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road alone, especially in a buggy.”
    â€œDo you think the men on the road are the same people who’ve been attacking churches in the county, Papa?” I asked softly. “I’m really not convinced the incidents are connected.”
    â€œI don’t know, Daughter,” Papa said slowly, “but I have to admit that I have a bad feeling about this.”
    â€œI’d hate to see our town overreact because of some careless teenager who thought his antics were funny.”
    â€œI understand that, Hope. But what if it was more than that? I think we will all need to be very careful for a while.”
    I wanted to bring up Jonathon’s idea to gather some people together to try to set up plans to protect Kingdom, but I didn’t dare. Papa would never understand, and Jonathon might pay a price for my indiscretion.
    â€œIt is nothing for you to worry about,” Papa said firmly. “This is something Pastor Mendenhall and the elders will have to address. I do not have the solution.”
    â€œPapa,” I said slowly, “Flo asked me a question I couldn’t answer, and I want to ask how you would have responded.”
    â€œAnd what is the question, Daughter?”
    â€œIf . . . if someone you loved was in danger, would you resort to violence to protect them if there was no other choice?”
    His eyes widened before he looked away. I waited in silence for his reply. Finally he cleared his throat. “In truth, Hope, I cannot answer you. I have been brought up to believe we are to live in peace with every man, and when assaulted, we should turn the other cheek. There is nothing wrong withresisting evil, but to use physical force against another human being?” He shook his head. “You are my daughter. I would lay down my life for you. That is all I can say.”
    â€œThank you, Papa.” He hadn’t really answered my question, and it bothered me.
    As we stepped out onto the wooden sidewalk outside our shop, we greeted quite a few friends who were already making their way to Cora’s Corner Café. When it first opened, many in our town had shunned the small restaurant. Our former elders hadn’t approved of a female selling food, stating that it was a woman’s duty to stay home and prepare all the meals her family required. But its original owner, Cora Menlo, had seen a need for the many single men and women in our community. And although business had begun slowly, eventually most of the town embraced Cora’s. It even took the place of some of our church suppers, becoming a popular gathering spot where residents could spend time fellowshiping without all the work a large supper entailed.
    After taking over the restaurant from Cora, Lizzie kept the name, even though several of us had suggested she change it. But her love and appreciation for her old employer prevented her from removing Cora’s name. Last month, Cora came for a visit and chided Lizzie for not repainting the large wooden sign that hung outside the red and white building. Secretly, I believe she was touched by Lizzie’s devotion. Cora, who had given Lizzie and her daughter, Charity, a place to live when they needed help, left Kingdom when her sister in Oregon became ill. She sold the restaurant to Lizzie for much less than it was worth and went to care for her sister. Now Lizzie and Noah were able to make a good living because of her generosity.
    As Papa and I walked through the front door, Lizzie saw us and hurried over. “Hope and Samuel, I’m so glad to see you both!” She put her arms around me, hugging me fiercely. “Aaron told Noah what happened on the road, Hope. I’m so grateful you’re all right.” She let me go and peered into my eyes. “What if you’d been really hurt?”
    Touched by her concern, I smiled. “I’m fine, Lizzie. Really. Just a little rattled. It’s still hard to believe there are people out