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They ate a late lunch of beef and kidney pie, then went about the town. First to the store for their supply of flour, salt, sugar, tea, oats, and molasses, which he put on the counter. He spied the glass jars of boiled sweets that Percy had his eye on last time and added two jars to the tally.
“Two?” Percy asked.
“Robert has a sweet tooth,” Albie said. “I’m sure he’ll be grateful.”
“I’m absolutely sure he will be. You might want to add some plums and oranges,” Percy said, almost as a joke, but Albie thought it was a great idea.
Albie peeled a pound note from the fold and handed it over to Mr Collier, the man behind the counter. He gave Albie a smile. “Ah, young Mr Bramwell, good to see you in these parts again.”
He was an older man, a little round in the middle, but he always offered a smile, which Albie returned. “Thank you, Mr Collier. What’s news around town?”
“Here,” Percy said, taking the heavier sacks. “I’ll take these to the room and come back to help with these.” Albie watched Percy leave, then turned back to Mr Collier.
The older man sighed. “Much the same in these parts. The old bullock pass road was cleared and reopened, so that’s good. I heard the gold mine outside of Kiandra might be closing down soon. They haven’t found anything there for a while now, so that’s not surprising.” Then he nodded to the door. “Say, that boy with you...”
Albie bristled at the word boy, but he knew Mr Collier meant no harm, so he let it go.
“What about him?”
“He’s the one that found McAllister’s boy, is he?”
Ah.
“Word travels fast.”
“They said the doc was called, but he seems well enough now,” Mr Collier added, prodding for details to gossip, no doubt.
“He’s fine. Took a knock to the head but he’s fine now.”
“Good, good. And he scored himself the finder’s fee. Good for him.” Then he looked at the items on the counter and Albie could see it clicked when he realised that Albie had paid him with that money.
Albie took the folded receipt and looked at it, taking a second to do a tally of items—something he’d not have been able to do so quickly before Percy had made him study the books.
“Everything to your liking there?” Mr Collier asked.
Albie wasn’t sure if he was affronted that Albie would check his calculations in front of him. “Perfect, thank you. I’m trying to get better at checking such things. Not something I had to worry about before my father passed.”
Mr Collier gave him a sad smile. “I understand.”
Percy came in, still smiling, and loaded up his arms full of their goods, so Albie did the same. Mr Collier helped him stack up the last few items and he walked them to the door, holding it open for him. “Albie,” he said quietly, a hand on his arm. “If I may...”
Albie wasn’t sure he wanted to hear this, but Mr Collins now seemed cautious, nervous. Albie was curious. “Of course.”
“The money,” he whispered. “However much it was, go put it in the bank. Folks in this town know he scored himself a windfall, and these are desperate times for some men.”
Oh.
Albie hadn’t expected that.
He also hadn’t thought of that.
He gave Mr Collier a nod. “Thank you.”
“You boys be safe now, you hear?”
He’d have shaken his hand if his arms weren’t full but had to settle for a nod. “Thanks again, Mr Collier.”
They walked back to the saloon, and maybe Albie was being paranoid now, but he swore he felt eyes on him.
