She groaned. “No way. He drove me nuts today. But I might have another solution.”

“Which is?”

“I’ll ask Amy-Jo to stay with us. She can bring her trusty Smith & Wesson.”

“Does she know how to use it?”

Edie chuckled. “Without a doubt.”

When the week ended, I’d beg her to keep Amy-Jo around until arrests were made.

Back in Denton’s room, I eased into my former chair. This time I turned away from Isaac and Sheriff Wendall. Tears surfaced and needed to be private. My thoughts trailed to the misery in my life. If not for Jesus, I’d find no purpose. Yet I questioned if He was angry with me. My world continued to crumble, and people close to me met with the same destruction. I knew He was in the business of turning ashes into something beautiful, but enduring trials had to end soon.

“Shelby?” Denton peered at me through sleepy eyes. “I should shake you for refusing protection.”

“You’re the one who needs a safe house.” I swallowed my self-pity and reached deep for a facade of cheerfulness. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”

A pitiful, bruised smile met me. “Yeah. You look good.”

“Thank you. For the sake of conversation, I doubt your ability to shake me.” I touched the side of his bed. “I’ve been praying for you, thanking God you’re alive.”

“Thanks, I guess. Where was God when you and Aaron faced shooters and I flipped my truck?”

“Keeping us all alive.”

“For what purpose? To smack us again?”

“Trusting God doesn’t mean we have to understand why bad things happen.”

His face clouded. “Shelby, how can you believe in a God who allows us to suffer?”

“It’s about faith in a God I can feel. He’s given me peace about the things I can’t change. I trust His ways are best even though I don’t understand.” I peered into his battered face. “And hope for eternity.”

“My parents and grandparents are believers.”

“You’re not, or are you angry because life isn’t easy?” When he didn’t respond, I ventured one step more and whispered, “What kind of circumstances mold us into stronger people, the easy path or the challenges?”

“How’s Aaron?”

I’d hit a nerve, but I refused to retract my words. Instead I kissed my fingers and laid them on his forehead. Isaac and Sheriff Wendall walked to the opposite side of the hospital bed.

“You asked about Aaron,” Isaac said. “He made it through surgery and is holding his own. Due to Shelby’s quick thinking, she kept him from bleeding out.”

The sheriff nodded at me. “I’m not surprised. She’s smart and cares about others. Maybe too much.”

Denton’s gaze met mine. His confusion over God changed to tenderness, and the change penetrated my heart.

“Thanks, Shelby. Aaron’s like a dad to me. Him and Isaac. They remind me of the characters in the movie Secondhand Lions.”

“I saw that movie with my dad. And you’re right. Note, we agree.”