Mamm sighed. “Your Dat says Evan’s standin’ firm in his decision not to fight the draft. I guess he sees it as having the courage his friend Jack had. Or so he told your father.” She shook her head. “Wish he understood that sometimes it takes more courage to walk away from a fight.”

“Evan can be so stubborn sometimes. But like ya said, we must trust the Lord for his comin’s and goin’s. Worry doesn’t fix a thing . . . but I sure wish it did.”

Mamm placed the rolled-out pie dough into the first of nine tin pie plates. “’Tween you and me, I dread what the rest of the community will say once Evan leaves for his physical and basic training. I don’t want anyone’s pity.”

Ellie looked at her mother with concern, for the first time realizing that their whole family would have to endure the scrutiny of the People once that awful day arrived.

“Not that I don’t dread what could happen to Evan overseas even more.” Mamm paused a moment. “He’s never even held a gun—not even for small game hunting.”

Like some men amongst the People, Dat and Ellie’s brothers had always used a bow and arrow for hunting.

“We can’t let ourselves imagine what’s ahead for Evan,” replied Ellie, knowing that was easier said than done.

That Saturday was exceptionally warm and humid. When Evan took Ellie to Rudy’s farm at five-thirty for the volleyball tournament and wiener roast, the sun was still bright. A number of the youth were already gathering, and Lovina’s male cousins were just leaving in their spring wagon—James and Ephraim worked for Rudy on his goat farm.

Ellie expected Evan to simply drop her off, as aloof toward everyone as he’d become. But he surprised her by getting out of the open buggy and tying Cupcake to the hitching post.

“You’re stayin’?” she asked, glad to see it.

“Can’t pass up Lovina’s gut cookin’, now, can I?”

It’s impossible to know anymore, she thought, shrugging.

In the meadow, several goats bleated as Cousin Ruthann called to her from the backyard. Joining her, Ellie saw Sol motioning to Evan from the back porch. They used to be the best of friends, she thought as the two fellows headed to the side yard, most likely to help Rudy put up the second volleyball net.

At the screen door, Ellie’s sister-in-law waved to her and Ruthann with three-month-old Mary asleep in her arms. They headed up the porch steps to talk to Lovina, who said she’d latched the screen door to keep three-year-old Caleb corralled in the kitchen. “So far, I think we’ve got things under control,” she said, laughing. “Rudy’s gonna do some of the cookin’ on the outdoor fireplace over yonder.”