Chapter 2 You're going to live with your brothers.
That night was peaceful thank the heavens. We went home and ate dinner then the twins and I cuddled up in Jasmine's room and watched movies till we all passed out. The next morning was Saturday, so no school which I was grateful for. We still all got up earlier to go help Pa with the animals, which I found relaxing. The Smiths owned a farm and I loved growing up here. Pa taught me to ride a horse and to barrel race. Jasmine and I go to rodeos and barrel races were Jason gets on bucking horses. We actually had one coming up next weekend, with everything going on I hope we still get to go.
"Kat honey y'alls Mamma and I need to talk to you let's head back to the house. Jason and Jazz y'all come on too I am sure Mamma has breakfast cooked by now." Pa hollered from the front of the barn. We were all in a stall feeding a horse so we finished up and followed him back to the house. The twins went into the kitchen and ate while Mamma and Pa took me into the living room to talk.
"Honey the social worker called today. She said that they contacted your closet living relative." Mamma started talking as she put a hand on my shoulder.
"I don't have any family my Mom said they were all dead." I looked at them in shock.
"Kat you have seven older brothers, the oldest is going to gain custody over you baby." Pa didn't look away from me as he spoke in a soft tone.
"But I thought you two were going to keep me." I felt the tears build up in my eyes as I tried to hold them back.
"Honey we want to so bad, however he wants custody too and since he is family he trumps us. He can't be all that bad he has custody of some of your other brothers." Mamma pulled me in so I was leaning on her chest and she was running her fingers through my hair.
"B-b-but but what about y'all? Will I ever see y'all again?" The tears finally broke through and I felt the hot wet drops roll down my cheeks.
"We will talk with him. We are not going anywhere, baby girl. You are as much ours as the twins. We will always be here for you and we'll make sure we get to see you." Pa leaned over from the coffee table he was sitting on and wiped my tears away.
"O-o-okay." I nod sitting up tall trying to look strong. "When will I leave?"
"Him and I think another one of your brothers is going to fly out tonight that's all we know," Pa said and I nodded wondering about these seven brothers that I never knew. "Are you okay?" I nod and he gives me a sympathetic.
"Well, let's get some food in the two of you before y'all go and attend to the cattle," Mamma said standing up as we both followed and we all walked into the kitchen.
The rest of the day went well just working on the farm and keeping busy. At times much to my dismay my mind would wander. I couldn't believe I had brothers much less seven of them. That was crazy I wonder what they are like. Are they nice? I hope they are nice. I wonder how old all of them are? I know they are older but I hope there was at least one around my age. It was like the day passed by so fast and sure enough, Pa and I were heading to the airport to meet two of my brothers.
We stood in the waiting area with the rest of the waiting families as I nervously swayed back and forward. Mamma had given us a sign that she made that said my last name "Kensington" across it. A group of people flooded into the room and it wasn't long before two tall men started walking toward us. Both men were in business suits and stood about six-foot-five-ish. One had black slightly shaggy hair with a little bit of a mess to it and bright crystal blue eyes just like my mom's. He had a slight breed and mustache on his face not much a five o'clock shadow but it didn't look like he had been growing it for too long. The other guy had black hair that was short on the sides and long on the top that was neatly slicked back with gel and brown eyes like mine. He had tattoos peeking out of his shirt growing up his neck all around. He was clean shaved and both guys carried an aura around them of control and dominance. It was a little frightening, to be honest.
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...
"Hello, you must be Mr. Smith." The one with facial hair said. He reached out a hand and shock Pa's hand. "My name is Bentley and this is my younger brother Bruce. Thank you for all that you have done to help my sister and in taking her in."
Pa smiled shaking his hand then Bruce's, "Of course, Kat has been like a daughter to me since she was little. My wife and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Bentley nodded his head and turned to me. "Hello, you must be Katherine. God, you have gotten so big, the last time we saw you, you were two years old. I am your oldest brother and Bruce here is your third oldest brother." He squatted down to get eye level with me.
