Peaky Blinders Imagines

8- Bound by Blood; All Shelbys

Ruth Shelby, was the youngest of the Shelby clan.

She grew up extremely sheltered and protected by her older siblings, she had to have a blinder following her around most of the time incase any of Tommy's enemies showed up unexpectedly and she never got to travel, because of the risks that came with being a Shelby. 

All her life she felt like a burden. She felt like the only reason she was protected, was becasue her brothers felt they had a moral duty to keep her safe and sound. 

By the time she was 18 she was sick and tired of being kept on a leash, so she began to do what Shelby's do best......she began to formulate a plan.

Ruth planned everything down to a tee. This plan had to be absolutely water-tight, there was no room for error. She had one shot at this. Once she had gone over the plan a couple (hundreds) of times she was ready to put it in motion.

The boys were gone to the Cheltnham races, they had brought all of their men with them, apparantley it had something to do with the Lee boys and Billy Kimber. Although Ruth was never told any of the details of the business, for fear of her getting involved, she had developed a keen ear and was well-able to listen in on all of the boys meetings, and occasionaly read any of Tommy's letters that had accidentally been left out on the table.

Polly hadn't left for the races yet but, Ruth knew she was going, because she over-heard a conversation she had with Ada, the previous week.

Ruth waited patiently in her bedroom, until she heard Polly's voice drifting up the stairs,

"Ruth!" Polly yelled up the stairs, "I'm off to the races, I'll be back by 8 and if i'm not, call Tommy immediatley." She ordered.

"As always, Aunt Pol," Ruth replied as non-chalantly as she could.

As soon as she heard the door shut and lock, Ruth gathered her things and packed them into a small case. She hurried down to the kitchen and made herself some sandwiches, she also took a loaf of bread and a jar of jam as some emergency rations.

She carefully placed her hand-written letter on the table where it would be visible to the first person to re-enter the house, the letter was long and sincere, it contained Ruths reasoning for leaving and she begged them not to come looking for her, something she knew was too much to ask. No matter what happened, she knew as soon as the letter was found, her family would initiate a manhunt for her.

Though they cared for her deeply, they didn't see that what they were doing had a massive negative impact on Ruths life, and this was her chance to break free, to start fresh.

She read over the letter to make sure she hadn't left anything out, tears began to fill her eyes as she looked around the house and she realised how much she would miss Small Heath and all of her family.

She would miss Arthur constantly teasing her and joking with her.

She would miss Tommy taking her out to see the horses and going for rides with her.

She would miss John playing silly little games with her and always sneaking her a sip of his beer in the Garrison.

She would miss having Ada around to talk about her girl problems with, and giving her advice on boys.

And she would miss Polly more than she would miss the sun on a cloudy day. Polly was the only mother figure she had ever had. Hell Polly was the only parental figure Ruth had ever had. Polly was her rock, and she hated having to leave her. She hated having to leave them all, but she knew it was the right thing to do.

Ruth had to leave.

And so, once she surveyed the house one last time trying to engrave every detail of th house into her brain so she would never forget it, she turned around and opened the front door. Before she stepped out onto the cobbled streets of Small Heath one last time, she turned around and said,