Free Miriam and the Stranger by Jerry S. Eicher Page B

I have any answers that would interest you.”
    “You might be surprised.” Tyler was his confident self again.“Can we go inside now? I’ll take only a few minutes. And your classes don’t begin for a while, do they?”
    Miriam couldn’t speak, so as an answer she led the way to the schoolhouse and held open the door for him.
    “Thank you,” Tyler said, sporting that same grin that made her stomach flutter.
    Miriam led Tyler up the aisle and took her usual place behind her teacher’s desk. That left Tyler to sit where the students sat on the benches. She needed to establish some control over the situation even if she couldn’t restrain her own emotions. Perhaps the one would affect the other now that she could sit down.
    She stole a quick glance at him. He smiled at her from his lowered position. The man had enough charm to… Miriam pushed the thought away to ask, “So why are you here?”
    “To get some answers,” Tyler replied, still smiling.
    Miriam looked away. They’d go around this point all morning, and yet she felt totally helpless. Was this the Lord’s way to humble her? If it was, the job was well done. She didn’t have a smidgen of self-respect left.
    Tyler regarded Miriam for a long moment. “I now know who gave the two million dollars to the Clarita Relief Fund.”
    Miriam’s head spun. How could Tyler know? Had Deacon Phillips told him? But that wasn’t possible.
    Tyler seemed to read Miriam’s question. “I asked one of your students yesterday on his way home from school. Doesn’t your Bible say, ‘out of the mouth of babes’?”
    Miriam clasped her hands together until they hurt. The man was brilliant. Even she wouldn’t have thought to ask the schoolchildren, but of course they would know and think the matter of small concern. Such things couldn’t be kept a secret in the small community.
    “Who would have thought?” Tyler had open admiration on his face. “It was you who gave the money. Will you confirm this?”
    I could lie, Miriam told herself, but that wasn’t possible even at this horrible moment. She was who she was. And Tyler might expect her to deny it, and this would only motivate him to dig deeper. What if Tyler went to Deacon Phillips or Uncle William for confirmation? Mose might even hear of the inquiry.
    “ Yah , I did give the money,” Miriam said, finding her voice.
    His eyebrows went up. “So you really did?”
    “I see that was the wrong thing to say,” Miriam snapped.
    “Well, I didn’t think you would lie.” Tyler was sober-faced now. “So let’s backtrack a little. That means you once had two million dollars. Can I ask how you came into the possession of such a sum? Have you been married before?”
    That’s none of your business , Miriam almost said. But the words would sound bitter.
    “Of course, you don’t have to tell me,” he said. “I won’t use this for my story. I respect you, and I respect your privacy.”
    He was a reporter, Miriam told herself, but Tyler appeared sincere, so the words spilled out. “I once worked for an older man for three years, a Mr. Bland in Possum Valley. He could take care of himself during the night but needed someone with him during the day, for meals, and making sure he took his medicines. I also kept the house clean and that sort of thing.” Miriam’s voice died off.
    Tyler remained silent while she searched for words.
    “I had grown to love Mr. Bland. He was generous to me with wages, and we needed the money at home badly. Daett isn’t that gut handling money.” Miriam bit her lip. She shouldn’t have said that, but Tyler didn’t know Daett and never would. Miriam hurried on. “One morning I arrived at his house as usual and helpedhim get out of bed and buttoned his shirt for him. Mr. Bland said he had dreamed of his frau , Thelma, that night. He said it was a lovely dream. As I helped him to his front porch rocker while I fixed his breakfast, his face just shone with the memory of his dream. When