Still being tormented and haunted by the memories of when he was the Winter Soldier. Bucky has tried so many things to help him deal with the trauma of his past but nothing has helped.
The Avengers can see how bad the nightmares are affecting Bucky...
Four months have passed since the Avengers arrived at the ranch, and so far everyone has enjoyed the peace that ranch life provides, but for Bucky, everyone could see him thriving in this new environment. Hope also took that opportunity and taught the Avengers how to ride, there was some resistance on their part but in the end, they couldn't say no to Hope. And on top of all that construction for the indoor arena was also completed and in time before the full summer heat kicked in too.
It was now July and only two days till Steve's birthday and Independence Day. Pepper and Mrs. Williams were busy preparing a birthday party for Steve although he said they didn't have to do that neither would have that Hope told him just to let them cause he wouldn't be able to change their mind so they left the ladies to their planning and left the house.
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Hope's POV:
"Are they always like this?" Steve asked Hope.
"When it comes to someone's birthday, yes."
Steve was silent for a moment as we walked but I could tell there was something else on his mind.
He finally asked what was on his mind, "How has Bucky seemed these last few months here?"
I thought for a moment, "calmer, more at peace with himself, have you noticed if he is still having nightmares?"
"Less frequent for sure," Steve said.
"Glad to know, does he seem happier to you?"
"Think so, I know I have seen him smile more, I think his signature scowl is fading away," Steve said making me laugh.
"That's all that matters, that he is happier, it's leading him to finally be at peace and forgive himself, as well as maybe letting the past go."
Steve gave me a look, "what?"
"Are you sure you're not a therapist?" Steve asked me.
I laughed, "not a therapist, horses and people are very much alike and how they respond to trauma, I have seen horse and owner both have gone through a traumatic experience together, and the only way both could heal was by working and healing together."
As Steve and I talked we ended up at the fence where some of the horses were grazing, we got up on the fence and watched as Shadowfax came over to us and he let Steve pet him.
"He's come a long way since you brought him here, he wouldn't let anyone besides you and Morgan pet him in the beginning," Steve said.
"Time and patience, and that's what James will need as well."
"Yeah, your right about that, but now I have another question for you?"
"Shoot."
"How big will this birthday party be?" he asked me.
"Well, besides you guys, everyone here at the ranch and their families or partners, plus Kaitlyn, her husband Daniel, and my Goddaughter Emma will also be here, so it will be a full house but not Tony Stark level, that okay with you?"
"I think that sounds perfect," Steve said.
"Good," I was interrupted when my phone went off, I pulled it out of my pocket seeing that it was Scott.
"Hey, Scott, what's up?"
"Hope, how fast can you get to this address that I'm about to send you?" Scott asked.
"Um, one second," I checked the address that Scott texted me and saw that it was a ranch not too far from Stark Ranch, "it looks to be about 20 minutes away from here."
"Do you think you can be here in 10?" Scott asked me.
"If it's just only me then yes."
"Good, get here as fast as you can," Scott said.
"Scott, what's going on?"
"It's better if you're here, just hurry," with that Scott ended the call.
Steve looked at me, "what's going on?"
"That was Scott, he needs me to meet him somewhere and from the sound of his voice it does not sound good, um, can you tell everyone where I went and that I will call them once I know what's happened."
"Yeah, of course, go," Steve told me.
I ran over to my truck and quickly took off following the GPS on my phone, with how fast I was going I managed to get there quicker than I thought, I parked next to Scott's truck.
"SCOTT!"
"HOPE, OVER HERE!"
I saw Scott emerge from a barn, I quickly ran over.
"Scott, what is it?"
"It's bad Hope, just, just look inside," Scott pointed toward the barn.
I opened the barn door and was immediately hit by a smell that could only be described as death, I covered my nose and mouth as I looked around and was horrified at the sight before me, on the other side of the barn were the bodies of two horses, dead, from what I could tell they looked as if they were badly beaten, almost tortured. I kept looking and then my heart broke at what I saw next, there was another horse dead as well but next to it was a foal and by the look of it was recently born, the mare must have held on long enough to give birth. I hurried over to the foal trying to scare it a did a quick check, I could tell it was weak from not having fed yet, so I then carefully picked up the foal and carried her out of the barn, Scott was shocked to see the foal in my arms.
"There was one still alive?" Scott asked.
"Yes, and it's a newborn, I need to get it back to the ranch ASAP, but I'm worried in case there are any other animals here that might still be alive and in bad shape too."
"I know what you mean, go ahead and take that little one back to the ranch, I've already called the authorities, and are on their way, I'll wait for them to arrive to give them my statement as well as to check for any other animals too," Scott said.
"Okay, and if you do find any more just bring them to the ranch, it doesn't matter if it's not a horse."
"You got it, I will be at the ranch as soon as I'm done here," Scott told me.
I hurried off to the truck and carefully got the foal in the back seat, then got in myself and quickly headed back to the ranch, on the way I called Matt.
"Hello."
"Matt, I need you guys to get a stall ready and everything that is needed for a newborn foal, immediately, I'm coming in with a newborn foal that lost its mother."
"How recently born?"
"I would estimate 2-3 days."
"Shit, okay what is your ETA?"
"I'm 20 minutes away but I'm trying to get there under 10."
"Okay, just be careful, we want you here safely with that foal."
