I am most worried about Jake. He looks so much like his father. I can see the wheels turning in his mind. He’s thinking about the guns his father keeps in the next room and wondering if he’d have time to get to them, open the safe and get back in time to kill him.
It’s written clearly over his entire face.
“Jake,” I call to him and he looks at me. I barely shake my head and I can see the flash of frustration cross his face.
“Jake,” Daniel says and points his gun at my oldest son. “You must look like your father.”
Jake looks from Daniel to me.
“Leave him alone,” I say and walk to stand in front of him. “He has nothing to do with this.”
“Oh, but he does,” Daniel sneers. “You committed bigamy Sarah. You married another man. You fucked another man. You had children with another man.”
I can see the rage in his eyes as he continues.
“These three children are the result of your betrayal. You betrayed me.”
“Mama who is this?” Graham asks, and I can see the fear in his face though he’s trying to be strong like his older brother.
“Yes.” Jake looks at me. “Who is he and why does he keep calling you Sarah?”
Daniel looks at me. I’m at a loss as to what I should say. How do I explain this evil that has found my corner of paradise and now threatens everything I hold dear?
“Yes, Sarah, tell them who I am.”
I swallow.
“He’s someone I knew a long, long time ago,” I say.
“No!” Daniel erupts and throws a glass one of the children left on the side table across the room and it shatters against the wall. He looks at me and I can see the rage pouring out of his eyes. “Tell them who I am!”
I look at my children, torn between the desire to do and say whatever I need to in order to protect them and knowing what Daniel expects me to say.
My entire body feels frozen to the floor as my gaze shifts between my children who have never seen an outburst of rage like that from anyone in their life.
“Mom?” Kara looks terrified. Jake’s arm instinctively and protectively moves around both of his siblings.
“Tell them!” Daniel demands.
“He used to be my husband,” I say.
“No.” Daniel is seething. “I am still your husband.”
I shake my head. “No. We’re divorced.”
Daniel looks over at my children and walks toward them. I move simultaneously to stand between him and them, vainly trying to be some kind of barrier.
“You aren’t dead. I never signed any papers. You and I are still married. You are my wife, Sarah.”
“No,” I say, my voice calmer than I feel. I wonder if reasoning with him will help but know from experience it will not. “Sarah is dead. My name is Faith and my husband’s name is Matt.”
Surprisingly, my words don’t cause another violent outburst.
“Sit down,” he orders. I comply by sitting on the edge of the couch where my children are now seated. Daniel takes the seat across from me and stares. “You look good for a dead woman.”
I stare at him, saying nothing.
“Are your parents still alive too?”
“You know Nana and Pops?” Graham asks, before Jake silently admonishes him.
Daniel’s face twists into some kind of grotesque version of a smile.
“Well, well, well,” he sighs. “It seems no one died in a fiery car crash twenty-three years ago. Where are they? Did they move here to Wyoming with you?”
“Yes,” I admit. “But they’re not here. They’ve already left town to avoid this storm.”
“And where’s your husband?” he asks.
“He’s gone into town,” I lie. “He’ll be back any minute to pick us up, so we can join them.”
Daniel’s smile belies the anger that brews beneath the surface. “No,” he points the gun at Jake. “I don’t think you’re telling me the truth.”
“Take that gun off my son and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
Daniel looks at me and surprisingly does as I’ve commanded. I breathe an inward sigh of relief as the gun moves away from Jake. “He’s at the south end of our ranch.”
“I knew he wasn’t here. He hasn’t been here all day. I’ve been watching you. When do you expect him back?”
“I don’t.”
Daniel raises his eyebrow in question.
“He wanted us to leave in case the blizzard shuts everything down. He left two days ago with our hands to stay at the south end of the ranch. They’re trying to save as much of our cattle as they can.”
Daniel points the gun at Kara.
“Is that true?”
“Yes,” she says, her voice shaky. “Jake wanted to go with him, but Daddy said it was too dangerous and for him to go with us to Miami until the storm is over and it’s safe to come home.”
“So, you’re not expecting him back and he thinks you’re on your way to Miami?”
I stare at him.
“Where is the south end of the ranch? How big is this ranch? How far away is he?”
None of us say anything. Daniel points the gun at Graham.
“How many acres does your father own?”
Graham looks at me before answering.
“Two hundred thousand,” he whispers.
Daniel’s face shows his shock. He looks at me.
“Is this true?”
“Yes.”
“Your husband owns that much land?”
“Yes.”
He lets out a long whistle.
“You’re richer than I thought. No wonder you ditched me and married him. You caught yourself a rich husband.” He looks me over. “If I wasn’t so pissed off at what you pulled, I’d say good job.”
He takes a minute and I can see the wheels of his mind turning and thinking about some kind of plan.
“This is perfect,” he smiles. “I get to play happy family with the four of you for at least another week, if not two if this storm is as bad as they’re predicting. Hell, if I’m lucky, your father will die out there protecting a cow and we can make this situation permanent.”
“No!” Graham screams.
“It’s okay,” I say and place a hand on his shoulder.
“Daniel, please let my children go. They can drive into town and be safe. The storm that’s coming is a killer. The worst one we’ve ever had. That’s why the children and I were leaving. I’ll stay here with you. I’ll do anything you want, but please, Daniel let my children go.”
He laughs at me and I remember the feeling that laugh used to invoke when I would plead with him to stop tormenting me. That sound sends a chill down my spine like an icicle. Every memory I had forgotten, every fear of him I thought was laid to rest resurfaces. Only this time it’s worse. Much worse.
Because now I was not fearing for myself, but for my children.
The South Range
Matt
“Is anybody getting cell coverage out here?” I ask, searching in vain for some kind of signal. I’ve been out here before and I know there won’t be one. That’s why we brought the radio out, but even that is going to be pretty much useless in this storm.
The winds have picked up and the snow is just starting to come down. We’re southwest of the house and I realize it will take another couple of hours before it reaches home. I can only hope that Faith and our children got out safely.
A knot as big as a boulder sits in the pit of my stomach. I’m not sure why. I suspect it’s because I’m worried something might prevent them from getting out in time and they’ll be stuck at the house alone in the middle of this storm. I know my sister is planning on staying with her kids, but not everyone is as tough and let’s face it, stubborn as Ava.