A Love as Steady as Stone

A Love as Steady as Stone

Chapter 10: Growing

The weeks had begun to pass, and as it did Aaron noticed a few more people coming out their way. Some of them had heard about the town trying to come back to life from their trips to get supplies, and in those trips they had explained that the town was beginning to take shape again. So far he had been able to attract people who had a trade. A plumber and his family, an electrician, an honest to God blacksmith, and finally two former store managers had managed to find their way into Foreman’s Field.

The houses most had claimed were ones that they had already made livable. That wasn’t to say that the houses didn’t still need some TLC, because they all did, but they were houses that were certainly ready to be moved into. Everyone that had moved into the town had been assisting with getting it back together, or at least they were mostly assisting with their own buildings. Aaron understood this, and he had stated what the rules would be for moving into the town was. He wanted them to make their own homes and businesses as successful as they could. After all, it was important for them to have pride in where they lived, and where they wanted to go.

He did manage to get assistance from the Bob, and the plumber who’s name was Burt. The town itself had somehow transformed into something far better than it had been. What they had now was a collection of homes, businesses, and buildings that were all ready to have life moving through them again. The hotel, as it was, had undergone even more of a transformation. It went from a two story hotel into a large home, the new center of town, and apparently the mayor’s home. That was something that Aaron wasn’t sure he felt qualified to do or be. He owned the town, and he was giving away homes and businesses to others, but he still owned the town itself.

Limestone had reworked his offer some, and she had stated that the business owners would give the city, thus them, ten percent of all profit. On top of that they would ensure the upkeep of their homes and businesses, and that the contract would not change. Bob and Anna understood and agreed. Especially after she stated that the money taken in from the businesses and the such would go to maintain repairs on the town, continue to get community necessities, and the like. Burt had hesitated, but agreed to the terms after he realized the good that it would do.

The electrician, Alice Smithers, had argued that she could go anywhere, have a job, and not have to give fifteen percent of her earnings. To which Limestone asked if she had ever paid taxes before. At that Alice realized what the fifteen percent actually was, and she agreed to it. Although she did state that she wanted a voice in community projects that would be happening. To which Aaron stated that everyone would have a voice, there would be a town vote, and the majority would be what they would go with.

She had agreed and seemed mostly satisfied with the answer. The Blacksmith, Timothy Andrews, had agreed without question. Aaron began to ask why when he saw another equestrian behind Mr. Andrews. The Equestrian smiled, and held out her hand.

“Nice to meet you, the name is Berry Punch Andrews, and is there a tavern around here? Because that’s what I specialize in doing. I make wine and whiskey, and I make some of the best in the world.”

Aaron nodded, “There’s a couple that are closed up, we’ve gotten them fixed, and I’m going to guess that you want to open one of them up?”

She nodded, “I do. I can get it going, and I’m pretty sure that I can start turning a profit pretty fast. After all, everypony likes to get good and hammered from time to time.”

Behind her he noticed a teenage mare with a horn, and another teenage mare that was an earth pony like Berry. Both shared Berry’s colors, and both were looking at him as they talked. Limestone did her best to indicate, nonverbally, that he was her stallion, and herding was not on the table. They left, and as the day went on each and every person had been given the same information, and most had agreed to it, mostly. They would agree to paying the fifteen percent, and they understood that it being used for the community was in fact benefiting them as well.

Aaron felt that they had done something worthwhile when he noticed a large group coming toward the town. He stood, in absolute awe, as several dozen people came. In front of them was the same Ford Expedition that had brought Limestone’s sister Pinkie Pie to visit them. When it stopped Pinkie stepped out, and she motioned toward the group approaching.

“There’s a lot of folks that needed a new place to live, and Andy agreed that having a place where they could own their own homes, and find a place to work, would be great, so I figured that I’d bring them out here!”

He looked at the number, “That’s a lot of folks.”

She grinned, “Yepperoni! There’s some from the stacks, some from Las Vegas that were being forced to work for some really mean peoples, and then there’s some just followed us out here!”

Limestone facepalmed, “Pinkie, you really didn’t think things through, did you?”

She looked at Limestone, “Uh, yeah, I made sure that everybody that came with us wasn’t dangerous, or at least not really dangerous, and I also told them all about this place, and what you were doing.”

Limestone sighed, “Alright, fine, bring them in.”

Pinkie then bounced, “Oh, and I found a preacher so that you can Aaron can have a ceremony so Mom will be happy!”

She looked at her and shook her head, “Sure, why not, it’s not like I don’t have a thousand other things to do already. A wedding would be a nice break from the insanity we’re already in to insanity that we haven’t touched on yet!”