The Raceabout was a hell of a ride, AJ found out as Dash gunned it down the dirt road leading out of town. The path flew underneath them, being swallowed by the thundering engine like a behemoth with an unquenchable appetite. As AJ held onto the door for dear life, Dash let out a loud whoop, blowing hard on a turn and giving a raise of the driver’s cap she wore atop her head.
“Ain’t natural fer someone ta be goin’ this fast!” Applejack called out to her compatriot, holding down the stetson atop her head, fearful a gust of wind would separate it in a heartbeat.
“No need to blow your wig! I got this under control. Just sit back and I’ll do all the work, hot mama.”
“Hot mama?” AJ repeated. “What are ya on, ya egg?”
Dash smirked, looking back onto the road. “Well, in that dress that shows off your gams, what else would I call you?”
“Shut up,” AJ automatically replied to another laugh from Dash. “Evelyn Hammett, I don’t wanna hear it. I did it ta look the part when asking Filthy fer the car. Only right ta approach him in the Sunday best when askin’ a favor.” She shook her head with an easy roll of her eyes. “Better than what you got. Don’t ya get a bunch of funny looks, dressed like a man? What’s the point?”
“Point is, I wear what I want, when I want.” Dash turned hard on the road again, prompting a surprised yelp from Applejack. “Who cares what other people think?”
“I don’t,” AJ countered quickly. “You of all people should know that. But I also know ya lure a lot more flies ta honey than vinegar.”
“Now, come on, I think you’d taste better than just regular old honey, dollface.”
AJ let a single laugh out amid the heat coming to her cheeks. “Do ya even listen ta yerself when ya talk?”
“Just sometimes. I tend to tune in to the show and listen to just the best bits.”
AJ’s eyes shot open at a thought. “Damn. Speakin’ of shows, jus’ realized I’m gonna miss the Grand Ole Opry tonight. Wish these tin cans had a radio.”
“Like that’d ever happen,” Dash dismissed with a wave of her hand. “Besides, it’d drown out my swell talking. That’s no good at all.”
AJ turned her head and easily looked over the headrest of her seat. Their package sat comfortably in front of the spare tire, tied down with a spool of rope. Though they had covered it with cloth and within a second crate, AJ still felt paranoid on it being out in the open and she turned forward again, rubbing at her mouth in thought.
“Yer gal should net us some extra cabbage fer hazardous transport too,” Applejack said. “It’s bad enough that I had to give a half-truth ta Filthy on why we needed the car, but if a copper catches wind that we’re haulin’ this much of the good stuff…?” She let a hand rise and fall.
“Then you give him a show of your own good stuff, that’ll stall him enough for us to get out of there!” Dash answered with a flap of her hand, once more indifferent to what she was saying.
The girl embodied freedom in every sense of the word. No restraint, no care what other people thought of her, just living her life. Free and, to Applejack, beautiful in her wild and carefree way. Not physically, though. Dash’s body was reminiscent of an adolescent man’s: lean, thin, a bustline so empty it might as well be nonexistent, a boyish face.
But nice hips an’ a caboose so big an’ fine it should be ridin’ rear on a train, Applejack thought with a smirk. She froze.
Why would I like that? she thought to herself, alarmed. Shouldn’t she like that Dash was built more like a man, rather than letting her mind wander down south on the dame?
Ya shouldn’t like how Dash is lookin’ period, her thoughts warned. Swallowing, Applejack stared out toward the passing scenery instead of the tasty dish at her side, trying to get her ducks in a row.
“So,” she clumsily started off, “how much longer do ya reckon it is to the city?”
“We’re still a few hours shy. No need to wear yourself out with excitement,” Dash remarked, glancing at the rearview mirror as they passed by a man on a bicycle.
“Aside from makin’ a damn fool of yerself on gamblin’, how ya likin’ the city?”
Dash stared at the road for a moment, then she smiled. “It’s grand, ya’ know? A real wild time.”
“Sounds like you,” AJ answered with a smile. “Parties, rambling every which way, gettin’ tugged all over the place. Bet you an’ that Belle girl are like two peas in a pod up there.”
Rarity Belle, to be specific. The beautiful canary had grown up with Dash and AJ, her family and AJ’s own both fresh off the boat together when they had traveled from France to the new world generations ago. They butted heads quite a bit on, well, most of everything, but AJ was still happy to call her a close family friend.
“We went to some parties. Not that I could get at her— the goofs all buzzed around her like flies on shit. One time these two college fellas were all the way lit up, and they decided to fight a duel over her. A real, on the level duel.” Dash giggled.
