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had been a moment before. Slowly he took his seat again and removed his straw hat. He didn’t say anything but when he finally looked at her she was smiling a small smile.
    “Moses, I have no idea what I’m going to do. Mother tells me Bishop Zook is going to ask me how I feel about taking my vows and being baptized, and I don’t know what to tell him. I’m flattered that you want me around and that you like me. I like you too. It’s pleasant to be in your company. I like to listen to your voice and thoughts as much as you do mine. I don’t know what is going to happen when it comes to the Lapp Amish and Becky Whetstone. But for now it’s very good to be here. And very good to hear a beautiful man tell me I’m beautiful too.”
    Moses’ face reddened under his tan. “Now I have no words at all. The Amish girls don’t speak this way.”
    “Well, I do. I believe in being forthright.” She touched his cheek with her hand. It seemed as if he would pull away but a different kind of light came into his face and he did not. “So I’m also going to ask you this, even though you say you have no words. Water the color of—yes? Can you finish your sentence for me?”
    “What?”
    “A moment ago you said a man could come alive swimming in water that had a special color.”
    He didn’t look away. “The water would have the color of your eyes.”
    “Ah.” Everything in her body and her face smiled.
    He leaned toward her and Becky caught herself leaning his way as well, then straightened. “Maybe you should move to another bench now. They’ll all be coming soon…”

F OUR
    S o you’ve been here three weeks. What do you think?” Ruth was changing out of her dress into a nightgown.
    Becky was lying on her stomach on her bed. Her head was pillowed on her arms. “I don’t know what to think.”
    “Did you see Moses again today?”
    “Yes.”
    “How did you two manage it this time?”
    “He had a gift of fresh-ground flour for Grandma. One hundred pounds.”
    Ruth began to laugh. “He never runs out of ideas. The other day a big container of grease for our wagon wheels. Before that it was twenty pounds of cheese he said his mother didn’t need. He likes you for sure. Is the feeling mutual?”
    Becky’s mouth was pressed up against the skin of her arm and her words came out muffled. “Of course it’s mutual.”
    Ruth sat down on the edge of her bed, let out her hair, and began to brush it slowly. “If you’ll get ready for bed I’ll brush out your long golden locks for you, princess.”
    Becky didn’t budge. “A month ago I just wanted to visit and leave. Now I don’t know what to do.”
    “Are you thinking of staying?”
    “If I stay I can’t fly. All my life, God and flying have been the biggest things. There were no boys or men to complicate matters. Now I meet an Amish farmer who looks like a dream and suddenly everything is in a mess.”
    “A mess?” Ruth stopped brushing her hair. “Has he asked you to stay?”
    “Oh, from the first day he wanted me to stay and I thought, You’re cute but I’m not becoming Amish just to stick around you . But now…”
    “Have you told your mother and father about this?”
    “No. Mom watches me with the guys like a hawk anyway. If she thought I was getting serious about Moses she’d lock me up.”
    “Lyyndy won’t be that bad.”
    “Would you like to place a wager, Auntie Ruth? On whether or not she’ll impose further restrictions on my movements and who I spend time with?”
    “I don’t place wagers.”
    “I could do what I want, you know. I’m a woman of nineteen, not some skinny fourteen-year-old.”
    Ruth began brushing her hair again. “What became of the other knight?”
    “What?” Becky turned her head to look at her aunt. “You mean Joshua?”
    “Mm-hm.”
    Becky stared back at the ceiling. “He lost interest right from the day I argued with him about the importance of having missionaries. And he’s uncomfortable with my flying.