It had been a couple of days since the raid, Maddie had kept mostly to herself working at the garrisons or she'll be with her daughters at the stables where they fused over their pony. Maddie had the morning off work and since her daughters were at school she was looking through their old things packing up their old stuff to take down to the orphanage. She held a box in her hands walking down the street passing the garrisons when Grace threw away the remaining of dirty water and beer from the pub.
Maddie jumped back just in time before she got hit with the dirty water and beer, "Hey, watch where your throwing that" Grace eyes widened as she glanced at the blonde girl muttering an small apology but her eyes were on Tommy Shelby walking down the street with a white horse whispering to it, trying to calm the horse down from what looked like a scare it had. Maddie frowned with a confused look on her face looking over her shoulder following Grace gaze.
She scoffed in disbelief as Grace threw another bucket out only to nearly throw it at Tommy causing her eyes to widened in surprise but Maddie had a suspicious look on her face as she gazed at Grace as it was clear she had secrets and was up to something ever since she's arrived here she's tried to get close to Tommy but nothing ever worked seeing he was paranoid and only ever trusts his family. He stopped looking up between the two girls but his gaze lingered on Maddie as there was something about her that drew him in he knew he should stay far away from her but he just couldn't.
"I'm so sorry Mr Shelby" Grace apologised with a slight flush on her cheeks only for Maddie to roll her eyes at the girl before turning her attention to the white horse, "what's his name?" Tommy stayed silent for a moment staring at the younger blonde before he answered, " he doesn't have a name" Maddie shook her head in disbelief and replied, " how disappointing. Poor boy deserves a name" Tommy smiled in amusement at Maddie before it disappeared before anyone would see it, "Do you have something to say to me?"
"Actually, yes I do" Maddie told him handing him the box to hold as she stroked the side of the horses face who leaned into her touch, "the other night you came into the pub when Grace and I were singing. You said singing wasn't allowed. I'd like there be one night a week when there is singing." Tommy sighed in annoyance causing Maddie to send him a look silently telling him she wasn't going to back down but before she could say anything Grace added in, " I think it would be good for everyone. Saturday nights. Harry was too afraid to ask you, so..."
Maddie grabbed the box back from Tommy as she was about to walk away but he stopped her as he called out, " but neither of you aren't?" Maddie scoffed in disbelief narrowing her eyes at him and resorted, "what is there to be afraid of I don't even know you" Tommy shook his head in amusement looking away from the blonde girl, "you sound like one of those rich girls who comes over from Dublin for the races. Do you like horses? How'd you fancy earning some extra money?"
"Doing what?" Maddie asked with a curious look on her face watching as Tommy climbed up onto his horse making him let out a sigh looking down at the younger blonde making Grace clench her jaw in frustration as she watched the two of them, "dig out a nice dress. I want to take you to the races" Maddie eyes widened in surprise as she watched him ride off down the street on his horse, " who the hell is he to tell me what to do" Maddie muttered before she started walking down the street making her way to the orphanage to drop off the box of old things she had of Peyton's and Elizabeth old clothes and toys that they had.
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Maddie was leaning against the fence watching Peyton and Elizabeth play with their horse running around the field that was until she felt someone stand next to her turning her head to see an older women that she saw the other day when she went looking for John Shelby to scold him for leaving out his matches, " you're a new face, you must be the infamous Bartender my boys have been talking about" Maddie nodded her head as she looked at the women recognising her, " I'm Maddy. You must be Polly Gray, my sister told me about you"
"You don't really look like a girl who likes horses" Polly stated making Maddie chuckle with a shake of her head, " when my family lived in Ireland we had our own stable. My mother loved horses and when my girls saw your horses they wouldn't stop talking about wanting their own" Polly smiled softy watching the two little girls running around laughing with their horse racing after them, " John was right about you... you have pure intentions. My nephews can't stop talking about you and well you are extremely beautiful I can see where your daughters get it from"
"Thanks I guess" Maddie trailed off with a look of confusion on her face as Polly stayed silent looking over at the blonde women before she spoke up, "Nobody knows why you're here. All we know is that you've moved here from Ireland. The pretty little Irish girl working working at the garrisons attracting attention especially from my boys. But you know what's so suspicious an Irish inspector comes to town not long after you arrived"
" Ah, you're talking about inspector Campbell. He trashed my house the other day and terrified my daughters" Maddie shook her head with a look of anger on her face at the thought of the inspector, "I'm not here for the reasons you think I am. The only family that I have left lives here and after I had gotten a divorce I wanted a fresh start... especially for Peyton and Elizabeth everything I do is for them" Polly shook her head in disbelief sending the woman a look, " you could of gone anywhere in the word and you chose a place like this? You're too pretty to settle down here"
"My sister and I have a complicated relationship but we are always there for one another and when she found out what happened with Ryan she told me I had to come to Birmingham or she'll practically disown me" Maddie shrugged her shoulders causing Polly to let out a chuckle at the thought of Emily before she decided to change the subject, " I heard our Tommy is taking you to the races" Maddie let out a sigh running her h fingers through her hair and replied," yeah, well he didn't exactly give me a choice just said he's taking me to the races and then rode away on his horse"
"Just be careful. I like you Madison your not like other rich girls who look at others like scum on their shoes. It was nice meeting you" Polly said with a small smile on her face as she stood up and left the blonde alone making her furrow her brows in confusion watching the older women walk away as she didn't exactly plan to go to the races with Tommy as Emily had asked her to go with her something about meeting a friend of hers.
