Taming the Wind

*** TWENTY-NINE

"We are here this glorious October day to celebrate the marriage of Tyler and Carissa," the pastor said as the clock in the hall struck eleven.

He smiled at the small gathering of well-wishers, then looked directly at Carissa. "Joining two people together to make one is like trying to tame the wind. Focusing on the wrong thing can be useless and even destructive. So rather than trying to tame what cannot be tamed, look to God to teach you how to use the wind--or in this case, the marriage--to benefit you both."

He looked to Tyler, and his expression seemed to grow rather stern.

"Marriage isn't always easy, and you two will have to work hard to keep from letting Satan defeat you."

Carissa heard an "Amen" from Marietta Terry and smiled. She glanced down at the simple but beautiful dress of white Indian muslin over yellow cotton. It was nothing like the fashionable gown she'd worn to marry Malcolm Lowe, but she loved this dress far more.

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The pastor continued. "Satan wants to strike at the very heart of what God has made holy. If he can destroy marriages and families, Satan knows that it will weaken the faith of man. So I'm telling you both here and now that you need to follow some very simple rules. First, the nevers:

"Never let the sun go down on your anger. In other words, clear the slate before you go to sleep at night. If you hold a grudge, work it out. No matter how hard."

Carissa looked up at Tyler and smiled. No doubt they would have their share of arguments. Tyler winked as if reading her mind.

The pastor continued. "Never say anything you don't mean. It's easy to let your mouth spew all sorts of ugly words, but you can never take those back, whether you mean them or not.

"And lastly, never give up on each other. It's easy to grow weary in life and lose sight of what brought you together in the first place. Giving up will seem reasonable at times, but hold fast. Never give up--your love is worth fighting for."

Carissa wished she'd had such advice prior to marrying Malcolm Lowe. She smiled to herself, however, knowing she probably wouldn't have listened.

"Now for the 'always' side of things," the pastor said with a broad smile.

"Always bear one another's burdens and work together. Like two horses in a harness, if you each try to go your own way you won't get anywhere.

Likewise, it's easier to carry a load with two sharing the weight.

"Always treat each other with the same amount of patience, mercy, and tenderness that you want for yourself. If you wouldn't appreciate being treated a certain way, then don't treat your mate that way.

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"And last, always--always--look to God for direction and hope. God is love, and therefore no marriage can survive for long without Him. For true love, love that lasts forever, is born in Him. It's nurtured in God's love, and it's there that love grows strong enough to weather the storms of life.

Always love."

Carissa brushed away a tear and pushed back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She recited her marriage vows and felt a sense of wonder as Tyler slipped the ring on her finger. She found it almost too much to believe. After being sure she would never love again, Carissa had fallen in love and married a man unlike any she had ever known. "You may kiss your bride," the pastor announced, and before Carissa could even react, Tyler had turned her in his arms. He gently tilted her chin up and covered her mouth with his. The kiss was tender yet searing. It was the perfect way to seal their vows.

They turned toward the small group of people, each one dear to Carissa.

Even Hannah, who'd given birth to a beautiful baby daughter only the week before, put aside the doctor's wishes that she remain abed and had insisted William allow her to attend the ceremony. For this reason Tyler and Carissa decided to hold the wedding at the Barnett ranch, and William finally gave in.

He struck a deal that Hannah could quietly sit and watch the wedding, but could not remain for the reception. She smiled from her seat, with Marty and Andy on one side and Robert and William on the other. Baby

Sarah slept peacefully in her arms.

Juanita and her family were there, along with Tyler's men and the Terrys.

Laura and Brandon sat with their children, and Carissa couldn't help but remember how Laura had

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cautioned her against her marriage to Malcolm Lowe. She was more than happy now to see Carissa marry Tyler.

But perhaps most important to Carissa was the presence of her mother and father. She hadn't always felt that close to either one. Her desire for independence and to control her own life had damaged their relationship, but nearly dying had given her a great desire to mend the gulf between them.

She had waited the extra month to wed just so her parents could be present.

Turning to face them now, she noted that her mother was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, but joy radiated in her smile as she gazed at her daughter and new son-in-law.

