A Love as Steady as Stone

A Love as Steady as Stone

Chapter 12: Love and Marriage go together like a… Part II

Aaron listened as Sheriff Silverstar talked two the two deputies that had arrived with him. One was human, same as any other human, and the other was a gryphoness named Greta Grimfeathers. Greta was a crow head gryphoness, and she was built like an athlete. Her breasts were moderately sized, her waist and hips both on the slim side, but one thing he noticed was how closely she was staying to the human deputy. He understood what was going on, and naturally he had no problem with it.

“Are the three of you set for housing?” Aaron asked.

Greta nodded, “Our home is acceptable. There’s a few minor problems, but nothing that can’t be fixed,” she said, “I also noticed that the sheriff’s office has a small apartment in it.”

Aaron nodded, “It’s one of the buildings here that is from when this place was originally a mining town back in the eighteen hundreds,” he said, “So, at the time the Sheriff, if he wasn’t married, would be able to live in the office. It functioned much the same way a small school house would function.”

She looked at it, “So, Sheriff, are you wanting to trade your town house for the apartment?” she playfully asked.

He grinned, “Naw, I’m fine in the house, besides, I figure it’s time that I might consider the idea of looking for a special somepony.”

Aaron grinned, “Well, I’m sure that you’ll have a chance to do so,” he said, “The town is growing, and I believe that there will be more people coming before too long.”

Once their meeting was done Aaron considered going back to the hotel. He wanted to help Limestone, if he could, but at the same point he knew that there was still quite a bit that he needed to attend to. At the same time it wouldn’t be right to force Igneous into doing any of it. It wasn’t that he didn’t think his future father-in-law couldn’t do it, but he knew that Igneous’ grandkids were most likely already here.

“Igneous, if you want to head back to the hotel and visit with your grandfoals, that’d be fine.”

The older stallion looked toward the Hotel, and then he shook his head, “True, I wouldst love to visit with mine grandfoals, but thou art overseeing more of the township, art thou not?”

Aaron nodded, “Sure, I’ve got a few more stops, but I’m not working on any of the buildings today,” he said, “Igneous, I’m serious in that if you want to go and visit with your grandfoals I’ll be fine. I’m mainly just making sure that everything is up and running, and I’m looking at the last set of homes and buildings that we are going to finish repairing.”

The older stallion stood there for a moment, and then shook his head, “Nay, if thou willst allow, I shalt accompany thou, and thy job shalt be done forthwith.”

Aaron nodded, unsure of how to argue the point any further, and the two of them began heading further into town. The stops were pretty predictable. He was checking in on the houses that were occupied, making sure that the climate control systems were working, that there wasn’t any break in any of the pipes, and that everyone was doing well.

Each house was doing well enough, and that left him feeling better as they continued. He stopped at the first, and currently only, tavern in town. Berry Punch had opened a place that served food along with some strong spirits. She opened the door, welcomed them in, and then to his surprise she offered him the use of the tavern as the reception hall. It was large enough, and he was sure that everyone would fit. On top of that it would give Cloudy Quartz and Marble Pie a chance to relax instead of focusing on cooking everything.

“That’s an awesome idea,” he said, “I’ll run it by Limestone, but I believe that we will take you up on that.”

She smiled, “Good to hear,” she replied, “Also there’s no problems with anything. For the most part everything is working well.”

He nodded, walked out, and noticed that behind the tavern was a crude greenhouse. It was something that she had obviously built, and he could see grapes being grown in there. She was going to be making all of her liquor from scratch, and he could respect that. The greenhouse would give her a leg up, and let her do most of it cheaper. Of course depending on the size the town ended up being it was likely that she would have to import some more grapes, or expand her greenhouse.

He smiled, and from there they walked up to the church. Opening it he saw the local priest. He stood, smiled, and walked toward both Aaron and Igneous with a friendly wave.

“Mr. Foreman,” he said, “I must thank you for repairing and restoring this wonderful house of God.”

He smiled, “I’m glad that I was able to restore it Father Donnelley,” he said, “I did want to make sure that you weren’t having any kind of plumbing, electrical, or any other problems.”

The older priest smiled, “No,” he said, “This house of God is in excellent shape. It merely needed a Shepherd to watch over the flock.”

Aaron nodded, “And we’re glad to have you here,” he said, “I suppose the other reason I am here to ensure that our ceremony is still able to be held here.”

