Good Directions by Jay_chAn
Interstate
A/N I will finish this one even though I know I haven't completed some of my other ones. And for that I apologize!! But I have been imagining cowboys for the longest time and thought I'd give it a try with the help of Billy Currington's song Good Directions.
"Speaking"
Italics- Thoughts
Chapter 1 -Interstate-
Dusting the dirt off her fading blue jeans Kagome hopped off the newly fixed wooden fence only to stand against it and look out at the horses grazing in the green and brown grass field. Feeling her stomach grumble with hunger Kagome stretched her muscles out before shifting her traditional straw cowgirl hat forward on her head to avoid the hot afternoon sun. Slapping her hands gently against the wood she turned and made her way towards her grandfathers house. Listening to the dirt crunch under her dusty brown boots Kagome smiled brightly as a delicious aroma wafted to her from the kitchen windows. Walking up the front porch steps and reaching for the screen doors' knob Kagome jumped back to avoid being hit by the wooden edges, surprise written on her face as she was greeted by the sight of her equally shocked younger brother.
"Sorry Kagome," Souta said as he moved outside and jumped the three steps onto the dirt ground.
A scowl replaced her shock, "what's the rush? You know better Souta!" His second apology yelled over his shoulder as he continued to run towards the stables. Shaking her head Kagome walked into the house as the screen door shut noisily behind her. Removing her hat and placing it onto the rack she made her way to the kitchen and smiled at the sight that greeted her. Fried chicken, honey gold biscuits, bright yellow corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes all placed in bowls with steam evident from each dish. Her grandfathers back to her as he stood at the stove she smiled before making her way over to the sink to wash the sweat and dirt off her hands and face.
"Where's Souta goin' Gramps?" Kagome asked as she turned to grab a plate and serve the both of them.
"Hn, that boy got a call from the girl down the road," he replied as he removed the tea from the fire and moved to the sink. Standing Kagome shook her head and made her way over to the stove to shut the fire off. Teenagers, she thought with a small smile as she bumped her grandfather away from the sink.
"Eat gramps and I'll make the tea. I already served you," she said pointedly nodding her head to the table. Two plates served and ready to be eaten. With a huff she turned on the water and placed the hot pot of tea under it nearly filling it to the top before moving it away and pouring it into the glass pitcher and repeating the process till the pitcher was nearly full. Removing the tea bags and squeezing what flavor was left in the small bags she grabbed the bag of sugar and poured a couple of cups before stirring. Tasting and nodding she served two glasses of cold iced tea and joined her grandfather at the table. As they made small talk and ate Kagome smiled with joy building in her stomach that she could have moments like this with the elderly man.
"You find yourself a cowboy yet?" Kagome chocked on her tea and shot her blue eyes over to her grandfather. Sighing she pushed away from the table and placed her dishes in the sink. "You're not getting any younger!" Her Gramps yelled as she pulled her hat off the rack and pushed the screen door open and made her way back outside. "There are plenty of men working here on the farm," he said as he made his way outside to the porch with her.
Sighing once again Kagome huffed and cursed under her breath. "There's work that needs to be done. I'll be back for dinner." Walking away Kagome ignored her grandfathers words and advice on finding herself a good cowboy and husband before he got any older as well.
Had to go 'nd ruin the mood. I don't need a husband yet! I'm fine working here on the farm with everyone, Kagome thought in anger. Why do people keep asking me to find a good cowboy anyway? She wondered as she made her way to the cattle. Maybe it's 'cause almost all my friends have themselves a partner. Shaking her head Kagome tightened her low ponytail and opened the gate joining the men finishing their lunch break who were beginning to brand the animals.
"Time to get back to work, eh?" She smiled before scrunching her nose at the burning smell of animal fur and flesh.
--------Good Directions---------
Cows, green grass, green and brown trees, faded grey and brown wooden and wired fences, and more cows swaying with the wind outside. Sesshomaru clenched the steering wheel in his hand before making a left turn and continuing down the dirt road. He admitted that the GPS in his car was useless and apparently broken. Looking for any signs to direct him to the interstate he continued to drive out in the country. His parents had to move to a house out in the middle of nowhere and they had to have a family vacation every summer.
After traveling for miles and hours he finally came to the conclusion that he, Sesshomaru, was lost. Driving a few minutes down the road he finally spotted a decent blue two-story house. Steering his vehicle to the front of the house he parked his car and looked out the front window of his Lexus to see if he spotted anyone around the open windows. With a silent sigh he turned the car off and exited the vehicle in hopes that someone was inside the quiet looking house. Making his way up the porch he placed his keys into his pocket before reaching a pale hand out to knock on the wooden screen door. After waiting several minutes he confirmed no one was inside. Hearing murmured voices nearby he turned to see a few men walking in and out of a barn and the stables near the side of the house with horses. Making his way down the stairs he rubbed his chin in irritation at a few stares he was receiving before calling out to a dark haired man holding the reigns of a gray and white spotted horse.
