I wake up on Friday and groan. I have to go back to school today. At least it is Friday! Only one day this week.

I roll out of bed and head to the bathroom. My makeup is my normal go to look and my hair I fishtail. I pull on my red hot chilli peppers t-shirt and dark wash blue jeans. My white combat boots and dark grey Cardigan finish the look.

I feel very happy today. I will not let Candy or Travis get to me. What goes around will come around. I will pray for her and will help her when she wants it.

I head down to the kitchen where Laura is scrambling eggs.
"Good morning!" I say to her.
"Hey! Want some eggs?" She asks.
"Sure, I could use some protein." I laugh and Laura smiles.
"Glad you are feeling better. Me and your dad are going to get a crib after school, do you want to come?" She asks.
"Yeah! I think a gold crib would look great." I exclaim.
"Well we will see what Ikea has."
"Alright. Thanks." I tell her as she gives me a bowl of eggs.

When I have finished my breakfast I head to the front door as dad comes down the front step.
"Hi and Bye!" I laugh as pull on my coat.
"Love you and have a good day!"
"You too." I smile and give him a big hug before I head out.

The walk to school is where I have began to pray. I just thank God for everything and ask for a few things. I really feel like he listens. Mrs. Jax lesson from a few weeks ago has stuck. I really feel more free when I pray. Anywho my life has really gotten better since I started this prayer thing. It does pay off.

When I walk into school a few people smile at me and I smile back. Now that I am not so new people are actually nice. I see Kade and Lexi at my locker and grin as I get to them.
"Hey you all! I really feel better." I say as Lexi nods. Kade just looks at me.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Kara will you go to winter formal with me?" He asks very seriously.
"Um yes. Why are you asking so soon?" I question him.
"So we can go dress shopping together." Lexi pipes up with a big smile.
"Then yes!" I respond and Kade laughs.

Just then Travis and Candy walk by, Travis smirks and pulls Candy close. I give them a nod and turn back to Kade.
"Well lets get to class." I say and grab his hand. Lexi heads in the opposite direction and Kade drops me off at my first before heading to his.
* * * *
Man missing school is no joke. I have so much missing work. Tonight will I will be playing catch up. But first I am going shopping for paint and a crib with dad and Laura. Mr. Mathews gave me the night off for this purpose.

"Laura. Dad. Where are you?" I call out in the door of the kitchen.
"We are in the guest room!" Laura calls.
"Coming!" I yell and rush up the steps. This is so exciting. Laura may not be the most pleasant person when she is pregnant but I am excited to be a big sibling.

When I get into the room I see that the bed has been taken apart and the walls are bare.
"We want to to Navy and Green." Laura is telling dad when I get in the room.
"Bronze or gold would be a great accent color." I pipe up from the door.
"Oh hey there." Dad says turning to me and smiling.
"How was your day?" Laura asks.
"It was fine. I have a ton of homework so lets get this done."
"Alright." Dad quips and we head to the kitchen.
* * * *
Ikea is a while away so I listen to my music which I haven't listened to in a while. I really miss it. My stress and pains all go away. Music really posseses healing power.

"KARA!" I am shaken from my daze as dad shouts in my face.
"Huh?" I slur.
"Are you okay?" Dad asks me.
"Sorry got pulled into the song." I mutter embarrassed.
"What were you listening to?" He asks me.
"Slaves."
"Weird name for a band." Laura says from behind dad.
"They are really good." I say unbuckling and hopping out.

Dad and laura disapprove of my music choice but it really does help me. Even now I feel lighter. As we head in Laura shows me inspo pics on what she likes. It really is a typical nursery for a boy. We need to spice it up with some edge. My little brother is going to be edgy and cute. I really can't wait.

By the end of the walk which is endless around Ikea we have the perfect crib. It is exactly what I wanted. Now to Home Depot to get the paint. The crib is a gold, metal, and on wheels.

It really is a good and versatile crib. Laura decided to go with green for the walls and some blue accents. This baby might be the most spoiled baby.
* * * *
I collapse into bed at 1 am on Saturday. All of my catch up work is done and I have to get up for work in 5 hours so lets get the shut eye we need.

'Er Er Er' my alarm blares. Dad will drop me off at the ranch in 20 minutes. I quickly put on my normal makeup look. I pull on my guns and roses tee with my black jeans with the whole in the knee and my black converse high tops.

My hair is in a messy ponytail and an apple is in my hand as dad comes into the kitchen.
"Good morning." He yawns and I hand him his coffee. Mine is being brewed. We are religious coffee drinkers in my house hold.
"Thanks." I mumble in a stupor.
"How late were you up?" Dad asks me.
"One. I had so much catch up work." I groan.
"Well tonight you need to go to bad a bit early or on time." He says authoritatively.
"Alright." I say and we head out the door.

Twenty minutes later I am walking into the Kitchen at Kades. Anita is scrambling eggs and frying bacon.
"Buenos dias." She chirps.
"Buenos dias a ti tambien." I say back and grab the finished plates.
"Where do these go?"
"To Mr. Mathews and the foreman."
"Alright off I go."

I deliver the plates and am back for the second round as Kade comes in.
"Good morning." I smile happy to see him again.
"Good morning do you know what you are doing today?" He asks.
"No. I'll have to ask."

"You want to have a Picnic later for lunch? Maybe go out on a horse?"
"Yes! I've never really ridden a horse though."
"That is why we will ride together." He smiles and I blush at the thought.

It turns out my job was to review the books and add some accounts. I am learning there is a lot more than just cowboys and horses to a ranch. There is a lot of money involved.

