Hannah stood just outside Murphys Hotel chewing the inside of her lip nervously. She didn't know why seeing Finley made her so nervous, but it did. She looked down and smoothed her skirt, and just as she looked up she saw Finely come out of the front door. Finley Johnson was beautiful with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She was at least 5'9 and towered over Hannah. She wore a soft blue business suit with the highest pair of heels that Hannah had ever seen; an impractical ensemble at best.
"Finley!" Hannah said embracing her.
"Hannah! You haven't aged a day!" Finley said. "I'll give you one thing, it sure is beautiful here." She said releasing her and looking around.
"You have everything you need?" Hannah asked turning toward the jeep. "You don't want to change? I'm not sure those heels will survive the ranch."
"Oh, I can walk anywhere in them." She grinned at her. "We aren't going to be actually herding cattle, are we?"
"No." Hannah said with a laugh. "Although, don't kid yourself, it's always a possibility. Right here." She said indicating the jeep.
"Interesting." Finley said and attempted to climb up, but the pencil skirt she wore made it difficult. Hannah watched as Peter Henkins crossed the street to help her.
"Here, Ma'am." He said giving her a hand and helping her up into the jeep.
"Ma'am?" She said looking down at him. "Thank you, sir."
He tipped his hat to her. "No problem for a pretty filly like you." He nodded at Hannah. "Mrs. McFadden." He said with a grin.
"Oh, knock it off Peter." Hannah said to him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome Hannah. If your friend needs any more help. Just let me know. You got the number." He said as he walked down Main Street away from them.
"Pretty filly? Hannah, did you move back to the 1950s?" Finley asked laughing.
"Just about. Its a small place and a new person, particularly a beautiful woman, kind of stands out." Hannah said.
They headed out of town and talked as best they could in an open jeep roaring through the countryside. As they turned beneath the Circle Bar Seven arch and onto the driveway, Finley's eyes widened in surprise.
"Good Lord! You live on an actual ranch!" She looked around her. "There's a barn and everything!"
"What did you think I meant when I said I married a rancher?" Hannah asked.
"Oh, I don't know. I thought you meant he grew a big garden. But this? This is all so very real. You got horses and cows?"
"And pigs, sheep, chickens -the whole thing." Hannah smiled at Finley. "I hope you have some regular shoes in that bag of yours because heels and this place, well, they aren't a perfect match."
"I'm starting to see that." Finely said.
They pulled up to the house and Hannah gave her the grand tour. Daniel was just headed out to catch up to his brothers who were out checking the stock.
"I'll see you later, Hannah. I better get going, or Adam'll have my hide. I'm already later than I said." He said. "It sure is nice to meet you ma'am." He said nodding toward Finley.
"What are you off to go do?" Finley asked curious.
"There was a bad storm two nights ago, so we're going up to the Tops to check on the stock." He explained.
"Check the stock?" Finley repeated.
"The cows." Hannah explained.
"Oh, yeah. Right." Finley said. "It was nice meeting you."
"Yes, ma'am." Daniel said turning to go.
"Oh, wait!" Hannah said. "Adam forgot that pie I saved him." She disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a small paper bag. "Thanks Daniel." She smiled at him.
"You spoil him." He said to her, and kissing her cheek, he left.
"Want some coffee?" Hannah asked.
"Sure." Finley said following her into the kitchen where she sat at the long table. "Do they all look like that?"
Hannah smiled. "They do."
"Well, I can see the pros to living here. How many brothers?"
"Six." Hannah said waiting for the inevitable reaction.
"Six? Good God! Is that what killed her?" Finley said laughing and Hannah was glad they were alone.
"No. It was a car crash and don't . . . don't. Finely, it still brings them pain." Hannah said handing a cup of coffee to her.
"Right. Sorry. I just . . . I mean seven sons? Even you have to admit it is a little excessive."
"Who'd we throw away then? Guthrie? Evan? You meet them all and tell me if it is excessive." Hannah said trying to suppress her irritation.
