Bella's Run Read Online Free PDF Page A

a squeeze, trying to force into the gesture all the comfort she could.
    ‘The ambulance is coming, girls,’ she called.
    ‘Thank God!’ Sheila was puffing with exertion and stress, sweat dripping off her face. ‘His heart’s still beating and he’s breathing a lot better now, but we need to get his right side up a bit. We don’t want him to obstruct, and we have to look after his head injury.’
    ‘What head injury?’ Knackers’ voice was hoarse.

    ‘He’s still unconscious. We think he may have a serious head injury. Possibly a fractured skull,’ said Sheila before glancing at her hands, checking the cannula.
    ‘Sheila, would you like me to take over?’ Bella asked, shocked at the older woman’s state.
    ‘No, the ambulance will be here in a minute, they can have him. Don’t want to hand over now. Silly too.’
    Bella threw a quick glance at Patty, who was shifting the child slightly onto his side. Patty gave a small shake of her head. So Bella just stood with her hand on Knackers’ shaking shoulder, and watched.
    She became aware of quiet murmuring behind her; the sound of a few backslaps and subdued male voices. Before she could turn and see what was going on, the siren wasn’t a whisper on the breeze anymore; the bright lights weren’t glints of the sun. Clad in its white-and-red armour, the ambulance was right on top of them and Bella thanked almighty God.

Chapter 4
    The ambulance drove off slowly. The paramedics had stabilised Max, sedated Wendy and loaded Knackers on board along with a woebegone Rohan, who’d been hiding in the back seat of the ute. Standing in the middle of the track, the two girls and Sheila watched the vehicle until the swirling ochre dust obscured it.
    ‘I hope he can hang on until they reach the hospital,’ said Sheila, slumping forward with exhaustion. She stood back up, stretching.
    Bella threw her arms around the older woman, giving her a hug. ‘You did good, Sheila. Without you and Patty, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.’ Bella drew Patty into the little circle for a group hug.
    Sheila was the first to break away. ‘One of us best follow them in the HiLux and be there for Knackers and Wendy.’
    Patty put her arm around her. ‘How about I go, Sheila? You’re exhausted, and if you head home you can help Bella sort out the other boys.’

    Sheila nodded, too tired and wrung out to disagree.
    Macca appeared from behind, where the boys had been quietly talking. Chewing on his toothpick, he threw an arm around Patty’s shoulders. ‘I’ll go with you, Patty, make sure you behave yourself with those dashing doctors at the hospital.’
    Patty whacked Macca across the chest and flashed a tired grin. ‘Didn’t recognise you for a minute back there on the track, Macca. It’s that ten-gallon hat you’re wearing. Obviously when you cross the Victorian border you toss your Cattleman Akubra in the Murray River and buy a Queensland Bronco instead. It suits your ugly mug, you big boofhead.’
    Macca smiled, his big face lighting up. ‘You like it?’ He doffed his hat and sketched a bow.
    ‘You behave yourself with those nurses, Macca – and with Patty. We all know what you’re like with the ladies, ay.’ Rodney sounded cynical.
    The familiarity of his tone caught Bella’s attention. ‘You lot know each other?’ Six degrees of separation was alive and well in the outback. Someone always knew someone else – everywhere.
    Rodney was shuffling his feet. ‘Yeah, me, Macca and Willy boy here studied together at ag college in Geelong.’
    ‘Mmm. Right. I reckon there’d be more partying than studying with you lot,’ said Bella with a wry smile. ‘We’d best get moving. Sheila looks all done in.’ She clapped her hands together. ‘I’ll jump in with you, Will. Rodney, can you give Sheila a lift home?’
    As everyone started to move in the direction of their ride, Bella gave Patty a quick hug. ‘You take care, okay? Macca, you’d better drive, and make sure