Page 81 of North

“Cooked,” said Selah.

Gerri laughed.

“She’s adjusting,” said RJ of Hana. “But she lived a lot of trauma, so…”

And Selah couldn’t help but hear North’s voice…This world is a dangerous place filled with dangerous people, and, well, to quote Frank, the world needs dangerous gentlemen.

Gerri put a cup of black coffee in front of RJ.

“Thanks, Mom.” She picked it up, sipped, then looked over at Selah. “So, it seemed you two settled whatever it was last night.”

It. Their fight in Mariposa. Which felt stupid now, in light of everything that had happened. She nodded.

“I’m sorry I overheard—I didn’t want to⁠—”

“We got that part.”

She took a bite of her roll. Then set it down. “My husband, York, was…is…built the same as North. He’s a—what did he call it?—‘dangerous gentleman’?”

“Yes,” Selah said.

“But guess what—I was the one always running into trouble.” She smiled. “So I get it more than you think.”

Oh?

Gerri plated the over-hard eggs next to the bacon. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

She slid the plate over, and Selah reached for the salt and pepper.

“Don’t let his words fool you. A man can’t be dangerous without it piling up inside him. My husband…he did a lot of, well, things he didn’t think he could be forgiven for. And God, in His mercy, showed him that he could be. That he could live in peace.”

Selah paused. She didn’t care if her eggs grew cold.

“York is a believer. He loves God. And he isn’t the man he was…isn’t called on to do the things he once did. But he still struggles with…gray areas. And my job is to remind him that God’s mercy is still for him. That God is still in control. And to pray for him and support him. And occasionally, shoot alongside him.”

“These are things a mother doesn’t need to hear,” Gerri said, but she grinned at RJ. “Although York should be glad someone’s mother taught her how to shoot.”

RJ rolled her eyes. She glanced at Joshua as he drove his car along the hearth, making a motor sound.

But RJ’s words about peace nudged Selah. “That’s the thing. How do you ever have peace in a world where…well, in a world where evil seems to win?”

“That’s the word, though, right?” Gerri said, handing her coffee. “Seems. Jesus says in John 16:33 that in this world we’ll have trouble. But in Him, we have peace. And we should remember—even find confidence and hope in—the fact that He has overcome the world.”

“What does that even mean? I’m telling you, I meet a lot of people who don’t see Jesus overcoming in the world where they live. And yes, I believe, but…”

“He’s triumphed over sin, death, and most of all, evil. Safety isn’t just a mortal concept—it’s an eternal one too. And often God reminds us of His power in the eternal by showing up in the mortal.”

“It feels like a losing battle.”

“Only because you feel like it’s up to you to win it. It’s not. Your job is to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. That means you don’t get to decide the outcome. God does. Your eggs are getting cold.”

Right.

“Gigi!”

The voice sounded behind Selah, and she glanced over her shoulder to see a little girl running into the room, long blonde hair in braids, wearing a dress, cowboy boots, and dirt on her face and knees.