Childhood Memory (Finn Shelby)

Part 14

The Epsom races were here. Elsie got dolled up in the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen and she was excited because Finn was finally allowed to go.

Finn was standing with his brothers and all the men involved in this operation, waiting for Arthur to get out of the prison. They all welcomed him back, "so, Arthur's back in charge now?" John said, looking slightly unhappy that he was back.

"He's in charge of you, and you're both in charge of him" Tommy said, pointing to Finn, "lookout duties only today" he informed his youngest brother.

"Tom, I'm getting sick of this" Finn said, he was almost pouting.

"Finn, you don't obey orders, you don't come. Besides, you also need to keep an eye on Elsie"

"Wouldn't want your girlfriend getting lost now, do we?" John teased, elbowing his brother who told him to "fuck off"

Elsie waited and saw a van pull up, Tommy was sat in the front and told her to hop in the back. She smiled and jumped in the back, tightly squeezed against Finn, who for some reason was extremely red. Elsie didn't realise that the men around her kept teasing Finn about her and making kissing noises or making rude gestures at him. Elsie was too busy looking out of the van with a smile on her face.

At one point they stopped and met up with other people, the Lees. Elsie was going to exit the vehicle but Finn stopped her, telling her it's best to stay where she was.

Elsie looked out of the van and saw all of the men standing around, looking at Tommy, all of the men had guns in their hands. Elsie tried to hear what he was saying but she couldn't. This wasn't just a day at the races, this was something bigger.

Elsie sat back down before any of them realised she was trying to spy on them when they all loaded back up.

~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~

Familiarity washed over Elsie as they stepped out of the Van, the busyness of the place reminded her of her father and when they'd go to the races together. Elsie wanted to see her horse beforehand, so Tommy invited her to join him as he was going to see his too.

"Roland" Elsie greeted, seeing her stablehand, she pulled the man into a hug. "I didn't think you were going to choose Hellion to race" she said, stroking the horse. "Is he well?"

"He's doing exceptionally well, don't think we'll be first place after looking at the other horses but he could get a third perhaps forth" Roland said.

"Who's jockeying for us?" Elsie questioned.

"Mr William Elks" Roland said.

"Oh, I know him, not personally but he's won a lot, how did you get him to jockey for me?"

"We've known each other for a long time, owed me a favour and here we are" Roland laughed, Elsie giggled too.

"Elsie, come on, we need to go" Tommy shouted and Elsie jumped.

"Good luck and tell that to Mr Elks too. I'll come and find you afterwards if I can" Elsie then scurried off, following Tommy.

"I need you to go find Finn for me, I'd like for you to stay with him, is that alright?" Tommy said.

"Okay" Elsie agreed, Tommy gave her directions as to where he should be, Elise made her way through the crowds in attempt to get to him.

She stopped briefly as the horses were in the collecting ring, she stroked Hellion as he walked past, smiling at Roland. She made her way towards Finn who was standing where Tommy said he'd be. He was with his brothers and the Lee boys.

"I have to stay with you" Elsie told Finn, "Tommy's orders."

"It's alright Elsie, you can stay with him" Arthur said.

"If I had my way, we'd be in the owner's enclosure with drinks" Elsie said.

"You can go there afterwards" John told her but it was obvious that he was focusing on something else.

The race was announced that it'd be starting shortly and the riders and horses will be coming out in order, Hellion was number 10. "Can I go closer?" Elsie questioned, looking at John and Arthur, as they seemed more authoritative.

"Just stay where we can see you" Arthur gave in with a sigh.

Elsie made a happy sound and pushed her way so she could see the track, everyone had to stand for the national anthem. It soon stopped with plenty of cheers. The announcer announced that the runners and riders were in position, and then, "they're off!"

The horses galloped quickly at the start, Elise cheered loudly for Hellion, many people staring at her as if she was crazy. Elsie didn't notice how tense the Shelby brothers were and the Lee boys, they all were waiting on Tommy to create a distraction.

Finn's eyes traveled to Elsie more times than not as he watched her smile and cheer, waving her arms around the place, multiple times almost hitting the people around her in the face.

Elsie heard commotion and saw police officers crowding to one spot, when she turned to look at Finn, but he was gone. "Finn? John? Arthur?" She looked about but couldn't see any of them.

Worry filled her chest, maybe they were doing what they were planning, the plan with their guns, the plan Elsie had no part of. Tommy told her to stay with Finn and now she'd been abandoned by everyone.

Elsie couldn't even get excited when it was announced that she had came third but she went to the rewards stand to collect her prize alongside Roland and William, she took a bit of the money so she could have a few drinks and split the rest between the two men.

Elsie went to the closet bar and brought a pint of cider. She sipped it and she saw the woman that was talking to Tommy on the auction day. "Hi, excuse me. My name is Elsie Winters, I'm friends with Thomas Shelby, I know you've met him before and I want to know if you know where he is" Elsie rushed out, the woman looked bewildered at the girl for a moment before answering.

"I'm actually looking for him myself, if I find him I'll tell him you're looking for him"

"I'll do the same, thank you...?" Elsie said, even though she did know what her name was.

"May Carleton"

"Great thanks" Elsie wondered off with her pint and to try and find someone she recognised.

She eventually came across the Shelby brothers, all bar Tommy. She looked over to them, made sure they saw her and turned her head away from them and looked towards the races. Elsie sipped on her drink when she felt a presence next to her.

"Elsie?" Finn said softly.

"What?" She snapped, looking at him with a hardened expression. "Tommy said I had to stay with you, and what did you do?" She asked rhetorically, "you fucked off and left me alone"

"I didn't mean to" Finn said and Elsie scoffed.

"Bullshit, you went off with your brothers doing god knows what! You weren't even there when Hellion came third place." Elsie pushed him away from her, as she angrily swept tears away from her eyes.

"Hellion came third, congrats" he said softly, but Elsie shook her head.

"No" she whispered, "you can't say that to me" she started backing away, "tell your brothers I'm not going back with them"

"Elsie no" Finn went after her but lost her in the crowds, "fuck" Finn shouted as he lost her.

Elsie ran to the stables and thankfully spotted Roland still there with Hellion. "Can I go back to Warwickshire with you?" She questioned tearily, he, of course, said yes.