The next three days passed uneventfully. Big Mac had friends in town that would inform him if there was more work to be found and until then he stayed at the farm. This gave Applejack more opportunity to go into town. She met with her friends and tried to drum up business. She hadn’t seen Filthy Rich in town and was thankful for it. Business did not pick up any, but it also had not slowed. All of AJ’s friends had come at least once.
Applejack was returning from town with Winona, they had gone to thire first pony-pet playdate Applejack had been to in weeks. She was feeling much better after seeing her friends for a few days in a row, and was looking forward to seeing them again tomorrow. She trotted to the cider stand. Big Macintosh was tending it.
“Anymore ponies come by today?” Applejack asked.
“Eeyup!”
“More than yesterday?”
“Nope,” Big Mac said.
Applejack sighed, “Aw well. But I’ve got good news, Caramel said there’s some building that’s going to need doing in Ponyville and they might need you.”
Big Macintosh nodded.
“It’s almost dinnertime,” she said.
“Eeyup,” he said.
Applejack and Big Macintosh trotted up to the farmhouse. When they reached it, she could smell something cooking inside. AJ and Big Mac walked in, she hung her hat up and went into the kitchen. Inside Granny and Applebloom were cooking.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help with dinner tonight,” Applejack said.
“We don’t mind, do we Applebloom?” Granny Smith said.
“Yeah, it’s alright sis,” Applebloom said. “You’ve been cooking every night for us, you needed a break.”
Applejack smiled, “Alright then, it smells delicious.” She washed up and set the table for dinner. Big Mac helped bring the food in. They ate and then had desert. Granny had fixed a large apple pie. AJ’s mouth watered when she saw it. It both looked and smelled wonderful. Applejack sliced it and served it.
The pie was delicious, the apples had the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and the crust was the perfect container for the filling. It was one of the best Granny Smith had made and that was saying a lot. Applejack could tell she had used the best ingredients.
But there was also something more, Granny had hinted that she would pour something special into the mix when the occasion called for it. She was the only one who knew what it was. The Apples and their extended family would often share their theories. Some said it was a secret sauce or some combination of spices, others thought it was love or some magic Granny had learned long ago.
Applejack thought she had a good idea what the secret was. She doubted it was some rare spice that was only found in the depths of the Everfree Forest, nor did she think it was all entirely love or some magic, both of these were too precise. Applejack believed that these were both, in some degree, elements to it but she thought it was more serendipitous than that. She thought that only the perfect alignment of all the factors could lead to a pie as good as this one, it was an event triggered by chance. Or perhaps fate.
Whatever the reason though the Apple Family was grateful to have a delicious pie on this night. When everything else seemed to go wrong, the pie reminded them that no matter what they still had a loving family.
They cleaned up after dinner and spent a leisurely evening together, they talked and laughed by the fire. Applebloom talked about what was happening at school recently and the newest schemes the Cutie Mark Crusaders had conducted to find their special talents. Granny related the day’s events to Applejack, and she told them about the pony-pet playdate in return. All the while Big Mac sat and stated his opinions through his characteristic ‘Eeyups’ and ‘Nopes’.
They talked until it was Applebloom’s bedtime. They all went with her upstairs and tucked her in. Applejack was the last one to leave, before she left she gave her little sister a kiss on the forehead.
“Goodnight sis,” Applebloom said.
“Goodnight Applebloom.” Applejack trotted downstairs, her hooves clopped on the wooden floor. She descended into the living room. Granny Smith stayed for a few more minutes and then went up to bed. AJ and Big Macintosh stayed up for a little longer just enjoying the fire. Finally Big Mac rose from his seat.
“You going up to bed?” Applejack asked.
“Eeyup,” Big Mac said.
“Alright, sweet dreams,” she said.
He went upstairs to bed. Applejack stayed by the fire thinking. It had been a good day, no it had been a great day. It had been the best she had since Trotstead was issued. For a few hours she had forgotten her troubles, the weight of constant worry about her family was lifted from her mind. But now her family had gone to sleep and she was alone with her thoughts. The weight returned worse than ever. She knew she had to keep hoping that things would be alright but the more time passed the less likely it appeared they would pull through winter. The only way they could make it was if cider sales picked up drastically and with the speakeasies that was next to impossible. Even if Big Mac got a full time job the earnings couldn’t support the family for the winter.
