Summer Promise by Marianne Ellis Read Free Book Online Page A

course she may come, if you truly think she can be a help.”
    â€œI do.” Miriam nodded. “Though I had no idea she was so interested in the farm stand.”
    â€œLeah feels things very strongly,” Rachel said. “I have cautioned her that it might be better to be more moderate, but that is not a message it is easy to hear when you are young. But Jacob understood her, I think. Leah went to see him at least once a week, and I know they had great fondness for each other. Spending time with your father was good for Leah.”
    â€œIt was good for Daed, too. He looked forward to Leah’s visits. He said she made him laugh.”
    â€œHe had such a calm and quiet way about him, patient when others might not be,” Rachel said.
    â€œMuch like you,” Miriam answered with a smile. “In fact,” she continued more slowly, “now that I think about it, it has always seemed to me that you and Daed were much alike.”
    â€œYou think so?” Rachel asked, with something in her voice that Miriam could not quite put her finger on.
    â€œI do.” She nodded.
    â€œThen I will thank you,” Rachel said. “For I take that as a compliment. And you, Miriam? Is all well with you and Daniel?”
    â€œOh,
ja
,” Miriam said quickly. “Everything is fine. Daniel is well.” But her voice sounded brittle, even to her own ears, and she could feel her color rise.
Just like Leah
, she thought. Blushing under Rachel’s steady gaze, though the older woman had made no comment but simply continued to regard Miriam with calm and compassionate eyes.
    â€œIt is a lot to take in, all at once,” Miriam continued somewhat haltingly. “Losing Daed, and Sarah coming home. But I am as well as can be, I suppose, and as for the rest, I am trying to be patient and humble and surrender to the will of God.”
    All of a sudden, Miriam felt a great surge of relief flow through her. It felt so good to admit these simple truths, as if just speaking of them, acknowledging them as burdens, had somehow lifted the weight of them. As she had earlier, standing beside her mother’s grave, Miriam suddenly found herself wondering what it would have been like to have had a mother, an older, more experienced woman in whom she could confide.
    Rachel must be about Mamm’s age,
she realized.
    â€œI am sorry that you are troubled,” Rachel said. “Will it help to remember that even our troubles can be gifts from God? Learning how to carry them—and that we can carry them—can be part of
how
we learn to be truly humble, don’t you find? Though of course this can be very hard. But it is a way to prove ourselves
to
ourselves, I think, even as we prove ourselves to God.”
    â€œI never thought about it quite that way,” Miriam admitted.
    â€œAh, well,” Rachel said, her tone gentle. “But then I have the advantage. After all, I am the bishop’s wife.”
    The laugh bubbled up and out of Miriam before she even knew that it was there. Surprised, it was all she could do not to clap a hand over her mouth.
    But Rachel did not seem offended. If anything, it was just the opposite. “There now,” she said. “I have reached two decisions this morning. The first is that Leah may work at the farm stand. The second is that you should laugh more often.”
    â€œI do feel better,” Miriam admitted. “Thank you, Rachel.”
    To her surprise, Rachel laid a gentle palm against Miriam’s cheek. “You are welcome. Now I think we both should head indoors. If I know John Miller, he will be home soon and wanting his dinner.”
    â€œOh, my goodness, dinner!” Miriam exclaimed. “Can you believe I’ve forgotten all about it? Though in my case, no harm done. Daniel is working with Lucas today, so he’ll eat with his family.”
    â€œWell,” Rachel said, “at least we both remembered in time. I will