Summary: Sneaking out to meet with JB, a ranch hand who works for your family, you share a quiet moment under the stars while keeping the relationship a secret from your father and brothers.
Warning: There isn't necessarily anything triggering, but just to give you a heads-up: Age Gap (18/21) | Power Dynamics
Word Count: 1174
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A/N: I know I said I'd update Winter's Widow but I went for a creative thinking walk, and this is all I've been able to think about since. - Please feel free to leave feedback or let me know where and how you want the story to continue, this is just as much yours as mine. - B
The ranch had settled into the usual nighttime quiet, and the air was warm, still– one of those perfect summer nights. The barn doors had been closed, the horses tucked away, and the ranch hands had turned in for the night. Their snores probably fill the small, shared space. Yet, the bunkhouse lights flickered, indicating that not all were asleep.
You were also not ready to sleep. Sneaking out of the ‘Log Mansion’, you made your way down to an old oak tree just past the stables. A canopy of leaves rustled from the branches stretching high above in the soft breeze. It was a hidden corner of the ranch, your spot, where no one would come looking for you.
Well, except for him.
James ‘Bucky’ Barnes– commonly known as ‘JB’, your family’s best ranch hand and the man who somehow stole your heart. He was supposed to meet you here.
Working for your family, JB lived in the bunkhouse with the others, and he spent his days under the sun, toiling away as if he had everything to prove. He came from a few towns over, looking for work around six years ago, and he quickly became part of the ranch’s rhythm.
No one knew what you both made sure to keep a secret– that between his barn chores and the late-night campfires, you both found something else. Something more.
At the age of eighteen, you were still too young in your daddy’s eyes. And, JB, at twenty-one, was the last person he would approve of for you. He was just another ranch hand, hired to work the land for your daddy. And your brothers– Ari, Curtis, Cole, and Johnny would tear him apart if they ever were to find out.
Leaning against the tree, you gazed up at the stars and a nervous energy bubbled in your stomach. Every time you saw JB, it always felt like the first time again. You never knew if it was his quiet strength or the way his blue eyes saw right through you– but he was someone more than just the man who worked for your daddy.
You were pulled from your thoughts as the soft crunch of boots hit against the dirt. Turning just in time, you saw JB emerging from the shadows, the moonlight outlining his familiar silhouette. The old guitar that he kept stashed in the bunkhouse was being carried in one hand, and his smile was small, almost shy.
“Well, ain’t you a sight for sore eyes, darlin',” he said, coming to a stop in front of you, his frame towered over you. He leaned against the tree, never dropping your gaze.
Blushing, you looked down, kicking your boots in the dirt, trying to play it cool. “I wasn’t sure if you’d come.”
“Oh, darling, you should know by now,” he grinned, his touch was warm and tender as his hand gently cupped your cheek. “I’ll always come when you call.”
You both settled on the ground, his long legs stretching out as he rested the guitar against a thick thigh, plucking a few lazy chords. By now, you were content being near him, even when the air between you was thick with unspoken words and emotions.
There was a mischievous glint in his eyes when he glanced at you. “You wanna hear a song?”
Tucking your hair behind your ear, you nodded. “Yes please, James, but only if you want to.”
Sensing how flustered you were, the smirk on JB’s face deepened. “Oh, I wanna. I’ve got somethin’ I’ve been practicin’ for you.”
The melody was familiar and slow as he strummed a few chords, and it only took another moment for your heart to skip when you recognized the opening notes. It was one of the new songs you had been playing on repeat, one that made you want to slow dance under the stars. Your chest tightened with emotion as you listened to JB play it.
His voice was low and rough as he started singing, but it still had the teasing edge he always had. JB wasn’t just singing a song, he was singing it to you, every word meant to wrap around you and pull up closer.
You had to bite your lip to stop from smiling too wide, his voice sending a shiver down your spine as he began to come to the end of the song.
