“I know, but we’ll write to each other, jah?” Leah looked more cheerful now, but Ellie knew her well enough to suspect she was only trying to make this easier on her.

Don’t be so selfish, Ellie scolded herself, thinking of the plight of the young woman and her children. But she couldn’t pretend it would be easy with Leah so far away, and it would be hard to think of her living with an Englischer, considering the attachment Evan had obviously developed with a non-Amish family.

“You’ll always be my dearest friend,” Leah said, attempting to reassure her.

Yet Ellie wondered how that would be possible now. “We were gonna be baptized together this fall, remember?”

“Believe me, I thought of that. Guess I’ll be continuing with Rumschpringe for a while yet.”

Like Evan. “Did ya forget our childhood dreams for a double wedding?” she whispered.

“We still might have that. Who knows?”

But how? Ellie sighed.

Ellie really needed a drink of water, but she didn’t want to go over to the refreshment table. So instead, she walked to the barn door and slid it open. Leah followed her out and down the long slope toward the well pump in the backyard.

“I tried to think when would be best to tell ya,” Leah was saying as she hurried to keep up with Ellie. “I guess I should’ve waited till after Singing, but I figured you’d go ridin’ with one of the fellas, and then there’d be no time to talk much before I leave.”

Ellie realized Leah must have already been thinking this through during the Ascension Day barbecue. And she cared too much to cause her friend more distress. “How soon must ya go?” she asked, pumping the handle hard. When the water came, she cupped her hands and drank.

“Day after tomorrow.”

“Tuesday? Ach, so soon? When will ya return home?”

Leah’s lip quivered. “Not sure. Could be months. But it’s a gut opportunity to bring in some extra money for the family.”

Ellie lightly shook her hands in the air to dry them. “I wish things could stay the same.”

“You always say that, Ellie.” Leah touched her arm. “You hate change.”

She’s right, she thought, still trying to make sense of all this as she wrapped her arms around herself. “S’pose you’ve already talked to Bishop Mast ’bout not continuing on with baptism classes.”

“Not yet, but I will. And please keep this a secret—at least for now.”

The parent sponsors were coming across the yard toward the barn, and Leah waved at them. “Denki for hostin’ Singing tonight,” she had the manners to say.

Ellie waved, too, not wanting to seem aloof or ungrateful. But she felt sick at the thought of losing Leah. This wasn’t supposed to happen!