Crescent Acres (Steve Rogers AU)

7

Steve

"So how was your evening catching up with Darby?" Sharon asks as we get ready to settle down for the night, the ranch now falling silent until the dawn rises on a new day.

I watch as she gives her hair a quick brush out and takes the last of her make up off, then remembering to take my pills and do so before she checks on me as usual. She sees me through the reflection in the mirror and smiles pitifully. "You need to take them Steve, the doctor said..."

"I know what the doctor said because I was there". I say a little irritably and then feel bad. "Sorry...".

Coming over, she leans down and gives me a kiss. "Hey, it's ok - I'm used to you being frustrated by it now, and I know you were hoping that there would be a chance that you could come off them after all this time, but you need them".

"It's like my body doesn't wanna heal".

"And it won't if you keep on working like you do. Why won't you listen? You're not doing yourself any favours". I choose not to answer and am met with the usual sigh before she gets in next to me, "Anyway, how was your evening? You looked like you hadn't even been away from each other".

I turn off the light and settle down. "It was nice to actually catch up. She's just got divorced so she was telling me all about that, and her job. Had a little reminisce about when she was here and stuff".

"Did you tell her about the accident?"

I nod. "And she gave me a talk just like everyone has".

"Probably because she knows we're right when we say you shouldn't be beating yourself up about it still. I know you miss him, I miss him too. I'm sure Darby only said what we've already told you". She snuggles into me. "I mentioned to her about the possibility of the barn become a place to get married..."

And here it comes. The subject that I try to avoid at all costs.

"I see, and what did she say?" I dare to ask, a little intrigued at what Darby thinks.

"You arrived so we didn't have much of a chance to carry on talking".

Once again I've unknowingly saved my ass.

I pull her closer and kiss her hair. "When I have time to think about it, then I will but right now with everything going on I'm not about to go ahead and start knocking down walls and repairing roofs just so people can now get hitched here".

"So when will you think about it?" Sharon now presses. "I know it's money but we'll make that back easily..."

I now cut her off. "I'll think about it".

"So you keep saying, but the planning permission came through months ago and still you've not looked at ..."

"Because I've got a ranch to run! All my time is taken up by it so I'll get to it when I can. We're making good money at the moment, so there's no rush to expand. It would be different if there were losses, but we're lucky enough to be in the position we're in".

She drops the subject and pulls the covers over us some more, knowing that once again she's not about to convince me to go charging in and start work on something I'm not one hundred percent sure on. "Alright..." She says and sighs. "Goodnight".

"Sharon..." I say defeated.

"It's fine Steve - I've been going on about it too much anyway that I sometimes forget you have other things that are more important", then she pauses. "It would just be nice that's all, and who knows? Maybe it could be us one day".

I knew it was coming and lay there for a moment or so before replying. "Yeah...one day".

We say no more about it and thankfully the pills knock me out pretty quickly. The only perk of taking them. I'm sure Sharon senses my reluctance when it comes to the whole marriage thing, and tonight is the first time she's hinted at wanting to talk more seriously about it. I'm not going to indulge her in it though. Perhaps my mind will chance about putting the ring on her finger one day, but who knows? I've been thinking a lot about our relationship lately and where it's going. To be honest I have no idea what way it's going considering how long we've been together. Now that's something I need to think more seriously about. Whether this is something that's just a passing feeling or if it's one that I'll need to make a decision on.

**

I'm up long before my alarm goes off and slip out of bed being careful not to wake Sharon, showering to wake myself up and then getting myself ready for another crammed day. I check emails and flag the ones I need to reply to immediately, including one from the vet who is due to come and look at one of the horses that I've raised concerns about for retirement.
Groot has been with us for sometime, but lately he's been showing signs that are making it obvious that he's not as fit as he can be for our programmes with the guests. It's always sad saying goodbye to the ones that retire, but we work with a rescue organisation that re-homes retired horses so we know they're in good hands. We don't just ditch them so they have to fend for themselves.

As I finish breakfast, Sharon comes into the kitchen and looks at me sleepily. "I swear you get up earlier each day".

"You don't even need to be awake yet, go back to bed". I tell her as she now retrieves a carton of juice from the fridge and pours some into a glass. "Sorry if I woke you".

"You're fine, I was thirsty anyway". She gives me a kiss, "See you later on, we could have lunch together?"

"I'll give you a text once I'm back from riding". I promise her and watch as she shuffles back into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Time to start the day. First off, feeding and tacking up the horses.

I take the paths from my cabin in the direction of the main part of the ranch, glancing in the direction of Darby's creek side cabin and seeing her on the porch swing. I have to look twice at first, wondering why she's up so early, before venturing down to get an answer. "Can't sleep?" I ask as she sits on the swing, one foot tucked under her while the other pushes the swing gently back and forth, a cup of coffee nursed in her hands.

"Early riser" She states. "Somehow I can never sleep in and it annoys the hell outta me. You starting up for the day?"

"That obvious eh? Sharon said I keep rising earlier each morning than the last.

Darby tuts in mock disapproval, now quoting the saying, "Ain't no rest for the wicked" before she savours a sip of her coffee. "Caffeine and a mountain view is my therapy". She tells me now with content apparent in both her voice and manner. She seems far more relaxed this morning than she was yesterday. Perhaps it's because she could still be in the process of waking up.

"Mornings here are certainly special, especially if you're awake early enough to see the sunrise".

"I was lucky enough to see it this morning. I never appreciated it when I was a kid but I do now. Must be an adult thing".

I smile, "older and wiser?"

"The first yeah, the second? Not so much". She shrugs at the admittance, not caring about whether she's judged or not. I'd never her though - none of us are perfect, least of all me.

"Same". I agree and then look at my watch. "I need to get to the horses, but I guess I'll be seeing you later on for the ride?"

She nods. "I might come down and watch the horses getting tacked up soon, it was relaxing watching them yesterday".

"Well, I'll see you there then, can you remember how to mount a horse still?"

She throws me a look. "I don't think I'll suck at it as much as I did the first time around..."

I chuckle. "How could I forget? That was the first time we met".

That day? It's one that will never leave. Even now I can see us clearly. The girl who couldn't mount her horse and almost fell, and the boy who could barely lift so much as a saddle that caught her.