Chapter Two

Hannah led Adam through the sanctuary and through a small side door near the front of the church. They walked into a dim hallway, and then she pushed open another door.

"Pastor's study." She said to him.

The small room contained a walnut desk, with two chairs in front of it, and along one wall a couch which had two blankets folded neatly on it. She picked up one of the folded blankets and spread it out over the couch.

"Come on, Rancher Man," She said to him. "Lie down, before you fall down. You'll have to scrunch up, I am afraid. I guess they weren't expecting a giant like you." She grinned at him.

"No." He said to her. "You lie down. I'll sleep on the floor."

"Adam," She said wearily. "You can . . ."

"I don't fit. You do. Don't be difficult, Girl. Lie down." He grinned at her. "I'll tuck you in."

He watched her, wanting to laugh out loud as she hesitated - ready to fight, but too exhausted to manage it. Her wild spirit only tamed by physical exhaustion. She sat down on the edge of the couch.

"I don't even know what day it is anymore." She said running her hand through her long, dark hair.

"I don't either." He sat down beside her. "How do you feel?"

"I don't know. Tired, I guess and a little cold." She looked up at him. "You think the rest of the boys are okay? It feels like years since I've seen them. Are they okay?"

He shook his head slightly, recognizing that she was doing just about everything in her power to avoid thinking about how she felt.

"Well, we got word to them, remember? I imagine they are much better knowing you are alright. Everyone was . . ." He struggled, unable to put into words the depth of his terror when he'd been told her plane was lost- seeing his brothers' stricken, frightened faces, again. It had terrified him. Did I just introduce someone to shatter their hearts, again? He had wondered. Shaking himself from dark memories, he reached down, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders. "Lie down, sweetheart. You look like you are about to fall over."

"I'm so tired, but I don't know . . ." She met his eyes. "I can't get my mind to stop thinking and . . ."

"It's okay, sweetheart."

"I'm fine so there's no reason for drama, but . . ." Her voice caught, and he found his tears spilling out.

"I'm just so . . ." He struggled briefly, and kissed her fingers as he fought for control. "I love you, darlin' and I was pretty goddamn terrified."

"We're in a church." She admonished.

"He understands, baby." He wrapped an arm around her. "You must have been so scared. What . . . what happened?"

"I don't know." She rubbed her face. "It was all so . . ." She leaned into his shoulder. "I don't want . . ."

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." He told her. "I just," He swallowed hard and glanced away briefly, but then reaching out with a gentle hand and pushing a lock of hair behind her ear said, "I just hate to think of how scary it all must have been and then to be out there all alone." He rose and pushed her shoulder gently so that she lay back. He took off his parka and covered her with it, spreading the blanket over her. "Are you warm?"

"I am so much warmer now." She said softly. "It was so cold inside the plane, but there was no where else to go."

"Honey, never mind. Just close your eyes. You should rest."

"Ben told us, he'd have to land, and it was really rough. If we hadn't been buckled in - we would've been tossed all around. It was so loud and . . ." He sat on the end of the couch beside her, running a hand over her side.

"You're okay, sweetheart. You survived. Everyone is okay. You are alright." He reassured her. "Just sleep."

"I don't know why I'm upset, now. Seems like I should've been upset, then"

"No time for it." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. Her saucer big eyes brimmed with tears, and he wanted nothing more than to alleviate every fear. "Shh, darlin'."

"It was so dark and stormy. That plane felt so small - like one of Guthrie's little planes, you know? And I was . . .i thought we weren't . . ."

"You didn't." He interrupted quickly, unable to consider a life without her light in it. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm just so sorry I ever let you . . ."

"Let me!" Her eyes grew wide at this. "Listen, Adam . . ."

He laughed then, even as more tears fell. Her wildness not even tamed by exhaustion and delayed stress. She wasn't just fiery; she was fire itself.

"Take it easy, McFadden. You know what I mean, darlin'." He squeezed her shoulder. "I just . . . I wish I'd been with you."

"Oh! I was so grateful you weren't." She turned to meet his shocked look. "No, that's not what I mean! I just . . . I wasn't sure we wouldn't make it, and I kept thinking of the boys. They need you."

"They need you, too, honey." He leaned in kissing her forehead, and pulling the blanket tighter around her.

"And then I kept thinking of you and that they would tell you that the plane went down, and you'd be so . . .you've had enough phone calls like that, and I wouldn't be there to comfort you." She brushed at a tear. "Everyone thought I was crazy. They didn't think that anyone would be able to search for us in that weather, and Ben was badly hurt . . . but I knew you would come for me."

"Okay, enough talking. Close your eyes."

"But Adam, you shouldn't have. Or at least you should have left Brian and Crane behind. You shouldn't have all come after me like that."

"Well, that's a fine thank you." He teased, hoping she'd relax and just close her eyes..

"No." She continued stubbornly. "Don't joke. This is serious! It isn't like you to forget about the boys like that. What if none of us made it back?"

He rubbed his forehead, a sudden throbbing in his head. "Hannah," He began, but recognizing both the rightness of her statement, and that they were far too tired for any real discussions. "Okay. You are right. But sweetheart, I was so . . ." He struggled again for words. "I can't. I can't go back to a life without you. I can't."

