Just then Ellie spotted Sol and his younger brother, Aaron, coming toward them. Maybe when Sol took her home, he would take Ruthann home, too. Ellie could almost feel the pent-up hope in her cousin. But before Sol reached them, Menno wandered over and paused at the table like he was deciding which type of cookie to eat on the way out.

Then he glanced in Ellie and Ruthann’s direction. “Might yous need a ride home?”

Ruthann looked at Ellie expectantly. Does she realize I like Menno?

Then Sol waved at Ellie like he was telling her to go, so she said, “Jah. Denki,” and then followed Menno out the haymow door, Ruthann behind her.

This’ll work fine, she thought, thrilled Menno had volunteered. Ruthann will just have to find a way to spend more time with Sol on her own.

“Nice of ya to offer,” Ruthann said, making small talk.

“We really appreciate it,” Ellie added, wanting to express her gratitude, too, but trying not to show her excitement.

“Glad to help,” Menno said. He hurried around to the right side of the open buggy and stepped in, his long legs scarcely fitting beneath the dashboard.

Ellie sat next to Menno, and Ruthann got in next, a tight squeeze in the two-seater courting carriage.

During the ride, Menno surprisingly asked Ellie whether the orchard hired any seasonal workers.

“Well, since we’re not a pick-your-own kind of orchard, we do have part-time and seasonal workers. You’d have to talk to my brother Jonah or Dat ’bout that.”

“I know my cousin Sol works there durin’ the apple and peach harvests,” Menno said with a glance at Ellie.

“Jah, Solomon’s worked quite a few years now for us.” She didn’t know what more to tell him, since it wasn’t her responsibility to take job applications. But she did think that as quiet and kind as Menno was, he’d likely be a diligent worker.

“I could use a part-time job around that time,” Menno said. “Besides, I’m curious ’bout orchard work and what it involves.”

Ellie’s ears perked up. “Ya can’t go wrong workin’ in the best place on earth,” she declared.

“Can ya tell she’s partial to her orchard?” Ruthann said, laughing a little.

“My orchard?” Ellie smiled. Don’t I wish.

Menno smiled but didn’t comment.

Ellie could hear crickets in the grass along the roadside and an owl hooting in a tree as they passed.

Ruthann spoke up again. “Say, Menno, did ya happen to know Jack Herr?”

Ellie was surprised her cousin would bring up Jack—and out of the blue, too. But maybe after what Sol told her about Chuck, she was just curious.