Chapter thirty: Mother stands for comfort
Four days later,
"And who's this Noni Fitzgerald?" Thomas asks as he addresses the last name on the list for their family Thanksgiving dinner. He was relieved to observe that Kate had left Michael and Gina off the invitation list. "Friend of yours?"
Kate nods. "Yes. I was thinking that she and Arthur might hit it off."
Thomas laughs shortly. "You're playing matchmaker for Arthur?"
She nods. "Yes."
"Not a good idea Kate."
"Don't worry, Noni can handle herself."
"What is about her that makes you think she and Arthur would hit it off? Arthur's kind of done in after Linda."
"So I've heard. I was thinking about Noni and remembered there was an article in the papers about her yesterday."
"What was she doing in the papers?" he asks as he reaches for a cigarette.
"Oh, she left Billy Wolfe's to promote women's matches over here in England. I don't think she's having much success. England is so very prim and proper."
"What kind of matches are they?"
"Oh, female wrestlers." Thomas drops his match into his lap and he jumps up from his seat, brushing off the match. "You alright?" she hops off the edge of the desk. "Do you need water?"'
"You want to fix Arthur up with a female wrestler?" he demands. "Are you out of your bloody mind, woman?"
"Don't call me woman and no, I'm not." She hops back up onto the edge of his desk. "Yes, I think he'd like her. She's a lightweight, so, she's not too outrageously muscular. She's a brunette with the most striking brown eyes I've ever seen. They're almost black. I think she could handle anything he throws at her. What do you think?"
"I'll allow it…only because this whole thing sounds pretty damn amusing." There's a tap at the door and he glances up. "Enter."
"Well, if it doesn't work out, maybe they'll gain sparring partners."
Thomas snorts as Elton comes in with a handful of letters. "The mail has arrived. There's an unusual letter here for Mrs. Shelby."
Kate frowns and holds out her hand. "Thank you Elton." She frowns as she feels the odd shaped hard object in the envelope and frowns. "This…feels like a bullet." Thomas and Elton both look up at her as she opens the letter. She reaches into the envelope and pulls out an old bullet, with blood or rust around it. An eerie feeling settles over her, causing her to drop it onto the desk quickly.
"Kate?" Thomas stands up. "What is it?"
"Someone just…walked over my grave." She mumbles as she reads the letter.
To prove we mean business, we dug this bullet out of Emmett Weber's head. Kate covers her mouth to keep from vomiting all over Thomas's desk. Her hands can't help but shake as she struggles to read the rest of the letter. Thomas Shelby can't keep you safe for long. He's next.
"Kate?" Thomas asked, his voice a low rumble. "Let me see the letter."
Kate can't bear to read anymore. She hands him the letter and exhales deeply. "Shall I fetch you some ice water Mrs. Shelby?" Elton offers. "You look rather pale."
Kate nods. "Yes, please."
Elton hurries out and opens the door, nearly hitting Polly. "I beg your pardon Madame."
Thomas crumbles up the letter and throws it in the wastebasket. "Kate. It's going to be alright." She could only nod her head. "Hey, look at me." he orders firmly and she does as he asks. "No one," he states firmly as he grips her shoulders. "send a letter to my house, threatens my wife and gets away with it."
"But I don't understand this. Who would…they desecrated a grave!"
"I'll take care of this. I'm calling Moss and see if he found that damn car." She nodded as she blinked against tears. He hesitated a moment before pulling her into a tight hug. "You're safe here with me Kate, no one's going to get you."
"I know that," she inhales as she holds onto him. "I trust you."
Thomas pulls back slightly, only so he can lean forward and kiss her. Kate brings her hands up and around his neck, holding onto him as he kisses her deeply. She lets out a moan as she steps closer to him. Something about his touch and presence was always so soothing to her. Simply being in his arms calmed her, his arms felt as they were walls that he'd build around the world to keep her safe. She'd forgotten how wonderful it was to have someone there for her.
He breaks the kiss and presses another to her forehead. "You'll be safe here. When's our marriage announcement coming out in the papers?"
"Saturday." She croaks quietly "Two more days."
He nods. "It'll be over by your Thanksgiving party. I promise."
"What's a Thanksgiving party?" They turn towards the door to find Polly standing there, hat on her head and purse in hand.
"It's an American holiday." Kate explains as she wipes her eyes. "It's to celebrate the many things and people in your life that you're grateful. There's a long history, but…I'll share the details later." She clears her throat and offers. "I trust we'll see you there, once I send the invitations out?"
"Possibly." Polly fixes her gaze towards Thomas. "What's going on?"
"Someone sent Kate a death threat." He says darkly.
Her eyes widen in surprise. "Really? They must be really foolish or daring to send it here."
