Chapter Seven: Pull out the pin
"Good morning Kate."
Kate looks up from where she's vigorously sweeping the front porch to see Thomas Shelby striding towards her. "Well, it's a nice day for some people." She glowers at him.
He frowns. "What did I do now?"
"Arthur owns the Garrison now. There go all my plans!"
He laughs at her. "Talk to Arthur then."
"That's beside the point!" she states, sweeping the pile of dust towards him, causing him to jump off the porch.
He scowls back at her. "And that vexes you?"
"Yes!" She exhales. "I wanted just one thing not to be under the Shelby management."
"It was a good deal for Harry."
"Because he, like almost everyone else around here, is too afraid to tell you no."
"And you, by some force of nature," he states as he leans his shoulder against the roof support beam, which immediately freaks her out. "aren't."
"Get off that!" She shrieks. "I just painted it!"
Thomas jumps away from the railing, but there's a streak of blue paint against his shoulder. He glowers at her. "You're just bound and determined to ruin my suits, woman."
Kate grabs his arm and drags him inside the restaurant. "Follow me, quickly!" Thomas allows her to drag him to the back room, where there's a kettle whistling on the stovetop. Kate grabs that and some soap. "Get the coat off now."
"I don't know-
"NOW!" She shouts which causes him to jump, but scramble out of his coat. Thomas watches her over her shoulder as she splashes the hot water on the paint spot. She then rubs a bar soap onto the spot, he watches her as she pours more hot water onto the soap, before wiping it away with a cloth. She exhales in relief. "Got it in time."
He peers over her shoulder. "Indeed. Now what do I do with my wet suit jacket?"
"No idea. I just cleaned it for you."
Thomas exhales and glances at his watch. "I've got to be going."
"Business?" he nods. For some reason, Kate stretches up and gives him a light peck on the cheek. "Be careful."
He looks at her, curiosity, rather than surprise on his face. "Yeah." He walks out of the room without another word.
Kate frowns slightly as she reflects upon her actions. "What made me do that?" she mutters. "Oh well, he didn't say anything. Therefore, it meant nothing. After all, Grace is his girl."
And she kept telling herself that for the next hour.
If, I were a little bird. I'd fly, from tree to tree. Kate sang as she quietly picked out her favorite W.C Handy tune on the piano. I'd build my nest, way up in the air. Where all the bad boys, could not bother me. Harry shot her a warning look, which she smirked at. Love, oh love, oh careless love. Love, oh love, oh careless love. You've broke the heart, of a many poor gal. but you'll never break this heart of mine.
"Kate," Harry laughs. "where do you ever find such songs?"
"America." She says. "I've a friend who often sends me a collection sheet music to the biggest hits of the year."
"Don't really care for this one."
"I love it. It's a new style that's becoming popular over there. They're calling it the blues."
"It'll make you blue alright." Grace says softly.
Like your singing. Kate mentally thought to herself, before mentally chastising herself for thinking such a thing. Grace was a nice enough girl. If Kate had to describe Grace in one word, it would be soft. The way she talked, the way she moved, even the way she sang, everything about her was soft.
Kate glances up at the clock. It was time to go back to the restaurant. Next Monday was the official opening. The tables and chairs were arriving tonight, as well as the uniforms for the staff she'd hired. She'd put a note in the window and within an hour had over 20 people show up for the 8 positions. The only thing she didn't have was a cook that she liked, but Harry had mention a boy who'd left the area that had potential. Christopher Andrews, so, first thing tomorrow, she was heading up to the Chetlam races to see if he could come down and cook for her. Since he was a local, he'd know exactly what would cater to people in the nearby area.
As Kate turns to leave, she sees a woman, holding onto the wall and her stomach, breathing heavily. "Grace." She says as she hurries towards the woman. "Help me."
"Have you seen Freddie Thorne," the woman gasps out in pain. "or Tommy?"
"No." Kate braces her arm and guides her towards the nearest chair. "Who are you?"
"Ada. Tommy's my brother."
"Grace!" Kate calls. "I need a glass of water here!" Grace takes one look at the scene and walks calmly to the back to get some water. "Today!" she snaps as she helps Ada get into a chair. "If not inconvenient!" this woman would never have lasted two minutes in Verdun. She turns back to Ada. "Ok, you've been running, which isn't good for the baby. You need to rest."
Ada shakes her head. "No. We have to find Freddie."
"Why?"
"Him and Tommy." She does accept the water from Grace, who's finally moved faster than a slow walk. "I think they're going to kill each other."
Kate blinks. She doesn't really know what's going on, but Ada can't move. "Ada, you stay here. I'll go find them."
"How?" Ada tries to get up, but Kate pushes her gently back down to her seat. "You don't know where to look."
Kate's brain races as she thinks about where he could have gone. Then, a thought hit her like lightning. "Last night, Thomas was down by the docks, didn't really answer me why he was down there. If he's anything like my father, he'll have scoped the place out for a meeting. Grace," she orders. "keep her seated for at least 10 minutes, and then get her on over to the couch at my place. When I find Freddie, I'll send him to get you. Alright?" Ada nods. "Don't worry; I can deal with your brother."
"You must be Kate." Ada smiles faintly. "I've heard about you."
"Well, everything is true." And with that, Kate runs down the street towards the docks. She has no clue what she's running into, but what she does know is that woman needs her husband and her brother alive.