"I'm sorry, Hannah. It just is a surprise is all; to see you here. I mean, I know you wrote about it, but it is so vivid. Tell me again, how you met."
"Oh, I don't know." Hannah said but smiled even just thinking of the memory of watching Adam walk into the cafe the very first time. His long legs, and white cowboy hat lowered so that she could just see his eyes. He'd taken it off, of course, once he was inside and smiled, revealing fine dimples and a chiseled jaw. She had been taken by surprise. She had seen him on the street once before, but standing in front of her, well, she was overwhelmed. He looked like a man who would never, ever leave.
"He came in to the cafe and he was so handsome, and I don't know. I just was sort of drawn to him, I guess. Oh, and there was this awful couple there. You would've killed the husband. He kept being mean to his wife, and so I said something, and then Adam stepped in. The husband didn't like it, and they fought. The first thing Adam did though, was make sure I was safe and out of the way. Anyway, this jerk was huge and he gave Adam a horrible black eye. So I got him some ice and we sat down together and talked, and I don't know. It was about five weeks later that we stood up in this little church and were married." She looked up at Finley her face still bright with the memory.
"Five weeks? Hannah! You hardly knew him!"
"Well, that's true, and I had no idea what it meant to help him with his brothers and this ranch, but he makes me really happy. He loves me, and I love him. I can't explain it. I knew it from that very first minute too." She shrugged her shoulders.
"It just seemed so sudden to me. If you're happy, though." Finley said.
"I am." Hannah said.
"Well, then good. Now, I don't suppose you have some shoes I can borrow? I would love for you to give me the grand tour, but I'll never make it in these heels."
Hannah laughed. "I'll see what I can find."
***7***
"She's really, really good-looking." Daniel reported to his brothers.
"She came alone? No husband or boyfriend?" Brian asked with raised eyebrows.
"All by her pretty, little self." Daniel said with a grin.
"Hmmm." Brian said. "Didn't you say that there was some problem with raccoons getting into the garden? Maybe I should head back and check on that." Brian grinned at Adam.
"She's a college girl, Brian." Crane said pointedly.
"Yeah, but I'm better looking than you." Brian said.
"She can be the judge of that." Crane said.
"Are you two through? I don't know if you've noticed but we've got some work to do." Adam said irritated.
"Hey, this is important." Brian said.
"He doesn't understand." Crane said to Brian.
"I know." Brian nodded.
"Hey!" Adam said. "Could we get this done? Huh?"
"It's just plain selfishness, that's what it is." Crane said ignoring Adam.
"That's exactly it. He's got a beautiful girl and he could care less about the rest of us." Brian agreed.
"Sure. He can snuggle up to her anytime he wants, but what about us?" Crane said.
"We are all alone." Brian said looking at Adam who rolled his eyes.
"You finished?" He asked.
"Crane?" Brian asked and Crane nodded. "Yeah, I guess."
"Good, 'cause I could use a hand." Adam said.
"Sure Dad!" Crane said laughing.
"Don't call me dad!" Adam said irritated.
***7***
Adam wished he'd had an opportunity to clean up before he met Finley. He could see why Daniel had said she was beautiful, she was, but she looked like the kind of girl Adam always labeled as "complicated".
They were sitting on the front porch and Finley appeared to be wearing a pair of Hannah's boots.
"Good afternoon, ladies." He said trying to sound gallant.
"This is him?" Finley asked turning to Adam.
"The one and only." Hannah said rising and reaching out and extending her hand to Adam. He grabbed hold and came to stand beside her. "Finley, this is Adam, my husband."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." He said shaking her hand.
"Oh, ma'am?" She laughed. "The pleasure is all mine."
She looked beyond him and he glanced behind to see Brian, Crane and Daniel.
"Oh, these are my brothers. Brian, Crane and Daniel." He indicated each one.
"Sit down fellas. I got some fresh lemonade." Hannah said.
"I'll help you." Adam said following her inside.
