Yes to Everything (9 page)

Without ever performing in concert or doing a single interview, Brooke was already famous.

Then the kids were out of school and her hired ranch hand Randy was established in an apartment over her stables to watch her place. Suddenly they were rolling across the United States none of the Kincaid kids could believe it was really happening at first.

The first show of their tour was in Seattle. The road trip was an amazing experience for all of them. Jeanette and Sidney took tons of pictures and uploaded them to her blog asking fans to ‘wish her luck’. Their tour bus was filled with music and laughter while they played games.

Arriving the day before the concert, the roadies worked nonstop to set up while staying out of the way of the three members of Broken Bronco while they rehearsed. They brought up the audio for the stadium and the brothers watched Brooke acclimate to the different sound.

The first run-through was to teach her. The stage was enormous, the audience closer than she’d thought they would be, the acoustics totally different, and they had a ton of room to use. In her boots and jeans, sporting a retro Farm Aid t-shirt, with a furled baseball cap keeping her long hair back, Logan and Decklan watched her try to learn her environment.

Brooke took off her boots and walked to one side of the stage, causing all their jaws to drop as she did traveling back flips across the front edge. Spiking her landing, she did a couple of spins and pirouettes. Getting a running start, she skated in her socks back to her boots and pulled them on with a smile.

Picking up the microphone, she asked to run through it again.

This time, she seemed more certain of herself. As the music came up, she danced alone and with each of them as they played. When she had her guitar in hand, she was usually back to back with one of the brothers. If she was playing piano, she liked one of them to be somewhat close. They positioned it center stage so they’d still be able to be seen by the entire audience. If she was on fiddle, she moved back and forth along the edge, singing and playing.

By the fourth time they went through the set list, at her request, she was much more at ease. Everyone watching could see her nervousness but she was ready. There were bets on her blowing the crowd away.

Arriving at the venue the night of the concert, Brooke was a wreck. Jeanette assured her several times that she’d keep a close eye on the kids and Jackson told her he’d help and not to worry about them, they’d see her afterward and she was going to be incredible.

Getting out of the limo, there were hundreds of people pushing and shoving, trying to touch her. She was trying to be nice but they were so close. Jeanette was taking the kids to the next entry door so they wouldn’t get freaked out or trampled.

A couple of the roadies and a very pissed off Sidney moved to get her through the crowd. Someone’s camera caught Brooke hard in the cheek and Sidney looked ready to rip the guy’s head off as Brooke shook her head to clear it.

Sidney wasn’t big but her sheer presence of will more than made up for it. Plowing through the mass of people who had easily overwhelmed the two security guards someone had thought would be enough, she held Brooke behind her and slammed through the entrance.

Pulling her further into the thankfully empty hallway, leaving the crowds behind them, Dave and Greg led them to her dressing room while Sidney moved ahead furiously. Greg brought her a bag of ice for her cheek and Sidney said she could cover it but she was not happy about it at all. She made Brooke get dressed and cover her clothes with a robe while she prepped to do her hair and makeup.

When the brothers breezed in to check on her more than an hour later, they were riding high from working the crowd. It took a moment for them to notice she was holding an ice pack to her face. “Hey, what happened, honey?” Sidney told them, barely containing her temper, and the twins’ eyes went wide as they moved closer. “Brooke, are you alright?” She nodded brusquely but said nothing. “How long ago did you get here?”

Brooke turned to them, “I got here at six just like you told me to. Remember? You said you wanted one more rehearsal. I guess you got held up again.” She was pleased to see both of them flinch. “We couldn’t get through. If not for Sidney and the guys…” Closing her eyes with a sigh, she said quietly, “Just forget it.”

Decklan crouched in front of her, stroking his knuckles lightly over her bruised cheek. “I’m sorry, Brooke. We won’t be late anymore. From now on, you’ll come in with us. That way we can help keep the fans off you. Alright?” She gave a small nod and turned back to Sidney, who patted a moist powder over the purplish mark.

She wasn’t speaking to them and they couldn’t blame her. Brooke looked sad and worse, she looked disappointed in them. “Forgive us, Brooke. We wouldn’t leave you vulnerable on purpose. We’ll make it up to you, honey. Don’t be mad.”

