Chapter 4

When Steve and Bucky wake up, they are cared for by strangers in a strange home. Together, they recall their what happened and find strength to move forward.

As Steve opened his eyes, he found himself in an old wooden room, above a hay stock roof, and a space contained to the brim with family portraits and heirlooms. A family, he knows nothing of.

Is this a dream?

Why is he here?

Why is there excruciating pain in his lower leg?

….

He thought he was dreaming, but after closing his eyes tightly, he opened them, he was still here. He had intense flash back of the thieves, the sword fights, defeat and Bucky, oh Bucky!

In utter confusion, shock and discomfort greatly brewed inside him. He felt his ankle and the gentle touch felt like a knife stab – his ankle was broken – because he was hanging upside down and cut the rope. But now, his heroic stunt has locked him in some stranger's cottage.

He fretfully scanned the dimly lit room; Bucky was nowhere to be found. In desperation, Steve gently begged, "Bucky are you here?"

The beg turned to a quiet plea, "Bucky, where are you?"

Then he forcefully yelled, "Bucky!"

He heard a creek from a door slowly open, the creek was a surprise Steve recoiled from yet desired to see all at once. Steve was feeling panic turn into full fledge fear. The person was discreet, only the shadow in the bedroom floor was present. Instinctively, Steve loudly exclaimed in defense, "Whoever you are, I'm not afraid of you! And whatever you have done to my friend, you are not…"

The door opened; the strangers face was revealed in the ambient glow of the candle lit room. The stark deep, dark timber brown contrasting the white snow on an amiable young woman stopped Steve from strangling the unknown shadow into submission.

The woman gently stated, "Sir, I mean no harm."

Steve felt ashamed as sat deep into his bed. He felt dumbfounded to seem so rash and ravage. He stumbled, beginning, "Misses, oh, ummm…"

He paused, re-composed himself, in discomfort asked, "And, Umm Where am I? Have you, you seen – a man in…"

She asked with a hint of pretense, "The friend with blue eyes and brown hair?"

Steve felt deep relief, "Yes! That is him, that's my friend, Bucky! Have you seen him? Do you know where he is? Is he still alive…"

She stepped in, interrupting his rambling spiral, "Your friend is safe and sound. Crutches are on your bedside, come down when you're ready. I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on"

Her amusement was not relieving, for he still boiled in the midst of confusion and unfamiliarity. But her hospitality was incompatible with criticism. Steve composed an earnest smile, "Miss, thank you."

She earnestly asked, "Your name Sir?"

He said with strength, "Steve Rogers, and yours is?"

She said, "Maria Hill, but call me Maria."

She curtseyed to him and closed the door.

Steve saw the crutches by his bedside. He put them under his armpits and started gingerly hopping. It was challenging to say the least. And each wobbly step made him hyper conscious of the next hop.

He heard laughter, conversation, and the clink of utensils to plate. As soon as Steve was visible to the group, the chorus of conversation switched to curiosity or discomfort. But Steve could not read the stranger's impressions of him. Then, out of the mix of strangers, his dearest friend stood up.

Bucky exclaimed, "Steve, you are up!"

Bucky's words hit Steve. He felt more alienated, but without hesitation Bucky continued, "Steve this is Maria, this is her husband William. They found us in the woods."

Bucky's eyes pleasantly lifted, he glanced into Steve's eyes to see confusion turn to comfort, but Steve was further stupefied and frozen in his stature. Steve was hit with reality of the situation, he was still in shock, but slowly comforted by Bucky's presence.

Steve observed their stature and wealth, probably lower-middle class folk. Maybe merchants or tradesmen but the house was well kept, with ancient, traditional English folk antiquities to the brim.

Steve asked himself Why were these people helping us?

Steve squinted at the hospitable strangers and blurted, "Wait…"

Steve looked at the strangers (Maria and William) then back at Bucky.

Maria politely interjected Steve's breathless confusion, "When we were riding home, you folk looked wretched. My husband rescued you both and saw it that both of you should live to see tomorrow."

Bucky gripped Steve's shoulder and elatedly spoke, "They found us after the attack."

Bucky looked at William and Maria. He displayed affection for their kindness, but Steve was a little skeptical. His apprehension shown brightly, but the couple did not challenge Steve.

Maria showed Steve to a chair and Bucky pulled it back for Steve. Steve felt truly cumbersome. He sat down and saw the tin plates, with ham, break, seasonal vegetables, and cranberry pie sprawled out. Steve did not eat, he sharply asked, "Ummm, So do you do this often?"

William chuckled, "Only if I have to."

Steve sat in discomfort, he defensively replied, "We are strangers, you don't know us."

William let out a deeper laugh, "True, but what were you going to do to me?"

Steve turned red hot, he let out a sigh, and felt his jaw loosen, "True, but, how did you find us?"

William started, "Well, I heard a man screaming 'Help.'"

Bucky nervously grimaced, but said, "Yes, yes, I remember…"

Steve heard this story for the very first time. William slowly continued, "And I was nervous. But, the voice sounded honest."

Steve looked in him, William leaned back, "As I was going down Timberlake trail, the voice was growing inch by inch."

Suddenly, William's voice sounded startled, "Then, I saw you two. I have lived here my whole life and these trails have infamous stories. Tales of outlaws, robbers, mischiefs, and murders have roamed these woods, but company like yours usually do not meet each other."

William continued, Steve was afraid to hear what would come next, "When I came closer to your friend screaming, I felt so bad for the both of you. Your friend Bucky, laid their wheezing with an inch of his life left. There you were, alongside him asleep, but I thought you were dead. I asked your friend in shock, 'what happened?', he could barely speak, but he said, 'we were robbed, I was stabbed and my friend is unconscious' And I asked him nothing more because I knew if I did not take you in, I'm sure Bucky would have died."

