Wildfire (Steve Rogers AU)

1

Stepping off of the train with only one trunk to her name, Hadley Knox looked around at where the railroad station stood. Not many passengers departed, in fact she was the only one to do so.
Her son was sleeping against her shoulder and now as she hoisted him into a more comfortable position, the train began to pull out of the station until eventually it was gone - only leaving the dust to settle.

"Home sweet home" she muttered to herself, keeping a tight hold of her son.

This was to be her life now, everything she had known had been taken away to pay the debts that her husband had kept from her - and Hadley? Well, she had been left with nothing to her name, other than her son Flynn. William had been a railroad developer. They'd had a nice house in Manhattan and had lived lavishly - William more so as it was established after his death. Hadley had cried as she heard that all he owed would be paid back in the form of their assets, including the house.

She had nothing left.

The only person who had come to her aid was her Aunt Mary, a woman who had never had any desire to marry, and instead had chosen to make a life in a mining town.

The same town that now stood before her.

Graystone.

"Need some help?" Came a voice and she turned, seeing a man standing there with a horse and cart. "Got a cart you can put your trunk and the little one on?"

She smiled. "Thank you, I only need it taken to the general store, my aunt Mary runs it..."

The man laughed, "we all know Mary", heaving the trunk onto the cart and helping Hadley onto the back of it. "I'm Bucky Barnes, I work at the ranch - you may have seen it as the train pulled in".

She nodded, "what kind of ranch is it?"

"Cattle, and there's horses too". He explained as he led the horse through town. "Postal coach is every Wednesday if you wanna send a letter or anything." He pointed out, "Doctor Banner is your man if you or the little one get sick - not that I'm wishing that on you by the way, oh and on your left here we have the local saloon. That's usually a place where a lady like you shouldn't venture".

"Why?"

Bucky could see that she was very much from out of town judging by her attire. She had clearly never worked a day in her life. She'd be the talk of the town though, she stood out like a sore thumb. "Let's just say sometimes fights between the boys can get a little out of hand - always takes Sheriff Fury or one of his deputies to break it up".

With more and more people flocking to settle, the town had grown since it had been founded.

Hadley listened as he explained more until they came to the general store, Bucky latching the horse to the post outside and then coming round to help her from the cart. "Here we are then, general store".

"Thank you Mr Barnes" she smiled, stepping down from the cart and soothing Flynn as he stirred slightly.

"Just Bucky's fine - and there she is!" He grinned as Mary now emerged from the store and came down to greet her niece.

"Hush you" the elder woman scolded lightly and took a swipe at him in good nature. "Already trying your luck on my niece I expect!"

"Who? Me. Never!"

"Sarah tells me otherwise". Mary eyed him knowingly and then turned to Hadley. "Get yourself inside dear, you and the baby must be tired".

Hadley simply smiled and placed a kiss onto Flynn's head. "He is, but I'm wide awake". After hours upon hours of travelling, she'd only slept for a total of at least three, the train carriage not exactly the most comfortable of places to try and settle.

"Where'd you want this Miss Mary?" Bucky asked bringing the trunk in.

"Upstairs, furthest door on your left will do nicely". Mary replied, and watched as Bucky took the trunk and carried it up. Turning back to her niece, she put her hands on her hips, "right, let's take a look 'atcha - did they not feed you in Manhattan?"  Her eyes scanned her up and down. Slim, but also looked like she needed a decent meal, no matter how depressed up she was. That would have to go too.

"I...erm..." Hadley stammered, forgetting just how blunt Mary could be. "Believe it or not, I haven't had much of an appetite since William died".

Mary snorted, "we'll soon change that", and then thanked Bucky as he came downstairs. "Now you tell Steve that those tools are expected to come in next week"

"Right on time, thanks Mary". Bucky nodded and tipped his hat to Hadley. "Miss..."

"Mrs" she corrected him

"Not anymore you ain't" Mary pointed out. "Call her Hadley".

Bucky smirked. "Miss Hadley", and then took his leave, getting back onto the cart and giving the reins a tug so as the horse moved off.

Hadley turned to her aunt. "Did you really have to tell him that?"

"Everyone knows everyone's business here - by tomorrow, people are gonna know all about ya". Mary said and ushered her into the back room so as they could have something to eat and drink.

Hadley settled into a chair, "I don't like the sound of that"

"Gonna have to get used to it, this is your home now. The Graystone way". Mary replied, " gonna have to get you something decent to wear too, you look like a bandits dream you walk about town like that".

Looking down at her dress, Hadley frowned. "What's wrong with this?" Ok it was a mourning dress, but it was at least well crafted.

"Sweetie, as much as you may not like it, this place ain't Manhattan, we don't do 'fancy', just practical". Mary replied. "I'll have Natasha give you some dresses to wear that won't make you as..."

"As what?" Hadley dared to ask

"Bold" Mary smiled kindly. "In the nicest of ways, plus if you're gonna be working with me then they're gonna get dirty, don't worry though, I'll show you the ropes".

This was her life now. No longer dependant on anyone but herself, and in some ways Mary, by just the roof over her head she was grateful for. She had to do this for the sake of her son.  It was really just the two of them now, after all she was pretty much classed as 'damaged goods'.

No man would ever want a widowed woman with a young child, and even if they did, then they certainly did not reside in Graystone.