Chapter Forty
Runa woke slowly from a sleep that was filled with horrors and phantoms that vanished from memory like smoke on the wind once she finally managed to pry open her eyes. She blinked in confusion when she opened her eyes, disoriented. Sunlight poured in through the window, the slant of the rays telling her it was very late morning. She struggled to sit up, whimpering in pain as she did. Sleep had helped, but only a little, and it had made other things worse. She was so stiff, and it felt like every inch of her ached. Even her hair hurt.
She groaned and sank back against the bed. She needed to get up, needed to make her way to the outhouse if nothing else, but she also had work to do. It was well past breakfast time, but dinner needed to be prepared, and so did supper.
The door opened slightly, and she turned her head to look towards it. Steve was standing there, peering in, and when he saw her look to the door he gave a smile, though the rest of his expression was still worried. He stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.
“Do you need help getting up?” He asked quietly, coming around the bed.
Runa nodded, frustrated by her weakness. “I managed for a minute. I just…”
“It hurts. I know.” Steve moved to help her sit up. “I’ll get you to the outhouse. Or do you want to use the chamber pot?”
At the glare she gave him, he managed a smile, some of the worry leaving his eyes. “Outhouse it is. I’ll carry you there.”
She smiled in response. “You don’t need to carry me, but I do appreciate it.” She said as he lifted her easily. He got her outside and to where she desperately needed to go, then waited patiently outside the outhouse for her. She walked stiffly when she emerged, and he moved to pick her up again, but she batted his hand away.
“I need to try and walk.” She protested. “I’ll never get rid of this stiffness if I don’t move.”
“I know, I know, I just… I don’t like seeing you in this much pain.” Steve confessed, “Also, you’re in your nightgown in the daylight, and we’ve got a few people around the house still. I, uh, didn’t think that would be much of a problem until I saw you out here in the sunlight.”
She flushed, wrapping her arms around herself. The fabric she had sewn her nightgown out of was not very thick, and in this light would be nearly see through. She hadn’t even thought of it until Steve told her. “I’m making a dressing gown.” She grumbled as he picked her up again. “First thing.”
“You don’t need a dressing gown.” He chuckled. “Or do you plan on wandering around out in the sunlight in your nightgown often?”
“I have no intention of parading around outside in my nightclothes again, thank you.” She said rather primly, causing him to laugh as he brought her inside. Thanks to his long strides, they were inside their bedroom and he was setting her on her feet without encountering anyone else.
“I’ll help you dress, and then take you to the dining room. It’s almost dinner time, but Wanda might have something to help tide you over. You must be starving.”
“Wanda?” Runa frowned. “Wanda Maximoff?”
“She’s here helping out a bit while you heal up. Her brother Pietro is here helping with the horses.” Steve agreed. “They arrived shortly after sunup. We tried calling her Miss Maximoff, but she went after Bucky with a wooden spoon and said that she wasn’t about to have us make more of her than she is. Pietro just laughed and told us that life was easier if we just did what she told us to.”
Runa smiled as she hobbled stiffly to the bureau and opened the top drawer, pulling out clean underthings and her nicer corset. “I’m so stiff I can hardly walk. I didn’t think he did anything to my legs, but they hurt almost as much as the rest of me does.”
“After a beating like the one you took, every part of you will be affected, not just the parts he hurt.” Steve said quietly. “I’ve seen it before, in men who took severe wounds during the war.”
“Good to know I’m not alone in that, then.” She sighed, wincing as she tried pulling her nightgown over her head. Then Steve was there, helping her so she didn’t have to lift her arms so high. “Steve, I can-”
“-You’re not alone.” He told her firmly. “Not now. And you won’t be. Not as long as I can help it.” He tossed her nightgown onto the bed and picked her chemise up from the top of the bureau where Runa had left it. She sighed as together they got it onto her.
“Steve, you don’t have to-”
“I do have to.”
“But you and Bucky-”
“I know what I said last night, but I also said I have every intention of being a good husband to you.” Steve said firmly. “I don’t know how, and it’s going to take some work, but I swear, Runa, I-”
“-I don’t want you to be unhappy.” Runa protested, looking up at him.
