ONE
Adam McFadden glanced across Main Street and smiled seeing his wife leaning against the old truck. Her arm rested along bed of the pickup and her hip rested against the side, one long leg crossed over the other. His heart picked up a little as he contemplated her soft curves. She didn't see him at first but then catching his eye her face broke into a wide grin, and he crossed the street in quick, long strides.
"See. I told you, I'd be quicker than you." She teased him.
"You got two bags of groceries." He said leaning against the truck. "I had to get important technical equipment."
"Adam, you bought a box of nails." She shook her head at him, laughing. "Come on, Rancher Man, I gotta drop you at the Colton's and get back. If I don't start supper soon, your brothers will starve to death tonight." She turned to climb inside the truck, but he reached out and caught her, pulling her into his embrace.
"What brothers?" He asked with a grin, and leaning in close kissed her. She surprised him, surrendering to his kiss completely, and he felt everything around them fade away - until the sharp honk of horn brought him back to reality.
"Hey, McFadden!" A voice called from a truck as it passed slowly. "Get a room!"
He shook his head, frustrated as Hannah laughed, her face turning red with embarrassment.
"Shut up, Paul!" He yelled back. "You better get home to your Mom. You know how she worries!"
Hannah had slipped from his arms and climbed up into the truck, and annoyed he climbed up into the driver's seat.
"Sometimes I hate this town." He said, pausing before he turned the engine over.
"I think it is very charming." She said with one eyebrow raised and he laughed knowing full well that Hannah sometimes struggled with the way the whole town watched her - the outsider who had married one the McFadden boys - one of their McFadden boys.
"You know," He said as the truck rumbled down the road. "Tomorrow is our anniversary."
"Day after." She said.
"What?"
"Not tomorrow - it's the day after." She corrected him.
"No, tomorrow's the twenty-second." He said.
"Tomorrow is the twenty-second, but we were married on the twenty-third, sweetheart." She said laughing.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"I'm pretty sure." She shook her head at him. "We got the marriage certificate upstairs. You can check it for yourself later. Wanna bet money?"
"Hmm." He said thoughtfully. "I guess you could be right. Either way, you and me got an anniversary this week. Six months."
"They said it wouldn't last."
"They did say that." He laughed. "They are saying it still. But you survived it so far. A miracle."
"I've done better than survive." She said and moved closer to lean against his arm.
"Well, you've got pretty low standards so that's helped a lot." He teased her.
"It really has. So, then how do you want to celebrate six months putting up with a stubborn city girl?" She asked him.
"I saved up a little bit of money and I was thinking that maybe I could take you out to dinner - over in Sonora; just you and me."
"Just you and me?" She considered thoughtfully. "I wonder what that would feel like."
"I'm thinking it would feel pretty good. At least, I'm hoping." He said to her. "So, what do you think, hon? You wanna go out with me?"
"I suppose so." She answered coyly.
"You suppose so? You got another offer your considering?"
"A few. I've got six other men in my life you know."
"Yeah, I heard you were easy." He said and she punched his arm.
"Adam Jackson McFadden, Jr.!" She scolded him. "You be nice!"
"I am nice." He said and leaning over gave her a quick kiss.
"I'm glad I married you." She said her head resting on his shoulder.
"Hannah McFadden, I can't tell you how happy I am to hear you say that."
He turned the truck down the long driveway that lead to the Colton's ranch where a group of men were working together to repair the barn roof which had been badly damaged during a recent storm. He put the truck in park and climbed down. Hannah climbed out too and followed her husband around to the front of the truck. He pulled her into his arms for another kiss.
"Ah, for pity's sake, Adam! Jeez! Come on! Everyone's waiting for those nails. Kiss your wife after we finish this roof!" His brother Brian said, crossing to the truck.
"I'll be right there." Adam said irritated.
"You know, I was gonna make a peach pie, Brian." Hannah told her brother-in-law. "But now I'm rethinking it."
"Kiss her all you want." Brian said with a wink at Hannah. He grabbed the box of nails out of the truck and went back to the barn where a group of men were working. "I expect TWO pies, Sis." He called over his shoulder as Hannah laughed.
