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detectives outside waiting for you to wake up. They seem to have urgent questions about catching the person who hurt you. You can see them as soon as you’re able or feeling up to talking. The doctor said it would be okay—considering the circumstances.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œYou were shot in the chest. You’re lucky to be alive.”
    Ben winced in pain. “I thought it was something like that. Where’s my family?”
    â€œRight over here,” Brenda’s voice piped up. Her face appeared within his vision a moment later. “Hi, Ben. I stayed here with you all night.”
    â€œThanks.” Ben closed his eyes. There was so much to absorb at the moment. So the threats Rogge made hadn’t been idle, Ben thought. And his family had been in danger, to say nothing of himself. What if Daett had gone out to the barn instead of him? Would the shooter have threatened Daett —perhaps even killed him as part of Rogge’s revenge?
    â€œI’m going to let the detectives know you’re awake,” the nurse said, interrupting his thoughts. “No more thrashing about now.”
    Ben nodded.
    The nurse vanished, and Ben heard the sound of a door opening and closing. Brenda’s face came into his view again.
    â€œHow are you doing?” she asked.
    â€œRotten.”
    â€œWe’re glad you’re alive, Ben.”
    Ben moved his arm and then stopped. “How’s Daett taking this? That must have been quite a ruckus if the things I seem to remember really happened.”
    â€œIt was a mess,” Brenda said quietly. “But Daett and Mamm and the rest of us are glad you’re alive.”
    They would be, Ben thought. Even with the shame of having Englisha police on the farm. The police must have come after the shooting and stayed around like they did, asking questions of everyone.
    Ben forced his eyes to focus on Brenda’s face. “Was anyone else attacked?”
    Brenda shook her head. She looked weary and the evidence of streaks from earlier tears marked her face. Her kapp was wrinkled, which was so unlike Brenda. She must have been up all night sitting watch with him. He didn’t deserve any of this attention. He should have died like the shooter intended. Then his family would have been rid of him once and for all and they’d be safe.
    â€œI’m sorry, Brenda,” Ben whispered. “I didn’t know it would go like this.”
    â€œThat’s what comes from sin, Ben.” Brenda’s voice was clipped. “It always gets much worse than we intend.”
    Ben blinked as the pain of her words cut deep, especially coming from Brenda. Mamm would say something like that—and Daett too. But Brenda? The shock from last night must have cut deep into her heart.
    When he didn’t reply, Brenda added more. “We thought youwere going to die, Ben. Daett found you in a pool of blood after we heard a gunshot. All of us ran out after him. Do you think that sight was easy to see? You lying there and not moving? Seeing your face so white and blood everywhere? It was awful, Ben. Worse than enduring the time you spent in jail.”
    â€œI’m sure it was.” Ben looked away. The sorrow in Brenda’s face was hurting him more than his chest. He’d known to some degree what his family must have gone through because of him. But seeing the pain on his sister’s face and listening to her, he realized it was much worse than anything he’d imagined.
    A door opened and two uniformed officers appeared within Ben’s eyesight. They approached his bedside.
    One of them looks familiar, Ben thought. Perhaps he’d met the officer during his time in court or prison.
    â€œI’m Detective Barton,” the first man said. “This is Detective Lessen. Are you able to answer questions at this time, Mr. Stoll?”
    â€œ Yah , I guess. But I don’t know much about what