Anna recalled how considerate it had been of Sadie to wait up for her last night just to say she had talked to her parents about Mammi and discovered where she’d stayed. Perhaps she should try to confirm what Sadie’s father had remembered . . . once she heard from Wanita.

Eager to see the young riders again, including little Freckles, Anna hurried down the hall to shower and dress.

Anna was greeted at the south entrance of the large horse barn by a slender young Amishwoman who looked to be about Anna’s age. She wore a purple dress and matching cape apron, and introduced herself as Dottie Stoltzfus. “Gabe asked if I’d be your instructor today and next Saturday,” Dottie said, grinning. “After that, you’ll be ready to be a side walker or leader. Maybe even a rider if one of the children needs extra assurance.”

Anna was delighted. She had observed both the leaders and the side walkers last weekend, and her experience with her father’s ponies meant that she could easily be a rider, too, if necessary. “Denki, but how’d you recognize me just now?”

“Oh, Gabe described ya perfectly,” Dottie said, eyes twinkling. “Said you’re Beachy, so I knew what sort of clothing to look for.”

“Do you have Beachy relatives or friends, then?”

Still beaming, Dottie bobbed her head. “Several friends, jah.”

Anna followed her into the large tack room, where saddles, bridles, horse blankets, bits, and wraps were neatly organized. “I want to learn as much as I possibly can,” Anna said as she eyed the well-organized space.

“Gabe says you’ll do just fine, so don’t ya worry none.”

Anna recalled what he had said last Saturday about her being a natural. She certainly didn’t want to disappoint him or Dottie.

Once the barn volunteers had tacked up all the horses, an instructor directed the horses and their riders to head over to the round pen, each accompanied by two side walkers, a leader, and sometimes a parent. For this morning, Dottie asked Anna to closely observe the side walkers for a boy named Bennie Glick. She explained that Bennie got around with forearm crutches and was always helped onto the horse by his father, one of the preachers of the local Amish church district.

“Preacher Glick’s over here first thing every Saturday with that little boy of his,” Dottie added.

While the two side walkers held on to young Bennie’s legs, steadying him, one of the volunteers quickly carried the boy’s crutches over near the gate, where they were propped up outside the pen.

“Remember that, as a side walker, you’ll be responsible for the rider’s safety; the leader is responsible for the horse. Unless you’re told otherwise, it’s your job to always hold on to the rider,” Dottie explained. “Of course, we do have some riders who are more capable and can balance themselves in the saddle.”