The Road to Winter by Mark Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t know what to do. But I couldn’t hang around. There was noise coming from down at the general store. I heard shouting. I had to get out of there—fast.
    ‘I was ready to move when something caught my eye at the far end of the street. Someone was moving along at the back of the buildings, staying out of sight but sticking their head out every now and then to check for danger. Someone with long black hair. It was Kas. After a couple of minutes, I saw a horse and rider breaking out across the open paddock. I would have known it was Kas even if I was a mile away, the way her body moved with the horse.
    ‘I’d just started to creep further up the hill when I saw half-a-dozen or so men walking in the open, coming from the north. Ramage’s men. They walked straight up to the general store and banged on the door. The woman came out holding a rifle and the men backed off. There was a minute’s stand off, and then we all heard the sound of the trailbike. It was coming from the north too, moving real slow and there was a big cloud of dust trailing behind it. It turned up the lane next to the general store…’
    Rose looks away. She hides her face behind her hair again and a fat tear drops onto the table. She takes a deep breath and pulls her hair back from her face.
    ‘It was…Ramage. He was dragging something behind thetrailbike, something heavy, attached by a rope. He rode round and round the yard pulling the bundle through the dirt. Then he cut the engine and the dust settled. I heard the woman scream. I wish I had been further away. I wish I didn’t know what it was. I wish I’d never seen it. But I did see it. Saw him. It was Ken Butler. Most of his clothes had been torn off and his body was raw with blood. But I knew it was him; I could still make out his big white beard. It was…awful.’
    I don’t know what to say. It’s like it’s too big to understand. Just yesterday all I had to think about was keeping me and Rowdy fed. But now Rose is here and she’s brought trouble.
    ‘They all went inside the store. I so wanted to go down there and do something for Ken. Even just cut the rope, but I knew it was useless. I hoped he was dead. That he wasn’t suffering anymore. And I kept thinking over and over, If he hadn’t helped us, he would’ve still been alive .’
    I’m doing my own thinking. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken her in; maybe she isn’t worth the risk. I’m sure she senses it.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she says. ‘I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I’ll go.’
    She’s on her feet, breathing heavily and looking around the kitchen.
    ‘If you could just spare me some food… I’ll leave your mum’s dress, but there are some old shorts and a jumper in there I could wear.’
    She kind of half-smiles, half-grimaces at me. She leans on the table and I can see her arms shaking when she puts her weight on them.
    Again, I’m feeling like I have to make a decision too quickly.The thought of being on my own again suddenly seems unbearable, and the words tumble out without me even thinking about them.
    ‘Stay. Please. We’ll work something out. We’ll find Kas together. All of us. You, me and Rowdy.’
    I’ve got no idea how we’ll do this, or if it’s even possible, but I can see the relief in her face. All the weight seems to lift from her shoulders. She sits back down and rests her chin in her hands.
    ‘I’m so tired,’ she says.
    ‘There was no sign of a horse when I saw the Wilders this morning,’ I say. ‘And no sign of a girl. I don’t think Kas is with them, but I can go back and check. It’s probably a good idea to keep an eye on them, anyway.’
    ‘I’m coming too.’
    I know straightaway not to argue with her.
    ‘Wait here.’ She disappears into the bedroom. When she comes back she’s got different clothes on: a pair of Mum’s shorts and a grey woollen jumper that comes halfway down over them. I know it’s the right thing to do—to have her wear them—but it still