Rodeo Hearts

Chapter 7

As one day starts another one ends. Everyday there's a fifty-fifty chance this day will be better than the one before or even the one after. After the great day I had yesterday I hope today follows in its steps.

One of the perks of living on a farm is being woken up by the melodious sound of a rooster crowing. I could hear the distinct sound of pots and pans rattling in the kitchen. I tiptoed to the kitchen being careful not to wake anyone up.

Walking to the kitchen I could hear and smell the crisp bacon sizzling in the skillet. Every morning dad gets up at the crack of dawn and makes breakfast. This morning was no exception. The thing that was out of the ordinary was my dad in his "superman" pjs , listening to music on my old pink iPod. The tune he was humming sounded like "Style" by Taylor Swift.

I put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing, but it seems my efforts to go unnoticed were for nothing. He turns around and shrieks like a girl. I double over in laughter and I can't keep myself from snorting. I hear footsteps running through the house and soon my mother bursts onto the scenes.

My father narrows his eyes at me and jerks the headphones from his ears. Mom starts to laugh along with me and the next thing I know flour covers my face. I grab a fistful of it out of a wooden bowl and fling it in his direction. I must have lost my aim, because the flour catches him in the eye.

"MY EYES! YOU'VE BLINDED ME!!!"

He blindly (no pun intended) reaches for the spray nozzle of the sink and points it toward me. As he starts to press the button I duck behind mom. She becomes soaked from head to toe in a matter of seconds.

"Ahhhhh!!!" Mom shrieks and runs from the kitchen.

" Coward!!" Dad yells as she retreats.

Dad and I observe the damage to the kitchen. Flour coats the counter tops, floor, and ourselves. He glares at me.

"Your cleaning this up, dummy." He says.

"Me? You started it dad!" I argued.

"I'm finishing it! Now, both of you clean it up." Mom yelled from somewhere within the house.

"Yes, mam!" we both reply knowing there's no arguing with mom.

We clean up the kitchen within 15 minutes. I go back to my room to change clothes before heading out to the barn. As I walked back through the kitchen I tell dad I'm going to skip breakfast. He didn't seem to keen on that idea. However, I seemed to convince him by taking an apple out of the fruit bowl.

The sun was still an hour or so away from making its appearance. I walked over to the dusty red colored barn and into the feed room. I made sure each horse had their breakfast and fresh water.

Eagle was waiting patiently for her turn. I gave her an extra flake of hay and filled her water tank to the brim. I reach her the apple that was suppose to be my 'breakfast'. She snatched it from the palm of my hand and snorted in delight. Her head bobbed up and down in happiness as she chewed. I giggled at her as apple juice seeped from the corners of her mouth.

"Aurora!" Mom yelled from the front porch.

"Yeah, mom?" I stepped out of the barn and looked to where she was standing.

"Could you exercise Red for a bit?"

"Yeah, I'll ride him up towards the waterfalls."

"Thank you and be careful!" She said as she went back inside.

I walked to the tack room to get my saddle and my other tack. I swung the old wooden door open and a musty odor attacked my senses. Dust stirred from the breeze that was created when I opened the door. Dust particles floated towards me and I quickly fanned them away.