Prompt 329 Fixation - "Attachments" - Original

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Title: Attachments
Fandom: Endeavorous (Original)
Prompt: #329 Fixation
Character(s): Richard Green, Lara Lane & Brinley Dempsey
Pairing(s): Richard x Brinley
Genre(s): Drama & some tragedy
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,653
Summary: He's done all he knows to do to win her trust, until tragedy strikes and her horse is in danger

Attachments

Richard Green puffed the smoke out of his lungs and into the air, exhaling in an effort to shrug off the thought nagging him in the back of his mind. The past decade watching the races had gone by so quickly, but one thing wasn’t changing. Something he hoped would change year after year.

He didn’t know why he liked her. She was intolerant of him, disgusted with his manner of living, and most importantly – she wasn’t a fan of his dancing. He smiled, bemused at the memory from last year’s annual ball the eve of the great race. She had shot him down like a wild duck in front of a crowd, but he bit back just as harshly, injuring her pride, even her willing spirit.

For the past eleven months, he had blamed Brinley’s loss of last year’s race on himself, fretting on and on that he had shook her up so badly, that he caused her to not have the grit to push harder. Not seeing her in attendance tonight also had him concerned. She usually made at least an entrance at the formal gatherings, but had skipped this one to his surprise.

‘Maybe she didn’t show up because she knew you’d be there, jackass.’

When he heard the horses in the nearest stable whinny and nicker lightly, he smiled and remembered the love Brinley had for the animals. His own daughter was fascinated by them, but had yet to witness the races for the simple fact that they were not open to the public for viewing. One day he’d take her though, even if he had to sneak her in and pay millions to do so.

As he stamped his cigarette out on the ground, the noise from the stable began to increase, the horses growing restless and shaken. When he looked back up, his eyes widened in terror to see the beginnings of orange lights glowing from inside the barn.

“Fire!!” Richard yelled, storming towards the building to begin the rescue efforts. He grappled onto the heavy door latch and with a mighty tug he set it free and rushed inside. The horses were clamoring in their stalls, hooves pounding, legs kicking and voices crying out for help. Each beast needed his assistance, but he could only do so much to start with. Unlatching only the stall doors would set the horses in a wild frenzy and would trample each other in an attempt to escape.

Though he had not yet heard if anyone had heard his own outcry, he whipped the handkerchief from his pocket and decided to start at the first stall his eyes locked on. All the way in the back was the red mare, Pledgemore – Endeavorous’ first filly and Brinley’s chosen mount for the race. Call it attachment or the desire to win her trust, Richard dashed for the stall door, swung it open and made himself ready to handle the fury of the scarlet beast that could only be tamed by the steady hand of her master.

Pledgemore reared up at the bold entrance, kicking her legs and whinnying her protest at her circumstances, but Richard held up his own hands, beckoning for her to calm her nerves.

“I don’t have time to talk this over, so just settle down and I’ll get you out of here,” he said, walking quickly, but carefully towards the tall horse. Finally, she let him tie the handkerchief over her eyes and began to walk as he led her out of the stall. Though the other horses kicked and wailed for freedom, Richard pushed himself forward through the increasing smoke and heat to get Brinley’s pride and joy to safety.

Upon reaching the door, a half dozen other owners and riders hurried through, looking for their mounts, nearly blocking his exit. Coughing painfully from the intense smoke billowing out through the barred windows, he finally made his way out and caught sight of Lara rushing towards him.

As tears rolled from her eyes, grateful to see her best friend’s horse safe and sound, Richard felt guilt nag at him for not getting her horse, too. Swallowing and fighting the urge to cough again, he handed off the reins to Lara and ran back inside the burning building right before Brinley came upon the scene.

“He saved your baby,” Lara said, stroking the muzzle of Pledgemore gently to soothe her readiness to run. “He went in there for her.”

“He what?” Brinley said, shocked and equally concerned about the other horses still inside.

“He’s the one that went in there after her.” Lara re-iterated, shedding tears still.

Brinley looked around briefly, disquieted by the horrible cries of the animals trapped in their hellish prison. “Where is he now?”