"Um, it's nice to meet you too. You can just call me Kat." I gulped looking from Bentley to Bruce. Damn, they were huge.
"Okay, you three let's get on the road we have a bit of a drive home." Pa smiled picking up one of the guy's bags.
"We have a hotel that we booked and a car we just need to pick up the car." Bentley smiled grabbing a bag and Bruce did the same.
"No way you will be staying with us the wife wouldn't have it any other way. Trust me you don't want that woman to come and hunt you down. Cancel your hotel we will go get your rental car and you can follow us back to the house. We have plenty of room, plus it is a more comfortable place for Kat to get to know you till after the funeral." Pa said leading them to the end of the airport where you could get your rental car.
My brothers looked at one another like they were having a silent conversation when Bentley looked back at us "Okay thank you, sir, however, I want Kat to ride back with us."
I wanted to protest but Pa spoke before I could. "Of course, you are her guardian now. I will respect what you want." I sighed as they all seemed to just decide for me. I wasn't a kid anymore I was twelve now and I have been taking care of myself for a long time.
They got their rental car and it ended up being a brand new mustang. The boys put their bags in the trunk and Bruce throw his suit jacket in there too. His white button-up hugged his muscle arms dang he was ripped. I defiantly wouldn't want to get into a fight with him. I climbed into the back seat as Bentley climbed into the driver's and Bruce into the passenger seat. Bentley was fast to hock up, his phone to blue tooth and we were off fallowing Pa back home.
On the drive home, there was an awkward silence until Bentley's phone started to ring. "Hey, Sam what's up?"
"Reuben wanted me to ask if you and Bruce made it alright?" A male voice came over the phone.
"Yo SAM come on bro it's time to go!" There was a yell on the other end and some mumble voices of guys.
"Yeah, Sammy we made it fine we are on the way to the place we are going to stay at," Bruce replied.
"That's good I just-" the guy I am assuming was Sam got cut off by another.
"Man! WHAT THE FUCK! Don't do that!!"
"Wes! Don't hit Jere!" I heard Sam yell and then I saw both Bentley and Bruce go stiff.
"Sampson." Bentley's voice rang through the car in a stern tone that made me jump.
"Yes sir?" Sam answered I swear I could hear the fear.
"Put me on speaker!" I felt the chills go down my back as he spoke through his teeth.
"You're on speaker Ben," Sam replied.
"Weston Lee and Jeremiah Peter I am going to say this once and only once. I don't ever want to hear you all cussing like that. I also hope I hear wrong when I heard your brother say you all were putting your hands on each other. Now you two are going to stop whatever your doing right now. Sampson will be telling Logan or Reuben whenever they get back around you. Straighten up or you're not going to be happy when I get home understand?" Bentley's voice was hard and stern and made me not want to mess with him.
"Yes sir." I heard two boys say in unison.
"Sam where is Logan or Rueben?" Bentley asked.
"Rueben is in the gym and I think Logan is in his room. We came to the game."
"Well, as soon as you see one of them I expect you to tell them what happened and I will check up later so you better do it."
"Yes, sir I understand."
"Now you all behave I've got to go. I love you guys."
"Love you too." I heard three boys say and they hung up the phone.
"Those boys will be the death of me one day," Ben said and Bruce just laughed.
"So Kat tell us about you." Bruce looked back at me and smiled. Honestly, I was shocked he could actually do that they both looked so intimidating.
"Um, nothing to really know." I sighed.
"Sure there is. What do you like? Favorite food, subject, color? Do you play a sport? Things like that." Ben said looking at me through the rear view mirror.
"Um okay my favorite food is Italian, the subject is science, the color is blue. I compete in horseback riding, cheerleading, and play softball." I said it fast trying to get it over with.
"Softball huh? We all played baseball in high school. Sam, Jere, and Wes play it now, we are hoping Sam will get a full ride for baseball this year."
"So you all live together?"
"Yes all seven of us, well with you it will be eight," Ben said.
