Brian, Crane and Adam ran all out towards the house. Ford had found them almost immediately and they had sent him to call the sheriff. Brian ran just ahead of Adam, Crane trailing behind. As they neared the front of the house, they saw Izzy running towards them.
"Adam! Adam!" She yelled. He doubled his pace and caught her in his arms. "It's my dad. He's drunk, I think. He has a gun and he's got Hannah. Guthrie's inside too. He's got a shotgun."
Adam passed Izzy to Crane, and with added speed ran to the house. As they crossed the yard, Daniel came from around the other side, and he and Brian trailed behind their older brother. As Adam's foot hit the back porch they heard the report of a shotgun. Shocked, they skidded to a stop, with eyes wide. But Adam's hesitation was only momentary, he immediately picked up the pace and rushed inside the house.
"Adam! Wait! We don't know . . ." Brian yelled, but Adam wasn't listening. His heart hammered in his chest. It seemed to repeat over and over just two words: Hannah Guthrie Hannah Guthrie Hannah Guthrie.
Everything became a blur and it was hard for Adam to sort it all out later. As he entered the front room, he saw everything all at once. Hannah, bleeding and reaching for Guthrie. Guthrie a smoking shotgun falling to the floor beside him, and Peter coming towards Guthrie with a look of fury. Adam could see the shattered window just behind Peter, and before he could reach him, saw him grab his baby brother, and twisting his left arm with all his might, hit Guthrie so hard that he flew across the room, his head slamming into the stone hearth. He leapt across the room, the sound of Hannah's scream a distant background, as a rage, unknown to him until this moment, consumed him. He attacked Peter with great force, knocking him to the ground, and the gun went skidding across the floor. His fists flew, and he was consumed with a blind rage; the images of Hannah hurt and crying, and Guthrie flying into the hearth ever before him. It seemed seconds later that Brian and Daniel were pulling him off Peter.
"Adam! Adam!" Brian said. "We got him. Go check on Hannah. Go check on Guthrie!" Brian had said it over and over. He and Daniel lifted Peter up off the ground. He was bloody and unable to stand. Adam stood still, his fists clenched, his jaw locked so tight that it ached.
Looking up at him, Daniel said, "Adam, go to Hannah!" He and Brian lifted an unconscious Peter and carried him outside, as the sound of sirens could be heard. Looking up, dazed, Adam could see a line of cars pulling into their long driveway. He looked down at his bloody fists, and wiping them on his jeans, he turned to where Guthrie lay completely still, Hannah kneeling beside him, weeping.
"He tried to defend me." She sobbed, looking up at Adam with frightened eyes. "Guthrie? Guthrie, wake up!"
Adam looked at his brother. Guthrie was almost never completely still. Even as a baby, he'd been active. Adam remembered sitting in the rocking chair for hours with him trying to get him to sleep, as he had squirmed and fought off sleep.
"Guthrie, wake up now." His voice was full of tears and he held onto Guthrie's arm. Glancing across at his wife he said, "Come on, pal. Hannah's worried. Wake up. Guthrie? Come on, buddy!" He could hear Hannah praying softly between sobs.
Guthrie moaned softly, and began to stir.
"Guthrie!" Hannah said leaning over him. His eyes fluttered open and reached instinctively for his head, trying to sit up. "No, be still. He's gone. It's alright now." She said, pushing him gently back down.
He looked at her blinking for a minute and then his eyes filled with tears, "Mom!" He said and she leaned in kissing him.
"I'm here. It's okay, Guthrie. It's alright now." They both kissed him over and over until the paramedics pushed them aside.
Adam stood looking at Hannah, who stood, unsteady favoring her left leg. "Honey, sit down." He said but his voice was choked with sobs. He reached for her arm to help her into a chair but she winced. She sat in the chair and he rolled up her sleeve to reveal a purple bruise where Peter had held her arm.
"I'm okay, Adam." She said her voice weak with exhaustion.
"Yeah, sure." He said kneeling in front of her. "Hey!" He called out to the paramedics. "What about her? Get over here. She's hurt!"