"Crane might get back before we do - remind him about that fence." Adam told her, his hands resting on her shoulders.
"I will. You fellas be careful. If either of you takes a tumble off that roof and breaks a leg, I'm not saving any pie for you." She kissed him and climbed into the cab of the truck.
"Tom'll drop us home later. But don't let Daniel sweet talk you into taking the truck into town. It is supposed to storm again tonight and I won't have him driving through a rainstorm."
"I got it." She said. "See you later."
"Bye." He said patting the side of the truck. "If it stalls out on you, try shifting down."
"Quit stressin', Dad." She teased him.
"Don't call me, Dad." He pointed a long finger at her. "You watch it, girl!"
He watched the old truck disappear down the long drive way, her laughter ringing in his ears like music.
"Hey, loverboy! You gonna work or what?" His brother called and rolling his eyes, he walked to the barn.
***7***
"Hannah! Hey, Hannah!" Daniel came inside, the front screen slamming shut behind him.
"Kitchen!" She called out.
He stepped inside. "Is Crane back yet?"
"Nope. Another couple of hours, I think." She glanced up from where she was rolling out a pie crust.
"Adam and Brian still at the Colton's?" He asked thoughtfully.
"Yep. Something wrong?" She expertly lay the pie crust in the bottom of the pie tin.
"Kind of." He shrugged his shoulders. "The school called. Ford got sent out of class for fighting."
"You mean Evan." She corrected.
"Not Evan. Ford."
"Ford? Your brother? He's blond about this tall." She indicated with her hand. "Blue eyes. Great with animals. That one?"
"Thrown out of biology class. Argued with the teacher." Daniel said.
"Ford? Ford Michael McFadden argued with his teacher?" She looked up at Daniel in shock.
"I know. I can't believe it myself. But he's in the office and they won't release him to me. It has to be you." Daniel said. "You just came back from town too. I can't believe he got in trouble! Adam's gonna flip out!"
"Are you playing a joke on me?" She asked suspiciously. They loved to pull little pranks on her and she nearly always fell for them. but this was impossible to believe! Ford in a fight or arguing with a teacher was about as likely as a drunk Santa Claus or a pregnant Miss America.
"No, ma'am. 'Sides Adam says the next one of us that tries to trick you can go ahead and pack his bags."
"Alright, I guess I'd better go. Can you finish this pie?"
"Hell, no! I'll ruin it!"
"Language Daniel Robert." She corrected laughing. She loved to tease him and order him around as though he were as young as Guthrie.
"You are six years older than me, Mom." He laughed at her. Calling her Mom was their private joke. They all teased Adam calling him Dad whenever he got bossy. He hated it which is why they persisted. But Daniel was the only one brave enough to tease her the same way.
"Don't be scared. It's all finished. Pile in the peaches and pour that measuring cup over the top. Put this piece of crust over it and pop it in the oven." She grinned at him. "Or maybe you are too chicken?"
"I am not scared." He insisted.
Hannah raised an eyebrow, one hand on her hip, clearly doubtful.
"Hannah!" He whined. "Oh, all right. Tell me again and then you better rescue Ford.
***7***
She pulled the truck into the parking lot of the school. She could not fathom what had happened. Ford had a temper - all his brothers did, but like Crane, Ford kept his temper under a tight control. She couldn't picture him arguing with his teacher.
"Can I help you?" The school secretary asked cheerfully.
Hannah sighed. The secretary not only knew who she was but no doubt why she was here. They sure loved to pick on the "outsider".
"I'm Hannah." She said patiently. "Hannah McFadden. I married Adam."
"Oh that's right." The secretary nodded and Hannah struggled with a few unkind thoughts. "How can I help you?"
You can let me pick up my brother, you jerk! Hannah thought angrily.
"The school called. There was a problem with Ford?" She tried to keep her voice sweet and light.
"Oh, well, that information is confidential. Are you on the pick up list?"
Hannah was just about to give in to the title wave of rage she felt, when Vice Principal Edwards stepped out of his office.
"That will be all, thank you Anna." He said sternly. "Come on back, Mrs. McFadden." He pushed open the swinging gate that separated the office and she followed him back to his office.
