The stakes have never been higher for Applejack when a small matter of love turns into an all out showdown at Dodge Junction. Can Applejack get her feelings off her chest? Or will she not only lose Cherry Jubilee but also her life?
When it came to matters of romance, Applejack never seemed to give much thought to it. Whether it was gabbing about the available stallions around town to when Trenderhoof came around in what could decidedly be called a flirtatious manner. The truth was, by that time her heart had already been captured by a right pretty mare from Dodge Junction.
The blonde mare had never considered confessing until recently, feeling sure that Cherry wouldn't feel the same way. But keeping it inside and letting it eat away at her, it just wasn't going to let her be. So as she often did, Applejack would make her next trip out to Dodge Junction to help Cherry on the farm, earn some bits, and finally, maybe, let slip how she felt about the older mare.
Except things hit a bit of a snag when a stallion keeps coming around bothering Cherry with bandits coming around not too long after. Can Applejack survive laying it all down on the line for a mare that has no idea how she really feels? Or is she gonna be the newest resident of Dodge Junction's boot hill?
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Yeah, no idea when this is being set in the main story, just an idea I came up with born from the desire to see more CherryJack on this site. Because trust me, there is never enough CherryJack here.
So yeah, just go along and have fun with it. I got no plans as I type this so I'll figure out how the story goes as it goes. XD
Rated T just to be safe and probably because of swearing. XD
Applejack was... well, she didn't want to use the word simple because ponies took that the wrong way. No it was more she knew what she wanted and that was that. It didn't do to just fumble around it like Fluttershy did or try to avoid it completely like others tried, she got tended to get right to it when it came to how she felt. "Nope."
That bluntness she could have at times seemed to not take well with her friend Rarity, who's snout scrunched up while Applejack casually sipped at her soda. They'd made a compromise and gone to Hayburger, something that Rarity "begrudgingly" agreed to even as she ordered the chili hayfries and had scarfed them down. "Really darling, what's wrong with that one?" she asked, motioning to the stallion ordering. "He looks handsome enough and I know he's quite nice."
"Rares, would ya' quit tryin' ta' set me up with ponies?" said Applejack, looking well and truly over the matter as she bit into her hayburger. "Ya' can point out all the stallions n' mares ya' want, but Ah'll do the pickin' when Ah'm good n' ready."
"And that seems to be taking forever!" said Rarity, the slightest whine to her voice as one might hear in an impatient child that had been forced to wait in line. "I can't even recall the last time I saw you on a date!"
"Not all o' us gotta' have our Friday nights occupied with a date." said Applejack, rolling her eyes and continuing to be glib about the matter. Which was pretty hard to do since when Rarity had her mind set on something it was like trying to get a dog away from a bone. Just would not give up. "Sides, Ah got work ta' do, can't just drop all that."
"And I think you always use that as an excuse." harrumphed Rarity, crossing her forelegs and eying Applejack as the blonde mare suddenly felt a little uneasy. "Really, I do know the amount of work you have and a last minute date is do-able. So why keep throwing that up, hmm?"
Fishing, she was just fishing. No reason to worry. "Well it's important fer' me to keep on top of mah work." she said smoothly, going for another sip of her soda.
"Or... perhaps you already have somepony you like?"
A small pause before her lips touched the straw. Dangit she caught that! Applejack could see Rarity's eyes widen. "You do!" accused the fashionista.
"... whether Ah do er' not ain't nothin' fer discussion." said Applejack, already knowing she was a damn bad liar and trying for it would just delay the inevitable. Her ears tilted back a bit, the cowpony wincing slightly at her friend's excited squeal.
"Oh! Who? Who darling? I simply must know!" said Rarity, as giddy as a school filly, almost bouncing in her seat as she expected Applejack to gush forth with a name and her unending, burning feelings of passion and love for this pony!
Instead Applejack sighed, gobbled down the last of her burger and swigged what was left of her soda before standing up "Ah gotta' go. Need ta' get some chores done fer' Ah go out ta' Dodge Junction. Talk to ya' later." With swiftness she left Rarity and Hayburger behind, quickly galloping off on the familiar old dusty road out to her family farm. Once she was sure she had put enough distance between them, she slowed to a trot and just took it easy the rest of the trip back. Why did Rarity have to be so gosh dang observant at times? And pry in when she wanted to know something?
Applejack used her work to temporarily forget about it, feeding the animals, tending to things, having a nice supper with her family. And it worked for a time, when sleep rolled around she was all tucked in, hat resting on a bed post and hair bands on the night stand. However as she started to drift off, she began seeing her... the mare with the light, fair coat and cherry red mane and tail. Applejack frowned softly but didn't open her eyes, instead shifting over onto her side as she tried to think about something else. Chores to do tomorrow, fun she'd have with her friends, hanging out with her siblings and granny... those pretty, lime green eyes.
Finally her own green eyes opened once more as she turned onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. These feelings had just been getting stronger ever since she stumbled upon them. She'd always put them off though, having come up with a couple good excuses as to why acting on them would be a bad idea but they just wouldn't go away. She did have somepony she liked. And that somepony was Cherry Jubilee.
Liked was putting it mildly though. Applejack moved her forehooves under her head as she thought about the older mare. She was nice as could be, hard worker, a little bit ditzy at times but it was cute, not to mention she was absolutely gorgeous. They liked a lot of the same things and she had an admiration for Cherry and everything she'd accomplished in her life.
When she finished thinking all those wonderful things, Applejack paused before letting out a small groan, forehooves moving to cover her face. But she was so far away, would the age difference bother Cherry? What would Granny and the rest of her family say about this?
Running her hooves up through her mane, Applejack turned onto her side again, seeing a picture of her family, parents included, on the night stand. At least if there was one thing she learned from her parents, it was that you couldn't help how you felt about somepony, that was for sure. And no matter what, family would come around sooner or later.
... and that if you tried hard enough, you could make it work between you and that special somepony your heart wanted.
These thoughts emboldened Applejack, who gave a silent nod as she finally came to a decision. She had about a week before she was off to Dodge Junction to help on Cherry Jubilee's cherry farm. When she was there, she was going to put her cards on the table and let the mare know how she felt.
Of course even as she smiled and closed her eyes to catch some sleep, content for the moment, it was going to be a long week of going back and forth on whether or not she should actually go through with it...
After going back and forth that week about whether or not to confess, Applejack could confidently say... she was still going back and forth on it even during the whole train ride. At the moment the blonde mare was leaning against the side of her window seat, staring out at the landscape that had changed from lush green to a still lively desert. She'd faced Nightmare Moon, Discord, a Chimera, and a whole slew of other things over the years but she was still ready to turn tail and run at the prospect of telling Cherry how she felt. Wasn't that a kick in the teeth?
There was a call from the conductor that they were coming up at Dodge Junction and then they were coming to a halt. Applejack took a deep breath before collecting her saddlebags and getting off her rump, heading to the exit of the train car onto the platform. It wouldn't take long to pick out Cherry from the crowd, the woman stood out with how distinctive she was from her style to her personality. Without a thought, a bright smile came to Applejack's face as she raised a hoof and waved to the older mare before trotting over to meet her. "Hey there Cherry!" she greeted.
"Applejack!" she said, a smile on her face that reached up to those warm green eyes as she pulled the cowpony into a quick hug, causing the smallest skip to happen in Applejack's heart. "Good ya' got here safe n' sound! Now let's get goin', them cherries ain't gonna' pick themselves!"
"Gotcha'." said Applejack, giving a nod before trotting along with the older mare towards Cherry Hill Ranch. "So how ya' been?"
"Oh fine since ya' last saw me, sugarcube." she said, sending a smile Applejack's way that sent that heart skipping again. "Ain't nothin' to tell ya' about, jes' the usual work each day. How 'bout you?"
"Same more or less."
"No savin' the world last Ah saw ya'?" teased the red haired mare.
"Nothin' like that lately." Applejack joked in turn. "Nah lately it's been pretty quiet s'far as dealin' with emergencies n' such. Been pretty nice actually."
"Ah bet. Couldn't imagine bein' on call n' called away from mah work. Ah mean Ah'd do it of course but it just seems like it'd be hard on yer life." mused Cherry.
"A bit yeah." admitted Applejack with a nod.
From there they made small talk that Applejack found enjoyable, talk about work, rodeos, what was going on in each other's corner of the worlds. It was just the right amount of lively but also mellow and easy going at the same time. Applejack found she could talk to Cherry about a lot of things and there was rarely a dull moment. She really liked that...
Once they reached Cherry Hill Ranch, she'd be shown to a room in the mare's very own home. Cherry wouldn't set her to work right away, instead letting her get comfortable first and having a bite to eat before they headed out into the orchard. By now Applejack was used to harvesting cherries, the trees weren't as strong and sturdy as apple trees so one had to be more careful in knocking them down from the tree with just the right amount of force in a kick.
