TRIGGER WARNING - explicit scene, domestic violence triggers, extreme violence
**Disclaimer - I've based the horse on my own sweet girl, who passed over Rainbow Bridge suddenly on May 12th 2013 x x Love you miss you, Brandy
Saturday mornings become your time with Aunt Polly and Ada, counting up monies and sorting through wages. There is a race coming up, and there is a lot of noise and excitement about it in the Shelby household. You've heard talk of gypsy spells being cast on the horses, and you're aware from talk in The Traveller's alone that a lot of people are putting money on the mare the Shelby's are putting in to the race. It is perhaps that, which sets off the most recent argument between the three Shelby brothers, which had turned more than a little unpleasant. You find yourself dabbing at Tommy's split lip with cotton and alcohol, whilst Polly cleans up Arthur. "And now the pair of you will look a fucking mess for the race tomorrow." Polly admonishes her nephews as they exchange disgruntled looks from across the room. "It's not like you can wear a nice hat or scarf to cover it now, is it?" Arthur hisses in pain as Polly pats his cheek firmly. "Off you fuck." He obliges, clearly not wanting to displease Polly any further.
You look back to Tommy, just in time to see his eyes on you. "I think you're done."
He nods, and brushes his fingers over your hand. "Thank you," It's your turn to nod, as you take a seat at the table, and take up your cup of tea Polly had poured you moments before the fight had broken out. Thankfully, it's still hot. Tommy sits across from you, not daring to lift his eyes and attract the attention of Aunt Polly.
"How is the horse?" All eyes are on you, and you feel a blush creeping across your face. "I'd like to meet her, if that's…" You swallow, and look from Polly to Tommy. "If that would be okay?"
Tommy is sparking up a cigarette. He gets to his feet and gestures for you to follow suit.
An hour later, you are sitting bareback on the most beautiful chestnut thoroughbred mare you have ever laid eyes on. Tommy is standing leaning against the fence, watching you with forced nonchalance, as you set Large Brandy through her floating paces. She is quiet yet responsive, and the moment you ease the rein back she drops smoothly back in to walk. "What will happen to her after the race?"
"That depends on whether she wins." Tommy flicks his cigarette on to the ground and stamps it out. "It's her first race tomorrow,"
Coming to a halt next to Tommy, you let her reins loose, resting your hands on her withers, and she drops her head. You stroke her neck gently, winding your fingers through her soft mane absently. "If she doesn't win?" Tommy doesn't answer, but he doesn't need to. "That's awful."
"It's about making money, Eva," He raises a hand to smooth Brandy's cheek. "If they don't make the money, they can't stay costing us." You stay silent for a while, not wishing to know what happens to losing racehorses when they're sold on for cheap. "I don't like it, but business is business." Taking a gentle hold of Brandy's bridle, Tommy nudges her gently forward, back to the stables. Neither of you speak as you untack and groom Brandy. Brandy settles in to her rack of hay as soon as you throw it in for her, and you remain, inhaling her musky scent, running your hands down her neck. "I hope you win tomorrow, baby," Tommy waits in the doorway for you. Your walk back to the house is quiet, morose. Once inside, you are thrust another cup of tea, which you gratefully accept. "Thank you, Polly." She nods.
Ada breezes into the room, bursting in to some rant and rave you choose to zone out of, in favor of enjoying your hot tea. As quickly as she had appeared, Ada disappears, and it's just you and Tommy in the room, and he's helping you in to your coat, ready to walk you home. His hands linger by your sides, and he stands a step too close. You long to reach and touch him, but you play it safe and just don't move away in a hurry.
He follows you in to your house, pausing to shut the front door behind him, and he closes the gap between you both in just a pace. Now you're alone, he pushes you up against the wall, and he presses his lips against yours hungrily. His tongue toys at the seam of your lips, pleading, and you part your lips with a moan, slumping back against the wall and pulling him flush against you. "Eva," His voice ghosts across your lips, making you shudder involuntarily. His kiss deepens, and you find yourself walking backwards, his hands roaming over your body, undoing whatever he can find, pulling up your skirt and hooking his fingers in to your underwear. Your hands undo his buttons, push off his coat, and begin to undo his trousers. The banging sound you had both been ignoring becomes louder, more insistent. Tommy swears loudly, pulling away from you and adjusting his clothes. He marches up to the whiskey and pours himself out a large measure, continuing to swear.
You hurry to the door, setting your dress straight and running a thumb under your lip to correct any smudged lipstick. "Hold on," You open the door, and you've hit the floor before you realize what's happening.
"Eva?" Tommy's voice seems to echo as your head swims, and the pain begins to filter in through your senses. The next thing you're aware of is sounds of scuffling and a lot more swearing than you're accustomed to. Your vision slowly comes back in to focus as you stagger up from the floor, and you head toward the activity in your living room.
"Tommy fucking Shelby, Eva, really?" Daniel's angry spits out from between his thin lips, and for a moment, those awful hazel eyes stare hard at you, that same hate and resentment you've come to know too well in them. Your first instinct if to run, as far away from that monster as your legs will carry you, but seeing Tommy spattered in his own blood, laying prone as Daniel advances on him sets something in you you've not felt before. "Did you think I wouldn't find you?" Daniel's mocking tone brings back memories you wish you didn't have. With Daniel on all fours over Tommy, latching his hands around Tommy's throat, you reach for the thick glass whiskey pitcher and you swing. It's a disturbingly satisfying crack it makes on the back of his head, and better still when he howls in pain. "You fucking bitch!" He launches himself across the room as you, bringing you once again against the wall, once again with his hand around your throat, and you feel yourself beginning to black out, more through fear than lack of oxygen. You can hear Tommy calling your name. Daniel's hands squeeze tighter around your throat. "I should have done this years ago." You're not sure if you shout the same back at him, but you feel the sticky heat spouting over your hand and face when you plunge the shard of the pitcher Daniel hadn't noticed in to the delicate skin of his throat. A moment later, Tommy is propping you up, talking, you think, shaking you, but you're not quite with him, watching as Daniel's expression changes through shock, anger, acceptance. His hand grasps hopelessly at his torn throat, the thick choking sounds are awful. Tommy pays no mind to the dying man in the room; his efforts are all on you. It's hardly a new and shocking sight to him. Daniel drops to his knees, his front, and he settles, the only movement being the bright red pool forming around him.
"Eva? Eva?" Tommy's voice grows louder, more concerned. He turns your face to him, his blue eyes burning in to yours. "Stay with me, Eva." You smile. "We need to go."
"I'm sorry about the glass," You look at the blood stained shard in your hand, "and the whiskey."
"Eva," He takes on his more commanding tone. Sergeant Major Shelby. "We need to go."
You point. "What about him?"
"He's not a problem any more, Eva. Don't worry about him. We need to get you back to the house and get you cleaned up." He hands you his coat to cover your tattered dress, and guides you out of the house.
"What the fuck happened?" Aunt Pol pushes Tommy off your side, helping you to sit carefully. "Is she hurt?"
You fade back in to the here and now, and you lock eyes with Polly. "I'm fine, Aunt Pol. I just need a bath." She turns to look at Tommy. "My darling ex, Daniel, paid a visit.," You look to Tommy. "Again," He flinches at your words.
"What did you do to him?" Polly glances over Tommy, then grabs your blood stained hand and holds it up, indicating it vastly.
"What I should have done a long time ago," You smile for a moment, but your tone changes when you rush to the nearest empty bucket and hurl in to it. In the background, you hear Aunt Polly scolding Tommy for coming home with more bruises she will have to try and cover in time for the race tomorrow. You smile before you pass out.