The black haired man turned, sweat gleaming off his darkly tanned skin, "how can I help ya, city boy?" Ignoring the name and choosing to glare at the man instead Sesshomaru turned to another man with brown hair close by and asked if the owner of the house was around. "The old man is with the new men out back," the tanned man he chose to ignore answered, "why you looking' for him?"
Still choosing to ignore the first man Sesshomaru chose to stare down the brunette man he questioned. "Um, he just answered your question sir." Narrowing his eyes Sesshomaru stiffly nodded his head and turned to the back hoping to find the owner of the house.
"Where do ya think you're going? Hey city boy I'm talkin' to you!" the black haired man yelled out as he followed Sesshomaru with the horse, boots and hooves sounding in the dirt, with its reigns clenched in his fists as his face heated up in anger at being ignored by the white haired man dressed in a clean gray suit.
"What're you doing Koga!" It wasn't a question. The female the voice belonged to came out of the fence surrounding cattle. "Take her to the stable," Kagome instructed him with a nod to the spotted horse. Sesshomaru eyed the petite woman dressed in jeans and a sleeveless jean shirt. Her clothes and parts of her body covered in dirt and sweat. Face hard and set as she stared the man down. Watching as she removed her straw hat, Sesshomaru noted the top of her raven hair shine blue with the bright hot sun. Still choosing to watch as she continued to glare with her blue eyes at the man named Koga, Sesshomaru had to guess that the woman now standing in front of him was in some way in control of the ranch.
"Yeah, yeah," Koga replied with a huff as he lead the horse away. Turning her eyes to the man in front of her Kagome nodded and smiled in greeting.
"Sorry 'bout him. Pain, that he is, he's also a great worker. How can I help you sir?"
Nodding slightly Sesshomaru eyed the woman again before answering, "I'm looking for the owner of the house or someone with more manners than that man," he murmured. Kagome bit her lip and eyed the silver haired man in front of her. His amber eyes catching the sun she mentally shook her head and chose to look anywhere but his eyes.
"Owner's busy, but I'm his granddaughter. So again, how can I help you sir?" Kagome asked with a bit of an edge in her tone. He could only assess it as worry with the look her eyes had given him before she chose to look anywhere but directly at him.
"Directions to the interstate. This place has no signs," Sesshomaru replied with ice in his tone. Annoyance evident as he spoke. Blue eyes turned to meet his amber ones in surprise, lighting up slightly at his remark.
Huffing and placing her hand on her hips Kagome walked and gestured for him to follow her back to the front of the house. "Which road did you take?" Sesshomaru pointed and Kagome sighed in irritation. "Sorry, some kids keep taking it down to mess with city folk. Actually you're the first to get lost since not many of you come down here, with GPS and all," Kagome replied with a smile. Seeing the strangers eyes grow hard Kagome placed her hat atop her head before pointing to another left road. "You head way up yonder pass the caution light. There'll be a little store with an old Hoppy sign on it, may not look like much but it's a good place. You wanna stop and ask Kaede for a glass of tea. She has over a dozen recipes they're the best around town, plus you look like you could use a drink. I'd offer but there's no way to compete with hers. Then just head on left of her store and you'll find yourself at the interstate."
"I appreciate it Miss...?" He asked waiting for her to give her name.
Brows raised in surprise, "Kagome. Ah, and it was no trouble sir." Kagome stared at him from beneath her hat as he pulled his keys from his suit pocket.
"It is rude to stare," Kagome blushed and rubbed the back of her neck and kicked her boot into the dirt while muttering an apology. Sesshomaru's eyes lit in pleasure at seeing the small woman blush with embarrassment. The strict attittude she had with the worker completely gone from her tone and face. His amber eyes traced the smooth features of her face beneath the smudges of dirt on her cheeks and sweat around her neck and above her forehead.
Nodding his head Sesshomaru made his way to his car and left Kagome to stare after him. She pictured his smooth, angular, and pale face. The beautiful hair and amber eyes of his shining under the rays of the sun, all-the-while a smile dancing on her lips. Turning Kagome made her way to the cattle to continue to work before yelling gaining the the attention of others, "I didn't get his name!" Throwing her hat onto the ground she repeatedly called herself a fool and kicked a fence post.
--------Good Directions---------
Note: Hoppy- "A non alcoholic but beer flavored drink that has been sold in Japan since 1948."
A/N This is gonna either be a two shot or three not sure yet. Well I hope you're happy with this chapter.
Review please!