A Merry Heart by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page B

simply because he seemed easy to talk to, or was it because Nick was an outsider and she knew there was no threat of a possible commitment?
    Miriam’s thoughts were interrupted when a deep voice called her name. She looked over her shoulder and saw Amos heading toward the stream with a plate of food in his hand.
I
    “I thought you might like something to eat,” Amos said when he reached the spot where she sat near the stream.
    She held up her half-eaten plate of food. “I haven’t finished this.”
    Feeling more than a little self-conscious, Amos took a seat on the grass beside her. “I already had one helping, but I suppose I could eat another. All this tasty food sure does whet the appetite. I’m not the best cook, so I don’t enjoy my own meals so much.”
    “Where’s Mary Ellen?” Miriam asked, making no reference to his cooking. Was he hinting that he needed a wife to cook for him—maybe her, in fact?
    “My daughter is playing little mudder to your twin nephews,” Amos answered. “Since she’s well occupied, I decided to sneak away and check up on you.”
    “What makes you think I need checking up on?” Miriam’s tone was harsh.
    “I. . .uh. . .know what it’s like to lose someone closeto you, and I thought—well, I might have some words of comfort to offer.” Hesitantly, he touched Miriam’s shoulder, wishing he didn’t feel so tongue-tied whenever he was with her. “I—I’m sorry about your daed. He will be missed by everyone in our community, but I’m sure he will be missed by his family even more. Henry was a good man.”
    Miriam stood, brushing away the pieces of grass that clung to her dress. “I should be getting back to the house. Mom may need me for something.” She offered him a quick nod. “Danki for your kindness, but I’m going to be fine. Life is full of hardships and pain, but each of us has the power within to rise above our troubles and take control.”
    “The power within is God,” he reminded.
    “It’s up to me to help my family get through this time of loss.”
    “That’s fine, but—but what about you? Who will help you in the days ahead?”
    “I’ll help myself.” Miriam pivoted on her heels and darted away.
    “When you need me, I will come,” Amos whispered.
I
    As Nick left the dentist’s office, where he’d gone for a checkup, he spotted a young Amish woman across the street. From this vantage point, she looked a lot like Miriam Stoltzfus.
    The woman had just reached the crosswalk when she dropped her sack, tripped over a small red ball that had rolled out, and landed hard on the concrete.
    Nick hurried across the street, barely taking the time to look for oncoming cars, and rushed to her side. “Miriam? Are you okay?”
    The woman looked up at him, and her cheeks turned pink. “I–I’m not hurt, just skinned my knees a bit. And my name’s not Miriam.”
    Nick was glad the woman hadn’t been seriously injured, but he felt a keen sense of disappointment that she wasn’t Miriam. He helped her to her feet and then bent down to retrieve the ball and a couple of books that had bounced onto the sidewalk when the sack slipped from her arms.
    “I appreciate your help,” she said, smoothing her dress and righting the small white cap perched on her head.
    Nick handed her the paper sack with the items back inside. “I’m Nick McCormick, and I make it my duty to rescue fair ladies in distress,” he said with a smile.
    “It’s nice to meet you. My name’s Katie Yoder.”
    “Do you live around here?” Since the woman was willing to talk to him, Nick thought she might be agreeable enough to answer a few questions—in case he was ever asked to do another story on the Amish.
    She shook her head. “I live in Mifflin County, north of here.”
    “Guess you must have hired a driver to bring you to Lancaster, huh?”
    She nodded. “My brother lives not far from here, and since today’s his son’s birthday, I wanted to buy something to give the boy