Marlene stood in the front room with Guthrie in her arms. She kissed the four year old's cheek again. A kiss that Guthrie promptly wiped off.

"'Nough kisses, Auntie 'Lene." He said disdainfully.

"No, never enough! Auntie Marlene is leaving and won't see you for awhile. I have to get my kisses now." She told him.

Guthrie considered this thoughtfully, and then stuck his chin out and said generously, "One more."

His brothers laughed as he was smothered in kisses by Marlene, who then reluctantly set him down. He ran to Adam and locked his fingers around his older brother's leg.

"Auntie 'Lene is leaving." He said looking up into his older brother's face.

"Yes. She is going back to her own family now." Adam said nodding at him.

"You are my own family." She corrected Adam.

"I know that." He said shaking his head at her. "Fellas, you all better say thank you."

"Thank you for all the food you left." Evan said squeezing her. "I mean it, Marlene. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"Hey!" Brian said irritated.

"You are welcome, Evan." She kissed him and then crossed to Ford. "You stay healthy, young man. And if you start to feel sick, make sure you tell Brian or Adam, right away." She reached out holding his chin in her long fingers. "No more nonsense, mister."

"Yes, ma'am." Ford said with a grin.

"That's better then." She kissed him.

"Thanks for coming, Marlene." Crane said.

"It was so good to see you boys." She told him. "I can't believe how tall you are!" She looked up into Crane's eyes. "You'll be grown like those two in no time."

"We'll miss you." Crane said and hugging her, he lifted her off the ground.

She glanced around, and sighing said, "Daniel Robert, are you gonna hide and not say good-bye? Don't be mean."

"I'm not mean." Danny said stepping out from where he'd been half-hidden behind the piano. "People who leave are mean."

"Danny!" Adam said sharply. "Marlene has her own life."

"That's alright, Adam." She waved her hand at him, and then turning to Danny knelt down. "I suppose you are right. I am just about the meanest person you know."

"It's true," He said stubbornly.

"I know." She agreed with a grin. "Have you decided to hate me, then?"

"I don't know about that." He said indifferently.

"Well, there's hope then." She smiled at him, and stretching forward pulled him into an embrace. "You are such a good boy, Danny. I'm so proud of you." She said kissing the top of his head.

They all stepped out onto the wide porch together. Mike hugged each of the boys, and then Crane and Danny helped him load suitcases into the car. The younger boys stood on the porch watching as Adam and Brian walked Marlene to the car.

"You boys call me if you need me. And you don't have to wait for something dramatic like near-death. You can call me just if you are lonesome for old Auntie Marlene."

"Danny will call you every day then." Brian said laughing.

"Go easy on him, Brian. He's just . . ." She said gently.

"I know." Brian nodded.

She reached out laying a hand on the side of Brian's face. "I don't know how you boys have managed it. They'd be so proud of you. All of them, are doing so well. Look at how happy Guthrie is!" She rubbed the side of Brian's face and kissed him. "You are doing a great job."

"Th . . . thanks, Marlene." Brian stuttered awkwardly. He kissed her cheek, and with a quick wave to Mike who waited patiently in the car, he strode quickly away, disappearing into the barn.

Marlene turned to Adam. "He'll never go see that doctor of yours will he?"

"No." Adam sighed.

"You've got to . . ." She paused considering him for a minute. "Seems like all anyone does is give you something else to be responsible for.

"It's kind of my job." Adam shrugged.

"No, it was their job." She sighed. "He's not handling it as well as he pretends, you know that don't you?"

"Yes."

"Neither are you for that matter, but at least you were willing to talk to that lady. You'd go back if you felt like you were headed for real trouble, wouldn't you? For their sake?" Nodding, she indicated his brothers who were gathered on the porch.

"Yes, ma'am. I promise it." He sighed. "And as for Brian . . .well, time will tell. I imagine if things get bad, we'll see it."

"Things are bad, hon." She reached out and hugged Adam to her. "But one thing I know, McFaddens can manage bad."

"As long as you got a brother by your side, you can manage most things." He said with a grin.

"Now, you sound just like her." She smiled up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Good." He said. "Now, go on back to your life - we've taken up enough of your time."

"Oh, Adam! You don't really think that? Promise me you are just teasing me again! I love you boys so!"

"Well, you dropped everything ten minutes after the phone rang and drove three hours straight to spend three weeks, cooking and cleaning up after some of the messiest cowboys the world has ever known, so I'm pretty clear on how you feel about us."

"Good." She hugged him again.

He held open the door as she sat down in the car. "Get her out of here, Mike." Adam said.

"Listen Adam," She said leaning out the window. "Nancy Hopkins has a daughter and I heard that she just broke up with her boyfriend. Now, she may not look like one of those models, but she's a pretty girl and a hard worker . . ."

"Marlene . . " Mike said shaking his head.

