[Old West]

[onlyforthedream]

It's somewhere Bucky's always wanted to go. Timeless wonder, my dad used to say. I can hear the words clear as day, even though my mind had been elsewhere at the time of the discussion. When Bucky told me he wanted to be a park ranger. It doesn't just seem like another lifetime, I think it officially is one.

Having been to the real thing, I have to say, the island's created a 1:1 copy. The fact that I was startled out of my thoughts by it is the reason I'm in front of Bucky's place with two fully loaded packs and a borrowed horse.

If anyone needs to get out of their thoughts, even if just for a few minutes, it's Bucky.

"Bucky!" I call, rapping a hand briefly on the door to the homestead.

"Come on, we're burning daylight!"

Comments

[onlyapassenger]

Jumping into action at a barked order is more than reflex, it's instinct, one that kept Bucky alive through a war -- mostly. He's up and out of bed before his conscious brain's caught up with the rest of his body, his feet already shoved into dark leather cowboy boots by the time he realizes he ought to still be trying for a restless sleep. His alertness comes in waves; he knows it's Steve on the other side of that door, and he knows that he sounds too cheerful for this to be an emergency. Moreover, had something gone wrong, he wouldn't have taken the care to knock.

Curious and confused, Bucky shuffles towards the door, resting heavily against the frame as he swings it open and takes in the scene in front of him.

"This some kinda joke?"

[onlyforthedream]

"Am I laughing?" I heft his pack in one hand and nod my head toward the lightening sky behind me.

"Get Virginia saddled up, we've got someplace to be."

[onlyapassenger]

"No, but you're clearly insane," replies Bucky, pressing forefinger and thumb to the inside corners of his eyes, trying to wipe away the residual sleep. He's not gotten much of it lately, Natasha's absence most keenly felt at night when there's no one to help chase away the nightmares. He runs himself ragged instead, hoping that if he's exhausted enough, he'll earn the dreamless sleep he craves.

It says something for his trust of Steve that despite lingering doubts for his friend's sanity, there's no question Bucky'll follow. He eyes the two packs.

"For how long?"

[onlyforthedream]

"Just a day," I reply. This, I will never take for granted. Bucky has every reason to be distrustful of the world, but he's going to go along with this. Because I'm asking him to.

[onlyapassenger]

"I'll leave the kid a note," Bucky sighs, disappearing from view for a few minutes to pull on some actual clothes and scribble a quick message -- Out with Steve. Everything's fine. Back tomorrow. -- for Jason to find upon waking. Pairing his faded jeans and dark boots with a navy blue shirt, scarlet bandana, and black cowboy hat, Bucky closes the front door behind him, and moves to prep Virginia for the ride.

"You gonna tell me where we're goin'?"

[onlyforthedream]

"Thought I'd let it be a surprise," I say, following. Other than the almost burgundy brown boots I found in my house, everything else is varying shades of beige, dusty white, and ashy browns. The hat is white.

The end result is, we cut considerably different figures for being so similarly dressed.

[onlyapassenger]

"'Cause you know how much I like those," replies Bucky from over his shoulder, letting his hands go through the familiar motions of saddling Virginia. He's too tired to think about it.

[onlyforthedream]

"Humor me," I tell him, watching him put the tackle together and setting the bulky pack of supplies by his feet but out from under Virginia's. I go back to my borrowed horse, who bobs his head a little, and strap my own across the back of the saddle.

[onlyapassenger]

"What's it look like I'm doing," Bucky mutters, pulling a long piece of straw from Virginia's mane when he's done loading the gear. With a quick pat to her head, he moves to mount her, swinging a leg over her back and sitting down heavily, the action graceless from lack of sleep. Virginia whinnies in protest, shuffling forward a few steps as though to jar him awake. Bucky rolls his eyes.

"Sorry, sorry," he tells her. "I'm up, I swear."

[onlyforthedream]

I vault easily up into the saddle and pull the horse's head around, heading him for the track of dust that passes for a road this far south of the town center. I brought two wrapped parcels of bread, the first of the day, and whatever the kitchen crew wrapped up at my request. They didn't seem too surprised to see someone there that early, but I was grateful all the same. I offer one of the plain brown wrapped packages to Bucky, holding it out across the space between our horses.

[onlyapassenger]

Bucky arches a brow, but accepts the package the same as he did the rest, tucking it away for now.

"That it or can we get a move on to your mystery spot?"