“The never-ending cycle of keepin’ an orchard,” he said to Ellie, who was contemplating what she should say to him about Evan’s rightful place in the business.

After Sol left to run an errand, Ellie continued to work on the books. Then an hour or so later, Evan surprised her by coming into the office, grinning.

“How was your visit with the bishop?” she asked as he pulled one of the chairs toward him and then slowly eased himself into it.

“He was as kind as I remembered.”

Ellie swiveled her chair around to face him. “I knew he’d be glad to see ya.”

“His eyes lit up when I talked about taking baptism classes this summer.”

“I think Dat’s must’ve, too, when ya first told him.”

Evan scratched his head, suddenly serious, then sucked in his breath hard. “Bishop Mast and I talked about Sol’s attack last year—his hearing loss and all the weeks without the use of his right hand. Bishop was the one who first wrote to me about it, ya see.”

She could tell Evan’s heart had been pierced—either because of what Sol had suffered or that she hadn’t been the one to tell him about the attack. Maybe both.

“To think Sol suffered so terribly right here at home, and for doin’ the right thing . . .”

Nodding, Ellie said, “I didn’t tell ya ’cause I didn’t want to saddle ya with all that.”

“I was knee-deep in the jungle at the time,” Evan said pensively. “Maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t, but both the bishop and Jonah mentioned it later in their letters.”

Ellie shared further about what had happened that horrible day and specifically how worried she’d been about Sol’s concussion and his initial symptoms. “I realized then how much I cared for him. It was a clear turnin’ point for both of us.”

Evan’s expression was still solemn. “Has Sol’s hearing improved in that ear?”

“Not really. But he’s learned to compensate over time.”

“Like I have to,” Evan said quietly, glancing toward what was left of his arm. He sat there for a moment, like a hundred thoughts were flying through his mind.

“Not to offend ya, Evan, but would it maybe help if I trimmed off the one shirt sleeve and hemmed it? Less to get in the way?”

He looked down for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you, Ellie. It really would.” He looked longingly out the window. “You know, I think I need to get back to work in the orchard. I can’t do much, not like before, but I can do some things. Just slower.”