To Betray A Brother by G.W. Gibson Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: G.W. Gibson
4
Penny held Maeve’s hand between hers as they listened to the doctor. “His condition is not critical. He has a broken leg and several cracked ribs.”
“And you’re sure he will be okay, David?” Maeve shook as she asked the question.
“He’ll be fine. Mick’s as tough as they come. He will need to rest until his ribs have healed is all.” He touched her on the arm, a gentle smile on his face, “Maeve, if you or Mick need anything at all, you know where I am. You only need to call. Right now I have some other patients to see.”
Maeve turned towards the ward, “Thank you, David. You’re a good boy. It’s really nice to see you doing so well.”
“Now go in and see Mick. He will be home with you tomorrow.”
David nodded to Penny, signalling he wanted to speak further. Even though David had grown up with Penny and the others, he always stood apart. While Bryce, Penny, and Steele played on the farm, David spent his time as a cub scout. He studied medicine at university while Bryce and Steele did the best they could to get into every sort of trouble possible.
“Go in, Maeve. I’ll be with you in a moment. I need to get some water,” Penny said by way of excuse. David and Penny walked several steps away, until out of earshot.
He turned to face Penny. “Mick was lucky, Penny. Those boys really went to town on him.” A smile crossed his face. “I expect we might see one of them in here shortly. Mick might be getting on a bit, but as a kid I remember watching him fight in the heavyweight division. There will be a couple of sore boys out there somewhere nursing some bruises or two.”
“He’s going to make a full recovery, isn’t he? He won’t have a limp or anything?” She knew Mick would view anything less as weakness.
“Yes, he will be tender for a while and have some heavy bruising around his chest and face.”
“You will let me know if anything changes, won’t you?”
“Yes, I will. Now you better get in there before they suspect something.” He stuck out his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
Penny took his hand. “Being a doctor suits you.”
She struggled not to gasp at the sight of Mick as she entered his room, his face blackened and his left eye almost swollen shut. She fought back the tears. How could somebody do this? Mick and Maeve were talking quietly, holding hands. Penny stood for a moment taking in the scene. Maeve’s face was drawn tight around her eyes, dark with a mix of concern and love for her husband. Mick, clearly in pain, patted Maeve’s hand, his own hands thick and puffy as he spoke through thick lips.
She’d barely stepped into the room when Mick noticed her. He motioned for her to come in. She joined them, giving him a kiss on the head before sitting into the chair beside the bed. “How are you feeling?”
He managed a smile. “You know, I’m a little sore at the moment and expect to be so for some time. I feel as if I got run over by a train.”
A nurse entered to check Mick’s charts, in a brusque business-like manner. “You will have to leave now. I’m sorry. Visiting hours start again at six pm. How are you feeling, Mr Reilly?”
Maeve and Penny gave Mick a kiss. “We’ll see you tomorrow when I finish work okay?” They left the ward, with Mick speaking to the nurse. The hair on the back of Penny’s neck tingled with the thought that this was no random incident.
* * * *
Bryce woke, drenched in sweat, his bedding soaked. He rose, slid on a pair of shorts, crossed to the large window, and looked out across the paddock. The moonlight reflected off the dam, dancing jester-like, mocking him for not being able to sleep. The nightmares returned, this time with friends. Always the same, seeing his platoon picked off with sniper fire one by one until nobody else remained. He stood alone, the last one left, his flesh burnt as the bullets ripped through him. Then nothing. Blackness.
He reached both arms above his head, luxuriating in
Penny held Maeve’s hand between hers as they listened to the doctor. “His condition is not critical. He has a broken leg and several cracked ribs.”
“And you’re sure he will be okay, David?” Maeve shook as she asked the question.
“He’ll be fine. Mick’s as tough as they come. He will need to rest until his ribs have healed is all.” He touched her on the arm, a gentle smile on his face, “Maeve, if you or Mick need anything at all, you know where I am. You only need to call. Right now I have some other patients to see.”
Maeve turned towards the ward, “Thank you, David. You’re a good boy. It’s really nice to see you doing so well.”
“Now go in and see Mick. He will be home with you tomorrow.”
David nodded to Penny, signalling he wanted to speak further. Even though David had grown up with Penny and the others, he always stood apart. While Bryce, Penny, and Steele played on the farm, David spent his time as a cub scout. He studied medicine at university while Bryce and Steele did the best they could to get into every sort of trouble possible.
“Go in, Maeve. I’ll be with you in a moment. I need to get some water,” Penny said by way of excuse. David and Penny walked several steps away, until out of earshot.
He turned to face Penny. “Mick was lucky, Penny. Those boys really went to town on him.” A smile crossed his face. “I expect we might see one of them in here shortly. Mick might be getting on a bit, but as a kid I remember watching him fight in the heavyweight division. There will be a couple of sore boys out there somewhere nursing some bruises or two.”
“He’s going to make a full recovery, isn’t he? He won’t have a limp or anything?” She knew Mick would view anything less as weakness.
“Yes, he will be tender for a while and have some heavy bruising around his chest and face.”
“You will let me know if anything changes, won’t you?”
“Yes, I will. Now you better get in there before they suspect something.” He stuck out his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
Penny took his hand. “Being a doctor suits you.”
She struggled not to gasp at the sight of Mick as she entered his room, his face blackened and his left eye almost swollen shut. She fought back the tears. How could somebody do this? Mick and Maeve were talking quietly, holding hands. Penny stood for a moment taking in the scene. Maeve’s face was drawn tight around her eyes, dark with a mix of concern and love for her husband. Mick, clearly in pain, patted Maeve’s hand, his own hands thick and puffy as he spoke through thick lips.
She’d barely stepped into the room when Mick noticed her. He motioned for her to come in. She joined them, giving him a kiss on the head before sitting into the chair beside the bed. “How are you feeling?”
He managed a smile. “You know, I’m a little sore at the moment and expect to be so for some time. I feel as if I got run over by a train.”
A nurse entered to check Mick’s charts, in a brusque business-like manner. “You will have to leave now. I’m sorry. Visiting hours start again at six pm. How are you feeling, Mr Reilly?”
Maeve and Penny gave Mick a kiss. “We’ll see you tomorrow when I finish work okay?” They left the ward, with Mick speaking to the nurse. The hair on the back of Penny’s neck tingled with the thought that this was no random incident.
* * * *
Bryce woke, drenched in sweat, his bedding soaked. He rose, slid on a pair of shorts, crossed to the large window, and looked out across the paddock. The moonlight reflected off the dam, dancing jester-like, mocking him for not being able to sleep. The nightmares returned, this time with friends. Always the same, seeing his platoon picked off with sniper fire one by one until nobody else remained. He stood alone, the last one left, his flesh burnt as the bullets ripped through him. Then nothing. Blackness.
He reached both arms above his head, luxuriating in