Wildfire (Steve Rogers AU)

10

Steve had seen Hadley leave with Brock again the next afternoon and had waited until she'd returned before heading for the store to speak with her.

She was about to close up, but currently was sweeping the floors to take all the dust that had been brought in by mens boots and womens skirts, out of there.

"Oh, Steve? Hello". She smiled as he stood aside to let her sweep some dust out.

"Hope I'm not interrupting, but I was hoping I could speak with you?" He caught sight of Mary lingering in the background. "Alone?"

Hadley nodded and Mary quickly disappeared upstairs. Turning back to Steve she looked at him while he closed the shop door. "Must be serious?"

"I wanted to warn you about Brock"

She now became hostile. "Oh really?"

"Yes really. The guy may have money, but he's got nothing else going for him. Trust me, he's not someone you should be involving yourself with. I'm pretty sure some things he does business wise aren't protocol"

"Much like how you are leading poor Miss Carter along then?" She now fired back.

Steve chuckles. "What crap did he spin you about me?"

"You leading her on only to keep on letting her down. She's wanting to marry you".

"She is, but she is the persistent one, not me. If anything I'd rather she left me alone.".

"Then perhaps you should stop indulging her by letting her have false hope!"

"She does that perfectly well herself and since when did this conversation turn to Peggy Carter!"

"Since you appeared to try and dictate who I socialise with! Yes Brock has money but that's what Flynn and I need!"

Steve became frustrated. "Is that all that matters to you? How many bills you got in your pocket? How many coins you've got in the bank?" She now looked at him and he shook his head. "Here was me thinking you were falling out of your bratty rich girl ways".

Hadley started at him. "You did not just call me that!"

"I did! And I'll keep on doing so until you wake up realise that money don't make the world go around Hadley!"

By now Mary had ventured downstairs to see what was going on. "Everything alright?"

"I was just leaving". Steve gave them a curt nod, "good day Miss Mary", and then shot Hadley a cold look, "Miss Hadley".

Mary opened her mouth as Hadley turned. "Don't". The young woman simply said. "You heard every word, I don't need a lecture from you as well". Shoving the broom into her aunts hands she stormed out of the store and made for her walking trail.

How dare he call her a spoiled brat! He wasn't exactly perfect either!

She walked the prairie for a couple of hours before returning, Mary currently sat sewing in her rocking chair, looking up as her niece came in. "Suppers on the stove". Was all she said.

"Thank you" Hadley replied quietly.

Her appetite had disappeared though.

**

Sarah was sat on the porch when Steve returned later that evening. "Thought you said you wouldn't be long? Where you been?" She enquired, seeing her son's annoyance.

"Needed a ride to clear my head". He simply said, putting Cooper back into the corral and coming up, giving her a kiss. "Where the burden?"

"I heard that" Johnny came out on the porch with a beer to hand, knocking his brothers hat from his head. "How the visit with Hadley go?"

Steve shot him a look as Sarah's head shot up. "You went to see Hadley?"

The elder Rogers sibling sighed. "Not a social visit. I went to warn her about Brock".

His mother rolled her eyes. "Really Steven?"

"Yes really. Mom, you know what he's like - Hadley shouldn't be with a man like that".

"Oh and she should be with someone like you?" Johnny now chuckled and then looked as though he'd had a brainwave. "Well son of a bitch..."

"Language!" Sarah scolded

"Shut up Johnny before I put a few bullets in you". Steve warned.

"You like her!" Johnny all but yelled.

"No I don't! I swear to god I'm gonna shoot you if you don't stop talking".

His younger brother simply smirked, "wow...and she chose Brock Rumlow over you?"

"She's not chosen anyone over me because I'm not interest". Steve defended himself through gritted teeth.

"Clearly you are for you to warn her about Brock".

"Don't be stupid, I'd warn any woman about him".

"Including Miss Carter?"

Steve pulled his pistol from his holster and aimed it at Johnny.

"Boys! Stop!" Sarah now told them sternly, putting a hand on the top of the pistol and pushing it down so as it was no longer aimed at Johnny. "Put that damn thing away before you kill someone".

"That's the point mom".

Sarah stared at him until he put the safety catch back on and stuffed the pistol back into the holster.

"Don't piss me off again". He warned Johnny, like that would be the easiest thing in the world to achieve, and went inside the house to wash off the days work and get some sleep.

Sarah sighed and looked at Johnny who simply sat on the steps of the porch, drinking. She could tell that her youngest was right in some ways, but only both Hadley and Steve could sort out their differences.