"Must be a tight fit in the house." I kind of huffed not looking forward to being crammed into a house with seven boys.
"Actually our house is very big, there is plenty of room, you won't even notice that there are so many people in it." Bruce turned around and smiled.
"Doubt that," I mumbled as we pulled onto the farm. Making all the tension from my body leave. I was home we just had to get up the driveway.
As soon as the car was in park I jumped out and went to head inside but I felt a hand land on my bicep. I turned around to see Pa's hazel eyes glaring down at me. "Young lady I know good darn well that you have better manners than that." He then pointed to my brothers "Go over there and help them. Get them to their rooms and make sure they don't need anything." He said in a stern voice leaving no room for an argument.
I nodded and he let go of my arm. I walked back over to my brothers "Can I carry anything for you?"
"I think we got it, thank you though Kat." Ben smiled down at me.
"Okay well follow me and I will take you to your room. Momma and the twins are at the store and should be back soon, you can meet them when they get back." I said as I slowly walked up the porch and into the house as the two men followed behind me. I walked them through the house. "One of you can stay in the guest room which is right here. The other one will stay in my room which is upstairs and to the left."
"You have a room here?" Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"Yup this has been more of my home than where I actually lived."
"Where are you going to sleep?"
"With Jazz most of the time, we end up in the same room anyways." I shrug as Bruce and I walk up the stairs and to my room. My room was painted in a baby blue color with photos of the twins and me all over plus some other friends. My bedding was blue with my monogram on it (KKE). "Sorry, it's girly."
He chuckled "Well I am used to leaving with all guys however I think I can live for a few days."
I gave him a sheepish smile. "Well I will leave you to settle in, I should start my chores." He raised an eyebrow but before he could say anything I walked out and downstairs heading to Pa and Momma's room. "Pa?"
"Come in sweetie." His voice boomed past the door. I opened it to see him sitting on the bed texting. "Get the boys settled in?"
"Yes, sir Ben is in the guest room and Bruce is in mine."
"Good your Momma said she had another errand to run."
"It's getting late the horses need to be fed do you want me to go do it?"
"Yes, we should go do that. So much has gone on I think my brain has disappeared." He gave me a sheepish smile. "Let's go, I will help you." He got up and put his boots back on. We then both headed to the barn to feed the horses. "Don't forget Midnight needs the powder in her food."
"Already in there Pa," I said putting the bucket into the stall and then going to muck her stall. We took care of the rest of the horses and then headed back to the house. We were just messing around and joking when we walked into the back door of the house which lead into the kitchen. I saw Momma, the twins, and my brothers all staring at us. I froze but Pa keep laughing as he walked over to Momma and kissed her head.
"Hello, Love." He smiled keeping his arm around her waist. "Did you get everything sorted out?"
"Sure did, I was just telling Bruce and Ben the plan." She gave me a sheepish smile. "The visitation will be on Wednesday and the funeral is on Thursday."
I shrugged my shoulders "Okay thanks, Momma."
"Oh, that means we can still go Friday." Jaz gave me a sheepish smile.
"Honey I don't know if we are going. With everything happening and Kat will be leaving....." Pa started to say and both Jaz and I stared at him as if he was crazy.
"NO, we already paid the entry fee!" I whined but decided to stop when I saw Pa's and my two brothers glare.
"Katherine Elizabeth you know I don't do whining. I know we already paid the entry fee however that was before everything happened things change sweetie I am sorry."
"Entry fee for what?" Bruce finally butted in.
"The rodeo," Jason answered.
"Rodeo?" Ben raised an eyebrow and looked over at us.
"Yeah, we compete in horse shows and rodeos. Next weekend is a Rodeo and we were all three suppose to compete. Can we still go?" I looked at Ben giving him the best puppy dog eyes I could.
"I don't know Kat give me a little bit to think about it." He said looking over at Bruce who just shrugged his shoulders.
I nodded and left it at that, if I asked more it might annoy them and cause them to just say no. Momma made dinner and we all sat down to eat.