Hannah Moss McFadden, hardened criminal, stepped out into the bright light of the hallway from the dimness of the jail cell. Thankfully, she was not handcuffed. She glanced at the clock: 8:15 a.m. Adam had said they would speak to the judge at 8:00 a.m. Something must have happened. No one had spoken to her, and Adam was nowhere to be found.
"This way." The deputy said leading her to a small room. He led her inside. There was a table with four chairs and nothing else. "Wait here." The deputy told her and left. She sat in one of the chairs that faced the door.
She stared at the table, her heart racing. How had things ended up here? What on earth were they going to do? She hadn't really slept, was consumed with fear and worry, and knew that the second somebody said one word to her she would burst into helpless tears. She was a wreck.
The door opened and she prayed silently that it would be Adam or one of his brothers, but was surprised to find herself face-to-face with Jack Wheeler.
"I see they took good care of you." He said as she started to rise. "No, sit down. Sit down."
"What are you doing here? Where's Adam?" She asked trying to hide the fear she felt.
"I dunno. Probably talking to my lawyer. I was hoping you and me could come to an understanding first." He studied her. "I suppose you think it's funny. I suppose you could laugh at me now; the joke's on me in the end - just like with that contest. You seem to like making a fool of me."
"I don't know what you mean." Hannah felt trapped. Adrenaline poured into her system and she wanted to run for the door, and far away from him as possible.
"The hell you don't! I suppose Dick's loyalty to you is purely innocent! Aren't you the little angel! Making even him turn against me. Well, I won't come here with my hat in my hand begging you for mercy, I'll tell you that! You do as you see fit! But when it all comes down, you remember me! You remember me and my temper, little girl! It won't never be over between us! You think you coming to them was some kind of holy blessing! The poor little orphan boys with a mother at last! They will suffer because of you, and the way you've played your hand here! They're the ones who'll pay the price of your pride! I'll tell you now whatever happens at my hands will be because of you! I won't be played the fool again - not by no pretty McFadden! I'm done with that!" He leaned across the table and Hannah could feel her whole body shaking.
"I don't know what you are talking about! What happened?" She asked frightened.
"The hell you don't know! It isn't over. You remember! Whatever those lawyers hammer out. I'm gonna remember this!" He said rising and shaking a finger at her. He turned away and knocked on the door, he waited while the deputy opened the door and led him out. Hannah collapsed, her head down, sobbing. She could hear a commotion in the hall - shouting and then the door flew open and looking up she saw Brian standing in the doorway - clearly furious.
"What happened? How did he get in here? Did he hurt you?" He asked looking at her with wild, wide eyes. "Adam!" He yelled over his shoulder. "Don't just stand there like idiots! One of you go get my brother!" He crossed the room and knelt beside her chair. "Hey! Hannah, what happened? What did he say?"
She sat up and turned to look at him, but found speaking impossible. She opened her mouth but no words came out and instead she found herself enveloped in her brother's arms.
"It's okay now, honey. They'll find Adam. He was just talking to the lawyers. He's gone now. I'm sorry. It's okay." She clung tightly to him, and even in that horrible, strained moment, she was so grateful that the two of them had made a peace for she found great comfort in the arms of her protective older brother.
"What the hell happened? Who let him in here? Is she . . . why is she crying? Brian!" Adam's voice split the air, and she found she could speak. Pushing herself away from Brian she looked up at Adam who stood in the room with his fists clenched, his hair standing up and his eyes looking wild and ferocious.
"I'm okay. He didn't hurt me. He just said things. What happened? He is so angry!"
Adam crossed to her and pulled her up and into his arms. "It's okay. He dropped all the charges. We were coming to tell you, but someone moved you here to this room. We couldn't find you. God! What did he say? She's shaking like a leaf!" He said to Brian who nodded.
"I don't know. She couldn't talk. I came in when I saw him step out and she was crying."
"I don't understand! What happened?" Hannah asked again, and this time she sounded angry.
"Sit down, baby." Adam said sitting her back in the chair. He pulled another chair close to hers and sat next to her holding her hand. Brian sat at another chair across from them, and surprised himself when without even thinking about it, he reached across the table to hold onto her other hand.
"Dick Andrews came to see me last night. He's got a recording on his answering machine of Jack Wheeler telling him to come to our place and let the cattle out. He says specifically to make sure that the bull gets lost. He gave it to us." Brian told her.
