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Miriam drove her enclosed buggy home through the deep, blowing snow. The wiper blades whipped across the window she hoped the battery kept operating as it also powered the front and the back lighting systems. She and her Mammi purchased the buggy for the healing and birthing business a few years back, and it still looked like a new carriage.
The closer to home she got, the more her eyes wanted to drift shut. She had been busy this week with two births, and tonight she’d been over to Elmer Eckhardt’s place. His wife Lucy fell down the cement basement stairs and severely wrenched her back. She was not a young woman, more middle-aged and Miriam knew an injury could have lifelong effects.
Elmer had called her from the neighbor's phone shanty as they were getting ready for supper. Levi had not been happy with her, but realizing the Eckhardt’s place was so close, he relaxed about her traveling there and knowing this was not a birth helped.
Miriam had completed a hands-on energy healing, and when she left the couples home, the woman felt much better.
Being the powwow healer in their district was difficult. Some people lived by her healings and folk remedies, but others? Nee, they were uncomfortable and her worst enemy Rebecca Zohn, had called her a witch once when she was talking to a group of younger women after a singing. Mammi told her the girl was jealous, and she had to ignore the negative comments.
Miriam sighed when she saw the lights of her home through the blowing snow. Guiding the horse into the turn on the path leading to the house, fatigue swamped her.
She drove past the house and toward the barn. Levi was waiting. He opened the barn door for her to drive in. All was well with her life.
Miriam sat on the single seat that went from one side to the other of the buggy, too tired to move. Something had to give in her life. Between working at the store daily and the midwifery and healings, she couldn’t keep up. Never in her life had she been this tired.
Suddenly, the buggy door opened, and Levi reached in and helped her out. Sweeping her into his arms, he cradled her in his warmth and filled her with love.
“I’m glad you are back so soon. How is Mrs. Eckhardt?”
Miriam turned in his arms and stepped toward the buggy to retrieve her medical supply bag. She needed to refill a few herbs she used during the healing. “The woman will be alright. Probably a bit sore, but nothing was broken, and she had no lacerations. These longer dresses and heavy socks are protection at times.”
Levi laughed at her observance. He was walking the horse to a stall. “Go in and have your supper while I brush down Buster. You must be starving.”
“Nee, I think I’m too tired to feel hunger.”
“At least try to eat, it is not healthy to go so long between meals.” Levi offered.
Miriam opened the barn door wide enough to slip through and turned, saying, “I’ll try to eat something for you. I’ll see you at the house.”
***
The next morning at eight a.m. Miriam turned the stores closed sign to the open side. The store would be quiet for a couple hours, and it gave her time to deal with the previous days' receipts and to straighten the displays.
She trudged around, sighing each time she found items in the wrong place. The customers picked things up, then when they found something they liked, even more, they dropped what was in their hands and replaced it with the new item.
The smell of the kaffe brewing made her stomach lurch. She knew she had been too tired to eat much last night, but Levi had come in the house and had sat with her while he encouraged her to eat the last bit of rice pudding. It was just too heavy for her, and now she was paying for it.
She and her husband had talked about her quitting the store. She felt sure Levi thought she would never do it. She wondered if she could leave. It was more than a job to her.
“Gute mariye.” Her sister, Ruby, breezed into the room and removed her coat and scarf, placing them on the pegs by the door. “Goodness, Miriam, you look unwell.”
“Tired is all. I have had a lot going on the past few days. Two births and one healing.”
Ruby pulled out a chair, and the two women sat behind the wall which separated the store from the business area. “You know you can count on me to help out when you need to go. Or you can stay home and rest if you have a night away.”
Reaching out, Miriam took Ruby’s hand. Ruby was so kind to her. It broke her heart to continue on in this vein of conversation, but she just had to. “I know, but I’ve always been reluctant. You are busy with the farm stay and making sure Matthew and Hannah have a firm grasp of running the business.”
Ruby shook her head. “Nee, not anymore. They are doing fine. If only Hannah could learn to bake. It will take time. Until then, they will have to rely on the bakery in town. That is if old mister Hamlin can continue. I’ve heard talk he wants to sell the bakery.”
“He must be getting up in age, goodness, we used to go there to get a free cookie when we were young. We couldn’t have been any older than eight or nine.”
“Yes, feels like yesterday. I will say Carly loves to bake and is constantly filling the pantry with goodies for the guests and bread every day. Hannah would sorely miss our friend.”
Miriam agreed, “I love her muffins, they are a meal in themselves, and I can’t wait to see what her flavor is today.”
“The house smelled marvelous this morning, all the sweet baking aroma flows right over to the dawdi haus.” Ruby couldn’t help but laugh over their enjoyment of Carly’s creations.
“So what are you doing with your time, Ruby?”
“Not much. I’m bored to tears sitting in the dawdi haus watching it snow.”
Miriam stood and stepped into the doorway to see if customers were coming up the road. No one. Maybe this was the time to talk to her sister about her thoughts.
“Ruby? Um...I need to, well...”