Gloria took that moment to jump from her grandfather's lap. She came flying toward the newly married couple and wrapped her chubby arms around Tyler's legs. Carissa had spent considerable time prior to the nuptials explaining the wedding to Gloria and telling her how Tyler would now be a part of their family. Gloria made it quite clear that she understood.

"Now you're my papa."

Tyler lifted her and rubbed noses with the child. "I will always be your papa."

Gloria clapped her hands and planted a big kiss on his face. Everyone laughed, and Carissa herself couldn't help but giggle at the sight of her daughter's enthusiastic love. She felt the same way, and had protocol allowed for it, Carissa might have clapped her hands and kissed Tyler with the same excitement.

They celebrated with Juanita's Mexican wedding cake and a luncheon of roasted pork and beef, corn on the cob, fried potatoes, and dozens of other dishes. The hours seemed to

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fly by, and when Tyler announced that he had a surprise for her, Carissa couldn't help but be curious.

"Your mother and sister have promised to take good care of Gloria for a few days," he told her. Leading her out to a waiting carriage, Tyler pulled her close. "We're going to have some time to ourselves."

"Truly?" She could scarcely believe it. Since Tyler had rescued her from Herbert Lockhart, time to themselves had been scarce.

Even after she'd left the Barnett ranch to return to Laura and Brandon's home, it seemed that the events of life and daily affairs had kept each of them busier than they would have liked. Tyler wouldn't always tell Carissa what he was doing or why he was gone for so long, but she focused on helping Laura to complete improvements to the house. She reminded herself that soon enough Tyler would be with her every evening.

Now as he maneuvered the carriage down the drive, Carissa couldn't help but wonder what Tyler had in mind. "So where are we going?"

"I thought you might like to see your ranch," he told her.

"It's yours now--it's always been yours," she said, smiling.

"Ours," he corrected. "It's ours, and I intend to make it the best home you and Gloria have ever known."

Carissa took hold of his arm and put her head on Tyler's shoulder. She had never known such contentment or peace. She felt she could finally let go of the old and embrace the new. For quite a while neither one said a word.

It wasn't all that long before they turned down a long, narrow road. The landscape was lovely, with rolling prairie turned brown and yellow.

Longhorns grazed, mindless of

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the carriage traversing their feeding grounds. In the distance, Carissa could see a line of trees. That almost always indicated water--usually a river or creek. As they approached, she could see that a small wooden bridge spanned a narrow stream. The banks weren't all that high, but the width of the wash was far wider than the little creek needed.

"When it rains this all fills up," Tyler said as if reading her mind. "Usually the water runs fuller, but we haven't had much rain."

"Who built the bridge?" Carissa asked.

"My father," Tyler replied. "He built it when they first came to take this land.

He said he knew it would be almost impossible to accomplish what he wanted unless he secured the bridge first. He and my mother camped on the other side and every day my pa would work on the crossing. He made it to last. He usually made everything that way."

They passed the line of trees, and that was when Carissa saw the burned remains of the ranch house and outbuildings. The charred pieces of the Atherton family dreams served as a haunting reminder of the inconsistent state of life on the Texas frontier.

"I didn't know it was ... like this," she said, looking at the destruction.

"That's what you get for buying the place sight unseen," he teased.

Carissa couldn't help but imagine that coming back here was hard for Tyler.

"We don't have to be here if it's too painful."

"It's not," he told her. "I love this place. There are a lot of good memories here, mingled with the bad. I was out here prayin' one day and it came to me that this ranch is a lot like you and me."

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"Like us?"

"We had tragedy in the past that nearly destroyed us. We're like these burned-out buildings. We've seen death and grief, and we've carried those scars all these years. We'll always have reminders of the past, but if we allow God to work, I think we can make a much better future."

Carissa met his gaze. "We just need to clear away the debris."

"Someday we'll clear all of this out," he told her. "One day, I'll build you the most amazing house. But for now, I'm hoping you won't mind living in this little place." He brought the carriage around the old ranch house to reveal a pleasant looking little building about twenty yards away.

Carissa looked from the house back to Tyler. "Did you build this?"