She tried to plan someway to make it through. Applejack thought of numerous schemes to save the farm. Going to work in Ponyville herself, selling excess possessions, renting land, selling parts of the farm. None of it would work. She shed a tear, she held back the rest, she couldn’t let herself give in to despair. Hope was her only weapon now, she couldn’t let it vanish. She had to be strong.
She looked around the room. It was only lit by the dying fire. She was starting to feel loneliness. The feeling of despair was just the gloomy atmosphere. It was getting to her. She looked at the clock, it had already been two hours since Big Mac went to bed. She rose from her chair and went up the stairs, she moved slowly, still feeling hopeless.
“It’ll be better in the morning,” she said to herself. “The sun will come up and I’ll be with my family and friends.” She quietly crept past the other bedroom doors. She could hear Big Mac’s and Applebloom’s snores. But she heard nothing from Granny’s room. Odd, she was a notorious snorer, AJ quietly poked her head in to see if she was okay.
She saw Granny leaning over a desk covered with papers. A lantern dimly illuminated her.
“Granny, you alright?” Applejack asked.
She was startled, “I’m fine AJ! Just go back to bed,” Granny said while shuffling papers on the desk.
Applejack trotted into the room, she stood next to Granny, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Granny said. Lines on her cheeks glistened in the lantern light.
“Have you been crying?” AJ asked, concerned.
“No I’ve just…” she choked up. “Oh AJ, just look,” she said between sobs. Under a stack of papers Granny pulled out an official looking notice. Foreclosure was written in bold, bright red letters.
AJ took the paper and read it, ‘Notice of Foreclosure, if the Apple Family fails to make payments on their property, Sweet Apple Acres, said property will be foreclosed on within the month’ the following was full of legalese terms AJ glossed over, she dropped the paper on the floor. Tears pooled in her eyes, she tried to blink them back.
“What are we going to do?” Granny asked.
AJ held back the tears and sobs, “I don’t know Granny.”
Granny sobbed again, “This isn’t the first one I’ve gotten, I’ve tried to hide them. I fixed the pie the best I could and tried to make a nice evening for us, I just wanted y’all to have a little more hope. Especially you, you needed one last night of hope, I was going to tell you tomorrow.”
AJ composed herself long enough to give Granny an answer, “We’ll find a way through this…”
“I know I kept saying that but we can’t, there ain’t enough money,” Granny said.
AJ continued, “But we can’t do anything about it tonight, we both need some sleep and in the morning we can come up with a solution.”
Granny nodded, Applejack wiped her own tears and then wiped Granny’s. She never thought she’d be the source of strength for her grandmother. But it was apparent the elderly mare had lost hope, not that Applejack had anymore but someone needed to be strong. She helped Granny into bed and promised her she would make everything alright. They said goodnight and Applejack left for her own room.
In the privacy of her own room Applejack finally lost all composure. Every concern and worry of the past month came flooding through. She sobbed, she couldn’t, at least not in here, they would hear. She couldn’t let them, especially not Granny.
She quietly crept out of her room, she descended the stairs and burst out the front door before galloping into the night. Her blonde mane blew behind her in the night air. She was racing towards her favorite spot of Sweet Apple Acre’s orchards. She crested a small hill and came under the shelter of a small apple tree. This was where Bloomberg had grown up before being given to Appleloosa.
She sat down on her haunches and looked out over the orchards, she cried, sobs racked her body and broke the night’s silence. It was over, she had failed her family. There wasn’t enough time to do anything. She had lost her family’s farm, their livelihood and their very pride. She thought of the future. When the farm was taken how would they feed and house themselves? AJ’s friends would probably let them live with them until her and her family got back on their feet. It would hurt their pride but what else could they do. AJ and Big Mac would find jobs and rent someplace for the family. But what if they couldn’t? Would they have to move away from Ponyville, from Applejack’s friends?
Applejack sunk deeper into despair than she ever had before, all hope was gone from her. There was no way out, only a grim, joyless future. She sobbed harder. Time passed indeterminately. She stopped crying, dried her eyes, and shakily rose to her hooves to head back to the farmhouse. She didn’t know what she was going to do when she got there. Halfway there she realized something, there was something she could do, one way out. A dark hope rose in her mind. One. Last. Choice.
It was then that something snapped inside her. Applejack changed directions, she galloped towards the road leading to Ponyville.

Applejack knocked on the door, the bang of her hoof echoed through the night. She paused and waited for somepony to answer the door before knocking again. She banged louder this time in the hopes of rousing one of the houses inhabitants.
