//------------------------------//
// Take A Compliment 
// Story: Detour 
// by Jetset0099 
//------------------------------//

       With one felled swoop, every apple fell off one of the trees and into the bed of the Dodge that was parked underneath it. Applejack backed away to admire her work. She and Jake had managed to crank out half the orchard in one day due to the truck being able to carry so many apples at once. They no longer had to make a lot of trips to empty out the baskets and wagons. Applejack jumped up onto the running-board for the ride back up to the house.  
"Ah think this is comin' along swell Jake. Thank Celestia fer that truck o' yers."

"I know. This thing has proven itself very useful. I think Mac is almost done husking the corn we harvested yesterday. When he finally is, all three of us working together can finish the job by tomorrow."
Applejack chuckled. 
"Ah hope, Jake. Ah hope. If we can't meet our deadline, then the apples will start to become unsuitable for sellin'."
The truck pulled up to where the barn used to be in front of a giant wooden washing bin already filled up with water. Applejack jumped down, and Jake followed her to the bin.
"Then in that case, we need to get a move on."
She nodded. 
"Ah was thinkin' that you an' Big Mac could go into town today an' start sellin' some o' these already. Ah should be done washin' them in an hour or two, so until then, help him husk the rest of the corn."
The pilot saluted. 
"Yes ma'am."
She gave him a deadpanned look and shook her head. 
"Get a move-on captain dunderhead."
Over by the house, Mac was whistling to himself as he husked the corn. After a while of doing this, his brain went on autopilot and continued the job. He could think about other things and multitask whilst doing the job correctly. However, his train of thought was shaken off the rails as Jake approached him. 
"Hey, Mac. I'm here to help you finish the husking job."

"Nnope."
The captain cocked his head and gave him a confused look. 
"Why not?"

"Because..."
He held up a stalk and stripped it clean of it's husk, letting the lush, yellow piece of corn drop into an already full tub. 
"That was the last one, Jake."

"Nice."
The farmer stood up and started walking towards Applejack at the wash bin. Jake followed suit.
"You know, your sister wanted you and me to start selling apples today before it gets too late."

"Is that so?"

"Mhmm. I suggest we load up the truck, drive into town and just sell them off the tailgate. I've seen people back home do that at farmers markets before."

"Well then, if we're gonna do that, we should help Applejack finish the washin'. She's worked hard enough today."
Mac stopped in his tracks, making Jake stop as well and swing around to face him. 
"What's the matter?"

"Thank you, Jake. If y'all didn't have that there machine, we would be bankrupt fer sure."

"Well, considering if I wasn't here in the first place, none of this would have ever happened."
He gestured over to the flat ground where the barn once stood. Mac started walking again and thumped him on the back of the head for fun. 
"Jes take a compliment fer once."
Jake smiled and started walking with him again. 
"Eeyup."
Mac looked over to him with narrowed eyes for mocking him, but quickly resumed his normal composure. He knew that Jake was just screwing around as usual. 
Applejack had just begun the washing process, and like her brother, immediately went on autopilot. She would throw a hoof full of apples in the bin, scrub them good, and toss them into white cardboard boxes that had their farm logo on it. It was a large, red apple with a green leaf waving in the background. She would put a dozen in each box, and place them neatly in order. Jake jumped up on the tailgate and started handing her apples. 
"Ok, I suggest we do an assembly line kind of thing. I'll hand you guys the apples, then you two wash them, and I'll take the boxes and start loading them up in the bed as we make room."

"Sounds good ta me."
For the next hour, the three worked diligently to wash and package the remaining fruit. Once it was all loaded up nicely in the truck bed, Jake and Mac got in and started it up. Applejack shut the tailgate and trotted up to the front next to her brothers window, prompting him to roll it down. 
"What is it, sis?"

"Jes make sure y'all sell a lot today...and Mac, don't worry about you-know-who."
The farmer rolled his eyes and snorted. 
"Like ah said Applejack, if it happens again, ahm gonna do somethin' about it. End o' story."
She sighed. 
"Jes don't go startin' fires ya can't put out, Mac."
He stared out the front of the windshield at the boulder they had moved a while ago. 
"Ah know. See ya later, sis."
He rolled up his window, and Jake pulled out onto the main road. 
Once they got going, the pilot looked over to Mac, who was looking discouraged. 
"What did Applejack mean when she said don't worry about you-know-who?"

"Ah'll tell ya later. It's a long story. We shouldn't have any problems today. Jes keep a smile on yer face, and be polite to customers. You'll do fine."
Jake donned a huge, sarcastic smile, and spoke through his teeth. 
"Like this!"

"Jake...yer a piece o' work ya know that."

"Eeyup."
The Dodge pulled into town, and turned on to the main road leading towards the square where their apple stand normally was. When they stopped in front of it, Mac nodded and looked over to the captain. 
"Let's make some bits, Jake."