Riverboat Point Read Online Free PDF Page A

a working man is what I am. Employed part-time as needed.” He nodded at the cast on Blake’s arm. “Which is right about now. Mal said you’d have a list of jobs for me.”
    â€œDamn it, Ethan.” Blake slapped his good arm on the bed. “He can tell you just as well as I can what needs doing.”
    â€œI know, but you’re his favourite method of communication when it comes to me.” Ethan drew up a chair. “Don’t worry about it. I prefer it this way. Fewer arguments.”
    A rattling sound was followed by movement at the door. A nurse entered. She towed a small machine with one hand and gripped a clipboard in the other.
    Ethan moved out of the way while she poked and prodded at Blake and recorded her observations. She gave him tablets and watched while he swallowed them. Finally she straightened the sheet across her patient’s bare chest and gathered up her things.
    â€œYou need some sleep,” she said to Blake then raised her serious eyes to Ethan. “It’s a bit early for visitors but you’re obviously his brother. Don’t stay long.”
    She turned on her heel and left, the wheels of the machine rattling after her.
    â€œThey say we look alike,” Blake said. “I can’t see it.”
    â€œMal’s height, Barb’s colouring. That’s about it.”
    They fell silent. Blake’s hand fidgeted with the sheet.
    â€œThe old man’s mellowing a bit, you know,” he said.
    â€œNot enough to accept a son who went to war.” Ethan could feel the tension across his shoulders. He reached back and dug his fingers into the muscles.
    â€œBarb misses you.” Blake’s dark look deepened. “I know what that feels like.”
    â€œWe’re a weird bunch.” Ethan forced a smile to his lips. There was no point talking about all this stuff. It never changed anything.
    Blake rubbed at his eyes. “That shit makes me light headed.”
    Ethan took a notepad from his pocket and the stub of a pencil. “Give me your list and I’ll get out of here so you can sleep.”
    By the time Blake had finished his eyelids were drooping and Ethan had scribbled instructions across several pages.
    â€œGet some rest.” He stood up. “I’ll ring you if I need to.”
    â€œI don’t know where my mobile is,” Blake said. “They’ve put all my things somewhere.”
    â€œYou don’t need it at the moment. I can always ring the hospital.” Ethan gripped Blake’s good shoulder. “Take care, bud.”
    Blake’s eyelids fluttered shut then flew open again. He grabbed Ethan’s arm.
    â€œThere could be someone at my place,” he said.
    â€œBy someone I assume you mean a woman?” Ethan shook his head. Since his divorce Blake had chased anything in a skirt.
    â€œJenny’s not like that.” Blake’s voice became a mumble. “She’s a keeper.”
    Ethan watched as his brother’s eyes closed.
    How many times had Blake said that about the various women in his life including the one he’d married who’d nearly cost him the family farm? At least that union had produced grandchildren for Barb and Mal. Ethan had been besotted by his niece and nephew as they grew from babies to toddlers but life in the army meant he hadn’t seen them much and hardly at all since the divorce. He’d thought about having his own. Slight problem of not having a partner long enough to make it permanent.
    Ethan looked at the list he’d scribbled. No fishing this week by the look of it. He glanced at his brother, his face now relaxed in sleep.
    â€œRest easy, bud,” he said.
    Several hours later after a trip to swap his bike for Blake’s ute, Ethan turned off the highway, the back of the ute loaded with spare hoses, oils and assorted machinery parts. He followed the dirt track up the hill to the homestead Blake inhabited. The property