Embers of the Brave // Peaky Blinders

Chapter 11

Soft Roses

           

The entire betting shop was raging as people swarmed in to place their bets for the big Opening Race at the Corby Track. It was only Ella, Polly, Ada, Lizzie, Esme a few Peaky Blinders who were keeping the peace. When Lizzie had left at lunch time, something about an emergency but it only put the group further behind; the crowd becoming restless and loud. Ella could barely calculate anymore, her mind swimming with the dizziness around her. And a dull thud had appeared at the back of her head.

"Where the fuck are the boys?" Polly shouted as she ran back to the cash box for what felt like the 100th time that day. When Tommy was gone it was usually Polly who stepped up to lead the group. Her sour mood taking its toll on the rest of the girls. Ella could barely hear her, deciding to keep her mouth shut anyway.

Ada looked up from her business with a coal miner mid-count, "I don't know Pol, but I'm ready to just walk away at this point."

It was as if they had heard the women's ramblings and curses because the doors suddenly flung open and the five of them strolled inside. Thomas in the lead, followed by Arthur and John with Michael casually talking to a bouncing Finn. A glimpse at the family's hierarchy and yet Ella knew Michael had more knowledge on where and what Tommy was doing than Arthur or even John. They walked with confidence across the room, demanding respect. Ella wished just the tiniest bit that one day she would be able to conjure that much. To have people willing to throw themselves at your feet. Secretly it's what everyone wishes for, power.

"SHOP'S CLOSED. GO HOME." Arthur just about screamed into a group of miners who had been loitering at Ella's table for the last ten minutes. She almost flinched at the loudness, the base of her skull pinching with pain. It took a few seconds before every-one scrambled to their feet and darted out of the front. Polly let out a loud sigh of relief, a reflection of how they all felt.

"Thank God you're finally here. Poor Ella and I have never done so much calculating before." Polly said as she rests on the edge of a bench.

Ella chirped up, "Never done so much running around either." Finn laughed lightly as he watched the exhaustion seep into the tough women.

Tommy turned to Ella, "Alright you go and get ready, Michael will be 'round to pick you up at 4." He demanded with a pointed finger towards her.

Ella couldn't help but notice the slight shake to it, he wasn't nervous though. She could tell that much from the excited glint in his piercing stare. Quickly she counted the discarded money on her desk, forming them into piles before she stood to take it to the safe. She was well aware of Michael's blazing gaze on her from across the room but she couldn't quite find the courage to look up at him. She was so focussed on her hands that she hadn't noticed Esme had creeped up to her. There was soft bickering between the group.

"I'll put it away for you, love. Thank you so much for helping us like you did." Ella was slightly startled with Esme's abrupt statement and this didn't go unnoticed by John who began howling in laughter.

"Oh Ella. Don't tell me you have the shakes already. We aren't even there yet!" He had managed to draw all the attention to the nervous girl who quickly handed the cash over to Esme. But it wasn't the act that they were going to do later but rather a certain boy.

"Oh hush John. Leave her alone. She did you all a big favour today." Polly rattled back with a fast wink towards Ella, who replied with a faint smile as she drew her coat around her.

She gave a light wave before heading out the door, leaving everyone a little baffled at her quiet departure. Michael clutched at the shoulder of a Blinder before lightly shoving him in the direction of the door. His instructions clear that he would follow her home to make sure she arrived safely.