//------------------------------// // Brand New Days // Story: Ranch Hands // by Ezrienel //------------------------------// 4. Brand New Days My midsection felt cooler then, when the wind was able to reach it since she finally moved her hands off. I was not so accustomed to riding doubles, but who'd have thought that her hands would feel just so darn hot on me? I felt her legs press up against me a bit harder as she leaned back, stretching and yawning over the sounds of afternoon grass bugs. I told myself I looked back at her to be sure she wasn't falling asleep or falling off, but as I lingered on her I was not quite so sure. Maybe I was just worried or something, she did have quite a fright and for all I knew she was hiding more injuries from me to keep me quiet. She unzipped her hooded tee a bit more, and I could see her breath running up and down her throat as she leaned her head back and let the sun touch her skin. She had quit whining pretty quick, though I expected more complaints about how long it was taking us to ride back at a cautious pace. I could feel her still damp pants against my thigh and arm, as I must have splashed her even though I tied the cloth up higher than necessary. I was glad she pulled her pants back down when we started riding, or I might be feeling her smooth legs against my forearms with every step instead of just the damp cloth. "Hey, A.J.," I heard Rainbow Dash speak up, though she faced the sky and not me. "Hm?" I couldn't say much myself, I just kept my attention on her in case she decided to do the same. "You lived out here your whole life?" she asked gently for once, her usual aggressive behaviour taking a break for the time being. I didn't much know what had brought that sort of subject up, but it was an innocent enough question to answer honestly. "Yeah, but I'm not here all year any more," I told her vaguely. I was never one to divulge too much of myself all at once. Not to strangers anyway, with my family hardly a thing went unsaid. She didn't say anything for a minute as she took in the answer and I turned back to guide the horse again. I thought the conversation might have slipped away, but again her voice touched my ears. "Why do you ever leave?" I wasn't sure if it was a rhetorical question or not, mostly because I wasn't sure what kind of an answer to give. I smiled though, finally hearing something that told me she wasn't entirely hating her time here. "Only for somethin' real important," I replied as I directed my horse to take the next turn, and touched the rope still attached to Blaze to be certain he was paying attention. The coarse twists of the dry rope did not feel quite so fine on my still burning hands, but I didn't make a show of it. "I go to school in a town a few hours south of here most of the year. My aunt puts me up at her place when I do." "Cool," Rainbow's response was not entirely void of concern, it actually seemed like she might have been paying attention. Maybe she was actually interested, but neither of us pushed the subject more than that. We were just about at the farm anyway, and I felt her pull herself back up to take a gander. "Thank God it's not too much longer, my butt is falling asleep back here." "You get used to that." I laughed at the sentiment, feeling something of similar ails myself. I felt her shift a bit as the horse bounced a bit on the gravel, and she reached back out and put her hands around me. I felt her move them around a bit, trying to get comfortable or something, touching my hips and my stomach and my belt. It kinda felt like she was awkward about touching me, and I smiled a bit, giving her an out, "Y'know, I don't much mind where you hold, as long as you don't fall off." "Yeah, I bet you don't," sounded like some rude insinuation, but I didn't dignify the accusation with any response. I moved our pace up another step every few seconds, wanting just as bad as apparently Rainbow did to get off this horse. I froze up a bit as I felt her lean forward, her breath trickling down my neck warmer than the sun soaked air. But doing my best to avoid the idea, I cleared my throat and repositioned my sweating hands on the reins. I frowned, finding myself unusually anxious in such a situation. I glanced back once more to find her watching me just as closely, so in a spur of nervousness I ushered my horse on, taking us into a speedy gallop. Blaze was more than willing to keep up, and I could feel Rainbow's heart race against my back as we rode on. She even went so far as to hold on that tiny bit firmer. We glided down the last hill towards the farm, and every time I saw it I held my breath at such a sight. It was glorious: all the far fields golden and lush, the barn just the same brilliant scarlet as ever I knew it to be, the ranch house calling out for me to come in for dinner. Not a thing had changed except maybe me, and I liked it that way. We slowed a bit as we came upon the riding area and pens, and I could clearly see Big Mac waiting by the gate for me to come in. He must have had better things to do, but he was always a softy for