Chapter seventeen: Never be mine
Kate pushes the door to her restaurant open with an exhale. She had made it there undetected from Thomas. Hopefully, he decides not to pursue her tonight. Kate looks around her restaurant, unsure how she's going to leave all of this behind. She'd grown attached to so many people down here.
Her door opens behind her and she whips around to see two men entering the restaurant. She exhales in relief to know that it's not Thomas. "I'm sorry gentlemen, but, I'm closed for tonight."
"Did you hear…that Lizzie Stark," one of the men asks her. "quit the business?"
"Well, no, I didn't but good for her." Kate's now growing slightly suspicious to their intentions. "This is my concern, how?"
"Because you introduced her to that reporter she's gonna marry." Kate's heart soars at that news. She was right! "Now, there ain't any good whores around here."
Kate comes off her high as she realizes that both of these men have a grievance against her. It was in that moment that Kate realizes that she'd left her purse, which had her gun, in the hay next to Thomas Shelby. Her next option was getting behind the counter; she had a gun next to the register."Again, that's not my fault gentlemen." Or, maybe she should get to the adjoining window and call for help in the pub. Kate glances at the clock, it's almost closing time, but she can tell from the singing next door that the pub is full.
"But it is." Kate turns to address that man as the second man lunges for her until one of the men grabbed her. Kate screams and swings at him. "So now…you're gonna take her place." Kate let out a scream and the man covered her mouth with his hand. "Looks like you already had a tussle with someone in the hay!"
"Shelby ain't gonna like this." The one man says as he holds firmly onto her shoulders.
"His girl is the blonde. This one," the man grabbed the front of her blouse and ripped it open, sending buttons flying. Kate screamed against the man's hand. "he couldn't care less about."
Those words, she didn't know why they hurt, they did hurt her. Kate bit his hand, causing him to let out a shout in pain. "Get off me!" she screamed as he backhanded her, hard.
"Hold onto her!" the first man ordered as he grabbed her and slammed her backwards onto the nearest table. Kate heard glasses breaking beneath her and felt a fork stab her in the back. The second man secured her arms as the first man got on top of her. Kate gasped for air, desperate to get free. "Don't worry; we'll pay you just as we paid Lizzie." As he reached for her skirts, she managed to get one hand free and punch him hard in the ribs, causing him to let out a grunt of pain
"Hey!" the angry male voice caused both men to instantly release her. "Get the f**k off her!"
"Run!" One of the men shouted. Kate rolled onto her side as the men bolted for the back door. A gun is fired, causing her to duck. A few more shots are fired from her rescuer, but she can't see if the shots hit the men or not. She inhaled deeply as she wipes her mouth, which is bleeding.
A hand on her shoulder caused her to scream and bolt upright. "Kate." She whirled around as she realized that Thomas Shelby was her rescuer. "It's alright, I've got you."
In spite of that kiss in the barn, Kate was glad to see him! Thomas wrapped his arms around her shoulders after holstering his gun. "What are you doing here?" she asks. "Not that I'm upset to see you, quite the opposite in fact!"
"You left your purse and hat behind. I saw your purse had your gun and key, I didn't like the idea of you not having a gun on you at night." After a few moments, he pulled away from her. "Come, I'll take you home with me."
As tempting as that sounds, she shakes her head. "This is my home."
"You're not staying here alone tonight. Polly would have my hide."
"I'll be fine; I'm letting anyone run me out of my place." Kate hopped off the table, frowning at the cool air on her chest. She gasped in embarrassment as she realized her chest was exposed. Kate spun around, presenting her back to him as she tried to figure out how to cover herself.
"Here." Thomas took a step towards her, extending his coat. She glanced at him; he'd respectfully averted his eyes.
"Thank you." she cleared her throat. "Let me change my blouse and I'll bring your coat back." Thomas merely nods at her, she can sense that he's furious and attempting to keep his emotions under control for her sake. In spite of the harrowing experience, Kate finds herself faintly smiling as she walks up the stairs. Maybe, it's because for the first time in a long time, someone actually cares about her.
Thomas's blood is boiling as he goes to the kitchen where the men vanished. The door is wide open, so he knows they ran out. He knew who they were and they were going to pay for this. His heart pounds in his chest as he reflects back on how he almost didn't bring Kate her purse and hat. Even then, if he'd been a minute later…he'd shuddered to think about what Kate might have had to endure. No one next door had heard a thing, what with all the singing and racket going on.
He locks the door and makes a point of checking all of the windows in case they decide to circle back and try again. After completely securing the back, he moved to lock all the front windows.
"What are you doing?" he looks up to see Kate coming down the stairs, a brush in one hand and his coat in another.
"Locking up." he states as he steps towards her. Her hair is down and it's longer than he suspected, comes down to her waist. It's not the fashion, but it suits her. "Since you won't come home with me, I figure I can at least make sure you're safe."
"Thank you." Kate hands him back his coat and goes to sit on the corner of a table. She makes a face as she starts pulling hay out of her hair. He reaches for a long stick of hay, causing her to shy for a second, until she realizes that he's pulling out the hay. "Thank you."
Thomas drops his hand, mentally kicking himself because of course; Kate wouldn't want anyone touching her after what had just happened to her. He clears his throat. "Did those two says anything to you?"
"Yes." Apparently," she continues brushing her hair. "Lizzie stark quit the business." His brow arches in surprise. "Apparently, the whole this my fault, so, I should take her place."
"That's just stupid thinking!" rage, again boils up inside of him. "What made them think I'd allow anyone to lay a hand on you?"
"Because not Thomas Shelby's girl," he frowns at that statement. "so I'm fair game. At least, that's what the one said."
"Grace isn't my girl."
She chuckles lightly. "That's not what they're saying in the pub Thomas."
"And you honestly believe that?"
"I'm not your girl, so," she licks her lips nervously. "Why should it matter to me?"
He steps towards her. "Kate…I just kissed you in the barn." She shifts back a little on the table and he exhales. "Since you've just been attacked, I'll talk to you tomorrow when you can safely comprehend what it is I'm saying to you. Alright?" Kate bobs her head. "Lock the door behind me." he can hear her hopping off the table and trailing after him as he heads towards the door. He opens the door and steps out onto the porch. "Goodnight Kate."
She smiles shyly at him, her green eyes don't show any fright towards him. "Goodnight Thomas."
With that, he leans forward and kisses her lightly on the forehead. Kate trembles slightly, but she doesn't fight or push him away. He opts not to say anything to her; he just turns and heads towards the pub. There are a few things he needs to take care of first and there are two men he needs to seriously injure tonight.
Angeo029: I know, I was getting frustrated with them.
Idcam: It's going to be so funny when he tells her that she made the move on him first. Well, someone did stop her, but not in the way she'd intended, luckily Thomas decided to return her purse!
