13

After picking peaches all day Thursday, Ellie saw a fat envelope waiting for her when she came into the house for supper. She waited till she’d dried the dishes, then opened the envelope and found the longest letter Leah had ever written to her.

Out on the back porch, Ellie settled into the comfortable glider and began to read.

Dear Ellie,

I love hearing from you every week. It’s one of the sweet connections I have to home. I’m so thankful for you and Mamma and Sol and everyone who continues to answer my letters.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the likelihood Evan will have to join the army, so I’m praying more often now for your family. Please keep me updated!

Also, I think it’s time to share with you just what happened between Josh and me back before I came here. No one except Josh knows that I was the one who broke things off. I was heartbroken, like I told you, but things couldn’t go on as they were. Josh had privately told me that he wasn’t sure he could be Amish for life—he’d actually had a few discussions with Evan about that, all without anyone else knowing, Josh said. I’m sure that’ll come as a surprise to you, too.

Difficult as it was to break up with him, how could we keep courting once I was aware of his true feelings? And many of the youth—and maybe even you—probably thought I took this job so far from home because I was jilted. Between you and me, I still do care for Josh, but I’ll have to get over him sooner or later. There just isn’t a way forward for us.

With Baptism Sunday coming up soon, just know that it makes me sad to miss out on witnessing you make your lifelong vow to God and the church. And, honestly, I wish I could follow through with the instruction and be baptized alongside you, like we’d always planned, instead of waiting till I return home. Even so, I do believe I did the right thing by coming to help Carolyn and the children, who’ve become nearly like family to me.

Every day I read the verses we were studying in baptism class, and I pray faithfully, too, so don’t worry that my time here is pulling me away from the People.

You’ll also be happy to hear that little Bobby can say the Lord’s Prayer without help now. And he’s been teaching it to his mother and wee sisters. I’ve taught him to sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” too.

Ellie’s face broke into a smile. “That’s wunnerbaar,” she said out loud.

By the way, Carolyn has been very respectful about the fact that I’m Plain—she’s never asked me to dress fancy, and the children don’t seem to mind, either. Can you imagine me in Englischers’ clothing? I certainly can’t!

I also want you to know that I can definitely get away for a Thanksgiving visit—if only for a few days. Carolyn’s parents are traveling from Tennessee to celebrate with her and the children here, so I’ll be free to come home, at last! I’m afraid it’ll be hard to leave again, though.

“She’s comin’ for sure,” Ellie whispered, delighted. She read the last pages, which focused mainly on Leah’s activities with the children—shopping for fall clothes and shoes, visiting the library every other week, and playing at a nearby park. And Leah had recently helped the children make cards for their mother’s upcoming birthday.

Ellie finished reading the letter, then headed around to the side door. The screen door flew open, and Evan rushed out.

“Ach, such a hurry! Dummel dich net!” she said.

“Sorry. Runnin’ late,” he called over his shoulder after hurrying past her.

“To see Cheryl again?”

Evan stopped in his tracks and turned around. “She’s become very special to me, Ellie.”

“But she ain’t Amish.”

Evan shook his head.

“Is she interested in the Plain life?”

“Are ya kidding?” He grimaced. “She won’t even ride in my buggy!”

Ellie briefly wondered how they got around or if they only visited at her house.

“She wants to see me as much as possible before I leave for boot camp.”

“How will ya know when you’ll be goin’?”

“Well, Cheryl said Jack had to leave about a month after he received his induction notice.”

“So you’ll be around for a while yet. That’s gut.” Ellie felt a measure of relief. “We’ll get to spend some time together.”

Evan frowned. “Maybe not so much as ya want. Dat thinks I’m a bad influence.”

“He said that?”

“I can just tell.”

“But you’re mei Bruder.”

“We’re a world apart now, Ellie.” He sounded almost sad.

“Well, who’s responsible for that?” She barely got the words out.

“You’re joinin’ church, and I’m joinin’ the army.” He looked at the ground and scuffed his shoe against the grass. “Don’t hate me for spreadin’ my wings.”

“I could never hate ya,” she whispered. “But I still don’t understand.” She gritted her teeth so she wouldn’t cry as he turned and hurried toward the carriage shed.

After Bible reading and prayers with her parents and Dawdi that evening, Ellie stayed in the front room and told Mamm about Leah’s letter. “When she said she hated missing my baptism vow, it brought tears to my eyes.”

Her mother listened, nodding. “Her heart will be with yours on that day, I’m sure.”

“It just feels like I’m movin’ ahead without her.”

Mamm blinked slowly as she studied her. “Baptism is a result of your own heart’s desire to follow the Lord, Ellie. Not Leah’s, nor anyone else’s. When you kneel before Bishop Mast in front of the congregation, your vow will be between you and almighty God.”

Ellie dabbed at her eyes.

“I pray this will be a testimony to Evan, if he hasn’t already left for military training by then,” Mamm added.

Hearing this, Ellie fished for a hankie in her pocket. “I hope he’s still home, Mamm,” she said. “But will he even attend if he is?”

Her mother reached to hold her, soothing her.

Lyle had settled into bed, pillows behind him as he sat listening to Elisabeth talk about Ellie’s upcoming baptism. It was clear his wife was concerned about their daughter’s sadness as she missed Leah and fretted about the possibility Evan wouldn’t even go if he was still home by then.

“Ellie has reason to worry ’bout Evan,” Elisabeth said while brushing out her long hair. “My sister Miriam saw him walking along the road with the young Herr girl the other evening.”

Lyle groaned. It goes from bad to worse.

Elisabeth looked away, tearing up as worry seemed to consume her.

It pained him to see his wife like this. Her concerns about Evan kept her up at night, causing her to toss about in bed. Sometimes she even got up and went downstairs for a few hours.

“Evan’s like a branch in the wind, swept about in all directions,” Lyle said, struggling to say the right thing. “And mighty confused, too, is what I think.”

Elisabeth slipped on her bathrobe and then sat in one of the chairs near their window.

“Not tired yet, dear?” Lyle asked.

“Think I’ll sit a while and look out at the stars and pray.”

“Want some company?” he asked, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

She murmured and shook her head.

Sighing, he got back under the sheet. He would comfort her later, when she was ready. “We’ll get through this with God’s help,” he said softly, closing his eyes in prayer.