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Robert was there now too, and all eyes landed on Albie.
“How is he?” Elsie asked as she took the washbasin from him.
“He’s sleeping,” Albie said, wiping his hands on his trouser pants. “He took a knock to the head, it seems. McAllister said he’d send the doctor over, but we’ll see.”
Albie would believe it when he saw it.
“What did McAllister say?” Des asked.
“He was grateful.” Albie shrugged. “Though I don’t doubt it hurt his pride some that it was me and Percy who brought the boy back.”
He considered telling them that McAllister paid Percy thirty pounds, but that wasn’t his story to tell.
“Mrs McAllister was very relieved and upset,” Albie said. “Understandably so.”
Clara put some plates on the table. “Please come eat,” she said quietly. “You all must be cold and hungry.”
Albie gave her a nod and a smile. “Thank you.”
They sat, and after a few bites, Robert asked, “Was the boy okay?”
Albie chewed and swallowed his mouthful. “He appeared to be. Wearing pyjamas and no shoes. He had scratches all over him, but he was eating bread in the bath when we left.”
“Kids are resilient,” Des said. “I remember you being not much older than that, going out into the scrub on your own. Never went barefoot though, right?”
Albie smiled at him. “Not in winter.”
“And he went over the edge of the first ridgeline you said?” Des clarified.
Albie nodded, and Robert shook his head in amazement. “Damned lucky.”
“Very.” Albie took a sip of tea. “McAllister was yelling at Fitzgerald and Williams to start making fences as I was leaving. Got a good deal of satisfaction out of seeing them scurry off like rats.”
Des and Robert chuckled. “Fences, huh?” Des asked.
Albie shrugged. “Yeah. I dunno if it’ll keep his kid in, but if he wants to run a fence line along the length of my land, I won’t stop him.”
Des smirked at that, but then it faded. “As long as he doesn’t claim land that ain’t his.”
Albie hadn’t thought of that. He sighed. Another worry for another day.
He had enough to worry about right now.
* * *
After dinner when Albie was helping Elsie and Clara clear away the table, he heard Percy cough, followed by a retching sound.
He raced for the room and found Percy trying to sit up, covering his mouth. Thankfully Elsie followed Albie in with the washbowl for Percy to be sick in.
He’d hardly eaten all day so there wasn’t much to expel, but he was cold and clammy, pale.
Albie gave him some fresh water to sip, and he sagged back onto the bed with a groan. Albie wiped a clean washcloth over his face while Elsie replaced the washbasin, Clara watched from the doorway.
“What can we do?” she asked.
“I’ll sit up with him tonight,” Albie said. “And watch over him.”
Clara frowned but nodded. “I wish I could do more.”
