From what she thought was a safe distance, Ellie could hear Dat’s voice rising and falling, like he was making a strong point. She cringed at the thought of Evan getting a talking-to, although he’d certainly known better than to go to Jack’s burial. It was impossible to make out Dat’s words, though, and Ellie didn’t want to eavesdrop, so when she’d finished her chore, she slipped out the door and headed toward the house.

On the way, she prayed silently, trusting that if Dat’s conversation had indeed been with Evan, he might help steer him back on the straight and narrow. Surely Evan will tell me ’bout it later, she thought, almost sensing her brother’s distress as she hurried into the house and up the long staircase beyond the kitchen door.

She was thankful the stairs had been constructed at this far end of the house, making it easy for her to slip out to enjoy a breeze on hot summer nights or during a rainstorm—or to stare at the stars and think. Sometimes she talked to God out there, not just limiting herself to the usual rote prayers but silently sharing her private hopes, even though the ministers preached that He already knew them.

When Ellie turned twelve, Mamm had suggested she move from her second-floor bedroom to her sister Lydia’s old room on the third floor. Seventeen years older than Ellie, Lydia had married Titus and moved out some years earlier. Jonah had the third-floor room till he married, too, leaving Rudy a room of his own on the second floor, where he stayed till he married and left as well. Ellie’s old room, down the hall from Evan’s, became Mamm’s sewing room.

Ellie had felt honored to be allowed to take the large bedroom on the top floor, nearly as large as Mamm and Dat’s own.

The space was rather warm during the months of July and August, but she wouldn’t have traded anyone back for her old room. From her two dormer windows, she could view the orchard she loved. And from the north-facing window, she could also see the Bontragers’ farmhouse in the distance, where the lantern’s yellow glow in Leah’s bedroom was snuffed out each night at nine o’clock sharp except on Saturday date nights.

Leah must be excited ’bout seeing Josh Lantz again tonight, Ellie mused, knowing they were seriously courting. Ellie wondered when her someone special might ask her out riding. Unfortunately, she was fairly certain that particular fellow didn’t even know how much she liked him.

After pinning the washing to the clothesline with Mamm early Monday morning, Ellie carried the food waste out to the compost pile. She spotted Rudy tilling up the large kitchen garden plot for Mamm and looked forward to helping plant all the usual vegetables when it was time.