Hannah paused outside the gate of the cemetery, a small bundle of flowers in her hands. She wondered if she should have asked Brian if he wanted to come along. She walked through the rows trying to avoid any patches of mud. The rain from the previous storm had made the world bright green.

She found their graves and split the flowers into the two vases. She read the headstones again. It had disturbed her the very first time she'd seen it; Adam's name chiseled in stone. It had frightened her. It still gave her a shock each time. She was glad his mother hadn't been named Hannah!

She glanced around trying to shake the vague feeling she was being watched. She reached into her purse and pulled out the picture of Adam holding the boys; his sons. She set it in front of his father's grave.

"Your grandsons." She said feeling self-conscious. "Adam the third and Jacob Brian, but we call him Jeb. We'll bring them by in person, just as soon as I wear Adam down. You know how he gets- his whole tough guy act. Anyway, uh, we are all doing well. They miss you and love you. I just wanted to bring the picture and say thank you, I guess. I love them all so much. They are good sons and I hope we raise our own just as well. Thank you for Adam. He's . . . you did such a good job raising him. You can't know how much I . . .anyway, thank you."

She was surprised at how emotional she got. She drew in a deep breath and wiping her eyes turned to head back to meet Brian. Perhaps, if she hadn't been fighting off tears, she would have seen Roger Taylor watching her and wouldn't have been so startled when he stepped in front of her blocking her path.

***7***

"Hello!" Adam hollered coming in the door.

"Adam!" Ford said. "You're killing me man! We just got them to sleep!"

"Sorry, Mom." Adam said grinning and punching Ford's arm. "Where is everyone?"

"Izzy's upstairs with the boys. She's reading again. I think she has read every book in the house. Guthrie's actually in the barn doing chores. Me and Evan are holding down the fort."

"Got that right." Evan said from where he lay stretched out on the couch. "Did you know how much work it is to take care of two babies?"

Adam laughed. "Yeah, I'm familiar with it. Where's Hannah?"

"Not back yet." Evan said.

"Maybe she ran off." Ford said. "The six of us were bad enough, you may have overdone it with the twins."

Adam glanced at the clock. She's just a little late. "Anyone know where Brian is?"

"Uh uh." Ford said collapsing in a chair.

Adam went out to the barn, but instead of finding Brian. He found Guthrie, hand-feeding, George, his pet lamb.

"Hey!" Adam said rubbing George's back. "He's getting big!"

"Hannah back yet?" Guthrie asked.

"No, but she had to stop by and meet with Taylor, so maybe it took a minute."

Guthrie stood, setting George down. "She's meeting with him?"

"Yeah, she just had to pick up some papers for me. Have you seen Brian?" Adam turned to leave.

"Adam!" Guthrie said running after him.

"What?"

Guthrie looked down at his shoes. "Oh, I don't know. Nothing. Never mind."

Shaking his head, Adam turned to go. "If you see Brian tell him I'm looking for him. I hope has a good reason for not tagging the rest of those calves."

"Adam!" Guthrie said again.

This time there was irritation in his voice. "Guthrie! What is it?"

"I don't like Taylor."

"Well, he'll be leaving tomorrow, so you don't have to worry about it." Adam said still clearly annoyed.

"Adam!" Guthrie said again.

"Listen, shrimp, I've got stuff to do. What is wrong with you? Spit it out."

"I don't like the way he looks at Hannah." Guthrie said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Adam stopped and turned to face Guthrie.

"She doesn't like him either. He makes her nervous." Guthrie said.

"What do you mean?" Adam said again louder.

"I don't know how to explain it. He looks at her like . . ." He struggled to find a way to explain what he meant. "He looks at her the way a coyote looks at a baby calf. I don't like him."

"Ok." Adam said turning slowly to go back to the house. He stopped after a few steps and turned back to Guthrie.

"I'm sorry for being short-tempered, Guth." He said squeezing his shoulder. "Thanks for telling me." Guthrie smiled up at Adam who turned to walk back to the house. "Thanks for looking out for her." He said over his shoulder.

***7***

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I was out for a walk and saw a friend." He said. "I thought you were coming by to see me."

"My brother was supposed to meet you. He's probably looking for you right now."

"You ain't got any brothers." He said. "You are all alone." He reached out and grabbed hold of her hand. She struggled and twisted free.

"I . . .I . . . got to get back. Everyone is waiting for me." She said trying to step past him.

"Wait, now. I've been thinking about this a lot; about you a lot. I understand your reluctance and all. But I just want you to know, I'm a powerful man. I can make things happen, and I can make things un-happen." He reached out and drew his hand along her face. She flinched.

"I understand what you are saying. Please, just leave me out of it." She fought off tears, angry with herself for getting upset.

