“You know what this means, don’t ya?” Lillian asked.

“Prob’ly that I’d best be makin’ more.” Sadie could hardly believe how quickly the cards had sold, and at the stiff price Lillian had set, too. I’ll have extra money to buy more fabric, and then some, she thought, thinking it would be fun to save some of the proceeds to surprise Glen with something special. Maybe a new felt hat for winter . . .

While saying good-bye to Emmie and her aunt Barbara, Anna was surprised when Emmie crept over behind her and furtively clutched her long apron. Anna looked around and saw Emmie staring up at her, her beautiful blue eyes pleading.

“I’ll see ya next week, sweetie,” she said to Emmie, longing to reach down and pick her up, though she held back. She watched as Barbara led her niece out to the passenger van and stepped inside, out of sight. Emmie must be lost without her Mamma, Anna mused, sorrowful at the thought.

She rounded the bend, heading back to the tack room, where Dottie looked surprised to see her.

Dottie frowned. “Were ya cryin’?”

Anna wiped her eyes, surprised to find tears. “Didn’t realize it.”

“You all right?” Dottie asked, touching Anna’s arm.

“Oh, my heart just goes out to the riders.” That wasn’t entirely true. She shook her head. “I mean . . . mostly for little Emmie.”

Dottie nodded. “It’s been two long years since her Mamma passed.” Dottie’s voice was soft, even solemn. “We keep thinkin’ she’ll come out of it, but it’s like Emmie’s fallen into a cavern somewhere in her mind. And no one, not even her father, can lift her out.”

Anna mentioned Emmie’s growing attachment to Promise. “Have you seen her with him lately? There’s something special happening.”

“Well, I’ve noticed Emmie with you, Anna. She’s really taken to you.”

Anna nodded.

A few minutes later, when Gabe poked his head in, Anna was in the farthest corner, putting the pony saddle away. “Here, let me help ya,” he said, taking it from her.

Dottie and the other two volunteers left the tack room, glancing back at them.

“I was hopin’ I might catch ya, Anna. Are ya busy after this session?” He paused and looked about the room again to see if they were indeed alone. “I have to run an errand and hoped you’d come along.”

“I’ll help if ya need me.” She really didn’t know what he was asking. Did he want to talk about something personal? Emmie, maybe?

“Denki,” he said. “Meet me at the carriage shed after this session, then, all right?” His eyes sparkled, yet his countenance remained sober.

She could not read him well enough to guess what was on his mind. But she knew instinctively that she wanted to ride along with him.

Yet I really shouldn’t, she thought.

Chapter 34

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1948