XXVII. Mr. Thomas Shelby.

Reluctantly Polly had agreed to send Michael with to buy the horse from the actuation, but only if Maude agreed to keep an eye on him. Wanting to help Polly and protect Michael, Maude agreed that she'd keep an eye on him, and make sure he'd be return home safely again.

When the truck stopped in front of their house in Watery Lane, Maude followed Tommy out, coat wrapped around her shoulders and purse in her hand. The men waited for them, standing around the truck as they waited on orders from Tommy.

Daniel leaned against the hood of the truck, smoking a cigarette. His gaze landed on his sister and he quirked an eyebrow ."So you're coming with us today, ey?" He asked her, knowing she wasn't fond of their idea to buy a horse, and would rather have stayed home.

Maude hummed as she nodded her head, wrapping her arms around herself. "Polly wants someone to keep an eye on you lot." She informed them as her eyes drifted over all the men who let out low grunts and groans.

"We don't need a bloody babysitter." John huffed with pouted lips as he chewed on a toothpick, eyebrows tightly furrowed.

"Polly thinks you do." She replied as her gaze landed on John, giving him a tight-lipped smile as he rolled his eyes in response, light banter that have grown accustomed between the two. "Besides, today I'm responsible for Michael." She said before her gaze drifted over them again. "So none of you better fuck up!" She warned as she waved her finger over them.

"Yes, boss," John replied as he gave her a mocking salute, and as she passed him, she knocked his peaked cap right off his head, making him grumble as a few of the other men chuckled at him.

While all the men got in the back of the truck, Maude got the honor of riding up front with Tommy. Their last stop was picking up Michael, and after receiving an ear full from Polly for honking the horn in a respectful neighborhood, they set off to the actuation.

After an hour on the road, smoke started coming out of the truck's engine. Tommy pulled out onto the side of the road and stopped before climbing out of the truck. He turned back to face Maude, holding out his hand to her. She slid across the seat, taking the hand Tommy offered her before carefully climbing out.

Tommy rounded the truck and Maude followed after him. "She's heating up, Curly. Take a look." Tommy ordered as he opened up the back of the truck, nodding his head at Curly as he pulled his cigarettes and matches from his coat pocket, handing them to Maude.

"Yeah," Curly replied as he vigorously nodded his head, getting up from his seat between Henry and Arthur and getting out of the truck to check the engine.

"Let me out for a piss." Charlie insisted as he climbed out of the truck and Maude pulled a face of disgust as she looked at him before glancing at the bushes that surrounded them.

She pulled out a cigarette for herself and lit it before handing both boxes back to Tommy who got himself a cigarette as well. Her attention turned to Michael who pulled a wrapped cloth out of his bag, putting it down beside him and unfolding sandwiches. "She made loads. Do you want one?" Michael asked when he noticed Maude's eyes on him.

"What the bloody hell's that?" Arthur asked with furrowed eyebrows as he nodded at the sandwiches.

"Sandwiches. Ham, I think. And we've got shrimp paste, too. There's tea, but we'll have to take turns 'cause there's only one cup." Michael informed them as Arthur and John shared an amused look with each other and Daniel grabbed the flask of tea, curiously inspecting it. "What?" Michael questioned the three men.

"Sandwiches?" Arthur repeated as a grin spread onto his lips and he looked over at his younger brother again.

"Yeah," Michael confirmed with a nod of his head as he continued to look between them in confusion.

"Polly made bloody sandwiches?" Arthur asked and a smile tugged at everyone's lips.

Such kindness and sweet acts weren't common for Polly. You could be nearly starving to death and she'd show you the kitchen to make your own bloody sandwich because Polly was no one's maid. But she was Michael's mother, so she made him sandwiches and tea like mothers do.

"What's this? Teddy bear's fucking picnic?" Charlie asked with raised eyebrows as he returned to the group, taking the flask of tea from Daniel and inspecting it with confusion, looking up at the youngest Felton who only chuckled in response.