“There were so many people, so many, all pushing and shoving. Greg and Dave watched my sides and my back, they’re huge so they just blocked me. Sidney, as tiny and pretty as she is, bulldozed her way through to the doors. I’ve never seen anything like it. Thank you so much, so much, Sidney.”

The smaller woman leaned forward and gave her a light kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry you were scared, Brooke. I’m scrappy and I’ve always got your back. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. If I’d had to tell the kids…” Sidney swallowed hard and they saw tears in her eyes, “I couldn’t face those kids if anything happened to you.” She blinked and shook her head. “Enough of this, I’m not starting over with your makeup. Get happy, chica.” A bottle of water and two Tylenol lessened the throbbing in her cheek and Sidney managed to cover it completely.

When her hair and makeup was done, Brooke stood and took off her robe and the men inwardly groaned at how good she looked in heeled boots, low hung designer jeans that clung to her every curve, and a snug leather vest over a little tank top.

There was a gap of bare skin between the denim and the leather that was smooth, tight, and tan. Looking at one another, there was no doubt both brothers’ mouths were watering.

Brooke got sick but felt better once she brushed her teeth and drank another bottle of water. Putting her cowboy hat over her flowing blond hair, they led her to the stage. Logan wore a button down dress shirt and Decklan wore a Toby Keith concert shirt, both of them in boots, jeans, and cowboy hats.

The equipment manager handed them their guitars and Brooke her fiddle and watched as all of them were plugged in. Attaching her headset and microphone, the battery pack was secured to the back of her jeans.

The crowd was already warmed up with the new band Travis had found to open for them, One Man’s Dream. As they exited the stage, the lead singer, Kyle, kissed Brooke and wished her luck. “You look seriously smokin’ hot, honey. You’re gonna be famous so you go out there and knock ‘em dead. Hang with us after the show, Brooke.”

Her smile was careful then he was gone and the brothers were trying not to get pissed. Looking at one another over Brooke’s head, they accepted what hypocrites they were.

As their drummer set the beat, Brooke started strumming the opening notes to their song about being on the road. Decklan led out with Brooke then Logan behind him. The crowd went insane as they realized Brooke was playing and the brothers came in on guitar. They played and sang two songs before speaking to the crowd. Logan asked them to welcome Brooke and it felt like the stadium was going to collapse from the stomping and screaming.

She waved and spoke to the crowd at the twins’ urging, “Thank y’all for being so great. We’re gonna do what you came here for. Hope you like it.” Then she spun off on the fiddle, the Bradshaw brothers right there with her.

By the fourth song, she was dancing across the stage. By the fifth song she was covered with a sheen of sweat and whipped off her hat between songs, yanking her hair up in a sloppy bun that looked professionally coifed and gorgeous on her. “It gets hot up here, y’all. Don’t know how girls keep lookin’ so put together. I’m just a girl from the country. I sweat so this is what you’re gonna get.” They screamed and shouted for her and the brothers glanced at the screens showing the stage. She looked fucking amazing.

She insisted on the brothers doing most of the talking. Switching to mandolin for two songs, she kept her back against Decklan’s during his electric guitar solo and he bent for her to kiss his cheek when he was done. She gave him a wet smack and they sang in each other’s face during the chorus.

Sitting at the piano, she led them through a pretty love song about an elderly couple wondering what they’d done with their lives. It was a dedication to her parents, had they lived to see their kids grow up and been able to grow old together. One of her songs included on the album. Logan sat on a stool beside her and Decklan played behind her, leaning down to kiss her temple.

She sang it beautifully, the men coming in on chorus as she did for a couple of their songs. When she hit and held the last long note, Logan watched a tear track down her cheek and she wiped it away as the crowd went crazy.

They sang a fun song to close then came back out for an encore and did Devil Went Down to Georgia to the thrill of the audience. Logan sang, Brooke played the hell out of the fiddle, and Decklan rocked his guitar solo.