family. Beside him I saw Rainbow's friend, Twilight waving expectantly as we kicked up the dust all the way to the pens. Rainbow Dash must have been glad that the rest of her team had already gone and left, it might have been embarrassing even for her to be put up on the back of a saddle like dead weight. "What took you guys so long?" Twilight asked as I slowed before them, readying myself to hop off. "Rainbow here couldn't get enough of eatin' my dust," I chuckled as Rainbow pouted and I kicked off my left foot, swinging it around to hop off my horse. I turned back of course, my hand outstretched. "Need a hand, sugar cube?" "As if." She snorted and jumped down, flinching as her knees buckles against gravity. She tried to turn away so Twilight didn't catch it, but like any good friend she could tell when Rainbow was hiding something. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight's voice was low and I watched Rainbow shrink under her full name. "What happened to your leg?" "Uh, nothing," she tried to sound certain, but I don't think anyone would have bought such a feeble attempt. Twilight stormed over to her and forced her to face straight ahead, looking down at the wetted and bloodied fabric of her pants. She growled and glared at Rainbow, waiting patiently on an explanation. "Okay, okay, I fell off the horse, happy? There was this coyote and—" "Coyote?!" Twilight snapped, and admittedly it sounded pretty bad. Big Mac didn't seem to concerned of course, after all, I was there too. "It was fine, Twilight. Applejack was right there with me if you forgot." Rainbow crossed her arms and crossed her wounded leg behind her other one, trying to push the attention onto me. "Besides, I'm not completely useless you know. I can handle myself." "You know we're on this trip to help the team bond, right?" she asked, and I suppose that made sense enough to me. "Not to let you get bitten by some wild animal!" "Cool it Twi, I'm sorry okay? We were just racing, and it came out of no where. Could have happened to anyone!" she argued stubbornly, and I could tell Twilight was not in much of a mood to keep up with it. I hid my chuckle with my hand as Rainbow flashed me something of a death stare. "Help me bring the horses in, will ya Mac?" I asked as I excused myself from the conversation, pulling my own horse right close behind me. I tipped my hat over my eyes a bit as I walked off, trying to hide my snickering from the both of them. "You're not my mother, you know," Rainbow kept on and I shook my head, knowing that probably wasn't the smartest choice of word I ever did hear. "And who ever said I was? It's my job as your team manager and as your friend to make sure you don't get yourself hurt, is that too much to comprehend?!" she snapped, waving a finger in Rainbow's face just like her mother might have. I shook my head, smirking at Rainbow's guilty expression. She looked right back at me of course, smiling a nervous yet amused smile about such an expected reaction. By the time Mac and I finished up bringing the horses back in, Twilight and Rainbow had left. I wasn't disappointed or nothing, don't think that. I had plenty to do on my own, and heck I couldn't even start listing everything I now did by habit more than necessity. Even while the rest of them were eating dinner, I was still out and about working like a hog till the moon came up. Finally though, everything seemed to be in order and I let myself get some shut eye. Sleeps felt more like naps whenever I was on the farm, I always had something better to be doing and sleep was just some silly necessity. Most of the next day I was to help Granny with getting all the jars together for the apple sauce and jam, but I wanted to stop by and see Big Mac doing the cattle drive. He was always real good at it, but I was the rodeo star around here. No animal was any match for me when I had a lasso in my hands, and I was one heck of a horse back rider to boot. Course I was out of practice now, and Big Mac had been doing these duties without me for quite some time. I leaned on the old cattle fence, watching him way out in the distance gathering each cattle without a hitch. The family dog Winona was out there with him too, she was pretty good at being his second in command, keeping them from slipping around his flanks. It used to be my job, but though I felt a tug at my chest wanting me to be out there with them, I was content enough just to watch for once. I missed the farm, truly I did. It was nice to be back once in a while, see my big brother and how strong he was getting, how tall Apple Bloom was growing, I had to miss all that stuff since I was going to school so far away. Apple Bloom got to stay around here until high school, we had after school programs and elementary schools and such run by the community and the church. We had so few kids here they put everyone from kindergarten to grade nine all in one little building. Big Mac hadn't bothered going to school much, the farm needed him more and he knew it. And I knew if it meant giving Apple Bloom a good education I'd stay