The cheering was deafening. Everyone had come to celebrate the rescue of the children from the Howling Man Mine. If Hannah looked out beyond the immediate circle before she would see all of Murphys, but she wasn't interested in anything beyond her immediate circle. It contained all the things that mattered. She glanced to her right, to check on Evan as she kept one arm around Ford.

"You okay?" She asked him again and again.

"We are all fine, Hannah." He shouted over the din.

She didn't really believe that they were all alright until they at last pulled Guthrie up out of the pit. The sight of his bright cheerful face, nearly made her collapse into helpless sobs of gratefulness and joy. She'd never been so happy to see a filthy, smelly twelve year old in her whole life. It was all she could do not to knock his brothers down, to get her arms around him.

"We got the gold for Hannah's ring!" He told Adam, and she wanted to grab it from him, and toss it back into that black pit of death, but instead pulled him tightly to her, wrapping a warm blanket around him.

"Guthrie James McFadden," She began, but found she could say nothing else, as tears overpowered her.

"Hannah, I'm okay." And for once, he didn't brush off her embrace, but leaned against her, and repeated softly. "It's okay. I'm okay."

"You ever scare me like that again . . ." She warned and then thought better of it, and kissed him instead. "I'm so glad you are okay, Guth. I was so worried."

He opened his mouth to answer, but just then the crowd roared again as they finally lifted Jenny out of the earth. Fresh tears flowed as she saw Daniel's face - relief etched across his features. Thank God, she thought. She smiled through her tears at Carey who held Jenny in her arms at long last. They stood across from one another, mirror images, and Hannah thought briefly, I know just how she feels, as Carey kissed Jenny's forehead, weeping tears of relief. But before time she was able to fully process it, she felt herself being pulled by Adam into a circle which included her entire family; husband, brothers, sons.

***7***

Hannah sat down in the armchair only have listening to the familiar chatter as the brothers gathered for a business meeting. She glanced over at Adam, and asked, "Do you fellas need me because I was gonna . . ."

"Stay put, little Sister." Brian said interrupting her and pointing a finger at her.

"Okay." She said with wide-eyes, surprised by his reaction. "I thought you wouldn't need me. It's just a business meeting."

"It's not a business meeting, Hannah. It's a family meeting." Guthrie said with a grin. She couldn't help but smile back at him.

In the fourth months since they hellish Howling Man mine terror, she often found herself gazing at her brothers, lost in thought and gratefulness. Just the other day, she'd stood watching as Ford fed the baby goats. She'd come out to the barn to ask him a question and then after he'd answered, she'd stayed, just watching him.

"You need something else?" He asked.

"No." She blushed embarrassed. "I was just . . ." She couldn't explain it to him if she tried. How could he possibly understand the wave of emotions she felt every time she saw her brothers safe and alive? She would wake up each night and tiptoe down the hallway to check on each of them to reassure herself they were safe and home. He waited patiently watching her as the memory of her worries, and terror, and later relief flashed over her again. Realizing she was still staring at him, she shook her head at him, and returned to the house, even as tears of gratefulness stung her eyes.

"Family meeting?" She asked. "You getting married, Ford?" She grinned as he blushed crimson.

"You better go easy on the teasin' darlin'. I know the boys can manage it, but knowing you, you'll beat yourself up over it an hour from now." Adam said crossing to the chair.

"Why would I beat myself up over it?" She asked him.

"Move over." He said squishing next to her. "Trust me, girl." He glanced up. "Alright, then, we're ready."

They all looked at one another, and she could feel the nervousness in the room. They had all gathered around the coffee table. Guthrie sat between Evan and Daniel on the couch, with Crane standing to their left. Brian leaned on the arm of the couch, Ford at his shoulder. She had just met with Crane yesterday to go over the books, so it couldn't be a financial issue, and all of them looked healthy. A nervousness began to fill her heart.

"What's going on fellas? Did you decide to vote me out of The Brotherhood?" She said trying to fill the nervous silence up with something.

"Just the contrary." Crane said smiling at her. "Go on, Guth."

"Oh, right!" He rose up and crossed to her, a small box in his hand. He handed it to her. "Go ahead. Open it."

As soon as she saw the box she knew. She was crying even before she opened it and saw the small velvet box it contained. She opened it slowly, and nearly dropped it, overcome with emotion.

A ring.

A ring made of gold dug out of the earth for her.

A ring that had nearly cost her everything she held dear.

It was delicate and beautiful and the most expensive piece of jewelry ever made. At the center were two intertwined hearts - finely etched. The letters H and A were delicately carved inside the hearts. The gold band of the ring held six precious stones, and she recognized each of them instantly.; her brothers' birthstones shimmering in the evening light.

