By now Ellie was trying not to smile, and slowly but surely, Sammy caught on. Then with a sad face, he looked up at Evan and said, “I’m sorry ’bout what happened to ya, Onkel. . . .”

Evan leaned next to him, then reached around with his right hand and tousled his nephew’s light brown hair. “Remember, Sammy, life has its ups and downs. Ain’t always gonna be easy.”

Sammy nodded like he was thinking about something else. “Was wonderin’ . . . did ya ever fall off the swingin’ rope in the haymow when you were little?”

“Nope. Did you?”

Sammy nodded again. “Jah, but I climbed right back up the ladder and got on again.”

“Now you’re talkin’,” Evan said, bobbing his head. “Never give up. Ever.”

“You sound like Dawdi Hezekiah,” Sammy replied.

“Say now, I do, don’t I?” Evan glanced at Ellie. “Don’t I?” he said again, teasing her.

“I s’pect we all have a ways to go before we’re as wise as Dawdi,” Ellie replied, happy that Sammy and the younger generation were taking notice.

All during the rest of the meal, Sammy sat taller beside his courageous uncle.

When Ellie and her brother found themselves alone while everyone else was getting dessert, Evan said he’d talked with the local vet. “Lo and behold, he needs a part-time assistant. Doesn’t even mind that I have some limitations.”

Ellie was delighted. “Guess I had a gut idea.”

“Sure did! I start workin’ this coming Monday. And just so ya know, nothin’ can pry me away from working in the family orchard, too.” Evan chuckled.

Ellie remembered sneaking out of the house with him, in their nightclothes, scampering up and down the orchard rows in the moonlight. It seemed so long ago now, but she was encouraged to hear that Evan still thought so fondly of the place where she’d always felt God’s presence.

“You’re beamin’ today,” Ellie said softly, not wanting to be heard by the others.

“I made peace with my Maker in Vietnam,” Evan said. “And with myself here lately. Ya know, I sometimes wonder if I had to lose my arm to gain back my soul.”

Swallowing hard, she looked at him across the long folding table. “What a thing to say, Bruder.”

“I’m okay with it.” Evan gazed around them for the longest time, taking in Mamm’s vegetable garden, the cider shed, and the orchard beyond. “What a wunnerbaar-gut day to be alive!”

She nodded in agreement.

Evan headed over to talk with Jonah and his family, then slowly made his way to each table, visiting with every loved one present.

Ready for dessert, Ellie strolled to the serving table, smiling and rejoicing all the way. God answered our hearts’ cry.

Epilogue