Lara merely looked back at the barn and Brinley swore under breath, starting in a dead run to hurry inside and help claim the last horses. But as she approached, a loud creaking could be heard above and her eyes flew upwards, witnessing the sudden and intense death of the great barn that was quickly crumbling away. The grim sounds of horses screaming amidst the tumbling structure made her insides lurch and tears rushed to her eyes, a hand clasping over her mouth to subdue the outcry wishing to burst from within her soul.

Behind her, she heard Lara crying harder, weeping for the death of her beloved colt, and all Brinley could do was stand there in horror as she waited for the sad outcome of this unforeseen tragedy.

Though the flames continued to climb and the structure had not yet fully collapsed, she felt her legs begin to carry her of their own will, steadily bringing her closer to the fire and daring her to call out for survivors. Tears on the verge of exploding and heart wrenching as it did when her aging mentor died beside her three years ago, Brinley found her voice and spoke quietly.

“Please be alive…” she almost whispered to the crackling wood, mind-numbing whinnies, and steel plated nerves. When she thought she could understand a voice in reply, she tried again. “Please be alive.”

The voice grew steadier and more understandable, and with a boldness she had not felt since her first victory atop Endeavorous’ back, she beckoned one last time. “Please be alive!”

Through the billowing smoke and ash, a few figures emerged, but two were the most recognizable – Richard Green had Lara’s colt by the reins and had successfully led him out unscathed, along with a few other lucky survivors.

As Lara gratefully took her colt into her welcoming arms, Brinley offered a grateful arm to her savior and wordlessly thanked him as she led him and her horse to a sturdy fence nearby. After securing Pledgemore’s reins to the rail, she then looked on at the man who had not only saved her horse, but that of her friend’s as well. And yet, with all the feelings swelling inside her, sweet and thankful words wouldn’t come to mind. She wanted to express infinite gratitude to him, but her inaptitude at speaking eloquently barred her path.

Simple words, instead, sprouted. “You outdid yourself tonight, Mr. Green.”

Coughing painfully and nodding, as if his efforts really were nothing to praise him for, he knew that was Brinley talking and he wasn’t dreaming it either. “Don’t mention it. Just doing my part as a gambling man, you know.”

The coughing spasm continued to wrack his body as Brinley gestured for him to sit down and lean against the fence, rubbing her hand soothingly along his back to try and quell the pain building inside him. “I thought gambling only meant risking your money, not your life.”

“Always been a big risk taker, Miss Dempsey,” he replied, hacking away, but secretly enjoying the attention he was being given. “That includes making large bets, weighing your odds and running into burning buildings.”

Brinley’s hand stopped and spread out slowly into his back, sensing his pulse beyond the broken rhythm of his convulsions, and her tips became electrified with a feeling she’d never sensed before. The desire to feel him and comfort him became so intense, she had to bend to its will and listen.

“Was your bet worth it today?”

“Still haven’t placed my biggest one yet – that one’s tomorrow, and it’ll be on you.” Richard said, trying to take shallower breaths, but relish Brinley’s rare affection at the same time.

A small smile came to her lips, attracting his surprised gaze. “I thought you weren’t supposed to tell me who you were betting on.”

He thought he was seeing things and that the amount of smoke he had inhaled had caused him to become delirious. But even more amazing than her smile was what he saw in her eyes – they were glowing with the embers of a fire, and deep in the wells of her brown orbs were the tears she forced herself not to shed in the face of complete tragedy. They looked beautiful and he found himself on the verge of a major confession.

“There’s a lot of things I haven’t told you, Brinley. I could start now if you like.”

He had said it so matter-of-factly, he was surprised he even said it out loud. But when she didn’t shun him or anything of the sort, he knew he had finally done it – he’d won her trust at last.

Chuckling lightly, Brinley leaned forward and pecked his cheek, not knowing where the boldness had come from – or perhaps it was a nudge from Pledgemore right behind her. “We’ll save that for later. I still haven’t thanked you for saving my horse yet.” Settling herself comfortably beside him, she offered her lap for him to lie down, and he accepted eagerly, nestling his head by her stomach and relaxing easily.

Breathing calmly and smiling through closed eyes, he spoke, “You’re welcome.”