Bucky's Hope (A Bucky Barnes Love Story)

Chapter 61

Bucky's POV:

After Hope woke up from her nap we both got into the water again to get cleaned up, once we were done we got out and got dressed again, Hope was in the middle of saddling up Winter and as I watched her I saw she looked so serene and happy.

"How are you feeling?"

Hope turned to me and blushed when she locked eyes with me, she quickly turned back to her task when she spoke, "I probably sound cheesy for saying this but I feel amazing and sore, but amazing nonetheless."

I smiled at her response and walked up behind her wrapping my arms around her waist as I rested my chin on her shoulder and kissed her cheek, "I'm glad."

Hope stopped what she was doing and rested her hands against mine, we stayed like that for a moment until it was broken when Winter let out what sounded like an annoyed whinny, and we laughed.

"Let me finish getting her tacked up because I'm sure she is desperate to get back to her lover too," Hope said so I let her get back to what she was doing.

"Have you thought more about what Kaitlyn wrote in her letter?"

"No, I guess I'm still processing all of it but I think I will revisit it later after her and Daniel's funerals."

"Of course, take all the time you need but if you need to talk I'm here for you, alright?"

"I know and I love that about you."

Hope finished getting Winter saddled up and got on, she turned to me with this mischievous look in her eyes.

"What?"

"How about a little race, you versus me and Winter?"

I laughed, "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, unless you're scared to get beat by two girls."

"Ha, please, I'm not scared."

"Then this should be easy for you."

"Alright, but don't get mad when you lose."

"And you should remember that I know these lands like the back of my hand."

And with that Hope gave Winter a nudge with her heels and they took off leaving me dumbfounded for a moment then I took off running but I lost sight of them.

"Sneaky Doll, very sneaky of you," I picked up speed and took off back to the ranch.

Hope's POV:

Winter and I quickly left James in our dust as we took off, I figured he would end up taking the long way to the ranch so I took another way I knew that led back a little faster but most likely we would get back at the same time and I was okay with that.

As Winter ran for the first time in who knows how long I felt free, truly free and it was exhilarating I couldn't help but smile.

We quickly made it through a clearing and I could see the ranch was not too far away so we kicked it into high gear, as we got closer from my peripheral I saw James appear and begin to catch up to us.

"Come on girl, you can do it," I encouraged Winter.

"HA, NICE TRY HOPE, BUT I'M GOING TO WIN THIS," James yelled behind me as he got closer to us.

"WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!"

By now we were nearing the ranch together and were neck in neck but there was the fencing surrounding the ranch right in front of us, as we got closer I got Winter ready and we cleared the fence better than ever, James jumped as well but his landing was not that great and took a tumble, I slowed Winter to a stop and we walked over to where James was getting back up and dusting himself off.