"You don't have to." She squeezed his hand, holding tight to his fingers.

"You . . ." He cleared his throat. "You lie need to sleep. Girl, you are exhausted. Hush now." He moved from the edge of the couch, kneeling beside her. He fussed over the blankets unwilling to let go of her completely. "You warm enough? Want another blanket?" She shook her head and he could see tears gathering in her dark eyes. He reached out and touched the side of her face. "Close your eyes."

"Adam . . ." Her voice was so faint. "Can you . . ." A tear escaped at long last, shimmering as it rolled down her face. "Can you put your arms around me, so I know you are there? I don't know why, but I feel so . . . I don't have any reason to cry now."

He had never seen her look like that; small and frightened. She seemed more like a lost, little girl than what he knew her to be: fiery, capable, fearless. He ran his hand over her forehead and leaning close kissed her lips.

"It's okay, hon. Shhh." He moved then sliding his arms around her and pulling her tight against his chest. The couch was impossibly narrow, but he didn't even care. He could feel the coldness of her body - still even after all these hours, and he wanted somehow to envelope her so that she would feel safe and warm. "Just close your eyes. You can cry, if you need. It's just the stress of it, and the exhaustion. You never really slept, did you?'

"No." Her voice was muffled against him. Her head resting in the hollow space just under his shoulder that seemed made for her.

"Just sleep, then. I'm right here." He kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Adam." Her voice was softer now, and he found it impossible to respond. He felt tears sting his own eyes, so completely overwhelmed with emotion. She was shaking and he reached down pulling the other blanket over both of them.

"You want me to go get your parka?" He asked her. "Maybe I should go get John . . ."

"No, don't." She said, clinging tightly to him. 'I'm not cold. I just can't stop shaking."

He pulled her tighter against his chest, "Go to sleep, now." He told her again. "I won't let go."

"I thought that I wouldn't . . ." She began, but began to cry instead.

"Hey, now." He said softly. "You are fine, and I'm right here. And even if I hadn't found you, you would've made it back. I don't know anyone on this earth tougher than you, Girl. Tomorrow we'll go home, and you'll rest up. All the boys will be so grateful to see you. I bet Guthrie camps right outside our bedroom door." He rambled on, trying not just to reassure her, but to keep himself from joining in with her tears.

"Adam . . ." She clung tightly to him, crying harder.

"It's okay, sweetheart. It's okay."

She had sobbed in his arms until completely spent, she had finally surrendered to sleep. The sound of her even, peaceful breathing comforted him. He had expected that as soon as he closed his owns eyes, he would fall asleep, too. But he hadn't. He'd lain awake that night, keeping her tightly close.

He kept thinking of the plane, resting there on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. When they'd first reached the plane - it was the sight of it there, that had made him understand how very dire the situation had been. It reminded him of one of Guthrie's balsa wood airplanes - broken and useless. It terrified him to think of her inside of it, plummeting to the earth.

The couch was ridiculously uncomfortable - too narrow for one person really - let alone two. Yet, he hadn't moved. He'd held her close, able to feel the pulse of her heart and hear her soft, familiar sighs as she slept. He could hear the soft ticking of her watch, which in spite of everything, seemed to be working just fine and for some reason that made him want to laugh out loud - her cheap plastic watch still ticking after all that had happened, and then suddenly without warning he wanted to weep - she deserved so much more than a cheap, plastic watch. He recognized his thoughts were erratic and that perhaps he'd become hysterical with lack of sleep. He drew in a deep breath, taking in the smell of her hair, trying to calm his wildly beating heart.

And then he could fight it no longer, and his tears fell. He didn't even try to stop himself. He was far too tired, and there was no one to know. Her body was still cold, and he wanted to go and get more blankets to make sure she was warm, but he couldn't bear to step away from her; he couldn't endure not having her in his arms. He just held her that long night waiting for the sun to rise, and for the planes to return. As relieved as he was to have her with him again, he knew he would only feel true peace when they were safe at home with the brothers.

She slept straight through, never really stirring. He was grateful for that. Her skin was still cool to his touch, and that worried him. Even after a night tucked under warm blankets, his body close, she was still cold. He watched the sky turn light through the small window behind the pastor's desk - thankful that the snow had stopped. He kept thinking of how the sun would warm her.

It was just as his eyes were finally growing heavy, that Brian who knocked on the door to let them know the plane was there. He extracted himself from the couch then, and Hannah hadn't even stirred. He wrinkled his brow in worry, but turning from her, crossed to the door opening it. Brian smiled at him, rubbing his face. He appeared to have just awoken himself.

"Morning, Junior." He said with a grin. "How's the missus?"

"Sleeping." He said, noticing the brace on Brian's knee. "You fellas get any sleep?"

"Some. I forgot how much Crane snores."

Adam chuckled and stretched his frame, feeling all the effects of sleeping squashed in a tiny space. He nodded at Brian's knee.

"You okay man?" He asked.

"Yeah. Same old, same old." Brian shrugged. "She doing alright?"

