I drove down the highway faster than I thought it might go. The smell of dirt and blood stuck to the inside of the car. My heart was beating through my chest the farther I got. I was nervous and I was more than sure it showed on my face. I shifted my gaze from the road to the briefcase. Now the only question going through my chest was why I took it in the first place.
Now that I was far away from the scene the whole picture began to piece together, and my heart sank deep into my stomach. I felt like I was going to vomit... Scratch that. I rolled down the window and slowed down a little. The sun hit my face as I threw up over the side of the truck. I rolled myself back into my seat and took a deep breath. Sweet Celestia, how many dead stallions were there? I already forgot how many I saw but they were all dead, all of them. A stinging was brought to my eyes, I wiped away the sweat from my forehead.
"Wha could be in tha' case." I asked myself looking back out to the road, the black asphalt bleached to a light gray from the sun. The heat was beating the ground and the desert. The sun was ruthless as it cruelly melted the air around the truck.
"I reckon i'd be fairly importan' if all them be killin' over it."I said to myself once again.
The anxiousness and fear came over me quicker than cows are drawn to water on a day like this. What could be in there? Should you drop it off to the authorities? Braeburn is a deputy in one of the towns close to where me and the rest of the family are living. I could tell him about what I saw out there and what I have here.
The box stared me down hard in the seat next to me. I had to see what was in it, no, I needed to see what was in it.
I spun the wheel around and stopped the car next to the highway and sat there for a second, the heat pounded the windows as soon as the engine stopped. I sat there for a second thinking. I was scared and anxious about opening the case. I took my hat off and leaned on the steering wheel with my forelegs, pondering what I was supposed to do. I moved my gaze back to it, the case. I stared at it for a moment, then looked away again. I sighed hard and broke finally.
I spun the case around and clicked the locks on the side and opened it. I felt a chill colder than a glacier travel up my spine. No, unbelievable, I would have never guessed this in my wildest dreams. One thing that came to my mind that I said in disbelief.
"We could save Applebloom with this." I was out of breath, utter happiness and joy was a complete understatement of what I felt right now.
Inside the case was rolls over rolls over rolls of glittering bits, there could be thousands and thousands here. The inside shone and glistened with gold, the gleam nearly blinding. I sat there a minute and thought. A single idea was the only thing passing through my mind.
"We can save my sister." I said aloud. "And if we have 'buff left over we could try to buy back the farm!" My mind flooded with old thoughts that I was for sure had been long forgotten. Dreams became close realities, I reckon that there are more to come though. I closed the case with a calm expression, trying to hide my happiness from whomever may be watching me.
I popped the clutch back into gear and steered back to the highway and barreled down the road. The thoughts, the wonders, the possibilities. The happiness of being able to tell her that she will be able to go outside and we could go back to our farm, and she could be with all her friends again. Big Mac would be happier, Applebloom would be healthy, I would just like to have that back again, everyone being happy again.
I was so caught up with what I had going on in my head I hadn't been paying attention to how far I had traveled down the road, nor where it had taken me. I had ended up driving towards a little town centre. Of the town four or five building stood on all four roads leading in and out of the little group of brick and plaster. I began to feel a tightening on my stomach, the one you get from not eating in a day or two, yeah that one all right. As I pulled into town I saw signs, big banners strung from building to building. 'Welcome to Cottondale, happiest town in the West.' it said in royal blue letters against a pale white background.
I shifted gears and slowed the car as I pulled into town. As I got out of the truck I was immediately greeted by the heat and sun, beating down with no end it seemed. The hot dirt and asphalt rose up from the ground and ripped up into my snout. The long early shadow of mine was casted out over the ground.
I had parked on the street in the town, the sleepy diner that laid still across the way sat in silence on the city block. A sign on top that I could barely make out against the light read out 'Joe's Diner' in neon lights, currently turned off. Before I set out completely I grabbed the case and brought it with me, balancing it carefully on my back.
As I walked in the smell of fresh baked bread and scrambled eggs warmly greeted me at the door. As soon as the door shut most of the eyes were focused on me, most of the stallions at the bar on my right had turned around and stared disapprovingly at me. At the closer end of the bar a display case held different pastries and such all revolving in a little showcase. From there, on the other side of the bar, were booths that were lined against the windows, all empty except for one, one table at the far end had a stallion or mare sitting at it with his or her hooves kicked up on it. A long black hat was pulled over his or her eyes. I walked over to a booth and sat down at it, keeping the briefcase close to my side.
The waitress emerged from the kitchen with a slight swing in her step as she strolled around the counter, from there she grabbed a notepad from under the bar and walked over joyfully to my booth.
"Welcome to Joe's Diner!" She exclaimed cheerily.
"Thankya," I said relaxing a bit in my seat but still keeping the case pressed close to me.
"Can I start ya off with something to dr-"
"Coffee." I said interrupting her mid way.
"Coffee, please." She raised an eyebrow and trotted off.
"It'll be just a minute ma'am."
I sat there for a moment before noticing the menu on the table already, resting behind a retro napkin holder. Quicker than I thought I could move and filed through every dish and entree the had on the menu. Multiple things stood out that looked more than appetizing. My mouth began to water as I thought of the taste.
"Here's your coffee, sugar!" She said placing a mug in front of me. I Picked up the cup and let the steaming hot beverage empty down my throat and melt my body all the way down. I emptied the coffee cup before I even tasted it. The waitress stood above me with an amused smile.
"Stranger, you must'a been mighty thirsty!" She said filling the mug up again with a coffee pot she had brought out with her. "Now, is there a hunger to match that thirst?" She asked bringing out a pen and pad from a pocket in the red apron she wore.
"Uh, where do I start." I said peering through the menu.
"One full stack of yer hay flapjacks, an order of th' hash-browns, an' two or three of the muffins you have there on the display thingy." I said closing the menu.
"Wow, when was the last time you ate? Three days ago." She asked with a smirk.
"Just bout." I replied. She laughed and I chuckled a little bit. The saddest part is it wasn't a joke.
As the waitress trotted off I looked down to the case resting beside me.
"Applebloom, everything will go back to normal soon, I promise." I whispered to the case.
"I promise."