Ruby’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her. “What is it sister, you appear afraid to talk to me. What is wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.” Miriam was having a hard time with this decision. She looked down at the floor and could not cast Ruby a glance. “I want to quit working here at the store. I have so much to do with the birthing boppli and trying to keep up the house. Levi needs more of my time. And his brother, wife and two boppli are living with us until the men can get the old farmhouse into shape for them to move over there. I feel as if I’m losing control of everything, including my mind!”
Ruby stood and took Miriam into her arms. “There, there, sister. I understand. Here, sit down with me and we will talk about this.”
Tears rolled down Miriam’s cheeks, and she pulled a snow white hankie from her apron pocket and dabbed at the moisture. “I did not know how to tell you this. I feel so bad for saying it.” Another round of tears fell from her eyes.
“Nonsense, I have nothing better to do with my time, and I would enjoy taking on the store. We have always worked closely on it, so I do not need training,” Ruby laughed, which caused Miriam to smile with her.
“So when do you want to begin this change? I’m so worn out I could walk out of here today and dump it all in your lap.”
“So go home. Do not worry your sweet soul about me, sister. I truly will enjoy having something to do with my time. “
Miriam began gathering her things just as Levi opened the store door and the bells rang, a notification Miriam used to notify her she had a customer. “Levi, what are you doing here at this time of day?”
He wiped his snow-covered boots on the rug by the door then walked through the store, heading for his wife. “I’m going into town and visit the livestock sales barn.” Pouring himself a cup of kaffe. Levi blew on the hot liquid before taking a small sip. “I’m buying a new stud standard-breed. I’m hoping he will solve our problems.”
“I can see where this is heading, Levi.” Miriam stood in front of him, wringing her hands. “Please do not do this.”
Miriam watched Levi’s frown. He did not like her to interfere. He told her about the missing horses a few weeks ago.
“It is the only way. Asher thinks...”
“Asher?” The name came out louder and sharper than she intended. She was surprised he had even contacted Asher, the chief of police in the area. Levi told her the bishop wanted it handled by their community. He could be stern in his words, but she knew it was just his concern showing. He had a deep-seated love for his community. This was one of the things which drew her to him, and she loved him so. “Why did you bring the police into it when you were told by the bishop to let the community handle it?”
“This is bigger and more dangerous than we can handle, Miriam. I took Asher into my confidence. He will let us handle it, but we can contact him if something goes wrong.”
“He would do that?”
“He said he will, and I trust him, He’s Amish. He understands us.
“Oh, on another subject, I did as you asked.” He pulled a cell phone from his pocket. Miriam smiled and hugged him tightly.
“I am glad you approve. Asher is a good man. He will keep your news under his hat if he said he will,” Ruby said.
“Okay, enough of this horse talk. I hear about the horses’ day and night. Should I tell him, Ruby?” Miriam finished putting Levi’s phone number in her phone and hers in his then turned toward her sister.
Ruby laughed. “You might as well, he will find out about it soon enough.”
Levi rushed toward her, grasped her waist and twirled her around, causing her dress to spin around her in the air. “You’re finally going to tell me about our own boppli? Wonderful. I am so excited to be a father!”
Miriam righted herself and stood in silence, staring at him. “What are you talking about, Levi?” Why did he think her news had to do with a boppli? Surely, he did not know she was with child. She would know such a thing, after all, she was a midwife. Then thoughts of nausea, fatigue, and fainting struck her. Nee. She could not be, could she?
She just stood in the middle of the room with both Levi and Ruby staring at her. Suddenly, they all began laughing. “I-I think I might be. With my heavy workload the past few weeks, I thought I was overworked.”
“You have been, Miriam. Why not tell Levi what we really talked about earlier?”
Levi gave Miriam a one-armed hug and said, “Since I let the cat out of the bag about the boppli, maybe you better tell me what is really going on.”
“Go ahead, sister tell him our plans.”
Taking a deep breath, Miriam began, “I am quitting working here at the store. I have so much more to do with the midwifery, and now Wayne, Anna, and the children. I want to be home to support you emotionally, and if you have chores for me, like driving to town to pick up supplies, you may need.”
Levi’s eyes grew wide in surprise. “That...that is wonderful. I’m just surprised you really are doing this. With the boppli coming, it is perfect timing. Apparently, you agree, Ruby.”
“Oh, yes! I have been so bored with nothing to do around the farm stay now Matthew and Hannah have taken over. This will be perfect for me.”
Levi smiled at Ruby then at Miriam. “I suppose this is all working out for everyone.”
“It is, and now my husband,” Miriam gave Levi a playful grin which made her eyes sparkle. “told me, a trained midwife, that I am with child, I need to be home even more. I have baby clothes to make.”
“Or you could buy some from your sister.” Levi picked up a blue one-piece covering and ran his fingers over the soft material.
“Miriam, run along home,” Ruby said, “It’s starting to snow harder, and the wind has picked up.
“I rode my horse, so I cannot take you home, but I will make the horse purchase quickly.”
Miriam slipped into her wool coat, tied on her black hat over her Kapp, then wrapped the long wool scarf around her neck. “I will be on my way then.”
Levi opened the door for her, once again setting off the bells.
“Be safe, both of you,” Ruby called out to them as they left the store.