The Start - Plans Made

As the afternoon went, Neale would be found where he usually was when not at Falkirk ... lounging in the chair closest to the hearth with a cup of coffee to keep him company.

Patrick came in from the back as an office here had been set up for them all to use. He had been working on a layout, well one he and Danny had been working on. Parchment in hand he emerged from the back as forest green eyes took that initial sweep, pause, focus, in on Neale as he headed there. He hooked a booted foot to the table drawing it over closer as he laid out the topo map of the meadows below Falkirk, they had been scouting them for the layout of the terrain. "Got some decisions to make and we would like your views."

Neale's gaze lifted to the familiar form of the man entering, following his actions with what could almost be mistaken as a hint of a smile.  He edged forward in his chair, recognizing the lands even before his brother spoke.  A glance up to Patrick then back down as he nodded. "Let's see what you have."

Alex brought over a glass of his usual cognac and left the bottle there in case Patrick wanted more. This all done in that quiet way of his before he was back at the bar. "Now, first we need to decide if there should be two separate tracks. One for the horses which is longer and one for the dogs. Perhaps a longer one for the horses on the outside and a shorter one inside of it for the dogs." He trailed a finger along where there was the slight knoll along one side. "We could place bleachers here and run the track just below, this way they would naturally be up higher for viewing."

"The horses will require a wider track as well, Patrick..." His hand lifted to rest on the edge of map as his gaze searched over the area indicated.  "They also tend to tear up the ground where the dogs will not.  Are the McAndrews set on one track for both races?"  Greens lifted to look over to his brother, a lift of mug while he thought this through.

"No, from my understanding the whole project is ours to do up....given to us."

Neale nodded in further thought.  "What we could do is have the tracks back to back.  Have the bleachers on this side..."  His finger ran up the one section of land. "lead up to a point with the one track here...and then head down the other side with the second track here.  The circle of bleachers making a figure eight of sorts."  The whole time he explained, the tip of his finger trails across the page.  "The building for entering and refreshments or whatever here to serve them both...and lead off in different directions from here, depending on what race was to be run."

"Ah, which brings me to a name for it....how does Falkirk Downs sound to you?" He was listening as he followed the visual of his tracing. There was a good reason he asked Neale! "The main betting and refreshment building in the center between the two?"

A tap of forefinger to make his point when necessary, then his hand flattened to the page again.  He had used his mug to hold down the curled up corner while he thought this through with actions. Again, Neale nodded, still looking at the empty map save for the landscape.  "The building here, hmm, yes...with the entrance at the end, here." Indicating the opening with another tap.  "Then through here for the dogs, and here for the horses." The woman entering drew his gaze and attention for a moment, a brief lift from his chair in greeting.  "Madame."  A nod to finish that off before returning to his chair, and the subject under discussion. "The people seated at the top...could see both."

Forest green gaze lifted to note the lass that entered, dip of his head in a silent greeting before his focus was back on his brother and the ideas tossed back and forth. "If set up this way, it is conceivable to run two races at once if needed also." He half rose as Neale did before settling back to the comfort of his chair. "I like that idea..do you like that suggestion for a name?" Asking while he withdrew a pencil and started marking in what was suggested so it wouldn't be lost.

"Falkirk suits me fine, Patrick, as long as the McAndrews consent."  Neale had only allowed a polite glance in the young girl's direction, otherwise that which was...and that which was alluded to by way of attire might have been noticed.

"They have, said we could name it what we felt was proper for it."

"Then I will leave that honor to you, Patrick."

"To us by such a name." Tied it in with their manor home too.

"To us."  Neale agreed, lifting his cup but pausing just before contact, and lowering it again.  "We will need to make sure the stables and kennels are of the finest standards...as well as the jockey's quarters."  Patrick knew all this, but those buildings would also take up part of the building process.

"Of course, the horses down this end and the ones for the dogs on the other, keeping them separate too but easy access to the respective race track." Even if the stalls and kennels would only be temporary, they would be of a number one standard. "Danny contacted Jon McAndrews and he has enough lumber to get us on our way. If more is needed the lumber mill will be opening up in a few weeks and he can provide more."

"Wonderful." Neale was pleased with the enthusiasm generated.  "We will soon have two race tracks then."

"Then we shall start staking out the area and begin the work." He carefully finished off all markings before tucking that pencil away. The parchment next was folded up carefully and tucked within a breast pocket until returned to their office in the back.

....and so the plans were set. Patrick and Danny finished up the work on Neale's ship and were soon out to the acreage where the tracks would be built. In a week's time they had cleared the snow and staked out the area, marking off where the buildings would go. The following week saw foundations go up and the tracks dredged out. Brogan added his manpower to the crews hired as well as others coming down when they could to pitch in. Neale too had been there when he could, Robert, and a few of the McAndrews. Rory had been by to give specifications on the stalls for the horses, lending his expertise while Edward and Patrick McAndrews helped with the kennels for the dogs in the same manner.

Patrick McAndrews' wife Megan came along with Robert's wife Lisette with baskets of warm lunches to give out to the crews. Lochlan and Hannah were by even more often to help out, Lan with building and Hannah seeing to lunch breaks and a lot of hot coffee. It was heartwarming for Patrick to watch neighbors all helping one another. How it should be. Even the curious came to watch or even helped, some of them were the groups of children from the villages. His 'bugle boys' were amongst them and practiced in the middle of the field to the center of the tracks. Luckily they had gotten a lot better, in fact one lively tune they favored was done very well. The small hordes of chidden would run the tracks, pretending they were the racing horses or dogs, which helped to flatten them down. Work became a pleasurable experience.

Neale was gone on a short trip and now Danny was leaving to help out at the orphanage. Even so the work continued and Jon came along with some of his brothers to fill in. All of them were 'on call' if the war got to the point where they were needed, until then, many of them were down to help the Frasier family out. The schedule planned was being kept to, ever mindful of 'the best laid plans', the tracks would get done when they did. There were more important things at times that needed attending. All in all it looked very well that the tracks and buildings would be done come spring and possibly their first race by the middle to end of springtime.