He nods. "Be on your guard Poll, I don't know who these people are yet."
"Did Moss get back to you?" Kate asks. "About the car?"
He shakes his head. "No. they're still looking for the car." He studies her carefully. "I don't want you going off the property until I know what's going on."
Kate nods. "Yes." Elton enters the room with her glass of ice water, causing her to smile. "Thank you very much."
As she gulps the water down, Charlie and Ruby run into the room. "Kate," Charlie asks. "are we ready to go pick apples?"
She sets her drink down to wipe her eyes quickly and find a little bit more composure. Thomas speaks first though. "Not today." He explains. "Kate needs to rest a bit. You can go pick apples tomorrow."
"I'm fine." She hops off the desk before turning to address them both. "I'm a little sad right now but, being with you two always makes me happy."
"You're sad?" Ruby asks.
"Just a little bit, but I'll be fine. So, shall we go," both children hurtled themselves towards her and wrapped their arms around her as best as they could, enveloping her in a hug. Her voice petered out. "pick those apples?"
"Don't be sad any more, mommy." Kate covers her mouth against the tears in Ruby's voice. She looks towards Thomas just as he nearly drops the phone. His expression is hard to read. Polly, well, her face is just pale. "Everything will be ok."
Kate wraps an arm around their shoulders and hugs them. "Alright." She plants a kiss on their foreheads before smiling. "Alright." She clears her throat. "Go…get your coats on and find us 3 baskets." she clears her throat. "I need to talk to your father for a moment." The children ran outside and she turned towards him. "I'm sorry about that."
"It's all good Kate."
"I could see that it disturbed you." She steps towards him. "I didn't mean to-
"Kate, you're my wife." He states. "It's natural that they cling to you. You can't fight nature. What happens…happens."
"But still, it must be-
"Hey," he stepped towards her. "it's alright. It's good isn't it? After all, you're their mother now, right?" She nodded weakly. "So, go be one." He leans forward and kisses her firmly on the mouth. Kate wraps her arms around his waist, holding onto him for those few precious seconds. "And I, as your husband will be here making sure that you're safe. After I make a few calls, Arthur and I will be heading down to Birmingham to get a few people together."
"Ok, will you be back in time for dinner?"
He nods. "Most likely."
"Alright. I'll see you later then."
Kate laughs as she ducks behind a huge apple tree. "I see you!" Ruby shouts, Kate turns around, and smacks right into Ruby. "You're it!"
Kate laughs. "Alright. I'll count to fifty, alright?" Ruby nods and scampers away. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve-
Something grabbed a hold of Kate's hair and smashed her head against the tree trunk. Kate let out a grunt as she was spun around and gripped by the throat. She shook her head as the grip tightened. She grabbed a hold of the man's wrist, trying to free her throat.
"Stop wiggling." The man ordered, his breath smelled sour like stale ale, causing her to strain for fresh air. "Scream…and those children die." Kate froze on the spot as he pulled his revolver from his holster. "Do you understand?"
She nods. "Yes." She croaks against his hand. He loosens his grip on her throat just enough for her to draw a breath.
"Kate?" Ruby calls. "Are you alright?"
"Come with me." He orders.
"Wait a minute." She says frantically. "Those are Thomas Shelby's children." The man's face freezes. "Let me send them away. If anything happens to those kids, you know the Hell he will rain down on you and whoever it is you work for."
"Fine." he nods in agreement. "But no tricks."
She inhales and steps around the tree to see the two approaching her. The man digs the gun into her back "Charlie!" she calls, her voice as strong as she can muster. "Will you two please back hurry home? Tell your father I hurt myself." His eyes widened. "Tell him, it's the same injury I got in town four days ago." The man digs the gun harder into her back, causing her to let out a faint gasp. "Take the road and hurry!"
If she's planned it, right. Thomas and Arthur should just be leaving the estate and they'd bump into them. The children would be far away from this madman, but she wasn't sure how long she could hold this man off. Everything about this man screamed that not only was he dangerous, he was insane.
"Are you hurt badly?" Ruby asks, approaching her.
Kate shakes her head frantically. "No, it's not too bad Ruby." She holds her hand up, trying to signal for Ruby to stop. "Please, go get your father. Now!"
Ruby frowns. "But why can't I-
Then Ruby's eyes widen and she freezes in places. Kate instantly realizes that she's seen the gunman. Her heart pounds in her chest as Ruby lets out a scream before turning and running away. Charlie grabs Ruby's hand and pulls her towards the edge of the forest.
"Damn those f**king brats." The man lets out a few more curses as he pulls the gun from her back and aims it at Ruby's back!
"NO!" Without even thinking it through clearly, Kate reaches for the man's arm and yanks on his arm just as it just as the gun goes off.
