The holding cell in Murphy's, California was more often empty than full, so Hannah McFadden had not only the cell, but the entire jail to herself. She sat sipping the cup of coffee that Jack had sheepishly handed her saying, "I'm real sorry about this Hannah, but you know rules are rules."
"Oh, it isn't your fault, Jack. Can I call home?"
"You can but Ford already called Adam, so he should be here in a few minutes."
"You check visitors for weapons first, right?" She asked trying to joke her way out of how much she feared facing Adam. He would not be happy.
She set her cup of coffee down and looked out the small window that revealed only a bright blue sky. She might just have imagined it, but she thought briefly she saw dark clouds rolling in; a sign of trouble ahead.
She turned at a sound and saw Adam step into the small space between the door and where the cells began. She could tell by the set of his jaw that he was angry. Brian stepped in just behind him, a grin on his face. He leaned against the doorjamb.
"Heya, there Hannah." Brian said. "You've been real busy today."
"You come to watch the fight?" She asked him.
"No, I came because he was incapable of driving." Brian shrugged. "I guess you are truly a McFadden now. By the way, that bottom bunk is lumpy. The middle one is much better." He glanced over at his brother who stood silent during the entire conversation working his jaw from side to side. "Alright then, listen hon, you still got one phone call. You can call me if you need anything. If you change your mind Adam, or need anything, give us a holler. Don't worry I got the boys covered."
"Thanks for bringing him here, Brian." She said softly feeling suddenly very sad.
Brian crossed to the cell and reached through the bars for her hand. Giving it a squeeze he said softly, "Don't worry darlin', we'll manage it together, huh?" He turned and was gone before she could respond.
They stood in silence for a long minute, until unable to stand the tension Hannah said, "Adam, before you say anything, I just want to say that I understand my going over there was pretty stupid. I mean, I feel pretty dumb for being here right now, and being run off the Wheeler ranch in the sheriff's car is about as humiliating as you can get, so if you are thinking . . ."
"What am I gonna do with you?' He said at last and she was shocked at how angry he sounded.
"Adam, those things Kenny said . . ."
"I don't care what he said! You are maybe, maybe 103 pounds and those Wheeler's don't care about the law! They could have hurt you! They could have shot you and say later that they thought you were a trespasser! Anything could have happened! What the hell am I gonna do with you? " He threw his hands up and turned away from her. He stood muttering facing the wall. She could hear only a few words here and there. "Impossible! Stubborn!"
"Adam, I know you are angry. I would be too. But listen, you should have seen Ford's face. He was so . . . and those things Kenny said! I just saw red and had to do something about it! I couldn't let them treat Ford that way! I'm sick of them! The way they treated Daniel and your brothers! They get away with everything! Everyone knows what they are like! I can't let it go anymore! Adam, they killed that bull!"
"You should have seen Ford's face after he watched you get taken away in handcuffs!" He spat back at her and she sat down on the lumpy mattress with her head down.
"I know." She said softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it through. I just felt this protective rage. No one is gonna treat my boys that way! I don't care how rich they are or how influential!"
"Yeah, well, the influential parts a problem right now. Wheeler got a judge to insist on $10,000 dollars bail, so unless you've got money I don't know about, I can't . . ." His voice broke and she looked up surprised. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I can't get you out of here tonight."
She studied his face and realized there was a lot more there than just anger. She rose and walked close to the bars where he stood again facing her.
"I'll be fine." She said.
"I didn't come straight here because," He cleared his throat again. "We managed, Brian and me, to get the judge to agree to see your case first thing in the morning, so it's just until then. You only have to stay here until then."
"Thanks." She said looking up at him. She bit the corner of her lower lip suddenly overwhelmed with regret and sorrow. Her reckless decision wounded him.
Just then Jack came in with a chair. "Pardon me, folks." He said setting the chair just inside the doorway. He put a blanket on top. "That's the best I could do, Adam. And you better skedaddle it out of here before the shift change in the morning. I don't mind, but the next man might."
"Thanks Jack. I really appreciate it." Adam said reaching out and clasping his hand.
"Well, I've never been a fan of Wheeler, but she can't just go charging at him! Geez! I wish I'd been there to see it! Did you really knock him back into his chair?"
"Don't answer, honey." Adam said quickly. "You don't want to have to testify, Jack."
"Right. Sorry, Hannah. You folks need anything just give us a yell." Jack said and disappeared.
"What are you doing?" Hannah asked.
"Well, I can't get you out of here." He said in explanation. She raised her eyebrows, her expression a question. "You think I'm gonna sleep on our bed when you are here?" He sat down on the chair. "Did they feed you dinner?"
"Adam, you can't stay here." Hannah said. "I'm fine. Ford's probably upset and . . ."
"Brian has got it under control. I talked to Ford. He's okay." She stared at him with wide eyes. "I"m not leaving my girl all alone. It's bad enough you faced Wheeler down by yourself and got handcuffed and thrown into a police car. I'm not gonna let you sit here in jail all alone too."
"Adam." She said again but this time her voice was soft. She stood at the edge of the cell with her hands on the bars, as she at last understood what he had decided to do. She rested her forehead against the bars, fighting down tears. She felt his fingers on hers.
"Hey," He whispered. "It will be alright. We'll see the judge in the morning, and then we'll figure things out from there. I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to you, sweetheart. I promise it." He squeezed her fingers and she nodded her head at last raising her eyes to meet his. She wiped the tears from her eyes knowing she couldn't cry just then; it would be too difficult for both of them.
"Okay." She said softly.
"I just want you to know. I'm still mad as hell at you, and we are gonna have a big fight later." He told her with a grin.
"Let's schedule it so the boys can make some popcorn first." She smiled at him. "I am sorry, Adam. I really am."
"I know that! Jesus, girl! You are trying to drive me to an early grave!" He released her fingers and sat back in the chair. "So, I want the play-by-play. The rumors swirling around town are ridiculous! I'm hoping that at least one of them is true; although I sure hope it isn't the one where you grab a scythe and hold it against Wheeler's neck."
"Well . . ." She said with a grin, and his eyes grew wide.
"Now, I wish I had popcorn!" He said settling back in his chair ready to listen. Hannah paused before beginning trying to a get a handle on the all the emotions that she had experience today - to get a handle on all the emotions she'd experienced in the last two hours. She glanced at her husband who had squished his tall frame into an uncomfortable chair. He was ready, willing and eager to spend an uncomfortable night just to be near her, and to watch over her. She knew he was right; they would not doubt have a colossal fight later about this whole mess, but right now she was comforted even with that. Whatever else lay before her, she knew he would be at her side.