Tutus & Cowboy Boots (Part 2) Read Online Free PDF

try,” I say as I pour a dab on mine.
We take a seat and wait for Mom and Gran. I wonder what they are
doing and then I hear Gran talking to herself as she’s coming down
the hall.
    “Gran, everything okay?” I ask.
    “Your mama! I don’t know what I’m going to
do with her.”
    “Do I even want to know?” I question.
    “Oh, I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,”
she says and for some reason, I don’t like the sound of that.
    A few minutes later, Mom walks in wearing a
cheesy grin. She makes her plate and takes a seat.
    “So Mom, what’s up?” I ask as I take a bite
of ham. “Oh my gosh! What did someone do to this pig? Soak this in
a tub of salt?”
    “Pretty much,” Barrick states as he takes a
bite of his like it’s the best thing ever.
    “I’m going to blow up like a balloon. What
is this?”
    “Country ham. It’s my favorite,” Gran says
and I shake my head while I turn my attention back to my mom.
    “Mom?” I say, waiting for an answer.
    “I’ve got a date tonight.”
    “Huh?” My mom has a date? How did this happen? “With whom?” I ask, unable to eat another bite.
    “Hamilton Parks.”
    Why do I know that name? Then it hits me,
The Loft. “The man from The Loft?” A smile escapes Mom’s lips.
“When did this happen? Oh wait, I don’t want to know.” Barrick
giggles and I elbow him in the side.
    “It’s just a date, Cadence. It’s not like
I’m going to get married again,” she says as she looks at Gran to
compliment her on the greens. I guess I better get that bite over
with as well.
    They look like blades of
grass that have been soaking in a pool. I stab them with my fork
and as I place them in my mouth, the tartness of the vinegar
overpowers the greens and I swallow quickly. Yuck! Glad I only have to eat those
today.
    As I finish eating, Barrick looks at me, and
then my mom. “Regina, would it be okay if Cadence and I went to the
movies tonight?” he questions.
    “I think that would be fine. You know
break’s almost over Cadence, and you know what that means.”
    A smile spreads across my face. “It’s crunch
time at dance.”
    “Oh believe me, I know,” Barrick says,
shaking his head.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Hello, have you met my sister? She’s a
nightmare to live with during this time of the year. She has been
since she started competing. I probably won’t see you now until the
summer,” he says with a laugh, but it kind of hurts my feelings. I
don’t want to see him this summer; I want to see him from now until
then.
    He must recognize my expression. “I’m just
kidding, well kinda. I’ll still be around here, but Ms. Lyndsay is
no joke. You’ll be lucky if you get a break at Easter.”
    Suddenly, I realize how my life has changed
in twenty-four hours. I wanted out of here and away from these
people. And now I want to spend every moment I can with Barrick. I
know I need to focus on dance but I also need to figure out what
I’m doing next year. Barrick definitely complicates things. And now
my mom is dating and Dad’s moving to Sweden. There’s just so much
to think about.
    “Cade, are you okay?” Barrick asks, bringing
me out of my thoughts.
    “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    “Are you sure, Cadence?” Mom asks.
    “Yes, I was just thinking about what movie
we should go see.”
    “Okay, well I’m going out to the barn to
finish up for the day,” Barrick says as he excuses himself from the
table.
    Barrick
    I excuse myself to finish
my chores but Cadence stays inside to talk to her mom. I’m not sure
she’s ready for her mom to date, but I know there’s something else
on her mind. She used the word fine, for crying out loud.
    I can’t shake the bad
feeling as I work, and then suddenly I hear music. She’s dancing. I glance
out of the barn, and see her near the fence line. Doesn’t she know it’s freezing out here? I quickly finish the chores, and then watch her
from the barn. Her music is deep. The beat is strong, but