PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#197
The conference in the kitchen went on as Clora got the triplets things together, Mark, Tess and Wyatt deep in discussion.
The boys had all kinds of questions that Clora answered as honestly as she could. Deep down inside, Clora was as proud of the three boys, as she had been with Milo and Teddy when they were young and had to obey in an instant without complaint.
Backpacks filled with important kid stuff, for play and nighttime comfort, they drug the almost as big as they were packs into the kitchen and lined them up by the door. "What about Nanny?" Paul wanted to know.
"It's a good time to dry her up, that's like a goat vacation," Clora gathered up a bowl of cookies and the rest of the bread they hadn't eaten for supper to take down to the clinic.
Tess walked over to ask her boys if they had everything they needed to spend a couple of days away from home. They did.
"I'm going to suggest that tomorrow, we move our valuables into the root cellers and lock them securely. That way, if our houses are broken into, the good stuff isn't right on top for easy snatching." Tess was in security mode.
"I;m wondering specifically about Donny's place. To me that seems the most likely to be overcome first, and I know they have been really trying to build a food reserve. I'd sure hate to see some no-accounts come in and take their hard earned stuff." Tess looked around the kitchen, her eyes falling on Grandma Evies cast iron skillet.
Mark and Wyatt seemed to come to some conclusion, and they got coats, extra ammo and rifles.
"Do you feel danger might happen tonight?" Mark asked, and Clora shook her head no. "Ok, we'll come back in the morning and move high priority items to the cellar. Meanwhile, we need to get down to the clinic, it's late enough that they'll be sending someone after us if we don't get a move on."
The clinic was as noisy, crowded and hot, as Clora feared it might be. The triplets scampered to huddle against Tess, the commotion almost an overload of sound and movement.
"I knew there was a reason I wanted to live as far away as possible from this," Tess spoke behind her hand, Causing Clora to smile in comiseration. Clora simply nodded and motioned for Mark to join the other men in a planning session.
"We're missing Gary, Chuck and Don; where are those slack jawed critters?" Milo questioned, as he looked awound the crowded room.
"They went over to Chuck's" Dory snipped. "Those three are almost next to worthless when it comes to being available for security. I've got half a mind to go over there and rip them new ones."
When it looked like Dory might carry out her threat, Mark stopped her with a strong denial. "That's enough out of you Dory, there are men here entirely capable of securing the three missing. We don't need your brand of troublemaking."
Dory looked like she had swallowed a very bitter, sour tasting pill, but she turned around and headed back into the kitchen.
"I'd appreciate it if you would tell Dory to tone down her criticisms," Mark addressed Reva, "I don't want what she is shaping up to be, and she won't like our solutions if she continues." The warning was clear and stark.
"Yes Sir," Reva was smart enough to size up the order in an instant. Dory was out of line. It was also abundantly clear that when Mark gave an order, he expected it to be carried out. Reva hustled into the kitchen and shoved a fuming Dory up against the wall.
"Don't be stupid, you are about to get us tossed out of here with your entitled attitude. These men have been working together for a lot longer than we have been here, so cool it. shove it and swallow what ever you intend to say." Reva hissed at her younger sister. "Just leave your attitude about Gary outside; 'cause I'm gonna tell ya Dory, if you get tossed out on your hiney, I ain't coming after ya, and neither is Priss. We intend to stay right here in safety and security. So you just grit your teeth and say nothing."
Reva had her hand leaning on the wall next to Dory's head, and that there might have been a good hank of Dory's hair under her hand, efectively pinning the youngest sister to the wall, was pure coincidence.
"Alright, you don't have to be so rough," Dory was sullen.
"I think I do," Reva didn't move and neither did her hand. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you'd better clean up your act. You don't have to like Gary, but Priss does, so you're gonna leave both of them alone. Got it?"
"Yeah."
Reva saw the flash of pain cross Dory's eyes, and belatedly realized that Dory probably had an interest in Gary herself, but that wasn't going to happen. Priss was way more fragile than Dory, and this time, Dory was going to back down and find another fish to fry.
Dory was guessing accurately what was going through Reva's mind, and she nodded shortly. Taking a deep breath she whispered "ok".