Both she and Cherry would work the area, shaking and lightly bucking the trees, collecting cherries in the baskets and doing it all over again. It was nice, peaceful work, didn't need any gums flapping and that was how Applejack liked it sometimes. There was a sort of serenity to it that not many people understood. But as nice as it was to just work, Applejack knew she had another goal while here so with that in mind she cleared her throat to get Cherry's attention "So." she began but her mind drew a blank on how to continue.
"So?" repeated Cherry with a teasing smile as she gently bucked another tree.
"Uh..." dangit, this was no time to get tongue-tied! "Rarity tried settin' me up with random stallions n' mares not too long ago."
"Oh yeah? Any catch yer' fancy?" asked Cherry, seeming distracted for a moment as she noticed something down the path.
"Nah, not really." said Applejack, giving a light shrug and a smile, not noticing that the other seemed distracted "Ah mean, Ah got somepony Ah like but-"
"Why Cherry Jubilee as Ah live and breath." called a stallion that was trotting up to them. He was tall and had some muscle on him, his coat a ruddy brown with dark green hair, mane styled short along with the tail and a mustache growing from his upper lip. He was dressed in a vest and while he wore a friendly smile, there was something in those orange eyes that Applejack didn't quite like. Especially with how they were looking at Cherry Jubilee and making her uncomfortable.
"Draw Out." Cherry said, sounding civil but looking as if she'd rather be anywhere else. "It's been awhile. What brings ya' back ta' Dodge Junction?"
The stallion with the royal flush cutie mark grinned and said "Jes' came by to talk a bit. Though perhaps we should talk away from the help." he said, glancing over to Applejack, his words making the blonde mare's temper spike a bit.
"She ain't help, she's a friend. Now let's go talk." said Cherry, trotting off with Draw Out and leaving Applejack alone. The blonde gave a small huff and went back to work, not liking the stallion in the slightest. There was just something oily about him that put her off. She'd collect from a few more trees before Cherry came back, looking a bit uneasy but fine over all.
"You okay?" asked Applejack.
"Jes' fine, sugarcube. Let's get back to work." said Cherry, in a tone where Applejack thought better than to push the subject. The silence this time as they worked was just a little more tense and less serene than what she liked.
They worked into the late afternoon, collecting cherries and then separating the good from the bad ones before heading off to dinner. By then Cherry had regained her usual vivacious personality that it put Applejack at ease, thinking that there was nothing to worry about with that stallion from earlier. At least that was what she had thought until she passed by the main foyer and saw Draw Out waiting there, looking like he'd just let himself in. "S'alright sugarcube." assured Cherry, placing a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Y'all jes' head on up to yer room, Ah got some business to be dealin' with."
"You sure?" asked Applejack, looking uncertain.
"Yeah. Ah'll be fine, you just go." assured Cherry again, giving Applejack one last smile before heading into the main foyer while Applejack headed up the stairs. Despite how uneasy the blonde felt, she still managed to stay in her room for about ten minutes before coming back down as quietly as she could. The place was very well maintained so no chance of squeaky loose floorboards. She got to the top of the stairs when what she heard from the foyer made her blood start to boil.
"Draw! Ah said get offa' me!"
"C'mon now sugar~" came the stallion's oily voice "Ya' know what we got is pure magic. Obviously ain't somethin' ya' ever had after me since Ah don't see no ring."
"Ah said get off!" said Cherry before there came the sound of a solid hit and a body hitting the floor. Applejack was down the stairs quick as lightning, eyes taking in the scene of a ruffled looking Cherry next to a sitting couch while Draw Out was on the floor. Surprised by the blonde mare's sudden entrance, Cherry took her gaze off the stallion for a moment "Applejack?! What are you-?"
"You miserable..." growled Draw, rubbing his jaw and glaring at Cherry. However, before he could make a move Applejack was quick to be by Cherry's side, glaring daggers at him.
"Ya' better leave. Now." she warned.
"... fine." he said, grunting as he pulled himself up onto his hooves "But this ain't over. Me n' mah ex-wife still got lots ta' talk about." With that he turned and trotted off to the door, leaving a stunned Applejack behind to look over at a grimacing Cherry.
Finally with a sigh, Cherry said "Ah suppose y'all 'r curious now."
"A l'il yeah." admitted Applejack.
"Let it wait 'til the monin', sugarcube. It's a long story..."
Normally it wouldn't be hard for Applejack to sleep, not with a bed as soft yet firm as this one. But after what just happened with Draw Out there were a lot of thoughts buzzing around her head. The primary of which being what this meant for her and Cherry. Cherry had been married, to a stallion, and she'd never heard of the most prestigious mare in Dodge Junction every being sweet on another mare. Bad news that left her on shaky ground but also had her wondering why now was that earth pony back in town, coming around Cherry? It couldn't of been good, not if tonight was any indication. Applejack could feel herself prickling up a bit at the thought of him hurting Cherry. Well that certainly didn't help her get to sleep...
Eventually she had what could be called a light nap before the day broke, Applejack dragging herself out of bed and heading down stairs. The kitchen was just as fine yet also as homey as everything else in Cherry's home, a sort of old homestead style that was pretty much the only kind of fancy decoration that Applejack liked. At least with the way Cherry did it... she totally wasn't biased.
Cherry was already up as well, done up as pretty as a doll as she cooked up a proper ranch breakfast with wheat toast, eggs, and hash browns. "Mornin' sugar." she said, a beautiful yet tired smile on her face "Ya' look like somethin' the cat dragged in." she teased.
"Had a lot on mah mind." replied Applejack, smiling a bit sheepishly as she took a seat at the table. "Ya' want help with anythin'?"
"Nah, Ah got it. Oh! Ah almost forgot though!" she said, heading over to the cupboard to take out two mugs, setting them on the table before taking an oven square into her mouth so she could get the coffee off of the stove. Once she'd poured two cups for them and she put it back, she asked "How you like it, sugar?"
"Two sugarcubes n' some milk." requested the blonde mare, not sure how to feel about being served like this. On the one hand she wanted to help out if she could since that was just the way she was. But on the other.... it was kind of nice. A nice way to spend the morning with a good breakfast and Cherry. She noted that Cherry liked to take her coffee with just milk as she sipped at her own mug. "So, last night..." she began after a bit, wanting to know more about this stallion.
"... right. Guess we're gettin' to it." said Cherry, her smile growing more weary as she took a seat. "Well as you know he's mah ex-husband. A long while back we got hitched n' things jes' fell apart."
"But why is he back now?" asked Applejack, giving a light tilt of her head.
"If I had to guess, he's hit a rough patch in his gambling n' is lookin' fer a way to supplement his income." sighed Cherry, giving a light shake of her head. "Always been that way. When he was good, he was red hot. When he was red hot he could lose the horseshoes off his hooves."
"N' why's he thinkin' he can get anythin' from you? Does he own part o' the property?"
"Nah, Ah kept mah farm when it was all said n' done, Ah just paid him a hefty sum." she paused for a moment before sighing "N' custody."
"... custody of... a foal?" asked Applejack, thrown for another loop again, that much obvious on her face when her eyes widened some.
"Mm-hm. L'il Morello. Ah didn't want to..." she admitted, looking down at her coffee with a great sadness in her eyes. "But... after e'erything, all the hard work Ah put into this place. Ah just... couldn't." she said before giving a soft sigh "Ah hope he knows Ah left it all to him though, ta' make up fer' givin' him up to that stallion. Ah still write to him, usually he sends a letter mah way every now n' then, no matter where he and Draw Out move to."
"Cherry. Ah just... Ah dunno how ya' could do that." said Applejack, still stunned at hearing all of this and honestly feeling a little outraged that Cherry gave up her child like that. However, before she could express that feeling, she flinched at the sharp look Cherry gave her.
"Don't think Ah made that decision lightly, AJ. Ah agonized over it!" she said, tone not snappish but it'd get there if Applejack tried to give her any lip. "Imagine if'n ya' had to give up yer' farm or Applebloom, it's that hard a choice!"
And really Applejack didn't have anything to say to that. Giving up a family member was horrible, but to give up her home and the home her parents had worked hard on... yeah, that would be a difficult decision she didn't think she could make. "... Ah'm sorry. Ah didn't mean to imply nothin'."
"Its fine." said Cherry, not quite sounding fine but her gaze was softening. "Ah don't like what Ah had to do. It didn't make things any easier but what happened is what happened. Only thing ta' do is to keep goin'." Taking another sip of coffee, there was a sudden smell of something burning. "Oh mah stars! Ah forgot the food!" she yelped, quickly getting up and heading to the stove, salvaging what she could but having to start over on the eggs. Once that was done, Cherry put two plates of breakfast on the table for them and they would eat in silence for awhile.
"... think Ah could stick around a bit longer if'n Draw Out is stayin'?" asked Applejack before putting a bite of hash browns into her mouth.
"Ya' don't gotta' do that sugar. Ya' got yer own farm ta' take care of." said Cherry, but giving a soft smile as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Ah insist. Ah can spare a couple more days just ta' make sure things'll be fine." she'd have to put in a telegram home to make sure they would know she was staying on for a bit longer of course. It was hard to put off going home when there was always something to do, but something about Draw Out just had her uneasy.