"I helped to enlarge it. It was already here from when

Osage and a couple of other men took care of the place during the war.

Along with help from William and some of the other men, we managed to extend it a bit. When you delayed marryin' me until your folks were able to get here, I knew I had to do something to keep myself busy." He reined back on the horses and set the brake. Throwing her a grin, Tyler jumped down from the carriage. "Come on and let me show you around."

Carissa moved to accept his help, but instead of letting her step down, Tyler swung her into his arms and held her as he might do with Gloria. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

"You look mighty pleased with yourself, Mrs. Atherton."

She giggled. "I must say that I am, Mr. Atherton. Mighty pleased indeed."

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He laughed and carried her to the door of the cabin, stopping only to open the door. Carrying her across the threshold, Tyler finally allowed Carissa to touch the ground. She looked around the room in pleasant surprise. It was larger than it had seemed from the outside. A kitchen stood at one end of the long room and a fireplace was positioned at the other. In between were pieces of furniture that gave the place a very homey look.

Carissa moved away from Tyler and went to touch the upholstery of a wing-backed chair that sat on one side of the fireplace. The burgundy and brown material seemed quite fitting for the cabin. On the other side of the hearth was an oak rocker that would serve her well for rocking Gloria and any other babies that might come along. And Carissa silently prayed that there would be many children in their family. She very much enjoyed being a mother.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"I do." She went to the window and fingered the beautiful curtains hanging there.

"Hannah made those for you. She said a place just wasn't a home without curtains at the windows and rugs on the floor."

Carissa turned and noticed the homemade rug that stretched in front of the fireplace. "I suppose she made the rug, as well."

"No, Marietta did that. She also gave us the quilts on the beds. Do you wanna see?"

She couldn't help but laugh. "Of course."

"This is Gloria's room," he said, opening a door. The small whitewashed room had a bed decorated with a yellow-and-white quilt. Yellow-checked curtains hung at the single window and beneath it was a small dresser.

"It's perfect," Carissa said, looking in wonder at the 323

arrangement. She could already imagine Gloria playing on the wooden floor.

"I didn't go to the trouble of puttin' up wallpaper, 'cause Hannah told me you'd probably want to pick that out yourself."

Carissa smiled. "I'm sure anything you would have chosen would have pleased me. I didn't even know we'd have this beautiful little place. In fact, I wasn't at all sure what to expect for our future living arrangements." She shrugged. "I kind of purposefully avoided asking for fear of making you uncomfortable."

"I hope in the future you won't keep things like that to yourself. We need to always be free to discuss our concerns. Promise me you will just come to me with your worries."

She nodded. "I promise I will."

Tyler took hold of her hand and led her back into the main room. He opened the second of three doors. "This is our bathing room. Your sister told me that you're quite fond of a hot bath, so Will helped rig a tank on the other side of the wall. We'll keep it filled with water and most days it will warm right up under the sun. Then you can just pump it right into the tub," he said pointing to the small pump handle. "It's like having indoor plumbing."

She laughed and marveled at his thoughtfulness. "You went to so much trouble. Thank you for all of this."

"But we aren't done yet," he said, pulling her back out of the room. He drew her to the last of the doors and opened it. "This is ours."

Carissa stepped into the bedroom. Great care had been given to this room.

There was a large four-poster bed and a matching chest made of cherry wood. A beautiful double

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wedding-ring quilt in pale blues, yellows, and greens graced the top of the bed and matching shams trimmed out the pillows. Carissa couldn't help but run her fingers over the material.

"I got the bed in Dallas. Do you like it?" he asked, coming up behind her.

Putting his arms around her, he pulled Carissa back against him. Tyler placed kisses on her neck, causing Carissa to shiver.

"It's beautiful. I love it," she said, feeling her emotions starting to get the best of her. "It would seem this house has everything we could ever need."

Tyler turned her in his arms. "So long as we have each other, we have everything we need. I'm gonna work my best to make you happy here."

Carissa sighed and placed her head on his shoulder. "You won't have to work too hard, because I'm already as happy as a girl could ever be. In fact, for the first time in my life, I feel whole."

He lifted her face to meet his and smiled. "Me too," he whispered. "Me too."