A/N: ok late again. sorry had a funeral at the middle of the week and it threw my scedual off completely. but better alte than never. so hope you enjoy!
Chapter 7: A Day On The Farm
Dan woke up to the sun in his eyes and opened them to see the doors open. He got up and looked to see Aj was gone. He started to breathe calmly again and she entered the barn. "I see yer up early. How did ya sleep?" Dan smiled. "Better than the last few nights. Thanks for taking me in last night. And for the company. That helped me calm down and sleep better." AJ tipped her hat. "Any time you need to my barn and house are open to ya. And I am glad to help. So you ready to help out?" Dan nodded as he got up and stretched. "Thought you would never ask. So what's first?" Aj motioned for him to follow her and Dan did so without asking.
They came to a part of the orchard that was far from the barn and farther from town. Dan was glad of this fact and noticed Big mac was already there, but he was… bucking the trees? "What is he doing?" AJ rose a brow at him. "Haven't ya ever bucked apples before?" Dan shook his head. "No in my world we use ladders or climb the trees and pick them by hand." Dan flexed his fingers for emphasis. AJ Looked confused. "So you didn't buck um out of the trees all at once?" Dan shook his head then walked over to a tree and Spartan kicked it. Nothing happened but Dan's foot hurting. "See, humans aren't strong enough or have the magic needed to do that."
AJ was surprised. This might be a harder job for him then. Dan looked up and saw a few ripe apples at the very top of a few of the trees. An idea came to him. "I know what I can do. You say it is harder to get the apples at the top of the trees and I say it is impossible to kick them down. So, I climb up and get the few that you can't kick down, and then help you take them all back to the barn. That way you can focus on getting the most down and I can focus on getting the stragglers?" AJ liked and was impressed by the idea. "Sure if you really think you can do it. and the ladder is over there." Dan gave a simple laugh and then walked over to a tree with apples at the top.
Then Dan grabbed a limb and pulled himself up with ease. Dan grabbed the apples and tossed them into a bucket like he was told and then climbed down. "The ladder will just slow me down, but thanks for the option." AJ was now impressed at his abilities. "Ok you keep doing that and we will get to work." Dan smiled and nodded. "You got it, but I am taking off the shirt for now. Don't need the only thing I have to ware getting that dirty or torn." Aj nodded. "We will have to talk to Rarity about getting you cloths to ware." Dan agreed and took his shirt off and climbed the next tree. But AJ was standing still and staring at him now.
She was mesmerized by his muscular body. She hadn't seen any stallions that looked this athletic except her brother. In fact she was having the same reaction to Dan's bare chest as many mares had to Big Mac's. 'Wow, now he's got a nice body on him. Oh! Don't stare AJ, and get back to work before you go and embarrass yourself again.' AJ shook her head and started to work once again. after a few hours of working Dan had gotten all of the apples that hadn't fallen by AJ or Mac. Then they put all of the buckets in a cart and Mac hitched himself up and started to pull it. Dan put his shirt on the cart and started to push from behind. It surprised Mac but he was grateful for the help with the extra large load. Aj just fell back and looked at the trees.
"Wow with Dan's help we did twice as much in half the time, and got all those pesky ones that wouldn't fall. He is a great help." Then she turned and caught up to the boys and the cart. She was going to help but they said they could get it just fine with the two of them. So she walked a few feet away from Dan as he pushed the cart. She was lost in between thoughts of the past and staring at Dan's tone body. She was going from one to the other with every look. She almost didn't realize they were at the barn. Then Dan and Mac started to unload the cart. She came out of her mind in time to help them get the apples into the barn.
Dan was unloading the cart when he noticed that there was light coming into the barn from above. He looked to see if it was a hatch, but it was a hole instead. "Well that won't do. Hey AJ, you have anything to fix that roof?" Aj looked up and saw what he meant. "Ya we have the supplies, just haven't had the time to try and climb up there with the ladder. Why?" Dan smiled. "Well since we finished ahead of schedule why don't I climb up there and fix it for you." AJ thought about it and figured he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Ok fine, but I am helping you." Dan smiled and nodded to her. Then they got the equipment.
Dan got ready to climb when AJ asked if they were using the ladder. Dan gave her a smirk. "Well you can waste the time to do that or you can hold onto me, I climb us up there, then we pull up the stuff and do it that way." AJ looked nervously at the top of the barn. "and are you sure you can make it up there with me on your back?" Dan smiled wide. "I was a great climber and parkour champ back home so this will be easy. Don't worry you are in capable hands. So you wanna try it?" Aj thought for a few moments and then sighed. "Might as well, but how are we gonna pull the stuff up?" Dan grabbed a rope. "You hold onto this as I climb and then when we reach the top we pull it all up with the rope."
