A Real Family

Author's Note: This story is dedicated to the late River Phoenix. I do not own the McFadden Brothers, Adam, Brian, Crane, Daniel, Evan, Ford or Guthrie. I also do not own the characters of Hannah, Cleo and Molly. I do own Allison, Roy, Shay, Tia, Regan and Cat. The story is based on a short lived TV Series - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers that starred Richard Dean Anderson, Drake Hogestyn and River Phoenix in their early days. I hope you enjoy it.

I have known Adam since I was 14. He was best mates with my brother Roy while they were at college together. Adam majored in rural studies, farming and animal husbandry, while Roy majored in journalism. Roy was 19 and Adam 20, and both very good looking. Worse thing was they both knew it, too. Neither of them was ever short of dates.

Roy stood about 6ft while Adam was 6ft 2. Roy had long sandy brown hair, while Adam had dark brown, almost black, hair. Both were tall and thin although Adam was far better built than Roy was, but that was only cause of all the work he did on his family's property.

Adam came from Murphy's, California, which is about 245 miles out of LA, where Roy and I lived. Adam lived with us for the two years he was studying at college. Adam had started at a local college, near his home, but later found he would need to attend a larger college to complete his degree. So he enrolled in UCLA and met up with Roy and I. I must have had the hugest crush on him at the time. I thought he was wonderful. Well-tanned and rugged good looks with brown eyes, the color of melted chocolate. He dressed, walked and talked like a cowboy but that's what he was. Adam and his six brothers, who I'd never met, ran a cattle ranch in Carbon County, Northern California. I think the best thing about having him around was that he always listened to me and heard my side of the story before venturing an opinion. Roy never did that.

Adam, Roy and I all had one thing in common; we'd all lost our parents. Adam's parents had been killed in a car wreck just after he started college, leaving him to bring up his six brothers. Roy and my parents had left us when Roy was 16. They had gone on a tour of Europe for three months and never came back. We had one letter six months later, telling Roy to take care of me till I was 21. We never heard from them again.

Roy did his best to raise me right and he did a good job, which wasn't an easy thing to do as he and I both tended to fight a lot. He had some help when Adam moved in for the two years he was in the city. This made things easier but Adam had moved back out to his parent's property three years ago, when he finished college. This left Roy and I still at each other's throats. Adam still rang from time to time and we'd write to him but it wasn't the same and, as a consequence, Roy started becoming too overprotective. Things were pretty good between us when Adam left. He only asked where I was going when I went out. Then the questions got worse. Like, who are you going with, what time will you be home, how long have you known these people... The worst one of all was; what time do you want me to pick you up?

I saw red at this question!

Here I was, 19 years old and the last thing I wanted was to be picked up at midnight, which he insisted on doing, and driven home like some 16-year-old. This is what had sparked our fight at three this morning. I was beginning to feel suffocated and stifled, like I had no right to my own life until I was 21 and it was really starting to get on my nerves. I had a lot of friends and was never short of invitations to parties and friend's places. There was always something going on. I enjoyed going out and spending time with these people. Roy also went out from time to time but nowhere near as much as I did. Maybe he was jealous.

I had gone to a party exactly 2 blocks away from our place. I knew from experience that Roy would turn up at my friend's house on the dot of 12.

Only, this time, I wasn't there...

The party had been dull and so I left and hitched down to the beach. Once there I kicked my shoes off and went for a walk. The beach was a good half-hour drive from our place.

When I got home around 3am, Roy was waiting up for me and he was mad.

"Where the hell have you been?" He yelled as soon as I opened the front door.

I didn't answer him. I closed the front door and walked through into the lounge room where I slid gratefully onto the lounge and took my shoes off. A lot of sand tipped out onto the carpet but Roy didn't notice.

"Well I'm waiting for an answer. Where have you been?" He stood over me with arms crossed. I knew the pose well. I'd seen it once too often of late.

"I went for a walk along the beach. The party was boring," I explained.