“Holy shit,” AJ bluntly remarked, both amused and a bit concerned. “Anyone get killed? An’ what the Sam Hill Rare think of that?”
“They went out in the street, and one guy tried to pull out a gun and shot his damn hand. That was enough to bring the coppers, so everyone scrammed. I caught up with Rarity later, she was glad no one died, but not all that down that the thing went south. She said it served ‘em right, she told ‘em it was bonkers from the start.”
Jack shook her head in bemusement. “I don’t know if trouble finds her, or if she finds trouble sometimes. Though I’m sure she’s not too upset she’s got a body that drives a Joe wild an’ a voice to match. Anyone that goes hearin’ ‘bout how two people fought a duel over her’ll drum up business at the club, I betcha.”
Dash laughed. “She’s the hot ticket. You know she’s eating it up, too. Swanky parties, flashy dresses… of course, if the style gets any shorter she’s gonna need flashy underwear too. I mean, the girl’s got gams, and ya’ can’t help noticing that, right? But I think I’ve seen more of hers than I have of my own.”
“Shame. You could give her a run fer her money,” AJ remarked. “Jus’ gotta let ‘em come out and play sometimes instead of hidin’ ‘em away in pants.”
Dash was quiet for just a moment, shifting in her seat. Then she grinned. “Did I tell you I got to go to an airfield? I even took a spin in a plane!”
“Oh yeah? What was it like?”
“It was the tops! It’s like driving, but you’re free, ya’ know? Nothing holding you down, no road to stay on. And the rest of the world’s spread out down there like a toy. And the sky… there’s so much sky up there, AJ. So much sky it’ll make your head spin!” She glanced at Applejack, locking eyes for a second. “It was awesome. I’m looking at how to get a pilot’s license.”
There was something in Dash’s eyes, in her whole body. Applejack was used to the way she lit up when she saw a set of wheels, Dash had been like that since the first car rolled through town when they were just kids. The other children were content to crowd around and stare, looking at their reflections in the shiney chrome headlamps, but not Dash; as the fella came out of the store, focused on remembering the directions he got, Dash had jumped on the back of the Model T and held on as he started to drive off, bouncing and kicking up dust on the rutted dirt road. Applejack remembered watching, slackjawed, sure that nut was going to crack her fool head open as the car picked up speed.
Dash had hopped off just outside of town limits, covered in scratches and sap from a hard landing in pine sapling. But the whole time Rarity and Applejack took turns lecturing her and trying to get her cleaned up there was a starry-eyed look about the girl that wouldn't wash off.
This was that same look, but with a certainty and peace Applejack had never seen in her best friend. She wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Is that tough? I don’t suppose they let jus anyone fly one’a them things.”
“Oh, I could do it easy.” Dash sighed, her face falling slightly. “I mean, I just have to get some flight time in…”
“Aw, hell. Yer scary enough on ground. Can’t believe they’re willin’ ta give ya wings too.” The farmer laughed. But regardless, she flashed a quick ‘ok’ symbol—making a circle with her index and thumb—and her grin widened. “You’ve wanted this for a while, though, haven’t ya? I’m happy ta hear it’s comin’ up aces, sug, really.”
Dash’s grin seemed frozen as she looked at the road. “Yup. Aces. Hey, what about you? I bet you’ve been growing all kinds of swanky corn or whatever, right?” She relaxed and glanced at AJ.
It was the farmer’s turn to freeze. She gave a small rise and fall of her hands. “I can’t lie ta ya, sug. It’s still a blessin’ seein’ Mac an’ the kid growin’ up, an’ I’m proud of ‘em every day I see ‘em, but, hell, I’ve…” Rolling her tongue in her mouth, she seemed almost to be tasting the words in her mouth before finally settling on one that was least offensive to her palate. “Been kinda lonely, sug. Ain’t got any right ta say that with the family an’ neighbors I got, but that’s the God’s honest truth. I’ve missed ya.”
Dash glanced at her again. Then she looked back at the road and swallowed. “Well, sure you do. Who wouldn’t miss me?” She paused and shot another glance at AJ. “But… you’ve got a swell life out there, you know.”
“Yeah,” AJ agreed after a beat, crossing her arms and looking towards the road in thought. “I know.”
“AJ…” Dash’s face seems like a battlefield for a few seconds. “AJ, if you wanna come stay in the city for a while, when I get this patched up, I’ll show you the joint. But… it can be rough.” She bit her lip and repeated, “You’ve got a swell life out there.”
“Rough never scared me,” AJ answered. She gave a flex of her bicep, springing the muscle to life in demonstration. “Ain’t scared of holdin’ my own either. City should be scared of us bein’ too rough.” After a beat, she gave a slight shove to Dash in a manner she hoped came as joking, rather than a hint wishful. “But if it’s so swell where I’m at, maybe I should be invitin’ you ta come an’ stay.”
