The room was still as he located his next bookmark. “Verse seven in Proverbs chapter four focuses on wisdom, which each of us needs every single day,” Lyle said, again primarily for Evan’s benefit. “‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.’”

Praying that his son was still listening, Lyle went on to read the last verse he’d chosen. “Our final verse to consider is found in First Peter, chapter five, verse five. ‘Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another.’”

His wife fidgeted next to him on the settee. Doubtless Elisabeth was thinking he’d read enough verses tonight for one young man to ponder. “Let’s kneel in reverence and thankfulness,” Lyle said, trusting the Lord would add His blessing, if not conviction, to the readings.

O Lord, in Thy great kindness and mercy, draw our son Evan into the fold, he prayed silently.

After their prayer time, Lyle wandered out to the kitchen for some coffee. Evan walked past him with Ellie following close behind, and the two headed into the kitchen hallway leading to the side door.

What’re they up to? Lyle thought, wondering if he should be worried.

3

Sure seemed like Dat was preachin’ at me tonight,” Evan said over his shoulder as Ellie stepped down the porch steps behind him. Then he headed toward the carriage shed.

“Well, he has read all those verses to us before,” she replied, glad she’d followed her brother out of the house as she caught up to him.

“Not one after the other, though.”

He’s right.

“Dat had a lot of things to say to me Saturday evening, too,” Evan said, removing the straw hat he’d snatched off its hook before they left.

“I wondered who he was talkin’ to.”

“So ya heard, then?”

“Only from across the barn. Whatever Dat was sayin’, he sounded intent on makin’ his point.”

Evan sighed as they walked out toward the far south end of the meadow, where he stopped and stared at the sky. It was nearly sunset now, and crickets were already chirping in the underbrush near a grove of trees.

“I know you’re upset, Evan. You’re goin’ through a lot right now. But you can talk to me, like always.”

Evan seemed to contemplate that, then said, “Dat told me to end my friendships with outsiders.”

“Are ya takin’ things further than ya should during Rumschpringe, maybe?”

Evan hesitated a moment before answering. “Well, Dat wants me to hurry an’ get baptized, then settle down with a nice Amish girl.”

“Don’t ya plan to eventually?” Suddenly Ellie remembered what Evan had said about Cheryl Herr, and a shiver ran through her. “What’s so bad ’bout that?”

Evan started walking again. “Think how you’d feel if Dat told ya which of your friends were okay and which weren’t.”