Tommy cleared his throat as he looked between the men, a slight smile on his face as well. "All right. We will drink the tea and we will eat the sandwiches and then we will drive on. All right?" He insisted before walking off.

"No crumbs, Charlie." Daniel teased the older man, nearly getting swatted against the head as he chuckled. He grabbed one of the ham sandwiches, holding it out to Maude. "Here you go, sister." He said.

"Hand me another." She replied as threw her half-smoked cigarette to the ground before taking both sandwiches her brother offered her. She rounded the truck, finding Tommy leaning against the closed driver's side door, smoking his cigarette as he stared out into the woods surrounding them.

"I snagged you one before John and Daniel eat everything." She said with a soft smile as she offered him one.

Tommy returned a smile as he took the sandwich. Maude never allowed him to go hungry. She knew he had a tendency to sometimes forget to eat throughout the day, especially when he got busy, so she had gotten the tendency of making sure he ate at least something throughout the day. It was a sweet sentiment he loved about the girl. Only one of the many things he loved about her.

After they had their sandwiches and tea, they got back on the road. Their little stop had made them late for the auction, but just in time for the showing of the horse, Tommy had his eyes on. As they entered the building, everyone followed after Tommy, the men on high alert for their surroundings.

"All right, lads, this is a respectable event and we will all behave accordingly," Tommy warned them as he shot a pointed look over his shoulder.

Maude quirked an eyebrow, walking alongside Tommy. She glanced at him before looking over her shoulder at the rest. "Oh you boys know how to do that, do you?" She asked teasingly, grinning when they rolled their eyes at her, knowing they hadn't had the best track record of behaving respectfully.

"Fuck off." Daniel huffed at his sister as he lightly pushed her shoulder from behind, making her chuckle in response.

"No weapons, no drinking. John, we will stay together." Tommy continued, shooting his younger brother a pointed look as they made their way up a flight of stairs. "When the horse comes up, I will do the bidding. I've already registered my interest with the auctioneer. So he knows to expect my bids." He informed them as they arrived at the top of the stairs and he took a drag of his cigarette before leading them down a hallway.

"Do I get to run a hand over her, Tommy?" Curly asked as he looked at Tommy with furrowed eyebrows.

"We'll have a vet's report, Curly," Tommy replied as they entered the room of the bidding, people lined up all around a railing that showed the horses down below with the auctioneer. " But keep an eye open when she walks," Tommy ordered.

"I've got a feeling, Tommy," Curly muttered softly as he followed closely between Maude and Tommy, pushing in between them as he turned to Tommy. " Something isn't right."

"It's all right, Curly," Tommy assured as they came to a stop by the railing. " You're just in an unfamiliar place, we all are," He explained before taking another drag of his cigarette, glancing down at the horse being shown below.

"I get feelings sometimes, Tommy," Curly explained as he pressed a hand to his stomach.

"It's all right, Curly. It's all right." Tommy assured again as he nodded his head.

"Shut up, Curly." Arthur huffed at the man who went quiet, his eyes turning to the horses as his lips pouted out like a child's.

Maude grabbed onto the railing, leaning a little forward as she looked around at the horses who stood below in the pit, and Tommy watched her for a second. He remembered a long time ago he had told her he wanted to buy a house for his horses one day. He still wanted that, but now his dreams had changed. He wanted to buy a house, for himself and Maude, where their horses could live as well. He knew she loved the beautiful beasts as much as he did, and he'd give anything to buy her, her own horse one day.

The group watched on as people bid on the current horse and the beautiful beast was sold rather quickly. Then the next horse was brought to the middle of the pit. Maude's eyes lid up at the beautiful creature, her body greyish and her long main and tail hair white.

"Morals of Marcus, Sedgemere stud, by Tetrarch out of Lady Josephine. We'll start the bidding at 800 guineas." The auctioneer called out as the horse was led around in a circle, shown to the people who stood above.