“If you’d just turn the barn into a hangar, I’d be there in a second.” Dash laughed. “We could make the cornfields a runway, and I’d be all set. I’d take you flying.”
“Promase not ta crash us?” AJ offered. “Guess I could pitch in, get ya some nice goggles or somethin’, if yer willin’ ta build the hangar.”
“When my ship comes in, I’ll hold you to that.” Dash flashed a smile. “But my ship’s been running late, so… I wouldn’t be checking your watch.”
“I’ll wait fer ya,” AJ said sincerely, turning once more to look at Dash. “Runnin’ late ain’t never comin’, so… so I reckon it wouldn’t hurt ta wait. Even if the ship takes some time ta dock.”
Dash looked over, holding eye contact for a few seconds. She was still smiling, but there was something sad around her eyes and the corners of her mouth. “Thanks… I mean…” She shook her head and looked back at the road. “Uh… I think we’re gonna need to stop for gas soon. This thing’s a real hayburner.”
Applejack sighed, tapping at her temple. “Figures. Looks, speed, but heaven forbid good miles in the tank. Alright. An’ when we get ta the station, how ‘bout a coke? My treat.”
“Sounds grand.”
“An’ Dash?” Applejack offered, her expression grim as she took stock of the woman. “If, uh, if ya need ta get somethin’ off yer chest, ya know ya can talk ta me, right, sug?”
Dash bit her lip and looked down. “Well… I guess it’s been getting to me… I mean, I just can’t help thinking…” She looked up and glanced at AJ with a wicked smirk. “It’s a crime you don’t wear skirts as short as Rarity’s. You’ve got way better gams.” Then she burst out laughing.
AJ stared at her for a long moment. Then, finally, she felt her own mouth smile and she joined in on the laugh.
They puttered down the way a bit longer, until, finally, they came to a small filling station next to a diner. AJ’s stomach growled at the thought of a milk shake, but she knew if she got one and her little sister didn’t, there’d be hell to pay at the house, so she instead went into the station and abandoned her want for ice cream. But she’d be damned if she forgot her cokes.
The teller smiled, looking between him and out at the single car parked in the lot.
“Bit of a thirsty job, drivin’,” he commented, taking AJ’s cents and giving a few pennies in change.
“I’ll take it over haulin’ hay, at least,” Applejack replied with a grin.
“Gal your size? Hay’d be easy. Like you were made from the seed of Paul Bunyan,” he chuckled. “Dwarf your boyfriend out there.”
“What?” Applejack asked, taken aback.
“That little fella in the suit by your car,” he explained, pointing over to it. AJ looked and froze. Her ‘boyfriend’, as it were, was standing there, looking frustrated as she talked with a police officer. AJ froze midstep, almost wanting to pinch herself to wake up from this nightmare.
“Y-yeah…” AJ finally muttered out, stumbling numbly to the door. “Better, better get back on the road.”
She stepped out and approached the two as they looked at one another, the conversation bubbling, close to simmering over, but not yet there, waiting for something to tip it to the breaking point.
As she neared, first the officer, then Dash looked over at her. Dash’s eyes went wide, she seemed to be trying to mentally telegraph something to Applejack. The officer, an older man with a couple dozen extra pounds on him, just nodded and tipped his hat.
“Afternoon, Miss. This your friend here? Miss… Hammett?”
Applejack gave her best saleswoman smile, doing her damndest to hide her raw nerves. “Howdy officer, hope the day’s been treatin’ ya well. An’ eyup. That’s her name.”
The officer looked her up and down. “Miss Hammett says you gals are headed for the city. That true?”
Her gaze flicked briefly to Dash, then returned to the cop. She nodded in confirmation.
He nodded slowly. “And would ya’ mind telling me your business there?”
“I—” Dash started, but the officer glared at her.
“I already asked you, girlie. I’m asking your friend.”
Applejack rubbed the back of her head and let out a small hum. “Well, officer, we’re doin’ a few things there today. But, uh, big on the agenda is visitin’ a friend of ours.”
“She’s in the show!” Dash added quickly. “Rarity Belle. She headlines—”
“Uh-huh.” The officer frowned at Dash, then at Applejack. “And I guess the two of you don’t have a couple flasks of liquor, to make the evening a party?”
“It’s a dry country, officer. Gotta wet yer whistle other ways,” she answered, raising the cokes she held in between her thick fingers.
“Yeah, and everyone knows half of the stuff going around now’ll blind ya’,” Dash added, nodding.
