#528
Mark tried to poke at Clora for the reason she was snickering. Clora leaned out of the way, pretending to look at her boot, still chuckling. Clearing her throat, Clora popped back up and had a very straight face, finally smiling at Mark without guile.
Mark and Woody made small talk, Woody anxiously waiting for Tess to re-surface from her children's room.
Eventually, Tess made her way back to the kitchen. Filling her cup with the freshly roasted, deeply fragrant brew, she sat in the chair and sighed deeply, "They finally went to sleep. Those little endless energy bundles never seem to run down. Now, Director Branch, do you need me here, or am I excused?"
"I have your paychecks," Woody re-offered the envelopes, "also I am interested in your sharp shooting abilities. I am hoping to talk you and Milo into conducting a school to train other officers."
"Possibly," Tess stalled a little. "Tell me, what if I told you there is a upcoming young man here that has the ability to be as good as Dad. He needs schooling , education to complete his life up to his age; but I am recommending that he be considered to be a marshall."
Mark blinked, he hadn't considered Donny at all. The young man was simply a fixture around the compound, but in retrospect, Tess was right; Donny needed education and this might just be a way to get it accomplished.
"Has the Service ever considered doing a military type corps of young men and women, like a ROTC program?" Tess spoke out.
"That's quite an idea, it certainly has a lot of merit and I'll take it under advisement. Thank you for mentioning this to me, I appreciate it. Now, Mr. Linderman, you have extensive schooling and training, would you be willing to be an advisor on the curriculum?" Woody felt a squiggle of excitement; the ideas were flowing and it could only make the service better and better. That, and the fact he would need to be in close contact with the Linderman clan. It was perfect, as far as he was concerned.
The object of the conversation wandered in, homed in on a lone empty coffee cup and the plate of cookies dangerously close to the stranger. Donny helped himself to coffee and skillfully slipped a cookie off the plate. Supremely pleased with himself, Donny looked at Toby and asked ,"who's on for guard duty? Neither Gary or myself have been to sleep yet, and it's almost noon."
Big motioned that he would do duty and Toby drug his feet, but finally agreed to stand watch. "And it's past noon," Toby clarified for Donny with a grin, "nice to have met you Director Branch, but my dinner is calling." and Toby made tracks for home.
"Please stay for dinner," Clora invited Woody Branch, and the ladies got busy putting the navy bean and ham soup in bowls. Mark said the blessing, and people got serious about eating.
Donny was quiet, but held his own in a conversation with Woody and Gary. Clora and Tess exchanged glances, smiled and tended to their business.
After eating most of the massive stockpot full of soup; Big, Gary, Donny and Milo left to their quarters. Mark started asking Woody questions about the senior resource position, and Tess, when she had finished helping with the dishes, came to sit by Mark and watch the interaction between her father and the personable Mr. Branch.