Through alternating stretch and snack breaks I update the books for the last three months and then head down to see what is for lunch. There are Salami sandwiches but Anita made me a pasta salad with yellow tomatoes and kale. I pack a sandwich for Kade and my Salad with some water and cookies from the cookie jar into a small basket Anita keeps for eggs.

Kade comes looking for me around 1 and we head to the barn. The smell of horses is strong and yet comforting.
"So we have a horse named Beast. He is our biggest." Kade tells me.
"Is he gentle?"
"He is a teddy bear."
"Well lets get on this giant and mighty steed!" I giggle.

One of the cowboys leads out a huge black and white horse. He is twice my height and Kade barely reaches his head.
"You were right he is huge!" I whisper in aww.
"He really is a beaut." Kade simply says and takes the reins.
"Are you coming?"

I only nod and step forward. Kade hands me up and hands me the reins. We ride at a slow walk for a short while. When we come to a small spring that lays at the foot of a small hill and it is surrounded by a bunch of Oaks and Ash trees.
"This place is beautiful." I comment as Kade dismounts. I hand him the basket and I slide to the ground. Beast heads to the spring to drink. I pull out the food and Kade smiles.
"Anitas salami sandwiches are the best."
"Well I don't eat meat so my pasta salad is what I got." I say and look at it.

We sit and talk under the trees for almost an hour. The pasta was great. I am tracing the muscles of his arm when his phone pings with a message.
"We have to go back. This afternoon you are helping dad keep track of the breed heifers. They are doing ultrasounds today." He tells me.
"Oooh this should be fun!" I say and mean it. I live animals and seeing the babies will be fun.

We get back around 2 and head strait for a shed in the back. Cows are lowing and pushing against the fences. Men are on horses are separating females from the males.
"Wow this is very busy!" I gasp.
"Yep this is ranch life!" Kade says and I laugh. He is so nonchalant about it.

"Kara get over here and help me!" Mr. Mathews yells.
"Coming sir!" I tell over the lowing if cattle and yips of the men.

When I get to him, Mr. Mathews has a heifer by the horns and is holding a clip board. I take the clip board and he yells,
"She is definitely pregnant."
"Got that." I confirm and he lets her go into a pen with a red tag in her ear.

For over an hour we sort through the cattle and come up with over 200 pregnant heifers. It is hard work for the men and my admiration for Kade and his Father just keeps growing. But knowing what these babies are destined for kind of dampens the happiness of my mood. I could not do this job without crying every other week.

Dad is waiting for me when we come out of the Barn at 3.
"You smell!" Dad smiles.
"Well you try being in a barn for 2 hours." I retort.
"You ready to go home?" He asks.
"Yeah let me go get my stuff."

I head to the kitchen to get my stuff and tell Kade good bye. Anita greets me with a smile and a glass of water.
"Here you go for the road."
"Thanks!" I say taking it and grab my bag as Kade comes in.
"You leaving?"
"Yeah dad is here, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Alright bye." He says and kisses my cheek as Anita smiles at the stove.
"Bye. Love you." I whisper and lightly hug him.

I head out to the car to find dad talking to Mr. Mathews.
"See you tomorrow, sir." I say and jump in the truck.
"See you Kara, you did good today."
"Thank you, it was a pleasure."
"Alright missy lets get home to mama." Dad says as he hops in the drivers seat.
* * * *
On sunday I wake to the sound of music in the kitchen. Laura must be in a good mood today. I stretch and head to the shower. Today we are going to lunch with Kade and his dad.

Once I am out of the shower I do my makeup in a pinkish eye shadow with some more contouring than usual. My hair I curl my hair and let it hang. I pull on the last of the new clothes Laura got me a couple of months ago. It is a midi length grey and peach pencil skirt. I pull on the black cotton cardigan that is supposed to go with it. Finally my black sandals because it is not that cold out yet.

When I get to the kitchen Laura smiles and dad hands me coffee. I smile in thanks and grab a protein bar. For some reason I am hungry.
"Woah Breakfast for Kara!" Dad gasps in mock surprise.
"I don't know why but I feel hungry." I say and he smiles.
"It's okay. It's normal."

I laugh at this and Laura turns from the stove.
"Your makeup today is very pretty!"
"Thanks. I think last time my makeup was a bit too standoutish." I say.
"It was good, don't get me wrong but maybe not for church." She says.
"I completely agree. That day I was feeling really good and wanted to do my makeup really nice."
"Well you look good today too. It is better than that grey you wear all the time!" She laughs.
"Hey!! Grey is a neutral!" I shout gasp and laugh. I just prefer more darker neutrals.

Once dad and Laura have ate we get in the car and head to church. I am strolling through instagram, catching up on Candy and Lacie. Lacie has some great pics and Candy's is full of pictures of her and Travis or with a gang of rough looking men. I am really worried for her.

The whole ride to church Dad and Laura jam out to Toby Mac and I've got to admit I was kinda a Back Seat Driver! I really like his music.
* * * *
In Sunday School we have a new teacher. His name is Mike and he teaches really good. He taught on the principles we need to follow to be examples for the Lord. Kade is really quiet. When class is over I turn to him and ask
"What is wrong?"
"I got into a fight with my dad. He wants me to go to a big college but I want to stay here."
"Maybe it is for the best. Maybe you could get into a college that specializes in business and be close to me in New York. Let's do some research to see if there are any options." I suggest and he nods.
"It would be great if we could be together during college."
"Yeah so just don't make it not an option. Let's look some up over lunch."

Hey you all! This is most likely my longest chapter in a long time. I wanted to put a lot in this chapter. It isn't even the best but it seems that I really put a lot into this chapter.
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Fayespen and check out her awesome book!
--TBJ2004