"Marlene, I don't take your advice! You know that." Adam said laughing.

"I just think . . ." She sighed. "And one more thing . . ."

Both Adam and Mike moaned.

"Marlene! It'll be midnight with your 'one more things . . ." Mike said.

"Midnight!" Adam sputtered. "More like four in the morning!"

"No, I'm just saying, if you take ten minutes and just wipe the counter clean when you are in the bathroom. I told the boys - just keep a cloth handy and wipe everything down; it will stay clean."

"We'll keep it in mind." Adam laughed. "Thanks for coming, Marlene. You can't know how much you help."

"Oh, I miss you boys."

"We love you." Adam said closing the door. "Even cantankerous Danny, we love you right down to the bottom of our boots."

"We love you too, Junior." Mike said taking Marlene's hand when he saw that she had begun to cry. "You call us, and we'll come running."

"I know it." Adam said and stepped aside as the car began to roll down the driveway.

Suddenly, Danny burst forward, running down the steps and chasing down the car that was slowly moving down the driveway. He waved his arms frantically, until, Mike saw and stopped the car. Danny ran, and stood beside the car, rubbing the toe of his boot in the dust.

Adam had jogged up and stood about ten feet back watching and waiting for his little brother.

"You want one more kiss?" Marlene asked leaning out the window of the car.

Danny shrugged, and Marlene laughed.

"Come here." She said and he moved closer to the window so that she could kiss him on his cheek. "You call anytime you want. Adam will let you."

"Yes ma'am." He said softly. "Bye Marlene."

"Bye Danny Boy. You be sweet."

"I haven't been yet, why would I start now?" He grinned at her.

"Don't mess with tradition." She agreed smiling up at him, a hand on the side of his cheek. She kissed him once more and then with a nod, pulled her arm back inside the car. The car moved slowly forward and Adam stepped close and put an arm around Danny. He felt Danny's tense shoulders. He looked down at his brother.

"Say it, little man. She'll hear it." He told him.

Danny took a step forward, and lifting a cupped-hand to the side of his mouth shouted, "I love you, Marlene!"

They watched as she turned in her seat and lifted a hand out the window waving. Danny waved back, and then turned to run into the waiting embrace of his older brother.

***7***

"Well, I guess it's back to normal." Brian said seeing Adam step into the barn.

"We don't really have normal, do we?" Adam asked with a grin. "Look Brian . . ."

"I don't want to talk about it." Brian said. "It was stupid. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't drink like that."

"I don't care about the drinking . . ." Adam began. "Well, I do care about the drinking but not like you think. I don't want you thinking . . ."

"I said I didn't want to talk about it!" Brian's voice rose in anger.

"You can't ignore . . ." But before he could finish his sentence, Brian had reached out with both arms, and pushed him hard, so that he fell down to the ground. Adam lay in the dust, shocked as he watched Brian storm away.

***7***

"I'm not sleepy, Adam." Ford whined.

"Well, if you don't go to bed now, you will be sleepy all day tomorrow." He told his little brother. "Now, all of you. Bed."

He watched as Evan, Ford and Danny reluctantly climbed the stairs like doomed men heading to the gallows. He shook his head chuckling, happy that things were back to normal. He crossed through to the kitchen where Crane sat at the table studying. He looked down at Crane's neat writing.

"History?" He asked.

"They call it Social Studies now." Crane said with a shrug.

"Looks the same to me." Adam sighed restlessly.

"You and Brian have a fight?" Crane asked looking up.

"Not exactly." Adam said. "You seen him?"

"He was out fixing that shed." Crane said. "It's all right, Adam. You know Brian."

"I do." Adam studied his brother. "You grew up awful fast."

"So did you."

"It must be a family thing." Adam said grinning. He reached out and ran a hand through Crane's hair. "Don't stay up too late, huh?"

He climbed the stairs and went into Ford and Evan's room. He tucked his brothers into their beds.

"Adam?" Evan asked.

"Yeah?"

"Ford doesn't have his appendix anymore?" Evan sat up on his elbows and looked at Adam with wide eyes.

"No. It was sick, so they took it out."

"Will my appendix make me sick?" Evan asked.

'Oh, good Lord, I hope not." Adam said wearily. He kissed his little brothers and then went in to check on Danny.

"Night, partner." He said leaning in the doorway.

"Night Adam." Danny said softly in the dark night.

"I'm proud of you."

"For saying good night?" Danny's voice held surprise.

"That and saying other things." He laughed. "I love you, Danny. Sleep tight."

"You too."

He closed the door and went back downstairs to find Brian sitting on the couch, polishing his boots.

"Hungry?" Adam asked. "We saved you some dinner."

"Nah." Brian said. "Got that shed fixed."

"Thanks. I was gonna work on it tomorrow."

"Now, you don't have to." Brian said gruffly.

"Brian . . ."

