Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

Compromise

            Henry and Jack ran to see their uncle in his car. They begged to sit in front of the wheel, grabbing each one of Arthur's pant legs.

"Right, right, in a minute. Need to talk to your mum and dad." Arthur managed to shake off his nephews and continued to approach Tommy and Kate.

"Morning, Arthur." Kate had been around the Shelbys long enough to know they had mastered the art of making an entrance.

"Ain't a good morning, m'fraid." He handed Tommy the day's paper. "Not for anyone."

Billions Lost in Wall Street Crash

Kate read the headline over her husband's shoulder. "Tom, you said this was going to happen."

Tommy's eyes were icy blue as he stared at the black ink. "I did." He spoke mechanically. "And if Michael did as I told him to, we don't need to worry."

"Fucking Michael." Arthur's jaw was taut as he paced a few steps in a circle too agitated to stand still.

Kate's stomach dropped. "Tommy told him to pull the company's money out."

"He held on," Arthur announced. "Said he was advised to hold on."

Tommy made a few jerking movements, turning to look at his brother and then past Kate to the empty countryside behind her. "He held on." He whispered, echoing the words as if to see if they were real or not.

"For fuck's sake." Kate covered her eyes with her hands, not watching as Tommy went into a rage.

"I told him...and he fucking held on. Am I not in charge, aye? Does my word mean fucking nothing? What do I have to do to get people to fucking listen to me?" He shouted.

Kate dropped her hand and saw her boys lingering by Arthur's car. They were watching their father with wide eyes. "Tom." She tried to calm him down. "Let's go for a ride." She coaxed knowing being on a horse would settle his nerves at least for a moment.

~~~~~~~~~

Kate kept stride on Blue beside Tommy's big black gelding. In her years married to him, she had become a better rider. It was the kind of thrill that she'd always loved. The freedom yet danger constantly inches away. Everything she ever did was worth the risk. There were many a time when she could have accepted her fate. Accepted a low-wage job in a factory, working her fingers to the bone only to die poor and ill. Accepted the destruction of her family and her life. Accepted the control Santo Leoni had over her.

But if she had, Kate would have never found her place beside Tommy. She would have never been blessed with her twins. The reward outweighed the risk. And it compelled her to keep on. Just as Tommy did. Neither of them knew when to quit.

A good ride's away, they came across a brook and dismounted to water the horses. Tommy knelt down beside the bank and splashed some of the cold water onto his face. No doubt trying to wake up from the nightmare they suddenly found themselves on that dreary Tuesday morning.

"We'll make it out of this," Kate said. "We have plenty of tricks up our sleeves."

Tommy remained on his knees, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's not that." He didn't care if the ground was muddying his trousers. The wild Traveler boy in him yearned for the simplicity of nature. It was much easier than the bloody Wall Street Markets.

"You're upset he didn't listen." His words before were very clear. He wasn't shouting about his money being lost, he was shouting about the insubordination. Kate crossed her arms over her chest. "We should've kept a tighter leash on him."