Guthrie lifted the beer to his lips and drank it down. It tasted terrible. That is what he thought every single time he'd tasted his brother's beers. It smelled like smelly gym socks, but still he drained the bottle and reached immediately for another. He was pretty sure that there was no way in hell he would get away with any of this. Adam would most definitely kill him, but as a haze settled over him, all those horrible, uncomfortable feelings drifted away. He was floating free.
***7***
It was just after dinner that the doorbell rang, and Crane opened the door to Marley James who stood on their porch holding a pie.
"Hi," She said, smiling nervously. "I'm sorry I didn't call first, but I was hoping it was okay to come by."
"Of course," Crane told her, waving her inside.
"Today was kind of a bad day, and I just wanted to apologize to Guthrie. I was kind of impatient with him and . . ."
"Guthrie?" Crane interrupted, his brows wrinkled in confusion.
"Marley!" Hannah said coming to the entryway. "I'm glad you guys came over here!" She glanced around. "Where's Guthrie?"
***7***
"You are staying right here." Adam said to Hannah angrily. "Crane and I will bring him home. You stay with Katy."
"Adam . . ." She said, reaching to grab a hold of his arm as he reached for the closet to get his jacket. "He's upset."
"He's upset?" Adam turned toward her. "Hannah, he lied to you. He looked you straight in the eye and lied."
"Which proves just how much he's hurting!" She said. "He's sixteen years old, and confused and hurt. Just don't . . . don't . . ." Here she was at a loss for words.
"If he is drinking I'm gonna tan his hide." Adam told her. "And if he is drinking and driving . . ."
"If he is drinking and driving, I'll kick his ass from here to Sunday." Hannah told her husband. "But he is gonna need our compassion, too. I'm just asking you to remember that."
Adam shook his head at her. "Hannah, he lied to you."
"I know." Her answer was soft, and sad. Adam put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, and then turned to his brothers who were gathered at the door.
"Daniel, you see Marley home, okay?" Daniel nodded at this. "And then get back here to wait with Ford and Hannah." He turned back to his wife. "I'm taking Crane with me, darlin'. Consider him my emergency break, huh?"
She nodded and reaching down, lifted up Katy who had been clinging to her legs.
"Don't worry, Hannah. I'll try and be the voice of reason." Crane told her with a wink as he followed Adam out the door.
"You don't fool me, Crane." She said, standing in the doorway. "Every single one of you has a temper. You quiet McFadden's are the most dangerous of all."
"Probably true, Sis." Daniel said, he gave her arm a squeeze and turning said. "Come on, Marley, I'll run you home."
"I can walk." Marley said for the third time. "I can cut across the Peterson's field. It doesn't take 20 minutes."
"Stop feeling guilty." Hannah said, putting her hands on Marley's shoulders. "Guthrie will be okay. He's just upset and confused." She hugged Marley to her, shifting Katy to her hip. "I'll make sure he calls you tomorrow, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am." Marley said softly, releasing Hannah. "I'm sorry all the same."
"Go on home, sweetheart." Hannah said. "I'm gonna call your Mama right now and explain things for you."
"Thank you." Marley said, and with a wink at Hannah, Daniel closed the door behind them both.
"Adam is probably gonna kill Guthrie." Ford told her. "You know that, right?"
"You aren't helping." She said with a sigh. "I better call Annabell. Poor Marley!" She turned toward the kitchen.
"Come here, Katy." Ford said, his hands outstretched toward his niece. "Let me read you a story about a nice calm, normal family." He lifted Katy into his own arms and took her into the living room.
"Not helping." Hannah repeated.
***7***
"You called Taylor?" Crane asked as they rattled along in the jeep.
"No." Adam said, his eyes on the dark road ahead. "I mean, I thought about it, but right now, I just want to get there. We can call Taylor when we get there."
"Maybe it isn't like we think." Crane offered.
"Right, they are all just sitting around the parlor reading the book of Genesis." Adam said. "I swear! Guthrie knows better!"
"Knowing and understanding aren't the same thing." Crane responded. "He's been so . . . I mean none of us could get him to talk - not even Hannah."
"Yeah, well, my compassion for poor, little Guthrie starts to fade when he's throwing back whiskey and driving his truck. I'm not making the same mistake twice."
"He's not Brian." Crane said seriously.
"And he sure as hell isn't gonna start to be either. Not on my watch."
***7***
He felt sick almost immediately which was pretty much a rip off. He'd had three stupid beers and whatever Joel had put in that red cup and his head was swimming. Everything was fuzzy and distant and he just wanted to get back home. He staggered out of the living room and onto the porch.
"Where you going Guthrie?" Barney asked, laughing.
"Hommme." Guthrie said. "You . . . I . . ." He leaned over the porch and threw up on the flowers that bordered the porch. "Sorry."
"Lightweight!" Joel called from inside. "Come back, Guth! I got another cup for you!"
"Nope!" Guthrie said as he tripped down the steps toward the yard. "I'll see you guyssss, later." He lifted his arm to wave, but it threw him off balance and he fell to the ground. Everyone behind him laughed, and then there was a sudden silence. Only Joel spoke, uttering a low, "Oh, shit!" He was just about to turn his head to see what was going on when he found himself looking up into the eyes of his oldest brother.
"Going somewhere, Guth?" Adam asked him, and Guthrie felt the world snap sharply back into focus.
"Yeah, I was just . . . I was gonna . . ."
"Make the biggest mistake of your life?" Crane asked, coming to stand beside Adam. He reached down and grabbing Guthrie by the arm, lifted him up. "How 'bout you just go get inside the jeep."
"I'm not . . . I'm . . ." He was about to explain he was alright again, but a wave of nausea swept over him, and he threw up on Adam's boots.
"Get in the jeep." Adam's voice was cold. "You all give me your keys right now." Adam said to the rest of the kids standing on the porch. "I swear to God, I'm not leaving this spot until every single one of you gives me your keys. You can come get 'em from me in the morning. Barney, you just decided to have a slumber party."
"Man, come on!" A voice called out from the crowd.
Adam turned toward the jeep. "Crane, take Guthrie home. I'm gonna call Taylor and get things sorted out here."
"I can stay here." Crane said.
"No. I'm too angry to deal with him. This is better. Just, promise me you'll take care of him. I don't want Hannah . . ."
"Yeah, no worries, brother." Crane glanced around the crowd. "Hey, Peter and Joel, get in the jeep. You both are on my way home." The boys looked at each other and then sighing made their stumbling way to the jeep. Crane looked at Adam. "I'll haul these boys home, and get Guthrie settled and come back."
"I've got the truck." Adam said pointing. "I swear, if they throw up in that jeep . . ."
"Figures, right? Finally got a nice new car." Crane shook his head and turned to climb back in the jeep. "See you later."
"See ya." Adam took the steps two at a time saying, "Alright kids, everyone inside." The screen rattled shut behind him, and he pushed his rage at his little brother aside as he dealt with a room full of drunk teenagers. "Line up kiddies. We are all calling home."