Who is Esau Mayes from The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural and what is their importance?

Esau Mayes is a character in the story, The Sight. He was born with a veil on his head, which marked him as someone with psychic gifts. As he gets older, it becomes apparent that he has the gift of sight.... he can see into the future. Unfortunately, when his father learns about his gift, he forces Esau to use the gift in order to help him make money at the horse races. The stress of his father's demands causes him to lose the sight.

Years later, Esau regains his gift. Happily married, he begins to have nightmares about a house fire that endangers his wife and children. His dreams lead him to send his wife and children to stay with his mother, but while they're gone, he comes to realize the fire will take place at his mother's home that very evening. Esau rushes to save his family, only to discover that his powers saved them..... that his wife could acutally hear him calling psychically to get out of the house.