Firecracker- John Shelby

-nine-

The next day we where all in the garrison. I didn't know what Tommy had chose to share with his brothers so I tried to avoid talk of Campbell all together. Luckily, Arthur and John didn't seem too interested anyway.
"Did you want whiskey aswell"the barmaid asked walking into the back room.
"No just beer" tommy answered
"Why no whiskey tommy. Are you expecting trouble?" Arthur asked
Tommy avoided the question, picking up his card and checking it.
"Jesus Christ tommy, what the hell made you let them sing. It's like they're strangling cats out there"John chuckled
"All right 20s the play come on" Arthur said
"What did make you change your mind though Tommy" I asked
"Yeah it is... about time tommy" John said knowingly
"Time for what" tommy asked
"Time you took yourself a woman"John said
I nudged him hard in his side
"Just play the bloody hands" I whispered sternly to him. He glared at me then turned back to tommy.
"You stay the way you are tommy. Remember what dad used to say, fast women and slow horses..." Arthur said
"Will ruin your life" we all chanted, myself included, as if I was just as much as Shelby as the rest of them.
then we heard a car approach.
"Coppers" John said alarmed
"No" tommy said calmly
"Is there any man here named Shelby!" We heard from outside the room.
I went to stand up but Tommy signalled for me to sit back down. He waited and listened then
Tommy, Arthur and John went to stand up themselves so yet again I went to stand but this time John grabbed my arm tightly and said in his most serious voice.
"Stay here"
He followed Arthur and tommy out but as soon as he had stepped away I stood up for a third time and followed them out.
"Harry get these men a drink" tommy said
"Everyone else go home!" I shouted
I saw kimber tilt his head at my order. Then he looked around as everyone obeyed,Scattering in all directions.
As they all went to sit down I hung back behind Arthur.
"You two go home" tommy directed at me and the barmaid.
"No..." kimber said waving tommy down.
"She stays"
He said pointing to me.
He was still cocking his head and staring at me curiously.
Tommy sighed then pulled me a chair next to him, I took my seat at the table.
"I've never approved of women in pubs..."he said directed at grace
"Or women acting like men." He said directed at me
"But when they look like that or bark like her" he said pointing to me.
"You said you wanted men called Shelby. You've got three of them" tommy interrupted him.
"What's she to you then?" He said to Tommy
"She's under my employment" tommy said simply.
"Right..." he said thoughtfully before reviving.
"Right I'd never heard of ya. Then I did hear of ya. Some little diddicoy razor gang. So I thought to myself 'so what?' But then you fucked me over. So now you have my undivided attention."he said staring around at us all.
"By the way which one am I talking to? Who's the boss" he asked
"Well I'm the oldest"Arthur said
"Ha- clearly"kimber said
"Are you laughing at my brother" John said
Kimber looked astonished
"Right so he's the oldest, your the thickest. I was told the boss was called tommy but now this peaky girls looking me up and down like I'm a fucking tart. So which is it" he said pointing between us.
"We want to know what you want" tommy said
"There was suspicious betting patterns at kempton park. A horse called monaghan boy. He won by a length twice and then finished last, with 3000 pounds bet on him" kimbers assistant said
"Which one am I talking to. Which one of you is the boss?" Tommy asked mockingly.
"I am mr kimbers adviser and accountant." He said
"And I'm the fucking boss. Okay, right, end of parley. You fixed a race without my permission. You fucking gypsy scum. What, live off the war pensions of the poor garrison lane widows! That's your level! I am billy kimber, I run the races! And you fixed one of em so I'm going to have you shot against a post." Kimber finished
"Mr kimber." I said, having an idea
I put my hand out to Tommy.
"Give me your bullet" I whispered
He handed it to me and I threw it to him
"It has his name on it, it's from the lee family. You are also at war with the lees, mr kimber, am I right? The lees are attacking your bookies and taking your money. Your men can't control them. You need help." I said
"Perhaps we should listen to what ms..."he waited for an answer
"Lovell" I answered
"Ms Lovell has to say. Before we make our decisions" kimbers assistant said
"Right, the lees are doing a lot of talking at the fairs. They have alot of kin. They're saying the race tracks are easy meat, because the police are busy with strikes. Now, we have connections, we know how the operate. You have muscle. Together, we can beat them. Divided, maybe not." I said, I turned to tommy, who nodded. Approving of what I had said and telling me he was okay with me taking over negotiations.
"Me kimber, perhaps we should take some time for reflection, possibly make arrangements for a second meeting." His assistant said
"We admire you mr kimber. You started with nothing, and built a legitimate business. It would be an honour to work with you, mr kimber." Tommy said
"Nobody works with me. People work for me." Kimber said, flicking a coin towards tommy.
"Pick it up pikey"
I watched as tommy stared at kimber holding strong eye Contact. He went to kneel down to pick up the coin.
I stood up in protest but tommy waved me down.
"Sit, sit down" he said sternly
John and Arthur pulled me back to my seat.
"It's for your sealing" he said
"Thank you, mr kimber." Tommy shouted after him
"We will be at Cheltenham." His assistant hung back to say
"As will I" I looked at tommy with confusion, he hadn't told me that.
As soon as kimber left tommy turned to me. Fire behind both our eyes. John and Arthur where clueless.
"I saved us then, but you do as you please tommy. Go to war with the lees and make an ally of kimber, or try to overthrow kimber and betray him. The lees are right about one thing, the race tracks are easy meat." I said eagerly
"The lees want me dead, I want nothing more than to overthrow kimber" tommy said
"The lees are gypsy. How do you make a gypsy family your kin..."I said
"Sorry what the fuck are you two talking about" John said
"Go home, think it over" I said to Tommy
"John, take her home" he said to John before walking out of the garrison