The older priest nodded. Aaron could see that he had done time in far less pleasant places, but regardless it hadn’t changed who he was. He was a kind man, and one that was willing to help his fellow man as much as he could. He truly believed in what he preached, and that meant more than the world to most people. He shook hands with Father Donnelley, and both he and Igneous stepped out and began to walk back toward the hotel. Or they did until he heard the sounds of music being played.

The song was unmistakable. It had become something of an anthem to the disenfranchised, and he followed the sound of the music to a group of about six individuals. They were playing together, and the sounds that they were making sounded almost as if the band that originally played had personally taught them the song. He could see Igneous trying to deal with the sound of the music itself, but he walked toward them, listening as they sung every lyric of Bullet with Butterfly Wings nearly perfectly. Although they changed the entire vampire bit. Instead they were calling it a Lunar Pegasus, but it worked somehow.

They finished, and he walked forward, “Welcome to Foreman’s Field,” he said, “So, do all of you accept job offers?”

The lead singer, who turned out to be a Lunar Pegasus, smiled, “Sure, we’ll accept jobs ya nob goblin,” she said in rich Scottish brogue, “Long as ya pay, we’re good ta play.”

Igneous didn’t look exactly pleased at the style of speech the lunar pegasus had, but he didn’t correct her. One thing he had learned, thanks to the relationship they had with the Apples, was that other ponies had other ways of doing things. Perhaps this mare’s kin were more along the lines of being profane and blunt. The blunt part he could understand and respect. After all, his own daughter was blunt, but at the same time she did show some decorum. Not to mention he’d seen her become far more feminine than she had been before.

There was evidence of a mare that wanted to beloved by her chosen inside of her. In truth, he could ask for no better son-in-law than the young master. And the young master was accepting of everyone that was willing to work to better Foreman’s Field. It was a noble trait, and one that he felt would do well when paired with Earth Pony sensibilities.

He watched as Aaron talked to the young lunar pegasus, which revealed that she and her sister were both here in this world. A few moments later Aaron was introduced to Sveta’s older sister Stella, and more to the point he was introduced to Stella’s fiance a young man named Claude S. Vercetti. Claude explained that until recently he worked in collections and private security. He happened to meet Stella and Sveta, and the two of them needed a place to stay. He had earned quite a bit doing what he was doing, and decided to retire from it, and he heard about the town here.

One thing led to another, and the three of them moved out this way. Claude seemed friendly, but the way he was trying to remain vague about his former employer told Aaron that it wasn’t legitimate. He understood that all too often a man had to take what jobs he could, and he didn’t ask a whole lot of questions about it, because honestly, at the end of the day, any job often mean the difference between starving to death, and living to see another day.

The fact that Claude was willing to leave that job, come out to another place, and make a fresh start was more than enough reason for Aaron to leave the past alone. Instead he explained to Claude that he was interested in a job, if he decided he needed one, that a bar was opening, and he knew that the owner could possibly use some assistance. Claude smiled at him.

“She need a bouncer or the like?”

Aaron grinned, “Well possibly, but I’d imagine that she could use someone that would be willing to learn a few other skills as well. Besides that, as the mayor I wouldn’t be opposed to opening up another shop or business if you know a trade, or have experience running a store.”

He smiled, “Actually, I helped run a pawn shop when I was about sixteen. The old man there taught me how to run it, keep it afloat, and I wouldn’t mind running one again.”

Aaron nodded, and looked where they were. He then looked around them, and spotted an empty business down the street. He motioned for Claude to follow him, and when they got there he opened the door and let him step into the repaired building. Like the other buildings there was some minor things that could be improved upon, but for the most part it was ready to go.

“If you’re interested I’ll give you the same contract I gave the others, the building will be yours, completely yours, and on our next supply trip we can pick up what goods you’d like to have stocked up.”

He nodded, “Okay, I’d like that.”

Stella looked at him, and then at Aaron, “Thanks fer finding ‘em something ta do, but now I’d like ta be doing more than flickin’ my bean and getting a right good dickin’,” she said, “So, I was a guard for Luna, got something like that?”

I smiled at her, “We’ve got a sheriff, and some deputies, and I bet that he wouldn’t mind having an extra deputy on duty. You’d be interested in that?”

She nodded, “Sounds good, I’ll meet with ‘im later.”

With that he officially hired Sveta and her band to play for the wedding. All that was left was the actual service to take place.