“Smart girls,” he said, giving Dash a hard look, then lingering on Applejack for a moment. Dash squirmed like a current was running through her, and it took all of AJ’s effort not to do the same.
The officer finally went on, “In that case, I suppose you ladies won’t mind if I have a look in this automobile?”
“What for, officer?” AJ asked, swallowing. “Ain’t two ladies entitled ta some privacy?”
He nodded. “Ladies should be, Miss. But we get a lot of those flappers through here, on their way to the clubs and speakeasies. You have to keep an eye out or some girlie might get herself into trouble.” He glanced at Dash. “If you girls are ladies, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
Dash shot Applejack a panicked look.
“Got a warrant?” AJ blurted out as a last, desperate defense against the officer’s questions. “Flappers or not, due process keeps us from all bein’ animals.”
The officer narrowed his eyes. “If I’m going to need a warrant, I’ll have to ask you ladies to stay put while I ring up the judge.”
Applejack tried to be a good woman. She really did. Law-abiding, honest, friendly. But sometimes all three could only get you so far. Sometimes you had to throw your weight around, do things the old fashioned way. Thankfully, like most Pommes, she had a lot of weight to throw around.
That in mind, she tightened her fist and, in a flash, snapped forward, striking the officer across the jaw and stumbling him to a knee.
“Gas it!” Applejack called out to Dash, already running and jumping into the car.
Dash had her door open in an instant, and threw herself behind the wheel. She jammed the key into the ignition and revved it to life, then took off, blasting down the road.
“Son of a bitch, son of a bitch,” AJ hissed out, running her hands through her hair. “I can’t believe I jus’ did that.”
“Yeah, good work! He’ll really believe us now!” Dash countered, turning hard.
“W-we might still be good, though. I cold-cocked him decent, maybe—”
From behind them came the roar of a police siren, and soon, red and blue lights.
“Yeah, sure. You got him good. He’s still back there on the ground,” Dash dryly replied.
“Shut the hell up, what else was I supposed ta do?!”
“Let me handle shit! I had him by the ring of my finger!”
“Yeah,” AJ dryly snapped back. “I’m sure ya did.”
There came a junction in the road, a path to the right and left. Flipping on her blinker, Dash feigned going left, then, at the last second, turned right, narrowly dodging a wooden fence line. The cop chased after them, still hot on their heels and unphased by the bluff.
“Hope ya have more tricks than that!” AJ snapped out.
“Of course,” Dash countered, her grin wild. “Know what’s up ahead?”
“What?”
“Dead end.”
“What?!” AJ exclaimed.
“Yeah,” Dash nodded, unfazed. “They’re working on building a bridge across a small ravine. He’s gotta know that, but he doesn’t know that I know that.”
“What would the damn plan be?! Don’t matter if ya know that!” AJ shouted, slapping Dash’s arm.
“AJ,” Dash said, her easygoing mannerisms gone in a heartbeat, replaced by a steely stare. “Trust me.”
AJ grimaced, but did as she was told, spitting out the side of the door. “Hell,” was all she muttered.
Up ahead came an obvious drop off with signs warning about the approaching. Five hundred feet to road’s end. Two hundred. Fifty. Still Dash revved the engine, burning the packed dirt underneath her. Right when AJ shut her eyes and covered her head with her hands did Dash turn, spinning them suddenly and wildly, turning them completely around, the car facing where they traveled from.
“What was that?!” AJ asked, sucking in mouthfuls of air and turning to look behind her. The drop-off sat, no more than ten feet at the most behind their rear tires.
“The first step of my plan,” Dash replied smugly. She looked to AJ, a wild, toothy grin present. “Here’s the second.” So saying, she gunned the car to its limits, putting the pedal to the metal and aiming straight for the oncoming police car.
“Dash,” AJ warned. Dash pressed on, oblivious to AJ’s mutterings.
“Dash,” the farmer called out, this time more sternly as the cop came towards them, close enough that AJ could see his silhouette from behind the wheel.
“Jesus Christ, Dash!” AJ bellowed as Dash charged forward, white knuckled and yelling. With impact seconds, mere seconds away, AJ saw the cop clear as day inside the cab of his car. He stared at them, unbelieving as Dash charged forward with suicidal abandon. Finally broken, the cop veered to the side and off the road to avoid hitting them as Dash barrelled through, doubling-back down the road.
AJ felt like vomiting, she leaned back in her chair and did her best to avoid hyperventilating as Dash seemed to wind down once they came back to the innersection. She casually turned her blinker on right and went down the opposite road they came, then took her soda from AJ’s trembling hands. Popping the cap off with a pull of her teeth, she took a sip.
