what you've been out there searching for [Tammy]

[Pixel]

is in your hand
and when you figure out love is all that matters after all
it sure makes everything else seem so small

The old Dodge pickup rather sputtered into the parking lot of the little diner. The thing had done more than its fair share of work and probably deserved to retire down to the junk yard, but they had eeked some existence out of the thing still, though Andrew Bennit had to admit he was more than a little relieved to have finally arrived in the little town of Kadin. He had been terrified the entire, ridiculously long trip out here that the thing would break down, and that was something he really did not want to have to deal with. Especially with two horses, a psycho maniac dog, and his little sister. Some people said he was crazy to have tried the trip at all, but he had. And in a broken down pickup to boot. Still, he never would have heard the end of it if he had gotten them stranded with his stubbornness.

He gave the atrociously green colored pickup an affectionate pat on the hood as he walked by. Blue eyes looked up and caught the gaze of his half sister who was wandering over to meet him. (Sorry for the power play. haha) A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. One could tell the affection in his eyes for his little sister.

You would never have known they were related by looking at them. Their hair was entirely different colors and textures, their eyes looked nothing alike, their over-all face shape had no resemblance, and they didn't even really have the same build. It was that they were only half siblings, though, and, while Tammy looked at least a bit like their mom, Drew looked just exactly like his father. At least, that was what everyone said.

He strode toward the little diner that they had stopped at, glancing over his shoulder as one of the two horses,T, most likely, kicked the trailer impatiently. Andrew shook his head in mild amusement. Silly boy he thought to himself. But who blamed them? No one even wanted to count the number of miles they had covered over the last few days. And to be all crammed up in a trailer like that? Not that the pickup bed was much better, but whatever.

Drew had to smile a bit at the line of his thoughts. Maybe people were right in saying he was crazy. But he had never been one to mind too terribly. He glanced over his shoulder, making sure Tammy was with him (for he was rather protective and always a bit paranoid that she might get mugged or something, for all she could take care of herself) and decisively pulled the door open, stepping back slightly so Tammy could step through first. That was a pet peeve of his. When people let the door close in your face, and when guys didn't hold the door for girls. It was just plain old rude, and it was one of few things in the world that Andrew simply could not stand. He was usually a pretty patient person, but he had little use and less patience for rude, arrogant people. He was picky that way. He liked good people, and refused to even associate with someone who came off as rude, as stuck up as that probably sounded. Not that he had much time to be around people anyway. He lived in the middle of no where and all his extra time, except for basketball during the winter, was spent helping his dad out around the ranch. He had had some free time during the summer, especially when Tammy was there, because his job had been to keep her entertained and out of trouble. It had started out as a chore, but as these things go, he had begun to like spending time with his sister after a few summers together, especially once he got her riding.

He followed the dark haired girl into the diner, glancing about. The place wasn't terribly busy, but a few people glanced up curiously at the new comers. Drew settled a hand on Tammy's shoulder, silently guiding her to a table near the back, away from prying eyes. (He was a private sort of person) He let her go and flopped into the bench with something like relief.

One didn't have to be around Andrew long to understand that he was a quiet person. Never use a word where a gesture would do, and he rarely spoke what was on his mind, unless it was necessary to say it. He had his own ways of communicating, though, his way of doing things. Like instead of just telling Tammy to head toward the table in the back, he had guided her there. Some people thought he was arrogant because it probably looked like he just shoved her over to the table, but if one was around him enough, they learned to listen to his silent communications, the things he said, but didn't actually say. Like the little squeeze he'd given Tammy's shoulder before he let go. I love you. I'm here for you. I've got your back. Sometimes his little gestures communicated what he was thinking better than words anyway. One just had to learn to listen...

[Tammy Bain]

The girl had her hand on the door handle of the pickup seconds before it had stopped, clicking her seatbelt and hopping out of the truck just as it was rolling to a stop. Although roadtrips were always fun, especially with her brother, she was eager to get out and stretch her legs. Yawning, Tammy glanced over at Drew and headed around the front of the pickup to meet him, grinning. "That was one hell of a drive." Montana to Kentucky was a long-ass way, and several days of driving. The horses, although they stopped frequently and allowed them to walk around a bit, generally weren't much trouble. But Pixie, who was used to the endless countryside of Montana, was an aboslute terror after just a few hours on the road. She glanced back at the black and white shepherd who had quickly scrambled into the driver's seat and was staring forlornly after them. "Back soon!" She promised the dog, walking into the diner ahead of Drew, to the lovely sound of T kicking the trailer door. She didn't blame him. Good thing he'd get to be out and about soon.

