They talked a bit longer, and then Lyle and Ellie excused themselves to head home.

“Kumme anytime,” Nan said warmly. “Sol enjoys seein’ his favorite neighbors.”

“Say hullo to Benjamin when he comes in from the barn,” Lyle told her.

“I’ll do that.” Nan smiled broadly, as she often did. “Greet Elisabeth for me.”

“I certainly will,” Lyle replied, then said good-bye to Sol, waving along with it so he’d understand more readily.

“Denki for comin’,” Sol said, suddenly sounding glum.

“Bye, Sol,” said Ellie, but he didn’t respond.

As they headed out to the waiting horse and buggy, Lyle couldn’t help but feel sorry for Sol—and for Ellie, who hadn’t had much chance to visit with him. At least she’d seen for herself that Sol was slightly better, though quite hard of hearing in his left ear.

She definitely cheered him up, Lyle thought, wondering if his daughter had noticed Sol’s reaction to seeing her.

It was hard to think of much else but Sol as Ellie rode home with Dat. Thoughts of him hadn’t quieted down much this whole past week, and now they were right back in the forefront of her mind. She’d have to be blind to have missed his big smile when she and Dat walked up the porch steps.

Does he light up like that for everyone?

Mamm was preparing a skillet dinner for the noon meal when Ellie walked into the kitchen for a cold drink of water. Small piles of chopped sausage, onions, and green peppers sat on the large cutting board, waiting for macaroni to boil. “I should’ve stayed home to help,” Ellie said, feeling quite ferhoodled.

“Well, your father wanted ya along.”

Ellie was curious why.

“So how’s Sol?”

“Not back to normal yet. He said he’s still not sleepin’ much.”

“With the injuries he suffered, that can go on for weeks, even years,” Mamm said, lifting the lid on the big pot of macaroni. The steam rose instantly. She stepped back a moment, then began to stir.

“I wish something could be done for Sol—his deaf ear, ’specially,” Ellie said. “He seemed to have an extra hard time hearing us today. Guess we’ll need to sit on his right side when we visit next.”

“Gut thinkin’.”

“Seems like a real trial for him.”

Ellie asked if there was anything she could do in the kitchen, but Mamm shook her head. So Ellie slipped outdoors, where she found Dat sitting on the back porch. Sitting in the rocker next to him, Ellie asked, “Do ya think Sol will fully recover, Dat?”

“We both know that’s in God’s hands.”

“What’re the chances he might not?”