Everything about the program impressed Anna. She was scarcely able to put into words how moved she was by the sheer joy on the faces, the love in their eyes. “What you’re doing here is amazing,” she told Gabe as they stood near the gate leading into the sandy round pen. “I’m so glad you allowed me to observe.”

“Denki.” He nodded. “Listen, we’re always on the lookout for volunteers who have a gentle way with our youngest children, especially.”

She turned to look at him.

“We could use another side walker, if you’re interested.”

Without considering the time involved, she answered from her heart, “I’m very interested and would love to help.”

Gabe beamed. He invited her to stay after the session to fill out an application, as well as be available for a screening after a review of the initial paperwork. He also provided a few more instructions about the work, encouraging her to observe how the side walkers firmly held the riders’ legs and sometimes arms, as well, to balance them.

“Some riders need to be steadied and made to feel secure more than others,” she said, watching as the groups moved slowly around the pen.

“Jah, exactly.” Gabe glanced at her. “I couldn’t help noticing how you worked with little Freckles . . . helpin’ him control the brush and feel its pressure against the horse’s flank. You’re a natural, Anna.”

She blushed—it wasn’t only Gabe’s remarks that were affirming. His delighted expression was, as well.

“I did something rather impulsive today,” Anna told Sadie the minute she arrived back at the house.

“Oh?”

“I applied to be a volunteer at the horse therapy retreat not far from here.”

Sadie looked up from the kitchen table, which was covered with a smattering of card stock, fabric, batting, and spools of colored thread. “Did ya, now?” Sadie tilted her head. “Must be Peaceful Meadows.”

“So you know the place.”

“Well, we know the manager, Gabe Allgyer, who drafted and built the tree house.” Sadie smiled.

“Gabe did?”

Sadie nodded and changed the subject. “You’re gonna be mighty busy, ain’t so?”

“Well, if I’m accepted, it’ll just be for two hours on Saturday mornings through September.” Anna walked over to the table and looked at the assembly line of sorts that Sadie had going there. “You made these?”

“Jah, I call them cheer-up cards.” Sadie picked up a completed one that featured a small section of a “quilt”—fabric had been inserted into a cutout in the card stock and plumped out with batting. She opened it to the blank inside. “I’ve been foolin’ with them for years—a way to spread some cheer to folk who need it.”

“Never seen anything like them,” Anna said, inspecting several others—a daisy, a cat with a fabric bow at its neck, and a cake.