Rachel's Garden by Marta Perry

smiling. She’d grown to know Gideon better in the past few days than she had in all the years before.
    “You may as well go on. There is something more you want to say, so just say it.”
    He didn’t quite smile in response, but his mouth seemed to gentle, somehow. “Just this. Ezra heard a lot of advice from Isaac all his life. He listened, but he always made his own decisions, whatever Isaac said.” He paused, surveying her gravely. “I hope that you will do the same.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    B ecky!” Rachel called her daughter’s name for the third or fourth time, still with no answer.
    She could guess where Becky was. William had brought Ben and Bess, the Belgian draft horses, back from Isaac’s this morning, intending to do the plowing. Becky, as fascinated as her father had been by the massive, gentle creatures, had raced for the barn the moment she got home. She was probably still there.
    Grabbing her shawl, Rachel wrapped it around her as she hurried off the porch. Fickle April had turned cold after a few days that tempted with a promise of warmth.
    Still, the ground was soft underfoot. William would be able to plow tomorrow. Perhaps she ought to have him add a strip or two to the kitchen garden, so that she could grow extra vegetables for market. And maybe some small shrubs, as Gideon had suggested.
    She glanced toward the greenhouse. The uprights were in place now, so that she could visualize the completed project. It would be near as big as her kitchen, which made sense since she’d rather garden than cook.
    Gideon hadn’t come today—off to bid on another job. Just as well. She’d felt awkward with him since the day he’d helped put the handprints in the greenhouse.
    Annoyance flickered through her. Gideon didn’t understand how dependent she was on Isaac’s goodwill. Without William here to handle the draft horses and do the plowing, she didn’t see how she’d manage.
    She’d try if she had to, but she shuddered at the thought. Ezra had teased her, but she’d always been in awe of the massive beasts, gentle as they were.
    All Gideon could think about was what he imagined Ezra would want. Well, that was what she wanted, too, wasn’t it? Why did it annoy her so much when Gideon voiced it?
    I’m not making sense, even to myself, Father. Please help me to know what Your will is for our future, because I do not see the path clearly just now.
    She reached the barn door, which stood ajar, and shoved it wider so that she could enter. She stepped inside and stopped, shock freezing her to the spot.
    Becky—Becky was in the stall with Ben. The giant draft horse stood, perhaps dozing, facing away from the front. Becky looked like a doll next to him as she tugged at a hind leg the girth of a young tree.
    Terror stifled the cry that rose to Rachel’s lips. She mustn’t do anything that would startle the animal. He was a gentle creature, but his sheer size made him a danger. The step of one of those dinner-plate-sized feet could break a bone, and the horse probably didn’t even realize Becky was there.
    She took a cautious step. “Becky.” She fought to keep her voice soft when she wanted to scream. “Komm schnell.”
    Becky’s face swiveled toward her. Her lower lip pouted, as if she were about to argue. A thud resounded from the loft overhead, reverberating through the barn.
    Ben threw his head up, massive body shifting. Before she could breathe, Becky had disappeared, caught between the horse and the wall.
    “Becky!” Rachel flung herself toward the stall, heart pounding in her ears, terror speeding her feet.
    Becky, Becky, Dear Father, protect her ...
    She heard pounding boots above her, and then William dropped straight down from the hayloft. He vaulted into the stall, shoving at the horse’s hindquarters. In an instant he lifted Becky over the stall door and into Rachel’s arms.
    “Are you all right?” She knelt, holding her, running her hands quickly along Becky’s limbs.
    “I’m fine,