Feeling Drew's hand on her shoulder, the usual protective gesture, she fought the urge to roll her eyes. He would always be like that, looking out for her. And really, she shouldn't complain. Because of him, her life was going in a much better direction than it had been before. She had a lot to thank Drew for, and deep down, she knew his presence was always reassuring. Without a fuss, she headed to a booth at the back of the dinner, sliding on to one of the benches and glancing out the window. Pixie was still staring through the windshield. Sighing, she rested her head against the window, looking across the table at her brother. "So tell me about the place we're gonna be putting them?" Clearly, she was referring to the horses, but her and Drew rarely had misunderstandings. Those two might have well been psychic, the way they always knew what was going on with the other.

A plump middle aged woman with a pad of paper came up to them, offering a too-bright smile. "What can I get you two?" She chirped. Tammy settled for an ice tea and then glanced quickly at the menu card standing on the table. "Just a salad, thanks." She said, passing the card to Drew. After doing absolutely nothing but sit for two and a half days, she didn't have much of an appetite. It's not like her body had been doing serious work and needed refuelling.

While the waitress looked over at Drew for his order, Tammy looked out the window to the main street that the diner looked out on to. This was a small-ass town. Smaller even than Crescent City, which was a pretty teeny place in itself. It felt kinda good, being able to have a fresh start. Tammy had always liked starting things over from the beginning. She could tell people whatever she wanted, act as she pleased. They didn't know her, they would judge her, yeah, who wouldn't?, but not in the same way as they had in the last place.

At least she was done school, she would've hated to have that take up her day. She was excited to get to working the horses, and was kind of looking forward to getting a new job, if she could. Work was usually fun, and in any case the money would sure be useful.

{Sorry, I know this doesn't give you much to answer to. =(}

[Pixel]

Drew glanced out the window, a little surprised that his dog wasn't going crazy and raising hell in the bed of his truck. Not that he'd have minded too much if she had torn everything to bits. It would have given him a really good excuse to get a new pickup...Because getting a new one when the old one ran reasonably well just wasn't a good enough one. But if the interior was beyond repair, well then, that, coupled with how old the thing was, definitely made a pretty good excuse. Pixie wouldn't, though. She was too well behaved, for all her neurotic tendencies.

He glanced up as the waitress wandered over. "Just a hamburger" he murmured. "Everything on it. And a Dr. Pepper." He nodded slightly and turned his attention to his sister. He couldn't help giving a slight smile when she asked about the place they would be keeping T and Alamea. He remembered thinking, gee, it must have been her third or fourth summer out at the ranch, after he'd taught her to ride, thinking that she was an endless stream of questions. Always asking about everything he did, his little shadow, forever wanting to know what this did and what that was for and "can I touch it?!" He had been a little annoyed, because, of course, the next thing after her endless questions was thinking how danged annoying the girl was. Of course, he didn't think that anymore, not most of the time, but sometimes she was still an endless stream of questions.

"It's called Weeping Willow Stables" he said. Happy sounding place, isn't it? he thought to himself, though he didn't say it out loud, because it wasn't necessary. "Um, I guess it's just out of town and they're going to be in pastures instead of stalls, with a lean to, which isn't much of a change for those kids." He shrugged a bit, running out of things to say. He really was a man of few words. People used to tease him and ask if he even knew how to talk. Of course, he did, but he just didn't tend to put it to much use. He didn't see the point.

[Tammy Bain]

when you see my face hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell

Tammy nodded quietly, listening intently to his rather vague description of the farm. That was just like Drew though. Never say with five words what you can say with one. He was just gonna make her sit patiently until she could see the place for herself, which, judging by the numbers on the screen of her cell phone, would be in about an hour or so. She could wait an hour. "Yeah, and it'll for sure be a lot warmer here than what they're used to." The horses that Tammy had seen in the pastures here had been sleek and glossy. T and Alamea though, were still carrying the remnants of their scruffy winter coat. It wasn't as warm right now in Montana as it was here. And spring certainly came later up there.