behind and work with Granny and Big Mac for as long as it took, and maybe that's how my big brother felt too. I smiled as he came into view and waved at me, enjoying the audience. The rest of the guests were by the gate I noticed, watching on with just as little interest as ever. That was what we got for bringing a bunch of kids around here on their spring break. I found myself walking around to them anyway, maybe just to have some company instead of standing there all alone all depressing and all. They'd be pretty excited when it came around to the branding, they always were. Usually we didn't need to brand them since they didn't often wander, but it was a good deal safer in case they did and served as an experience for all the folks who came by for a real ranch experience. "Hey," I heard before I got too close to the rest of the group, and I looked over to see Rainbow Dash standing there with her hands deep in her pockets like she was nervous about something. "Twilight says that as punishment for yesterday I have to come and apologize, for like, putting you in danger or something." She kicked at the dirt a bit, avoiding my eyes. "That doesn't sound much like one I ever did hear." I smiled though, finding her behaviour somehow endearing. "But the sentiment's nice. Twilight sounds like she's got a hard whip on her hip." "Whatever that means." She flipped her hair a bit, still seeming embarrassed. She came around a bit though. "She's always making me do difficult or stupid things. She just wants me to be disciplined or something. Beats me." "Sounds like a good leader if you ask me." I looked back out at Big Mac as he drove a good lot of the cattle in. Rainbow came over to me and leaned lazily on the fence with her back, barely looking over her shoulder to watch. "How's that leg of yours, any who?" "I'll live." She shrugged, kicking the injured leg out a bit as if to demonstrate it didn't stop her. She looked right over at me then. "So, tell me: you still in high school or what?" "Yeah." I laughed a bit at the way she phrased it, like she didn't believe it or something. "Why wouldn't I be?" "Well, I don't know." She huffed a bit and turned to face the cattle, probably just so she didn't have to look at me. She crossed her arms over the fence before she explained, "You just seem, like, older or something. I don't know anyone my age who can do half as much as you do around here." "I guess I'll take that as a compliment." I did just that as I glanced at her, that cute, fake apathetic look bringing a smile to my face. "I just know this wouldn't have been my first choice if I had a say in it. It's my last spring break of high school you know, I should be hanging out with my friends or something, before whatever happens after graduation." It felt to me like she was actually confiding in me about something, and I could already tell that didn't happen too much with her. "Twilight's your friend, ain't she?" Rainbow nodded, but that must not have been the point. "You know, it's my spring vacation too. And if all goes as planned, I'll be graduatin' this year just the same. You think I wanna be stuck at the ranch takin' care of a buncha ingrates?" I smiled though, to show I was merely joking. "Sometimes it don't matter much what you want." "I guess." She shrugged, burying her face into her arms. "Well, Big Mac's gonna be branding the youngins soon. He might need a hand," I told her as I walked past her towards the crowd, and though she hesitated, she did come after me. As I anticipated, the guys were all more than excited about watching some hot fold of metal burn the flank of some young calf. It was rather disgusting to think they liked it so darn much, I only did it because I had to. We'd had the same old shape to our brands since before I was born, one big, round apple. Everyone in the whole darn county knew it was ours by the name of our ranch, Sweet Apple Acres. Anyway, after that was all done I took after the cattle and made sure there was no difficulty with the branding before I let them go. After all the commotion I went back to organizing the shed, which I had been doing when the whole lot of them arrived in the first place. I mean Big Mac sure was good at his job, but he was quite a pig when I wasn't around to keep cleaning up after him. By midday it felt like the sun would never go down around here, yet when the night came round it was as though I was robbed of my entire day. I had just myself got back from school, and as usual spent my spring and summer breaks on the farm with the family, making something of an income if I could. These spoiled brats didn't seem to know much of it, the only reason they ever cared to spare a glance at me was to fondle me with their disgusting eyes. Well, that ain't entirely true, Twilight checked in with me from time to time about scheduling, boy that girl had way too much on her mind for any kind of healthy, I can tell you that much. And sure, the rainbow-haired girl and myself had been more civil to each other, but there was still tension and she avoided eye contact if we were ever