“I’m not unhappy.” He promised her. “And I won’t be. I just… I just need time.”
“All right.” Runa agreed quietly. “Time… Well. We have time.”
“Hopefully it won’t take too long.” He said quietly. “I swear to you, I’m going to do the right thing.”
“I know.” She said softly. He would do the right thing. But as much as she wanted him to be happy, she hoped that the right thing involved her, at least a little bit. Even with all the money and property that Phil Coulson had told her she had, Runa didn’t want to go anywhere else. Bluestone was home. Steve was home. Steve… And Bucky.
Can’t I be happy a little bit? She wondered as they got her carefully into her clothes. I just want my own little bit of happiness. Is that too much to ask? Just a little bit of happiness…
Once they got her dressed, Steve brushed out her hair again before putting it into another braid that could best be described as awkward. Then he allowed her to step out, barefoot, and make her careful way to the dining room.
“Missus Rogers.” Wanda smiled, coming into the dining room, wiping her hands on her apron. “It’s so good to see you up.”
Runa managed a smile, “Just Runa, please. And it is good to be up. I want to thank you, for coming out and helping. I don’t know how I would have managed on my own.”
“I don’t think anyone would have let you.” Wanda said seriously, though there was a slight smile on her lips. “But I am here now, so you leave the work to me and work on getting better. You need all the rest you can get to heal up from what that man did to you.” Wanda said, scowling at the mention of Brock, before smiling kindly at Runa once more, “You must be starving. Mister Rogers-”
“-Steve.” He corrected, causing Wanda to flush slightly.
“Steve,” She corrected, “Said that you slept through breakfast. I fried some potatoes with salt pork and onions for you. I’ve been keeping it warm on the back of the stove while I cook dinner.”
“You didn’t have to go to any extra trouble-”
“It was no trouble.” Wanda assured her. “Please, sit. I will get you a plate.”
“She’s certainly efficient.” Runa murmured as she sank into her chair at the foot of the table, nearest to the kitchen door, before frowning. “I should let Wanda sit here-”
“She can sit in Falsworth’s place. It’s right next to you, and still close to the kitchen.” Steve countered. “We’re going to bury him after dinner. Say a few words over the graveside. I thought you might want to be there.”
“I do.” Runa said softly. “I need to be there.”
“Bucky said he’d take a chair out for you. We talked about it, and don’t want you standing that long.” He didn’t say what they were both thinking; she probably couldn’t stand that long, the state she was in.
“That would be a good idea.” She said quietly.
“There was also a letter for you at the mercantile. Scott said it came in on Thursday’s train, but he didn’t think anything about it with the celebrations, knowing we would be coming in this week for supplies.” He pulled a crumpled envelope from his pocket, offering it to her.
Runa frowned, taking the letter and opening it as Wanda placed a plate before her. She thanked Wanda absently, reading the contents, before closing her eyes and forcing back more tears. She had thought she was all cried out after the night before, but it seemed she was wrong.
“What does it say?” Steve asked hesitantly. Runa passed him the letter and he read over it quickly.
My dearest Runa,
The Rumlows are seeking you, for what we do not know. A Pinkerton man is looking for you as well on behalf of your family; I have given him the address off your letter so that he may find you. Be careful. Brock hurt Iris to get her letter from her so he could have your address. He has said nothing to me, so we think that he does not realize I received a letter from you as well. He is looking for you, and it looks as if he will stop at nothing to find you. Alert your husband, so you can both be wary when he arrives.
I pray this letter reaches you in time; I would send a telegram but they are watching us closely and I cannot. Remain safe and vigilant.
Titus
Steve sighed, folding the letter. “I wish we had received his warning sooner, though I understand why he couldn’t warn us outside of a letter. These people…” He shook his head.
“I used to think they were good people.” Runa whispered.
“I know.” He reached out and covered her hand with his own atop the table. “Here. You need to eat a bit of that.
Runa managed to nod, and picked up her fork. She needed to get word to Titus and Iris of what had happened; they had to be worried sick.