#blinder

Landing gear malfunction leads to some tough sledding for this Blinder crew

He will blind you

To what is real

Hiding sin in all you desire

Rip the blinder off

Look to God

Don’t go blind

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11

That evening John had picked Franny up in the family car and taken her to the Garrison. The whole pub was singing. And it was strangely amusing. They sat down at the small front of the Garrison. Which was always reserved for the Shelby family. And they all drank beer.

The boys played cards while Franny talked to the new barmaid Grace. Grace had excused herself when she got a look from Thomas. And Franny her smile turned into a sly smirk. But look Thomas shut her off and she just lit a cigarette and sipped her beer. When Grace opened the door the singing was even louder. 'Jesus Christ Tommy, what the hell made you let them sing?' John asked chuckling and chewing on a small piece of wood. 'They sound like they're strangling cats out there.' Franny added laughing and leaning against John.

Thomas was laughing at them. 'All right 20 is the play. Come on.' Arthur said bringing the attention back to the game. 'And what made you change your mind, Tommy?' Arthur asked quite curious. Thomas was looking at Grace while she closed the door and the singing died down.' It's about time, Tommy.' John said with an even bigger grin.

'Time for what?' He asked. 'The time you took yourself a woman.' John said to him. 'Just play the bloody hands.' Tommy said while picking up his cards. And Franny and John exchanged a smirk. 'You stay the way you are, Tommy. Remember what Dad used to say.' Arthur said. 'Fast woman and slow horses will ruin your life.' Both Arthur and John almost sang. To which Franny looked confused and almost hurt.

When suddenly lights were approaching in front of the Garrison. 'Coppers.' John said. 'no.' Thomas said he exchanged a look with Franny. Who nodded and she jumped up and through the door. Which left John and Arthur confused. The doors went open and the singing went down. Franny was switching dresses with Grace. Leaving her in the more waitressy look then her own corset dress.

'Go home Grace. It's going to end nasty.' Franny said pulling her hair pin down making her hair fall on her shoulders. Grace didn't want to go. 'If you want to live and work here a bit longer you go home now.' Franny demanded. She pushed Grace almost out of the door and she walked back up to the bar of the Garrison. Where a few men with guns had walked in. All the sounds had died down.

'Holy shit it's Billy Kimber.' Harry the owner of the Garrison said. Franny stood next to him. 'We need to get everyone home.' Franny said softly. He looked down to the smaller Franny and was confused for a second but he knew Thomas played games sometimes. Billy Kimber entered the Garrison. He looked just as awful as Franny could remember. He was small and his mustache was not making him look any younger.

'Is there any man here named Shelby?' Kimber asked. No one answered. So Billy Kimber pulled his gun and shot up (thankfully) 'I said is there any man named Shelby?' he asked again. Everyone had ducked down from the sounds of gun. When the door of the side room opened. And Thomas walked out. Fastly followed by Arthur and John. 'Harry, get these men a drink. Everyone else go home!' Thomas demanded.

Everyone quickly went outside leaving just the men of Kimber, the Shelby men and Harry and Franny. They put a table in the middle making Kimber sit down on one side and the Shelby's on the other side. Franny came put with a bottle of whiskey and glasses and poured everyone some. 'Kimber sat down on one side and his advisor on the other side. When Franny reached them Thomas, John and Arthur saw Kimber look and before he could stretch out a hand John was already ready to throw a fit. But Thomas spoke up. 'Fran, that's enough thank you.'

'All right Mr. Shelby.' She politely said and she quickly left to the bar. 'I've never approved of women in pubs, but when they look like that...' Kimber spoke up. Thomas quickly changed the subject before everyone would be fighting. 'You said you wanted men called Shelby.' Thomas said while lighting a cigarette. 'You got three of them.'

'Well I'd never heard of ya, Then I did hear of ya. Some little Diddicoy razor gang. I thought to myself, 'So, What?'' Kimber started. 'But then you fuck me over. So now you have my undivided attention.' He said changing faces through John to Arthur to Thomas. 'By the way which one am I talking to? Who's the boss?' He said pointing to all three of them.

