Free Miriam's Quilt by Jennifer Beckstrand Page B

towel. “I’m glad you’ve come for a visit. Sit down and have a cup of coffee. Special blend.”
    Miriam motioned to Priscilla, who stood patiently waiting for Ellie to stop talking. “That would be lovely, but we should get started.”
    “On what?”
    “I’ve come to help Priscilla make a quilt for her doll.”
    Ellie’s smile faded. “Oh. Well, I would have helped her myself, but keeping house is a constant job.”
    “I know it is,” Miriam said. “My mamm barely has time to breathe most days.”
    “Priscilla,” Ellie said, turning on her stepdaughter, “it was very rude of you to ask Miriam to make you a quilt when she has so many other things to do. That old burp rag works fine for a blanket.”
    Out of the corners of her eye, Miriam saw Seth tighten his jaw muscles.
    “I asked Priscilla if I could help her make a quilt,” Miriam said. “I’ve always wanted to make a doll blanket. It is no trouble at all.”
    Seth unclenched his fists and fixed his eyes on Miriam.
    “Where is the sewing machine, Priscilla?”
    “Upstairs in Laura’s room.”
    Ellie waved her hand in dismissal. “That old thing? It is very slow. I told Abbie we need a new one, but he doesn’t listen to me. The men don’t have to make school clothes for the children, so they don’t care what we go through to sew a decent stitch.”
    “An old machine is fun. They are built so sturdy.” Miriam hoped Ellie didn’t mind being contradicted. She bent over to Priscilla. “I thought we could do a Nine-Patch.”
    “What is a Nine-Patch?” Priscilla asked.
    “I will draw you a picture. Ellie, would you like to come up with us? We can visit while we sew.”
    Priscilla shook her head slightly and stared at Miriam with pursed lips. Miriam returned her gaze. Had she said something wrong?
    “I’d like to, but I must get these scuff marks off the table legs where certain people keep scraping their shoes even though I tell them not to.”
    Priscilla’s smile returned. “I will show you Laura’s room.”
    Ellie sighed. “Don’t blame me if it’s a mess up there. Laura’s room is a pigsty, and I refuse to be her maid.”
    Seth took the sewing basket from Miriam. “Cum, I will show you.”
    As soon as they started up the steep steps, the dog came out of nowhere, stood at the bottom of the stairs, and resumed barking.
    Seth furrowed his brow. “The good news is that Pookie does not climb stairs except in extreme emergencies.”
    At the top of the stairs, they turned down a hall where a set of ladder stairs with a rope handrail led to the attic door. Priscilla went in front of Miriam.
    Seth followed her. “Careful. I’m right behind you if you slip.”
    Priscilla threw open the door and revealed a light-filled room with a large window shaped like an upside-down V. A small coal stove stood in the corner atop four cinder blocks, and a sewing machine sat next to it. The walls were bright white and bare except for a certificate tacked at the head of the bed. “C ASHTON H IGH S CHOOL , 4.0 GPA,” it read.
    Laura stood by her bed sorting through fabric in a box. She looked up and smiled tentatively. “Hi.”
    “Hi,” Miriam said.
    Laura motioned to the sewing machine. “Seth carried it up. By himself. Without dropping it.”
    Seth put Miriam’s sewing basket on the bed. “I’ll be going now. Have a gute time.”
    Laura looked as uncomfortable as Miriam felt. Seth was the one person who could keep them from sinking into an awkward silence.
    “Stay and keep us company,” Laura said. “Why do you have to run off so soon?”
    Seth’s eyes danced in amusement. “Because I’ve got to get to my horses, and a quilting bee is no place for a man.”
    “Oh, posh,” Laura said.
    Seth reached out and cupped his hand around Miriam’s elbow. “Thank you for coming here. You’ll never know how grateful I am.”
    “No thanks necessary,” Miriam said.
    “You’ll never know.”
    He bounded down the stairs, leaving Miriam to make