//------------------------------// // 6 Cousin Golden Graham // Story: Going with the Grain // by Bronyxy //------------------------------// It was late afternoon when the bus passed the sign informing anypony who cared to read it that they were crossing Hitchfield city limits, where a population of 6,726 would await them at an altitude of 344 m above sea level. For a pony used to counting apples by the bushel, this was a large number, positively massive when compared with Ponyville, but nowhere near as big as the populations of some of the cities she had passed through recently. They slowed as the traffic increased and Applejack looked out for another bus depot, but before she could see one, they pulled over to the side of the road. “Hitchfield, this is Hitchfield!” called one of the team as they took a rest waiting for passengers to alight. Applejack looked around, a little unsure that this could be her destination, having become used to railroad stations and the bus depot, not anything as understated as a stop at the side of the road that wasn’t even in a turnout. However, the bus stop confirmed what the pony had called, and so she threw on her saddle bags and stepped off onto the sidewalk, taking the opportunity to thank the team whilst also confirming this stop was all there was in the town. Relief at the confirmation blended with surprise that this was it, and a deep sense of anticlimax washed over her. She stood back a little further on the sidewalk giving the bus more room even though it didn’t need it, and watched as it left her behind to continue its journey to Henson. Nopony had left the bus at the same time as her, and she felt alone in a strange place with the sun getting low in the sky. Everything struck her as being unnaturally quiet. After almost a day and a half of either being on some form of transport or waiting to get into one, she was there, at the point on the map she had fantasised about. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure what “there” meant. The neighbourhood seemed pleasant enough; the sidewalk being graced at regular intervals by trees that had grown to stand taller than any of the single storey buildings she could see, and an unfamiliar dustiness reminded her with each breath that she wasn’t in Ponyville anymore. Everypony who lived around these parts, or even those who just passed through had clearly all found better places to be than by the roadside this afternoon, and for the first time on her journey, there was nopony to help guide her on her way. She let out a sad sigh and made to take off her saddlebags so she could get another look at the address in the hope that she could find somepony who might be able to help, when she caught a stirring in the shadows that made her reconsider. “Why, begging your pardon Miss” came a male voice, “But, would you by any chance be cuzzin Applejack?” The words seemed to become amplified as they echoed around her in the unnatural silence, and she turned her head to see who had announced himself. An indistinct figure ambled towards her through the shadow cast by one of the trees, and then emerged into the dying rays of the late afternoon sun to reveal himself as a buckskin coloured earth pony who had doffed his straw hat to address the mare in his presence. “Sure as sugar am!” she replied suddenly feeling her enthusiasm return in a rush that even she didn’t quite understand herself, but probably owed much to adrenaline. “Well, mighty pleased to meet you Miss Applejack” he greeted warmly, striding forward to bump hooves and give her a friendly hug, “Name’s Golden Graham by the bye; you can call me Goldie. C’mon, let’s go – you’ve got a whole new family to meet!” She looked at the way the sun glinted off the teeth protruding from his lopsided smile and felt her trepidation instantly melt away. He sure was welcoming enough to be an Apple, and that was good enough for her. However, it would take a bit of getting used to thinking of him as another Cousin Goldie. She cast her mind briefly back to the Apple family’s cat loving historian who had started this whole adventure off only a few short days ago, and the strange coincidence that had gifted both of them the same name. “Why, you have no idea how good it is to meet you, cuzzin Goldie” said Applejack picking up on his dusty scent, before adding enquiringly, “I don’t suppose you have cats do you?” Her host looked a little surprised to be asked about pets, but before he made any comment, he detected a distinct freshness under the inevitable staleness that the long journey had gifted her. “If you would excuse me for being so forward” he began, “It’s almost as if I can smell fresh apples on you.” She blushed a little before replying, “Well, I am an apple farmer. Guess it kinda goes with the territory.” “Oh, sorry” he stammered, “Weren’t meant in a bad way. Just, we don’t get that nice smell unless we go shopping at the fruit stall is all.” “Well, in that case, I have a treat for you” she said, stepping back to present her saddlebags to him, “If you undo the bag in front of you, you’ll find some apples fresh off a Sweet Apple Acres tree less than two days ago.” He undid the strap and deftly flipped the top of the bag back to reveal the source of the appetising smell; shiny apples in deep red, pink and green. “Lucky you didn’t undo the other side” she quipped, that’s got my travelling stuff in!” “Oh, I sure wouldn’t want to go nosing around in there, Miss” he said apologetically, feeling a blush rising, but glad Applejack was facing away so wouldn’t see it spread across his face. “Just help yourself to the one that takes your fancy” she offered. “Well, I guess one of them bright green ones would hit the spot just about now” he said, “Thank you.” “Would you get one for me as well?” she asked, feeling the strap being tightened again. “Oh … er … sorry” he stammered, “Where are my manners? Of course, of course.” He took out another and passed it to her, completely forgetting to try and hide the bright red blush this time. “Why, thank you Sir” she smiled sweetly, sensing his embarrassment and doing her best to put him at his ease. Goldie rolled his eyes in delight at the tasty snack, relishing the crispness and the perky taste dancing across his tongue, savouring every second of delight that it brought. “You sure are lucky to have these growin’ on your farm” he said in muted tones of respect, “I’m guessing you can just go and pick one any time you want?” “We don’t pick them” she said, we buck ‘em.” “You do what now?” he asked fearing he had misheard. “You brace your forehooves and kick out at the tree with your rear hooves and catch the apples as they fall out” she explained, “Why, how do you harvest round here?” His eyes that had grown round with her description suddenly sparkled and creased as he began to laugh, “Why, I cannot imagine harvesting wheat and oats by kicking each stem in turn!” Applejack looked at him with her head to one side; there was a joke here, but she couldn’t see it. “C’mon now Miss” he said, breaking the silence, “Let’s take you home before it gets dark.” She looked slightly puzzled that the joke had been left unexplained, but after a moment or two gave up trying to figure it out, shook her head to dismiss the thoughts and followed along happily. They rounded the corner at the end of the block and found a pair of bright yellow horse drawn vehicles pulled up alongside a sign that said ‘taxis only’ and headed for the one at the head of the line. “Where will it be, Sir” asked the pony shackled to the front. “High Plains Farm please” Goldie replied, earning a nod in reply. “Just the two of you?” he enquired, “Any baggage?” “Only the Lady’s saddlebags” he replied. “Sure, on you get then buddy” came the business-like reply. Goldie helped Applejack remove her saddlebags and hoisted them into the back of the cab, then extended a forehoof to assist her in. She didn’t need any help, but graciously accepted the chivalrous offer and climbed up onto the bench seat within. Next, she felt the cab rock as her cousin put his weight onto the step up and joined her on the wide seat. “All aboard?” asked their driver from the front. “Yup” Goldie confirmed, once having checked that his guest was comfortable, “Let’s go!”