Perking up his ears, Lyle heard that the blaze was caused by teenage fellows who’d been stalking and taunting the young Amishmen living at that farm. “The Amish fellas were draft age,” the bishop said somberly.

An older man accompanying the bishop said, “We’ve had several attacks on our teenage boys in the past weeks. One was hit with a brick while out on the field lane, mindin’ his own business, chust bringin’ his eight-mule team back for the night.”

“Seems like these things keep a-happenin’,” another farmer said, a large bag of homemade popcorn from the nearby food stand tucked under one arm. “And they ain’t pickin’ on just us Plain folk, neither. I’ve read in the newspaper about attacks on any young men who look to be draft age. Folks must assume they’re COs or they wouldn’t still be around.”

Immediately, Lyle thought of Evan. Truth be told, he’d soon be in a far more dangerous place than right here in Amish country, even with the possibility of attacks.

22

Ellie stayed home during the second January Singing, not ready to answer questions about her and Menno parting ways. She figured Sol likely already knew, since he and Menno were cousins, but polite as he was, he hadn’t mentioned it when they’d worked together pruning the apple trees with the orchard crew. She was relieved about that, since it might seem strange to Sol that she wasn’t missing Menno much at all.

She also wasn’t ready to start pairing up with a new fellow at Singings, although the day before she left for Somerset, Ruthann had suggested Ellie not wait too long. “But that’s up to you,” she’d said. “’Least you and Menno weren’t seriously courting yet.”

Ellie had already shared about the breakup in a letter to Leah, not going into much detail except to say that Menno’s disdainful attitude toward Evan had been at the root of it.

These days Lyle worked primarily in the barn offices. He’d had plenty to keep him busy till the annual three-day horticulture convention in Hershey took place. This year, he’d traveled there alone by bus to attend the large gathering, taking many notes during the sessions with industry leaders and university researchers. Lyle enjoyed meeting other Plain orchardists and comparing their experiences, though only a few Old Order Amish were present. But it certainly wasn’t the same without Evan along.

Midway through February, Ellie penned what would be her last letter to Evan prior to his leaving for Vietnam. She was painfully aware that he might not receive any mail sent after this date for a long while. Mamm had already sent hers. But as far as Ellie knew, Dat himself had not written a single letter to Evan.