"You walked all the way down to the beach?"

"I didn't walk I hitched." I glared at him.

"You WHAT?"

"I hitched. It's no big deal. I do it all the time."

"What the hell has gotten into you? You know hitching is dangerous. You could have been killed or anything and I would never have known."

"Oh Roy stop being so dammed responsible. It's boring!"

"I may be responsible but one of us has to be. It didn't occur to you to come home and ask me to drive you?"

"Nope." I stood and picked up my shoes. "Can I go to bed now? I'm tired."

"No you can't. Sit down," he commanded, his voice was like steel and I knew better than to disobey him.

So I sat back down and glared at him. His temper was not the only one on the rise.

"Now you listen to me Allison. You are my sister and like it or not I am responsible for you."

"So what? That doesn't mean you have to pick me up like a 16-year-old on her first date. Or ask me a million in one question's about where I'm going and what I'm doing. God I feel like I'm in jail or something. Why can't you treat me like an adult? I am 19 you know." I yelled at him.

"Well if you didn't disappear from parties at all hours and hitch everywhere maybe I could treat you like one."

"That's what this is all about isn't it? The hitchhiking, I might have known." I rolled my eyes.

Suddenly I felt Roy's hand across my cheek.

I looked back at him and could see he was instantly sorry for what he'd done. I brought my hand up to my face where I could feel the heat from his slap. It stung and my eyes watered.

"Allison I'm so-"

I stood up which forced Roy to step back. "I hate you." With this I turned and walked out of the room.

Upstairs, alone in my room, I started to pack some clothes into a carryall. I had had enough of the place and was leaving. Anywhere was better than where I was. I was tired of having to account for my every move.

I heard Roy go to bed about 4 and snuck out. At first I headed for the park at the end of the street, not really knowing where to go until I thought of Adam. Why not? He was always kind to me, listened to me and understood. It really was better than just hanging round the streets. Besides I'd never visited the property or met his six brothers so it could be fun. Maybe just the thing I needed. I grabbed my bag and started walking in the direction of the nearest highway or freeway, whichever came first.

For the better part of two days I hitched my way to Carbon County. At first it was easy getting rides, but as I got closer to the county, it became harder and harder. The county was right off the main highways and with snow high up in the mountains so many truckers were avoiding the place. I arrived in Murphy's around ten one morning.

I didn't have a clue where Adam lived so I decided to hole up in a cafe until I could work out how to find him. The thought of asking someone didn't occur to me. Coming from a big city where no one knows anyone I wasn't used to small towns where everyone knew everyone.

I was a fairly ordinary girl with auburn hair that hung down to my waist. Tall and slim with a clear complexion, hazel eyes and long legs, I wasn't that bad looking. The eyes are actually the same color as my husbands. I found a quiet seat in a corner near the window, where I could look out and see the comings and goings of people on the street. Who knows, maybe I'd see Adam and wouldn't have to ask directions after all. I ordered coffee off the motherly looking type woman behind the counter and slid gratefully into a seat. I didn't like to admit it but I was a bit tired having gone 48 hrs with almost no sleep.

The motherly type woman, who obviously ran the Cafè, looked over at me suspiciously, as she brought over the coffee, which smelt good.

"You're not from around these parts are you lovey?" She asked.

"How can you tell?" I asked. I didn't want to talk to her but I made an effort to be nice.

"You don't wear no hat." She indicated my head. I looked around the cafe and realized every man; woman and child wore a cowboy hat, the same as Adam's.

"No I guess I'd better get one." I turned my attention back to the window, hoping she'd go away.

"You visiting someone?" She asked me.

"Yes. They told me to meet them here. This is the Red Rose Cafe isn't it?" Thank goodness I'd taken notice of the name outside. I was trying to get her attention off me but it wasn't working.

"Yep it sure is honey. Who you waiting on? I know most folks from around here."