Kate is gasping by the time she reaches the point where Thomas had startled her. She looked around, scanning the buildings. Sure enough, there was Thomas, a few floors up in a deserted building with someone pointing a gun at his head. She really hoped it wasn't Freddie.
"Damn it." Kate mutters as she grabs her skirts and runs into the building and up the stairs.
She makes it to the top, grabs her gun from her skirt and enters the room with it drawn. However, the scene is different now. The other man is on the ground, still pointing his gun at Thomas. However, Thomas is standing upright, his gun aimed at the other man's face.
"Thomas Shelby and Fredrick Thorne!" she snaps, causing both men to look her way. "Both of you put those guns away right now!"
"This doesn't concern you." Thomas orders. "Leave now Kate."
"I will not!" she declares as she steps into the room, her gun aimed downwards. "Ada is over in the Garrison, practically on the verge of having a miscarriage," Freddie lowers his gun and sits up. "because she's been running all over town trying to find you two idiots! Did either of you stop to think that if either of you shoots, she'll lose either a husband or a brother? She'll not forgive either of you for it! Use the brains God gave to you and put your guns away! Now!"
Both men stare at her, debating about their next move. Kate determines correctly that will be the first to holster his gun. "Is she alright?"
"I don't know. I had to stabilize her before running off to find you two." Thomas is still pointing his gun at Freddie. "Stop pointing the gun at Freddie."
"How the hell did you know where we were?" Thomas demands.
"You were scoping out the place last night, Thomas." she exhales. "I don't know what this is about, but you're both putting Ada in a dangerous position. Especially since, she's going to have a baby. The two of you need at least try to put this feud on hold until she's had the baby."
"It's his fault," Thomas states. "that she's in this position. You got her pregnant, thinking that I'd fund your little war."
The look of disgust on Freddie's face is evident as he stands up. "I love her Tommy." The conviction in his voice touches Kate to the heart. Oh, to be that Romeo had been given a fraction of this man's courage. "I've loved her since she was 9 and I was 12. She loves me the same." He studies Thomas carefully. "Do you even know the word?"
Thomas is silent for a moment before stating darkly. "This marriage will not stand." He holsters his gun and turns to her. "Come, I want a word with you Kate."
"I'm going with Freddie." At his look, she adds. "Don't you dare look surprised at me. I can't speak to you right now; I can barely look at you." She turns to Freddie. "I don't know the details of what's going on, but Ada's over at my place. I told her I'd come find you."
"Thank you." They go down the stairs. "I don't know who you are, but I appreciate your help."
"You and the whole bloody town."
Kate insisted on examining Ada quickly before allowing her to go back home with Freddie. He'd had to take a back route to get Ada back to wherever their home was. From what Kate gathered, Thomas and Freddie had been friends since childhood. Ada mentioned that Freddie had saved Thomas's life, so, Thomas was bound by honor not to hurt him. The war had changed both men and the rift between the two of them was because of Freddie's politics.
Kate also knew family was important to him, so, he'd wanted the best for Ada. Freddie was clearly not the kind of man he'd wanted for his sister. More and more, she was starting to see her father inside Thomas Shelby.
Once Ada and Freddie had snuck back out of her restaurant, Kate heads back to the pub. She knows Thomas is inside before she crosses the threshold. The tense atmosphere can be felt out in the streets.
As she enters, Harry looks up at her. He shakes his head. "Shelby's in a thunderstorm of a mood. I wouldn't come in here."
Kate nods. "Yes. It's my fault I'm afraid."
"Damn." He hisses. "What is the matter with you two? Can't you try to get along?"
"As a matter of fact," she says softly as she heads to the bar. "last night, he jumped into the water to save me from drowning. We had a good conversation last night and this morning."
"And? What went wrong this afternoon?"
"Stopped him and Freddie Thorne from killing each other." Harry groans. "Shot of Irish whiskey please."
Harry shakes his head, but does as she asks. "Fine."
Kate downs it quickly with an exhale. "I may need another when I get out." she states, the alcohol is stronger than she's used to. She can feel the liquid burn down her throat as it journeys towards her stomach.
"I'll have it for you." Harry says as he pours himself a shot.
She chuckles and heads to the room. As she approaches, she can hear Grace talking to Thomas. "Men should talk to."
"To you?" Thomas sounds slightly skeptical.
"Why not? I'm a barmaid. It's my job." Kate mentally shakes her head. Grace is not going to be able to hang onto Thomas with that attitude. She'd have better success by not making it seem like he should talk to her because it's her job. She should talk to him, because she genuinely wanted to talk to him. Make him feel valued. "Men always tell their troubles to a barmaid." No response from Thomas, which doesn't surprise her. "What is it you and Freddie are fighting over?"
"I'll meet you here at 9 tomorrow." Thomas turns a page in his newspaper. "Did you buy a dress?"
"Yes, I bought a dress." Kate steps towards the door.
"How's it look?" Thomas glances up and that's when he sees her standing in the doorway. He stands up, his blue eyes full of the storm he's about to unleash on her. "Kate, step in here, now."
And for the first time, Kate didn't even bother to argue with him. She had a few things to say to him as well and she was probably just as furious as she. Grace demurely steps out of the room and closes the door behind her, as if she can shield the pub patrons from another explosive argument between her and Thomas Shelby.
Angel029: Same here!
Idcam: That will be explained in a few chapters and lol, you knew Thomas didn't just happen to be there.
