"Damn kids." Kincaid's voice wafted through the partially open door. May heard another expletive and his heavy boots thudding on the wooden floor, back to her study, which wasn't far from the front door. A group of boys, had rung the doorbell and bolted, distracting Kincaid enough so that she could slip into the room, and get into position. Kincaid knew she'd contacted Shelby. May glanced out the window, seeing the boys scatter. One of them, Finn, turned and looked at her, the only signal he could give. May turned back to face the door, bracing herself.

The doorknob turned and swung forward. Kincaid stood in the doorway, thumbs in the loops of his belt. He looked at her and gave a great huffing sigh, shaking his head in disapproval. May stood behind her desk, her desk drawer partially open as she held the revolver she kept locked in her desk drawer, in the palm of her hand.

"What am I going to do with you, May?"

If he took one more step towards her she would shoot him.

I will. Her nerves were steady now, not quite steel, but steady. Hopefully steady would be enough.

Loud popping noises erupted at the front of the house. Kincaid didn't turn. He was watching her intently.

"Fire-crackers, Kincaid," one of the men bellowed.

"The little pranksters," Kincaid hollered, faking a laugh, but his eyes were cold. "Now then, what are we going to do with you, May? What do we do with people who break the rules?"

"They placed them all over the property, sir!"

Kincaid's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Never would've guessed putting sparklers around a great big house was fun for them," he muttered. "Alright, go clear them out!"

"Out by the stables too, the horse's… they're screeching like banshees!"

That worried May. The sounds and smoke would frighten them and the barn…

Focus.

"Deal with it!" Kincaid called.

"Lousy kids. Never had any, never want to."

You never will.

A different kind of popping noises erupted, followed by screams and something thudding down the steps.

"Mrs. Carleton, are you alright? More gunshots. Her staff had been preparing for weeks.

"The cavalry's arrived."

Her eyes traveled to Kincaid's hands in his belt-loops. She knew he was armed.

"Better make this quick then." He pulled the pistol out of his back-pocket in one swift movement. May, whose reaction time had never been slow, raised hers simultaneously without even blinking, both hands wrapped around the trigger, pointed straight at his head.

"Guess we're at an impass," Kincaid said, his voice flat and his eyes narrowed.

"Not quite."

Kincaid turned at the sound of Thomas's voice and May pulled the trigger. Kincaid's body staggered backwards, the top of his skull missing, as blood sprayed onto the walls. His body fell with a thud. May lowered the gun, slowly.

Tommy sidestepped the body and made his way straight towards her. May placed the gun on the desk.

"Are you alright. Did he hurt you?"

"No.. No I'm fine…"

Her ears were ringing from the blast. She looked out at the open doorway and saw blood. Blood was all over the floor along with what had once been the top of Kincaid's skull. May felt sick to her stomach and looked away.

"Come on," He pulled him close to her and led her out of the room.

"The sparklers were a diversion," he explained, holding her close as they walked down the hall.

"Ms. Carleton," voices chimed, rushing towards her.

"No one's injured," Tommy said, warding them off as he led her outside into the bright sunshine. They walked towards the training pens, away from the carnage. They stopped and May looked up. She saw smoke rising from the stables.

"The horses…"

"They're alright," Tommy said, turning her to face him.

"You alright?" He looked directly at her rubbing her shoulders, concern in his blue eyes. She nodded.

"I didn't think you were going to make it in time," she said, and it was the honest truth.

"We cut it a little close," Tommy said, looking guilty. The plan was a little last-minute, and improv, considering she had no idea what they were going to do to distract the men, but it had worked.

"Just a little," she replied. They stood there, looking at each other and she realized how happy she was to see him.

"Tommy… I…" she began, her voice shaking.

"Oy Tommy! Churchill's made a run for it!"

She saw Thomas' face change, saw the concern replaced with stone cold determination. She could almost see the gears turning in his brain.

"Alright now. May you need to listen to me, the boys and I, we've got one more job to do and this'll all be over. I'll leave some of the men for clean-up. Get your people together and I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'll be here," she said, wishing he didn't have to leave again, but realizing even in her shell-shocked state that he needed to leave and now wasn't the time to play helpless damsel in distress.

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her full on the mouth. It was too short, as he broke away, but it still left her breathless.

"That's why I love you," he said, kissing her once more on the top of her head before turning to call orders to his men across the lawn. " Aldridge! Roberts! Study! Now! Clean that mess up you hear? Help Mrs. Carleton and her people while we're gone!"

"Right sir!" They called dutifully back.

Tommy turned back to her again.

"I love you," she managed to say and it was relief to say the words, to finally show him that she wasn't upset anymore.

"I'll be back," he said before turning and walking swiftly to his car. Like a phalanx of birds following their leader, his men in coats and caps followed him. May watched them get into their cars and speed away.