Free Miriam's Quilt by Jennifer Beckstrand

“Are you still going to the high school, Laura?”
    Laura put an arm around Priscilla and studied Miriam with unguarded suspicion. “Yes, I graduate next week.”
    “Oh, that is nice,” Miriam said.
    Poor family, to have a daughter jump the fence. Thank goodness Miriam’s family was firmly planted in the community and wouldn’t dream of embracing the Englisch ways.
    The train of Miriam’s thoughts ran merrily down the path they always had until she stopped and examined where her notions were taking her.
    Seth was right.
    She had always felt superior to the Lambrights.
    She, who had a sister with a horrible secret, found it easy to judge Seth for his very public misfortunes.
    “Laura is going to the University of Wisconsin this fall, Lord willing.” Seth obviously didn’t view Laura’s choices as shameful or wrong. He put an arm around his sister. “She got a scholarship.”
    Miriam found her voice and tried not to force her sincerity. “That is wonderful-gute. What subject will you be studying?”
    A smile bloomed on Laura’s face. Miriam wondered if anyone besides Seth ever cared to ask. “I am thinking about being a history teacher.”
    “I think I would be scared out of my wits to leave home like that. Are you excited?”
    “Oh yes. And a little scared. But one of my friends is going with me, and I hear they are very nice at the school.”
    “I’m sure you will do well,” Miriam said.
    Laura nodded gratefully. So did Seth.
    “Laura is going to help me make a blanket for Lady Dancing before she goes away to the unisity,” Priscilla said.
    Seth looked at Miriam. “Scilla calls her doll ‘Lady Dancing.’”
    “We will just cut a square out of a piece of fabric,” Laura said. “I do not know how to make a proper quilt.”
    Miriam held out her hand and Priscilla placed her doll into Miriam’s care. “What kind of a blanket do you want for Lady Dancing?”
    “Like a patch quilt,” Priscilla said. “I have fabric of my mamm’s.”
    “I can help you make one,” Miriam said.
    Seth raised an eyebrow.
    Laura did too. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. It is only a doll blanket.”
    “But I want to help. That is, if you’d like me to. I can see that Lady Dancing is a special doll. She deserves a special blanket.”
    “Okay,” Laura said. “You make beautiful quilts. It will probably be the fanciest doll blanket in the world.”
    Fancy. Ephraim didn’t like fancy.
    Miriam cleared her throat. “Not too fancy, of course. Tomorrow is the school program and Saturday is full of chores. Would you like to come to my house on Tuesday next?” She glanced at Seth. “Or, better yet, I could come to your house. Do you have a sewing machine?”
    Priscilla nodded and showed all the teeth that were still in her mouth. “Can it be pink? Lady Dancing loves pink.”
    “You and Laura find the fabric you want to use.”
    “Okay,” Priscilla said.
    Laura took Priscilla’s hand. “We want to say hello to the horses.”
    Laura and Priscilla walked behind the stable and left Seth staring at Miriam with an unreadable expression on his face. He frowned slightly but his gray eyes glowed with an unexplained warmth.
    He loosened her rope from the hook and handed it to her. “Denki,” he said. “If you are kind to my sisters, I am your friend for life.”
    “Does that mean you might decide you like me after all?”
    He rubbed his chin. “Jah, I might decide I like you.”
    Miriam swung her leg over the horse and perched squarely in the saddle. “Too bad, because I don’t care if you like me or not.”
    As she turned Daisy down the lane toward the green pastures and cheerful yellow wildflowers, she heard Seth Lambright chuckle for the first time ever.

Chapter 8
    “Denki, Yost. When will you be back to get me?”
    Miriam jumped from the buggy with her sewing basket in hand.
    Yost fingered the reins impatiently. “Can you walk home? I have places I need to be.”
    Miriam frowned and squinted in Yost’s