“As long as Evan has breath, there’s still time.”

“Guess I want to hurry him up.”

“You’d like to fix him, ain’t so?”

She had to smile. “You know me, jah?”

“Well now, I believe I do.” Dawdi sat back and folded his arms, grinning at her. “You’re a peach of a girl with a tender heart toward your twin. It’s always been thataway. But the best thing ya can do for your Bruder now is to pray for him . . . and let him know ya care.”

They each drank another glass of root beer, and later she said good-bye and walked back to the main house, somewhat encouraged. Dawdi always seemed to understand whatever she was going through.

11

After her chores Tuesday morning, Ellie headed across the yard to the family fruit store, then down to the cold cellar to get a crate of ripened Sentry peaches. She and Mamm planned to bake more pies for Rudy to sell at market tomorrow.

As she was returning to the house, Ellie overheard Dawdi talking to Evan over near the woodshed about the importance of “following God’s way of peace, come what may.” Ellie held her breath and even paused to hear if Evan might respond, but she heard nothing.

Will Evan heed Dawdi’s wisdom? she wondered as she went around to the side door of the house, past the long rope to the dinner bell high above.

“Have ya found some ready for pie making?” Mamm asked when Ellie appeared in the kitchen.

“Ain’t many left. Customers are buyin’ them up quick-like.”

“We’re always thankful for that.”

Ellie peeled the peaches while Mamm rolled out the pie dough.

“I s’pose you’re still prayin’ for Evan,” Mamm said quietly.

“Dawdi said God won’t give up on Evan, so we shouldn’t either.”

Ellie glanced at her Mamm, who was silent for a moment. Then Mamm said, “Your Dawdi Hezekiah often says that the person who’s most blessed is too busy to fret in the daylight and too tired to fret at night.”

“Jah, I’ve heard him say that very thing.”

“But to be honest, it’s been a challenge for me not to worry ’bout your brother.”

Ellie nodded. “Because you’re his mother.”

“Well, and you, Ellie, are his twin sister.” Mamm stopped, a quaver in her voice.

“I know it’s awful hard, Mamm.”

“I’ll be all right. I’m relying on God for each day . . . for all of us. Even if that means simply stepping back and accepting that Evan’s goin’ to do things his way, disappointing as that may be.”

“I just overheard Dawdi outside talkin’ with Evan about following God’s way,” Ellie said, gathering up the peach skins. “But I didn’t hear Evan responding.”