"What?" She asked shocked.
"We met with Wheeler's lawyer this morning and played it for them. He's furious of course. He claims we made it ourselves somehow, but Dick will stand behind it, and then while he was arguing with us, Freddie said that he was there too, and would stand up in court and tell anybody who asked him about it the truth." Adam told her.
"Freddie is Wheeler's brother-in-law, isn't he?" She said wide-eyed.
"Yeah. What did you say when you were there?" Adam asked her. "They, all of them, were so impressed with you. Both Dick and Freddie said that they couldn't keep on acting like cowards after you stood up to him."
"I told you what happened." She said incredulous. "I can go home?"
"Yeah, sweetheart. We were just coming to get you." Adam said.
"How did he get in there?" Brian asked.
"I don't know. The deputy came and brought me here, and then he came in the room." She said.
"What did he say?" Adam asked, squeezing her fingers.
"That it wasn't over. That it didn't matter what the lawyers said that it wouldn't end there. He said he wouldn't be played a fool by me." She glanced from Adam to Brian. "I didn't know what he was talking about."
"He thought you knew." Brian said. "Did he hurt you? He didn't lay a finger on you, did he?"
"No." She said. "Just words." She sighed. "He was in love with her?" She looked at Adam. "You never said anything about that. It is all about her."
"Who? What are you talking about honey?" Adam asked.
"Your mother." She said gently. "But he's older than her, isn't he? And you said your parents fell in love in high school."
"They did." Brian said. "And he is. He was three years ahead of Dad I think."
"But this all because of her. He said he wouldn't be played a fool by a McFadden woman again." She looked up at Adam. "You didn't know about it?"
"No. I just thought he hated us because of our land." Adam said. "It is a good piece of property."
"Yeah, but not that good." Brian admitted. He looked at Hannah. "You sure?" She nodded.
"I'm pretty sure. It makes sense doesn't it. Someone would know. Marie maybe? Someone your parent's age." She said.
"No, Marie came after they were married." Adam said.
"Dick would know. His older brother went to school with Dad, remember?" Brian said.
"You okay sweetheart?" Adam asked looking at her, and kissing her cheek. She nodded.
"Can we please leave this place?" She asked.
"Yes." They both said in unison, and she smiled.
"Good. Let's go see Dick right now." She rose wearily.
"No, it can wait. You are all wore out." Adam said rising and putting an arm around her.
"I'm fine, and I'm sick to death of being pushed around." She said. "Let's go."
"Uh oh. Remember what happened the last time she was sick to death of being pushed around." Brian said looking up at Adam. "Do what she says mister." He grinned at Hannah, and impulsively leaned across the table and kissed her cheek. "I'm sure glad that you are alright, hon. You 'bout gave me a heart attack crying like that."
She reach out and patted his cheek. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's been kind of really long day."
"It ain't even nine yet!" He told her.
"Ain't? What would your Mama say?" She asked with a grin knowing their love of proper grammar came from their mother.
"She'd say that you were her daughter - no in-law. The real thing." He smiled at her. "Come on, Adam. I'm driving. You sit in back and kiss your girl."
"Yes, sir!" Adam said with a grin at Hannah.
***7***
"I thought you knew about it." Dick said. The four of them sat on the front porch of his little trailer.
"No. Mom and Dad never talked about it." Brian said. "Least not in front of us. You remember anything?"
"Not really. I remember once when he tried to sue us for our water rights, Mom said something about him 'never letting it go'. I guess it makes more sense now." Adam said.
"He was infatuated with her. She never so much as smiled at him, but in his head he believed that she would've married him, if your Dad hadn't fouled things up." Dick said. "He'll tell you it is all about getting your land, but that isn't it at all."
"Poor Margaret." Hannah said softly.
"Yeah. It ain't easy living under the shadow of a perfect ghost." Dick sighed. "After your folks got killed. He blamed your Dad and said that she'd be alive if it weren't for him. That's when he got determined to drive you fellas into the ground. It gets worse every year."
"Thank you for what you did." Hannah said softly. "I was at the end there. I knew I'd messed things up pretty badly, and Adam here was ready to sell the ranch to get me out."
"That was his plan. He'd offer Adam to drop the charges if he'd sign over the Circle Bar Seven." Dick said. "But you shouldn't thank me. I had a hand in the death of that bull. I let you all suffer."
"You made it right." She said. "You took up for us when it mattered most. We won't forget that."