"Well alright, jes' don't stick around too long. Ah'm sure it'll all blow over anyway." said Cherry, finishing off her breakfast before picking up her plate to take to the sink, Applejack doing the same soon enough. "... Ah gotta' admit, Ah'm glad Ah told ya'. Not something Ah've ever told anyone Ah think."
"Yeah?" asked Applejack, a smile coming to her face, a bit of happiness in her heart knowing Cherry trusted her that much.
"Yeah. Jes' real easy to talk to ya' Ah guess." she said, finishing with the dishes before grinning to Applejack, lightly bumping her rump with the blonde's as she said "Now c'mon, plenty a work to get done today!" she said, trotting out and having missed the small blush that had come to Applejack's face.
Work in the orchard was another pleasant experience for Applejack, it was just her and Cherry in their section, collecting cherries and putting them in the cart. Small talk was made in between comfortable bouts of silence, the younger mare just enjoying this simple pleasure up until Cherry seemed to realize something. "Y'all said ya' fancied somepony yesterday, right?" she asked, grinning when that caused a small blush to come up on Applejack's face. "Now ya' got me curious. Just who's the lucky pony you wanna be sweet on?"
"Uh... that's uh, kinda personal Cherry." said Applejack, starting to feel the other's gaze on her, trying to find the truth.
"C'mon now sugar." said the older mare, a brow quirking at seeing Applejack being so shy on this matter. "Ya' sounded like ya' were ready to say who yesterday. N' now after this mornin' Ah'd a thought we could share just 'bout anything."
"W-well..." said Applejack, not sure what to do as far as stalling went.
"Is it someone Ah don't know?" asked Cherry, watching as Applejack seemed to squirm only a little bit. "... someone Ah know?" Oh, that was a better squirm right there! "... someone in this town?" Ah-ha! Applejack's kick missed the cherry tree entirely! With an excited, girlish giggle that was just adorable, there was an excited gleam in her eye as she said "Ah had no idea sugar! Which one ya' eyin' now? Maybe one o' mah strappin' farm hands?"
At this point Applejack was backing up as Cherry was stepping forward, feeling she was between a rock and a hard place as her eyes started to dart this way and that. "N-No! Ain't nothin' like that!" A part truth, she wasn't eying up one of the farm hands...
"But ya' got yer eye on someone here..." said Cherry, knowing that Applejack was a pretty piss poor liar and like a shark with blood in the water, she was on it!
And then the next thing Applejack knew, she had bolted. She could hear Cherry calling behind her and giving chase but that just made the blonde gallop harder. No way could she say anything now, right? Not with all this happening with Cherry and her ex-husband n' all that! She still had no idea if Cherry even had any interest in mares at all! So if she just avoided the topic, give it some time then maybe- "WHOA!" Applejack cried out as suddenly her hoof struck a very juicy wayward cherry, causing her leg to give out and send her tumbling along until a tree stopped her.
Once the world stopped spinning, the blonde found herself on her back, hindquarters up in the air against the tree and a nice blue sky that was soon blocked by Cherry's wonderful, beautiful yet worried looking face. "Applejack! Applejack, you okay?" asked Cherry, lime green eyes checking the blonde for any visible injuries.
"Right s' rain, sugarcube." said Applejack, voice sounding a little slurred after her dizzying tumble. "Now yer' here."
Soon she was carefully pulled away from the tree and turned right side up, Cherry now scowling softly since it appeared that Applejack was fine "Really now, ya' gotta' be more careful! Ah'd be beside mahself if'n somethin' happened to ya'!"
"... yeah?" asked Applejack, ears perking up a bit as she was helped onto her hooves.
"Of course!" said Cherry, frowning softly as she walked with the blonde, letting the other lean against her as they headed back to the cart. "N' if'n ya' really don't wanna say then Ah won't pry. Ya' didn't have ta' bolt off like that."
"Sorry." said Applejack, lowering her head a bit and feeling bad that she had made the other worry. "Jes... Ah'll tell ya' at some point. It's just Ah ain't ready yet."
"Ah get it." said Cherry, seeming placated as they made it back to the cart. "Now get on n' let me pull this back to the barn."
"Ah can walk just fine, Cherry. Ya' don't gotta' worry so much." insisted Applejack, moving over to the cart and getting the harness on. "Ah've taken worse knocks to the head n' this is a two pony job haulin' these cherries. So c'mon now." That seemed to put the kibosh on any protest that Cherry had, so she hitched herself up as well so they could both pull the cart back to the barn. It was a little awkward but eventually they settled into an easy silence as they helped to unload the baskets for the sorters to sort out.
"Ah'm thinkin' of hittin' the town tonight, head down to the saloon for a drink n' some fun. You in?" Cherry asked Applejack.
"Sure, ain't nothin' wrong with havin' a good time." said Applejack, smiling as they headed out to get some more work done.
Once the day was done, Applejack would take a bath and freshen up, wanting to be clean for a night on the town with Cherry. She didn't have much in the way of anything fancy like how Rarity did, but she had some mint shampoo that she rather liked, between that and the soap it'd have to be good enough. Gosh, to think she'd fuss over herself so much! With the way she was brushing out her mane and tail to make sure it was neat, she even tried dusting off her hat some so that it looked a little cleaner.
Still it seemed like she paled in comparison to Cherry, dressed in a sort of casual, fancy dark pink dress with a bodice. She had a small amount of blush and make up on, on top of an alluring perfume that just drew Applejack in. "Looking good sugar." complimented Cherry, smiling and giving a small wink to the blonde.
"Ah guess. Compared ta' you though, Ah feel a little plain." chuckled the mare.
"Oh? Well if'n ya' want, maybe we can gussy you up a bit!" she said, heading back up the stairs for a moment before coming back down with a dark green bandana that seemed to match Applejack's eyes. In a quick moment, she had her forelegs around Applejack as she tied the bandana around the mare's neck, allowing the blonde to breath in more of that scent. Bad, very bad. Hoo boy she felt just about ready to-
"There we go!" said Cherry, smiling as she backed up and grinned to the other "Looks good on you, sugar."
"Thanks." said Applejack, mentally shaking herself to get her head on straight as she smiled back. "Ah'll be sure ta' keep it in good condition."
"Oh don't worry none, it'll be fine." assured Cherry "In fact, ya' can keep it if'n ya' like. A little gift from me to you." she said, giving a wink that had Applejack's heart skipping a couple of beats "Now, if'n we're both ready, let's get to town." Leading the way outside showed a stage coach with two stallions pulling, showing that when Cherry went out for a night of fun she really liked to make an entrance! She'd open the door for Applejack, stepping in after her before the pony directing the other two gave a motion of the reigns to set the coach in motion, heading down the long road from the ranch into the town proper.
It would be a quick carriage ride to the Dusty Tumbleweed saloon in town but the arrival was well worth it. The cowponies hanging around outside certainly took notice since only the finest and perhaps the most powerful mare in Dodge Junction could make such an entrance. And Applejack was lucky enough to step out with her. This was really the first time that Applejack was side by side with Cherry in a situation like this, eyes on them, some envious, having a carefree night just to enjoy themselves. Applejack still wasn't one for fancy dos and what not but she could see herself liking this, if in the future she and Cherry were more than just friends...
She pulled her mind out of that line of thinking, knowing she needed to focus so she didn't say or do anything dumb. This certainly wasn't the right time to go spilling her guts so she had to just play it cool!
Inside a real shindig was going on! Ponies were dancing, one was playing on the piano and another with a fiddle, some were even slamming back sassparillas and hard ciders while playing cards because tonight ponies were going to enjoy themselves dangnabit! It wasn't long at all before there was a mug of hard cider in hoof and both of them were swept off to a table to gab it up with some of the big shots in town. The mayor, the sheriff, even the local doctor was in since he'd been invited by a pretty mare (although granted he'd been stood up but at least he was still having fun anyway!). Everything was fun and grand, at least up until Draw Out sauntered up to the table "Well howdy there Cherry. Fancy seein' you here." he drawled, sounding like he was already in with a few hard ciders already.
"Draw Out." said Cherry, civil yet stiff as she gave a small nod to the other earth pony. "Nice to see you here as well."
"Ah bet." he said, leaning against the table and closer to her "What say we have a little dance? Maybe a little drink? Then head back to yer place?"
"Ah don't think so. Ah dunno what yer' angle is Draw, but Ah ain't interested."
"So mistrustin'. What's wrong with wantin' ta' get close? So Ah say-"
"She said no." interjected Applejack, shooting Draw Out a low key glare.
"Yer' still here?" sneered the stallion before standing back from the table and giving a snort. "Fine. Ah'll leave you ladies be. Now if'n ya'll excuse me, Ah gotta' go get some winnin's." he said, nodding to a table that seated three very shady and mean looking ponies, two stallions and a mare.
"Ah hope he knows what he's doin'." said Cherry, looking concerned as he sauntered off.
