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the drastic change. But something sank in her like a rock in a dew pond whenever she thought about who her friend had become. What was it about getting hitched up that caused the light to go out of some girls’ eyes?
    Annie shook away her fretting and headed back to the house. She wished she could help, but there was a thick wall around Esther now and it seemed no one could break through.
    Just then Annie spied her father and Rudy Esh’s older brother, Caleb, across the road smoking cigars near the springhouse. How peculiar. In all her days she did not recall ever seeing Caleb Esh chewing the fat with Daed.
    A little shiver went down her back, seeing Caleb, because he looked a lot like Rudy. What on earth does he want with my father?
    But, alas, she’d worried enough for one morning. Taking a deep breath, she forced her attention back to applesauce-making and to dear downtrodden Esther. She opened the back door to the tantalizing aroma of tart Granny Smith applesauce.
    Jesse Zook puffed on his cigar, exercising as much forbearance as possible, saying not a word as Caleb Esh gabbed away.
    â€˜â€˜My brother Rudy must have had a good reason for picking a different girl—it’s just that I think your Annie’s far and away a better choice of a mate, Preacher.’’
    Jesse had not made a practice of knowing who was seeing his daughter and who wasn’t. He wouldn’t start speculating now . . . unlike some fathers who required a report from their sons of the scallywags who drove younger sisters home from barn singings and other church-sanctioned activities. Never had he cared to interfere that way with Annie’s courting years. She was a levelheaded sort and downright determined, too. His daughter would have no trouble attracting a fine man to marry, but only when she was good and ready to settle down.
    â€˜â€˜Rudy is makin’ a big mistake, the way I see it,’’ Caleb continued.
    Sighing, Jesse removed his hat and inhaled his tobacco deeply. He contemplated the field work to be done yet, and here they were wasting time. ‘‘Well, I have to ask ya, just what’s your concern in this?’’
    â€˜â€˜Only that Rudy was in love with Annie. Sure as my name’s Esh.’’
    â€˜â€˜But you say he broke off with her?’’
    â€˜â€˜That he did.’’
    Now Jesse was confused and perturbed. Seemed Caleb wasn’t making much sense for a man nearly thirty-five years old, married, and the father of nine children, last count. This here Caleb had also been talked about as a possible preacher nomination back last fall after council meeting, amongst some of the brethren.
    A busybody, to be sure . . .
    â€˜â€˜Is all your plowin’ done, Caleb?’’ he asked right quick.
    â€˜â€˜Well . . . almost.’’
    Jesse shook his head a bit, looked down at his straw hat, and then placed it back on his head. ‘‘Why not let nature take her course where courtin’s concerned. Seems the Good Lord works all that out just right fine, given the chance.’’
    Caleb nodded his head quick like and said, ‘‘Afternoon, Preacher Zook.’’ Then he sauntered over to his horse and carriage, where he’d left them smack dab in the middle of the lane.
    â€˜â€˜Be seein’ ya at Preaching service come Sunday,’’ Jesse called to him, attempting to keep a grin in check.
    Louisa lit each of four candles on the table, two tall tapers and two votives. She softly blew out the match and returned to the kitchen, where Michael was putting the finishing touches on his organic dressing ‘‘experiment,’’ as he called it: extra-virgin olive oil, French sea salt, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, dry Italian basil, fresh garlic, ground black pepper, and Greek oregano— leaves only, all mixed into one dressing bottle.
    â€˜â€˜Looks exotic,’’ she said, smiling.