“Well, I ran into Jack here and there around town a couple of times before he left for boot camp. I wouldn’t call myself a friend of his, but he was a nice fella. I feel terrible for his family. And Jack spoke highly of Evan the few times I was around him.”

“I’m not surprised,” Ruthann said. “After all, Evan’s one of my best cousins.” She smiled at Ellie. “Well, next to this one, of course.”

Menno smiled, eyes focused on the road.

A few moments later, a courting carriage tried to pass them, and Menno courteously slowed the horse to allow them to get by. His thoughtful manner stuck in Ellie’s head even after Menno dropped her off and left to take Ruthann home.

Dat would be impressed with him, she mused as she headed around to the side door. But she couldn’t help wondering who Menno had actually wanted to ride with tonight. Is he interested in Ruthann? Or in me?

Indoors, she found Mamm reading their German Bible, the King James Bible open on the kitchen table next to it. Dat was around on the back section of the wraparound porch, talking with Dawdi Hezekiah, and she remembered Menno’s apparent interest in orchard work.

What would it be like seeing him every day during harvest? she wondered, smiling.

By the time Ellie came downstairs again after breakfast on Monday morning, Mamm had already rinsed their clothes and run them through the wringer. Mamm was particular about how she did things, and she liked to have time alone to pray while sorting and washing the clothes. It fell to Ellie, then, to shake out the flattened clothes and carry them outside to the clothesline. She and Mamm had done it this way ever since Lydia married and left home more than a dozen years ago.

The day was already warming up with an occasional breeze, ideal for drying. Ellie squinted into the sky, cupping her hands over her eyes. “Leah’s comin’ over tomorrow after breakfast,” she told Mamm.

“To help with your chores?” Mamm reached into the clothespin bag hanging off the line.

Ellie glanced at her, certain if Leah’s news had made its way to her mother through the grapevine, she wouldn’t have asked. “Nee, just to visit a short while,” she said, turning her head toward the carriage shed. She wondered when Evan had come in last night, because earlier she’d noticed dark circles under his eyes. Despite that, he seemed to be in a better mood at breakfast. Helpful, too, offering to carry several boxes of canning jars to the cellar for Mamm.

“Don’t even think ’bout pickin’ them up, Mamm,” he’d said, humorously flexing his muscles. “That’s my job.”