"Ah'm sure he'll be fine." said Applejack, wanting to brush him off as fast as possible as she gulped down the rest of her hard cider, the alcohol making her feel a little bolder. "So, maybe ya' didn't wanna dance with him. But ya' wanna dance with me?" offered the blonde mare with a lopsided smile.
"Well, Ah don't see why not." said Cherry, her smile becoming more genuine now as she finished off her own hard cider. They joined the other ponies on the dance floor, the jig was lively and full of energy, infectious to say the least! With the dance floor packed they had to dance a bit closer together, close enough that as Cherry began to lightly work up a sweat the scent of her perfume was growing stronger. Of course this wasn't helped by a random bump from somepony behind Applejack that had her chest bump into the older mare's.
Oh no, Cherry would be close enough to see that she was blushing-! Wait... was that a small blush on her face too? They both just stayed there, a moment frozen in time as they looked each other in the eye. It was a tense situation, but not in a way that was uncomfortable. Just... tense. Someone had to make a move soon.
Finally, after lightly licking her lips, Applejack took a step back "S-Sorry. Ah uh, Ah didn't mean to-"
"Nah, it's fine sugar." assured Cherry Jubilee, a light blush still on her face as she stepped back as well. Definitely awkward, but...
"Cherry..." began Applejack, feeling ready to just plunge right in with the truth... when a pained shout came from one of the tables. Everyone turned and saw that Draw Out was on the floor, holding his bleeding side while the three mean looking ponies stood around him, one of them, the biggest that looked like the leader, holding a knife in one hoof. Before he could go in for another stab, Applejack had already rushed in, turning before giving a full on buck to the stallion's chest that sent him flying across the room. The other two jumped on top of the blonde but with a well placed elbow to the mare's jaw, she was able to grab the other stallion and flip him over her back onto the floor.
"Ya' varmints hold it right there!" called the sheriff, him and a posse of others ganging up on the three.
"Hold it and let's get outta' here!" said the largest stallion, motioning to the other two before scowling at Applejack "Yer dead bitch!" he snarled before he and the others galloped out of the saloon.
"Draw! Draw you okay?!" said Cherry, at the stallion's side with the doctor there as well, checking the wound at his side before calling on a couple others to help him carry Draw Out from the saloon to his clinic.
"Applejack, y'all can head back to the ranch if'n ya' like, Ah... Ah gotta' see if he'll be okay." said Cherry, galloping after them and leaving the blonde mare on her own for the moment. Finally, she headed out and got the coach, telling them to head for the clinic and to wait there for Cherry.
Turned out it was going to be a bit of a long wait though, Applejack was almost nodding off in her seat when the door finally opened and Cherry got back inside. "Hey Cherry. How's Draw Out?" she asked, rubbing some of the sleep out of her eyes.
"Fine fer now." sighed the older mare, lightly rubbing her temple "The doc thinks most of the vitals were missed, lucky for Draw. He'll need to rest and heal up." she said before calling to the driver to head on home. "Sorry by the by. Tonight wasn't quite how Ah expected it to go..."
"S'fine." assured Applejack, putting on a smile for her. "Not like ya' can expect somethin' like that anyway."
"Ah s'pose. Ah'm jes' worried 'bout him now." she said, looking out the window, brows furrowed "Ah still.... Ah don't like 'em much fer what happened. But before that, him, me, having Morello. Ah can't help worrying."
"Ah understand Cherry, there was a lot of feelings that went into that." assured Applejack, still putting on that smile even though she didn't feel like smiling. It was probably horrible to think, but she wished that Cherry didn't still worry about Draw. But she swallowed that down, instead just being there for Cherry as she reached over and placed a hoof on the older mare's shoulder as they headed back to the ranch...
Applejack seemed to be getting a lot of restless nights lately, although last night it had been because she was thinking about what had happened in the saloon. She still felt scummy for feeling jealous over a little thing like that and she tried to push it out of her mind but it kept showing her worst case scenarios, like where Cherry fell in love with Draw Out again and they got re-married. Dangit she had to stop listening to Rarity go on about her dumb romance novels...
Once again she was going down the stairs, greeted by Cherry with coffee and breakfast once more that gave way to a tantalizing thought that this could be her mornings from now on if she told the older mare how she really felt. And of course once more this thought was pushed aside as they greeted each other and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Unfortunately it couldn't last and soon Cherry spoke up "Ah'm gonna go check on Draw, see how he's doin' this mornin'." she said, taking her plate to the sink to wash it off "Will ya' be fine tendin' the orchard yerself fer a bit?"
"Sure." said Applejack, taking care of the last few bites on her plate, doing her best to fight back that stupid jealousy she felt. "Ah can handle it jes' fine Cherry, no worries."
"Thanks darlin', yer a real peach." said Cherry, smiling before giving a soft giggle as she added "Or should Ah say apple? Not that Ah'm sure it'd make as much sense fer the sayin'." She gave a small bump of the shoulder, keeping Applejack's heart skipping before she trotted out of the kitchen. Once Applejack heard the front door open and close, she plopped her rump down and double face hoofed. That... had been too cute. God she wished she could just tell Cherry how she felt!
But after taking a moment to compose herself, Applejack stood and headed out into the orchard to get to work. The serenity was still there but it was a little lonely without Cherry working out there with her. She just focused on the work as best as she could though, going at a good click as she collected cherries in baskets and put the baskets into the cart. It was around the time she was hauling it towards the farmhouse that she spotted something, something that looked like three ponies heading for Cherry's place. After quickly unhitching herself, Applejack galloped back to the house and saw that the front door was left open and there was indeed a ruckus coming from inside.
"She ain't here!" Applejack heard from the floor above, along with some generalized searching. One pony came out from the kitchen, a fritter in hoof when he paused and looked right at her. It wasn't hard to recognize the second stallion from the saloon last night!
"Boss! The mare from last night is here!" he called, dropping his fritter all together as there came a clattering of hooves from upstairs, the large stallion and the female soon coming into view from up top.
"Well, well. N' here Ah thought Ah'd ne'er get the chance ta' see you again." said the leader, a big stallion with a dark black coat and white spots on him, his light blue-grey eyes narrowing at the mare as he headed down the stairs, the creme colored mare following behind him.
"Now look, y'all leave n' Ah'll go easy on ya'." warned Applejack, narrowing her eyes and widening her stance just a bit, standing more aggressively as she prepared herself for a fight.
"Ain't that a laugh!" scoffed the big stallion as he finally reached the bottom, clearly not backing down "Ya' got lucky last night, but we'll see how ya' fair without a posse backin' ya' up!" With that he charged in, ready to tackle Applejack to the ground but the mare was agile enough to get out of the way in time before once more bucking the stallion away from her. Of course that left her open for the other stallion to come right in and tackle her to the ground, starting to punch at her before Applejack pushed him off of her. That was about the time that the mare started to chuck random pieces of furniture at her, from as big as chairs to as small as knick knacks that Applejack was pretty sure Cherry would be pissed to find had been broken. Maybe.
Between that there was also the two stallions back on their feet and trying to get at her but they caught a projectile every now and then we Applejack ducked out of the way of the mare's shot. The blonde was getting confident, perhaps even cocky as she dodged another knick knack "That the best ya' varmints got? Ya' couldn't hit the broad side of a barn!" she crowed. That was about the time the stallion picked up one of the sitting couches and chucked it at her, which Applejack of course dodged but at that same split second the mare had chucked one final knick knack at her, striking her at the side of her head and stunning her. Which left an opening for the smaller stallion to tackle her to the ground and the mare to come up as well, the two raining punches down on Applejack as she tried to cover her head and face.
"Not so smug now, are ya' ya' little bitch!" snarled the large stallion, trotting over to the battered Applejack and raising a hoof before slamming it down onto her head, making the orange mare black out.
About an hour later, Cherry would return home and find the main foyer wrecked. She'd call the farmhands and what not, asking what in the world happened and noticing that Applejack was missing. She'd gone to the sheriff to launch a search party but that was about the time a telegram pony delivered a letter to the sheriff, addressed for Cherry which read as thus.
Miss Jubilee,
We have your guest and if you ever want to see her alive again then come South to the Macintosh Gorge. Bring 100,000 bits. Just you and no pony else.
"... Sprout, we're headin' home." said Cherry to a farmhand, a determined look in her eye as she turned to leave the sheriff's office.
"Wait now Miss Jubilee! Ya' can't just-" protested the sheriff but he was immediately cowed with a look. With his protest dying on his lips, Cherry turned and headed back towards her estate, intent on gathering what she needed and heading to Macintosh Gorge.
After a hard slug to the head, it was hard to know which way was up or down. It almost felt like she was floating in the air...
Applejack found out just how true that feeling was when she opened her eyes and was staring straight down a mighty big gorge. She began to struggle and tried to yell out but found herself bound and a gag in her mouth. As panicked as she was, she still looked around to take in her surroundings, finding the rope around her was tied to a branch of a tree dangling over the edge of said gorge.