She watched a couple people walk by on the sidewalk. Pixie had her paws up on the dash and was staring intently through the glass to where she and Drew were seated. Sorry, Pix, no dogs. Tammy thought to herself. After several more minutes the waitress returned with a tray carrying their meals and drinks. Huh, well the service was sure fast here. Tammy could play the quiet game when she wanted, too. Of course to Drew it was really a game, it was just who he was.

Taking a sip of her ice tea, she watched as the golden liquid traveled through the straw, then set to work on her salad. Tammy had always been a pretty speedy eater. The salad was only the work of five minutes or so before she set down her fork, finished her ice tea rather quickly, and then looked imploringly at her older brother. Time and again she was always frustrated at her brother's normal eating habits. It usually meant she had to sit around waiting until he (or whoever else she was with, really), finished eating. Tammy was patient for another few minutes, but then she fished her wallet out and dug around for a few bills and some coins, laying them on the table to cover her own meal. "I'm gonna go let Pixie out to pee." She said quickly, hopping out of her seat and out the door of the diner.

The black and white shepherd bounced with excitement, seeing her approach. Although the dog was entirely devoted to Drew, she and Tammy had a pretty good friendship as well. And for the most part the dog was pretty friendly anyway, although she had the caution and reservation of a true ranch dog. To be on the safe side, Tammy clipped a rope to the dog's collar and let her hop out of the car. Immediately the little shepherd tugged sharply towards the diner where Drew was sitting, but Tammy tugged back just as firmly. "He'll be out in a minute, let's find somewhere to go to the bathroom, 'kay?" Leading the dog towards a patch of grass at the edge of the small parking lot, she waited while Pixie did her business, then headed back to the trailer and opening the tiny side door. Two grulla heads bent to peer at her, and T stomped a hoof impatiently.

They must be as antsy as she, and they all looked ready to settle down after two days on the road. Sitting down in the doorway of the trailer and letting Pixie's leash go slack so the dog could sniff about the pavement nearby, Tammy watched the window of the diner, doing her best to be patient. She couldn't really help it though. She didn't want to waste her life sitting around waiting. Obviously, just hanging out with Pixie and the horses wasn't a waste, but Tammy was eager to see the barn where their horses would be staying, and then the little apartment that she and Drew had already made arrangements for.

when you walk my way i hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell

[Pixel]

Drew watched his sister glance at the screen of her cell phone. He himself just had an old track phone. He didn't see much use for one unless he got in trouble. "Yeah, and it'll for sure be a lot warmer here than what they're used to." He nodded mildly in response. There wasn't much to say. It was true. The horses were tough, used to sub-zero temperatures in the winter and usually s now in the spring. Kentucky would seem like paradise for the two of them.

His sister seemed to devour her meal in record time. She had always been that way. Speedy. About everything. From eating to riding, she was always going fast, it seemed. Did she ever slow down? he wondered sometimes.

Drew ate the same way he did everything else. Slow and steady and without hurry. "I'm gonna go let Pixie out to pee." Again, he nodded, a slight amused smile touching his face. "You just can't sit still, can you?" he asked with a teasing grin before taking the last bite of his burger. He watched his sister troop out to the pickup and get his dog, getting a rope around her collar before letting her out. Drew nodded. Probably a good idea. Pixie was pretty attached to Tammy, but she was still Drew's dog. He had raised her from the time she was a puppy, bottle feeding her along with her litter mates. The other pups had attached themselves to other people, but they all had a soft spot for Drew and would greet him with a friendly bark. Pixie, though, Pixie was his dog. And she was a burning ball of energy. She never held still for more than a few seconds, unless she slept. And she was neurotic. Drew wouldn't have been a bit surprised if she had bolted in to traffic and gotten herself smushed flat as a pancake. Yep, there she went, tugging toward the window where she could see Drew.

He smiled a bit at the dog's antics, watching his sister quiet her down. He quickly drained the last of his pop and stepped up to the counter to pay the bill. He threw a twenty down on the counter and told the waitress to keep the change. He pushed easily out the door and strode toward his sister and dog, his hands shoved in his pockets like a typical cowboy. He wandered over to the two of them, leaning down to give Pixie a pat on the head. The overly hyper dog promptly attempted to nip him, then bowed, her butt in the air and her tail waving a mile a minute. He chuckled lightly and shook his head, then glanced at Tammy. "Shall we head out?" he asked.