"I sent Ford to get his books. I can't tell you how surprised I was when Mr. Jacobs called and said he was sending Ford to the office." He told her as he settled into the chair behind his desk.
"You and me, both. If you called and told me Evan had been fighting, I wouldn't even blink, but Ford? Has it ever happened before?"
"Not since I've been here. I guess Brian or your husband could tell you better." Mr. Edwards said. "He was polite to me. Apologized for all the trouble he caused but won't say anything else."
"That's not like him either." She rubbed her face wearily. "I wonder what got him so riled?"
"I'm sure he'll tell you. You let me know. Bring him to my office tomorrow morning. Hopefully, we can clear things up."
"He better talk to me, if he hopes me to keep Adam calm." She grinned and shook Mr. Edward's outstretched hand. "Thank you for earlier." She nodded her head in the direction of the secretary's desk just outside his office.
"Oh, I moved here nine years ago. We outsiders got to stick together." He smiled at her. "He went to get his backpack out if Mr. Jacob's class. You know where that is?"
"I do. Thanks again."
She walked down the science hall expecting him to be waiting outside, but the hallway was empty. She hesitated outside the open classroom door. She scanned the classroom and saw a furious Ford sitting at a back table, his arms crossed over his chest. She could hear Mr. Jacobs pause in his lecture as the class shifted their attention to her. He walked to the open door.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I came for Ford." She said politely.
"And you are?" The bald man asked, one hand on his hip - clearly irritated.
Here we go again! Hannah thought frustrated. What is wrong with people?
"I'm Hannah McFadden. I married Adam, Ford's brother." She explained.
"Do you have a pass?" He asked.
"What?" She felt confused. "Mr. Edwards said . . ."
"Are you on his list? I can't just release him to anyone." His tone was so patronizing; so rude that Hannah was shocked into silence.
"Well, I . . ."
"Listen, I'll explain it slowly so you can understand, you have to have permission to pick him up. It's a legal issue. Maybe your husband can explain it to you later. I don't have time just now. I have this class that is waiting to learn. You've interrupted enough. Now, I know that all this is hard for you to follow, but I will release Ford to a legal guardian only."
Hannah's eyes were wide with shock. The entire class seemed to hold its breath, waiting for a reaction.
She waited. Taking a minute to tamp down her rage. When she did speak, her voice was soft but firm. "Let's go, Ford."
Ford rose immediately and crossed to where she waited but Mr. Jacobs stopped him, his hand on Ford's chest.
"I'm sorry that you don't seem able to understand things," He began but she cut him off. She stepped closer and held his gaze with a steely eye.
"Ford." She said.
"Yes, ma'am." Ford said stepping away from his teacher. He stood beside Hannah and Mr. Jacob's reached for his arm but Hannah steeped in front of him.
"Keep your hands off my brother." She turned and walked down the hall and Ford looked up at his teacher.
"Ford, this will count as truancy."
"What the hell's wrong with you?" Ford said angrily. "That's my sister and you damn well know it." He turned sharply and followed Hannah down the hall. She said nothing and he didn't either. They climbed up into the International but she didn't start the engine. She hugged the steering wheel, her chin resting on the top.
"Hannah, I'm really . . ." He began.
"Not now." She said cutting him off. She sighed and sat up her hand on the key, but paused and glancing at him said, "I catch you cursing like that again and I'll have your hide, Ford Michael. I don't care how big a jackass he is - you be a gentleman."
Ford's eyes grew wide. "Hannah," He began, ready to point out the obvious but thought better of it. "Yes, ma'am." He said seriously.
They rode in silence and when the reached the front yard of home she turned the motor off. He reached for the handle, ready to climb down, but she put a hand on his arm. "Wait, Ford. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have cursed either. I got so . . . what happened anyway? I got so . . .I'm sorry I never even asked you. Are you alright? Why did you get thrown out of class?"
"I don't think I should tell you." He turned and faced her.
"Why not?"
"You'll get really angry."
"No, Ford. It's okay I won't get mad at you, I promise. I'll listen."
"I'm not worried about you being mad at me." He explained.
"Oh!" She said her eyes growing wide. "I'm already furious with him. How much worse could it get?"
Ford said nothing just raised his eyebrow.
