The light of dawn had just barely touched the rim of the earth and Daniel McFadden was already on his horse. Adam had insisted they all wake up while it was still dark to get loaded up and begin the long drive home. Daniel had been sad to see Rob and Mike leave the previous morning. He had found great comfort in having two grownups - even gruff ranchers, nearby. They had spent all of yesterday packing, planning and listening to Adam's endless lectures about what they were supposed to do, how they were supposed to do it, and when it was all supposed to happen. Daniel tried to stay focused, but by the time he'd gone over everything three times in a row, he stopped listening to the words. Instead, he watched his brother's face and eyes. He looked a lot like their father, but his eyes were dark and gentle just like their mothers. His eyes seemed even darker now, and his face seemed gray with worry. He looked sad. Studying him, Daniel thought Adam looked lonely. On an impulse, even though Adam was still explaining things to his brothers, Daniel walked over and threw his arms around Adam.

"What are you . . .?" Adam asked looking down at Daniel.

"I just wanted to hug you." Daniel said still holding on and looking up into his big brother's face.

"Oh, well. . . " Adam cleared his throat and said in a strange voice. "Thanks Danny." He reached out mussed Daniel's hair.

Now, though, it seemed that all softness was gone. Adam was determined that they would drive the cows home themselves. Even Daniel knew that Rob and Mike would have stayed to help, if Adam had asked. It would take three days to bring them home, and Daniel dreaded every minute of it. Adam was never gentle when he was determined. He sighed and waited for instructions.

***7***

Adam pulled up the reigns and paused to survey his brothers. The sun was bright overhead and he was hot. Guthrie had fallen asleep from the rolling motion of the horse, and his warm body was slumped against Adam, adding to the heat. It was slow going. He tried not to let it frustrate him, and kept reminding himself that they were doing really well - considering the bulk of his crew was under twelve. Yet, he was fighting a constant tide of anger.

He'd never really had a problem with his temper, at least that he was aware of. Brian was constantly in trouble for brawling at school. Adam was always amazed at how quickly Brian could turn from calm to furious. He had asked his mother about it once.

"It isn't easy to be Brian." She had told him with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" He had asked her confused.

"Honey, you are good at just about everything you do. You aren't an easy act to follow." She reached out and pushed his bangs out of his eyes. He sighed.

"I don't . . ." He didn't know what to say.

"Brian feels things really deeply, but it is hard for him to express it. Anger is easier than anything else. He inherited my temper, I'm afraid." She smiled and pushed a lock of her dark auburn hair behind her ear.

"You? You haven't got a temper."

He turned at the sound of his father's laugh. He crossed into the kitchen where Adam and his mother leaned against the kitchen counter talking.

"Got him fooled, Katie." His father said kissing his mother's cheek. "Your mama saves all her temper for me!"

"Adam!" She said shoving his father's arm gently. "He does have a point. I try very hard to manage my temper with you boys - especially with the little ones. Besides, I'm a lot older than Brian, and I've grown out of a lot of it. It took me quite awhile to learn to reign my temper in. I'm glad you don't remember how fussy I could get when you were a baby. Brian will grow out of it too. You boys are so different from each other. You'd think with seven, I'd get at least one repeat!"

"We should have one more - just to see." His father teased her.

"Adam McFadden! Don't even joke! You know it would be another boy and there's enough testosterone in this house to drown me already!" She turned toward Adam. "Just be patient, Adam, and try to look underneath the anger to see what Brian is really feeling." She stood on tiptoe and attempted to kiss his forehead, as she had done when he was little, but he'd grown too tall, so she kissed his cheek instead.

Adam tried to look beneath his own anger, but found what lay beneath too painful. He was beginning to understand the usefulness of anger. Sighing, he turned and called out.

"Watch it! Crane get those stragglers! C'mon, Daniel! Pick up the pace! Evan quit goofing around and stay on the job!" He hated the sound of his own voice; sharp, bitter and harsh.

***7***

"We should go ahead and stop." Brian said riding up alongside him. It was early afternoon. "The little guys are wore out."

"We got plenty of daylight, yet. The farther we push it, the sooner we get home." Adam said without looking at him.

"Adam . . ." Brian began.

"Don't remind me that they are just kids. I know, alright! I'm just saying, if we get them home, then they can be finished with this!" Adam turned and rode away from Brian.

He and Daniel were working the left flank, when he noticed that Daniel was chasing a stray a little too close to the edge of a ravine. A fierce and powerful panic set in as he saw his little brother ride close to the edge.

"Daniel!" He yelled. "Get back!" He rode hard toward him.

Daniel looked up and seeing the edge, pulled up on the reigns and backed away from the edge, driving the stray back towards the herd.

"I'm okay!" He yelled back. "I saw it!" He was shocked and horrified, when his older brother, either too tired or too worried, didn't hear him, and careened wildly to the edge. His horse tried to stop, his hooves sliding in the soft earth at the rim, but unable to stop completely, Adam with Guthrie strapped to him rolled down and over the edge.