An Inheritance Chapter Sixty-Five
AO3
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
“No, you are still to wee.” Brian stands beside Donas, his daddy’s big stallion. His siblings stand beside him.
“Willie ride. Brian ride!” He declares, trying to climb up the horse. Faith grabs him.
“Willie is four years older. Brian, you will get hurt.” Brian is three and full of his family’s stubbornness. He tries to escape his sister’s grip. Willie takes him from her.
“Brian Lambert Fraser, enough.” He doesn’t raise his voice but, the use of all three of his name’s, gets his attention. He stops struggling and looks up at his big brother with teary eyes. Willie is his idol. To have him mad at him was devastating. “We just don’t want to see you hurt. You can ride Brian’s Pony.” That was the name of the pony. When it was presented to Brian as a birthday present, he called out that and they couldn’t get him to name it nothing else.
“Okay Willie.” They watch as he mounts up. Both agree he is a born houseman. Donas is just to big for him to ride alone. Daddy takes him out on him some but with the new baby due any day, he hadn’t time.
Over the last three years, a lot has changed. Their grandparents still visit but it is supervised by the court after their parents found out that their Auntie Isobel was found not to be there every time. That and a bruise found on Willie’s bum had brought a social worker to supervise. They still see Auntie Isobel but she can come whenever she wants. She and Auntie Geillis have become good mates. They have family aplenty and are about to have a new sister.
They watch him as he rides around the paddock. He isn’t allowed to leave it without an adult. Auntie Geillis is with mam. Daddy and Uncle Ian are working on fencing they need to get finished before the baby comes. Auntie Jenny is taking care of her own new babies, Janet and Michael. After a while, they lead him in. He is starting to get the look on his face he gets when he needs a nap.
