriam glanced at him, but she could not tell what he was thinking. It was odd, but after having known him for only a day, she somehow felt she should be able to. She turned back to the distant train that puffed across the fields.
    “I need to explain my behavior this morning,” Daniel said after a time.
    “You do not owe me any explanations.”
    “Yes. I do.”
    She turned to study his face once more, and he sighed.
    “I told you once that my wife and I could never have children, but that was only a part of the story.”
    Miriam saw him swallow hard and laid a gentle hand on his arm.
    “If this is too painful for you, you do not need to…”
    “Deborah did conceive on two occasions,” he continued, interrupting her. “She lost them both in a matter of weeks.”
    “Oh, Daniel.” Miriam squeezed his arm in sympathy. “I am so sorry.”
    “I dreamed of her last night, and when I saw you this morning, with your three healthy, happy, excited children, I suddenly found I could not breathe.
    “I was so jealous, Miriam. God forgive me, but even knowing of your loss, of your husband’s death, I was so jealous of you for your children, I came close to walking out.”
    Miriam shifted to take his hand in both of hers.
    “It is all right, Daniel,” she said, tears in her voice. “I understand now why you reacted the way you did, and it is all right.” If Miriam had stopped to think about it, she would have been thoroughly embarrassed to find herself sitting here with a virtual stranger, discussing things one simply did not discuss with a man. But she felt his pain keenly. She shared in it and could not bring herself to turn away from him.
    He squeezed her hands and shook his head.
    “I do not deserve