Rodger didn't even turn around when Timmons took the shot and fell off. He'd been told by both Rodger and Chuck as they rode on their highjacked stagecoach to keep his head down at least a dozen times. Rodger did notice they were going a bit faster now and so was thankful to whatever deity it was that kept Timmons stupid few minutes when the lawmen showed up. His body made an audible thud as it hit the dirt road. Despite the fact that they were going faster, it hadn't slowed down the feds that had been pursuing them since Blackwater.
The team of horses pulling the coach kicked up sand as they raced further south. Rodger wasn't sure how far they were from the rendezvous with the rest of their team. But he knew if they didn't make it, he and Chuck would wind up like Timmons lying in the road. The two horseback agents pursuing them discharged their pistols at the coach. Some of their shots actually hit the wagon but that didn't matter; the only things of value were in the bag Chuck was holding.
"Chuck, you still got the loot?" Rodger asked, holding the reins tightly.
The old bearded former prospector was looking around as he sat beside him. "o'course I do! What are you asking stupid questions for?"
"Making sure, gramps," Rodger replied. "Keep a hold of that bag." He focused on the road they were driving down, feeling his heart race. This far in the badlands of Mexico, it was too easy to take a wrong turn. To make matters worse, two federal agents on horseback kept shooting at them.
"Hey, what happened to Timmons?"
Rodger took a moment to think of something wise to say back. "He decided to get off."
Chuck looked over to Rodger, confused. Rodger kept his eyes forward until he finally glanced over at him.
"What are you talking about? What on Earth made him 'decide' to get off?"
Rodger shrugged. "Bullets can be pretty persuasive."
"That means he doesn't get a share now, right?" Chuck asked. Unlike Rodger, he wasn't joking.
Rodger looked back over to him. "No, we're going to go back to bury him with his share just as soon as these two nice men stop shooting at us."
Chuck looked puzzled. "Why would he need a share if he's dead?" Rodger didn't know what to say back to that question so he said nothing. The comment was in fact so stupid Rodger felt like jumping off the wagon himself for a brief moment. He shook his head and turned back to the road, refocusing his efforts on losing the men behind them. They were approaching their place to meet up with the rest of their team; they just hoped the others didn't mind them bringing a little company.
Meanwhile, at the same time on another plane of existence, another individual was being pursued for a different reason.
"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack shouted. "Y'all give that book back this instant!"
Rainbow didn't even turn back as AJ shouted after her. This was far too juicy to let go of. While she could very easily just spread her wings and fly away, that would ruin part of the fun. She ran into the thicker part of Sweet Apple Acre's apple orchard to try to lose her pursuers.
"Rainbow Dash!" the higher southern-accented Applebloom called. "That book belongs to the whole Apple family! You better give it back right now!"
Rainbow Dash took the book out of her mouth. "Or what? Are the Apples going to get a little... sour?" She stifled a laugh at her own pun. Playing pranks on Applejack and her sister were just too easy. She kept running further into the orchard, the tall trees quickly obscuring her path backwards. It wasn't that she didn't want to get caught; it's just that she didn't want to make it easy. Besides, she had to get a good look at the Apple Family book and what they were being so secret about it for. What could possibly be in this dusty old tome that they would want to hide so badly.
The rainbow-maned Pegasus slowed down her pace as her sensitive ears no longer picked up Applejack or her sister. Finding a larger tree, she sat down behind it and waited a moment. The forest of apple trees was silent; no sounds of hooves on the ground to indicate anypony nearby. She was in the clear.
Carefully, Rainbow Dash looked at the front of the Apple Family book. It was definitely old; the cover had an engraving on it, an intricate apple with a picture of a farmhouse and landscape in the background. Placing a hoof at the side, Rainbow Dash opened the book. On the first page opposite the cover were a few lines, an introduction as if to inform the reader of what this book held. Rainbow Dash read them.
To those that would hold what is written on these pages
Know that our treasure is that what we sow
And as we advance through the unspoken ages
We remain content as we watch it grow
Rainbow Dash didn't even begin to understand what those words meant. Sowing treasure? Is that something Rarity did? She placed her hoof on the edge of the page to turn it.
"Errr-hrrmm," Rainbow practically jumped out of her own wings. The loud sound of somepony clearing their throat came from close by. She looked up to see a tall, red stallion blocking out the sun overhead.
"And what do y'all think you're doing with that?" Big Macintosh asked. The apple-red colt was known for not speaking much but Rainbow Dash didn't expect him to be quiet enough to actually sneak up on her.
"Oh... nothing," she tried to say innocently. "I was just reading it..."
Big Mac shook his head. "That's the Apple family's private diary. It's for writing our most deepest thoughts into; not something to share just to anypony looking for some gossip," he said, snatching the book from her.
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash yelled defensively. "I wasn't looking for gossip! I was just curious, is all."
"There's better ways to ask for that than just runnin' off with it, Rainbow," the red stallion informed her, walking back towards the farmhouse.
"Yeah, yeah..." Rainbow hovered off the ground and followed the big colt. "So, now that I understand how important it is to all of you and I CLEARLY have a great deal more respect for what's in that book, can I read the rest of it?" she asked, hopeful.
"Nnnnope," Big Mac replied.
"Auuuugggh," groaned Rainbow, following him out of the woods.