"Ahhh just a friend." I hesitated, uncertain as to whether or not to tell her. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. It was obvious she was waiting for more information. I realized pretty quickly she wasn't going to leave me alone until she got it either. I had no choice but to say something to her. Well what could it hurt? "Ahhh, an old friend, Adam," I said. Perhaps she'd know Adam. "Adam McFadden, actually," I added.

"I know the McFadden boys. Nice boys. Shame the parents up and died. They'd be real proud of them boys now, turned that ranch of theirs into a big success. Well you just sit tight honey; he'd be in about midday. He picks his younger brother up from band practice, right over there at that hall." She indicated a white building across the road.

"I'll let him know you're here when they come in for lunch." With that she patted my arm and walked off.

I wasn't exactly going to hang round till some woman mentioned to Adam I was here. I didn't think he'd be too happy to find me waiting for him, plus he'd know instantly something was up. If I arrived by accident at the farm it would seem more natural. Why I didn't grab his address before I left, I don't know. I knew what Adam's truck looked like so all I had to do was wait until I saw it and then sneak out of the cafe. Rosie was the name of the lady and she ran the cafe. Had been for years or so she told me each time she refilled my coffee. She was nice enough but tried to be everyone's mother and I had had enough mothering from Roy.

Around 11.30 the place started to fill up and got quite busy which distracted her from me. This made it easier for me to sneak out when I noticed Adam's truck pull up across the road. I left the cafe and crossed the road, I pretended to look in some shop windows till Adam went inside the hall. The hall resembled an old schoolhouse. While Adam was inside I climbed into the back of the truck. There were some old sacks in the back, so I hid underneath those and squashed up real small so no one would notice. It was warm under those sacks and as I hadn't slept for two days, I promptly fell asleep.

Adam collected Daniel and helped load his guitar and amp into the back of the truck. Then they walked across the road for some lunch. Rosie greeted them with a smile as they entered the cafe.

"Hey boys, come back for some of my pie have you?" She asked.

"Sure Rosie. Who could resist your pie, then again who could resist you?" Daniel grinned at her cheekily.

"Oh you." Rosie swiped at him playfully which Daniel artfully dodged. "Why if I was ten years younger I'd give you a go." She smiled affectionately.

"Sure you would." He smiled back.

"Oh Adam before you sit down..." Rosie grabbed Adam's arm just as he was about to seat himself. "Your young lady friend's here. She's over there-well I'll be. Where'd she go?" Rosie looked over at the table I had been sitting at.

"There isn't anyone there, Rosie?" Adam replied.

"Well I'll be. Young brat didn't even pay for her coffee."

"Who are you talking about Rosie?" Adam asked.

"A young girl, about your age Daniel, came in early this morning. Looked like she hadn't slept in days, hadn't eaten either but she weren't hungry. Now that ain't healthy if you ask me. Anyway she said she was going to be staying with you a few days. On holidays, or so she said, and she was to meet you right here. Mind you, she weren't carrying much for no holiday. Well I'll be, now where'd she go?"

"Don't know Rosie but if it's who I think it is she'll turn up again and you can put her coffee on our bill," he said, his mouth set in a grim line.

"You think its Roy's sister, the one who took off from LA?" Daniel asked.

"It's got to be. What'd she look like Rosie?"

"Tall, thin, red hair, long, tied up in a ponytail." Rosie wandered off to serve some customers.

"Yep sounds like her. I have no doubts she'll show up shortly. Let's get some lunch."

They made there way over to the table the young girl had been sitting at, according to Rosie.

I woke up when my head hit the floor with a resounding thump, not to mention I was being tossed around in the back of the truck. I had something heavy on my foot, which hurt, and some sort of heavy case jamming me up against the side. There was laughter coming from the front cab of the truck. I figured we were on a dirt road by the number of jolts I was getting and the thick smell of dust that hung in the air. Hardly two minutes later and the truck stopped and all went quiet. Two doors slammed and I presumed Adam and his brother had gotten out. Someone took the case away and the heavy object was lifted off my foot. I could hear footsteps moving away from the truck.

