This Far By Faith

by Audrey DeMaere

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Chapter One - The Rodeo

It was warm and sunny, the perfect day for a rodeo. During the summer the sun barely went down at night in the Peace River country. The days stretched on into the night.

Ever since he could remember, Billy dreamed of owning his own ranch and riding bucking broncos. In fact, he planned to become the world champion bareback rider someday. On their farm near Grande Prairie, Alberta, he spent every free moment riding the horses, the cattle, and even the pigs. He even attempted to ride a huge boar as it charged through an open gate. If it was movable, it was ride-able. Some winters he rode to school on a toboggan pulled by his beloved half-wolf hound dog. What he lacked in fear he made up for in daring imagination and courage. Whenever he felt lonely or down he would ride away on his horse and all the troubles of the world would disappear.

Even though his parents objected to his competing in the rodeos, Billy would always manage to find a way to get there and pay his riding entry fee. He was big, and a good rider for a thirteen year old. In those days they didn’t question his age or eligibility, only his ability. As well as competing in the bucking, he enjoyed the thrill of being an outrider for the chuck-wagon races.

The Annual Teepee Creek Rodeo was an event he had been waiting for all summer. He was determined to ride and knew if he pulled the right horse, he could win money.

All the cowboys were familiar with the bucking patterns of each of the horses. Billy was the envy of the cowboys as he drew the big black horse called Satan. True to his name, Satan had a reputation for dislodging riders and had a habit of turning to the right after leaving the chute. Bill was confident that he could ride this horse. This would be his day. The signal was given, the gates were opened, and the horse bucked out. For some reason, the chute gate was mistakenly left open and without warning, the horse and rider turned back into the chute, hitting the post, head first. The big black, Satan, broke his neck and had to be put down. Billy was thrown over the chute and lay unconscious. Those who were there thought this young rider was dead. Billy lived, but the price he would pay in the years to come was greater than anyone imagined.

The knock to the base of his head resulted in immediate, and continual, epileptic seizures. He was told by the doctors that the seizures were not treatable and would cause brain damage. He would eventually need to be institutionalized. Billy continued his schooling and, as predicted, the seizures became more frequent.

His parents, thinking he might get healed, took him to two different meetings where divine healing services were being held. Each time, he went in an epileptic and came out an epileptic. One of the times he even had a seizure while waiting in the healing line. He was told that he wasn’t healed because he must not have enough faith. He certainly went home with less, and a broken heart to go with it.

Chapter Two - How we met

I was only twelve, and Bill was thirteen when we first met. His grandfather Chugg (a strong believer) lived with Bill’s family on a farm near Grande Prairie and periodically visited his daughter near the farm where I was born. He often told me about his adventurous grandson who loved the rodeos. He would tell Bill about this little tomboy, Audrey, on a farm near Tees. It seemed that God had given him some insight into the future, as he was certain we were meant to get together someday.

One Christmas evening, a knock came to my parent’s door; it was Bill and his family. They had come to spend the holidays with their relatives who happened to be visiting our home. My parents were most hospitable, and invited them to spend the evening with us. Bill was quiet and shy, and though he said very little, his eyes spoke volumes. He never took his eyes off me. We both felt an attraction that was drawing us together. At that moment, we believed in love at first sight.

During that week, we spent many hours with the toboggans; always making certain we were riding on the same one. Though we didn't see each other for another year, we kept in contact any way we could; we knew we were meant for each other. Then, in 1947 Bill's parents bought a store in Tees, a few miles from where I lived, and we were finally able to spend more time together. Though my parents were very fond of Bill, as his health deteriorated my Dad suggested that I should find a boyfriend who had a future. I refused to acknowledge any future without Bill. As soon as we were old enough we would be married, even if it was only for a while.

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