"You made me so ashamed. You standing there telling him he wasn't a man. I knew it was true too. A man wouldn't act the way he did - he's a spoiled boy throwing a tantrum because he didn't get what he wanted. He's been doing that for twenty-five years! And I'm just sorry I had a hand in it."
"What are you gonna do now?" Brian asked him.
"I got a cousin in Texas who runs a ranch. He says I can come and work for him. The pay ain't that good, but I know I can sleep at night. What about you fellas? What are you gonna do? Cattle rustling is no small crime."
"I don't know yet." Adam said. "Hannah's free and clear. That's what I care about. As to the rest, I haven't decided yet. I wouldn't do it just for spite - especially if he's gonna threaten her over it. Jack is still powerful, and punishing him isn't important if he'll just leave us alone."
"I don't know." Brian said. "Putting him away forever sounds pretty damn tempting to me!"
"He's got a family, Brian. What about Mike, Kenny and Cleo? What about Margaret? You don't know the pain of living under the shadow of a father who's brought shame to the family." She looked up at him, and Adam reached for her hand.
"The only thing I know for sure is that we appreciate you for what you've done. I can't say thank you enough." Adam said rising. "And I also know it is high time we got our little criminal home to her brothers."
"I plan to head to Texas next week, but I'm living all my information with you and with Marshall. I'll testify, if that's what you need. Don't worry about me changing my mind or getting fearful. Whatever you decide, I'd be more than proud to back you." Dick said and both Adam and Brian shook his hand. He turned to Hannah who leaned against Adam's arm. "Thank you. If you hadn't faced him down, I'd still be there today - waking up each morning hating myself. I'm not proud of myself and the things I done, but right now, at least I got this one thing to be proud of - I got you out of jail."
She smiled up at him. "You got a lot to be proud of."
"She's just like her." He said to Adam. "Do you see it too? That's why she gets him so riled. Boy, if you had searched the earth, you couldn't have found a girl more like your Mama - even that little turned up nose - she had that too." He turned to Hannah and continued, "You missed out. Kate McFadden was one in a million, but how much she would've loved you standing toe-to-toe with Wheeler like you did protecting her boys! You fellas take good care of her."
"We will." Adam said his voice strained. The three of them climbed into the jeep. Brian behind the wheel and both Hannah and Adam riding in the back seat. He kept his arm around her and she rested her head against his shoulder. She was so quiet that he was convinced she'd fallen asleep.
"She is, you know." Brian said looking in the rear view mirror at Adam. "She's just like her."
"I guess so. I wasn't really thinking about Mama at the time, Bri. I had all kinds of other thoughts about her." Adam said blushing. "Crane mentioned it and then I could see it. But mostly it's the way she is. I'm sorry I didn't do things right, Brian. I should have talked to you about her. I should have told you my plans. I know that hurt you."
"Nah. I was just being stupid. I don't like change. It scares me, is all. It's like Squeakers."
"What?" Adam asked. "Squeakers? Who the hell is . . . Ford's hamster?" He wrinkled his brow at his brother. "Whoa! Wait a minute! This is all because . . .hey, Brian. Brian . . ." He found he was incapable of words.
"You wouldn't recover from it." Brian said simply. "I mean, I knew it was too late already. You loved her way before you ever dragged her out to us, but it terrified me - terrifieds me still. Anything can happen - you know that."
"Nothing is gonna happen to me, Brian." Hannah said surprising them both.
"My mother would've said the same thing, Hannah." He met her eyes in the rearview mirror.
"Aren't you tired of living under that weight though?" She asked him. "Aren't you lonesome?"
"Ah, hell!" He pulled the jeep over to the side of road wiping tears out his eyes. "You push me to my limit, you know that, Mrs. McFadden!" He turned in his seat to look at her. "I wish you'd never come! I wish he'd never met you!" He said it with great force, but she wasn't offended. She knew what he was saying to her.
"Brian!" Adam said angrily.
"No, don't Adam. That isn't what he means at all." She reached out and held his face cupped in her hand. "Is it?" He shook his head, biting his lip and blinking back tears.
"Now, I got one more damn person to worry over, and look at her Adam! She's so small, and so stubborn! You can't make her listen to reason! I bet she tried to fight off a pack of coyotes if they were coming after one of us! At least Squeakers was smart enough to sit inside that stupid cage - she's wild, Adam!"