talking, like she was too good to look at me or something. Arrogant one, that one. My days always went by too quickly when I was busy, I didn't have much time to think about it so my body sort of went into autopilot I guess. Course in all that heat, I changed into a darned skirt once all my dangerous jobs were taken care of, my jeans were awfully hard to move in when they kept sticking to my legs. Not that I liked the darn thing, it had been my mother's, but the shorts I had in my drawers here were all too small for me now. Big Mac was too busy with the guests to give me much of a hand, but I wouldn't have wanted to switch duties, no sir. Finally though, a little after dinner that day I could hear the whole lot of them playing on the field I had just myself mowed earlier in the day. They sounded like they were having something of a blast too, so after the dishes I decided to sneak out and have a look. They were kicking around a soccer ball far as I could tell, playing on two small teams for practice. I noticed right away, that though Rainbow Dash ran after the ball every time, and was open for a pass and score constantly, she wasn't ever given a chance to kick. I suppose being the only girl on the team had some down sides, but she was probably pretty popular with the guys otherwise, a girl as fit and pretty as she. Even I could notice that. "Pass the damn ball already!" I heard Rainbow Dash call out from my place behind Twilight, who held the whistle as the coach had himself another few brews from Big Mac's courtesy. "Oh, you want the ball?" came something of an answer, though none of the other guys even seemed to care how loud she called out. "Here then, go get it." The boy who had spoken stopped the ball with his foot before kicking it way too far out left field. Clearly he was not passing it to anyone but the dimming horizon. "Hey, enough with your attitude. Get off the field, come back when you feel like playing for a team, you got that?" Twilight blew her whistle and forced the player off the field, despite his aggravated bickering. It didn't seem to be much help though, and I saw the Rainbow headed girl moseying off the field anyway. I ducked behind the shed Twilight was set up next to and tried to avoid any wrath. "Thanks Twi, but I don't feel much like playing anyway," was all Rainbow Dash said, and it was quiet too. Not arrogant or aggressive like usual. "But Rainbow—" she tried to console her friend, but the girl would have none of it. "Don't worry about it, you can go over the plays with me alone later, like always. No biggie." She shrugged as she waved her friend off and went back to the loggings. It wasn't as if her team would be far behind, it was getting dark already. It was more of a statement than anything, I think. "Somethin' tells me the team doesn't much 'preciate havin' her around," I found myself saying to Twilight as she turned around to greet me. "It's always been like that," she tried to reason, and I suppose there was little else to do but that, no one could force friendship after all. "Rainbow Dash is the only girl on the team, the guys resent her for it. Especially since she's a better player than they are, for the most part. This vacation was supposed to bring them together, because if they lose their next game, the season is over for them." "Yeah, I can relate. Being a girl in a man's profession, it ain't no picnic." I smiled at the idea. I mean, guys don't usually look at me as anything other than Big Mac's little sister, who for the sake of doing so would want to violate. They never took me seriously, neither. "Want I should talk to her?" "No, no, she'll probably just bite your head off. She likes to be alone for a while, to cool off. She'll come around," Twilight told me, but she too watched her friend walk away in a slump. I could tell she was not happy about the way they treated her. "Al'right, well I got some chores to do around here any who. Guess I'll see you tomorrow, Twilight." I excused myself, somewhat uncomfortable talking about a near stranger behind her back. I started off again to finish making certain the animals had water nearby. "Okay, have a good night," she said after me before blowing the whistle again, calling another foul play. I didn't know much about these people for certain, but they sure did seem dysfunctional. Most folks were I suppose, they come down to this ranch to find something in themselves or in each other that they always seem to miss in the bustle of the city life. I wasn't one to judge though, I myself had my fair share of troubles and stresses. The last thing I had to do of course was to make ready the hay for the morning, so it would be no trouble for Mac or myself to move it around as we needed. The barn was dark by now, and everyone had since gone to bed for the evening. I would have got to this all sooner, if I didn't have so much else to be doing. I picked up a pitchfork and began moving the loose hay around, getting it out of the way as best I could. But it seemed even in the dark of night in the most desolate of barns, I was never quite alone.