"Are you having fun?" He asked her as they walked through the house and into the kitchen.
"Yes, but I've done nothing all day! The kids will be home and I haven't even thought about dinner!" She said surprised at how late it was already.
"Brian and I will barbecue those ribs. We just have to get 'em in the smoker and then we'll get back to work." He smiled at her.
"Thanks!" She said throwing her arms around him and kissing him.
"Well, as long as you promise to get right back to work tomorrow." He said shaking a finger at her.
"Yes, sir." She said rolling her eyes at him.
He lifted the tray with glasses and the pitcher of lemonade and moved to go back out to the porch. "We better rescue her, girl. Those brothers of mine were elbowing each other to get close to her."
"Cowboys." Hannah said with a shake of her head.
***7***
"I will have to go to excercise class twice a day for a week to make up for that meal! How are you so thin?" Finley asked turning toward Hannah.
"Spend a few days working the ranch and you'll see. Plus, they were being polite for your sake. Normally, it can be pretty tough to get at the food before them." Hannah said. She rose to begin to clear the dishes.
"No way, Sis." Crane said. "We got the dishes tonight." He smiled at her.
"Thank you." She said and standing up on tiptoe she kissed his cheek.
Smiling he said, "You girls go visit in the other room. Guthrie here, will bring you coffee if you want it."
"Girls?" Finley said, but Hannah interrupted her.
"Quick before they change their minds." Hannah said.
"Well, I got to admit being surrounded by seven men would be a pretty tempting situation." Finley said sitting on the couch.
"I only expected the one." She said laughing.
"What do you mean?" Finley asked.
"Oh, I didn't mention that? Adam neglected to inform me that I'd be living with his six brothers until after the wedding." Hannah watched Finley's eyes grow wide, and wished she hadn't said anything. "It isn't like it sounds. He was just . . ."
"He didn't tell you? Hannah!" Finley said shocked. "Are you sure . . ." But just then Guthrie came in carefully balancing a tray with a pot of coffee and two cups. He set it down on the table closest to Hannah and sat down next to her clearly relieved.
"That was tricky." He said. "I don't know how you carried all those plates." He said looking at Hannah.
"Practice." She told him. "Thanks Guthrie."
"Now, I'm going upstairs to do my homework because Adam said if I didn't I would be down here bugging you. It was nice meeting you." He said to Finley.
"If you need help, you can ask me." Hannah told him brushing his bangs out of his eyes.
"No I can't. Adam said so. Crane said he'll help me. So now you know what kind of sacrifice I'm making." He said looking at her. "I only mention it because I've got that birthday coming up, and I want you to remember this. If I ask Crane even one question, he'll spend at least thirty minutes explaining the answer." He put a hand on her arm and said dramatically. "I've got twenty-seven math problems alone. You remember that." He smiled at her.
"I'll keep it in mind, cowboy." She told him and grinning at her he went upstairs.
Hannah raised her eyebrows at Finley. "You can see how they trapped me here."
"He's a sweet kid." Finley admitted. "But don't you want to go back?"
"Where?" Hannah asked pouring a cup of coffee.
"To school. You could still finish." Finley said.
"No, I don't even think about it. I've got enough here." She handed Finley a cup of coffee and Adam, Brian, Daniel, Evan and Ford came into the room.
"Homework." Adam said and Evan and Ford sighed and climbed the stairs, just as they reached the top, Ford said testily, "Yes, Dad."
"Don't call me Dad!" Adam hollered at them, and then sat down next to Hannah on the couch. "I hate it when they do that."
"Seeing as how fast you two got married I'm surprised you aren't on the fast track to parenthood too." Finley said taking a sip of coffee. The room grew uncomfortably silent, so that Finley looked up surprised.
"Well, I didn't want to overdo it." Hannah said squeezing Adam's hand and swallowing down tears. "So, when do you start your big job?"
"Two weeks. I'm moving to Sacramento, so I won't be too far from you. Maybe you can take a weekend and visit sometime." Finley said. She looked around the room. "So, what do you do for fun around here."
