What About Us | John Shelby

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

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-CHAPTER TWENTY THREE-

-PEAKY BLINDERS-

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November 1913, Cheltenham, UK

"Fuckin hell ... look at the size of this place" Tessa said, her eyes scanning around the race tracks. Tommy had decided there was a need for a change of scenery for all of the family. They had all headed down to Cheltenham from Birmingham for the races today. 

Tommy brought Greta, John and Tessa went, Arthur brought another new girl with him, Will brought his Anna, Edward wanted to go but not alone so Tessa got Ada to go with him as she and Freddie had not talked since that morning in her bedroom and Curly had tagged along with the family. Charlie wanted him out of the yard for a couple of hours, so the races were a great place for him to go, and see all the horses. 

"My bloody legs are aching from that long drive down here" Ada complained about the drive down, it was only an hour and a half down. It could have been worse "Well we must thank Johnny Dogs again for the using the family car, and the other two from men he knows" Tommy said stuffing his hands into his pockets. 

The family made there way further into the race tracks, the place was crowed with many men and women betting on different horses they thought would win, people drinking and dancing around the place. It was a very lively atmosphere. 

Tessa linked her arm into Curly's the two talking about the different horses Curly was excited to see at the races today. He went on about wanting to see Thoroughbred, Pinto, American Quarter Horse and many other's he was naming out to Tessa. She was happy to see Curly so interested in there conversation and having so much passion when it came to horses. 

"Tess" John shouted out to the girl, she looked behind her to see him making big strides towards her. She left go of Curly's arm and stopped walking waiting for John to catch up to her. 

He grabbed hold of her shoulder, and make her turn around. The two kept walking behind the rest of the family, deep in a conversation. John looked like he was in a hurry or rush to be somewhere important. 

"Do you have a gun on you?" Tessa gasped looking up to her right at his face. He grabbed hold of her shoulder again, trying to get her to keep up with the rest "Keep walking Tess ... so do you" 

"Course I bloody don't" Tessa looked to him again, she could see him reaching his hand into the back of his pants, pulling out of course a fucking gun. "JESUS ... JOHN, don't fuckin take it out in the open" she said grabbing hold of the gun and hiding it in her jacket. 

"Hide it somewhere on you ... just in case" John said looking at his surroundings. Tessa sighed out loudly, she lifted her dress up slightly and stuck the gun in her undergarments. She flattened back out her dress and dusting it down. 

"What the fuck, are ye planning today? You know this was meant to be a fun and relaxing day out, but instead ye go ahead and decide to ruin it for everyone else" 

"Don't be getting all moody on me now Tessa ... look Tommy wants us boys to sort out a deal with a couple of men here. No blood will be shed here today, so don't you be worrying about that" 

Tessa tutted, as if there was going to be no blood shed today. She can tell when her husband is lying, Tessa can see right through his eyes when he lies. 

"Whatever ... I wanted to tell you something important, but I guess it can wait till later" 

Tommy, Arthur, John, Will and Edward had left the women and Curly to there selves for a while as they had "Business" with some men to sort out. None of them were stupid when it came to stuff like this. They had known the Shelby's for years now, and knew what they meant by "Business" so as usual the women left them to go do there dirty work. 

"Ada go with Curly to see the horses, please" Ada and Curly made there way down closer to the tracks to be near the horses. Tessa, Anna, Greta and Arthur's women stood around by the entrance of the betting area. It was the most safe area to be, and you could see the whole track from up there. 

"Those bastards ... there all gone to do some dirty work" Anna gave out about the men. Tessa gritted her teeth "Course they are ... we were all just an excuse, for us to hold there little fuckin hand after the job is done" the women were pissed of by there significant other, expect Arthur's women she had know idea what was going on. 

"Sorry love ... you must have no idea what's going on here" Greta said pitying Arthur's women. 

Tessa grabbed Anna's cigarette from her hand taking a smoke from it, Greta quickly changed the conversation as the mood had changed dramatically. She wanted to liven up the mood, as the girls came here to have a good time. 

"Tess ... I thought Johnny Dogs would have loved to have been here" 

"I thought he was going to come actually, he said he would look after Katie for me instead which I'm not complaining about" the girl said laughing "But lately I have found him driving in and out of the countryside most days. I think he is up to something ... but It's none of my business" 

Greta nodded listening to her friend speak about her father, the great Johnny Dog's. He was a very popular man around the streets of Small Heath for his humor and banter, something which brought a light to a dark and gloomy street. 

"While Ada is not here, what's up with her and Freddie. She hasn't spoke to me about him in a while and normally she loves to talk about him" Anna questioned the girls. Tessa was also waiting for the right time and moment to tell the two girls about her and Freddie. She just never could with Ada always there. 

"I told ye about how I walked in on them that morning like two months ago ... Ada tells me that they haven't spoken since that morning ... poor girl" Tessa explained to them. 

"You think this is the end for them ... I mean it was going to happen eventually, having to sneak around all the time in fear of someone seeing them together. Of course they were going to have a big blow out over the whole thing" 

Tessa and Greta nodded there heads, agreeing with everything Anna was saying. Arthur's women just stood between them not saying a word, she looked quiet nervous really being around these women. 

-CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE-

-PEAKY BLINDERS-