"All right, Tommy, this is her," Charlie spoke up softly as he leaned into Tommy's side.

"Do I hear 800 guineas?" The auctioneer called out, quickly glancing around before his gaze landed on Tommy, who slightly nodded his head. "850? 850. Do I hear nine? Do I hear nine?" The man asked, his gaze sweeping around again before landing on Tommy who nodded again.

The two went back and forth for a while until someone else began bidding against Tommy. His attention was immediately drawn to the older man and younger woman on the other side of the railing, and so was Maude's

She caught the woman staring right at Tommy as she urged the man next to her to continue bidding as the price grew higher and higher. A feeling she wasn't all too used to settled in the pit of her stomach; jealousy. It wasn't strong, but it was there and grew more the longer the woman's gaze remained on Tommy.

Maude's hand tightened around the railing, her jaw clenching as her stare turned into a glare. She wasn't all that fond of this newfound attention on Tommy. Back in Birmingham, everyone knew to stay clear of both Tommy and Maude. They knew Maude belonged to him. And they knew Tommy belonged to her. But they weren't in Birmingham now, and this woman was quite unaware.

"Do I hear seven? 1,700." the auctioneer called out and again Tommy nodded, already stretching the budget Polly had allowed them to buy the horse.

"That's it, Tom, you have to stop." Charlie insisted s he leaned into Tommy's side again.

"You don't have it in your belt," Arthur said in a low voice as he glanced over at his brother.

"Yes, I do," Tommy argued with them as his gaze turned to the man and woman bidding against them, and Maude's jaw clenched again when she saw the woman's gaze on Tommy once again. " I'm having the horse." He demanded.

"She's a sweet beast, Tom." Curly agreed with a nod of his head as he leaned into the group, eyebrows still deeply furrowed. "But, stop, I tell you." He begged. "I feel something bad!" He said desperately before being shunned again, this time by Charlie, and he went back to sulking in silence.

"Polly's going to fucking kill you," Maude muttered softly as she inhaled sharply, her gaze darting down to the horse in the bit. She was silent for a split second as she tilted her head to the side. "And then me." She added softly as she pursed her lips.

"Do I hear 2,050? Do I hear 2,050?" the auctioneer called out and Tommy lifted his hand when the man's gaze caught him. "Last time.2,050?" The man called out, but no one else bid against Tommy so the auctioneer slammed down his gavel. "Sold! To Mr..." he called out as his gaze settled on Tommy.

"Thomas Shelby," Tommy called out as he stood straight, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets.

"Polly's going to kill you, Thomas," Maude muttered as she stared down at the horse in the pit, slowly shaking her head as a sigh slipped from her lips. "Fucking hell." She whispered as she ran her hand across her forehead, glancing at Tommy who eyed her with pursed lips.

"Tommy...I have a bad feeling." Curly called out as he pushed himself between Maude and Tommy, nervously picking at his fingernails.

"It's alright, Curly," Maude assured as she carefully reached out and placed a gentle hand on Curly's shoulder, offering him a sweet smile when he turned to face her.

"Something feels wrong, Maude." Curly insisted, eyebrows deeply furrowing as he continued to pick at his nails, ripping into his cuticles.

"Everything will be alright, Curly." She assured as she wrapped one arm around his shoulders, turning him away from the pit and diverting his attention away from the horse. "Don't worry." She said as she shook her head. "Let's have a walk, you and me, ey?" She said as she quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, that will be nice." He replied as he vigorously nodded his head, offering her a beaming grin as his attention on the horse was already lost. "Very nice." He repeated as she lead him away from the actuation room, the rest of the men quietly following behind them.

Maude walked Curly to the room where Tommy needed to finish the transaction on his new horse, the men continuing to quietly follow after them. She talked to Curly about anything except horses and by the time they reached the office they needed to be at, Curly had forgotten all his concerns.

