Playing a small part in this parade-like movement of horses, riders, and volunteers toward the round pen gave Anna goose pimples of happiness. As she had done last week, she kept a firm hold on Emmie’s right leg and arm, aware of how very small boned she was. So tiny for a five-year-old, Anna thought, recalling her youngest nephews and nieces back in Mifflinburg at this age. Suddenly, she felt even more eager to see her family again.

Will Dat and Mamm have a more accepting view of Old Order Amish, once I tell them about my work here at Peaceful Meadows? she wondered, but she wasn’t holding her breath.

During Anna’s drive to Mifflinburg, she was glad to be traveling on a Saturday. Considering that summer was officially upon them, there were quite a number of tourists out and about, but as she passed the exit for Hershey and headed toward Harrisburg, the traffic seemed noticeably less than it might be on a weekday.

As was her way, Anna prayed as she drove, offering praise to her heavenly Father for every blessing. She also prayed about Mart, giving their friendship to God, determined not to be discouraged that he hadn’t asked her out on a real date yet.

Upon her arrival home, Anna hurried inside and noticed the basement door standing open. “Mamm, I’m home!” she called, then made her way down the steps to see her mother standing in front of the A-L section of the shelves of alphabetized canning jars, counting quarts of chow chow.

“My dear girl!” Mamm said, turning to cup her hands around Anna’s face. “You’ve been gone, what, a month?”

Anna nodded. “Seems longer, I know.”

“Well, it’s wonderful to see you again!” Mamm beamed. “Are you hungry?”

“I snacked on the way,” she reassured her, having assumed that her mother would ask the minute she stepped inside the house. All the womenfolk she knew were like that. Including Sadie, Anna thought. Always wanting to offer food . . .

They headed upstairs to the kitchen, where they spotted Dat coming up the back walkway. Anna went to meet him, and he went with her to the car to retrieve her bag from the trunk.

“Mighty good to have you home, daughter.”

“Gut to be back.”

They ambled up toward the house. “I understand you’ve been volunteering at a horse retreat for the disabled,” Dat said. It made her smile to see he’d worn his best straw hat with his work overalls.

“Yes, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoy it. They’re all such wonderful people.” She went on to describe how organized the volunteers were, thanks to Gabe’s management. “Gabe Allgyer is the nephew of the owner, and he has a knack for making the young riders feel comfortable . . . works well with the volunteers, too.”

“And,” Dat said, “you’re one of those volunteers.”