Okay, so I wasn't going to post this story until I got finished with mission trip and my cousin's wedding, but I felt like a bit of an idiot with a story sitting in my Word files and nothing happening to it. I'm just warning you now, though, updates are probably going to be pretty far apart. I'm a slow writer, I hope it's worth the wait.

During a drive through Oklahoma I was looking at all the ranches and stuff and listening to 'Seasons of Love' and suddenly came up with this idea. The plot line is pretty simple: the bohos go spend a week at a working ranch and sort of get their butts kicked by the lifestyle. Pairings are cannon, characters may act OOC at times.

Disclaimer: I don't own RENT or any of the characters from RENT. The only character I own is Eric. Also, please pardon my mistakes if I say something stupid that doesn't relate to ranches. I've never really worked at one, but I think I've done enough research to write about one pretty accurately.

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"Well, here we are."

"Yep. Here we are," Joanne muttered, agreeing with Roger.

The group of seven bohos stood in front of a wooden gate that was connected to a barbed wire fence. For a while nobody else spoke, just took in the scenery. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but sandy, dusty hills and scrubby looking grass. A herd of cows grazed in the distance, but other than that there was no visible movement in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere.

"Oh, come on you guys!" Maureen said, shuffling her shoes around in the gravely road. "We're lucky my Uncle Rodney's best friend's son agreed to let us stay here for a week. This is going to be fun!"

Joanne stared at her. "Do you really think this was a good idea?" she asked, her eyebrows twitching slightly "Maureen, I'm sure everyone's grateful that you brought us out to your uncle's buddy's ranch, but are you sure this is a good idea?" Even though there's really no turning back now, she thought to herself.

Maureen looked slightly hurt, but before she could reply Mark's voice cut in.

"And here we are in the panhandle of Oklahoma, pinched between the borders of Colorado and Texas. Some would say it doesn't look like much, but hidden by hills of sand there is sure to be a rich bounty of adventure."

"Mark," Roger sighed, "You sound like such a geek. Put that camera away before I put it away for you."

"No," Mark said defensively. "I'm documenting our trip!" He looked at Roger for a moment. "Cowboy," he added.

"Ughhh! Stop calling me that! Just because I'm wearing this stupid hat does not make me a cowboy."

"I think you look wonderful," Mimi said, flicking the brim of his hat with her forefinger. "After all, I picked that hat out." Roger smiled a bit (dispite the fact that he wasn't very happy), but said nothing further.

"Well I think this'll be fun," Angel spoke up finally. "I may be good to get away from the city. A bunch of people say it's good for your health"

"If she thinks it's a good idea," Collins put in, wrapping his arms around Angel's torso.

"See, Roger, they're not being party poopers!" Mimi whined, tugging on her boyfriend's arm. "Why are you so grumpy?"

"They don't have to wear idiotic hats," Roger grumbled, rolling his eyes. Mimi just made a 'hmph' noise in reply.

"Well, let's not just stand around all day. Let's go inside!"

"I agree with Maureen," Collins said, nodding. "Let's get out of the heat. I knew it got hot here in June, but this is crazy." The other bohos murmured agreements and followed Maureen through the gate (which they found to be unlocked) along the dirt and gravel driveway. Joanne proceeded to complain about rocks in her shoes.

When the party reached the house at the end of the lane, they let themselves in. Inside there was little wallpaper or paint on the walls- it was all wooden slats. Nobody seemed to be home, but after a couple minutes Angel found a note on the kitchen table.

Maureen and Friends:
Make yourselves at home. You'll have to split up among the two bedrooms upstairs- we've got spare mattresses in the storehouse, but you'll have to wash them off yourselves and put them on the floor. I hope everyone brought a hat and a pair of boots- if not then there's some on the shelves in the back room. Also in there are some bandanas: pick one and tie it around your neck or to a belt loop- you are all wearing jeans, right? After that you can go wait outside on the wooden benches next to the corral. I'll come and give you some instructions there.

I'm glad I get the opportunity to teach you a few things about how we do things around here.
-Eric

Angel read the note aloud to everyone. She began to say something afterwards, but Mark ran her over. "We were supposed to bring all that stuff?" he asked himself aloud. Without another word he grabbed his bag and bounded up the stairs to the bedrooms, presumably to change out of his knee-length khaki pants. Mimi giggled and turned to Roger.

"Now aren't you glad that we bought all that stuff in New York instead of having to borrow it from this guy?"

Roger was honestly thinking about just saying 'no, I'd be perfectly happy borrowing from the back room', but instead settled for a "Yeah, I suppose so." Which seemed to be good enough for Mimi.

Joanne reluctantly decided that they should do something. "I guess that if nobody else has to change their pants, we can all go pick out boots and stuff."

"Yay!" Maureen squeed. "Pookie has finally decided that we're going to have fun here!"

"I never said that. I just don't think we should have to wait for someone- usually you- to make a suggestion before we do something."

"Oh, you're just excited! You can't wait to go have fun with the horsies and the cows and the pigs and-"

"Whoa!" Collins cut in. "Nobody told me we'd have to take care of pigs!"

"Of course, silly," said Maureen playfully. "Every farm has piggies on it!" Everyone but Mimi rolled his or her eyes. Mimi laughed.

"Ohkaylet'sgonowbeforewedosomethingelsestupid," Joanne sighed all in one breath. Without another word she marched to the back of the farmhouse, through a living room decorated in shades of yellow and green and a small dining room to a green door. She tried it- it was open.

The rest of the bohos, minus Mark as he was still upstairs, dropped their bags in a pile in the kitchen and followed Joanne. Angel flipped on a light switch, revealing a dusty room about seven feet square with cobwebs in the corners. On one wall were shelves with boots on them- some just the right size for a six-year-old, some enormous. The wall opposite that was covered in hooks- on each hook was a cowboy hat. On the farthest wall from the door was a set of drawers- presumably for holding the bandanas. Slowly the group filed in, looking for a pair of boots their size or a hat that didn't look absolutely ridiculous. (with the exclusion of Roger and Mimi, who were already prepared and occupying themselves by cuddling in the next room)

After about two minutes Mark came back downstairs in a pair of dark blue jeans and a more fitting shirt. Without a word he began choosing his attire as well. In about ten minutes everyone was dressed to fit Eric's requirements. Roger and Mimi in their previously bought matching white hats, light brown boots, and blue bandanas. Collins had found himself a brown hat with a light gray bandana and boots. Angel had acquired equipment in carefully coordinated shades of red. Mark had picked a classic brown hat and boots with a bandana that vaguely resembled his beloved scarf. Maureen and Joanne had dressed themselves almost opposite of each other. Maureen had picked out a black hat, Joanne's was white. Maureen was wearing an electric green bandana and red boots- Joanne wore classic red around her neck with gray boots. With a sort of unspoken agreement the seven friends marched out the back door and found the corral. They all sat down in silence. For quite a while nobody spoke except for the quiet 'It's so hot out here' that came from Roger. Then, after what seemed like hours but was actually only fifteen minutes, the snort of a horse came from over a hill. A young man, about twenty-five or so, mounted upon a blue roan steed.

"Well, hello there," he called from his position on the hill. "Ya'll must be the city folk Rodney told me about. Welcome to the most beautiful nightmare you can imagine."

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There's the first chapter. Reviews are appreciated!