Gabe turned to look at her, his eyes meeting hers. “Do ya understand what I’m sayin’?”

Anna was rather embarrassed. “I think so.”

“Well, I’ve been considering something, but I don’t want to seem presumptuous.” Pausing a bit, he returned his gaze to the road. “What would ya think of spendin’ more time with Emmie in addition to bein’ her side walker?” He added that, since the horse riding therapy would come to an end after September, which really wasn’t far away, Emmie would miss Anna and perhaps regress. “Just think about whether it’s something you’re interested in.”

Anna sensed his apparent earnestness. I’m already so busy, she thought, wondering if this was a good idea. Yet when she thought of Emmie, how could she refuse?

Gabe continued, “I was thinkin’ maybe once a week at the house.”

I really ought to consider doing this, she thought, then reminded him that, besides the Lord’s Day, she only had Fridays and Saturdays off. “Whatever I can work out, it would have to be during one of those two days.”

“Don’t ya want to think ’bout it first?” Gabe’s eyes were questioning.

“Well, I’d like to help Emmie, if I can.”

“This wouldn’t be babysitting, mind you. And I don’t expect ya to work for nothin’,” he quickly added.

Anna shook her head. “Oh nee . . . I wouldn’t accept pay.”

Gabe’s shoulders rose and fell as though a weight had been lifted. “Denki, Anna. You don’t know what this’ll mean to her.” He directed the horse onto a paved driveway that led back off the road to a large dairy farm. “Here we are,” he said, halting the mare. “I need to pick up some butter and cottage cheese.” He indicated he would just be a few minutes. “Feel free to wait here if you like.”

She presumed he was just being thoughtful, or that he didn’t want to introduce her to whoever was selling the butter and cottage cheese. But why did he need my help today if I’m just sitting here while he loads the back of the buggy? she wondered, guessing he’d used it as an excuse to talk with her about Emmie.

As she sat there waiting, she realized more fully what she’d agreed to do. What if perhaps Gabe was also hoping to have more time with her? If that was the case, what would happen to Emmie if Anna were to step back at some point, away from the two of them? Wouldn’t it be hard on the little girl?

The last thing I want to do is to jeopardize her progress, she thought. Oh goodness, am I doing the right thing?