Evan nodded. “Just comin’ back from a drive with Chuck after church.” He took another sip, working the tumbler in his hands, smoothing the condensation away with his fingers.

“Ach, son . . . ya didn’t.”

Frowning, Evan repeated that he had.

“Wanna talk about it?” Lyle wished he were as wise as Daed in dealing with something like this. He recalled what his father had said about praying more than talking.

“Chuck’s still tryin’ to get me to apply to be a CO,” Evan told him. “Asks why should I fight in an unjust war and get myself killed like Jack did.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Lyle thought, hoping perhaps Evan would listen to Chuck since he didn’t seem to be listening to his own family.

Evan continued. “Chuck doesn’t understand. I was Jack’s loyal friend,” he said, his voice breaking. “He said so in his last letter. The one I got after he died.”

So Jack and Evan did exchange letters somehow.

Lyle couldn’t make sense of any of this. “What does that have to do with your decision, son?”

“I want to honor Jack and do my part for this country. Ain’t right to leave it up to others to fight for the freedoms we enjoy. Jack himself mentioned this in one of his letters to me.”

Baffled, Lyle asked, “So for that you’re willin’ to go against everything right and gut you’ve been taught?” He stopped to breathe and tried to calm himself. “Have ya even thought of talkin’ to the bishop ’bout this?”

“We’ve already discussed this, Dat. How can I qualify for a religious exemption when I’m not baptized, and not even takin’ classes? It’s the chance I took when I registered for the draft.”

“But won’t ya at least try? See if Bishop will allow ya to get caught up with the baptismal instruction. Maybe Ellie can help ya, too.”

“Dat . . .” Evan paused as if trying to formulate his words, and for the first time, he met his father’s eyes. “I’m not even sure I want to be Plain anymore.”

Lyle’s stomach clenched. So that’s where this has been leading.

Evan stared out the window. “I’m not ready, Dat. I may never be ready.”

Lyle could not comprehend this, not coming from one of his own children. Evan would rather go to war than be baptized? It made no sense. “Well, Plain’s how ya were raised. Doesn’t that count for something?” Lyle said, grasping for more to say, another means for his son to escape what he seemed to already accept as inevitable.

He shuffled his feet under the table, feeling desperate. Truth be told, he wanted to demand that Evan start behaving like an Amishman and honor God, above all else. Yet he feared that would have his son walking out the door right now.