Chapter Forty-One
Runa sat in the chair that had been brought out for her at the side of Falsworth’s gave, which had been dug the day before. The plain wooden coffin was lowered into the grave while everyone watched, their hats removed respectfully. Steve stood closer to the gravesite than the others, a worn bible in his hands. He had read several passages from the bible, and had said a few words. Then they all took turns saying a few words over the grave, over their friend. Runa was the one who spoke last.
“Falsworth was a good friend. He taught me how not to be afraid of the horses.” She managed a faint smile, and there were a few chuckles at that. “And at the end, he was one of the bravest men I have ever had the honor of knowing. He ran in to save me, even when he saw a gun pointed at him. He tried to protect me even as he was dying.” She bit her lips together, blinking back tears. “We were so lucky, and so blessed, to have known him and called him a friend.”
There were a few murmurs of agreement, and then Dernier and Morita stepped forward with shovels borrowed from the Bartons, who were also in attendance. Wanda and Pietro had remained at the house as someone needed to keep an eye on Happy Sam, and the twins had not known Falsworth that well. They didn’t want to intrude on the mourning of those who had.
“How are you holding up?” Bucky asked Runa quietly as everyone began to disperse. She looked up at him and gave a wan smile.
“I feel like I’ve just scrubbed the house from top to bottom twice and then did nothing but laundry for a straight week.” She confided, privately pleased when she saw him grin in response to her words. Even though they were mourning a dear friend, they still needed to smile, to laugh. They needed to remember that they were still alive themselves, and find some sort of joy in life. Falsworth wouldn’t have wanted it any other way; he had been too full of the joy of life himself.
“Sounds like how I used to feel after being on the trail for a cattle drive for more than a month at a stretch.”
“That doesn’t sound particularly pleasant.”
“Neither did yours.” He was silent a moment. “Do you want me to help you back to the house? I can’t carry you because of my side, but I can help you along a bit.” He suggested. Bucky had good reason to believe Runa needed help; Runa had insisted on walking to the small area set aside as a family cemetery, but she had only made it three quarters of the way there before she had to stop and Steve needed to carry her the rest of the way.
“Not certain how far I’ll be able to get, even with your help.” She said sadly. “And I know Laura and Wanda will want to visit a bit, but I’m so tired I don’t think I’ll be very good company.”
“I’m certain they won’t mind.” Bucky assured her, “I’ll get Steve to help you. He can at least carry you when you can’t go any further.”
She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Bucky. You’re wonderful, you know.”
“You’re not too bad yourself, darlin’.” He smiled down at her, before going to Steve’s side, telling him quietly that Runa needed to get inside and needed help to manage that. He moved aside and watched the two blondes—his two blondes, he thought possessively—the tall one scooping up the petite one with ease even as she protested he had to let her walk at least part of the way.
“It’s not easy for you, is it? Seeing the two of them together, I mean.” A soft voice said. Bucky looked down, surprised, to see Laura looking at him with sympathy. “I always thought it would be you and Nat, even with how you and Steve acted together, but it’s never been anyone but him, has it?”
Bucky sighed, running a hand through his hair. “No. It’s always been Stevie. Ever since we were kids. God knows I tried to turn my own head with other women, but… It’s always been him.” Bucky knew he could tell this woman anything. He had unburdened himself to her before, was someone she had unburdened herself to a time or two as well. “Now it’s the both of them, and I can’t have either one.”
“Oh Bucky.” Laura said softly, eyes full of sympathy as she moved to embrace him. “I’m sorry. I knew that this situation had to be hard on you, but to develop feelings for her too…”
Bucky hugged Laura, “I’ll get over it. Figure something out.” Bucky sighed. “Once this whole mess with Rumlow is over and we figure out what to do about the ranch I might go visit my Ma for a spell. See if distance helps.”
“We’ll miss you when you go. Are you going to come back?”
“Yeah. I can’t stay away long. Ranch needs me. Maybe a month or so. That might help straighten things a bit in my head.”
“I hope it helps.”
“Me too.” Bucky sighed. “Come on. Wanda said she was going to make cookies if you’d stay and visit for a while, and Runa needs a distraction.”
Laura smiled slightly. “I can be persuaded to stay a while for Wanda’s cookies. I’ll need a ride home, though.”
“We can manage that.”
~*~
Laura wound up staying for two hours before Bucky drove her home. Runa had enjoyed the visit, and the delicious butter cookies that Wanda had made. Still, she was beginning to flag and she knew it.
As Laura left and Runa sank back down into her seat, Junior came into the sitting room hesitantly. They were still using it for its intended purpose during the day; the blankets that the men used as bedding folded neatly and stacked alongside the inner wall so the sitting room could be used.
“Missus Rogers?” Junior asked quietly, causing Runa to look up and smile wearily at him. It seemed that going from Missus Rogers to plain Runa was difficult for all of them. She had decided to stop correcting them. It made her feel awkward, and no doubt did the same to them.
“Yes, Junior?”
“Happy Sam is awake, ma’am. I know you wanted to sit with him, and well, he asked if we had got you back home yet, and when I told him you were here he refused to take any of his medicine until he could see you.”
“Oh Sam.” She sighed, more to herself than to Junior. “I’ll be in directly. Let him know I’m moving a bit slowly, but I’ll be there.” She said as she pushed herself out of her chair with a wince.
“I can help you get there, Missus Rogers-”
“Junior, I’m fine. I can walk through the house on my own power, I promise.” More than that gave her trouble, however, but she knew the only way she would get better was to do as much as possible without hurting herself. And she had things she needed to accomplish before too much longer.
She made her way down the hall and into Happy Sam’s room, managing to sit down in the chair by the bedside and give him a smile. “Sam.” She reached out and took his hand, gripping it tightly. His grip was weak, but he still managed to squeeze her hand in return.
“Missus Rogers. Runa. They got you back.” He rasped out.
“That they did.” She agreed. “It was a very near thing, so I’m told. If not for Cassie Lang, Luis, and Thor Odinson, he would have gotten me on a train headed East. I don’t know what he planned to do after that, and I’m not certain I want to know.”
“Not knowing will help you sleep at night.” Happy Sam told her softly. “I’m sorry, Runa. I should have tried harder-”
“Don’t say that.” She urged. “Sam, you did everything you could before he brought a knife to bear against you. I’m the one who should have tried harder, brought that skillet down on his head instead of his back.”
“Would have cracked his skull like an egg.” He managed to smile.
“That would have saved us all a lot of trouble.” She agreed, smiling slightly. “Now, Junior said you wouldn’t take your medicine until you saw me. Well, you’ve seen me, and you need that medicine so you can get better.” She squeezed his hand again, “And you have to get better, Sam. We’ve already lost one member of our family here. We don’t want to lose you as well. We can’t lose you.”
“I’ll be fine, Missus Rogers. I’ll come out of this just fine with a bit of time and care. Seems like everyone is determined to get me the care part, so I just have to wait out the time.” He hesitated. “I know you need your own medicine and rest, but… Will you sit with me a spell?”
“I will.” She promised him. “You just try and get some rest while I get someone to help with your medicine. I don’t know how much to give you and I don’t want to do it wrong.”