Connection

"I'm telling right now!" Ford threatened, his voice rising with all of the five year old indignation he could summon. "You're gonna get in big trouble!"

Seven year old Daniel retaliated with the same angry promise, "And I'm telling too and then you'll be in trouble!"

The distinct and unmistakable racket of game pieces slammed into the floor followed and Adam groaned in resignation. He had spent the last hour using the kitchen table as a desk while he attempted to pay household and ranch bills, a job that normally demanded no more than thirty minutes. However, thus far numerous interruptions had commandeered his time and his nerves were nearly frazzled.

The problem stemmed from the fact that this February Saturday's cold temperatures had intensified with an all day rain that had forced the boys indoors. Unable to rid themselves of their excess energy by running around outdoors as would have normally happened, they had settled for board games instead.

Evidently that entertainment choice had now ended badly.

Adam crossed his arms behind his head, out of options.

When he had permitted a single television show earlier the kids had squared off with Daniel and Ford demanding one show and Crane and Evan another. They refused to compromise and bickered back and forth. Thus, Adam had over-ridden his earlier decision. Despite their pleas the television stayed silent.

The next option involved playing individually with personal toys in the living room but that occupation faltered also. Not in the happiest mood himself, Guthrie had knocked over the Lincoln Log tower Evan had methodically built, then gone on to throw his See and Say onto the microscope Crane had set up on the end table to study grains of salt and sugar.

As if enough damage had not already occurred, before Adam could intervene Guthrie thrust himself into a tug of war with Daniel over the magician's cape Santa had gifted Daniel. The older child yanked it so hard that Guthrie fell hard onto his bottom, and yelled furiously at the top of his lungs.

Adam corrected Guthrie but also admonished Daniel about handling the baby roughly. "He's so much smaller than you," Adam reminded him. "Be gentler with him."

"He's still aggravating!" Daniel defended himself. "And he messes up my stuff all the time."

Evidently those incidents served as the appetizers for the battle currently raging, Adam told himself. Now a full fledged war rocked the living room.

Adam consulted the kitchen clock. The four younger boys had already bathed and dressed in their pajamas. He might as well declare bedtime.

He strode purposefully into the living room and issued orders to immediately put up all toys before grabbing Guthrie and swinging him onto his hip.

Protests and whining flew at him from all directions but Adam held up a hand and retorted firmly, "Playtime just finished and I'm starting bedtime. Crane, upstairs for your bath as soon as you pack that microscope," he directed. "Everyone else, finish cleaning and then head upstairs and brush your teeth. Now!"

Adam climbed the steps with Guthrie and ignored another onslaught of protests. Though at each other's throats all afternoon, in their upset at the early bedtime the boys united in their outrage.

Adam paused at the landing. He refused to change his mind and assured all four of them, "You are absolutely correct. Bedtime rolled around early tonight. You have been asking for some kind of punishment all day and here's my answer- an early bedtime. My head is actually pounding from hearing my name screamed all afternoon while you either tattled on each other or fought like cats and dogs."

Ford started crying then but Adam remained firm and resisted the sad faces. "All of you have exactly two minutes to straighten the living room. When I finish putting Guthrie down Crane had better be showering and the three of you in bed." His voice softened. "I'll tuck you in."

Adam marched down the hall as the boys digested the turn of events, then began blaming each other for the bedtime change. He ignored the back and forth and continued on his mission, finally settling in the rocker with Guthrie where the toddler angrily fussed and rubbed at his eyes. Obviously Adam had even managed to anger the baby over the loss of play time.

Adam soothed, sang, and stayed patient, though. Fifteen minutes later he placed a sleeping Guthrie in his crib.

Crane stood in the bathroom brushing his teeth, bathed and in his pajamas. Noting Adam's reflection in the mirror he regarded his big brother unhappily. "I wasn't even the one who kept getting mad, Adam. Why punish me? Why do I always get into trouble? Why do I have to go to bed?"

Adam stuck to his resolve. "Because I said so. At no time this afternoon did you show me that you knew how to get along with your brothers. Now, when I finish tucking in the Itty Bitties I expect to find you in your bed."