"Now, why would I leave you out of it? You are it. Listen," He put a hand on her arm. "I understand, you are shy. That's alright. You don't want to be considered unfaithful. But sometimes we got to make sacrifices, right? For the good of those around us. You seem like a reasonable woman, who understands sacrifice, don't you?" He reached out and touched her hair, then brought his hand to her shoulder. His other hand was on her waist and he slowly moved his hand higher, and leaned in touching her lips with his.

Without any thought, she hauled back and hit him, square in the jaw. He staggered back angrily.

"Oh, you're that kind of girl!" He said wiping his lip. "Listen, baby, either way, I'll get what I want. And there ain't nothing you can do about it because I will shut this deal down. I've got that power."

She turned to run, but he caught her arm. His ring scraped along her shoulder. Spinning she kicked him, and then out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark flash pass her. Brian had him instantly pinned to the ground and his fists swung wildly.

"Stop!" She said grabbing Brian by the shoulders. "Let's just get out of here! Brian! BrIan!"

He paused and looked up at her. "Okay, Sis." He rose and Taylor stayed where he was crumpled on the ground.

"You are in for a world of trouble." Taylor said slowly sitting up. "I hope you enjoy your small-time life because that's all you are ever going to have." He looked up at Hannah.

"And you can explain to your husband how you blew his deal all to hell, you little tramp."

Brian hauled back and cracked Taylor in the jaw again, sending him reeling backwards.

"You say one word to her, ever or even look in her direction, and I swear to God, I'll kill you!" Brian said rising. "You understand! You stay away from my sister or I will lay you out, and no one, not even your mother, who surely must be the most disappointed woman to ever walk this earth, will be able to recognize you!" He stood over Taylor his finger pointed at his chest, Hannah, standing behind him, held onto his other arm, pulling him backwards.

"Let's go! Brian, please!" She cried. He turned and keeping an arm around her led her over to the jeep, but she pushed past him, and climbed into the driver's side and starting the engine she drove back towards the main street of town gunning the engine.

"Hey! Wait a second! Hannah! Slow down!" He took the wheel from her and guided the jeep next to the curb about a block away from the cafe. "Slow down, now. Ease off the gas." She slowed the jeep and parked it.

"Hey, now. Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Brian said his voice unusually high.

She covered her face with her hands and said, "What are we going to do?"

He reached over to put a hand on her shoulder but she flinched as though frightened. "Well, first of all, let's make sure you're alright." He said, looking all around. "Here, come on." He helped her down from the jeep and over to the cafe.

***7***

"I knew it!" Marie said angry. "I saw him following you, when you left here. I should have . . ."

"You didn't know, Marie." Hannah said. They sat crammed in the back office of the cafe.

"Hey, Marie. Where did you put the . . ." A voice called from outside.

"Talk to Eddie!" She hollered back. "I'm gone for the day."

"Drink this, Sis, come on." Brian said handing her the glass of brandy that Marie had poured.

"No, I don't want to smell like I've been . . . Brian, we can't say anything to anyone." His eyes grew wide.

"What the hell are you thinking?" He rose angry. "You're gonna cover for him?"

"Maybe if we don't say anything, he won't wreck everything." She looked up at him with frightened eyes.

"Hannah," Marie said. "You are in shock. Did he hurt you? What happened?"

"No, he just tried to . . .when he kissed me, I hit him and knocked him down, and then Brian came. He didn't really hurt me." She ran her hand through her hair.

"Your arm's scratched." Brian said his voice brittle.

"It isn't bad." She looked up at Brian. "We got to get home. They'll be worried. We'll just tell them I lost track of time and ran into you. So we came back together."

"You can't keep me from telling Adam." Brian said. She looked up at him, and tears pooled in her brown eyes.

"Please, Brian. He'll just be hurt. It is alright. I'm fine. I'll be fine. He won't try anything else."

"Why do you have to be so damned stubborn?" He asked her.

"Promise me, Brian, please!"

"I'll make a deal with you." He said. "I'll be quiet, for now, if you let me hug you, huh?" She had refused to let him do anything more than keep a hand on her arm since they had come to see Marie.

"I'm trying not to cry." She whispered softly.

"We're already late." He said. "A few minutes more won't matter." He opened his arms to her and she leaned into him then. She was shaking. "Shh. It's alright. It's alright, Sis." He said into her hair. "Its okay, now. We're gonna make it okay."

She kissed his cheek, and stepping away wiping her tears, and said, "Marie, do you have any make-up around here?"

"Yeah," Marie said. She handed her a small bag and Hannah disappeared into the bathroom.

"You're really not going to tell Adam?" Marie said looking up at Brian.

"I promised." He shrugged. Marie shook her head.

"You're crazy, both of you."

"Well, I promised I wouldn't tell Adam." Brian explained. "I didn't promise I wouldn't say anything to anyone else."