She saw a light turn on inside. The door was opened by an unhappy, drowsy, mare. “What is it?” She asked. “Miss Apple what are you doing knocking on our door at this uncelestial hour?”
“Hi Mrs. Rich, I’m sorry to intrude at this time of night but can I talk to your husband?”
“Whatever for?”
“I need to talk over some emergency business with him,” Applejack said.
Mrs. Rich sighed and trotted back into her house. Applejack waited a few moments before Filthy Rich came to the door. His hair and fur were an unbrushed mess, AJ guessed that he wouldn’t normally greet ponies in the middle of the night like this. “Miss Apple, what a pleasure, despite the hour! Will you come in?” he asked.
“Sure,” Applejack said. She walked inside, Filthy Rich led her to his office.
“Please sit down,” said Mr. Rich, nodding to a seat. He took his spot in the chair behind the desk.
Applejack sat down.
“May I get you something to drink Miss Apple?” he asked, pulling out a bottle of golden liquid, and a couple of glasses.
“No thank you.”
He poured himself a drink and put the other glass away, “What may I help you with Miss Apple?”
Applejack looked across at Mr. Rich, “Listen, let’s cut through the formalities and get to business. You know exactly why I’m here.”
“Yes I do, partially at least. What made you come to this decision?”
Applejack glared at him, “Doesn’t matter.”
“Couldn’t manage?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Applejack said again with emphasis.
Mr. Rich smirked and continued, “What are you proposing?”
Applejack sighed, this was her last chance to turn back. She swallowed hard, “The Apple family has some hard cider stored in our cellars from before the prohibition. After Trotstead we weren’t sure what to do with it. But now we’re having trouble making ends meet and the only way to save the farm’s to sell it, legal or not.”
“How much do you have?” Filthy Rich asked.
“I’d prefer not to reveal the exact number we have. I can tell you we have enough to make a large amount of money.”
“Business partners should be upfront with one another Miss Apple,” Mr. Rich said. “It creates trust.”
Applejack scowled but still acquiesced, “We have around thirty barrels.”
“A respectable amount,” he said. “It will go for a lot considering its high quality Apple family cider. But imagine how many bits we could make if you started making it with us…”
“No!” Applejack said firmly. “This is a one-shot deal, we just need to make enough for the winter.”
“How much do you need to make?”
“I don’t know, Granny Smith handles the financial side of things at the farm,” Applejack said.
“Does she know about this?”
“That’s no business of yours!” she said.
Mr. Rich nodded, “So you’re conducting illegal activity outside of your family’s knowledge? My, my Miss Apple I am surprised.”
Applejack’s scowl deepened, “I don’t need your sarcasm.”
“I am, I didn’t think you had it in you to do what was necessary to save Sweet Apple Acres and your family.”
“Well I am, I need to do this. How much money can I make?”
“Well, let me think about that for a moment,” he appeared to calculate numbers in his head. “Well we normally get around thirty bits a barrel, however judging by the quality of yours I can definitely say we could raise it to fifty and still sell them quickly.”
“And that would give us fifteen-hundred,” Applejack said.
“Of which I would require a percentage,” he said shrewdly. “Normally I’d charge fifty percent for serving as middleman but given our families’ history together I would charge you a mere third of the proceeds.”
That would be a thousand bits. It could sustain the farm for another couple of months, but Applejack wasn’t sure it would last them through the whole winter.
“That sounds fair,” she said.
“I won’t even charge extra for transport,” he said. He yawned, “But that’s enough business for the night, I never like to get too far into business matters when I am only half awake.”
“I’ll come back tomorrow,” AJ said while rising.
“No,” Mr. Rich said. “I don’t want my family to know I’m getting myself involved in this, you certainly understand that.”
Applejack nodded.
“How about we meet someplace tomorrow,” he said.
Applejack considered this for a moment, “Where did you have in mind?”
“There are numerous speakeasies in town where we could speak in peace,” he said.
She shook her head, “No, I’m already involved as much as I want in this business. We meet at the park, water fountain.”
Mr. Rich sighed, “As you wish Miss Apple, 3:00 PM?”
Applejack nodded, “See you tomorrow Mr. Rich.” Without a word more she rose and left his office. She went out the front door and headed back home.