Before Crane could respond Adam crossed the hall and completed the bedtime rituals with the three little boys, all of whom assured him of their repentance, their delight at playing together, and their hopes for another chance.

Adam refused to falter.

He did spend some time cuddling and reading stories before prayers and goodnight kisses, though.

Despite his displeasure Crane had obeyed the directive, and Adam kissed him good night and shut the door before jogging softly back to the kitchen.

The rain poured in torrents and Adam worried about Brian. The sixteen year old had left a couple of hours earlier for a date and Adam expected him back by his midnight weekend curfew. Brian had given him no reason to distrust the teen's driving, but then again, the lack of actual driving experience could prove problematic in pounding rain.

Adam had just signed the last check and stuffed it into an envelope when someone pounded on the front door.

The loud hammering against the wood startled him. He had neither heard anyone pull up in the driveway nor had he spotted headlights.

A pang of fear ripped through his core. What if something horrible had happened to Brian? Could there have been an accident? Had the law driven to the house to deliver horrible news?

He could not face another loss!

Adam twisted the knob and flung open the door to a young woman holding a toddler. Rain sheeted off of both of them.

His eyes widened.

She spoke before he could formulate his first question. Her voice was shaky and hinted at her fear. "I am so sorry to disturb you, but my car died on me down the road there," she pivoted and pointed toward the road. "And I saw your light and..."

Adam still didn't move.

A flash of hurt resignation crossed her face and she placed a hand on the child's head and started to back down the porch steps. "My apologies for disturbing you."

Her imminent departure galvanized Adam and he shoved open the screen door. "Wait! You can't go back out in this. Please come in, and forgive me for my bad manners. My emotions were running high thinking your knock meant….." He broke off and smiled, motioning her inside. "It doesn't matter. Come on inside and get warm and dry. I'm Adam McFadden."

He held the door and stood aside as she entered, then hurriedly closed out the rain and cold. She stood just inside the living room and he motioned to her. "Follow me." He pointed to the kitchen chairs. "Have a seat while I pull some clean towels out of the laundry room. You can dry both of you while I make you something warm to drink. You must be frozen."

She pulled out a chair and Adam noticed her shaking hands.

When he returned he placed three towels in front of her and she began drying the child and then herself. Adam pulled a pot from a lower cabinet and the ingredients for spiced cider from the pantry and heated the beverage on the stove.

Stirring the cider he questioned, "Will you tell me your name?"

"It's…" she paused and he saw fear wash across her face. "My name is Isabelle and my daughter here is Stella." She met his gaze. "She's three."

Isabelle finished drying Stella and wrapped the extra towel around her. Then she began soaking some of the water from her own clothes.

Adam grabbed a sippie cup from the drain and filled it with the warm cider, but allowed the rest in the pot it to heat some more. He returned to the laundry room and pulled down the booster seat Ford refused to use any longer and anchored it to the chair by Isabelle's. "I believe Stella probably would like some cider. My little brothers love it."

Isabelle settled the toddler and the little girl grabbed the cup and drank deeply. Stella set the cup down and turned to Adam with a contented smile. "Thank you, please."

Adam laughed at the childish pleasure. "I see you know those magic words." He placed his hand on her head. A cute child, ringlets of dark brown hair framed big blue eyes. "You're welcome, and you have beautiful blue eyes like my brothers Crane and Brian."

Once he poured cider for Isabelle and himself he slid into a seat across from the stranger. Like her daughter, she had blue eyes, but her hair was a dark blond. From the glimpse Adam had seen on the porch, Isabelle was slender and fine boned and he guessed her age at close to his own.

She placed her hand on the table, palm out. "Thank you so much for the hospitality. As I said, I don't know what's happened with the car but it won't run. Is there a mechanic around here?"

"Definitely, but you're not going to be able to do anything about the car this weekend. The auto shop won't open again until Monday. Is there someone you need to call?"

Her entire body tensed when she answered that there was no one.

He coaxed, "Will you tell me where you're headed?"

Isabelle nervously tapped the side of her cup. "Across country. I'm going to relatives out in Texas."