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Maddie was at the garrisons that night alone cleaning some glasses before she headed home when suddenly their was a bang on the door making the blonde put the glass on the counter before slowly making her way towards the door. She unlocked the door only to come face to face with Tommy making her sigh as he walked past her making her give him a look and say, " we're closed Mr Shelby"
" just get me a drink" Tommy ordered taking his hat off as Maddie nodded her head and made her way behind the bar to grab a bottle of whiskey and a glass, "shall I leave you alone?" Maddie asked raising her eyebrows at him as Tommy shook his head sitting at a table and replied, " I came here for company. Where's Harry and the other barmaid" Maddie smiled slightly as while it seemed Grace had a thing for him he didn't seem interested in her, "They took the night off. Harry went to the pictures and Grace took the day shift so I'm on the night shift"
Maddie sat down opposite from him watching as he downed his drink before she spoke up and curiously asked, "how's your beautiful horse?" Tommy downed another drink before leaning back in his chair signing before looking into Maddie's blue eyes and muttered, " I just put a bullet in his head" Maddie looked taken back at his comment as her eyes widened before she asked, " was he lame?" Tommy leaned back in his chair looking at Maddie before he stated, " he looked at me the wrong way. It's not a good idea to look at Tommy Shelby the wrong way"
"What a waste" Maddie shook her head letting out a sigh making Tommy nod his head in agreement and added in, " yeah. A waste is what it is" Tommy downed another drink before he scoffed and said, " you know, in France ... in France i got used to seeing men die. Never got used to seeing horses die. They die badly." Maddie hummed in response before she cleared her throat changing the subject," i dug out a dress like you asked. It's Cheltenham you're taking about. Cheltenham a grand affair, is it not?"
"The king will be there" Tommy informed making Maddie eyes widened in surprise and curiously asked, "King George?" Tommy shook his head his lips turning up in slight amusement, "No. King Billy Kimber. And all his men" Maddie hummed tilted her head to the side and questioned, "and what must I do?" Tommy stared into her blue eyes before he informed, "For two pounds, you'll do what I ask you to do"
" I want three and I decide not to go to the races you can take Grace instead she's never been apparently" Maddie smirked making Tommy raise his eyebrows at the girl, " Oh, come on. Don't tell me you haven't noticed she likes you and you let us sing. It's part of the deal now, too" Tommy lips turned up smiling at the blonde as he tilted his head to the side, "Since when?" Maddie shrugged her shoulders casually and told him, "since you nearly smiled. Saturday nights. Open and easy. Everyone gets to sing their song"
"What do you sing?" Tommy asked making Maddie shake her head and muttered, " anything you want" Tommy slammed his hand on the table and told her, " Right, get up on the chair" Maddie smiled softly as she stood up pulling out a chair stepping onto it before turning around to face Tommy clapping her hands together, "happy or sad?" Tommy stayed silent for a moment with a thoughtful look on his face and answered, "Sad"
"okay. But I warn you, I'll break your heart" Maddie teased him with a grin on her lips only for him to shake his head and told him, "Already broken" Maddie sighed before she started singing her eyes never leaving his as he was memorised by her beauty and her voice. By just looking at her he thought that she was an angel too pure for someone like him which is probably why he liked her so much as she didn't pretend to be someone she's not or has any ulterior motive she was kind, loyal caring and would do anything for those she cares about.
"I have this paralyzing fear that I'll maybe go nowhere but God forbid me ever admitting I could be scared and I can't stand my friends right now, we got nothing in common but being lonely worse than just having friends that don't care. You said it looks like I've been going through hell. How did you know? How could you tell?"
"Ask me to explain myself, well, I'm trying my best here to be brutally honest. Nobody said changing would be this exhausting a foot on the break 'cause it's been making me carsick How could you blame me? Growing up is chaotic. It might seem stupid but I still look through all of our photos who knew that wanting someone could ever make me this desperate?"
"Don't think I'll do that again, and, oh-ooh, You said it looks like I've been going through hell. How did you know? How could you tell? You asked me to explain myself, Well, I'm trying my best here to be brutally honest nobody said changing would be this exhausting. A foot on the break 'cause it's been making me carsick how could you blame me? Growing up is chaotic"
"Okay, have it your way I'll take Grace to the races instead and you can have your Saturdays night of singing. Come on I'll walk you home" Tommy smiled softly as he walked towards the door with Maddie following after him locking the door behind them making small talk as he walked her home getting to know the girl as he only knows her as Emily sister and the new barmaid.
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