A figure running into the cul-de-sac caught her eye.
Luke!
He was shouting something.
“What?” A roar from behind the house obscured the sound of his voice.
“The pool! Run to the pool!”
“It’s in the backyard, closer to the fire!”
“Go, it’s our only chance! The wind’s changed direction, it's all headed this way—”
Her legs wouldn’t move. “Luke—”
He grabbed her arm so hard she thought he would snap it from the socket, but the shock was covered up by a kiss as he dragged her into the front hall. She skittered along the tiles, then followed Luke through the kitchen, and out the French doors.
NINE
They hit the patio running. She almost skidded to a stop when she saw the brush and trees behind the house in flames. The pool beckoned from a few yards away. Krista clutched Luke’s hand as they raced across the patio, and they jumped.
Tepid water splashed around them. Krista clung to Luke’s jacket. He smelled like two days of no shower and of campfire. She didn’t care. Now the tears.
He rubbed massaging circles on her back. “It’s going to be all right,” he said, then began to pray. “Lord, we know that You are with us right now, even in the fire. Be our refuge. Deliver us. Give us a new beginning from this day forward.” She could not look at what caused the roar that flared past the house.
Krista forced her eyes open and peered over her shoulder. Another beloved live oak, more than one-hundred years old, went up in a flash of flame. But so far the clearing she and Luke had worked on all spring held the fire back from the house.
She shifted and looked into Luke’s eyes. “From this day forward?” She laughed, despite the grave situation.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.”
“Me, either,” she whispered, “except maybe on a beach in Hawaii with you.” She smiled.
“Listen, I want to do something today. God is here, as our witness.” Luke took her hands.
“What?”
“Practice our vows.”
“Now? Here?”
“What better place? C'mon.” He grinned at her. “I, Luke Hansen, before God our Father, take you, Krista Schmidt, as my wife.”
She tried not to tremble as she tore her gaze from the flames around them and looked into Luke’s eyes.
“For richer, for poorer, through laughter and pain, through fire and rain.” He gritted, his teeth showing white on his grimy face. “For the rest of my days on earth, I pledge myself to you and you alone, as God is our witness and guide. I make my heart your refuge.”
“You've been practicing. And, you're so calm.” Krista managed to smile in spite of herself.
“We did well on prepping the land around Nana’s house. No fuel, no fire. The planes are doing their work, too. We just need to wait for this heat to die down. Now it’s your turn. C’mon.”
She should be terrified out of her wits, but now, all she wanted was to be right here in the circle of his arms. “I, Krista Schmidt, take you, Luke Hansen, as my husband.”
She’d spoken them to him in all seriousness, the words she had rehearsed in front of the mirror countless times. “For richer, for poorer, through joy and pain, through fire and rain. For the rest of my days on earth, I pledge myself to you alone as God is our witness and guide. I make my heart—”
She couldn’t say it and turned from him.
“What? What is it?” With callused hands, he cupped her face.
“I mean those vows with all my heart, but I’m terrified, Luke.”
“That I am going to disappoint you again?” Luke let her hands go and winced. “I’m human, Krista, and I guarantee you I will let you down. But I am not the man I was years ago. I willingly walked away from the best things God gave me—my walk with Him, and you. I won’t do that again.”
“I know you won’t.”
“I know because I’m going to build us a defensible space. Just like we did around Nana’s house.”
“So when the fire comes it will burn around us?”
The sound of a plane overhead made Krista look to the sky. The hold of the plane opened up beyond the canopy of flames and dumped a reddish rain on the fire.
“Yes, it will. But inside, we’ll be safe.”
The roaring around them intensified. Krista’s head swam. She blinked and looked at Luke again. His face, while dirty, had turned an ashen color. The water was too warm. She felt like she had in the hot tub last night.
“We need to get out of this pool,” Krista said. “We need to get out of here.”
“We can't outrun this. We need to be still.” Now it was Luke’s turn to lean on her, and she held him in her arms, not wanting to let go.
