Adrian did continue to think about it, not how great it would be, but about the lie they'd just been told. He stood inside the glass doors, watching the snow fall harder, feeling the alert eyes of the guards on him as his mind worked it. Clearly it wasn't true. The Marine was in contact with someone, and he didn't want them here. That was the only thing that made sense. Why?
Because they know the old Kenny, he guessed, frown growing. They knew what Neil suspected, and Kenn was leaving them out there to die, rather than bring them to safety and deal with it. Adrian's face darkened. If that were true, he would have to change his plans for their future. By his own actions, the Marine would be unworthy. The one Adrian left leadership to needed to value life the way he did.
The thick, dark flakes fell harder, and Adrian pushed Kenn from his mind for the moment as he looked over what there was to see of the town around them. Pleased to see his Eagles doing Recon nearby, taking pictures, and widening the perimeter as they'd been taught, he concentrated. A foot or more - were they prepared for that? No. Livestock trucks would have to be heated and covered; water and main supply trucks would have to be brought around front. Warmer clothes and shoes dug out, shovels too. Mind racing, Adrian stepped back inside and began putting his sheep to work.
As Adrian talked to people, got them moving, he noticed Kenn's boy, Charlie, hanging around. When they were alone for a moment, the leader stepped over to him, thinking he needed to eat more and have some fun.
"You okay?"
The teenager nodded, but said nothing, and Adrian frowned, lowering his voice.
"You sure? I'm all yours right now."
Charlie shook his head, eyes saying different. "No big deal. Just bored."
Dark circles under the teenager's eyes showed he still wasn't sleeping well, but Adrian was encouraged that he wasn't constantly standing at attention anymore. "Sounds like you need a job."
The 14-year-old agreed right away and Adrian wondered if he should give him make work or something that really mattered.
"Something that matters?"
Adrian nodded, smiling, "Everything matters now, son. I'll change your schedule when I do the next set. In the meantime, how about some snow shoveling? We need to keep a clear path to the trucks."
There was no reluctance on the boy's pale face, "Sure. Now?"
"No. We have to get some supplies first. You can beat me up at a game like your dad will, I'm sure," Adrian joked. He wanted to question the slight grimace that came over the boy's face but didn't.