“You like it?” he asked, though from the way his eyes glanced down to your lips, causing the smirk to reappear across his own, he already knew your answer.
Nodding, you met his gaze, now unable to hide your smile. “It was perfect, James.”
“Yeah? I thought you’d like that one,” he spoke, setting the guitar aside. His knee brushed against yours as he shifted closer. More serious now, his voice lowered as he added, “You know, darlin’, I didn’t just come out here to play you a song.”
Looking up at him, there was something in his at caused your heart to race, and your stomach to flip. “What else did you come for?”
There was a softness in his eyes, one that you had rarely seen before. He reached out, brushing that damned stray lock of hair behind your ear. “I’ve been waitin’ for the right moment, and I reckon,” he paused. “I reckon this is as good as it gets.”
Before you could ask what he meant, he leaned in. His plump lips brushed against yours softly, teasingly, and your heart fluttered in your chest, leaving you wanting more.
When he pulled back, his grin was still in place. “You okay, darlin’?” he asked, eyes locked on yours.
You nodded. “Y-yeah, I’m okay,” you replied, a little dazed and breathless.
“Good,” he murmured, brushing his thumb lightly against your cheek. “I’ve been dyin' to do that.”
He never gave you time to respond, pulling you in and placing another kiss against your lips. This time, he was a little firmer, deepening the kiss. It was everything to you, slow and sweet. Yet, there was a hint of heat and desperation. His hand moved to the back of your neck, holding you closer. Your heart continued to pound in your chest as you melted into him.
You were both gasping for air as you broke apart, and JB smiled down at you, tracing lazy circles over your skin.
“Guess that’ll be added to our collection of little secrets, huh?” he teased.
Nodding, you smiled and looked at him.
Your heart filled with the warmth of your first kiss as you sat under the stars, together, settling in a comfortable silence. This was a memory you would carry with you, forever, even if it had to remain a little secret.
Summary: An encounter at a bar leads to confrontation, and old feelings between you and JB resurface.
Warning: Violence | Sexual Objectification | Controlling Family Dynamics | Tension
Word Count: 2043
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A/N: This was meant to be the prologue but I decided to change the order last night, so I thought I might as well post this chapter since it's already written.- Please feel free to leave feedback or let me know where and how you want the story to continue, this is just as much yours as mine. - B
A cacophony of music, laughter, and a distant clinking of glasses was exactly what you needed. You’d been looking forward to this Friday night all week– getting out of that house, away from the ranch, and the constant watchful eye of your daddy and brothers. It wasn’t often you got to come out; when you did, you tried to make the most of it.
Of course, your daddy wouldn’t have let you come if it weren’t for the fact that Curtis and Johnny were out tonight too. It took some convincing, but when Curtis promised to keep an eye on you, Daddy finally gave in.
“She’s with her brothers, she’ll be fine,” your mama muttered to him as they watched you close the door behind you. And now there you were, surrounded by a noisy crowd, and dim lighting.
Off with their friends, you weren’t too worried about Curtis and Johnny watching you too closely– busy talking about who knows what, and probably ranch business. There was nothing you cared about at that moment, you just wanted to dance.
The wooden boards creaked under your boots as you moved, the fast, upbeat music pulling you onto the dance floor. You couldn’t help but smile as you found your friends among the crowd, and the thick air filled with the smell of beer, and sweat. Letting the music take over, you lose yourself in the rhythm, laughing and spinning around.
Somewhere in the background was JB, you didn’t know his eyes were watching you the entire night. Or, see how they followed you across the room as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and an unreadable expression etched across his face as he watched.
His jaw tightened every time another man got too close to you on the dance floor, and he gripped his beer a little harder whenever you shot a smile toward someone who wasn’t him.
“My god, what I would give to ride that piece of ass,” a slurred voice behind him sneered.
JB turned stiffly, his eyes darkening a deep shade of blue as he caught sight of the moron responsible for the comment– a city slicker, all polo shirt buttoned-up and filled with arrogance. Hearing the guy continue to talk, louder this time, it was clear he was speaking about you, and didn’t know what kind of trouble he’d just started.
