And it hadn’t happened only once, but twice, and how many other times, she couldn’t know.

“But what if we judged God by what didn’t happen to us?”

What didn’t happen. So much, it was breathtaking.

This could have ended so differently.

She splashed water on her face, drew out a couple paper towels, and headed back to the waiting room. When she stopped by the coffee vending machine, she realized she hadn’t brought her wallet with her.

Outside, through the big picture window at the end of the hall, the sun had just fled the day, long gray shadows hovered over the valley north of the hospital, the faraway mountains an eerie blue-black. She was hungry, tired, and edgy, and probably in no mood to walk into the conversation between Dodge and Moose.

Again.

Dodge had risen from his chair, his hair mussed from where he’d been folding his hands behind his neck, leaning forward, trying to manage his worry about her dad. He wore a black thermal shirt, the sleeves shoved up past his elbows, as if he wanted to slam open the double doors to the operating room and have a go.

Maybe she would like that too.

Except, there he was, talking to Moose, who stood with his back to her, hands in his pockets. What, did he have some sort of homing beacon on Dodge that whenever he showed up in town, so did Moose?

Dodge was nodding, and it did something to her gut, and no, she didn’t want to hear about his plans to move to Anchorage. Not now.

Her eyes filled, gritty, and she turned, heading the opposite direction, toward the lounge where she’d seen—and smelled—coffee earlier.

She found the small lounge that probably served the nurses on the floor. Sneaking in, she grabbed a couple cups and filled them at the machine.

“Echo?”

She turned, and Winter Starr stood at the door. “I was on my way to check on your dad. I flew in the poacher who was mauled. He’s in cuffs down in the ER. Not badly hurt though.” She stepped into the room and gave Echo a hug. “How are you?”

Echo let out a shaky breath. “I don’t even know.”

Winter gave her a sad nod. “I can’t believe your dad was shot.”

“He saw those hunters poach a moose.”

“So amazing that you found him.”

Actually . . .

Just another way, maybe, that God had intervened. Allowed her to be in the area where her dad could find her and she could bring him to help.

Huh.

Yes, she needed to open her eyes.

Winter grabbed a cup of coffee too. “I saw Dodge. Are you two . . . ?” She raised an eyebrow.

Echo looked down at her two cups, not sure what to say.

“Oh, please. You’re not going to let him go, are you?”