The Gathering of the Clans

Book 1 Chapter 2

The Gathering of the Clans

Book 1 Chapter 2

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Ian and Kyle's House

"Papa...Papa..are you waked up in there?" Ian almost laughed, giving the game away that he was playing possum. Daley and John were loud enough to wake the dead as they came into the room and climbed up on the bed. Daley put one hand on Ian's nose and peeled up his eyelid with the fingers of the other. Daley hollered into his open eye "Pa Pa! Daddy says it's time to eat! John squealed "He's awake! I saw his eye move!" The jig was up. Ian grabbed both boys and tickled them as they screamed and squirmed until someone's tummy growled. Ian laughed and looked over his shoulder at John standing by the bedroom door. "We better go feed that thing, John, before it attacks something" John smiled.

"Okay, boys time to evacuate the bedroom or see an old man naked!" Kyle and he both slept bare. Both boys darted for the door with matching Ewwws! and ran past John, who turned and followed them down the stairs. Throwing off his blankets he made a mad dash to the toilet. While Daley and John had blended seamlessly into the family, Michael was more reticent. He never talked about how he found John and Callum and his eyes were haunted but he was very protective of Daley, John, and Callum.

They had tried to get him to open up but so far had no success. Until then there wasn't much anyone could do for the boy except provide a safe place and be there for him when it all finally came to a head. Hands washed, dressed in a sweater, faded jeans, and his favorite pair of work boots he headed down and walked into the dining room.

Callum was in an infant seat by the table next to Kyle sleeping with his little fist in his mouth. Kyle and Rod were sipping coffee and talking. Daley and John were giggling and trying not to snort apple juice out their noses at the same time. Adam, Jerry, and Cody were shoveling it in as fast as they could. Competition eaters could take lessons from these three, Ian noticed Michael being included in the boy's morning banter, between the scoops of food disappearing into their mouths, Michael seemed to be keeping up with them just fine.

Okay, FOUR chowhounds. Ian recalled comments his mother had made about teenagers and their appetites from feeding Kyle and himself in their teenage years. According to her, their appetites had not changed when they became men. Good thing his mother had been amazing at canning food and had taught him and Kyle how to do it. It was going to take that to keep this brood fed.

Ian grabbed a cup of coffee and sat next to Kyle buzzing him on the cheek. "Morning lover" Ian took a sip of his coffee. "Morning Rod, how are you today?" "Good, your mate and I were just talking." Ian laughed as he admired his mates behind as Kyle went to the sideboard to fill a plate for him. He turned back to Rod only to catch him grinning into his cup. Ian grinned back. "When it's that good, you just gotta sit back and appreciate it." Kyle returned with the plate of food and set it on the table in front of Ian "Car coming down the street lover." Ian and Kyle excused themselves from the table and walked to the front porch.

The police car was coming slowly down the road and parked in front of the house. Deputy Daniel Radwell stepped out of his car and opened the backdoor, a boy climbed out. "Ian this is Billy Thompson, he is twelve and his mom owned the Thompson Motor Lodge out on Highway 59." Billy began to break down into tears and sobs. Kyle looked at Ian softly, they'd seen this before and Ian shifted his chin towards the house. "Billy how about we let these two talk, and we go into the house okay? Billy nodded and Kyle helped him into the house.

Ian waited until Kyle and Billy were in the house then turned to his longtime friend "Okay Deputy Dan out with the whole story" Dan whipped off his hat and hit Ian in the gut with it "Dammit Ian I told ya to call me Dan, we've been friends since high school" Ian smirked "But you're wearing your badge and hat officer. Mama always told me to respect the lawman." Dan flipped him the bird.