Whenever the boys and their families came over for picnics or ice cream, Dat went out of his way to include Sol. And when little Alma brought her first nine-patch square to show Ellie, Sol made over it, too. In fact, Alma slid up on his knee and told him she wanted him to be her “Onkel Sol someday,” which delighted Ellie no end but made Lydia’s eyes pop with embarrassment.

There was no getting around that this was a very different kind of courtship than any Ellie had ever heard of, since most courting couples kept their relationships fairly private, even from family, until after their wedding dates were published following church in late October. Even so, she was thankful that her parents and siblings and their families enjoyed Sol’s company so.

One Sunday evening, as Sol and Ellie stood near the porch steps quite reluctant to part ways for the night, Sol mentioned that, early on, he’d worried that he was somehow taking Evan’s place in Ellie’s heart. “Not that I ever could. I just didn’t want to be a brother figure, ya know.”

Ellie shook her head. “Never once did I think of ya that way,” she said, assuring him.

Humorously, Sol wiped his brow. “Whew, that’s a relief.” They laughed together at his joshing, and then he took her into his arms for the first time.

Weary at day’s end, Lyle removed his soiled work socks and placed them in the hamper near the closet. He wandered over to sit in his chair near the small table where the lantern glowed a perfect ring of light. He’d made the mistake of going into the back of the carriage shed before coming into the house, spotting the black courting carriage he’d purchased for Evan on his sixteenth birthday. It just sits there, he thought, recalling one of Evan’s letters to Elisabeth where he’d admitted to often thinking about his Amish life there in Bird-in-Hand.

Lyle sighed.

Across from him in her pale pink robe, Elisabeth was reading A Devoted Christian’s Prayer Book. He recalled a lot of interest in and a big push for this project among the Old Order Amish community when it was first published. One of his Indiana cousins was still involved with the publishing company, Pathway Publishers.

Lyle picked up the newspaper, which he hadn’t read yet today. The number of reported war casualties set him back. The articles were bad enough, but oh, the horrific images. He’d considered canceling his subscription.

To think our Evan’s over there . . .

He recalled what Ellie had told them back in early June. She’d said Evan had written he was “safe for today.” Evan must be terrified, Lyle thought, still feeling concern, even dread, as well as bewilderment that a child of his would choose this life.