Snow fell steadily outside as Nick Pugh sat before a Christmas Eve dinner that had long since gone cold. He picked up his phone and called his wife, Alison Stokes, yet again. She had only gone to visit her parents. What was taking her so long?Her phone was switched off.Frowning, Nick pulled on his coat, intending to go over to her parents' place himself. Before he could leave, however, shouting erupted in the yard.He stepped outside to find Michael Davis standing by the gate in a mink coat, a thick cigar between his teeth. Michael was one of the wealthier men in Cedar Hollow, and he was looking down his nose at Nick despite being a full head shorter."Hey, Nick! I know it's Christmas, but I've got relatives coming to stay. Time for you to clear out of my house.""Your house?" Nick stared at him. "This is my home. Since when do you get to tell me to leave?"Michael stepped back and pulled a document from inside his coat. He unfolded it in Nick's face."Since your wife sold it to me.

Alison turned her face away. Her swollen lips barely moved as she muttered, "I don't have any money. You can kill me if you want.""Your life isn't worth a cent to me," Nick replied in disgust. "Get out."She hadn't expected him to let her go so easily. After a stunned moment, she reached for her clothes, only to remember that most of them had burned on the heater. She'd freeze if she went outside dressed like this.Nick wouldn't even look at her. Finally, Alison climbed off the bed and held out a hand."Give me your coat.""I can change my mind about letting you leave."The coldness in his voice stopped her. Before she could reach him, the copperhead on his shoulder flicked its tongue in warning. One bite from a snake like that could be fatal.For the first time, Alison was genuinely afraid of her husband. But the fear did nothing to soften her resentment."You want the truth, Nick? Joseph's just one of the men I've been seeing. There are others, and they'd scare you half to death. I

Vicky hurried around the counter when she saw Nick turn deathly pale."Nick! What's wrong?"She pulled out her phone to call an ambulance, but he caught her wrist."Don't. Not yet."An extraordinarily vivid image had appeared in his mind. It was as though he were looking down from above the Pugh Family Burial Plot, seeing everything around the shrine at once.Behind the building, Michael Davis was directing several men as they piled firewood against the walls.The bastard was going to burn down the last place Nick had left.Nick steadied his breathing. When he raised his head, his eyes were cold. He took a handful of bills from his pocket and left them on the table."Keep the change, Vicky. I've got something I need to deal with."He hurried outside and took a shortcut toward the burial plot, passing the house that had been his only yesterday. Joseph stood outside the front door smoking, with a deeply troubled expression.As soon as he saw Nick, he rushed over and grabbed his arm."Ni

Vicky Pitt kept telling herself there was nothing unusual about bringing Nick a meal. He'd left far too much money at her diner, and he'd probably done it because he wanted food delivered. She would drop off his dinner and leave. Even if someone saw her, what could they possibly say?Still, she couldn't quite shake her nerves.The Pugh Family Burial Plot stood near the edge of Cedar Hollow, and few people ventured out there on a winter evening. Vicky checked that no one was around before approaching the shrine.She started to knock, then worried that standing outside for too long might attract attention. Instead, she pushed open the door and slipped inside.Nick was sitting on the bed, his eyes closed.Vicky froze for a moment. She hadn't expected to find him like this, looking so strong and striking. It had been a long time since she'd been this close to a handsome man, and she felt her cheeks grow warm.She quickly set the basket beside the bed."Nick, I know it's hard to cook out h

Brad Davis fell to the ground clutching his foot."Son of a bitch! I think I broke it!"His cries immediately set the Davis family off."Nick Pugh, you coward!" one man shouted at the closed door. "Hide in there all you want! The second you come crawling out, I'll..."Before he could finish, the shrine door swung open without a sound.The shouting died away.Nick sat comfortably in a chair, one arm resting on the wooden armrest. Something black was wrapped around his wrist, looking at first glance like a bracelet.He regarded the crowd with a quiet, unreadable expression. His gaze didn't seem fixed on anyone in particular, yet everyone felt as though he were looking straight into their hearts.Dean Stokes quietly edged behind the people standing in front of him, hoping Nick wouldn't notice.Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.Kyle Pugh stared at the young man, trying to reconcile him with the Nick he remembered. How could someone change so completely in such a short time? Was it possible the