After recovering from her illness and the Christmas Snowstorm, Lil thought that the complications in life with Russell were pretty much over. Other things occupied her mind like getting Dr. Benjamin Pennington back to the cabin and together with Nancy Summerhill, Lil's choice as his permanent dancing partner. How to accomplish that, however, becomes a problem as life does a slight turn on Lil when two men chase her through Russell's forest then try to shoot at her. And successfully shoot Russell. The ensuing mystery would become the most difficult problem she would have to unravel. Worse than being kidnapped twice, or shot at by the poachers, or beaten up by the youngest poacher, or even fighting her third brain tumor as she had last summer. Even being killed by Arnold Pittsman then returned to Russell by the Lord couldn't have prepared her for this. This time, the ultimate price is demanded - and paid unwittingly by a friend. And, Batsy finally learns just what a crack shot he really is with his rifle when death visits the mountain thrice in one summer. The consolation comes in his Andy, and a surprise that knocks the wind out of his father and even his mother. Well, one is never sure how the Lord will keep His promises. And Lil was proof positive of that.