Read Online Dollybird by Anne Lazurko - Free Book Online Page A

dread, my breath coming quick and shallow. There was no one in the barn. Where were they? I stopped and looked around at the black night, and shook my head. This was crazy. Gabe probably went back to camp, the girl to bed. Maybe they were both back at the fire. And I was a fool.
    And then I saw them at the back door of the house. He pushed her and she stumbled into the porch, the door closing behind them. I crept closer until I was just outside, my whole body rigid with listening, fists clenched, head pounding like my heart had leapt up there into my brain.
    â€œWhere’s the key?” Gabe’s voice was loud through the door.
    â€œPlease don’t,” she whispered, and then sucked in her breath, crying out a little like she was hurt. “Pa won’t be able to pay the crew. Please.”
    Son of a bitch. He was stealing our wages?
    â€œAnother fucking word and I’ll hurt you worse. Where is it?” Gabe was breathing hard.
    â€œOw, don’t.” The girl yelped. “On a hook under the coats, right there by the door.”
    There was shuffling near the door.
    â€œYou tell anyone,” Gabe said, the words slow and hard, “an’ I’ll come back and burn your house down with your ma and those other brats inside.”
    â€œLeave her alone.” The words growled up from my throat. I hadn’t known they were there. I’d been so afraid, I’d forgotten to plan. “Leave her alone,” I said again, louder, and kicked open the door. Gabe had the girl’s arm pushed up behind her back. Her face was filled with pain and fear and tears. He was rooting in a strongbox on the floor with his free hand. He flashed surprised and ugly eyes at me, let go the girl and lunged, but I was already running out into the dark.
    He tackled me at the edge of the wheat field, landing on top of me, his arm across my throat. He fought like an animal, scratching my face, hammering my stomach, my kidneys, my head. I landed only a weak punch or two. I hadn’t fought much, didn’t know how to protect myself, how to hurt him back. He was standing over me, kicking at my groin and back. The pain exploded in my chest and I heard a cracking sound, my ribs under his boots. There was shouting in the distance and suddenly it was over, Gabe running away, Henry’s huge arms lifting me and carrying me all the way back to the farmhouse, the girl mute beside her mother and sisters, who suddenly switched their attention to me. I saw her through one swollen eye as she turned away, flushed and suffering.
    She helped her mother nurse me, coming only at night when the lights were low, never looking me in the eye. She kept her head down, her face frowning while she changed the dressing on my eye and rewrapped the bandage round my ribs. I was useless to help her, the pain too great. Useless in other ways too. Gabe hadn’t got all the farmer’s money. We were all paid. But the family would do without ’cause of Gabe’s thieving. And I didn’t tell anyone who done it, told them it was too dark to see. Didn’t tell them how Gabe threatened the daughter so she kept quiet too. Both of us had seen what was in Gabe’s eyes. Both of us were too afraid to speak.
    Finally, one night, I tried. “He’s an evil man.”
    Her frown deepened, pulling the corners of her eyes with it. I started to tell her it wasn’t her fault. She shouldn’t be afraid to walk in the daylight. But I couldn’t find the words. Who was I to counsel anyone? I left her home as soon as I could walk a few paces without pain. My harvest was over.

CHAPTER 8
    i i i
    MOIRA
    â€œYou’re an embarrassment. You lied to me and now I can’t trust you.” Mr. Penny’s voice was loud, rumbling about the small room he fancied as a business office, the volume of his accusations threatening to make them true. “You will no longer work in this house.”
    I’d known this