During the meal that evening, Ellie was thankful for Dawdi’s animated talk about the auction. She tried not to fidget or let her thoughts give her away as she recalled her conversation in the barn with Evan earlier. Now and then, she glanced across the table at him, conscious of his unusual silence. Has Dat or Mamm noticed?

Evan’s eyes met hers, and she sensed his own relief at Dawdi’s talking just now.

Dat sat erect in his chair at the head of the table, an obvious indentation in his graying brown hair where he’d worn his straw hat all day. When he passed Mamm’s roast beef platter to Evan for seconds, his gaze lingered on her quiet brother. She held her breath as Dawdi continued describing one of the frisky thoroughbred horses he’d had his eye on “for your Dat here to purchase.”

Evan cracked a quick smile, more than likely for Dat’s benefit.

When Dawdi stopped talking to dig into the meat on his plate, Mamm said, “Anyone savin’ room for dessert? I made a butterscotch pie.” She lived for desserts—making and eating them—which Ellie appreciated, having a sweet tooth of her own.

“Oh jah. Always,” Ellie said, her mouth already watering at the sight of the pie on the counter. Evan’s favorite, she thought, glad Mamm had made it today.

“I’ll make extra-big slices,” Mamm said to the obvious pleasure of Ellie’s brother, whose dour expression brightened slightly. Now Dawdi was clapping his big callused hands and grinning at Evan as Mamm rose to cut the pie.

“What all’d yous accomplish in the orchard today, son?” Dat asked, looking straight at him.

“Jonah and I spread fertilizer round the new trees,” Evan said, glancing at Ellie.

Dat nodded slowly, studying Evan but good. “How far’d ya get?”

“Far as we could. Was a lot of work.”

Dat looked puzzled, making Ellie want to change the subject so he wouldn’t ask further questions. But Dawdi chimed in before she could.

“Keepin’ an orchard healthy is always a lot of work.”

“And mighty worth it,” Dat said before taking another bite of his beef.

A clatter of carriage wheels came from the lane, and Ellie turned to look out the window. There was her closest cousin, strawberry blond Ruthann Kurtz. Moments later she was tying up Bullwhip, her father’s road horse, at the hitching post. She liked to drop by in the evening, and Ellie was always happy to see her.

Evan excused himself to go to the side door and step out. He called “Hullo, cousin,” which he typically did whenever Ruthann arrived at the tail end of their supper. Her family ate earlier, and besides, their plump cousin loved Mamm’s desserts as much as the rest of them did.

Dat moved his chair back from the head of the table, locking eyes with Mamm, still looking befuddled.