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soldiers.”
    Daniel shrugged.
    â€œHe got shot at,” Zane said. “Lots of different times. Then an RPG hit his Humvee.”
    Daniel sat up straight. “A what?”
    â€œA rocket-propelled grenade,” Zane explained and then shoved his last bite of noodles into his mouth.
    â€œOh,” Daniel responded and then asked, “Does he have one of those uniforms?”
    â€œSure,” Zane said. “Lots of them.”
    Daniel frowned. Zane picked up his plate and headed toward the sink.
    â€œThank you,” Zane said.
    â€œ ’Wilcom ,” Eve answered.
    â€œPardon?”
    She smiled. “It’s Pennsylvania Dutch for ‘you’re welcome.’”
    â€œSo that’s what it’s called. It’s what Daniel and you were speaking this morning.” Zane pointed toward Rose. “And what she speaks, right?”
    â€œAll of us speak it, but, jah, Rose more than the rest of us. She hasn’t had as much experience with English.”
    â€œWill you teach me?” Zane asked.
    Daniel harrumphed behind her. “That’ll be the day.” Eve frowned at him again.
    â€œZane could learn,” Lila said.
    â€œNah,” Daniel said. “He doesn’t have any reason to learn it.”
    â€œI like languages,” Zane said. “ Je parle français . Yo hablo español. Ich spreche Deutsch .”
    Rose laughed. “ Jah! Wie alt sind ?”
    â€œZwölf,” Zane replied.
    Rose laughed again. “Ich bin sieben.”
    Zane high-fived her, which made her laugh even more. “I don’t really speak German, although I am twelve,” Zane said. “And I’m pleased to know you’re seven.” He smiled at her. “I don’t speak French either. But I do speak a little Spanish, and I’m going to take it in my new school.”
    â€œWe study German in our school,” Lila said.
    Rose grinned. “I’m getting pretty good at it.”
    Eve shook her head at the little girl, warning her not to be prideful.
    â€œAnd you study Pennsylvania Dutch too?” Zane asked.
    Lila answered, “No, we just learn it. When we’re little. It’s not a written language so we can’t study it.”
    Zane’s expression soured. “Oh.”
    â€œJah, that’s why you can’t learn it.” Daniel headed toward the door.
    Lila’s voice was low, but Eve still heard her clearly—“I’ll teach you.”
    Zane smiled and then followed Daniel out the door.
    Eve called after her nephew. “Check on the cow that is due on your way back.”
    â€œI know!” Daniel responded. “You don’t have to tell me.”
    â€œDenki!” Zane yelled as he ran out the door.

 9 
    T he next morning Zane and Charlie headed out to the neighbors’ as Shani left for the hospital. Charlie appeared rested, especially for having slept in his truck. She trusted him completely, but she also appreciated his sense of propriety.
    Before visiting Joel, she checked in with Tim, who looked like he hadn’t slept at all. However, Simon seemed to be doing better. She introduced herself, and through the wires he murmured, “Hallo.”
    Tim followed her out to the hall. “How long are you staying today?”
    â€œA few hours.”
    â€œI need a ride back to the farm.”
    She contemplated his words, wondering why he’d be leaving. “Will Simon be all right without you?”
    â€œHis grandparents are coming.” Tim’s focus shifted down the hall. “My wife’s Mamm and Dat.”
    â€œOh,” Shani said. He didn’t seemed very pleased about their visit. “Of course I’ll give you a ride.”
    Joel dozed most of the morning, and when she got ready to leave,she told him she’d back in the late afternoon or early evening. He squeezed her hand, but that was all.
    Tim hardly spoke on the way home. As she drove up the