"Well, well, lookie who's up." drawled a voice that made Applejack whip her head to look over her shoulder (an action she soon regretted since the throbbing in her head worsened), to glare at the large black and white stallion that was smirking at her. "Don't bother strugglin' none, mah colt Tricks knows his ropin', you ain't gettin' outta' that without deft hooves 'er a knife!" Just as he finished that he heard the rope strain, eyes widening some as Applejack's body flexed, muscle becoming more defined under the soft, supple fur the mare had as she flexed. "Think ya' can grab hold a' somethin' 'fore fallin' to yer' death?" he quickly said, causing Applejack to pause and the smirk to come back to his face "That's right, best not ta' risk it. Otherwise yer' employer might get spooked off."
That just made Applejack glare harder at the stallion, incensed that they would call Cherry here for some sort of ransom attempt! But as much as she wanted to fight back, it just didn't seem smart. She was still outnumbered hanging over the gorge, and even with the rope tied around the tree and into a stake in the cliff edge as she could now barely make out, it'd be hard to break free and grab something with how smooth this particular part of the cliff face was. So with an unhappy, muffled grunt, Applejack let herself hang there for now, praying and hoping that she and Cherry could get out of this okay.
The sun was high above her head as she strode into Macintosh Gorge, Cherry's usual mane-do as impeccable as always but she'd forgone anything fancy, opting instead for just a pair of saddlebags with her cutie mark on them and a rope at her side. Despite the heat and the weight of the bags on her, Cherry's determined look never faltered as she kept an eye out for the bandits. It wasn't too much longer before she ran into them and she felt her heart leap up into her throat seeing Applejack dangling over the gorge. However there was a stallion and mare standing in her way, along with a big stallion that came towards her. She recognized all three from the night before...
"Bout time ya' came. Ya' got what we want?" the big stallion asked gruffly.
"Yup. All right here." said Cherry, taking the bags off her back and kicking them so that they slid across the ground to the big stallion.
He regarded it for a moment "Seems mighty small, don'tcha think?"
Grunting, he moved to undo the latch to her back and heard a small 'shck' sound that had him confused. It turned out that Cherry had rigged her bags, so that what was essentially the edge of a match book would light along a short fused piece of dynamite and light it. "DYNAMITE!" he yelped, moving to dodge and take cover as did the other two. Luckily for them it wasn't very strong dynamite, a big boom but only with enough power to leave small craters in the ground. But it was enough that it bought Cherry time as she dashed through the smoke and headed right for Applejack!
"Sugah Ah know ya' can break that rope! Do it! Ah'll catch ya'!" cried Cherry, knowing she didn't have enough time once the bandits had recovered as her mouth reached for the rope.
To do this and willingly fall would take a lot of trust in Cherry to catch her. Applejack didn't have a doubt in her mind as she flexed again, grunting and shutting her eyes as the rope groaned and began to give way. Then with a bunch of snaps and pops... she was falling. It was a strange, weightless sensation she had felt before on many adventures but never failed to get her heart racing. She didn't even want to open her eyes to see the ground beneath her that would be her doom!
But then she felt something around her midsection, something that before had been restricting was now comforting. As it tightened and she felt a tug, Applejack opened her eyes and saw her. With the sun behind her, Cherry's features were a little hard to make out but it was all clear. That determined, worried look in her eyes, the grit of her teeth, the way she flexed that muscle made from years of hard work. It was too terrifying to think about at that moment during the adrenaline rush but when Applejack looked back on it, she would hold that image as ultimately breathtaking.
The blonde mare was hoisted high into the air from that powerful tug, the three bandits still rushing towards them but the mare would turn her body so that she'd ultimately land on all four hooves, with enough force that she kicked up a dust cloud and made those bandits come to a halt! She hit them with a glare before she rushed forward, turning and hitting the big stallion with a mighty buck that sent him back into a boulder and shattered it, causing the remaining stones to cover him in a pile.
Cherry would get in on the fray as well! Landing a solid punch to the other stallion's jaw before taking the rope she used to save Applejack and wrap it around the mare's hind leg as she tried to get away, reeling the last bandit back in before both she and Applejack used the rope to tie up all three. They wouldn't leave them hanging, just to be fair, but it'd be hard to get too far before a posse was sent their way to apprehend them.
"Thanks Cherry, ya' really got me out of a situation there n' Ah appreciate ya' doin' that." said Applejack, shooting the older mare an appreciative smile as they started to head out of the gorge.
"Think nothin' of it sugah, Ah'm just glad yer safe." said Cherry, stopping and pulling Applejack into a hug, this one a little on the long side and... well, Applejack thought it was intimate. However it ended before she could return it but that cursed blush was there, so she took off her hat and fanned herself "Mighty hot out here." she said, glad that Cherry seemed to buy it.
"Guess so." said Cherry, a bit of what could be called a coy smile tugging at her lips as they headed back for Dodge Junction.
The gallop back to Dodge Junction would take up the rest of their day, passing a posse lead by the sheriff along the way that would be after the bandits. Unfortunately the smaller stallion Rope Tricks and the mare had gotten free, leaving the big stallion still unconscious and facing the music on his own. Applejack felt a bit smug when the posse came back, she and Cherry had come in that morning to watch them drag the gruff stallion in to the prison, ranting about how he'd give up the ring leader of this operation if they let him go. Of course that wasn't going to happen and he was set in a nice, cozy cell for his troubles.
"Serves 'im right." said Cherry, looking satisfied as she turned back to Applejack and they started trotting away from the jail back towards Cherry Hill Ranch. "Too bad the rest of 'em got away."
"It happens." said Applejack with a small shrug "Doubt they're comin' back though, no way no how with how e'erypony is on lookout." It was a nice piece of drama that could be put behind them and Applejack was looking forward to her next couple of days being drama free.
"Shoot, 'fore Ah forget, Ah wanna stop by n' see Draw Out."
Well, almost drama free. Applejack just gave a nod as they changed course a bit, heading for the doctor's building. It was a simple layout, waiting room up front, beds in the back, enough of a set up to treat most things or to keep a pony hanging on until they could catch the next train to a hospital. Applejack would sit out front as Cherry went to the back, trying to keep herself distracted with what few months old magazines were offered. It was proving less effective as the time ticked by, Applejack glancing to the doorway that lead into the back every now and then.
'What're they talkin' 'bout that's takin' up so much time? Ugh, ya' gotta' stop thinkin' all that and don't you get no fool ideas about sneakin' over n' spyin'!'
'....'
'NO! No way! It's n' absolutely scummy thing to do! So you jes' keep yer flank parked missy and-!'
Thankfully she was cut off mid-mental rant by Cherry trotting out, looking perturbed as she just moved past Applejack and out of the clinic. The blonde mare hastily threw aside the magazine in her hooves and followed the older mare out, calling her name to get her to stop. "Cherry! Cherry, what happened?" asked Applejack, catching up and scowling softly "If'n Draw said somethin' ta' you Ah'll-"
"It's nothin' like that Applejack." Cherry said, quickly cutting the other off. She was quiet for a moment before finally saying "We'll talk back home. Ain't the time or place fer' talkin' 'bout it here."
Despite petulantly wanting to push the subject, Applejack resisted giving lip and just nodded, trotting back to Cherry Hill Ranch in silence. It wouldn't be until they were in the kitchen of Cherry's home that the red headed mare spoke up "Draw proposed ta' me." Seeing the look on Applejack's face, she raised a hoof and said "Ah know, Ah know! Ah said no." She was about to go about making some lunch when Applejack placed a hoof on her shoulder, motioning with her head for Cherry to take a seat.
"Said bein' stabbed made him think 'bout things. 'Bout how things would be better if'n we were together again n' how Morello misses me..." Cherry trailed off as she watched the orange mare move about the kitchen, contemplative as Applejack made up some Daisy sandwiches for them with a side of cherry lemonade.
"Sounds like ya' were considerin' it." said Applejack, bringing a plate and glass over to Cherry before fetching her own.
"... Ah honestly was." sighed Cherry, hiding her face against her hooves. "... not all the times were bad, Applejack. Some were right nice n' Ah do miss Morello. But after the way things ended Ah jes' don't think Ah could try e'er bein' with him again. And of all the fool times fer' him to try that." she said, laughing a tad bitterly before giving a sigh. "He ain't been 'round long n' it feels like mah life is all mixed up."
"Ah can't imagine it, but all things considered it's been a wild couple a days." said Applejack, taking a bite of her sandwich since the drama didn't seem to put a dent in her appetite. "Bound ta' mix anypony up after all this."
"True. Sorry it's been stressful, sugar." said the older mare, offering an apologetic smile.
"Don't worry 'bout it none."
"Yer sweet."
"Ah mean it." insisted Applejack "Ah don't mind it, s'long as Ah can help you out."
That earned a small, grateful smile that sent Applejack's heart skipping, the orange mare happy her words seemed to give Cherry some kind of appetite back as she took a sip of cherry lemonade. "Thanks darlin'." was all she said before digging into her daisy sandwich. With a smile and nod in turn, Applejack dug in as well, things tasting just a bit sweeter for a moment.