The techs ran out to get their instruments and the three of them linked their arms around one another, bowing to the crowd. They were leaving the stage when Brooke saw a little girl on her daddy’s shoulders who was waving at her madly. Shielding her eyes from the lights, she went back out and asked the security people to allow the family through. The girl reminded her of Becca.

“Hi there, honey…what’s your name?” Brooke asked as she sat down on the edge of the stage, her feet dangling off the side, and held her hands out to the father who handed a country star his child in a daze.

“I’m Stephanie. I’m five and I want to be a singer, too, Miss Brooke. I’m gonna be just like you when I grow up. You’re my favorite singer cuz you wrote that song about your sisters and I can sing it all the way through.”

It was impossible not to grin at her enthusiasm. She didn’t even look nervous. “Well, Stephanie, I hope you learn an instrument like guitar or piano because it helps you feel the music. You seem like a very happy and outgoing little girl. Make sure you do very well in school once you start. You want to be really smart so you can do all the boring business stuff you have to do that no one tells you about.”

The little girl was nodding happily, her red pigtails bobbing. “I’m in preschool, I start Kindergarten this year! I’m so ‘cited! You sure are pretty up close. Mama says most people aren’t really pretty in person but you sure are.”

“Thank you honey, you’re so pretty, too. It was sure nice to meet you, Stephanie.” Looking at the parents, she asked, “Do you have a marker? I’ll sign something for you, if you want.” Nodding, they handed her a small pink cowboy hat that had to belong to the little girl.

Brooke signed the brim and took her card from her back pocket and put it under the band. “Stephanie, when you get done with school, you show me you made real good grades and stuck it out. Then have your parents contact me. If you still want to be a singer, I bet I can help you.”

Handing the hat to her stunned parents, she smiled as the mom realized her email information and business manager phone was listed. “I have to go now, honey. Thank you so much for coming to my very first show ever. I was really nervous, did you notice?”

Shaking her head sent her hair flying and she said seriously, “You were perfect and so, so pretty.” Stephanie leaned over and kissed her, Brooke hugged her before handing her back down to her father.

“I’ll follow everything you ever do, Brooke,” her mother said. “You’re an inspiration. Thank you so much.”

Nodding she jumped to her feet. She blew Stephanie a kiss and waved at the crowds watching her in wonder. When she got backstage, one of the techs handed her water and disconnected her mic. They were showering her with congratulations. Their opinion, as veterans, meant more to her than they probably realized.

Happy tears in her eyes, she was practically jumping up and down, “Thank y’all so much. I would have been an idiot without your help. I mean it. See y’all in the morning.” Most of the roadies stared after her; a positive attitude like Brooke’s was not common, not to them.

Back in her dressing room, Sidney removed her makeup and brushed out her hair, talking a mile a minute about well it had gone and how proud she was. Suddenly the door crashed open. Jackson and the girls rushed in with Jeanette and all of them fell all over her squealing with happiness and talking over one another.

Travis came in a little while later and hugged her tight. “Brooke, you did better than even I dreamed you would. You get out there and soak up some adoration, honey. You earned it. My god girl, you so earned it.”

“Thank you, Travis. Thank you for everything. I mean it. You can’t know how much I mean it.” Jackson had tears in his eyes so she let Travis go and sat on the couch, Jackson sitting next to her, the girls climbing on their laps.

“I love you guys. Did you have fun? Are you going to get bored seeing the same show, listening to the same songs all the time?” They shook their heads, hugging her and crying. “Thank you for being so supportive, for helping me even when I’m not around as much as I should be. I’ll owe you forever.”

Travis pulled the girls to their feet and helped Brooke up. “Come on, kids. Let’s go cement your big sister’s place in music history. I’m so proud of her but I’m proud of y’all too. She sure loves you and I can see how much you love her. Y’all are lucky to have each other and I bet your parents are beamin’ with pride.” That got a few more tears before Sidney pulled her aside.

She changed into fresh jeans and a t-shirt, pulling her boots back on and a cowboy hat that wasn’t sweaty. “Sidney, I’m sorry to leave you such a mess.” Sidney gave her a hug and told her to stop being silly and she’d see her either in the limo or back at the hotel. Brooke, Jeanette, and Sidney did movie marathons together during their down time after the kids crashed.