AJ finally agreed and they got the stuff together and hooked it up to the rope. "You ready AJ?" she looked at him then up to the roof. "As ill ever be I guess." Dan kneeled down and motioned for her to hop on. "Put your front hooves around my neck and the back ones around my waist and hold on tight." AJ did as he told her and then Dan started to climb the building using the drain and the corner of the barn. They were almost to the top and Dan told her to hold on extra tight so he could get them over the lip of the roof. He did so and sat down on the roof happily. "Careful now not to fall. And you can let go now. Oh and here give me the rope and I will pull the stuff up."
Aj let the rope fall from her mouth to his hand and she slowly let go of him. It had felt amazing being so close to his sweat soaked body. It was so firm and comfortable, with a smell that she, for some reason, found attractive. She was blushing, but luckily for her Dan was busy bringing up the stuff for the roof. It didn't take long for the tools and planks to reach the roof and then Dan and AJ got to work on the roof together. That's when they started to talk to pass the time and get the height off of AJ's mind. And the work was done In little time and seemed more fun than work.
When the two were done they lowered the stuff to the ground but stayed on top of the roof to watch the sun setting. Dan sat next to AJ with a question on his mind. "So I saw you staring when we were walking back, so what's on your mind? I figured you liked what you saw, but then your mood changed. So do you mind me asking what's got you down?" AJ was blushing a bit but then it went away and was replaced with a frown. "You might as well know. Ya I like what I see, you caught me there. But that just makes me think of my ex." Dan now understood. "You have a bad ex to? Did he break your heart or hurt you?" Aj was stunned to know what she meant. "He cheated on me and left me for her."
Dan's eyes narrowed. "Ok where is he so I can break his dick off?" AJ was stunned silent. "Why would you?" Dan looked at her, but wasn't smiling. "Cheating is the only thing that is unforgivable in my book. I have loyalty and that's the only real thing I follow. But you above all don't mess with someone heart. That's just low. Well I hope the next guy that is lucky enough to land you is smart enough not to do something so stupid. And you can trust me when I tell ya I ain't ever going to hurt you. You are my friend now and I will do anything I can to keep you happy. Even if you want me to hunt the jerk down and kick his ass." Aj was smiling at his true words and Giggled at the last part.
"So who hurt you? If ya don't mind me pryin." Dan sighed. "Where to start? I had one that cheated, one that ran away from me instead of any commitment, and another that thought she was better than me. So I dumped the cheater, lucky she and I weren't that close so it didn't hurt as bad. My first love ever ran and ruined her life instead of talking to me and letting me help her. And the latest one insulted everything I am before breaking up with me only a few days before our four year anniversary. So I have had my share of heart ach. And every time it starts to heal it is shattered even more. So I gave up on love so I'm not hurt anymore. I have friends and nothing more. That's kinda why I am a flirt. I like to have friends and flirt with cute girls, but no relationships so I can't get hurt again."
AJ understood where he was coming from and understood him even better now. "I hear ya. Sure is a pretty sight up here this time ah day." Dan nodded. "sure is. I might have to come up here more often. If you ever want to join me, or just want me to bring you up here, just let me know." AJ blushed but nodded at his offer. "I might have to take you up on that some time." Dan smiled and was going to keep talking until he heard a males voice from below him. He looked down to see a confused Big Mac. "What in tarnation are you doing up there? And have you seen AJ?" Dan smiled as AJ looked over the edge. "I'm up here with Dan. We were fixing the roof. Now we are watching the sunset. Be down in a minute." Mac nodded and walked off.
Dan got ready to go down. "Hop on for your ride down to the ground." AJ laughed at him and shook her head. "Just don't fall." Dan laughed as AJ got onto his back. Then down Dan climbed until the hit the ground and AJ hopped off. "Thanks for the help on the roof. And for the talk." Dan smiled and nodded to her. "Any time. I am going to go get my shirt then ill join you for dinner. And can I clean up somewhere if you don't mind?" Aj agreed with him getting his shirt and dinner and told him he could use the shower that was upstairs before bed. He thanked her and all went well. He came out of the shower feeling much better being clean.
Dan was going to go back out to the barn but was told to use the guest bedroom instead. He did so and laid down to sleep well tonight. "Not a bad day on the farm."
