“Well, let us know if ya need help with the little ones,” Ellie said. “Or with anything else.”

“Ach, wouldn’t think of it.” Lovina looked down at her sleeping infant. “You’ll have plenty of time to hold babies once you’re married. You’re here to have fun tonight.”

“And maybe get acquainted with a potential mate,” Ruthann declared.

Ellie’s mouth dropped open. “Ach, cousin!”

“Well, what do ya think these youth gatherings are for?” Ruthann laughed as she bobbed her head toward Menno, who was helping Rudy along with Sol and Evan. This was the first time Ellie had seen him since his return from the Big Valley.

Now Lovina was grinning through the screen. “She’s right. So go and enjoy yourselves.”

Ellie waved farewell to Lovina, then headed to the backyard, where several of the boys were setting up tables with benches for the meal.

Later, after everyone had eaten their fill, Rudy had the youth count off in fours for the volleyball teams—eight young people per team, which accommodated all thirty-two in attendance. Ellie was separated from Ruthann and ended up on a team with Sol. Sol’s the best spiker, Ellie thought, seeing Menno talking with Ruthann. How’d they get on the same team? she thought, glad Menno was back.

As daylight faded after the tournament, Rudy brought out two large ice cream makers, and Evan and Menno offered to crank them. Ellie was fanning herself with her long apron hem, standing under a tree, when Solomon wandered over.

“Do ya mind if I join ya?” he asked, undoubtedly aware that others were observing them.

Ellie shook her head. “It’s okay.”

“Menno and I were talkin’ with Evan earlier,” he said, glancing toward her brother, clear across the yard near the driveway, talking to three of their guy cousins. “It’s unbelievable what he’s decided to do ’bout the draft.”

Ellie nodded empathetically. “Jah, it’s breakin’ our hearts.”

Sol raked his hand through his fair hair. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he seems resigned to goin’ and getting it over with.”

Ellie looked at Sol and realized how much he cared about her brother, and it touched her deeply.

“It’s like he prefers to stay in Rumschpringe for the time he has left before boot camp,” Sol added.

It’s more than that, she thought sadly. He acts like he doesn’t even want to be Plain anymore.

Sol shifted his weight from one bare foot to the other. “Honestly, if Evan knew anything about what war’s really like, he’d want no part of it. You’d think Jack’s death would’ve impressed on him how dangerous it is. I mean, doesn’t he see the front-page headlines in the newspaper every day, like the rest of us?”

“Evan just reads the sports page, I think.”