She walked slowly, it was an almost cloudless night. The stars twinkled in the sky and Luna’s moon shone bright with much beauty. Though her mood was somber Applejack still admired the sky. Despite knowing she was about to save her farm she wasn’t happy. There was hope, but it was tainted. This course of action would cost her, she didn’t know how much but she knew it wouldn’t be cheap.
She turned off the road leading back to the farm. She didn’t feel ready to return home yet. She toured around Ponyville. She trotted through the sleeping town. The windows of the buildings were dark and the streets were abandoned, save for one insomnia stricken pony. She exchanged pleasantries with him as they passed each other. Applejack came to the marketplace. She sat down and simply watched the night pass.
She began to feel very tired. She headed out of town and back towards the farm. When she crested the hill she looked over Sweet Apple Acres. It was hers’ and her family’s, none would take it from them now. She would give them their money and they’d leave Them alone.
She walked through the front gate and reached the farmhouse. After walking in she looked at the clock 4:00 AM. She went back up to her room, got in bed, and fell asleep.

The next day dawned. Applejack woke up much later than usual. When she awoke she looked at the clock and saw it was 11:00 AM. She snapped out of her bed, and brushed her mane just enough to combat the bedhead.
She rushed downstairs saying, “Sorry I overslept! I didn’t mean to! I’ll get to work straight away.”
Granny Smith was the first to see her, “Don’t worry about it young’n,” she said, in surprising high spirits considering what happened last night. She was a better actor than Applejack gave her credit for. “We had everything handled so we figured we could let you sleep in a little later than usual.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Applejack said. “I would’ve been fine getting up.”
“Well you overslept the rooster so I figured you must’ve gone to sleep later than usual,” Granny’s mood became more somber, “Because what I told you.”
“Well I did go out to town for a walk,” AJ said.
“Really?” Granny said, surprised. “I just figured you stayed up thinking. Did you do anything interesting?”
There were numerous ways to answer that, “No,” she said. It wasn’t a lie, at least from AJ’s point of view, she didn’t think her family would find illicit business dealings interesting.
“Alright then.” Granny looked her in the eye, “And don’t worry, I’m sorry you had to see me like that last night. I do think there’s still hope for us.”
Applejack nodded grimly, “I know there is.”
Granny brightened, “That’s my girl! Now there’s some leftover breakfast for you in the kitchen. Applebloom’s at school and Big Mac’s out at the cider stand, he shouldn’t need any help with that. But we do have some chores around the house that need doing.”
“I’ll be glad to do them, but I also need to go into town at around 3:00,” she said.
Granny smiled, “Going to go visit your friends again? That’ll fine.”
“Good,” Applejack said. She didn’t correct her Granny as to the purpose of her visit. She ate toast and jam. She cleaned up and found Granny again. She told AJ what needed done around the house, sweeping floors, dusting, and a couple other tasks. She spent the afternoon finishing these. It was 2:00 by the time Applejack finished the chores. It was still a little early to head into town so she ate lunch.
She finally left the farmhouse and headed towards town once again. The road towards town was busier than usual. Above her, the sky was cloudy but clearing, specks of blue could be seen and a brighter section of cloud showed where the sun was. As she reached the outskirts of town she looked at a new Barnyard Bargains being constructed. Its construction began shortly before cider season and was really starting to shape up. Big Mac had asked them about working on a crew but they told him they already had three fully staffed construction crews, but they would notify him if a spot opened up. She sighed, at least someponies’ businesses were thriving.
She arrived at the park. She looked around there were ponies picnicking, and crowded around the fountain, but she didn’t see Filthy Rich. She spied an available bench not far away and sat down on it.
Applejack waited for Filthy Rich, she wasn’t sure of the time, it had been only a few minutes after 2:20 when she left, so it was very likely she was simply early. She waited for a few minutes before she saw Filthy Rich trotting towards her and her suspicions were confirmed. He looked much better than last night, his mane and fur were brushed and he wore his collar and tie. He saw her and made his way to the bench.
“Miss Apple, I was afraid you’d be late,” he began.
“Why did you think that?”
He sat down next to her, “I thought you might be struggling with this, contemplating backing out.”
Applejack stared at him, “I told you I wanted to make a deal, and I meant it, I ain’t going back on my word.”
“Excellent,” he said. “Now to discuss terms.”
Applejack looked around, she saw nopony was close enough to overhear. Still she spoke in hushed tone, “As I said last night, we have thirty barrels of hard apple cider in one of our cellars. Now what I need you to do is transport and sell it.”