Steve stoically continued, "I… I thank you, But really, you should not have taken us, we would have been fine."

Bucky had to severely disagree; he shook his head while rolling his eyes. William leaned in and confessed, "Ohh, no. No no no. The moment I saw you, I have never seen two men as such in such dire circumstances."

William looked at Maria then to the shell-shocked men, "We felt it was important to do this."

William poured himself a large serving of liquor into his ancient goblet. William confidently sat the goblet in his hands and started, "You seem to be a rather stoic man. I applaud your humility, but it's not always going to be that easy."

William's presence was entirely felt at the roundtable, but his thought was guided to reach Steve, his voice deepened, "Young man, there is a difference between being a hero and being a martyr so try and not confuse the two."

William locked eyes, smiled at Steve, but the firmness in his convictions discomforted Steve. Steve felt the honesty churn his stomach, but the truth stung him like an electric shock.

He nervously readjusted his body, "Yes, umm thank you."

Maria kindly smiled and William bowed his head. Steve grimaced and looked down at his plate and as he began to help himself to food. Two small children were glued to his every move.

Bucky saw the tension in Steve, and began to break the ice, "Maria the food is delicious."

Maria smiled and stepped in, "Thank you."

The tension between the strangers and Steve were still churning, thus Bucky stepped in to shift the attention.

Bucky said, "I have not told them yet." He looked to Steve and patted his back in attempt to ease him, "My friend Steve and I went on this trail to create a new life for ourselves in Essex."

Maria kidded, "And have an adventure along the way?"

Bucky released a small smile, for the past was almost behind him, but Steve did not feel the same. Then, Bucked gulped, shifted to a darker shadow, "Well, Umm, we did not plan that. And now we must make do with where we are."

Bucky, Maria, and William discussed Bucky's future. Bucky discussed their hopes for future work and their home. Steve listened to their conversation and intermittently added in a word.

After Bucky updated William, William openly stated, "Well lads, I have a pair of horses you could have and a beat-up wagon, therefore you (he pointed Bucky) can ride the way to Essex, while your friend recovers. You both are one of the most resilient band of fighters my eyes have come across in decades. I have no hesitation to send you off and away later today."

William sounded completely honest and open. Bucky showed a burst of excitement, but Steve underwhelming shook his head, the severe contrast was felt. But, Maria continued the gift giving ceremony, "Yes and we are well stocked for this Spring season. If you allow us, we can pack you both with a journey's worth of food too."

Steve interrupted, "We can't accept that."

Bucky begged to his friend, "But Steve…"

Steve overpowered him, "Bucky, I said.."

William looked at his wife and said, "It's better this way. We would want you both to have this; there's nothing more to it."

Maria smiled at them, in hopes they would swallow their pride and receive what was being given to them.

Steve shook his head, "Okay, we will take it."

Bucky dearly smiled to his friend. He knew accepting did not come easy to Steve, but this small step forward would surely be beneficial in the long run.

Maria sweetly replied, "Wonderful."

William started again, "Gentlemen, I also know a man who could use your strength. You could get a working wage."

Bucky's curiosity seized him, "What's his trade?"

William added, "His name is Thor. He is the finest craftsman in these lands. He is a man of many talents, trades, and has made quite a name for himself. He makes swords, shields, and weaponry of all kind. I might warn you; he has a reputation for being blunt and somewhat eccentric (he is not local to these lands), but he has a strong heart. On the other hand, his brother Loki is a back-stabbing, conniving, little…"

William changed his shade, but Maria interjected, "Dear, now, now; don't worry them…"

Steve firmly said, "Thanks, but we can handle our own."

Maria heavily breathed in, but William shook his head in contained fury, "I have had some business losses all thanks to that noble-hearted man's, impudent brother."

His last words sounded like raging spit, but one look at Maria and William's fury damped, "But, forget that now… I recently traded with Thor, he said he's looking for strong, committed workers. From what I see, I'm sure could use a hand or two. How does that sound?"

They had no game plan, no place to call home, no friends, family, no job, nothing was there for them to grab and hold onto it as if they partially owned it.

Bucky said, "We will certainly meet the man, thank you William."

William smiled, "My pleasure."

The rest of the afternoon, the two men cleaned, wrapped, then bandaged their wounds. Meanwhile Maria created a food basket with a small, leather money sack on the hidden-on bottom of the fruit basket (unbeknownst to the men). And William saddled up the horses, cleaned the wagon, and put a leather bag full of maps for the boys.

The two wobbled on their new wagon. Steve sat in the back, while Bucky sat in the front. When the two finally made it, they looked at the family who gave so much to complete strangers. As Steve laid down, something hit him. Finally, something overwhelmed his soul, his heart bubbled with – hope, faith, and a deep belief in humanity.

Just as Steve and Bucky were about to wash away, he said to the Hill family, "We are forever indebted to you both."

William smiled in spirit, and with said with a chuckle, "We wish you both, safer travels."

Steve and Bucky chuckled at the underlying meaning of his words. Steve stoically bowed his head at William. Bucky yelled, "Many thanks, to you and your family."

Bucky snapped his reigns and clicked his mouth, "Now, come on, Yee-haw!"

Bucky waved a subtle goodbye and the family watched them head into the distance.

One week later

Steve exhausted, exasperated, it had been one week, and they were still many miles from Essex. Something had been on Steve's mind, "Bucky I need to tell you something."