“Let’s talk later, okay?” Anna said as together they walked into the sanctuary and saw where Eleanor was saving two places on a gleaming pew.

The congregational singing was followed by the passing of the offering plate, and then a sermon from Exodus, chapter fifteen. As the minister spoke about the complaints of the children of Israel, it crossed Anna’s mind that, despite all the miracles they had witnessed firsthand, they continually doubted Jehovah’s promises. Instead, they continued to question or grumble—or worse, disobey. Even today, we tend to forget God’s miracles . . . and His promises.

After the service, while they waited for the fellowship meal to begin, Anna told Heidi that she had been going out with a mixed group of youth from another church. “Friends of my colleague at work,” she said, not mentioning Mart’s name.

“So, no one special?” Heidi asked in a whisper.

Anna gave a little shrug. “Time will tell.”

Heidi nodded and smiled. “God will guide you.”

Anna was counting on that.

The following Saturday, Anna was assigned to be one of the side walkers for little Emmie, one of two young riders who didn’t speak. Anna spotted Emmie’s shiny black pony, Promise, already waiting in the lineup of horses.

Dottie introduced her to Emmie and explained that Anna would be with her the whole time, as would Katie Blank, another volunteer Emmie was already accustomed to. “You’ll like Anna,” Dottie assured her in Pennsylvania Dutch, and Emmie glanced briefly at Anna, eyes tentative.

“Promise is all set to ride,” Dottie announced, grinning at the little girl. “Can you say his name today? Pro . . . mise.”

Fleetingly, a smile appeared, and then Dottie lifted the girl gently onto the pony. Anna helped Emmie get her right foot into the small stirrup while Dottie assisted with the left one, but Emmie still did not make a sound.

The leader turned out to be Gabe, who picked up the line after greeting Anna and Katie, then grinned at Emmie. “All ready, jah?”

“Fix un faerdich,” Katie repeated in Deitsch for Emmie’s sake.

“Can ya tell Promise to walk?” Gabe asked Emmie. “Wanna try?”

Emmie remained silent, her little eyes focused on Promise’s mane.

Anna held on to Emmie as Dottie had taught her, and they moved slowly through the stable, following the horses and riders in front of them, heading toward the sunshine and the round pen in the near distance. A slight breeze cooled Anna’s neck as she kept her eyes on the petite girl in the saddle, as well as their leader, Gabe.

Halfway around the pen, Anna noticed the stone wall across the field, and she couldn’t help thinking of Mammi Eliza’s remark about meeting someone at such a wall. Had Mammi been clear in her thinking that day, as it seemed?