For the next couple of hours they'd spend their time just relaxing around the manor, Cherry feeling they deserved the time to themselves and just let the farmhands handle the work for the day. Applejack had to admit this was a nice side to see, just the two of them sipping from glasses of cherry lemonade as they enjoyed the warm day, passing the time talking about this and that. Applejack was happy to hear stories about when Cherry tried her own hoof at the rodeo when she was younger, stories of set backs in the orchards that left the years a little lean but how things would work out in the end. Even stories of little accidents like when she was so tired from working she accidentally used salt instead of sugar in a big batch of cherry fritters were fun to hear about.
It was only when the sun was setting did they realize how many hours had gone by but they took the time to appreciate the view as the sky turned into different shades of red, leading into the dark purples of night. "Ah gotta' say, lovely as the day is, Ah love seein' it turnin' to night." sighed Cherry, leaning back in her seat and looking content. "Ah ne'er really appreciated the night 'til Princess Luna came back. She makes the view mighty fine." she said as the first few stars started to come out.
"Can't argue with ya' there." agreed Applejack with a nod, her own seat right next to Cherry's as they watched night overtake the sky slowly but surely. "It's a nice sight."
"More n' nice." said Cherry, not taking her gaze off the sky. "What could be prettier n' what we're seein' now?"
"You."
It slipped out without Applejack even thinking. In her state of comfort and contentment, the word had just slipped out, causing Applejack to freeze up in the next moment when her mind caught up with what she'd said. Dark green eyes dared to glance over, catching sight of lime green eyes that were a little wide but returned to normal as a small giggle escaped Cherry. "That's sweet of ya' to say, sugar."
That giggle... normally she'd love it but at that moment she felt it dig into her like a thorn. Cherry was just brushing it off. Applejack's jaw clenched for a moment before she continued "Ah mean it. Yer' more beautiful n' the day or the night, Cherry." She turned to look the other full on now, lime green eyes wide again as Cherry seemed speechless. "Ah... Ah like ya' Cherry, a lot, n' Ah know it's comin' at a bad time maybe-"
"Yer dang right it is!" That made Applejack recoil in her seat, things not quite going how she'd hoped as Cherry bit her lip and looked away. "Applejack Ah... Ah swear if this is some fool prank-"
"It ain't!" was Applejack's quick response, feeling a bit hurt that the other would think that.
"Then ya' were right, it's a bad time to be tellin' me." said Cherry, standing up from her seat before looking to Applejack "Ah... Ah'm sorry. Ah jes' need some time, alright? Between Draw earlier n' now you sayin'... Ah need time ta' think."
The orange mare felt her stomach drop as she watched Cherry trot inside, just sitting there even as the temperature began to lower and a small chill was in the air. Finally she stood and headed in the opposite direction into town. No way could she sleep now... no way could she go back in there. Just needed to clear her head, just needed-
A scream caused her head to snap up, a few other ponies out that night hearing the noise too and galloping with Applejack to the jail. Applejack would be the first on the scene, spotting a shadowy figure limping off down the alleyway. "Hey!" she shouted, charging after the pony, catching them turn around the corner just as she reached halfway and then spotting them turn again between two buildings.
When she made it to the spot, she didn't see anything except a window open and without a second thought she leaped through inside. It was too dark to see anything but Applejack was sure she felt herself bump into a bed. However, the next thing she knew something solid hit the back of her head, causing her to hit the ground and pass out...
When Applejack woke up, a sharp hiss escaped her as a sharp throb came from the back of her head. Knocked out twice over the course of a couple days, that probably wasn't good for her. Still she managed to open her eyes and saw in the morning light that she was in a bed at the clinic. Had she been dragged here? What happened? She moved to get out of bed, a little wobbly on her hooves before she reached up and pulled the curtain aside.
"You awake?" she heard from the next bed over, seeing that it was Draw Out with the bed stripped down and fresh bandages on his barrel. There was a bit of dried blood beneath him on the mattress. "Bout time, the doc thought you'd never wake up."
"How'd Ah get here?"
"Doc found ya' here passed out on the floor." he said, motioning over to the now closed window. "Came in ta' check on me this mornin' n' found ya' there passed out."
"Ah was chasin' after someone that came from the jail." said Applejack, walking over to the window and inspecting the area, finding some dried blood on the sill. "Ya' didn't see nothin'?"
"Nah, Ah was sleepin'. But the doc did say somethin' 'bout it this mornin'. Said the big stallion n' the deputy got killed by somepony."
Applejack frowned softly as she turned and headed back to her bed, taking a seat upon it and rubbing her head "Shoot. N' Ah let the pony give me the slip..."
"It happens." said Draw out, resting his hooves under his head with a yawn, the brown stallion shooting a smirk to Applejack "Looks like ya' jes' have bad luck. First gettin' knocked out by the same big stallion then gettin' knocked out again in the head."
That made Applejack pause, wheels starting to turn as she looked up at Draw Out, eyes narrowing slightly "How'd ya' know 'bout me gettin' knocked out?"
"Huh?"
"How'd ya' know? No one was 'round to see who knocked me out or how when Ah got kidnapped."
"Lucky guess." the mustached stallion said cooly, gaze up at the ceiling.
"... and what's with the dried blood n' no sheets?"
"Opened up mah stitches tossin' n' turnin'."
"How hard were ya' tossin' if'n ya' were sleepin' so hard ya' didn't hear mah scuffle with the murderer last night?" said Applejack, on her hooves again as she kept her gaze locked on him. "Ya' were the murderer, weren't ya'?"
"..."
"What the stallion was sayin' 'bout givin' up his boss.... was that you?"
"Now why would ya' say that?" drawled the stallion, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Ah dunno, none of it makes any sense ta' me!" said Applejack, upset at the idea that this stallion, someone that Cherry still cared a bit for, was in charge of the bandits that tried to rob Cherry in the first place! But what Cherry had said before in the kitchen came back to her. "Was yer' rough patch so bad ya' had to try n' rob her?!" spat Applejack, feeling disgusted with the other as she got back up on her feet.
"Ya' know yer plum outta' yer mind?" said Draw, sitting up with a grunt and glaring at her now, missing the small sounds of a door opening. "Ah mean, Ah got stabbed by the same ponies that ya' think Ah hired!"
"N' lucky the doc was there that night!" said Applejack, still glaring at him and missing the sound of soft hoof steps on wood boards "Ah bet if'n Ah asked him to describe the mare that asked him to the saloon that night, it'd be the same one in that gang you hired!"
"Now yer' stretchin' it missy." said Draw, but there was the faintest hint of a smirk on his lips. "Now why would Ah, in a bid ta' get some of mah ex wife's money... hire a couple of thugs to shake her down, end up kidnapping you for ransom, and get a non-fatal injury to gain her sympathy? Ya' think ya' could get the sheriff to follow all the dots yer' connectin' here?"
Applejack bit her lower lip and looked to the floor. It was a stretch for certain, even with her reputation as an honest mare and element of harmony, would there be enough evidence to hold up in a court? What evidence was there with the big stallion dead and the other two probably two shakes of a rabbits tail from gone? Applejack was left with a weak hand and Draw Out knew it from the smirk on his face. "That's what Ah thought. Now why don't ya' lie down n' be a good girl. N' perhaps give up crushin' on mah ex?" His smirk widened at the surprised look on her face "Yeah Ah know. Ah make a livin' seein' tells missy n' yer piss poor at keepin' a poker face. It's real pathetic really, 'specially since Ah know she'd never go fer ya'."
Remembering last night, those words stung as Applejack turned her gaze to the floor, not responding as Draw Out gave a laugh "Good you know Ah'm gonna be winnin' Cherry's heart back. S'good when a loser knows she's got a dead hoof-" he stopped when he heard louder hoof steps, his ex-wife coming in and looking absolutely livid. "... Cherry, good ta' see ya'." he said, his poker face on with a smile "How're-"
"Cut the bull!" she snapped, glaring at him now "Ah know your tells Draw, you... ya' did all of this." she said, stepping forward dangerously "And fer what? Some damned bits?!"
"Sugar, now listen!" he said, edging back in his bed as he put his hooves up "Ya' should know Ah'm in a pickle! Me n' Morello!" he relaxed a bit when that gave her pause "Ah jes' needed the money to pay off some debts. Ah'm in a bit of dire straits with some guys in Las Pegasus! N' they don't play 'round! Ya' wouldn't want me r' Morello hurt now, would ya'?" He lowered his hooves when he saw his ex-wife turn her gaze to the ground. Then he let out a pained yelp when she raised and hoof and brought it swiftly down on the wound to his side, grinding it in as he cried out.