Another plane roared overhead. Did she hear shouts? Krista looked toward the front of the house and saw nothing but smoke. She coughed. Her clothes clung to her and in spite of the heat, her body wanted to shiver. A firestorm raged around three sides of Nana’s property.
“Does anyone else know we're here?”
“I passed a crew right before I ran into the cul-de-sac. They’ll get us out as soon as this flash fire is under control.”” His teeth glowed white in his soot-covered face. Krista kissed his dry lips.
“Well, for now, I’m safe right here with you.”
Think we’ll eventually make it to the church on time and make this marriage official on paper?”
“I do.”
EPILOGUE
Was it just three days ago she and Luke had been caught in the fire? Krista smoothed the gown that fell to her feet where the cute shoes Sami had helped her pick out winked at her. Cute shoes? The firestorm must have done something to her brain. Krista shook her head and smiled at her dad, who tucked her hand under his arm.
“Are you ready?” Nana poked her head outside the chapel doors.
“Nana! You’re supposed to be seated already—go!” Krista laughed, waving her bouquet of lilies at her grandmother. The delayed delivery of the flowers had been a gift, and would never have lasted if they'd arrived on time for Saturday.
Nana grinned at Krista, then pulled her head inside the chapel like a turtle going back into its shell.
“Now the question is: Are you ready?” Dad’s eyes twinkled.
“I’m past ready.” She couldn’t stop smiling, which was a good thing. At the strains of the wedding march on the organ, they entered the chapel together.
And there Luke stood. Sami stood opposite Luke and Jeff. Thank You, Lord, for a good friend to come and stay for my wedding. And Jana, and Momma, too.
Uncle Al beamed from his seat and nearly blinded her with a flash from his digital camera. The photographer they’d originally hired couldn’t make it today, but Krista knew she'd be happy with whatever Uncle Al, and the other bevy of amateur photographers were able to capture.
Aunt Vangie’s mascara was already running along with her tears. As was Momma's. Her mother glowed in her “MOB” dress of salmon pink, along with matching shoes, as she sat in the seat of honor at the front of the chapel.
Luke's fellow volunteer fire fighters and their families took up three rows, and the sea of faces blurred the farther Krista moved down the aisle. Among the congregation were several families who had lost their homes. Four homes lost in the fire that still smoldered. Nana’s house and most everyone else’s in the cul-de-sac were spared, despite the flash fire.
In the nearby reception area, empty boxes stood waiting for collections of food and clothes for those in the community who'd lost everything in the fire.
Everything else drifted away when she caught sight of Luke again. Dear, sweet Luke who had come through the fire just to be with her. And in more ways than one, she had come through the fire the fire to be with him. Dad pulled back her veil, kissed her on the cheek, and released her to Luke’s care. Yes, they'd take care of each other, come what may.
Pastor Mike began, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here toda
y, to witness the covenant of marriage between this man and woman. Because God is our refuge and strength. . .”
THE END
Introduction to Staci Stallings' book:
It is my pleasure to introduce “Cowboy” by #1 best-selling Christian author Staci Stallings. While my book in this box set, “Wildfire Wedding”, is set deep in the Heart of Texas, “Cowboy” takes you into the heart of a Nashville superstar who is searching for a reason to keep living after the death of his wife. “Cowboy” has hit the #1 spot in Contemporary Christian Romance twice since it was first published and has been called “an incredibly addicting story.” I know you will be inspired by this simple yet profound love story.
Enjoy!
—Lynette Sowell
About the Author
Lynette Sowell is the Carol award-winning author of more than 20 novels and novellas, several of which have made the ECPA best-seller list. When she's not crafting stories, she works as a freelance reporter and columnist for her local newspaper. She was born in Massachusetts, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and makes her home on the doorstep of the Texas hill country with her husband, a duo of cats, and a Texas heeler named Mocha. In no particular order, Lynette loves coffee, chocolate, reading, cooking, watching movies, and is always up for a Texas road trip. You can find her on Facebook at facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor and on Twitter @LynetteSowell. She also blogs at NotQuiteAmishLiving.com and InspyRomance.com.
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