Although her words came out clear and controlled, Ruby’s insides churned with worry about the possible reprisals. Earl’s glare back at her told her she’d done the wrong thing – belittled him in front of John.
Earl snatched it back. ‘Manners. I was looking at it.’
He stared into her face and Ruby knew by the cold stare he gave her, he wasn’t going to let her get away with it. Just as his hand reached out for hers, a loud shout went up outside the shop and Tommy ran inside. He called out for Earl and ran to him, grabbing at his sleeve. ‘Earl, Earl. Come quick. I … um … it’s um … Quick!’
Flustered, Ruby pushed past Earl, who’d chosen to ignore the boy, and bent down to Tommy. Distress was etched across his dirty, pale face, smothered in bruises – old and new.
‘Tommy, what’s the matter? What’s going on?’
‘It’s urgent, Earl. Real urgent!’ Tommy’s face twisted into that of a terrified child, and Ruby pulled him close.
‘Don’t be scared, Tommy. You’re safe. We’ll help you. Tell me what we need to do,’ she said.
Earl pushed her and she staggered sideways. Ruby watched the photograph flutter to the floor, and picked it up before Earl had the opportunity to take it from her again.
‘Leave him to me,’ he muttered and pulled Tommy from the shop.
‘Do you need help?’ John called after him, but Earl didn’t respond.
Beatty went to a chair behind the counter and sighed as she sank into the cushion. She turned her attention to John. ‘It’s all go around here some days. Best to walk away.’ Her words were loaded with a warning tone and Ruby glanced up at her. ‘That Earl has a temper. We don’t need to encourage it,’ Beatty continued as she folded white napkins. Her eyes were focused on the job, but Ruby understood her meaning. John might have put himself in danger. Earl was not a man to be messed with, and John had called him out on threatening Ruby.
‘John, thank you for the photographs – I will treasure them. But Beatty is right. Earl is a—’ Her words faltered when Tommy raced into the shop. His lip was split and tears streamed down his face.
‘Tommy!’ Ruby yelled and ran to him, just as he fell to the floor.
John moved in and lifted Tommy into his arms.
‘Bring him through here. We’ll make a space on the floor. Grab those blankets.’ Beatty barked out her orders and Ruby followed her into the community room.
‘Tommy … Tommy.’ Beatty softly called the boy’s name and stroked his cheek. All three adults let out a sigh of relief when his eyelids fluttered and his eyes opened. Fear shone back at them all and in an instant Ruby knew this was Earl’s doing.
‘We’ll get him back to ours. John, I think Earl will come back and I’d rather you leave. Going by this, his temper is at its worst and we’ll all suffer. You especially; he’ll be gunning for you. Beatty?’ Ruby looked to her friend for support.
‘The girl’s right, young man. You don’t want to become involved in a brawl. My advice: leave and stay clear. I’ll calm him down and Ruby can care for Tommy. Now go, quickly.’
John’s face no longer smiled back at Ruby; it expressed something she couldn’t interpret. Concern? Upset?
‘Beatty’s right. Go now, while you can. And thank you. Thank you for offering to help. I’ll never forget it, but I don’t want you getting hurt on our behalf.’ Ruby turned back to check on Tommy. ‘Come by this evening. Six-ish. When things are calmer.’
CHAPTER 23
‘Sleeping like a lamb,’ Ruby said as she removed the damp towels from the floor.
‘Going by the colour of those towels, that boy’s not washed for a year.’ Fred pointed to the pile in her arms.
‘He’s exhausted. When I get my hands on that Earl … What does he think he’s doing, letting the child run around in that state? And as for that Canadian lad … He’s too keen, Fred. We need to watch him round our Ruby. She’s only invited him round – he’s due any minute now.’ Beatty puffed her way through her speech and pointed to the clock.
‘He’s concerned about Tommy, and you know he is. If he’s keen on anything, it’s to give Earl a piece of his mind and a good hiding.’
A knock on the door gave Beatty no opportunity to reply.
‘Right on time too,’ Fred said.
Ruby, flustered, flapped her hands at Fred to open the door, but he took his time standing up and brushing crumbs from his shirt. The knock became a loud hammering, and Ruby’s blood ran cold.
‘It’s that man! Fred, it’s Earl – be careful,’ Beatty cautioned and reached for the fireside poker.
‘What will you do with that?’ Ruby whispered at her, petrified Beatty might render a serious injury to Earl and find herself on the wrong side of the law.
‘Is he here? Where’s the boy?’ Earl’s voice echoed loud around the house and he pushed past Beatty. Fred followed, holding his elbow. Earl had used force on him, and a surge of anger ran through Ruby’s body.
‘What are you doing here? This is our home. How dare you?’ She stood with her hand on the back of a dining chair, not wanting to lose her balance if he pushed against her.
‘Get out!’ Beatty shouted and lifted the poker. Ruby moved in front of her.
‘Beatty’s right – get out.’ Ruby pointed beyond Earl’s shoulder. ‘This is our home. You have no right to come bursting in and shouting at us. Tommy is asleep. He fainted in the shop. He’s been fed and washed.’
‘Get him now. His mother’s worried sick,’ Earl shouted.
‘She’s not been so worried about him before. He looks like a Victorian waif, poor kid,’ Fred interjected. Earl moved towards him with clenched fists, so fast Ruby feared he’d hit out at Fred.
‘Get out of my way, old man. Move!’ Earl snarled and spittle hit Fred’s face. Fred wiped it away and Ruby noticed his hand tremble. As brave as he’d like to be for her, Fred was old and frail and could not match the strength of Earl. She had to distract him. She reached out and tugged his sleeve.
‘Earl! Leave him be, I warn you. Fred was worried. We all are. Tommy’s mother can come and fetch him in the morning. Tell her he’s fine. He just needed to slow down and eat.’ Ruby subdued the rage in her voice in the hope he’d calm down as he backed away from Fred.
‘Bring the boy to me, and then I’ll go.’ He leaned into her body with his shoulder. ‘You think you are so very clever, little slut. Well, let me tell you this – be careful, be afraid. Now, get the boy!’
‘Did you know he’s taken a beating? Your sister – I assume he’s your sister’s son – she wouldn’t harm him, would she?’ Beatty pulled herself tall and folded her arms across her stomach, the iron poker on full show. Ruby recognised the stance, and had seen Beatty win a verbal match with many a man who’d crossed her, but knew this time it would result in violence on both sides.
Ruby watched as Earl’s fists clenched. Panic set in; she needed to defuse the situation. Two elderly people and a girl were not a match for the likes of Earl.