Tommy's Rose

Chapter 18: Races & Uncles

“So what am I doing again?” I asked John in confusion.

John lit his cigarette then looked at me. “You're stopping here and waiting for Tommy to get back from that meeting up there,” He explained as he pointed to the top of the building.

I pulled a face. “I can help take the bets!” I told him as I crossed my arms.

John sighed. “Tommy’s orders, you stay here and wait,” He explained. “You’re just a kid, the men won’t give you money. So stay put!”

And just like that John had walked off. I was dragged all the way to Cheltenham to see how the betting business worked out by the real races and now I was told to stay put and wait for Tommy to come back from a meeting with the man who was running the races.

My eyes wandered around the group of people who had gathered, many were businessmen, dressed in perfectly tailored suits and coats, women were dressed in stylish dresses, pearls and jewels around their necks, they linked arms with the men they had accompanied here.

I began to slowly walk away from my spot where John had left me to a small gathering. As I got closer I noticed it was a women dressed in black sat at a table with some cards in front of her; She was a fortune teller!

As people began to walk away and head to the race track I got closer. “You child,” The women stated as she played with her black hair. “Are gypsy, yes?”

I looked around then back to the women. “Erm, yes I suppose,” I said quietly.

“Half, it would seem,” She said with a smile then held out her hand. “Let me read your palm.”

Slowly I placed my hand palm up in hers. The women carefully examined my hand looking at the creases with care, I could hear her mumbling things to herself then she looked up at me, her brown eyes wide.

“You child are clever and it can get you into trouble but you are fearless yet you do not know that yet but a time will come when you will realise it,” She told me. “Your Mother sends her love, she is very proud.”

My heart raced. “My Mother?” I asked.

“PRIM?” I heard Arthur call.

I spun around and collided with Arthurs body. “I wasn’t doing anything!” I defended myself.

“Jessie leave her alone,” Arthur stated.

The fortune tell looked at Arthur blankly. “I was giving the girl hope in this cruel world,” She stated. “The girl needs to know what’s inside of her.”

Arthur stood in front of me. “Aye she’s a Shelby,” He told her. “Come on, Tommy told you never to talk to strangers.”

Arthur guided me away from the fortune teller who just smiled at me as she began to collect her cards.

“Why did you do that?” I asked in confusion. “She was just reading my palm.”

“Gypsy witchcraft is something you shouldn’t mess with,” Arthur stated. “It’s not real, she could make you believe anything so you could lose money or do something bad. Tommy hired her to make people place bets on certain horses.”

I looked at the ground. “Oh,” I said quietly.

There was me thinking my Mother was trying to send me a message… I guess I was wrong.

*HORSES NEIGHING*
*MEN SHOUTING*

Arthur looked in the direction of the noise then jogged towards it holding onto his hat as he ran. I frowned in confusion as I took off through the mud doing my best to keep up with his long strides; We raced down the side of the track and down to the stables where the race horses were kept, many men were stood by one stable trying to calm a jet black horse… Tommy’s horse, Dangerous!