Chapter 9 The Rodeo
We spent the rest of the morning getting ready. It was finally time for the rodeo. I road Starbuck to the ring when I saw Mr. Blake walk up.
"Kat we need someone to sing the national anthem. Will you do it?"
I nodded. "Sure no problem." I get off Starbuck and hand my reins to Pa fallowing Mr. Blake into the arena. He got everyone's attention and introduced me then handing me the mike. I took a deep breath looking around at the crowed then started to sign. I don't know why I felt so nervous though the song. I sang the national anthem at a lot of rodeos but this time felt different. So many things have happened in the last week. This could be my last rodeo and that thought as I sing makes my eyes water. As it hit the last line I feel the tears fall. Once I was done the crowed cheered and I made my way back to Pa and Starbuck.
"You did so good baby girl." Pa said pulling me into a hug when I got close enough.
"Thanks Pa." I smiled.
"Now get out there and kick some tail." He smiled as I climbed on Starbuck. We waited for our event watching the others from the sidelines. When it was finally our turn I looked up to the sky.
"Lord please keep us safe and give us speed." I prayed and then directed Starbuck into the arena. I took a deep breath and gently kicked her side clicking my tongue giving her the signal to go. As she ran she picked up the speed with each stride racing to the barrel. We were flying as we spun around the barrels with ease. Once we round the last barrel she headed straight as I pulled back on the reins. "Whoo girl." I said as we neared Pa who was at the exit of the arena with a big grin.
"You did your run in fifth teen point thirty seconds!" He cheered. Sending shock through me. It was a new record.
"Whoooo folks it looks like our little miss Katherine Kensington just set a new record!" The announcer said coming over the speakers causing the crowed to cheer loudly. What a way to spend my last rodeo. For the second time today I felt my tears build up then fall.
I leaned down dropping my reins and hugging Starbucks neck. "Good girl." We sat there for a minute and then I sat up.
"Go take her back to her stall and let her cool down." Pa ordered and I nodded.
The rodeo went on and instead of being in the stands like I normally do I spent time with Starbuck.
"Hey Kat Matt said Jason is about to go." Ben pulled my attention from my thoughts.
"Okay I am coming." I stood up from the floor of Starbuck's stall and walked to the door getting out.
"You did good out there today. I didn't know you could sing like that." Ben quickly tore away the awkward silence.
"Nothing that amazing." I shrugged.
"Are you kidding you were awesome!" He smiled pulling me into a half hug as we walk.
We watched Jason and he did great roping. Once it was over we headed back to the camper so the three of us could clean up.
"So we are going to a bar?" Ben asked as I came out of the camper.
"Yes but for one night they open it up for kids to come. It's a line dancing bar, they have a band and dancing. They give all the underage kids a stamp so they only serve them soda. They do it every year and the sherif will be there too." Pa tried to explain.
"It's also a restaurant they have little things to eat like sides and stuff." Momma added.
"Sounds like fun." Logan shrugged. "Can we just fallow you?"
What will kat do when she is faced with the people she and her brother love. Will she be able to choose who she will be with. Or will she leave them all behind? She neve...
"Sure can let's go." Pa smiled as we all headed to our cars.
We made it to the bar and all piled in. It was crowed with everyone from the rodeo some talking, some eating, and some dancing. Jasmine squealed pulling me onto the dance floor where we started to line dance.
We danced for a couple songs when the band stoped "Attention everyone. It has came to my attention that we have the honor of having the triplets here." The singer of the band announced. "Maybe if we all cheer they will come up and preform for us." He said causing the crowed to cheer. I sighed looking at Jaz and Jase. They both nodded and we headed to the stage.
"Okay any requests?" I said as I got behind the mike.
"Because of you!" Someone yelled and I looked at Jason as he put the guitar strap over his head. He nodded looking at Jas on the piano.
"Let's do it." She smiled then they both started to play. Everyone had gather around the stage or were sitting in a seat listening. As I got halfway through the song I felt the dreaded tears start to fall. This song was the definition of my life.
"Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk. Because of you, I learned to play on the safe side, so I don't get hurt. Because of you, I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me. Because of you I am afraid"
I know the song was about Clarkson's parents being divorced, she was scarred to fall in love and feel the pain her parents did. But it hit me in a different way, it reminded me about my Mom and her boyfriend. The life that they gave me truly sent chills down my spine. It made me afraid and now I have to go leave with seven guys I don't know that are her sons. That terrified me! What if they were just like her or worse like him. I was moving far away from the one and only place that keep me going. I was moving away from the people I did feel safe around the only people I felt truly safe around. That scarred me to my core.
By the end of the song I felt Jason wrap me up in a hug as the crowd cheered.
"I am picking the next song, fallow my lead." He said turning around and looking at the rest of the band. He went back to his spot and started to play and I instantly knew what he was doing in the first five seconds. He choose the song Stronger. I smiled though the tears wiping the back of my hand below my eyes and started singing.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Stand a little taller. Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone. What doesn't kill you makes a fighter. Footsteps even lighter. Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone." I smiled as I sang getting into it. Jason is right I was stronger from my past and I know that even though they are miles away the Smiths will always be there for me. Once we finished I looked up to see Pa with his arms wrapped around Momma them both smiling at me.
"WHISKY LULLABY!" Some one in the crowd yell. I looked at Jason who rolled his eyes. For some reason that was everyone's favorite for us to sing. He started playing and got closer to a mike so he could sing. Everyone loved him and I to sing this song ever since we did when we were nine.
After that one we did a few line dancing songs that got people moving again then we headed back to our seats.
"Wow you sound amazing." Wes smiled stealing my hat and putting it on.
"Wonder where she got that from." Jere asked taking the hat off of Wes and putting it on his head laughing.
"Sounds like Mom." Reuben said pulling all of our attention to him causing Ben and Bruce to stiffen looking at me as if I would freak.
"I didn't know she could sing." I shrugged.
"She was sober throughout her pregnancy's because Dad would stay on her not letting it slide and she would sing when she was sober. She was a better person for that time." Reuben said and the older boys nodded in agreement.
"Never new that." I said. "Nice to know she was sober at one point."
The rest of the night was fun but around nine we headed out to the cars.
"Ben can we camp with Kat?" Wes asked as we walked to the car.
"You want to camp?" Ben raised one of his eyebrows.
"Yeah, I mean this will be the only time we have a chance. At least we can say we did it once in our life." Jere smiled. "Plus my last girl friend said I needed to learn to be more down to Earth." He laughed making Sam laugh too.
"Nah man she was mad because you said she was poor." Wes rolled his eyes.
"If it is okay with Matt and Laura." Ben shrugged.
"Fine with us." Pa smiled.
"Okay let me run you to the hotel to get clothes and then I will take you to them." Ben looked at Pa "If they do anything just call me and I will come straight there. No matter what! But they will behave! Won't you boys?"
"Yes sir." All three boys said at the same time. Ben seemed happy with it and they all headed to the hotel to get clothes while I went with the Smith's to our campsite excited about later but nervous because I had a gut feeling something would go wrong.