"Oh," Adam hesitated. What should he say? She obviously harbored some secrets, evidenced by the terse responses and body language. "What about calling them? You probably need to let them know you'll be a couple of days behind schedule."

"I said there's no one to call," she snapped before her voice softened. "Sorry, I didn't mean that to come out that way."

"It's fine," Adam replied, his mind still trying to process her demeanor.

She sipped gratefully at the cider. "Do you have a hotel nearby? An inexpensive one?"

"Unfortunately, the nearest one is a bit of a distance from here."

She blushed, "Well, it doesn't matter. This looks like a pretty safe area with farms and ranches. Stella and I will be safe in the c…."

"You absolutely are not staying in your car!" Adam interrupted, horrified at the thought. "No, absolutely not! Look, you are welcome to stay right here, warm and dry, until we can deal with your car." His voice softened. "This is a big house with plenty of room for two more."

Adam watched as relief replaced fear on her face. He reassured her. "You're safe here, I promise."

"I appreciate the offer, but your parents might not agree with having company, especially two half drowned strangers."

The words slammed into him, a sucker punch to his very soul. He cringed. Would he ever hear his parents referenced without experiencing a devastating emotional response? Would the loss always remain this raw?

He licked his lips and exhaled slowly. "No parents- my folks passed several months ago."

Isabelle's eyes widened and her voice quivered, "Adam, I am so sorry about your parents. Please forgive me…."

Adam halted the rest of the apology. "Not your fault." He tried to smile. "You didn't know the circumstances. So the deal is that I live here with my six brothers. I'm guardian and the one in charge. So I am inviting you and the baby to stay with us until we can get your vehicle up and running."

Isabelle started weeping, the tears sliding softly down her face.

Her response alarmed Adam. "Isabelle, I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't," she reassured him, wiping at her eyes. "Sorry- your generosity and kindness are just so unexpected." She smiled gratefully at him. "But so welcome, Adam, so welcome."

"Good then," he stood. "Give me your keys and I'll get hold of an umbrella and bring up your luggage from the car. I know you want some dry clothes for both of you."

A look of sheer terror crossed her face and he stopped in confusion. "You don't want me to bring the luggage?"

She shook her head and whispered, "There is no luggage."

Adam stayed frozen several seconds. How should he interpret her response? Everyone took luggage on a trip! What did no luggage even mean? Was she running? If so, from whom?

Stella held up her cup and interrupted. "Please more."

Adam snapped back to attention and refilled the baby's cider. "Isabelle, when you get ready to tell me the truth about what motivated you to start this journey, to tell me your story, I'll listen."

She bowed her head. "Thank you."

"Now, make yourself at home. I'm going upstairs but will return in a second."

Isabelle watched him jog up the stairs before turning to Stella. "Now that is one good looking man, Honey. He's got a fantastic body and gorgeous face- tall, dark, and handsome."

Stella studied her with three year old intensity.

"I wish he'd come into my life four years ago," Isabelle whispered.

Upstairs Adam trekked room to room relocating children. He reminded himself that despite their earlier insistence to the contrary they must have all been exhausted, because they stayed asleep.

Crane opened his eyes when Adam slid him under the covers of his own bed though. "What's happening?"

Adam brushed back the blond hair. "Shhh…you're my bedfellow tonight."

Crane rolled onto his stomach and fell asleep again before Adam covered him.

He had freed one bedroom- the smallest, true, but still one where Isabelle and Stella could have privacy.

Sudden doubt gripped him. What was he doing? Why in the world was he allowing a complete stranger-two complete strangers- into the home where his own siblings should be protected?

Deep down in his soul he knew the answer, however. His upbringing had stressed reaching out and helping others, and his faith demanded he treat others as he wished to be treated.

Besides, he had gambled upon inviting Uri to work on the ranch nearly three months before and his decision had led to the finest ranch hand Adam had ever encountered. Uri had transferred daily responsibility of whole areas of the ranch from Adam's young shoulders to his willing and capable ones.

Adam stripped the sheets and remade the bed, moved toys and belongings to procure some space on the dresser top and in drawers, and powered on the lamp.