Richard dropped to the ground beside Roland. He put his knee into the man’s back and pulled his arms up. He shouted at Angus to fetch one of the bouncers. I ran to Ray.
“I’m all right, Fee,” my partner said through ragged breaths. His left sleeve was sliced open, leaking blood. I ripped the cloth and rolled it back. The cut didn’t look too large and the blood was just a thin trickle. He struggled to sit up. I put my arm around him and helped him stagger to his feet.
“Took me by surprise. Would nae a happened in the old days.”
Joe Hamilton burst through the doors, Angus hot on his heels.
“Let’s get him up,” Richard said. “We’ll take him to the fort.”
“I’ll help,” Angus said.
“No!” I shouted.
“No,” Richard said. “Stay with your mother. I’ll come back later.”
Eleanor Jennings stood in the doorway. John Turner beside her.
“Mrs. MacGillivray,” Richard said, “will you please get back inside, and take these people with you.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Turner said, stepping forward.
“I don’t need …” Richard said.
“I’ll give you a hand,” Turner repeated, firmly.
Richard looked at him, something unsaid passed between them, and he nodded.
The two of them, with the help of Joe, wrestled Roland to his feet. “You’ll be sorry about this, Corporal,” the magician shouted. “I’ll see you hanged for interfering in this. And you. I don’t know who the hell you are, but I can guess. You’ll be busted down to latrine-cleaner.”
“Hey,” someone shouted from inside the Savoy, “what’s going on out there?”
Men’s heads began popping up, trying to peer over Eleanor’s shoulder into the alley. I decided that Richard did not need further assistance. “Angus, get inside and shut that door. Then find Helen.” Among food supplies and cleaning equipment, she had a small supply of bandages in the storage closet. I kept my arm around Ray. He was able to stand, but I feared shock would be settling in soon. “We’ll go around the front. I don’t dare walk through the dance hall like this.”
Eleanor stepped aside as Angus slipped past her. “Everything’s okay,” I heard him say as the door closed behind him. “Mr. Walker had a fall. My mother’s with him.”
Eleanor took Ray’s other arm.
“I don’t need any help,” I snapped.
“But I’d like to give it,” she said. “If you’ll let me.”
“I can walk perfectly fine, ye ken,” Ray said. He took a step forward and his knees wobbled. We grabbed him and supported him around the building and through the front doors of the Savoy Saloon and Dance Hall.