They were silent for a second and Arthur looked up towards him. 'Well I'm the oldest.' He just said. 'Clearly.' Kimber said with a laugh. 'Are you laughing at my brother?' John then fastly cut in. Fran looked up from the bar seeing John looking down from his hat. If looks could kill Kimber would have been dead a hundred times. Kimber was shifting in his seat before saying something. 'Right.' Kimber then said.

'He's the oldest.' He said pointing to Arthur. 'You're the thickest.' He said pointing to John. 'I'm told the boss is called Tommy and I'm guessing that's you, because you've been looking me up and down like I'm a fucking tart.' Kimber said looking now directly at Thomas. Who was sitting there looking at Kimber. Just holding his cigarette not losing eye contact. 'I want to know what you want.' Thomas then said.

Suddenly the man next to Kimber spoke up. 'There were suspicious betting patterns at Kempton Park. A horse called Monaghan Boy.' he said. 'He won by a length twice and then finished last, with three thousand pounds bet on him.' He concluded himself. 'Which one am I talking to.' Thomas then said looking at Kimber and then at the other man. 'Which one of you is the boss?' 'I am Mr. Kimber's adviser and accountant.' He explained. But Kimber is a hothead so he cut right back in. 'And I'm the fucking boss.' He said while standing up trying to intimidate Thomas. 'Okay, right, end of parley.

'You fixed a race without my permission.' He stopped raging for a second before calling them 'Fucking Gypsy scum.'

'What, live of the war pensions of these poor Garrison Lane widows!' 'That's your level. I am Billy Kimber, I run the races!' he said, Kimber was almost as red as a strawberry. 'And you fixed one of them so I'm going to have you shot against a post.' He said before turning around and wanting to walk out of the Garrison. But Thomas stood up.

'Mr. Kimber wait.' he wanted to walk after him. But Kimber's pit bulls directly raised their guns at him. Thomas then threw Kimber something. And Kimber catched it and looked at it. 'That is my name in it. It's from the Lee family. You are also at war with the Lees, Mr. Kimber, am I right?' He said looking at Kimber. Kimber was walking a few paces back to the table holding on to the thing in his hands. Which Franny later learned was a bullet engraved with Thomas his name.

'The Lees are attacking your bookies and taking your money. Your men can't control them. You need help. ' Thomas was repping up. 'Perhaps we should listen to what Mr. Shelby has to say.' The advisor spoke up. 'Before we make our decisions.' 'Right. The Lees are doing a lot of talking at the fairs. They have a lot of kin. They're saying the race tracks are easy meat, because the police are busy with strikes. Now, we have connections. We know how they operate.' Thomas explained.

'You have muscle. Together we can beat them. Divided, maybe not.' Thomas concluded his speech. Leaving Kimber with nothing to say waiting on his adviser to speak.' Mr. Kimber, perhaps we should take some time for reflection, possibly make arrangements for a second meeting.' The advisor said.

'I admire you, Mr. Kimber.' Thomas said they had not broken off eye contact. Which was impressive to Franny.  'You started with nothing, and built a legitimate business. It would be an honor to work with you, Mr. Kimber.' Thomas said. Kimber was looking down on Thomas. Then to his brothers before speaking.

'Nobody works with me. People work for me.' Kimber then took a coin out of his pocket and threw it onto the floor in front of Thomas. 'Pick it up Pikey' He just said. The three boys did not move. But then Thomas went through his knees to get the piece of money John stood up directly to protect Thomas. But Thomas threw his hand towards John.

'Sit down.' And John did. Thomas picked up the coin Kimber looked at him. 'That's for your ceiling.' he said before turning towards the door. 'Thank you, Mr. Kimber.' Thomas said. His advisor stood up and walked over to Thomas. 'We will be at Cheltenham.'

'As will I.' Thomas said the advisor nodded to Thomas before leaving the pub. The two pit bulls of bodyguards walked after them leaving the pub. Thomas walked after them closing the door. He walked back to the table. Where both John and Arthur still sat drinking down a glass of Whiskey. Franny walked over and took a glass herself.