Wildfire (Steve Rogers AU)

5

A week had passed in the blink of an eye to Hadley. Most of the time she barely realised what she was doing until her mind wandered back to the task at hand. She had picked up the ways of the store quickly and under Mary's watchful eye. 

She'd also found company in the form of the seamstress Natasha Romanoff and the school mistress Wanda Maximoff. They were easy to talk to, asked her no questions about William or what had happened, whereas other townspeople brought it up, giving her condolences that she knew they didn't really mean. 

They didn't know her after all. 

Flynn always enjoyed petting the horses of any merchants or coachmen that would stop off. Mary would always keep an eye on him if Hadley was busy seeing to customers. 

It wasn't the life she wanted, but they would just have to make do. If Flynn was content then that was all that mattered. Having to do most things now without the aid of servants was a little bit of a shock, but she was all the more prepared to show that she wasn't as incompetent as everyone probably gossiped about. The shamed spoiled widower who now had to get her hands dirty and work. 

"I need you to go take these to the Howling Commando Ranch for me. Mrs Rogers is waiting on some threads and other bits, and her sons tools have come in". Mary said, passing a basket of things to Hadley. Just head east to the edge of town and you'll see the track to where it leads to the ranch. Mind you, you'll see the ranch as well, can't miss it". 

"Ok". Hadley nodded, taking off her apron and took the basket, giving Flynn a kiss she headed out into the sunshine. 

Graystone appeared to see more hotter days than the city did. 

Walking the way that Mary told her, she said good morning to a few people who wished her that and crossed the street, making her way to the edge of town and in the direction of the ranch. Eventually she approached the house, seeing the corral with the horses in and one in particular tied to a post and rearing up as a few ranchers tried to calm it. 

"Aspen! For god's sake just calm yourself!" A man shouted as another walked backwards away from the horse. 

"Well If you didn't tie him to a post he might be more reasonable!" Hadley now found herself calling from behind the fence. "Poor thing is scared". 

The man who had spoken now turned, just as the other did and stared hard at her. "And you're a horse expert are you Miss?" 

"Mrs" Hadley corrected him as she took him in. 

He had a beard, shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows to expose his muscular arms whilst a few buttons were undone down to the chest. From under his stetson she could make out he had blue eyes. So much that she had to look away to avoid staring at him for too long

The man looked her up and down. "The mourning dress of yours tells me otherwise", and now came over to stop on the other side of the fence from her. "He needs to be tamed, this is how we do it". 

"Untie him". Hadley demanded. "He wants to be free, untie him now"

"You can't just come up here and make demands as to what I do with my horses. What are you doing here anyway?" He asked, clearly agitated by her presence. 

Hadley held up the basket. "From the general store for Mrs Rogers, and some supplies for her son, so tell me where I can find her or him". 

"You found him" Steve Rogers now continued glaring at her. "Mom's inside the house, doors open", and then he turned away. 

"I have some apples here. Can I at least give you one to try and see if it will calm the horse down?" She asked, plucking one from inside the basket. She watched as he studied it and then took a bite, her expression changing to one that told him she was unimpressed. "That was for the horse". 

Steve could see she was a stubborn one. This must be the niece that had come from the city to live with Mary. Already he could tell they probably wouldn't see eye to eye. "Alright then. I'll untie him and you can go get kicked through trying to give him an apple". He stuffed the bitten apple back into the hand and went over to Aspen, who was still bucking, untying the rope and then moving out of the way to let him free. "Come on then, in you come!" He called to her 

Hadley put the basket down, Sarah Rogers now coming out onto the porch to see what all the fuss was about and watching the young woman join her son in the corral.  

She waited until the horse had stopped bucking and was finally calm before approaching, holding the apple out. "It's ok...look, I've brought you an apple".  She said cautiously, inching closer bit by bit until she stopped in front of the animal, who could rear up and trample her at any moment if it wanted to. 

Aspen sniffed the apple and then, after some time, took it with his mouth to eat it, Hadley gently stroking him. "There we are...that was nice wasn't it?" She smiled, stroking his nose and letting him sniff her. "More where that came from". 

Steve watched as Aspen's will was finally bent, and he began to allow the woman to stroke him. "If she can tame Aspen, then perhaps she can tame you". Johnny smirked from where he was perched on the fence, having watched the whole altercation between the pair. 

"You can talk". His brother snorted. 

Hadley took the rope and still with a comforting hand upon the horses mane, led Aspen over to the post. He immediately became distressed. "Alright, no post, this way..." She took him to Steve and passed him the rope. "He doesn't like the post, but he likes apples". 

"Impressive..." Steve admitted with a nod and ruffled Aspen's mane. "Maybe that's the way to his heart". 

"They always said the way to a man's heart his through his stomach" Hadley shrugged and then remembered why she was here. "I should get these to Mrs Rogers". Passing him and closing the gate behind her. 

Sarah was watching from the porch as Hadley now picked up the basket and came over to her. "Your threads and things, and also your son's tools". She passed the basket to the older woman who smiled. 

"You must be Hadley, I see you've already met my son Steve". There was a mischievous look in her eye while she unpacked the basket. 

Hadley smirked with some satisfaction and looked back to see Steve watching the pair before she turned to Sarah again. 

. "Yes. Indeed I have..."