𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑

The door swung open and Maeve jumped. "Fucking hell, Tom." She sighed, placing a hand on her chest and pulling back the curtain. She frowned at the van that had been parked outside since early that morning.

She quickly returned to her table and began putting away money. "I was here on time," a man said to her in a rush. Maeve looked up and shook her head, "it's finished, sorry."

"I've had a tip off- i need this bet!" He argued. "The race has started." Maeve refused. "Please!" He shouted.

Maeve raised her eyebrows, "no."

The man scoffed, "fine." He tipped over her box of money and Tommy looked over at her, "get rid of him." He ordered. Seconds later, Scudboat and Lovelock had pushed the man out of the doors.

"Tom, what're you doing here so early?" She asked her uncle, cleaning up the mess on the table. "Pol wanted me 'ere." He replied bluntly, taking a cigarette and lighting it.

Polly soon entered and began reading the books. "It's a good day," she observed. "Where's John?" Tommy asked.

"Johns in the Garrison, says he wants a meeting about a family matter. After he's said his peace, he'll come back and take his place with Scudboat- Scudboat! John will be here in ten minutes," Polly told the older man.

Tommy pointed a finger at him, "five." He pointed, "come on you." He pushed Maeve toward the door and she shrugged his hands off, "i can walk myself."

Maeve took one last look at the van across the road as she walked down to Garrison Lane with both Tommy and Polly. Something was up, she could feel it.

"Ello John, my favourite uncle." Maeve grinned, sitting opposite him and putting her feet upon the chair.

"All right John there's only one man guarding the house. Whats troubling you?" Tommy asked, leaning against the wall. John cleared his throat. "Polly, you know what it's been like since Martha died."

"God takes the best first.." Polly nodded.

"Truth is, my kids have been running bloody rings round me. Running barefoot with the dogs until all hours-" Maeve laughed and covered her mouth. "Alright, Pol give him ten bob to buy some new shoes. Is that it, John?" Tommy added.

Maeve rolled her eyes. "Tommy we'd be better to do this without you." Polly scolded. "Now what's your point?"

"What the kids need is a mother. So that's why i'm getting married." John finally told them. Maeve and Arthur shared a glance with each other, trying their best not to laugh.

"Does this poor girl know you're gonna marry her or are you just gonna spring it on her all of a sudden?" Polly asked.

"I've already proposed, and she said yes." John stuttered.

"I think there's a shell about to land and go bang." Tommy lit another cigarette. John wiped his mouth, "it's er..it's Lizzie Stark."

That's when Maeve couldn't control it and she burst into laughter, losing her breath and holding her chest. "No, no stop it's not funny!" She wheezed.

"John- Lizzie Stark is a strong woman and i'm sure she provides a fine service for her customers." Polly chuckled. "I won't hear the word!" John snapped, "understand? Do not use that word."

"What word is that John?" Maeve tilted her head.

"You know what word that is." John muttered. Arthur laughed, "everybody bloody knows-"

"Everybody can go to hell!" John huffed. Tommy pushed himself off the wall, "whore, that word?" Tommy suggested. Maeve took a breath, "i was thinking prostitute. What about that one?" She chimed in.

"Right, i want it known that if anyone calls her a whore again, i'll push the barrel of my revolver down their throats and blow the word back down into their hearts." He threatened.

"Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me." Polly raised her eyebrows. "John, Lizzie Stark never did a days work vertical."

"She's changed!" He shouted. "All right, people change."

"Yeah instead of shagging ten men a day, she's now shagging nine." Maeve tormented. John glared at her, "no like with religion!"

"Oh so Lizzie Stark's got religion, eh?" Tommy asked.

"Being on her knees is the closest that Lizzie Stark is getting to having religion. And i tell you she's not on her knees to pray." Maeve muttered.

"No..no she doesn't have religion. But..she loves me." John paused, "listen- Tommy, i won't do it without your blessing. But of all the people in the world i want you to see it as brave."

"Oh it's brave all right," Arthur hummed, staring into his glass.

"Brave is going where no man's gone before and with Lizzie Stark, John, that is not what you'll be doing," Polly also began laughing.

John ignored their chuckles, "Listen Tommy, welcome her to the family. As someone who's had a hard life. All right cause I need someone. The kids need someone."

Before they could say anymore, Finn burst in, breathing heavily. "Tommy, we've been done over!" he said.

Maeve was the first to rush out of the Garrison, running down to Watery Lane. Out of everyone in the family, she was the fastest. Always had been. She swung the door open and her heart dropped.

The house had been completely trashed. John soon followed with Tommy and Arthur. "What the bloody hell happened?" Arthur asked, pouring Scudboat a glass of whiskey.