As Tommy went into the office, the rest waited outside for them. The men were huddled together, discussing a few things among themselves. Maude was stood a little further from them, leaning against a wall with her arms crossed over her chest. She was staring at the door of the office Tommy was inside, but her gaze diverted when a woman stepped into the hall.

Maude recognized the woman from the bidding, she was with the man bidding against Tommy. She was the one who stared at Tommy the whole time. And as she stood on the other end of the hallway, staring at the office Maude had been watching, Maude already knew what she was doing there, and who she was waiting for.

Henry noticed his sister looked upset, her eyebrows deeply furrowed as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. "What is it, sister?" He asked as he approached her, raising his eyebrows.

Maude was silent for a second as she continued to stare at the dark-haired woman. "That woman." She muttered, her gaze never once diverting towards Henry.

He followed his sister's line of sight, eyebrows furrowing before he looked back at her again. "What of her?" He asked as he quirked an eyebrow, his gaze returning to the other woman, wondering how she couldn't possibly feel Maude's heated glare on her.

"She was watching Tommy, back there at the bidding." She informed her brother and his gaze returned to her again, eyeing her with a knowing look in his eyes. "What is she waiting for?" She asked with a soft huff as her head tilted to the side.

"Perhaps for Tommy," Henry muttered as he quirked an eyebrow at his sister, crossing his arms over his chest as he poked his tongue against the inside of his cheek, trying to hide his teasingly smile as he stared down at her, watching her grow angry.

"She better fucking not." Maude spat, her eyebrows furrowing deeper as a frown tugged at her lips, a muscle in her jaw growing tense, her gaze never leaving the woman.

Henry chuckled softly as he shook his head at his sister. "Oh, you have nothing to be jealous about." He assured as he reached out to pat her shoulder. "Tommy's madly fucking in love with you." He insisted as his gaze returned to the woman who had yet to notice them. "She doesn't stand a chance." He said with a shake of his head.

Daniel approached the two, noticing his brother was staring at the woman across the hall. "Brother I hope you're not looking at other women." He said as he reached out and patted Henry on the chest. "Lizzie will cut off your balls." He warned as he raised his eyebrows.

"I'm not bloody checking out anyone." Henry huffed as he shook his head, shrugging his brother's hands off. "Our sister here is a little jealous." He informed Daniel with a lopsided grin as he glanced over at Maude.

Maude glanced up at the ceiling as she shook her head, listening to her brothers' snicker beside her. "I am not jealous." She huffed as her gaze returned to the woman again.

"We reckon she's waiting for Tommy," Henry informed his brother as he nodded his head in the direction of the woman.

"I don't reckon anything," Maude muttered as she shook her head, sending Henry a side-eyed glance filled with irritation, and he grinned in response, knowing he was getting under his sister's skin.

"You just said she was eyeing your man back at the bidding." Henry reminded her as he pointed in the direction of the bidding room, quirking a knowing eyebrow at her.

"Right, like Tommy has eyes for anyone who isn't named Maude Felton." Daniel scoffed with a shake of his head before throwing one arm over Maude's shoulder, tugging her into his side. "If she does flirt with him, just beat her ups outside." He suggested as he tilted his head back to look at her with raised eyebrows.

Maude squinted her eyes at him before shaking her head and shrugging his arm off her shoulders. "Daniel shut up." She huffed softly.

"I think you could easily take her." He informed his sister as he patted her on the back before looking down at her heels. "Your heels are sharp, I reckon they'll do the thing." He insisted with a hum as he nodded his head before he and Henry shared a laugh.

"Oh for fucks sake." Maude huffed as she turned around and pushed past her amused brothers, returning to stand with the rest of the men as they waited for Tommy to finish. But not even in the presence of the rest, did Daniel or Henry stop teasing her for being jealous, and soon everyone's attention was on the woman at the other end of the hall, all of them betting if she was waiting for Tommy.