"Ah'm tired, Draw." she hissed out "Tired of these games! Ya' come in here, ya' upturn e'erything, ya' put a mare Ah care about dearly through Tartarus n' fer what?!" At the last word, she put more pressure on her hoof to make him squirm and cry out more before she softened her gaze and lessened the weight. "Ya' never knew me at all, did ya'? Ah would've given' ya' the money if'n ya' dragged our son into trouble. If'n it was really that serious fer' ya'." Then the hard look came back in her eye "Ah'll pay off yer debt. But our son is comin' ta' live with me. N' yer spendin' a long time in jail, Draw."
"N... N' what makes ya' think that'll happen?!" he breathed out, eyes tearing up in pain.
"Cause between me n' Applejack tellin' what you did, ain't gonna take a jury to see you hanged." she hissed out "Ya' know the weight Ah pull 'round here, n' if'n Ah ask for some leniency they'll give it to you. So do somethin' decent fer once in yer' life and just take the deal Ah'm offerin' ya'!"
It only took a few moments for Draw Out to fold.
Applejack and Cherry left the clinic after the sheriff arrived and got the full stories. As promised, Cherry would put in the word for leniency for Draw Out so he wouldn't be taking a trip up to Boot Hill, in exchange Draw Out gave her the information on where their son was in Los Pegasus and the men he owed money to. It seemed the weight was finally off and Applejack was relieved.
"We need to talk, sugar." said Cherry.
Well, mostly. Applejack gave a nod as they both headed back to Cherry Hill Ranch, walking in silence up until they reached the manor "Ya' want somethin' to eat, sugar? Ah bet yer' starvin'." Applejack only nodded as they headed into the kitchen, this time working together to make up some wheat pancakes. Applejack wasn't sure what to do or say here, it wasn't until they had their own respective stacks and were sitting that Cherry spoke up.
"Ah'm sorry 'bout last night." she finally said, looking down sadly at her stack of pancakes. "Ah handled that all wrong. Ah was jes' under so much stress n' then ya' came out with that... Ah shouldn't of snapped at ya' like that."
"Nah." said Applejack, giving a light shake of her head "It's not like it was the right time 'er nothin'. Not with everythin' goin' on and yer ex-husband in town."
"Still, that wasn't the way to handle it." said Cherry, biting her lower lip before looking up at Applejack ".... why though?"
"Huh?"
"Why do ya' fancy me? Maybe Ah can understand a short crush but... ya' seemed real serious last night sugar." she said with a small, teasing smile.
"Cause Ah was."
"That simple?" said Cherry, giving a light shake of her head "Applejack, Ah'm much older than ya'. Ah have a son round yer' age! It's not like Ah'm a spring chicken..."
"So?" was Applejack's immediate reply, but from the expectant look on Cherry's face she was prodded to say more "Ah'll admit findin' out ya' had a son threw me a bit, but... it's hard ta' explain." Again she was prodded on as Cherry made a motion with her hoof to continue. "... yer' right beautiful Cherry, age ain't done nothin' 'bout that. But it's more n' that. Ah admire ya' a lot. Ya' run this whole place on yer own, yer successful but yer still a hard worker. N' then there's the smaller things, when we talk, when we have meals like this together, working together, when you can be a little silly... it's all real charming and Ah love it." As she spoke there was a soft, tender smile on her face as she had her gaze averted to the kitchen table and she pulled her stetson down a bit to cover her eyes. "So you know... s'all that."
However, when she glanced up, she was surprised to see Cherry just about as red as her cherries and fidgeting a bit "... glan sakes sugar." mumbled Cherry, ducking her head a bit but Applejack could still see the hint of a smile. "Ah ne'er knew ya' could be so good at sweet talk."
"Ah mean it." said Applejack, getting up from her seat and going around the table to Cherry's end, making the older mare look up at her "Cherry, yer' as sweet as can be n' there's a lot Ah really like about ya'." In a moment of boldness, she leaned in and gently nuzzled Cherry's cheek, making that blush intensify "Why wouldn't Ah be crazy 'bout ya', sugarcube?"
It took a moment but Cherry nuzzled Applejack back, a soft smile on her face. "N' Ah like ya' a lot too, darlin'." she murmured before pulling back a bit "... ifn' yer willin' to, then Ah guess Ah'm willin' to give this a try too."
Applejack felt her heart soar at that "Really?"
"Really."
The blonde mare had the biggest smile on her face as she sat right next to Cherry and they enjoyed their breakfast that morning.
As nice as the breakfast was, the following day found Applejack having to return home to tend to her own farm. Things had been quite nice between then and that point however, more working and talking but it was different in a way. Like the conversations were more intimate, and Cherry even leaned against her shoulder when they were watching the evening sun on the porch! Applejack was almost sad to go, but with a nuzzle from the older mare, she promised to be back in a couple months to help in the fall.
So far it was turning out to be the longest couple of months ever.
The first couple of weeks weren't so bad, mostly she was just acting a little goofy around the farm, daydreaming about Cherry and when they'd get to see each other again. It wasn't hard for her friends or family to notice but the blonde didn't feel she'd offer up the information unless asked. That wouldn't happen until about week four, when she and her friends were all together just hanging out at the park with their pets.
"So Applejack..." began Rarity, keeping an eye on Opal for a moment as the testy little ball of fluff went about minding her business, claws ever at the ready. "How have you been lately?"
"Jes' dandy, Rares." said Applejack, a nice, bright smile on her face as she used her tail to fling a stick far for Winona to chase after. Everything really did seem brighter now that she had confessed to Cherry, even more so since Cherry was willing to give her a chance!
"Quite. It's just that you've been exceptionally cheery these past couple of weeks since you've been back. Did something happen in Dodge Junction that you've left out, hm?" asked Rarity, she and the others already knowing most of the details of the ordeal that had happened to Applejack in that dusty town but obviously sniffing out that the cowpony had left something out.
"Well..." began Applejack, smiling a bit of a goofy smile as she scratched the back of her head.
"Oh do tell!" said Rarity, she and the others attention now caught as the normally candid mare was being all hush hush. "Because if I didn't know better Applejack, I'd say you act as though you're quite smitten!" she teased with a giggle which turned into a full squeal as she saw the orange mare blush a bit. "I knew it! Who is it darling? Some strapping farm hand you've met at Cherry Hill Ranch?"
"Oh gag." said Dash, pointing a hoof at her open mouth before looking back to Applejack "But seriously? Who'd you even meet in a town like that? Was it some cool lone ranger kind of pony?"
"Nothin' like that you two." said Applejack, waving them off with a hoof.
"Then who?" pressed Rarity as Pinkie Pie started to bounce up and down.
"Ooo! This is so exciting! Who? Who? Who? Who? Who? Wh-" that was thankfully stopped by Dash shoving her hoof over Pinkie's mouth so that Applejack could get a word in edge-wise.
"Cherry Jubilee."
That brought on a bit of silence and some shocked looks from her friends. "... Cherry Jubilee of Cherry Hill Ranch?" clarified Rarity.
"Yup."
"CONGRATULATIONS!" sang Pinkie Pie, swooping the blonde mare up in a monstrously strong hug that very few could weather. "We gotta' throw you and Cherry a big party! A happy getting together party! With chimi cherry changas and apple fritters and lots of good stuff!"
It broadened Applejack's smile as she took the hug in stride and replied with a laugh "Thanks Pinks, but we don't need nothin' like that!" She managed to squirm free as she added "We're still tryin' it out n' all, might jes' need to hold off on it fer a bit."
"Isn't she old?" chimed in Dash, which earned her an elbow from Rarity.
"She's older n' me. What of it?" asked Applejack, raising a brow to the blue pegasus.
"Yeah, old enough to be your mom-oof!" again she was elbowed by Rarity.
"Now Rainbow Dash, don't be crass!" admonished the fashionista before her gaze got that starry look in it as she continued "Actually it's quite romantic! It's like a novel! The farmpony and the mistress of the ranch! Love found amidst bandit attacks and ex-husbands resurfacing!"
"But she's still old." deadpanned Rainbow Dash.
"Now Rainbow Dash, it's not odd for there to be an age difference between ponies. Even if the gap is a bit... noticeable." coughed Rarity as she noticed the look from Applejack. "But age is hardly a bad thing, now is it?"
"Not at all." chimed in Twilight, of course having her own two cents to put in "In fact it wasn't uncommon in the classic age of Equestria for older lovers to take younger lovers and vice versa, it was the experience that the elder had to guide the younger and-"
"Not interested." said Dash, sticking her tongue out before looking back to Applejack and giving a shrug "But hey, if it's what you want then whatever I guess. Still kinda weird though."
"Right, thanks anyway." said Applejack, knowing Dash could be a bit of a dunderhead at times but could mean well in her own way.
"Congratulations Applejack." said Fluttershy, giving a soft smile and her support in her own quiet way.
"Thanks gals. Y'all r' swell." said Applejack, glad that at least one camp was happy for her. That just left one other to break the news to...
"Beg yer' pardon?" asked Granny Smith at the dinner table, a brow highly raised as she stared at her granddaughter. Well this wasn't quite going the way she had expected. At least for Granny Smith, she kind of expected Big Macintosh to be quietly surprised, and Applebloom...
