The Gig, Friday [12/11]

[justlike_a_girl]

It was a cold day, but Dani was certain she'd warm up once she started carrying hay bales around the barn. Coffee from the Perk would help in the meantime.

She took off her heavy jacket and left it in the office, then grabbed a pitchfork on her way to the stalls, thinking she'd start mucking out the unoccupied ones first. However, there was a surprise waiting for Dani in the first stall...

[For a certain ex-con, but open for anyone else who needs Dani!]

Comments

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

Kris eventually had fallen asleep, though it was kind of restless. That's why she was confused when she woke up and saw Dani there. "Am I dreaming?"

[justlike_a_girl]

"That would be pretty disturbing," said Dani, doing a double take to make sure that, yes, it really was Kris. "I'm not sure why you would be dreaming about me, unless it was a nightmare."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"A terrifying nightmare," Kris added, sitting up. "What are you doing here?"

[justlike_a_girl]

"Funny, I was just about to ask you the same thing," said Dani. "I was just wondering what you're doing sleeping in my barn."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

Kris blinked and then looked around. "This is yours?"

She was a little bit on awe of that. "Nice."

[justlike_a_girl]

"It's not as fancy as what I had back home," said Dani with a shrug. "Then again, my racing days are over, thanks to Dad and Junior."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"Guess we have more in common lately," Kris said, frowning.

[justlike_a_girl]

"What are you doing here, anyway?" asked Dani.

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

Kris shrugged. "Trying to get as far away from Fremont as possible? Never thought I'd see you, of all people, again."

[justlike_a_girl]

Dani couldn't help snickering. "Well, Fandom is probably as far as you can get from Fremont without leaving the continent," she said. "I wanted to put as much distance as possible between Dad and myself."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"I can't really say I can blame you," Kris replied, snickering as well. Ken Davis was not exactly one of Kris's favorite people, after all.

[justlike_a_girl]

"So, do you have a plan besides crashing in random barns?" asked Dani.

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"Not really," Kris admitted. "I've been staying in towns for a few weeks at a time, moving as far east as I can. Might do the same in this town. Seems nice enough."

[justlike_a_girl]

"It wouldn't hurt for you to stay in one place for a while," said Dani. "I could give you a job here. It would be good to have another person who's good with horses."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

Kris was surprised by the offer. "Let me make sure I heard you correctly. You're really offering me a job here?"

[justlike_a_girl]

"It's the least I could do. You saved my life that night I wrecked my car," said Dani.

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"That's true," Kris said slowly, though she did break into another smile. "I appreciate the offer. I mean, it's been awhile since I had a real job."

[justlike_a_girl]

"It may not be as exciting as the race track, but you'll love the horses," said Dani, smiling.

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. It'll be nice to work around horses again." As opposed to racing them illegally. Frowning slightly, she asked, "Do you know how Wildfire's doing?"

She'd always been thinking about him while she was gone, but there was no way she could have asked the Ritters.

[justlike_a_girl]

"I haven't heard much," said Dani. "I know Pablo is keeping him at Davis Farms, but that's about it. Dad and I aren't speaking. He came to visit me in Fandom and paid my business partner to leave, and Junior's too busy with his wedding plans to really keep in touch."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

That was a lot to take in. Kris did not like the thought of Wildfire at Davis Farms at all, but she couldn't do anything about it. So she focused on something else. "Junior's getting married?"

Not that there was much she could do about that either.

[justlike_a_girl]

"To some congressman's daughter," said Dani, a note of bitterness in her voice. "Dad is over the moon about it, of course. Another great connection for him."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"I'll have to send them a card." There was slight sarcasm in her tone. Or maybe there was a lot. "Do me a favor, Dani? Don't tell anyone back home I'm here? Especially your brother...and Matt."

[justlike_a_girl]

"That won't be a problem," said Dani. "Matt and I don't talk too much anyway these days."

[exconnextdoor.livejournal.com]

"Things have really changed." Like the fact that she and Dani are able to be in the same room together without violence ensuing. At least that was a good change.