"Dad? our katie's done a wee in the bed again" one of Johns kids shouted as John and Esme remained in the bedroom.
"I'll be there in a minute mate" John laughed.
Tommy walked in, looking at the two. "John i told you to keep the doors locked" he reminded. "I could've been anyone now get dressed, we're doing it today"
"As a matter of fact he's doing me today" Esme sat up. "Make sure he's done you by nine" Tommy pointed, leaving the room.
"You should learn to knock"
"It's not a day for knocking" Tommy said.
Polly stood, praying. "Dear lord may this day pass well, let none get hurt, and make them that do, not Shelby's" she whispered.
Lottie grinned, finding her Aunts acts funny.
"Watch John, because he has so many depending on him. Watch Arthur, because he's likely to hurt himself as much as anyone else"
"And watch Thomas, i know how he is but he does what he does for us"
"Speak of the fucking devil" Lottie sniggered as her brother appeared behind Polly.
Today was the day that they planned to fight with Billy Kimber, get rid of him.
-
"Am i allowed in this meeting" Lottie pulled on Tommy's sleeve and he looked down at her, nodding. "Right i've brought you all here today, because this is the day that we replace Billy Kimber" he stood tall.
"This is the day we become respectable. The day we join the official National Association of race course book makers" he nodded.
"I don't know what that means but i'll act like i do" Lottie whispered.
"Your supposed to be 15" John reminder. "Don't go school anymore do i"
"But first" Tommy interrupted, " we do the dirty work. We've all known this days been coming"
"i just haven't told anyone the date"
He turned to the chalk board. "We're going to the Worcester Races. Track opens at one, we'll get there at two"
"Now Kimber thinks we're going there to help him fight the Lee brothers, but thanks to the efforts of our John, and his lovely new wife Esme" he pointed at them. "The lees are now our kin"
Lottie clapped her hands then awkwardly stopped realising nobody was clapping with her.
"I interrupted those efforts this morning and- i can assure you all John is making great sacrifices for the cause of peace"
"Yeah, all right" John stopped him, his arm around Esme.
"So it'll be us and the Lees against the Kimber boys" Tommy continued. "We take them out but leave the bookies"
"I expect a swift victory which will send a signal all the way to London that we believe in letting legitimate business run peacefully"
"That's a first" Lottie whispered.
"And uh, what about Kimber himself" John asked. "I'll deal with Kimber"
"Any other questions?"
"Yes" Polly nodded, standing at the doors of the betting den. "Does anybody object if i bring a new comer to the meeting"
She opened the doors.
"I'd like to introduce the newest member of the Shelby family" Ada stood with the small baby in her arms, smiling.
Lottie stood up, walking to her older sister and looking at the baby.
Everyone began clapping.
"Welcome home Ada" Tommy smiled. "We named him Karl" she told them, "after Karl Marx"
"Karl bloody Marx" Arthur joked. "Let me get a look at him"
"Here we go" John sighed.
"Hey, look, he looks just like me" Arthur lifted Karl up. "That's his arse that looks like you Arthur" John teased:
"He's alright, he's a shelby"
"Well, Ada, am i forgiven?" Tommy asked. "If what aunt Polly says is true, you are" she folded her arms.
He nodded slowly. "It's true"
Ada wrapped her arms around her older brother. "Thank you Tommy"
"Right," Tommy pulled away, "Lottie, Finn you stay with Aunt Pol and Ada until we're ready to go" he instructed, following everyone else out.
"Let me see" Lottie whispered, looking at the baby once more. "Can i hold him" she asked. Ada nodded, handing Karl to her younger sister.
"He's so small" she whispered, holding him as if he could break.
-
"Do you have the enclosure tickets?" Grace asked whilst Tommy poured pints for the men. "And the register of book keepers on the track"
"In me coat" Tommy told her. "You did a good job Grace" he cleared his throat. "The next family meeting, i'll make sure you're there"
"If i were family" she looked at him, "but i'm not"
"That could change" he told her, "Tommy" she began. "We'll talk about it more when i get back alright-" he stopped her.
She shook her head.
"When will you be back?"
"Now is this how you're going to be? Eh?" he joked, looking at her. "You waiting for me at home saying 'what time do you call this'" he grinned.
"The barrel needs changing"
She had guilt plastered all over her face.
"Go on Tommy, go out the back and give her a good seeing to before we go" Arthur told him.
He ran a hand over the back of his head and went into the back room.
Grace wiped her eyes. "Grace"
"Hey, Grace, i was joking" he assured her. "Tommy the truth is, when you get back from the races i won't be here" she admitted.
"What are you talking about?"
"All right, look, Grace. I know you weren't born to be with a man like me, but i'm turning things around"
"When i get back here tonight, i will have one of the biggest legal racetrack syndicates in the country" he smiled, holding her face.
"And i'm going to close down some of the other stuff" he promised. "Maybe open a club, hey? Like in London"
"And another thing" he grabbed her chin, "you have a contract of employment. With a real limited company, you remember?"
"I remember everything Tommy" she looked into his eyes. "I am going to make a success of this" he nodded. "I am going to make a success of this, i am"
Grace held Tommys face close with hers.
"I know, i know" she whispered. "I'm not talking about marriage, we know each other" he said quietly.
"We can talk"
She shook her head, grabbing his hands.
"We're the same"
"Tommy, i have done something terrible to you" she admitted.
Before they continue, the door opened.
"Right, tell him what you just told me" Arthur pointed at Jeremiah Jesus, Isaiahs dad.
"Just head there's two vans driving up the Stratford Road, an old corporal of mine said he recognised some of the men" he stuttered. "He said it's the Kimber boys, they're headed this way"
Tommy's expression dropped, looking at Grace.
All three of them men left, leaving her alone in the room.
-
"Ada, wake up" Tommy slammed the door, waking up Ada and Lottie. "You, the baby and Lottie get into the bullring where there's lots of people"
"What's going on" Aunt pol asked. "We've been fucking betrayed" he hissed.
"Someone let slip, kimber and his men are on their way here"
"But you can handle them can't you Tom?" Lottie sat up, worry in her voice. "It's just us, the Lee boys are on their way down to the races" he ran a hand over his face.
"Who else knew today was happening" Pol asked. Lottie's eyes widened with realisation. "That fucking Barmaid i'm telling you now" she whispered.
Tommy hit his fist on the table, "fuck"
"John owes me money" Lottie shrugged, sitting back down. Ada slapped her arm. "This is serious" she hissed.