"I'll just go check on that cow that's calving and join you inside," I heard Adam mention to his brother.

"Okay, see you inside. Yuck, smells like Brian made lunch again." Daniel wrinkled his nose.

"I'm glad we ate in town," Adam called back and moved off in the opposite direction, walking past the truck.

I waited about five minutes before cautiously poking my head up and looking around. I recognized the ranch from various photos that Adam had showed me. I couldn't see anyone about so I leaped out of the truck only to land on the foot that had been squashed, and gasped as a little dart of pain shot up my leg. It was all I could do to stop from swearing. Gingerly I put it back down on the ground and tested it. It wasn't so bad. I grabbed my stuff out of the back and looked around.

The house was white and two stories. It had an octagonal shaped tower at one end and a porch that ran down two sides. It was a pretty place and looked nice and big. It also looked inviting which helped. There was a bit of a rose garden just in front of the porch that was in dire need of pruning. Obviously no one had the time to worry about gardens.

The road onto the property ran in front of the house then wound down to an intricate looking network of fences. I guessed these were the holding yards or pens for the cattle. In the middle of these fences was a barn. It was big and brown, not the standard red you expect to see. It also looked in bad need of a coat of paint.

The sun was warm but a chill hung in the air. I was about to wander up to the front door when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Hi Allison, what brings you up here?" The friendly voice belonged to Adam.

"I thought I'd come and visit since I hadn't seen you in awhile," I lied before attempting to be polite. "Hello Adam how are you? Long time no see."

The look Adam gave me said straight out that he didn't believe me. "You should have called and let me know you were coming. I could have picked you up."

"I wanted to surprise you." I smiled, a bit nervously. Adam was being nice as always but I didn't really know if I was welcome or not. I could see he already knew I was lying about coming to visit. But how? No one knew I was coming here. My frazzled mind didn't even think that Roy might have rung him.

"Roy rang a couple of nights ago and said you might show up. Funny thing was he couldn't tell me when." Adam looked at me expectantly.

I traced some patterns in the dirt with the toe of my shoe. I was reluctant to admit anything but one look at Adam's face and I knew I couldn't lie anymore.

"I took off from home. Roy and I had a fight a couple of days ago. He slapped me and I decided I didn't want to live there anymore. I had no where else to go Adam," I pleaded.

"Oh Honey, sounds a bit like things may have gotten out of hand and if I know Roy, he's probably hurting just as much as you are." He slipped an arm around my shoulders surprising me with the show of kindness. "How about we head inside and let him know you're safe. He's very worried about you."

I pulled away from him. "I don't want to go home and I don't want Roy knowing where I am. Let him worry about me. He's been doing fine on his own for the last three years. As far as I'm concerned he can go rot in hell!" I started walking back along the road towards, what I hoped, was the direction of town.

"Hey! Hold it!" In two strides he caught up to me. "Let's get one thing straight here, I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do, okay?"

"Promise?" I couldn't keep the hope from my voice.

"Promise, now there's no point walking anywhere because we are quite a distance from town, besides wouldn't you like to get something to eat and some sleep first?"

"I guess." I looked up at him fearfully. "Could I-could I – I mean if it's okay – could I stay here?"

"I'll make you a deal."

"What's that?"

"You let me give Roy a ring," he held up his hand to stop me talking, "Just to stop him worrying. I've raised six brothers' on my own and it's pretty horrible when they run away and you have no idea where they are. In the meantime, you stay here and we'll have a chat about what we can do to help things out a little. Okay?"

"Okay." I gave him a half smile and walked back to him. Adam told me later he had never seen so many expressions cross a girl's face before. The one that had stood out the most was the fear and insecurity of not knowing what was happening.

"Good, you want to me to carry that for you? It looks heavy." Adam took my carry-all from me.

"Thanks Adam."

"Don't thank me yet," he smiled at me, wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me into the house.