She could feel all of their eyes on her now, and felt strangely shy and unsure.

"Hannah?" Guthrie's nervous voice, gave her courage as she realized her hesitation might be misunderstood.

"Give her a sec, Guth." Adam's voice was gentle, his arm strong around her shoulders.

"Its our birthstones. That was Brian's idea. The red one's mine."

"Ruby." She said to him. "I know, Guthrie."

"But how would you know that?" He asked her surprised.

"I know your birthdays, Guth." He considered this thoughtfully.

"Of course, she does, Guthrie." Crane said coming to stand beside his youngest brother. She was surprised to look up and realize that they'd all gathered close.

"Look inside." Brian said.

"I'm already crying." She said looking up at him. "There's more?"

"Just look, will ya?" Brian glanced at Adam. "Girls! They are always talking and talking."

She shook her head at him and turned the ring so she could see the inside of it. Three simple words had been etched in delicate curlique lettering.

Mother Sister Friend

She held it to her chest then, and gave up any pretense of keeping it together, curling into Adam's shoulder as she sobbed. He cooed softly in her ear, kissing her forehead as the brothers watched them.

"She's crying." Guthrie said.

"She's happy, Guthrie." Crane explained reaching out to put an arm around him.

"Girls cry when they're happy." Evan said with authority.

"Like you know anything about girls." Ford mocked his older brother.

"Shut up, you idiots. You're ruining the moment." Brian told them. He turned to Hannah. "Explain it, Daniel."

"We all thought of words to describe you - who you are to us."

"I understand." She said softly, facing them again. "Thank you. I can't . . . how much this ring cost."

"No, wait." Daniel said. "I don't think you do understand."

She paused surprised, but waited as he glanced at his brothers before continuing.

"It wasn't that the little ones thought of mother and us older ones thought of sister. All of us, thought of all of those words. You are all those things to all of us."

"We are a pretty complicated family." Crane continued. "We got Brother/Dads and Brother/Sons, so you fit in just fine as our mothersisterfriend." He smiled at her.

"And since, as Brian pointed out - AFTER we climbed out of that mine, you already have a wedding band, this ring seemed a better idea." Daniel said with his sideways grin.

"The ring Adam gave you tells everyone that you belong to him, but this ring says you belong to us." Evan said with a smile.

"But not in some messed up possessive sexist way." Ford added quickly, blushing as they all turned to him. "Well, . . . um . . . you know."

"Shut up, and give her a kiss." Brian said. They all kissed her cheek then and there was no chance for her to keep her tears at bay. She looked down at the ring in her hand, stunned by it - the beauty and the anguish. It was so beautiful and she couldn't help but love it, but part of her despised it to - what it had nearly cost.

"Oh, for pity sake. Danny play something before you all ruin it." Adam said.

"Don't call me, Danny, Junior." Daniel responded, even as he crossed the room to lift his guitar. The brothers settled comfortably as Daniel began to strum his guitar. Crane sat at the piano and played along.

"I didn't say thank you." She said to Adam who now had both arms wrapped around her.

"Sure, you did honey." He said kissing her forehead.

She slid the ring on her finger and studied it thoughtfully remembering how perilously close they had come to unending grief.

"It's kind of a two-way thing." Adam said softly.

"What?" She turned to him confused.

"You love it, but hate it too." He said reaching out and running his finger over the band.

"I do." She whispered softly, surprised how much he understood. "I didn't need it; didn't ask for it, and would rather have them home and safe any day."

"But it is beautiful too." He finished for her. "And what it stands for - that's beautiful too."

"You secretly a poet?" She asked him.

"Well, there's plenty of time to think when you are driving cows in." He explained. "They didn't ask me, by the way."

"What?" Her brows furrowed in confusion.

"They didn't ask me how I'd describe you. This was their ring."

"Oh."

"I just mention it because I wanted you to know that when I think of you, I don't see you as my mother. That's their thing. I got all kinds of other words, I'd use." He leaned in close and kissed her, his hand sneaking up the side of her shirt. She laughed and pushed his hand away.

"Good to know." She said, her face just inches from his. "Maybe you can tell me later." She returned his kiss.

"Not here? Not now? Not in front of all these damn brothers?" He asked gesturing wildly.

"They're kissing again." Guthrie said to Crane with a sigh.

"Well, that's just like Adam. We make the pretty speech and he gets the girl." Brian said.

"What are you complaining about, Brian?" Evan asked. "I risked death and he gets all the kissing!"

Hannah laughed at all of them and turning to Adam said, "Adam J. McFadden, I love your damn brothers!"

She settled back against her husband's chest as her brothers surrounded her with song, just as the ring that encircled her finger surrounded her with love.

THE END

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