"Well, unfortunately, unless there's a dance in town, you are looking at it." Brian said with a wink.
"There's a movie theater over in Sonora." Crane offered.
"Why don't you play something, Daniel?" Hannah asked. "We make our own entertainment." Hannah explained.
"I see." Finley said, and Hannah watched her old friend thinking that Finley probably didn't see at all.
***7***
"What's the matter?" Adam said almost immediately after coming into their room.
"Nothing. Who said anything's wrong?" She said looking up at him from where she sat in the armchair finishing a shirt she'd sewn for Daniel.
"Nobody, you just look . . . never mind." He said kissing her cheek with a smile.
"Thanks for driving her back into town. Did she say anything?" She glanced at her husband nervously.
"I bet you'd like to know." He grinned at her. "Nah, she just asked about life on the ranch. I tried to get information about the boys you used to know, but she was silent. I was pretty frustrated." He sat down on the edge of their bed.
"Adam," Hannah said. "You know I was studying to be a nun before I met you. There aren't any boys to talk about." She batted her eyelashes at him innocently and then burst out laughing.
He shook a finger at her saying, "You better watch it, girl!" He leaned over and began to work at his boots.
"She wants to take me out tomorrow - shopping." She crossed to where he was struggling to take off his boots, and standing over his leg, helped him pull them off.
"Hey, I got an extra forty dollars stashed away!" He said rising and crossing the room. He disappeared into the closet and then came out holding the money in his hands. "You can use it tomorrow. Buy something pretty." He smiled at her kissing her on the forehead.
"Oh, we should save it. Lord knows, Ford's gonna need another pair of shoes any day now." She sat down on the bed.
"No, I saved it for you. I was thinking of taking you out somewhere, or if I could save up enough, I thought we could go away some place for a night or two." He pushed the money back into her hand.
"Thanks, Adam." She said tucking the money into her purse. She sat down on the bed beside him, and they said nothing for a few minutes. Finally he spoke.
"You could go back to school, Hannah. You could finish it, if that's what you want." He said to her.
"What? I never said anything about that! Is that what you talked about? Finley is so . . . Why would I need a degree in English? What good would it do me here?" She looked at him. "If anyone should go to school, it should be you. You set it aside long enough. We could figure a way to run things. The boys are old enough."
"Oh, college isn't for me." He said. "I can't imagine sitting behind a desk again. It's been too long! And I'm not going to be a doctor now. That would take too many hours, and too much time away from you. I'd rather be a rancher." He sighed.
"You could do it. You're plenty smart. Crane told me about your grades. I had no idea I was marrying the class valedictorian." She smiled at him.
"Quit changing the subject. We aren't talking about me. We are talking about you. And I'm serious, Hannah. You can do anything you want. I want you to have everything. If I had all the money in the world . . ." He looked at her.
"If you had all the money in the world, you would've been able to pick any girl . . ." She said laughing.
"Don't talk like that!" His voice was surprisingly sharp. "Girl, there's no one else on this whole earth, but you!" He put his arms around her. "Don't lie to me and tell me you aren't upset. What is it?"
"Nothing. Finley's just . . .she doesn't understand that living on a ranch, taking care of you and the boys, it doesn't make me less of woman. She measures things by diplomas and careers. It's frustrating, is all." She rose and pulled back the covers of the bed.
"She's probably not too impressed with me. I'm not exactly the epitome of the modern man. I'm glad she wasn't with us on round-up." He winced at the memory of how badly he'd behaved.
"Oh, let it go, Adam. It all got worked out, and . . . it's none of her business really." She had changed into her pajamas - his pajamas actually.
"What would your good friend Finley think if she knew you were a notorious thief." He said indicating her pajamas and pulling her into his arms.
She smiled. "You wanna take 'em back?" She stood with a hand on her hip, her eyebrows raised.
"Yeah." He said leaning in and kissing her. "As a matter of fact, I do." And she laughed even as he kissed her.