Chapter Text
Woody laid back on a large rock, scratching a sleeping Bullseye behind the ears and watching Jessie draw shapes in the dirt with a stick. Andy had taken the three of them out to the backyard to play rodeo, but left them behind in excitement when his grandma came over for dinner. They stayed in the yard, waiting for Andy to realize where they were and come get them.
“We could sneak back inside if you want,” the cowboy had suggested.
Jessie shook her head no. “The family’s probably downstairs eating. Besides, Bullseye and I haven’t seen this much sun in years. I wanna enjoy it.” Woody couldn’t argue with that, so they’d spent the last almost hour talking and playing games. But now, he and Jessie were quietly watching the sun set while Bullseye slept.
Woody marveled at how close he’d already become to both of them, despite having known them for only a couple of weeks. Maybe it was just because they were all from the same set of toys, but he didn’t feel like that was enough to explain it. While their relationship started off a little rocky, he already had no trouble thinking of Jessie as not just his sister, like her character was meant to be, but as one of his best friends. And Bullseye’s playful and sweet nature had made it easy for him to find a place in the sheriff’s heart.
A question formed in Woody’s mind as he thought about the tired little horse sleeping under his arm. He was surprised he hadn’t thought of it before now.
“Hey Jess,” he asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over them for the last couple of minutes, “do you know if Bullseye had an owner? Before Al?”
Jessie turned toward him, her smile now touched with a little sadness. “I’m not sure. Al got him not too long after he got me. I remember overhearing Al telling somebody that he got Bullseye and some of the other stuff in his collection from something called an estate sale.” She sighed and ran her hand over the horse’s felt mane. “I think that means the person who owned him died, and all their stuff was sold.”
Woody’s eyes widened. “That’s awful.” Without thinking, he pulled Bullseye closer to himself. The horse stirred, but didn’t wake up.
“Yeah,” the cowgirl agreed. “The poor boy’s been through a lot. He hated being in storage as much as I did. Don’t know what I would’ve done without him though.”
”Well, I’m glad you’re both here now,” Woody said, smiling.
The back door opened before Jessie could respond, and Andy scooped the three of them up with enthusiasm. “Hey Grandma, look at my new cowgirl and horse!” he said, running back into the house to show off his toys.