“Sounds like a simple affair, we can probably accomplish the transport tonight and sell it over the next few days, with luck you can get your proceeds by the end of the week.”
Applejack looked hard at him, “I am trusting you with this. I need a guarantee you won’t take the cider and sell it without giving us a cent.”
“Miss Apple, who do you think I am?” Mr. Rich asked, genuinely offended, “I have been a friend and business partner of your family for years. I would never do such a horrible thing.”
“You promise?”
“Of course!” he said. “I understand where you would get an idea like that. If someone did steal it you couldn’t go to the authorities. And your family’s in the dark over this, you’d have no help. But I can assure you Miss Apple,” he looked her in the eyes, Applejack saw no deception in his look. “You can trust me with your cider.”
Applejack felt more at ease with this, “Alright then, sounds simple enough, you come by and get the cider, then sell it, take your cut and give me the rest of the money.”
“That’s your end of the deal, I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll take a third of whatever your cider nets us.”
Applejack thought for a moment, “It all sounds too simple.”
“It’s not,” Mr. Rich said, “Standard stockpile sale. I’ve already done half-a-dozen of these deals. But yours is the largest so far, and the one getting the best deal I might add.” He cleared his throat, “Of course if this is too simple for you, you can always start manufacturing again.”
Applejack looked him hard in the eye, “Absolutely not! I told you this is a one-shot deal. Just to get my family through the winter, you remember?”
“I do, but what if it’s not enough? And what about the winter after that? And the next winter, if Trotstead’s not repealed soon I have a feeling it will stay around for quite a while.”
“Be that as it may, I will not allow my family to make hard cider. If we have any future difficulties we will face them legally, we’re a little short on time right now so this is necessary,” she leaned into Filthy Rich’s face, “But don’t think for a moment this is what I want to do, or that I am doing this for greed.”
“As you wish Miss Apple,” Mr. Rich rose from the bench. “I and my ponies will come by Sweet Apple Acres tonight at 3:00 AM. You need to make sure your entire family is asleep and then be out by the front gate to meet us and help us load the cider.”
“Alright,” she said.
“When I have finished selling the cider I will personally deliver the proceeds myself,” Mr. Rich.
Applejack was actually impressed by his dedication, “How courteous of you.”
“I know, the personal touch is crucial, especially between old friends. See you tonight Miss Apple, regretfully I cannot stay and socialize, there are details I need to see to before tonight.”
“Then I’ll see you then,” she said.
“Yes we shall,” he turned and trotted towards town.
Applejack watched him leave until he was out of sight. She then sat and decided what to do next.

The time between Applejack’s and Filthy Rich’s meeting in the park, and the picking up of the cider passed unceremoniously. AJ popped in and said hi to her friends before returning home for dinner. While there was no divine pie to finish off the meal it there was still very good food served. The family spent another leisurely evening by the fire before going to bed. Applejack lay awake as she anticipated the meeting. She tossed and turned as the clock ticked on.
She tried to drive guilt from her conscience. She knew it was illegal but she knew it was only one act to save her farm. Nopony would get hurt, the Apples could continue living at Sweet Apple Acres, Filthy Rich would grind out some profit, and the bank would get their payments. Everypony would be happy. While this was more than enough justification for her mind, Applejack’s heart was not so easily abated. She looked over at the clock, 2:01.
She told the guilty part of herself that there was nothing else she could do but lose her farm. She had said that to herself countless times over the past twenty-four hours. And while it was true she still felt wrong inside.
She glanced at the clock again.
2:02
She flopped on her back and sighed. She got up from her bed. Before trotting downstairs she checked to make sure here family members were all soundly asleep. She left the farmhouse. Outside she could see her breath, the cool night air rejuvenated her. She went down to the cellar to inspect the barrels. The cellar doors were right next to the barn. She opened them and descended. She lit a lantern, illuminating the cellar by flickering candle light. There they were, thirty oak barrels stacked up on top of each other, each filled to the brim with delicious, golden, apple cider. Applejack had dubbed it the one and only liquid gold, and not because of its value. It was delicious, it was aromatic, and for the last month it had been and still was contraband.
The cellar was almost empty. They had several others on the farm, all of which were empty save for one which held the excess dry cider.
She sat on her haunches and stared at the barrels. A voice inside her told her to turn back and cancel the deal.
