BooksBarbecue
Back The Orchard
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. Half Title Page
  3. Books by Beverly Lewis
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. Epigraph
  8. Prologue
  9. 1
  10. 2
  11. 3
  12. 4
  13. 5
  14. 6
  15. 7
  16. 8
  17. 9
  18. 10
  19. 11
  20. 12
  21. 13
  22. 14
  23. 15
  24. 16
  25. 17
  26. 18
  27. 19
  28. 20
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. Epilogue
  53. Author’s Note
  54. About the Author
  55. Back Ads
  56. Cover Flaps
  57. Back Cover

He nodded. “Resting and learnin’ to adjust a little more each day.” He smiled again. “Between you and now my Mamm, I’ve been well taken care of.”

“Have ya had more visitors lately?” Ellie asked, never guessing that she’d be talking with Sol alone like this when she’d said yes to Mamm.

“Die Youngie came over again Sunday afternoon to sing for me. Menno and Ruthann were with them.” He paused a moment. “It was interesting to see them together, but I’m mighty happy for them.”

“I saw them at market recently. They were laughin’ and talkin’ like they were the only two people in the world.”

Sol stopped for a moment to look out at the sky like he was thinking hard. At last, he said, “Honestly, I’d often wondered if they might end up together.”

“I was a little surprised at first. But the clues were there, jah?”

Sol nodded. “Things just weren’t clickin’ with her and me. I guess it was complicated because the four of us were such great friends—all the double-dating we did.” He leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh.

“We did all enjoy one another’s company,” she said, relieved they could talk freely about it.

“Ach,” Sol said softly, catching her eye. “Though truth be told, Ellie, it’s always been your company I prefer.”

Surprised but delighted, Ellie’s heart took wing. A few moments of silence passed before she found her voice. “We’ve been friends for a gut long time now.”

“The best of friends,” Sol said, almost in a whisper. He took a breath, as if fortifying himself with courage. “But I’d be mighty hesitant to ask ya to court, if I knew I wouldn’t get any better.”

Her heart beat more quickly at that. “Honestly, the Sol Bontrager I knew before the attack is the same Sol sitting right here. There’s no difference to me.”

“That’s kind of you.” He smiled again, then looked more somber. “Even so, I’d never want ya stuck with someone who might be a burden. Wouldn’t be fair.”

She had been concerned that he might think that. “Do ya remember what I said the night you dictated your letter to Leah?”

He nodded thoughtfully. “I haven’t forgotten,” he said, his eyes searching hers. “And you’re right. Abselutt.”

She breathed deeply, content in this peaceful yet wonderful moment, knowing that Sol cared and wanted to regain his health for her. And as if to seal their words, they sat silently and watched the teams of horses and buggies clip-clop past, not caring who saw them together.

———