It seems as if God is testing Jana with many trials. On her second day in California she finds a homeless family on the street, gets the woman and boys a job where she works, and invites them into her home until they find other shelter. She discovers three children hiding from drug dealers who murdered a man. The felons get close, but Jana guards the children. She helps Mable, a neighbor she calls Grandma who has health issues and cannot stand long enough to cook a meal. Jana finds an additional part-time job so she can save for college expenses, but she has difficulty with her boss and his jealous secretary. Butch, an ex-boyfriend, and his friend Elmer, kidnap Jana and take her on a tortuous trip to Arkansas. They will not give her water or food and continually threaten her life. Elmer falls from the truck onto the pavement, but Butch does not stop. He continues toward his destination where he receives a snake bite--a death he threatened for Jana. Elmer's sister thinks Jana pushed Elmer from the truck and wants Jana charged and prosecuted.