“I can’t,” she said out loud. “I made a deal with Mr. Rich.”
Burn them, say it was an accident.
“No,” she told herself. She blew out the lantern and left the cellar. But the voice still repeated the thought.
Burn it, burn it, burn it.
The thought occurred to her that this was her consciences giving her a way out, she tried to silence it with the same arguments she had been repeating over and over to justify herself.
Burn it, burn it.
“And what if it burns down the barn?” Applejack asked her conscience. It failed to respond. “That’s what I thought,” she said harshly.
Satisfied that she had placated or at least silenced her conscience for now she went out to the road to meet Filthy Rich and his ponies, she stood waiting. She glanced at the trees across the road, most of the leaves had turned and soon it would be time for the next annual Running of the Leaves. Applejack wished to race again but was unsure whether she’d be able to with all the Apple’s other worries.
She tapped her hoof on the ground from impatience. Soon she began to pace, a sigh passed her lips. Applejack was normally a patient pony, but the nature of the night’s plans made her uneasy. She was worried that one of her family would wake up and discover she was missing or see her out here and come out to meet her. She was confident she could give them an explanation to satisfy them but they might not leave before Filthy Rich showed up, or worse wake up after he arrived and ask what was going on.
Applejack shook her head, her family were all sound sleepers, they had never hardly gotten up in the middle of the night, there was no reason they would tonight.
Tired of waiting, she lay down on her back and looked up at the sky. The clouds had not cleared anymore since her walk to the park. She saw a few gaps in the clouds where stars could be seen but she saw no sign of the moon.
Just when she was about to rise from the ground she heard the clopping of hooves and the wheels of a cart rolling. She quickly rose and looked down the road. She saw a wagon being pulled by two ponies, both large stallions. She saw three others trotting alongside it. The only one of them she identified was Filthy Rich.
Applejack opened the larger gate the Apple’s used for carts. She waved them through. “Quite,” she whispered as they passed. “The cellar’s by the barn.”
Filthy Rich stopped and greeted her, “Miss Apple.”
“Mr. Rich.”
“Here I am, as promised,” he checked a small watch, strapped to his forehoof. “And right on time. Now please guide us to the cellar.”
Applejack nodded and showed them the way to the cellar. When they arrived the two stallions pulling the cart, untethered themselves from the harnesses. AJ threw open the doors and went down, she again lit the lantern.
A low, satisfied hum came from Filthy Rich, “Look at it all boys, beautiful ain’t it?”
All four of his workers nodded.
Mr. Rich looked to Applejack, “Let’s not delay any further.” He nodded towards his ponies and they began to quietly lift the barrels onto their backs and take them out of the cellar. Applejack gave the stack a bump and a barrel fell on her back. Filthy Rich once again impressed her by doing the same and carrying it to the surface. They worked in two teams, one brought the barrels out of the cellar and the other loaded them in the cart. Working this way they soon had the entire supply loaded. There was just enough room in the cart to carry them all. The two large stallions hooked themselves back up to the wagon and started back for the road. The other two workers followed them.
Filthy Rich stayed behind and watched them leave for a moment and then turned to Applejack. “Well Miss Apple, pleasure doing business with you.” He extended his forehoof.
Applejack took it her own and shook it lightly, “I’ll be getting my money in a few days?”
Filthy Rich smiled, “Count on it. Until next time Miss Apple.” He turned and trotted after his wagon, laden with Apple Family hard cider.
Applejack turned towards the farmhouse and went back in. In the dim light she barely saw Applebloom standing in the living room. Applejack’s heart jumped.
Applebloom yawned, her mane was a frizzy mess and she was missing her bow, “What are you doing up sis?”
Applejack stared at her in shock for a moment before regaining her composure, “I was just checking cider inventory.” She hated being dishonest with her little sister but I was for her own good. “What are you doing up?”
“I think I heard something,” she said.
Applejack swallowed hard, panic rose but was quickly suppressed. They were already on their way back towards town. “Oh, well I’m sure it was nothing. Let me get you some warm milk.”
“Okay.”
Applejack went into the kitchen and heated some milk. They both had a glass and soon they went back up the stairs to their bedrooms. Applejack tucked her little sister back in bed before returning to her own.
She felt much less restless. Soon she slipped into sleep with the knowledge her farm’s future was secure.

Author's Note

Here's the third chapter right on schedule! Hope you enjoy, comments are greatly appreciated.