Free Miriam's Secret by Jerry S. Eicher Page A

brother’s part,” Mamm said. “But surely Miriam can’t accept such a gift.”
    Rose glanced at Miriam and then said firmly, “Mrs. Yoder, my brother gave Miriam this gift. That was what he wanted. That is the arrangement he made. I believe we should honor his last wishes.”
    For a moment no one spoke. Then Daett bowed his head.He finally looked up. “Then we thank you, Rose, since we cannot thank your brother in person. We would not wish to disrespect his kindness.”
    Rose smiled. “I hoped you’d feel that way. Now, I need to go. You have a good afternoon, Mr. Yoder. Miriam, there are papers you need to sign. Consider your schedule and then call me. I’m more than happy to take you to the lawyer’s office and help you in any way I can. Okay?”
    Rose was gone before Miriam could catch her breath. Even Mamm was too stunned to get up and see Rose to the front door. Daett stood frozen in the middle of the living room.
    Miriam struggled to find her voice. “I hope you know that I had nothing to do with this.”
    â€œ Yah , we know,” Mamm assured her.
    Still chills ran up and down Miriam’s back.

Chapter Nine

    S aturday morning dawned with rain clouds and light squalls moving across Possum Valley at steady intervals like the waving of quilts drying on a wash line on a windy day. The weather fit Miriam’s mood exactly. Sorrowful, heavy thoughts swept through her heart. Mamm and Daett hadn’t stopped bemoaning the idea that Mr. Bland had left her his farm. “I still can’t believe this,” Daett had said when Miriam had come home yesterday after her first day at the Berlin Gospel Bookstore. Soon the people of Possum Valley would look at her strangely and wonder what she’d done to deserve such a gift from an Englisha man. All things considered, though, Daett was taking the news better than Mamm. Their reactions made Miriam all the more glad she’d said nothing about also inheriting two million dollars.
    Rose was scheduled to pick her up this afternoon so she could sign the papers Mr. Rosenberg had prepared. Daett was still downstairs. His presence in the house this late on a Saturdaymorning could be explained by the weather, yet Miriam was sure there were chores in the barn he could occupy himself with—if he wanted to. But, no, she figured he wanted to talk with her before she met with the lawyer.
    Well, she couldn’t hide out in her room all day, Miriam thought. She’d have to face Daett sooner or later. She looked in the dresser mirror and straightened her kapp. Seconds later she stepped out of the stairwell and into the living room. Daett was waiting as she’d expected. He lowered the latest copy of The Budget when she appeared. He cleared his throat. “Your mamm and I wish to speak with you before you leave, Miriam.”
    Shirley stuck her head through the kitchen doorway. “Can I listen in?”
    Daett sighed. “What we have to discuss is a serious matter, Shirley. Please be respectful and take the younger children upstairs. We don’t want to be interrupted.”
    Shirley appeared mournful as she gathered up her siblings, and then they all clattered up the stairs. Miriam almost wished Shirley could stay and listen in. She can even have the farm and the money, she thought . But in her heart she knew Shirley would do herself great harm if she were given a lot of money. Maybe it was best this way.
    Mamm appeared in the kitchen doorway and then took her seat in her rocker. She sat with clasped hands resting on her extended middle. Daett glanced at her. “Are the younger children all upstairs?”
    â€œ Yah .” Mamm studied the floorboards in front of her.
    Daett turned to face Miriam. “Please sit. This may take a while.”
    Miriam moved toward the couch and sat on the end closest to Mamm ’s rocker. The comforting presence of Mamm reachedacross the space between them.