Later, when the cookies had cooled, Ruthann insisted on their taking her father’s carriage to deliver the cookies to two women—one who’d broken her right wrist and the other grieving her close friend’s recent passing. Between houses, Ruthann looked over at Ellie and said, “I think you should know somethin’.”

Will this be gut news? Ellie wasn’t sure she could take more sadness.

“After Menno dropped you off Sunday night, he asked if you were seein’ anyone.”

Ellie’s ears perked up. “You wouldn’t fib to me, would ya?”

“Never.” She nudged Ellie with her elbow. “It seemed very clear why he was askin’.”

Ellie was grinning now. “I’m glad ya told me.”

“I knew you’d be happy.”

“Why’d ya wait this long to say somethin’?” she asked, eager to write to Leah about this.

“Guess I wanted to spread out the joy.”

Ellie laughed. “For mercy’s sake!”

“Hey, wouldn’t it be nice if Sol and I could double-date with you and Menno sometime?” Ruthann asked.

“Sure would.” Ellie tried not to get her hopes up, though. Menno, after all, was the most attractive fella around Bird-in-Hand. Shy as he was, he still must know lots of girls who would like to date him.

“Of course, Sol would have to ask ya out, too, jah?” Ellie said, teasing her cousin again.

During the next week and a half, Ellie worked in the orchard alongside Evan whenever she had a spare moment. She didn’t mind carrying a shovel to tamp down the soil around the newly planted trees or using a sickle to cut grass near the trunks of trees before the fruit store opened in the morning. Dat had insisted she didn’t have to help with “men’s work” after her indoor chores with Mamm were finished, but Ellie merely smiled. Dat should know by now I’d rather be here than anywhere else.

On May twenty-third, the Saturday before the next Singing, Sol stopped to talk to Ellie near the easternmost border of the orchard near Leacock Road. She was assessing the shape of several larger trees, trying to decide which ones might require further pruning.

“I don’t want to jump ahead of Menno if he hasn’t asked ya yet, but . . .”

“Asked me what?”

A sheepish expression crept onto Sol’s face. “Well, about doubling up with Ruthann and me after Singing tomorrow night.”

“If he’d like to, that’s fine.” Ellie tried to keep her tone casual despite her excitement for both her and her cousin.

“Gut. I already asked Ruthann, and we’re both lookin’ forward to it.”

Ellie smiled. She couldn’t believe it, and she was sure her cousin was as happy as she was. At last!