[chrome]

Clayton was pleased to see Ivan while slipping from the saddle, watching the interaction between his son and the gang's doctor. Ivan was a nice enough guy, at least Clayton could get along with him well enough. It helped that six years ago Ivan had been the one to help Kenneth into this world, Clay had been scared shitless but Ivan made it bearable until he could look into his son's face and realize it was all worth it anyway. Even if Kenneth looked almost exactly like his father; with that bright blond hair of his and almost electric blue eyes hardly any of Clayton's own genes had seemed to pass on successfully.

Snickers he couldn't keep to himself and a knowing smirk stayed plastered on his face despite the stare from Ivan during the walk with Ivan to the run down shelter they called their stables; at least it protected the horses from the rain anyway. Ivan had done a poor job concealing his feelings towards their leader ever since Clay could remember. Joel however, being a man who'd hardly had time to eat let alone a relationship, seemed to consider Ivan's affections as nothing more than idealization for his rescue. He was sure their leader would gain some sense sooner or later but for the mean time it was enough to drive a man to drink.

"I don't know if I'd call fishing hunting really," Clayton replied with a lighter laugh than his snickering before, one that was more genuine. "He'll be ready for bigger game soon enough though." He added as an after thought because despite how much it killed him Kenneth was getting big and soon he wouldn't need to be relying so much on Clayton like he did when he was small. Clayton would shoot his own foot off before he'd admit to missing it though. As it was he beamed with pride at Ivan's comment about Kenny growing into a great hunter; even if Kenny didn't get into the Hopkin's boys 'business' he'd be proud of that alone.

Slipping the saddle free from Buckshot, he raised an eyebrow at Ivan who'd mentioned going off to collect herbs.

"Don't be gone too long now," he called out over the back of the mustang. "I saw a large bear out there eating berries where you usually collect your...whatever it is that you're collecting." His moved his eyebrows up and down with another snicker. "Or you could stay out for a little longer than usual, perhaps I'll send J-Joel out looking for you." Laughter erupted from him at his own joke, tossing his saddle off to the the side before taking out the horse brush from his satchel and clearing the dirt from the mustang's coat.