John kicked an empty cash box and swore under his breath. "Lee Family, all of 'em. Brothers, cousins, nephews. Even the bastards."

"They've taken anything they can lay their hands on. Four cash boxes." Polly said.

Maeve kneeled down and picked up a pair of wire cutters. "Uncle Tom," she muttered, examining the rusty metal. Tommy's eyes widened slightly and he took the tool from her hands. "They left these," he said.

"Wire cutters? Why would they leave wire cutters?" Polly asked. Arthur looked about, "nobody move."

"I think our friends are playing the game." Tommy breathed. Polly rolled her eyes, "what bloody game?" She walked to the office only to be stopped by John, "Aunt Pol don't touch anything.."

Maeve's heart pounded as she tried her best to stay still. "Erasmus Lee was in France.." Tommy said. Scudboat slowly stood. "When we gave up ground to the Germans, we'd leave yarn boobytraps set up with wires, and we would leave wire cutters as part of the joke." Tommy said.

"Somewhere in here there is a hand grenade." John spoke lowly.

"Holy Jesus.." Polly gasped. "Attached to a wire," Arthur added. Maeve stepped forward slightly. "Maeve Maeve- don't move." he stopped her.

"Don't move any chairs or open any doors. Go east John boy."

"No," Tommy stopped them, "boys no. It's not in here. If it was it would've blown by now. It was my name on that bullet that Erasmus sent- he set up a trap, he set it up just for me." He paused, thinking. "Where's Finn?" Maeve asked.

"Fuck.." Tommy said before rushing out the house.

"Does this have something to do with what happened at the races?" Maeve turned to Arthur. He looked down and nodded, "yeah..yeah I think so."

"This family can never do anything right." Maeve huffed.

-

Maeve opened the door after returning from being at the Montgomery house. Her hands were freezing. The shop was still busy but Arthur stood at the table with his hands in his pockets, staring her down.

"Hello to you as well," she scoffed, blowing into her hands in attempt to warn them. Arthur placed a bottle of vodka onto the table and Maeve frowned. "Found this in your drawer."

"Okay?" She raised an eyebrow. "Hold on- why the fuck you going through my things anyway?" She asked, suddenly annoyed that he'd invaded her privacy.

"What ya language," he pointed a finger at her. "And that's not the point. What av i told you about drinking, eh? You're still a kid."

"What have i told you about drinking?" Maeve mocked him, asking him the very same question.

"Maeve, i'm an adult, you're a kid. It's different. I'm your dad and i've told you countless times that you're only allowed to drink when ya with me or your uncles in the pub."

"Trust me, i do a lot that you ask me not to do." Maeve chuckled, taking a seat and placing her feet upon the table.

Arthur licked his bottom lip and looked over his shoulder at Polly who was glaring at him. "This is Pol's doing isn't it?" Maeve whispered. He cleared his throat, "yeah..but that doesn't mean i'm not annoyed. You're grounded."

Maeve's mouth feel open, "you fucking what? You can't ground me!"

"I just did, Maeve." Arthur shrugged. "Dad, come on. Seriously?" She whined. "I have things to do, people to meet. You can't do this to me."

"I can and I will. Now fuck off and finish the count." He ordered.

Maeve stared at him for a moment before huffing and shoving past him to sit down, completely surprised at the sight of Billy Kimber who'd just entered with Tommy.

"I heard the Lee's done you over," he said. Tommy smirked, "oh you shouldn't listen to gossip Mr Kimber, this way."

"Business is good. Especially now that you know which horse is going to win." Kimber's assistant said.

"Information is very much appreciated." Tommy nodded. "Well where are they?" Kimber asked impatiently. Tommy turned, "John, Maeve, Scudboat. Oh and Lovelock. In here." He ordered.

"These are some of my team. They will take up their pitch with your convince, Mr Kimber. John and Maeve are the books, Scudboat is the bag man and of course, Lovelock is the protection."

Kimber raised his eyebrows at Maeve. "You have a girl doing your work?" He asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Maeve snapped, "i'm just as capable as these lot are. Probably more capable than you by the sounds of it."

Kimber clicked his tongue, "she's got an attitude ain't she," he mocked. Tommy looked at Maeve who'd began scowling at the older man, her fists clenched. "Alright Maeve, off you go." Tommy dismissed.

"Warwick next Saturday, at least fifty yards from the beer tent." Kimber said, his accountant handing Tommy a piece of paper before they both turned and left.

"Gentlemen, and Maeve." Tommy cleared his throat. "I have a legal betting license, issued by the border control. The Shelby family has its first legal race track pitch." He grinned.

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