"Adam, don't start." Brian looked up and locked eyes with Adam.

"No, I have something I want to show you." Adam said, and turning he went to the desk, and brought a paper to Brian.

"I've been thinking and thinking about things you said to me." Brian looked up sharply, and opened his mouth to protest, but Adam continued. "No, I know. Even if you don't remember what you said, I do. And you . . . well, it's not like you are telling lies."

"Don't . . . don't . . ." Brian's voice was soft and pleading.

"No, I think it's time, we changed some things around here, starting with this." He put the paper in Brian's hands. "It isn't his any more. It's ours, and it's time we let people know it."

Brian looked at the paper in his hands, and then surprised Adam, by reaching out, and grabbing onto Adam's hand.

"I'm grateful, too, Adam. Those things I said? Well they aren't the only feelings I have."

"I know that." Adam squeezed Brian's hand. "You aren't wrong to feel like . . ." He struggled trying to find the best way to express himself. "People can be pretty stupid sometimes."

"Yeah." Brian sighed and releasing Adam's hand looked back down at the paper. "Circle Bar Seven? I like it."

"It is our brand." Adam said seriously.

"Ours." Brian agreed. "Thanks, Adam." Brian said as Adam stepped away and sat down in the big chair. "I won't drink like that again . . .it was just. It was too much, you know?"

Adam nodded as Brian continued.

"I mean I was terrified that whole time. Ford was so . . .and then being in that church with the whole town there - it was too familiar." He shook his head.

"Sometimes the pain is too much." Adam agreed.

"This pain isn't yours alone." Crane said, and his older brothers turned their heads surprised to see him standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the front room. "That's what Marlene told me."

"I thought you went upstairs." Brian said shocked.

"It isn't just your pain, Brian." Crane continued, ignoring his brother's attempt to change the subject. "We all feel it, but not just us. It belongs to the whole town - and even further to people like Mike and Marlene who've left. It belongs to all of us."

"Crane . . ." Brian rose up awkwardly.

"He's right, Bri." Adam said gently. "You aren't alone, even if it feels that way."

"I know." Brian said softly, his shoulders slumped inward, his head down. Adam watched amazed as Crane went to him, and wrapped his arms around his older brother.

"Mom and Dad, didn't belong to us alone, and we, we don't belong to just ourselves. You belong to me, and when you are hurt, I hurt too."

Brian buried his face in Crane's shoulder then, his own shoulders shaking. Adam stood watching, unable to speak; unable to breathe, completely amazed.

"Get over here." Brian called to him with one arm outstretched and Adam found himself swallowed up in an embrace with his brothers.

***7***

Restless, Crane McFadden found sleep impossible, and instead of going to bed, went out into the dark night. He stepped out into the deep starlight gazing up into the night sky. He was overwhelmed. "This pain, isn't yours alone." The words still echoed in his mind; it rolled around in all the empty places in his heart. The words were part of a chant; a prayer that seemed to restore him. He turned at the sound of the squeak of the front door and saw Adam come out to him.

"You okay?" Adam asked.

"Yes. I just couldn't sleep." He looked at Adam's face. "Guthrie wake up?"

"He's asleep again." Adam rubbed the back of his neck.

"You think he'll ever stop?"

"Sometimes I wish so, but then I think does that mean he's forgotten her completely?" Adam sighed. "You sure did good tonight. I can't always find a way to help everyone."

"You don't have to, Adam." Crane said his eyebrows raised in surprise that his oldest brother still didn't quite understand. "You weren't left alone, either." He studied Adam thoughtfully. "We help each other; brothers first."

"Brothers first." Adam repeated, and hugged Crane to him. "Go to bed. You've got school in the morning."

"Yes, Sir." Crane said laughing, and then climbed up the steps on long legs.

Adam watched him disappear into the house, and turned back to look at all the lands that made up the Circle Bar Seven. Maybe his life had been shattered; his loving parents ripped from his life, but Crane was right, he hadn't been left completely abandoned. He had six brothers at his side; each one strong, loving, loyal. And as if his brothers weren't support enough, he had all the good people who had known and loved his parents. He remembered briefly the old ache and longing to travel far and leave this small dot on the map. Just three years later, the tiny world that he had held in such disdain was everything to him. It was the very center of his bruised and battered, but strongly-beating heart.

***7***

Author's Note: It always bothered me that the ranch was named the Circle Bar Seven. How did they know they would have seven sons? If the parents died about ten years ago == that would make Guthrie two or three. Did they move to the ranch when Guthrie was a baby, name it Circle Bar Seven and then get killed?

I sort of assumed they'd had the ranch for quite awhile before they died - otherwise how would Brian and Adam know so much about ranching? Anyway, to make up for this - in some of my stories, I've written that it was named Circle Bar M, and later Adam and Brian changed it to Circle Bar 7.