Plain Proposal by Beth Wiseman Read Free Book Online

if we ask Him to.”
    Shelby faced forward again and stared straight ahead. “I don’t know about that.” After a few moments, she said, “Besides, I think maybe I’m being punished by Him.”
    By God? Miriam wanted to tell Shelby that wasn’t how it worked, but she heard the screen door close, and she looked up to see people starting to emerge from the service. “Church is over early today.” She stood up from the swing when she saw her mother heading their way.
    “Shelby, are you all right?” Mamm asked when she got within a few feet of them.
    Shelby stood up. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry. I just needed some fresh air.”
    Mamm smiled as she put a hand on Shelby’s arm. “I’m sure you’re still tired from your travels, and I bet you aren’t used to getting up so early.”
    “No. But I’m fine. Really. I’m sorry I left the service early.”
    “It’s no problem. As long as you’re all right.”
    Shelby smiled, but Miriam knew she wasn’t all right.

    It was one o’clock when Miriam parked the buggy in front of their house. Shelby hadn’t said anything on the way home, but she really didn’t have a chance to. Little John was ribbing Elam about having a crush on thirteen-year-old Sarah King, and Elam spent most of the trip denying the accusation, though they all knew it was true. And Miriam spent the ride thinking about Saul and how she would meet him at the old Zook farm to go fishing soon. She’d only talked to Saul briefly after the service, and they’d confirmed plans. Miriam had also introduced him to Shelby. After they’d finished the meal, there was cleanup, so Miriam didn’t see Saul again. She wondered if maybe he’d joined the men in the barn but suspected he’d left right after church, the way he usually did. Most of the younger folks had played volleyball that afternoon. Even Shelby joined in and played on Miriam’s team. For a short while, Shelby seemed to be enjoying herself.
    Miriam felt bad that she was going to have to leave Shelby this afternoon, but she’d waited so long to spend some time alone with Saul. Surely Shelby could occupy herself for a couple of hours.
    Miriam tethered the horse while Shelby excused herself to hurry to the bathroom, and Elam and John took off toward the barn.
    She was walking up to the house when her mother came down the porch steps and met her in the yard.
    “I got the sense that Shelby is upset. Did she tell you what’s wrong?” Mamm wiped her forehead as she spoke, her eyes showing concern.
    “She’s upset about her parents getting a divorce.” Miriam didn’t feel the need to tell her mother any more than that right now.
    “Hmm. . . Well, you stay close to her. Her mother didn’t tell me much about what happened there, but I want us to be her family right now, help her any way we can.” Mamm turned and started back to the house.
    Miriam wasn’t surprised that Mamm had agreed to take Shelby in. Her mother was known to care for others in their community who were in a bad way or just needed a place to rest. And Shelby was family—a distant cousin perhaps, but still family.
    Miriam cleared her thoughts and returned to the subject at hand. “Mamm?”
    Her mother turned around. “Ya?”
    Miriam caught up to her before she reached the porch. “Actually, I’m going to go meet Saul Fisher. We’re going to go fishing at the old Zook farm. But I won’t be gone for more than a couple of hours.”
    Her mother scowled, then softened her expression. “That’s fine. You and Shelby have fun.” Mamm turned again to head to the house.
    What? She skipped across the yard to catch up with her mother again. “But, Mamm . . . I was going to go meet Saul by myself, and—”
    Mamm turned around. “Why?”
    “Why what?”
    “Why do you need to meet Saul by yourself?”
    Miriam took a deep breath, then let it out slowly as she shrugged. “I—we—it’s like. . .”
    Mamm put her hands on her hips and let out a sigh. “Miriam, your cousin