“See?” Dash asked, “told you I had this.”
“Pull over,” AJ growled out once her breath came to her. She didn’t bother to look at Dash as she made the command.
“What do you mean, pull over?” Dash raised an eyebrow.
“Pull the Goddamn car over right now!” AJ barked, slamming a fist into the dashboard.
Dash glared at her, and jerked the car to the side of the road. “You wanna wait up for that copper to get himself turned around? Not fair if we get a head start?”
Without hesitation, AJ reached forward, slapping Dash across the face. “Ya almost got us killed, you crazy bitch!” She threw open the door and slammed it shut, still glaring daggers at the woman.
Dash’s mouth dropped open. “I saved your Goddamn life!”
“Yeah, uh-huh, by almost killin’ us in the process.” She took a few steps away, then approached the car again, putting her hand to forehead. “What if that cop didn’t react like ya planned? What then? We’d be two stiffs in the morgue! Jesus, Dash!”
“I told you to trust me!” Dash opened her car door and got out, slamming it shut behind her. She turned and rested her hands on the ledge, leaning over the car. “I know my onions, okay? I know what I can do, and I know cars, and I know cops. I wasn’t gonna let anything happen to you! And you’re sore at that?”
“You might know cars an’ cops, but you sure as hell don’t know people. I’m sore because ya did somethin’ so unbelievably genius that it, by all accounts, should of got us killed! How can ya not get that, ya damn idiot!” She roared, clenching her jaw so tightly it popped. “Ya put it down ta a roll of dice on us gettin’ through that in one piece, Evelyn Hammett.” She wiped at her eyes, furious pinpricks of tears threatened to spill out. “So, yeah, I’m plenty sore at jus’ ‘bout everythin’ ya pulled there.”
“I don’t know if you noticed, but it worked! I’m the damn hero here!” Dash slammed a hand down on the car door with a bang. “And ya’ know what? I’m not the genius that punched a copper! That was all you, dollface!”
“Don’t you call me that!” AJ snapped, stepping around the car and approaching Dash. “What else should I have done, huh? Shown him the goods? He obviously pegged us ‘cause you were being yer usual asshole ‘my way or the road’ self! Maybe if ya had jus’ minded yer manners, we never would of got where we are.”
Dash narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know what you’re even talking about. Maybe out in Bumfuck you can get by with ‘Yes sir’ and ‘No ma’am,’ but that’s not how it works in the real world. I learned my lessons, and I can take care of myself, and I can take care of you if you wouldn’t be such a pain in the ass about it!”
AJ rolled her eyes, then pointed a stern finger at Dash. “Yeah, you’d take real good care of me. Let’s think ‘bout whose brew is in the back? Let’s think about who’s reputation is on the line if we fuck this up. Let’s think ‘bout who’s needin’ money because she can’t even take care of her damn finances! Actin’ so damn tough and experienced when ya can’t even control yer damn whims! If the real world is so bad, so big an’ tough, then why’d ya leave? Did ya hate it back home that bad?” She rammed a thumb into her own chest. “Did ya hate me that bad? Huh?!” she bellowed, a step away from a raging bull.
Dash stood motionless and looked up at her. “No, I don’t hate you. I hate your Goddamn farm!”
“Guess what?” AJ coldly replied, “the farm is a part of me. That farm is part of my family. That farm has years an’ years of my blood, sweat an’ tears down in its roots. Tellin’ me that ya hate my farm, well…?” she shook her head, letting out a huff. “It’s jus’ the same as ya hatin’ me.”
Dash looked down with a grimace, then turned around and rested her hands on the door of the Raceabout. “Just get in the car.”
“No,” AJ replied. The word simple, but speaking volumes.
“I said get in the damn car,” Dash growled.
“Dash. I’m mad as hell at ya, but I’m sayin’ this fer a reason. That cop’s gonna get his precinct on the horn. He an’ his boys’ll be lookin’ fer the Raceabout. Better ta lay low until the heat dies down.” She crossed her arms. “Though ta be honest, I don’t wanna ride with ya right now anyway.”
“All I wanna do is get this hooch sold. Then I’ll be outta your hair forever. I know I can outrun them, I already did.” Dash looked at Applejack, who didn’t move a muscle. They stared at each other for a few long moments, neither budging, before Dash sighed.
“Fine. We’ll do it your way.”
“Good. Get it pulled off the road. I’ll try an’ get us a lil’ camp set up.” AJ took a step away, then paused, looking over her shoulder. “An’ you in my hair ain’t bad, Dash. I jus’...” Not sure what else to say, she made her way towards a sparse collection of trees in the distance.