A Merry Heart by Wanda E. Brunstetter Read Free Book Online Page B

my time teaching school. I used to travel the area a lot when I was a teenager.”
    “You’re a schoolteacher?”
    She nodded. “I teach at the one-room schoolhouse about a mile from here.”
    “So the liberated Amish woman is not only beautiful, but she’s smart, too.”
    Miriam’s defenses rose once again, and she clenched the hairbrush tighter. “I am not liberated, and I wish you would quit saying that.”
    “Sorry.”
    There was an awkward pause as they stood there staring at one another. Finally Nick smiled and said, “I’ve heard that the Amish only go through the eighth grade. Is that correct?”
    Her only reply was a quick nod.
    “Then how much training does a teacher for one of your schools need?”
    “Same as the other scholars—we graduate eighth grade.”
    “That’s it? No college or other formal training?”
    She shook her head. “Amish teachers are selected on the basis of their natural interest in teaching, academic ability, and Amish values.”
    “What kind of values?”
    “Faith, sincerity, and willingness to learn from the pupils.”
    “Ah, I see. Very interesting facts you’ve given me.” Nick smiled. “One of the things I enjoy most about being a newspaper reporter is learning new things when I interview people.”
    “My mother’s a reporter, too.” Miriam hadn’t planned on blurting that out, but she thought maybe Nick might be interested since he also wrote for a newspaper.
    “What newspaper does she write for?”
    “
The Budget
. Mostly Amish and Mennonite people read it, although I understand that some Englishers subscribe to the paper, too. Have you heard of it?”
    “As a matter of fact, I have. I believe it’s published in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Am I right?”
    She nodded. “There are Amish and Mennonite people all over the country who write columns that go into the newspaper, and my mother is one of the scribes.”
    “That’s interesting. What kind of news does she report?”
    “Oh, just the happenings in our local community—things like weddings, funerals, those who have had recent out-of-town visitors, accidents that have occurred in the area—that type of thing.”
    “What’s your mother’s name? I might decide to pick up a copy of
The Budget
and check out her column.”
    “Anna Stoltzfus.”
    “I’d like to meet your mother sometime. Maybe we could swap stories.”
    Miriam wasn’t sure if Nick was only kidding or if he really wanted to meet her mother, but she was pretty sure Mom wouldn’t take to the idea of some fancy English reporter who toted a camera asking her a bunch of questions. So rather than comment on his last statement, she merely shrugged and said, “It’s been nice talking to you, Nick, but I need to get back home now.”
    “Do you live near here?”
    She pointed to the field behind her. “Our house is on the other side of that pasture.”
    “Just a stone’s throw then, huh?”
    “Jah, if you’ve got a long arm.”
    He chuckled and held out his hand. “It’s been nice talking to you again, Miriam. I appreciate your help on the covered bridges, and I hope this won’t be the last time we meet.”
    Miriam didn’t respond to that comment, either, nor did she shake Nick’s hand. The man had a way of getting under her skin, but something about him fascinated her, too, and that bothered her more than she cared to admit. “Good-bye, Nick,” she murmured.
    “Bye, fair lady.”
    As Nick walked away, Miriam pressed a hand to a heart that was beating much too fast and wondered why the thought of seeing Nick again held so much appeal.
I
    “Oh, Sarah,” Anna said, as she and her daughter-in-law sat at the kitchen table drinking a cup of tea, “I’m worried about Miriam.”
    “What’s the problem? Is she feeling sick or something?” Sarah asked.
    Anna shook her head. “My daughter’s body isn’t sick, but her heart seems to have been shattered, and I fear it might never be mended.”
    “She’s not still pining over William