The conference in the kitchen went on as Clora got the triplets things together, Mark, Tess and Wyatt deep in discussion.
The boys had all kinds of questions that Clora answered as honestly as she could. Deep down inside, Clora was as proud of the three boys, as she had been with Milo and Teddy when they were young and had to obey in an instant without complaint.
Backpacks filled with important kid stuff, for play and nighttime comfort, they drug the almost as big as they were packs into the kitchen and lined them up by the door. "What about Nanny?" Paul wanted to know.
"It's a good time to dry her up, that's like a goat vacation," Clora gathered up a bowl of cookies and the rest of the bread they hadn't eaten for supper to take down to the clinic.
Tess walked over to ask her boys if they had everything they needed to spend a couple of days away from home. They did.
"I'm going to suggest that tomorrow, we move our valuables into the root cellers and lock them securely. That way, if our houses are broken into, the good stuff isn't right on top for easy snatching." Tess was in security mode.
"I;m wondering specifically about Donny's place. To me that seems the most likely to be overcome first, and I know they have been really trying to build a food reserve. I'd sure hate to see some no-accounts come in and take their hard earned stuff." Tess looked around the kitchen, her eyes falling on Grandma Evies cast iron skillet.
Mark and Wyatt seemed to come to some conclusion, and they got coats, extra ammo and rifles.
"Do you feel danger might happen tonight?" Mark asked, and Clora shook her head no. "Ok, we'll come back in the morning and move high priority items to the cellar. Meanwhile, we need to get down to the clinic, it's late enough that they'll be sending someone after us if we don't get a move on."
The clinic was as noisy, crowded and hot, as Clora feared it might be. The triplets scampered to huddle against Tess, the commotion almost an overload of sound and movement.
"I knew there was a reason I wanted to live as far away as possible from this," Tess spoke behind her hand, Causing Clora to smile in comiseration. Clora simply nodded and motioned for Mark to join the other men in a planning session.
"We're missing Gary, Chuck and Don; where are those slack jawed critters?" Milo questioned, as he looked awound the crowded room.
"They went over to Chuck's" Dory snipped. "Those three are almost next to worthless when it comes to being available for security. I've got half a mind to go over there and rip them new ones."
When it looked like Dory might carry out her threat, Mark stopped her with a strong denial. "That's enough out of you Dory, there are men here entirely capable of securing the three missing. We don't need your brand of troublemaking."
Dory looked like she had swallowed a very bitter, sour tasting pill, but she turned around and headed back into the kitchen.
"I'd appreciate it if you would tell Dory to tone down her criticisms," Mark addressed Reva, "I don't want what she is shaping up to be, and she won't like our solutions if she continues." The warning was clear and stark.
"Yes Sir," Reva was smart enough to size up the order in an instant. Dory was out of line. It was also abundantly clear that when Mark gave an order, he expected it to be carried out. Reva hustled into the kitchen and shoved a fuming Dory up against the wall.
"Don't be stupid, you are about to get us tossed out of here with your entitled attitude. These men have been working together for a lot longer than we have been here, so cool it. shove it and swallow what ever you intend to say." Reva hissed at her younger sister. "Just leave your attitude about Gary outside; 'cause I'm gonna tell ya Dory, if you get tossed out on your hiney, I ain't coming after ya, and neither is Priss. We intend to stay right here in safety and security. So you just grit your teeth and say nothing."
Reva had her hand leaning on the wall next to Dory's head, and that there might have been a good hank of Dory's hair under her hand, efectively pinning the youngest sister to the wall, was pure coincidence.
"Alright, you don't have to be so rough," Dory was sullen.
"I think I do," Reva didn't move and neither did her hand. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you'd better clean up your act. You don't have to like Gary, but Priss does, so you're gonna leave both of them alone. Got it?"
"Yeah."
Reva saw the flash of pain cross Dory's eyes, and belatedly realized that Dory probably had an interest in Gary herself, but that wasn't going to happen. Priss was way more fragile than Dory, and this time, Dory was going to back down and find another fish to fry.
Dory was guessing accurately what was going through Reva's mind, and she nodded shortly. Taking a deep breath she whispered "ok".
