Chapter three

Adam waited up until midnight but there was no sign of Daniel. He usually made it home from weeknight practices by ten o'clock. Adam figured that Tally had gone to see him and she was the reason he wasn't home.

Adam didn't usually wait up for Daniel. Their days on the ranch began early. Adam got up when the rooster crowed and typically went to bed with the chickens as well. He left the late nights to his younger brothers...at least, Brian and Daniel. Crane was usually early to bed too and Evan, Ford and Guthrie were still in school, so they had an early bedtime also.

Tonight was different, however. Adam couldn't sleep even if he wanted to. He wanted to know what that girl was doing in Murphys and just what she wanted with Daniel. He was sure anything that involved Tally Dean was gonna be trouble...Trouble for Daniel and likely the whole McFadden family. He was glad that Brian wasn't here right now. He would be home tomorrow though and Adam genuinely hoped that she would be gone by then.

While deep in his thoughts, Hannah crept quietly down the stairs and crossed the living room to join her husband on the couch. There was a nice warm fire crackling in the fireplace and Adam was staring intently at it. She knew what was on his mind. The same thing that was on her mind. Tally Dean...Daniel...What was going on with them?

"Can't sleep?" Hannah said, easing herself onto the couch next to him, snuggling in beneath the arm he stretched across her shoulders.

"Can't sleep." Adam offered.

"You want some warm milk? It may help." Hannah asked.

"Nah, don't bother. I don't think it'd help me right now." Adam replied. "Besides, you're better than a warm glass of milk on a sleepless night, girl."

"Mmm hmm, and I'm easy too, right?" Hannah quipped.

"Yeah, that's my favorite thing about cha too!" He laughed, raising his eyebrows at his beautiful wife.

"So he's not home yet?" Hannah inquired, referring to Daniel. She knew Adam was waiting up.

"Nope. I haven't seen or heard anything from him. Kinda ticks me off, too." Adam said flatly.

"Well, he doesn't have a curfew. He's not a kid, you know." Hannah reminded him.

"I know that, but he's got an early morning. He knows we have to double up on the chores, Brian and Crane won't be back til mid afternoon, tomorrow maybe even later."

"I know, but he's young. He can go on very little sleep. God knows he's done it in the past. He's probably just out talking to her." Hannah offered.

"You're right. I'm sure that's exactly what he's doing. But why? What could he have to say to her that'd take this long? I would have thought he'd have brushed her off and sent her on her way." Adam retorted.

"No, that's what you'd do Adam. Daniel's not quite that abrupt. He's sensitive and polite. He would sit and listen to what she, or anyone else for that matter, had to say." Hannah offered.

"Oh, he's polite and I'm a troll? Thanks girl." Adam laughed.

"That's not what I meant Adam. You just get down to the point...direct. That's not in Daniel's personality...unless he's ticked off of course." Hannah said.

"Well, if you ask me, he ought to be ticked off. He shouldn't feel the need to give that girl five minutes of his time...much less hours of it." Adam retorted, sounding a little shorter than he intended.

"I know. He's young. He has a soft spot for her, too. Anyway, we don't even know what she came here for. He may not even be out with her right now." Hannah offered, hoping to ease her husband's mind a little.

"Being out with her isn't as big a concern to me as him being in with her. He spent quite a few nights at her place the last time she was here. I just don't want him starting that up again." He replied.

"Now Adam. You don't need to go meddling in his personal life. You know exactly what will happen if you do. In fact, I'm a little nervous about how he's going to react if he walks through that door tonight and finds us here waiting up like this. I'm not sure he'll appreciate it." Hannah said.

"No, you're right about that. He won't." Adam agreed.

"So why don't we go upstairs and let Daniel do what Daniel's gonna do? He's pretty smart. He can take care of himself." Hannah suggested.

"Yeah. You're right. Maybe Adam can do what Adam wants to do Mrs. McFadden?" Adam said suggestively.

"Maybe, I am easy after all!" Hannah laughed and made a quick dash for the stairs, Adam trailing behind her.

to be continued...