What had started as a peaceful night turned into the wildest thunderstorm anyone had seen in years. No rain fell, yet the sky crashed and rolled together in a never-ending dance for domination. Lighting was always the first to strike, bright and furious. But thunder would retaliate, much louder and ferocious than the lightning could ever hope to be.
Adam Cartwright, giving up on sleep on such a restless night, threw off his blankets, slipped into his robe and boots, and walked as quietly as he could downstairs. Although, with as much noise as the storm was making, he doubted he would awake any of his family. Slightly frustrated, he lowered himself into his favorite chair by the fireplace; he needed his sleep. They had a cattle drive coming up in a few days and, even though Adam was still in his twenties – just barely – he wanted to get as much sleep as he possibly could before the weeks came where he would get minimal. But thanks to the storm, he would be getting no more sleep on this night.
Rather than stew in his unhappiness, Adam recalled, with perfect detail, a night that had been much different than this. That night had possessed no storm, but within the same house in which Adam now sat, things were on the brink of falling apart from a different vindictive guest…