Firecracker- John Shelby

-four-

I woke up hungover. Now I can handle my liquor just as well as any of the Shelby boys, but there wasn't a doubt in my mind that any of them where feeling any better than me right now.
I had been awake an hour when I heard a car horn outside my house. I peaked through to curtains to see Tommy, Arthur, John and little Finn beaming at me. I opened the window and stuck my head out.
"What do you want?" I asked
"Go and put the some clothes on we're going on a road trip" Tommy shouted at me
I looked down and realised I was still in my nightdress.
"Arthur do me a favour, smack John in the mouth"I shouted
Johns jaw was on the floor and he was staring intently.I saw him turn to Arthur and give him a"don't you fucking dare" look
It only took me about 10 minutes to get ready and I ran out to the car.
"Where are we going?"I asked
"The fair"Tommy answered starting the engine
I looked over at John and Arthur questioningly they both shrugged.
About an hour in we pulled up to a field with horses and men.
"I thought you said we where going to the fair" I said cautiously.
"We have business first. Come on, bring your wits" he said hopping out the car.
"Business with the lees?" I asked
"Tommy!" I heard Johnny dogs shout
"Johnny dogs" Tommy shouted back
"Tommy how the hell are ya" he asked
"All the better for getting the city smoke out of my lungs"Tommy answered
"I thought you became a bit to grand for us" he said
"I've been busy" Tommy answered
"I'm riding with the lee family now" he said
"I heard" Tommy said with a hint of bitterness
"Myself I'd rather live amongst pigs"I chimed in as Johnny dogs turned to me for the first time.
"Shirley! Long time no see" he said only just noticing me
"What the bloody hell are they staring at" I said dismissing Johnny and staring at the lee boys.
"Probably haven't been this close to a woman in years" Tommy said
"Come on, Tommy. No disputing" Johnny said warily
"So, this your first fair since France?" Johnny asked
"What do you know about France, you war shy gypsie bastard"Tommy said passive aggressively
"So this is the horse?"tommy said
"And that's the car"Johnny said
I looked between them confused
Tommy walked forward to take a proper look at the horse.
"Hang on a minute. Your not swapping the family car for a bloody horse" Arthur said
"Of course we're not swapping it. That would be mad" Johnny dogs said
"We're gonna play two up" Tommy said
They both flipped a coin the stared at them for a while before Tommy handed Johnny the keys to the car.
"I knew it.I knew it. Tommy you bloody idiot" Arthur reprimanded
My eyes wondered over to the lee boys.
"Shut up Arthur, I won. I promised Johnny I'd let him have a spin of the car if he lost" Tommy said patting Johnny on the back.
"Oh right" Arthur said
"What's so funny" I shouted at the lee boys
Tommy looked over and noticed.
"Are you lee boys laughing at my brother?" Tommy asked walking up to them.
"Are you? Eh!"He asked again
"Tommy! Tommy!" Johnny started
"I asked you a question" Tommy ignored him
"Come on!" Johnny shouted at him
"Tommy come on, it's just a crack" Johnny pleaded
"Get your family out of here and go and enjoy yourselves at the fair before they start a war"he said
"Go on. Go. They're from good people. Their grandad was a king" Johnny said in romani to the lees
"Yeah, but his mother was a diddicoy whore" one lee boy said
I looked between Tommy and the lee boy. Tommy was dangerously quite and still. as soon as he started to pull his cap off, I knew his first swing would be to kill. I held his arm back before he could act and threw the first punch. Despite my attempt, Tommy sliced him across the face before he could hit the floor, luckily, it wasn't his throat.
I watched as Arthur and John both pulled of their caps, me being the only one with a cap, I turned around and held another lee who was coming at Tommy from behind, while Tommy spun around hit him hard in the face. I then ran at another lee boy who was trying to get up and kicked him in the face, knocking him out.
John had his blade in a lees mouth and Arthur was repeatedly punching another. While the lee who Arthur was fighting tried to sit up he gave him another kick to the face. I took a step back and watched everything happen as there was nothing for me to do. I ran to Finn who was still in the car. He was covering his eyes but peaking every few seconds.
"Finn it's ok"I said
"They're bloody trouble them lees are" Finn said
"Too right they are" I said ruffling his hair
They all came running back to the car and I jumped into the front seat and started the car. As soon as they where all in I drove off as fast as I could.
I let out a breath then started laughing.
"That's not fucking funny Shirley" Tommy yelled
"It too right was fucking funny" arthur said, out of breath, laughing with me.
"You would of killed him Tommy!" I said
"Now it's an ego thing Shirley. The lees will want war because the peaky girl started a brawl with them. If you hadn't initiated the fight it would of been different!" He said
"So they'll want war because I'm a girl?"I asked
"Yes!"he said as if it was obvious
"Think about it, this can be fixed. If you killed that lee boy, they'd be out for blood. Give them a horse or something, or better yet, go to war! You out gun and out number them easily"I said
"I don't want war" he said sternly
"Then don't have one" I said