Finders and Keepers Read Online Free PDF

we lost last winter. And if he takes the rest, we’ll starve,’ David argued forcefully.
    David was only fourteen but he had grown up quickly since their parents had died. Desperate to pay off their father’s debts and rent arrears, Mary had no choice but to allow the agent to take and sell off everything of value on the farm and in the house. The only thing she kept that might bring in a pound or two was their mother’s wedding ring, and she stubbornly refused to let that go.
    She picked up a bucket of water and tipped it over the stone floor of the sty. ‘Another couple of these and this will be as clean as I can get it. Then I can move on to the others.’
    â€˜Are the sows and their litters in the field?’ David asked.
    â€˜The sows and thirty piglets.’
    â€˜Where have you put the others?’
    â€˜I locked them in the tack room behind the stable,’ Matthew crowed proudly.
    â€˜Let’s just hope he doesn’t hear them squealing.’ Mary saw the trap turn through the arched entrance that cut a tunnel through the house and led into the yard. ‘Remember,’ she whispered fiercely to her brothers, ‘not one word from either of you. Leave the talking to me.’
    Desperately wanting to be with Edyth, unwilling to leave his grandfather, Harry was locked in a nightmare dilemma. He had lost count of the number of times his father and Uncle Victor – an ex-colliery first-aider, the closest they had to a medical expert – ran up and down the stairs, dividing their time between Edyth and Billy. Fighting to draw air into his damaged lungs, his grandfather coughed up more blood than Harry would have credited a body could hold.
    Mari brought up white linen tablecloths that she had stripped from the trestles, and helped him mop the blood that poured from his grandfather’s nose and mouth. But even in his panicked state Harry sensed that she was as torn as he was. Frantic, he murmured meaningless reassurances.
    â€˜You’ll be fine, Granddad, you and Edyth, you’ll be fine, just you see, you’ll -’
    â€˜Lloyd, she’s having a fit!’ Sali shouted up the stairs.
    â€˜Stay with him!’ Lloyd ran back downstairs, Mari at his heels.
    â€˜Whatever you do, keep his head up,’ Victor ordered before following them out of the door.
    Harry continued to support Billy. A few minutes later, his grandfather lost consciousness. He turned his wrist so he could see his watch. Twenty minutes had passed since he’d heard Edyth scream as she’d fallen downstairs.
    Bella’s voice, high-pitched and hysterical, shrieked, ‘Uncle Joey’s back. He’s brought an ambulance!’
    Harry heard the bell ringing. Music had never sounded as sweet, and he weakened in relief. But his waiting wasn’t over. Victor came charging upstairs and checked Billy’s pulse.
    â€˜He fainted some time ago,’ Harry whispered.
    â€˜The doctor will be up as soon as soon as they’ve loaded Edyth into the ambulance.’
    â€˜She’s -’
    â€˜Breathing, but unconscious,’ Victor interrupted, concern making him terse.
    â€˜She’ll be all right.’ It was more of a plea than a question.
    â€˜I hope so,’ Victor breathed fervently.
    The doctor entered, dropped his bag and crouched over Billy. ‘I didn’t dare risk delaying the ambulance. We’ll need another.’
    â€˜I’ll send Joey to the Maltsters’, they have a telephone there.’ Victor released his father’s wrist.
    â€˜Tell them it’s a stretcher case for the isolation ward in the Graig.’
    â€˜It’s TB, isn’t it?’ Victor looked to the doctor for confirmation.
    The doctor nodded as he took a syringe and a phial of morphine from his bag.
    Victor left. Lloyd entered, and stood behind the doctor and Harry. All three silently watched Billy slip into a deeper unconsciousness. Ten minutes later