Adam smiled up at his brother through a veil of tears and said simply, "Well, she's a McFadden Brian, what the hell do you expect?" Brian reached out and took her hand which still held his face, and kissed her palm before turning back to the wheel and starting the jeep.
"I expect trouble." Brian said glancing at the two of them who had settled back into their seats. "I expect she's gonna give me more gray hairs than Daniel and Evan combined! And you wipe that smile off your face, Sis. Just because I've admitted my every dying love to you, doesn't mean you can tease me."
"I sure as hell will!" She said grinning.
Brian shook his head at her. "See, what I mean? Adam, why on earth did you have to bring her home? You got a real powerful hatred toward me or something?"
"Nobody meaner than a brother." Adam said with a grin. "Besides, I love her! She's my girl!"
"She's our girl now! Poor thing! Seems to me if you really loved her, you would keep her as far as possible from our brothers and that ranch! A lifetime of dirty jeans and smelly cows! That's what you've doomed yourself too." He met her eyes in the mirror again and winked at her.
She leaned against Adam's shoulder again. "I'm too tired for any more declarations of love. Wake me when we are home, okay boys?"
"Yes, ma'am." They said in unison and she smiled at the sound of her husband and her brother's voices.
***7***
Hannah still hadn't adjusted to the overwhelming experience of seven men. She told Crane once, "I should have paid better attention when I saw Snow White as a girl. I should have taken notes!"
They all came spilling out of the house as soon as the wheels of the jeep hit the long driveway. They ran down the steps to her, as she stepped out the jeep.
"Hannah!" They yelled kissing her, and hugging her; lifting her off her feet as they did. They led her inside and wrapped a blanket around her, making her a mug of tea. She sat between Guthrie who kept a protective arm around her, and Crane who kept offering to feed her.
"How about some eggs? You want pancakes? I'll fix you a steak if you want." He said.
"No thank you, Crane. I'm just tired right now. I promise I'll be hungry later. Right now, I just want a nice warm shower and bed - a soft bed." She smiled at him, and he nodded.
"I told you that bunk was lumpy." Brian said.
"I don't understand." Daniel said. "How did you spring her?"
"Are you a fugitive?" Evan asked. "Did they bust you out?"
"Brian can explain it. Let her be, fellas. Come on, honey. Let's get you some rest, now." Adam said holding a hand out to her. She reached for it and he helped her up.
"Thanks fellas. I'm so happy to be home. I'm sorry for worrying you like I did. I should keep my temper in. I am so sorry Ford, for scaring you like I did. It was wrong me running over there like that! Please say you'll forgive me." She looked down at him.
"Ah, geez! Hannah! You can't be apologizing. I'm the one who started the whole mess." Ford said.
"No, man, I'm the one!" Daniel said moving to sit on the arm of the couch next to his little brother. "We're the ones who are sorry Hannah."
"You boys." She said reaching out a hand and touching Daniel's face. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, and then Ford's too. Turning to Adam she said, "You were such a fool for thinking they'd scare me off. Your brothers are one of your best assets."
"Have you seen the bank book, Hannah?" Crane asked her. "We are his only assets!" They all laughed.
"Now, I know you are exhausted!" Adam said laughing. "Honey, they are just sweet right now because they were worried about you. But when you wake up, you'll remember just how much trouble they can be. Come on!" He led her away and his brothers all stood watching her go. She hesitated half-way up the stairs and looked down at them. Brian stood at the piano bench with Evan to his left. Daniel still stood beside Ford and Crane stood on the other side of Ford with one arm around Guthrie's shoulders. "I love you boys." She said looking down at them. "And as sorry as I am for all the trouble I caused, you remember if anyone comes after you, they'll have to face me down. Nobody is gonna mess with my boys."
She and Adam disappeared upstairs, and they all stood where they were completely silent.
"Is this how it felt?." Guthrie asked at last. "Is this what it meant to have a mother?"
"Yeah." Daniel said softly to him. "It felt just like this."
Guthrie turned toward him, and then looked up at Crane. "I love her."
"We all do." Crane said looking down at his little brother.
"That's for damn sure!" Brian agreed, and seeing their surprise he said, "What? Please, don't act like you didn't already know that about me!" He shook his head at them laughing at himself. "Come on, family meeting. I'll tell you how we busted our sister lose from the firm grip of the law!" And they followed him into the kitchen to hear the story.