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“This ain’t your business, boy,” Williams said, swaying, still trying to hold on to Clara.
“No, but it’s mine,” Elsie said, rushing in and pulling Clara free, shielding her. Elsie blazed fire at Williams. “You’ll do well to leave right now before I have you thrown out. McAllister, come get one of your men.”
There were men there now. Albie recognised faces but didn’t know their names. McAllister’s leading farmhand, a tall Irish man by the name of Bill Kelly came through the crowd like he was parting the Red Sea. He seethed at Williams and pointed his thumb in a get-lost motion, and Williams staggered out. He gave Albie a glare as he left but there was no heat in it.
Kelly tipped his hat to Elsie. “Apologies, ladies. Won’t happen again.”
“No, it won’t,” Elsie muttered, and the crowd dissipated.
Percy walked up to them, gently touching Clara’s arm. “Are you all right?”
She was timid before this, even more so now. But she nodded, and Albie didn’t miss how Elsie still had her arms around her. When it was just the four of them, she put her hand to Clara’s cheek and straightened some wayward strands of hair. “You’re fine now.”
Clara nodded and gave her a sad smile, and Albie’s heart skipped a beat.
He’d just witnessed a very private and tender moment between them, and it gave him butterflies. Two women! And he felt a rush of something... solidarity? Acknowledgement? Validation?
He wasn’t sure.
But Percy ducked his head and Albie caught the colour of his cheeks before he went to the door to wait.
“If you’re well,” Albie said.
Clara gave him a nod. “I am. Thank you.”
He gave a nod. “Any more trouble from that lot, you come find me.”
He wasn’t sure what he could do, but something was better than nothing. Elsie gave him a hard nod.
They went back upstairs to their room. Robert was sitting on the bed, a little agitated. “Everything right?”
“Ran into McAllister,” Albie explained.
“What you said to him was perfect!” Percy said, his smile wide.
“I remembered what you told me to put in the letter I never wrote.”
“You should have seen his face,” Percy said, grinning to Robert. “He knew he couldn’t say nothing back. Nothing to make him look good, anyway. I think Albie taught McAllister that integrity can’t be bought.”
“Fitzgerald’s there,” Albie said. “Sitting with McAllister like he’s something special. And Williams.” Albie spat the name. “Trying to have his way with Clara in the kitchen. The man’s got a yellow streak in him as wide as the Snowy River.”
Robert’s expression was one of shock, but not surprise. “He always was a worm. Sorry I wasn’t down there with ya.”
Albie shook his head and tried to smile. “Best we stay up here tonight. If they’re looking for trouble, they won’t find it with us.”
Robert gave him a clap on the shoulder. But he looked at Percy. “Ready for a lesson in euchre?”
Percy laughed. “Only if you think you’re good enough.”
* * *
The thing about having such a late lunch was that it meant no need for dinner. Though Elsie knocked on their door at eight o’clock with a tray of bread and jam and another jug of water.
“As thanks,” she said quietly. “From Clara.”
“Much obliged,” Albie said, taking the tray.
“Don’t be telling anyone I gave you this,” she whispered with a wink and disappeared down the hall.