Without hesitation or thought, JB made his way across the bar, boots thudding heavily with each step. Curtis called his name, but he didn’t stop. Grabbing the guy by the collar, he saw red as he yanked him to his feet.
There was a tense silence as the confrontation escalated. By then, you watched with alarm as JB’s grip on the man’s collar tightened.
“You talk about her like that again, and I’ll break every bone in your goddamn body,” JB growled, low and dangerous. Fury burned within his eyes. The city slicker’s arrogance was palpable, and a grin spread across his lips.
“You think you scare me, cowboy?” The man sneered, disdain dripping from his voice.
JB clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, trust fund.”
A punch landed hard, knocking JB off balance– the city slicker’s friend, who had been observing from the bar, swung into JB’s side. Rushing towards the chaos, Curtis and Johnny were by JB’s side. From there, everything spiraled out of control.
Now grinning with twisted satisfaction, the city slicker’s friend had made the mistake of thinking he had the upper hand. But, the whole bar knew, JB and the Rogers boys were far from intimidated.
“You wanna go, too?” Johnny growled, his fists clenching as he stared down another one of their friends. “Come on, then. Let’s get this started.”
Patrons scattered, and the laughter was replaced with the clattering of furniture. A barstool came flying through the air, narrowly missing you as you ducked behind a table. Fists flew, and bodies crashed into each other.
Curtis embodied calm fury, casually grabbing a nearby chair and swinging it at one of the city slicker’s friends. The man was sent sprawling into a group of onlookers. Johnny, however, was in the thick of it, trading blows with anyone who flew one, movements fluid and precise as he knocked the opponents backward.
Meanwhile, JB was locked in a brutal exchange with the city slicker– surprisingly who was resilient. They grappled and traded punches, yet as JB’s fury took over the city slicker’s smirk faded.
Just as the fight seemed to reach its peak, Bucked landed another solid blow to the guy, sending him sprawling. He was outmatched and tried to scramble to his feet, but Johnny quickly restrained him. Curtis and a few others started pushing the remainder of the city slicker’s friends toward the exit.
Seeing an opportunity, you ran toward JB, who was now catching his breath, eyes scanning the bar and surveying the damage.
“James,” you softly urged his name, your eyes widened and pleaded as you looked up at him.
He understood immediately, and without needing any further words, he nodded. Making his way toward the door, his hand absentmindedly brushed your arm lightly, leading you toward your brothers.
As you all stepped outside, the night air hit you like a cool wave. The distant sound of sirens reminded you that the sheriff would likely be arriving soon.
Parked just outside, Curtis’ Cadillac Escalade felt like a haven of normalcy, and you settled into the back seat, with JB following close behind.
Johnny, still catching his breath, chuckled as he turned around from the passenger seat, a hint of a grin on his face. “Well, that was one for the books.”
The beams of the headlights swept across the familiar silhouette of the house as Curtis pulled into the long driveway of the ranch. As the engine clicked softly in the silence, you tried to calm your racing heart. There was still the faint smell of beer and sweat in the air, mingling with the scent of the earthy ranch as Curtis turned off the headlights.
JB hadn’t said much since the fight, his arm rested on the back of the seat, not close enough to touch but you could feel the warmth of his body. The tension between you was undeniable.
Curtis stretched with a groan, leather creaking underneath him as he shifted in his seat. “Ari’s not gonna be happy about this,” he muttered, pushing open the door.
Johnny shot you a quick glance, your twin's brow furrowed. “You alright? That was… a lot.”
You nodded, offering him a small smile. “I’m fine. Just glad it’s over.” Johnny didn’t look entirely convinced, but nevertheless, he shrugged before stepping out of the car, following Curtis’ lead.
As your brothers made their way toward the house, you and JB lingered by the car, enveloped in a stillness. Neither one of you spoke for a moment, stretching out the quiet.
