Rowland, The Senators Son

Chapter 27 Family

The gorge was breathtaking, eons of erosion evident in the smoothness of the tall sandstone walls. Phillip could understand why they had picked this place as their hiding spot. It was a rabbit warren that led to many a dead-end or small cave but none so far had contained the girls. He and Brody had split up to cover as much ground as possible as the light was fading fast.

He was stunned that he had not seen the heavy branch coming until it struck him on the side of the head. How the hell had two young girls laid him out cold but then again they were Kingstone women and he had seen firsthand that they did not muck around when it come to protecting their own.

"Ah, Joyce ... I think you have killed him." Annabelle called.

"No, silly he is still moving." Joyce retorted.

"Did you have to hit him so hard?" Annabelle went to touch the wound on the big man's head.

"Don't be such a wimp and give me the rope before he comes too." Joyce had on her bossy big sister voice.

"Girls, what's going on out there?" A strained voice came from inside the cave.

"Mum, there is a big man here, and Joyce is just tying him down," Annabelle answered.

"What? Come help me up," the woman called.

Annabelle moved into the cave only to re-emerge with a woman who Phillip could not mistake as Alexia's sister. Her chocolate brown eyes were the same colour as her curly locks, only slightly shorter than Alexia she was just as curvy. It looked as though Amanda was injured, her ankle was splinted and she was leaning on a makeshift crutch.

"Joyce," there was a disapproving tone in her mother's voice.

"Aunty Lexi said to trust no one." Joyce pouted back.

"Yes, but did you bother to look at what is around his neck?" Amanda retorted.

It was Annabelle who reached under his shirt with daft little hands and retrieved the gold pendant.

"It's 'Kauraz', the same Rune as mine Mummy." Annabelle beamed.

"And the other side," Amanda asked.

"Yes there is a big house." Annabelle confirmed then in perfect Gaelic she spoke "Am mac mar an t-athair."

"Like father like son," Amanda's lips quirked into a smile. "So which one are you?"

She indicated for Joyce to untie the man.

"I'm Phillip." He answered.

"Ah, Mr CIA." Amanda smiled.

He rubbed his wrist and gently touched the fast developing egg on the side of his head.

Joyce gave him an abashed look. "Sorry."

"Are you all right?" Phillip asked, pointing to Amanda's leg.

"Yes, I put my foot in a bloody hole, it's just sprained. Joyce, go get your cousin before he hurts himself. I can hear him cursing. I assume he went left, and you went right at the fork in the gorge. Is it Brody?" Amanda asked.

"Yes, it is and you are right." Phillip confirmed.

Joyce disappeared into the night.

"He was always more city slicker than bush baby." Amanda gave a snort of laughter.

"Annabelle, get me the first-aid kit." She asked as she moved over to sit down beside Phillip. "Let me look at that."

Phillip sat quietly as Amanda searched through the dented old Anzac biscuit tin that was their makeshift first-aid kit, for the supplies she would need.