Matt and I will be married in the church my parents and I started attending shortly after moving here. The same one Ava invited me to when we first moved in. Never in a million years did I think I would be getting married in that same church three years later.
Everyone else has headed home leaving Matt and I alone in the barn where our reception will be held tomorrow night.
“We are going to have a beautiful winter wedding,” Matt smiles down at me. “And you are going to be the most beautiful bride to have ever walked down an aisle. I wish we could just stay here until it’s time to go to the ceremony tomorrow. It hurts my heart to be away from you for even a short time.”
I reach up and touch his handsome face. He leans down and kisses me in a deep and sensual way. We have not “gone all the way” as we used to say in high school. I wanted to wait and Matt respected my wishes, but I’m terrified of our wedding night. Of what will happen and of disappointing him. When the kiss ends, he smooths my hair back from my face and I can see his eyes have watered with emotion.
“I love you, Faith. More than I can ever show you in one lifetime.”
“I love you, too, Matt.”
There must have been something in the way I said those words, because he takes my chin and looks intently into my eyes.
“Is something wrong?”
I swallow. It’s time.
“Before I say anything else, I want you to know how much I love you. I have never loved anyone the way I love you.”
“And I love you, Faith. I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love another human being.”
I look away and feel as though all of the happiness I’ve been feeling for the past few years with him is about to be dashed to pieces in an instant.
“Tell me what’s wrong. Whatever it is I’ll fix it.”
“You can’t fix this.” I turn away for a moment and take a deep breath, preparing myself. “I need to tell you something before the wedding tomorrow, but I’m afraid that after I do, you won’t feel the same way about me.”
He takes my face in his strong hands and kisses me again, long and deep.
“Listen to me, Faith Deveroux and listen good. There is nothing, absolutely nothing you could say to me that would change the way I feel about you. You are everything to me.”
I fight the nerves forming in the pit of my stomach and pray my next words don’t ruin everything between us.
“My name’s not Faith,” I begin. “It’s Sarah.”
Part III
The Devil Returns
Twenty Years Later
Jackson, Wyoming
Faith
“I wish I didn’t have to go,” Matt, my husband of twenty years tells me as he ties his duffle bag shut and walks toward me. He gives me a bear hug and kisses the top of my head. I like it when he holds me like this. It makes me feel warm and safe. “I’m worried about leaving you and the kids here all alone with that storm headed this way.”
“We’ve been through snowstorms worse than the one they’re predicting,” I smile up at him. “Besides, we’re completely stocked up on food and supplies. We could live here for months without going out.”
He frowns, his face etched with concern, so I try to liven things up.
“Why don’t you head down to Florida while I’m gone for these few weeks? You could meet up with our parents,” he suggests.
“I don’t want to go to Florida when I know you’ll be up here freezing your backside off. We’ve been through heavy snowstorms before. Why do you want us to go Florida this time?”
“Because I’m worried you and the kids will get snowed under and something will happen where you can’t get out and no one can get in to help you. They say if that front comes in from Canada it could turn this snowstorm into one of the worst blizzards we’ve ever seen.”
“Pffft. If. When have the weather people ever gotten it right? Like I said, we’ve had storms like this before and we’ve gotten through them okay. The kids and I will be fine. Really. We’ve got plenty of food and water. We’re all healthy as horses and I’m sure that so-called front will blow east. These two weeks will pass so quickly you won’t even miss us.”
“Lies,” he says and pulls me close. “I always miss my family when I leave. I’ve never been gone this long either.”
“Jake wants to come with you, you know.”
“I know,” he smiles. “I told him next time. If you’re determined to stay, I want him here with you.”
“He’s grown so fast,” I say, kissing him. “He’s taller than you, now.”
“Don’t remind me! So, about Florida? You could leave tomorrow and be on a nice warm beach by tomorrow night. I’m sure our parents would love to see you and the kids!” He fishes out his cell phone and starts looking at the Southwest Airlines app. “The kids would love to get away from this cold and warm up.“
“The kids will be fine,” I say, taking his cell phone from him.
“At least I don’t have to worry about our folks. They had the good sense to head south before this weather started up,” he says. “We’re way out here in the middle of nowhere.”
“It’s not nowhere. Besides, I like our big ranch.”
As I found out soon after moving here almost twenty-three years ago, Matt’s family has owned this ranch for several generations. There was over two hundred thousand acres of wilderness. It quite literally felt as though we were in the middle of nowhere.
“Faith, even the ranch hands who aren’t going with me on this cattle drive have started to pack up and head into town. There won’t be anyone within miles to help you if something happens.”
“Nothing is going to happen,” I sigh. “I promise. We won’t do anything stupid. We won’t take any chances. I won’t even let the kids go out ice skating on the pond while you’re gone.”
“But –“
“Hold on,” I put the phone down and give him a kiss on his cheek. “If it looks like it’s going to turn bad for us, if the weatherman is right and this front turns south, we’ll leave. We have four-wheel drives. But you know how the weather service is. They always predict storms are worse than they ever are. It’s so early in the season, we haven’t even had the first real snow yet and they’re out here predicting Armageddon.”
“I know, but I’ve always been here when the bad storms hit. This time it’s just you and the kids.”
“I promise you the kids and I will be just fine. I’m a tough rancher’s wife. I can take care of things when you’re not here.”
I like it that he’s concerned. I have never had any doubt how much my husband loves us and he makes no pretense otherwise. He’s a great husband and an even better father. I don’t take for granted how great my life is or how fortunate I am to have him.
“This house can withstand a thousand snow storms and it will be okay. We designed it together, remember? We have multiple generators to keep us safe and warm and fully functioning if the electricity decides to go out. You’ve chopped plenty of firewood to last us several winters and it’s all dry and in the wood barn. Please stop worrying. This house and everyone in it is going to come through okay.”
I love our house. It’s my dream home. When we first got married, Matt’s parents asked me to design my dream home and with Matt’s input, I did. I never dreamed they would be giving it to us as a wedding present. It’s a huge, modern farmhouse and I love it more than I can say. Matt’s father still works the ranch with him, but much less than he used to. His mother likes to travel and they’re both gone a good portion of the year these days. As the only son, Matt wanted to continue the tradition of ranching. He is a cowboy through and through. Both of our boys are just as enthusiastic about ranch life as he is.