“You didn’t have to do that,” you whispered finally, glancing up at him. The faint glow of the moonlight caught on the scruff of his jaw.
Turning his head slightly, he met your gaze. “Didn’t like the way he was talkin’ about you.”
The weight behind his words was something more than anger, you could see it as his blue eyes softened. He had never been the type to let anyone disrespect you, but this was different. This fight wasn’t because of what the guy said– he jumped into it because he needed it.
Your throat felt tight as you swallowed hard. “I can handle myself, James.”
“I know, darlin’” he replied, his voice low. “That doesn’t mean I’m gonna stand around and let anyone treat you like that.”
The words hung in the air, with a heavy intensity. That same protectiveness that once made your heart race, back when things were different between you two. Back when you were more than just the boss’s daughter and another ranch hand. But, that had been around six years ago, and a lot had happened since then.
Shifting on your feet, you suddenly felt exposed under his gaze. It was as if he could still see the parts of you no one else could– the parts you only shared with him.
“You don’t have to protect me anymore, James.” you softly said, the words filled with all the history between you.
His jaw tightened as he looked at you. “Old habits, I guess,” he muttered under his breath, but there was something that made you think tonight wasn’t just about old habits.
This tension wasn’t new to either of you– it had always been there, it even stayed after things ended. Yet, tonight felt different. There was a rawness, a pull that neither of you could ever ignore, no matter how much, or hard you tried.
During that summer it felt like nothing could touch you, between sneaking around, stolen kisses behind the stables, and whispered promises under the stars. You both had been so careful, and it was as if you had carved out a little piece of happiness just for yourselves. However, the reality of your life, your daddy’s expectations, ranch pressure, it had all been too much. And whatever it was that you and JB thought you could have all fallen apart that night when the truth almost came out.
After that, before anyone found out, you ended things. You both decided it was better to break your own hearts than let your family do it for you. But the feelings never disappeared, they were still buried deep, simmering beneath the surface.
Resting his hand on the roof of the car, he turned to face you fully before leaning in just a little. He was close enough for you to feel the heat radiating off him, close enough for the memories of the times you had once shared this proximity to come rushing back.
“You should go inside before they start askin’ questions,” he said firmly.
As your heart pounded in your chest, you bit your lip. You wanted to stay and ask him what this all meant, if maybe after everything, you could try again. But, the rationale Rogers’ part of you knew better. It knew that, whatever this was between you two, it couldn’t happen. Not at the ranch, not with your daddy and brothers watching your every move.
“Goodnight, James,” you whispered, making no move to leave.
His gaze lingered on you a moment longer, he reached up as if to cup your cheek or brush a stray strand of hair behind your ear. But, the connection never came, instead, he dropped his hand and straightened up. Stepping back, he added a distance between you, but not so much that you couldn’t feel the pull between you.
He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbed as if he wanted to say more but he was holding back. Unspoken words always hung between you both, a wall of restraint.
“I’ll see you around, darlin’” he muttered, his voice almost hollow.
As you walked away from him and toward the house, you could feel his eyes on you. You glanced back one last time as you reached the porch, your breathing catching as you saw him standing watching by the car, still.
There was no wave or call out after you. He just stood as a silent figure in the moonlight, waiting until you were safely inside.
A flicker of movement inside caught JB’s eye. Up in one of the upstairs windows, hidden by the curtains partially was your Daddy– Mr Steve Rogers. He was watching the whole exchange, the silent conversation between you two, with his arms crossed, and his usual stern face now etched with a knowing look.
JB could tell by the way the man stood, that he wasn’t pleased. This was not the first time he had caught you and JB sharing moments, especially like this one.
When he spotted your daddy, JB’s entire body stiffened, clenching his jaw for a second. And, at that moment, he stepped away from the window, leaving a clear message as he disappeared into the shadows of the house: whatever this was, it had to stop.
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