Cruel To Be Kind - Peaky Blinders Fanfiction

Part 41 - Lovely To Meet You

There was a green vardo outside the farmhouse when I followed Finn outside this morning. He was exclaiming something about horses and houses on wheels. I understood what he meant when I saw the vardo and Declan and Grandpappy attaching it to Pepper and Buster.

"Thought it would add to our story," Declan said, gesturing to the vardo. If they were gonna be travellers, why not make it real?

"Is everyone going to fit in there?" I asked, walking round to the back of the vardo and peeking inside. There were two beds at the back, a double bed at the bottom and a single raised above it. On the right side was a sofa that could be rearranged to be a bed. If it needed to be used overnight, there would be enough beds for John's boys, Violet and Mrs Murphy.

"Aye, it'll be a fit but I reckon we'd be fine to the boat," Declan said, running his hand over his face as Mrs Murphy came over with John's boys, all of them ready to leave.

"You're going soon?" I knew I said they'd be leaving in the morning, but I hadn't realised how earlier they were going to leave.

"We got everything sorted, Just waiting for ya now," Eamon replied, helping Jacob into the vardo. Violet gave a small smile as she helped Mrs Murphy with two baskets, no doubt full of food.

"No point in 'anging around, Ellie," Grandpappy said, patting Pepper on the back as he came over, his eyes following John's boys as they climbed into the vardo.

"I know, just surprised that you're all ready to go," I mumbled, growing when Declan went to climb at the front. "Umm, no. You and Eamon are in the back with the others." Declan looked ready to argue, but I wasn't having him blowing the whole plan for a bit of dignity. "Look, I came here, risking everything, to save you, so you best listen to me, Declan. You go in the back."

"Aye, you better listen to her, boy," Grandpappy said, clapping him on the back and pushing him over to Eamon as he stood leaning on the stairs. "I'll 'ave Edward out front with me."

"I don't agree with this," Declan muttered as he made his way to Eamon.

I stopped him with a hand to his arm. How could he be acting like a dick? Did he not understand that this was his fault? That we were here because he couldn't keep it in his pants?

"Look, I don't think you understand things, Declan. If you go against me, you will regret asking me here. I'm not that little girl you used to know. If you get my family hurt, I won't hesitate in hurting you. I promise you now, Declan, if you go against us, Tommy will deal with you and I won't have any sympathy."

Declan's eyes were running over my face as if he was trying to see the truth in my words. I wasn't lying to him. If any harm came to those boys, I would stand beside Tommy when he dealt with Declan. I wouldn't put them at risk because someone thought I was naive.

"You listen to Grandpappy, or you'll hate Birmingham and wish you never thought about leaving here."

Finn didn't seem to mind that he was left here with the rest of us. I guess he thought in some way that he was needed here.

I could have sent him with the other's this morning, but I had made a promise to him once about never forgetting him and I wanted to spend some time with him.

Over the last couple of weeks, I hadn't really had much time with Finn and I was meant to be training him with the horses. I didn't want to go back on any word I had promised to him and I wanted him to feel like he had a purpose helping Tommy that didn't lead to violence.

Finn being to help out with the horses was a good way to show that he could help that didn't result in him following someone around or stealing.

"You're doing good," I told him as he led Summer around the small pen, happy that she was following him without him tugging on the rope. The large smile on his face was worth wasting some time while James, Grenn, and Hugo finished up closing down the farm.