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

your forgiveness, but I thank you for it.”
    “There is nothing to forgive, Daniel. Truly there is not.”
    He glanced over to meet her eyes, and she felt her heart turn over at what she saw there.
    “What happened to Deborah?” she asked gently. He obviously still loved his wife deeply, even after almost two years.
    He sighed and squeezed her hand once more.
    “It was a traffic accident,” he said. “An English woman failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into our buggy. I ended up with some broken ribs and a concussion, but the car hit Deborah’s side of the buggy, and she died instantly.”
    Miriam’s eyes filled with tears she did not bother to try to hide. “Oh, Daniel, I am so, so sorry.”
    He nodded curtly then turned back to their view when the steam whistle sounded again.
    “The English woman was charged with reckless driving and what they called ‘vehicular homicide,’” he said. “There were actually English lawyers who wanted me to sue her for something they called ‘damages,’ but it was all meaningless to me. It is not too difficult to forgive a woman who must live the rest of her life knowing her recklessness took another woman’s life. She will be in prison for years to pay for her crime, but I find no satisfaction in knowing her life is ruined.”
    He fell silent. Miriam continued to hold his hand, and after a moment, she leaned her head on his shoulder, praying silently.
    “Deborah’s mother writes to the woman in prison every week,” he said after another long moment had passed. “I cannot bring myself to do so, but I am glad Elizabeth does.”
    Miriam tucked her arm through his and held on. After a moment he reached around with his other hand and ran it up and down her arm, both offering and receiving comfort.
    They might have sat that way for a much longer time, but they heard a shout of laughter from the yard and pulled apart self-consciously.
    “I had better get back,” Daniel said. “They were just starting to put the joists in for the second floor, and I will need to make certain the stairway goes in right.”
    Miriam sighed and released his arm. “Thank you, Daniel. I am glad you told me about Deborah.”
    Daniel managed a small smile. “You are easy to talk to, Miriam. Thank you for listening.”
    “You are welcome. I am happy to return the favor that you did in taking the time to listen to Ezra yesterday. I am glad I could be of help to you when you had a need.”
    Daniel stood and offered his hand, but Miriam shook her head.
    “Thank you, but I think I will stay here a bit longer.”
    Daniel took a deep breath of the fresh air and glanced around. “It is a good place to sit and think.”
    Miriam smiled at his understanding and nodded.
    As he walked away, Miriam followed him with her eyes, until he disappeared around the corner of the barn. She sighed deeply once more and hugged her knees to her chest. Such a troubled man , she mused. Miriam wondered whether he was running away from, or running to, someplace by coming here. She hoped it was the latter, because she realized that she wanted very much for Daniel to discover he belonged here.
     
    ***
     
    “It is lovely,” Ruth said as they surveyed the small apartment on the second floor of the new stable.
    “Credit Isaac for that,” Daniel answered. “He does fine work.”
    “Uncle Isaac does the very best work,” little Ruthie added with a rush of family loyalty.
    “Isaac was always one for making things,” Miriam’s father, the elder Ezra, said with not a little paternal pride in his voice. “He never could plow a straight furrow, mind you, but break the plow, and he could build you a new one much better than the one you had.”
    Miriam smiled. Her brother’s lack of farming skills had been an inside family joke for years, but every time she saw Isaac’s work in wood, she was amazed at what he could create. The apartment was small, but all the furniture and storage was neat and to scale, making it