"Who's Cherry Jubilee again?" asked the youngest Apple with a small tilt of her head.
"She's the mare that took me in ta' work after Ah came second place in the Canterlot Rodeo." explained Applejack.
"Oh! Well then she sounds nice!" said Applejack with a smile and a nod.
"Um... yup." was all Macintosh could say, the surprise wearing off as he gave a stoic nod.
"Now hold on there!" said Granny Smith, raising a hoof and cutting off any more chatter "That might be well'n fine fer all y'all but Ah still got questions! Ain't she older n' you AJ?" asked the old mare, narrowing her eyes a bit as the interrogation of her granddaughter's potential marefriend had begun!
"Yeah, she is." said Applejack, scuffing a hoof against the table "Ah knew that before Granny, it don't matter much to me."
"Ah see. N' she has her own orchards n' business n' all?"
"Yeah, she's the most successful cherry and cherry products distributor in Equestria Ah'd say."
"Hrm..." mused Granny, leaning back in her seat and steepling her hooves, musing for a moment before saying "Nope."
"What do you mean 'nope'?" asked Applejack, bristling slightly "Ya' can't say who Ah can't n' can't date!"
"Ah could ifn' Ah wanted too n' Ah ain't too old Ah can't take ya' cross mah knee fer not lettin' me finish!" declared Granny, feebly banging a hoof against the table "Ah meant 'nope' as in Ah need ta' know more 'bout her! She might be successful n' such but that don't mean donkey spit that she's good 'nough fer mah grandchild!"
"Uh..." said Applejack, a bit dumbfounded as Granny scooted herself off of her chair and stood.
"It's tradition ta' meet the one yer kin is eyin' to be sweet on AJ, n' Ah ain't just lettin' anypony come in sweepin' ya' off yer' feet without meetin' 'em first!"
"Granny, Ah think Ah'm old enough-"
"Nope! If'n yer so serious 'bout this mare then Ah'm meetin' her to see if'n she's really up ta' snuff! So when ya' go back to Cherry Hill Ranch in a few weeks, Ah'm comin' with!" That seemed to be the final word on it as Granny Smith marched out of the kitchen and up the stairs, probably to start getting ready for bed.
"... Ah hope Granny's not like that when Ah decide Ah like someone." said Applebloom, shaking her head a bit as Applejack's head sank into her hooves.
Her next visit with Cherry was going to be... interesting, to say the least.
There just wasn't no getting around it, Granny Smith had her mind set to it and was gonna do it. Don't get her wrong, Applejack loved her grandmother very much but in cases like this it was a bit... over the top. As much as she could appreciate the sort of care her grandmother had to look out for her, she still sort of felt like she was being treated like a filly. After all, she felt she had a good judge of character, that she knew what her heart wanted and had already thought this over back and forth for a long time. Yet here she still was, sitting on the train to Dodge Junction with her grandmother snoring softly next to her. Big Mac was left in charge of the farm in the meantime and Applejack had done enough chores that things could go smoothly for the time they'd be gone so there wasn't any reason to worry on that end.
Soon enough they'd stop at the station for Dodge Junction, Applejack gently nudging her grandmother awake so that they could both depart with their luggage. It wouldn't take the blonde long to spot Cherry waiting for them, a big smile coming to her face as she trotted up and nuzzled the older mare in an affectionate greeting that made the other blush "Ah missed ya' too, darlin'." said Cherry, giggling softly and nuzzling back until their moment was interrupted by a loud clearing of an elderly throat.
"Whoops." said Applejack, smiling sheepishly to her grandmother before saying "Uh, Cherry, this is my grandmother Granny Smith, Granny this is Cherry Jubilee."
"Ah heard you were comin' ma'am." said Cherry, giving a cordial smile as she trotted up and held out a hoof "And it's very nice to meet ya'."
"Nice ta' meet ya' too." said Granny, sizing Cherry up as they shook hooves. "Ya' seem nice n' respectable, mah granddaughter seems ta' have made a good choice."
"Ah like to think so." said Cherry, shuffling nervously and not used to having someone looking her over outside of the deal room of course.
"Mm-hm. Well let's get to it then." said Granny, starting to tug her bag along when Cherry came over and put it on her back.
"Let me Granny, no need ta' lug it all the way over to mah place." offered Cherry.
"Good manners. S'good." said Granny, giving an approving nod before they all headed off to Cherry Hill Ranch together. Granny would start asking this and that about Cherry's business and Cherry would reply back in kind, saying how her ranch was doing quite well and going over basic business details. It was certainly a new experience for Cherry since Draw Out's family hadn't well come to interview her, but then again this wasn't really anything like Draw Out was it?
Admittedly Cherry had never dated a mare, it was sort of this strange strangely familiar territory in a sense, nor had she dated someone with such an age gap. But all of those sweet things that Applejack had said in the kitchen just kept popping into her head at the most random times. She'd dare even say she'd daydreamed a bit about when Applejack would be back, so they could talk and work, eat their meals together and enjoy watching the sun set on the porch. Maybe some sweet talk from Applejack in that sweetly sincere way she spoke...
A soft blush flustered Cherry's cheeks at the thought but she quickly shook it off. She couldn't go off into the clouds like that, not with Granny Smith asking her this and that!
They'd reach Cherry Hill Orchard quickly after that, trotting up to the front of the manor just as somepony stepped out. This was a stallion that looked to be a few years younger than Applejack with a dark red mane and tail with a light brown coat and dark orange eyes. "Applejack? Granny Smith? This's mah son Morello." she said, smiling and trotting up to the young stallion, placing a foreleg around him to give him a quick hug. "Morello, this is Applejack n' Granny Smith that Ah've been tellin' ya' 'bout."
"Howdy." he said, giving a small, stiff nod before looking to his mother "S'alright if'n Ah go work the orchards?"
"Of course." she said, giving a smile and a nod as she let him go. It'd been hard on him, hearing what happened to her father and the about Cherry being involved with someone new and much younger. Still, she'd tried her best to give him space and let him get used to his new life, for the most part he seemed to be adapting quite well. "Well, c'mon in and Ah'll show ya' to yer rooms!"
After lunch, Granny Smith was taking her time snoozing on the porch while Cherry and Applejack took their time working in the orchards. It was almost the end of the year for collecting cherries and it was one of the last bumper crops to collect. "Sorry 'bout all that." began Applejack as she gave a gentle kick to the cherry tree behind her. "Granny can be a might stubborn n' protective."
"Don't worry 'bout it sugar." assured Cherry, giving a small kick to a cherry tree and letting the cherries collect in baskets at the bottom. "Guess Ah just wasn't expectin' so many questions. Yer granny seems mighty sharp."
"She has her times." laughed the blonde "But Ah'm glad she's eased off, means Ah get ta' spend some time with ya'."
"Really now." said Cherry, a smile coming to her face as she collected cherry baskets for the cart. "How sweet of ya' ta' say, Darlin'. Ah gotta' admit, Ah was lookin' forward to us spendin' some time together as well."
"Yeah?" asked Applejack, blushing a bit when Cherry came up to give her a nuzzle.
"Mm-hm, Ah miss talkin' to ya' and havin' ya' 'round. Yer good company sugar."
"Thanks." said Applejack, giving a small smile as she helped stock up the baskets of cherries. "So... we been workin' awhile. How about a break?" she asked, moving into the cart and pulling out a couple of bottles of apple juice.
"Ah was wonderin' what ya' were up to back there 'fore we left." giggled Cherry, happily taking an offered bottle and twisting the cap off. She took a sip and hummed happily at the flavors that danced across her mouth, sweet across the board and a strong taste of apples. After taking a moment to appreciate the taste, her eyes flicked over to Applejack and watched as the blonde took a hearty swig. There had always been a lot of things to admire Applejack about, how open and honest she could be, what a hard worker she was, how much she cared about her hometown and family... the mare did have her drawbacks as certain as anypony did, but it was something Cherry didn't mind as much.
Spying Cherry looking at her, Applejack blushed softly and asked "Whatcha' need, Cherry?"
"Nothin'." said the older mare, smiling coyly as she leaned in a little closer "Just enjoyin' the view." she said as she began to equally enjoy watching Applejack blush more. It was a good feeling, knowing she still had it. It was an even better feeling when she got Applejack to blush!
Before anything more could be said, her ear flicked when she caught the sound of hoof steps, Cherry looking and spotting her son coming out from the orchard. "Sorry. M' Ah interruptin?" he asked, a neutral look on his face as he gazed at the two.
"No, is there something you need, Morello?" she asked, setting down her bottle of apple juice and trotting over to him.
"Nah, jes' wanted to tell ya' Ah cleared mah portion. Gonna take it back to the barn fer' sortin' n such."
"Alright, thank you Morello." she said, smiling and watching him go before looking back to Applejack. "We should probably do the same, sugar."
"Ah s'pose." said Applejack, looking a bit disappointed but shaking it off as she gathered the bottle of apple juice and put them away, hitching herself up to the cart with Cherry and taking their load to the barn as well.