"Yeah. Worn out."

"We will get her home, feed her up and make sure she sleeps. She's tough as they come. God, I'm glad . . ." He paused and changing the subject said. "You look like hell, man. Did you sleep at all?"

"I couldn't." He shook his head, glad that he had at least one brother, he could admit his fears to. Brian had fought beside him through the worst of their days, and had struggled across an icy mountain with him too. "I just kept thinking of that plane. It was so small, you know. And I don't know if anyone would ever have found it. I don't know how we found it!"

"You did." Brian said softly, shaking his head in wonder. "You did. You were like a man possessed. I thought there was no way that we could find her, but you did. I thought you were completely crazy - that you'd lost it, but then there she is running across the snow to you. It was a miracle, and I don't believe in miracles."

Adam nodded his head. "I couldn't have done without you and Crane . . ."

Brian cut him off. "Brother, we haven't got time for all that. The plane is here. Everything is ready. Get your Girl, and bring her on out to the plane. Hell, you don't even have to wake her up! Let's go home, okay?"

"You don't even like her, Brian." He grinned at his brother teasing him. "You wanted her to go away; that she was trouble."

"Don't talk about my sister like that." Brian said grinning back. "I'll knock you flat."

"Thanks, Brian. Thanks for . . ." He patted the side of Brian's face with his hand. "I couldn't have made it without you - not now, not ever."

"Oh, shut up, Adam. Save the sweet talk for her." He pushed Adam aside. "Go get your wife. I'll see you on the plane."

At first he'd tried to wake her, but she didn't even stir, and then he felt a sick feeling in his stomach - that maybe it wasn't over, but she had sighed again in sleep. He slid the parka onto her arms, and lifted her up easily. Her head lolled against his shoulder and he carried her out to the front of the church where his brothers waited.

Crane held another parka in his hands. "Morning." He said nodding. "Missus, too worn out?"

"Seems that way." He responded. "Hey, put that parka over her. She's still so cold."

"You'll freeze! You still got walk over to the field." Crane said putting the coat over Adam's shoulders. He shifted her carefully, sliding his arms into the jacket. He glanced around the old church one last time, so glad to be leaving it; so grateful to be leaving it with her.

"Let's get out of here." Brian said and the three brothers stepped out into the cold. It was just a quick walk across the dirt parking lot to an open field where the plane waited for them. A medic ran out to meet them.

"Hey, there." He greeted them and looking down at Hannah, in Adam's arms. "Is she okay?"

"I don't know." Adam confessed. "She's been asleep since late last night. She was just exhausted. I can't really wake her. She was in the plane that was trapped out here."

"Let us take a look at her." The medic said and Adam nodded.

They entered the plane and he set her gently in the seat, while the medic hunched in front of her, and Adam felt suddenly frightened all over again.

"Hey," He said to the medic. "Is she okay?"

The medic turned to him. "Sit down. Get buckled in." He pointed to a seat across the aisle from Hannah. "You are right, she's exhausted. I think she's dehydrated too. I'm glad you got her bundled up. Her core temperature is a little low."

"Hey," Adam said, his voice high with panic. "They said she just needed to rest and . . ."

Seeing Adam's pale face the medic said, "She's okay, Mr. McFadden. Dehydration feels terrible but it is totally treatable. It isn't anything serious. She was out there a long time wasn't she? I am surprised that any of you can still stand up." He turned and leaning forward spoke to the pilot who nodded his head. "I'm just gonna get some fluids in her. I'll hook up an IV right here, and then we'll get you off this mountain. The pilot's gonna radio ahead. You got a family doctor?"

"Dr. Meade." Adam said numbly.

"Good, I'll tell the pilot. He can meet you at your place?" Adam nodded. "Good. Go ahead and get buckled in." The medic reached over and put a hand on Adam's arm. "Sit down fellas so we can take off."

Adam slumped in the seat then, and was comforted that Brian sat beside him with Crane just behind them. He watched as the medic hooked up the IV and then spoke to the captain again. The medic moved and sat in the seat beside Hannah, but before he did, he leaned over and said to Adam. "She's fine. Your wife's just fine. Close your eyes, and rest. I'm sitting right beside her. I'm gonna keep an eye on her the whole flight. You need to get a little rest, ok?"

"She . . . I should've made her drink more of that water . . . and . . ." He felt his control slipping away.

"Adam?" Brian asked. "Hey, partner, look at me. You heard the doc. She's gonna be okay. Close your eyes, man. Just close 'em for a second or two. I'll keep mine open okay. I'll wake you. You can trust me, brother."

He felt a hand squeezing his shoulder and Crane added, "It's okay, Adam. Me and Brian will manage things. Hannah's gonna be just fine. Close your eyes man. Trust us to manage it."

Tears stung his eyes, but he just nodded his head, lost in a thousand memories of his brothers beside him - strong and steady. He thought of the three of them tackling a snow covered mountain in a storm; together and determined. He thought of Hannah running across the snowbank toward him.

"I'm counting on you guys." He said softly. He closed his eyes thinking, "I'll just rest a second."

He never even felt the plane lift off the ground.