Melissa Gilbert is sending a message to fans amid her husband's legal battle over accusations of child sex abuse.
The "Little House on the Prairie" star, 61, took to social media Monday, Feb. 16, to share that she would be returning to work, "thoughtfully and with care," as her spouse, actor Timothy Busfield, faces a grand jury indictment over charges of criminal sexual contact of a child.
"As many of you know, I stepped away for a little while to focus on my family," Gilbert said in a post to the Instagram of Modern Prairie, the actress' lifestyle company named after her most famous role. "It was time I needed — time to be present, to tend to what matters most and to gather my strength in a season that has not been easy."
"Family is everything to me, and during this incredibly difficult time, I leaned into that truth fully," Gilbert continued. "But something else carried me too: You did. This extraordinary community at Modern Prairie, you wrapped me in love. Even when I was quiet, I felt your prayers, I felt your encouragement, I felt your steady presence."
Busfield, whom Gilbert wed in 2013, was arrested earlier this month in connection with allegations of abusing minors. The "West Wing" actor, 68, is accused of abusing minors during his time filming the television series "The Cleaning Lady."
