Book 1 Chapter 8

                                    

                                          

The Gathering of the Clans
Book 1 Chapter 8
Ian and Kyle's House
Breakfast was again a buffet affair. Kyle, Samuel, and a bunch of the boys had gone all out. There were scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, buttermilk biscuits, toast, sausage gravy, and pancakes as well as several offerings of various syrups, fruits, and juices. Everyone was excited about the train and what treasures it might hold. Ian noticed the loving glances at the table. It seemed without Flowers around people could be themselves and seek out love. Dan and Rod were snitching tidbits from each other's plates. Nathan and Shane were playing footsie under the table. Ian raised an eyebrow at Nathan and got a wink in return.
Joel snuck up in Ian's lap and pointed at the scrambled eggs and at his mouth. "You know you're supposed to eat from your own plate?" "All gone!" Ian looked over at the other table and sure enough, Joel had cleaned his plate. He smiled and spooned a scoop of eggs into Joel's mouth. He looked across the table and sure enough, Forrest had snuck into Samuel's lap as he snagged a peach slice from Mason and giggled.
The two little stinkers had gotten their way with their papas last night. 
They would be allowed to go see the train but would come back to the house for their naps. Kyle, Samuel, and Shane had decided to stay at the house with Callum. Ian had wanted to leave someone to guard them but Samuel had reassured him that he could and did use a rifle for hunting. Kyle's rifle once again sat over the living room fireplace as well as a second one for Samuel.
Karl and his two boys had an open invitation to meals at the house and had joined them for breakfast. Karl had decided that he and his two boys would be joining the train expedition. Ian agreed the dead could wait another day everybody needed some fun. "I haven't seen those two so excited since all this began. Thanks for including us in this Ian." Ian smiled "I think we all need a break from burying our friends and neighbors, especially those two boys." Karl laughed "Those two were up before dawn gathering a list of what would be needed."
"My U-hauls have been commandeered as useful to the project for hauling booty away from the scene of the crime. My big bolt cutters are in the truck and the toolbox as well as flashlights and any other stuff they ripped off the walls. My place looks like it has been robbed. Even my two forklifts are loaded on their trailers" Ian laughed so hard he spilled some of his coffee. 
David had shown up with his boys and his two hands. Working a dairy farm with only two bulls left on it made light work. They had been finishing burying the herd when Ian had called them and invited them along. They had already eaten breakfast but since Ian had offered food the boys and the hands were eating again. "Where do they put it? I mean I've got a good appetite but..." "Aww go easy on them David they're just growing boys."
Joe laughed. Ian grinned, even Joe was excited about the train. He had a pep in his step that just wasn't there yesterday. Ian watched the subtle eye contact between Joe and Logan. Ian chuckled into his cup, the pep was explained, that dirty old man had gotten lucky last night.  Vance and Zakarias were chatting with Joe and Ian had his suspicions that they were a couple as well. He could be wrong but Kyle was never wrong. He'd have to ask Kyle later.
Breakfast was done and the boys were hauling in the last of the breakfast dishes to the kitchen and wiping down the tables. The sun was finally up and everyone was getting ready to move out. All of the boys were in oversized heavy coats, 2 sizes too big for them, for the cold weather. Little Joel and Forrest were almost lost in theirs.
Kyle had found Daley's old clothes stored in the basement of the O'Hara'splace and had it all transferred to the attic of their house for future possible use and he had pulled down all of his and Ian's old coats from the attic as well. Kyle believed in recycling everything possible. " 'Waste not want not' was his mantra. Still, Ian added looking for clothes and other sundries to the to-do list.