The next day Reba awoke to voices outside the door to her stateroom.

She glanced over at the clock, 9:18am. She laid back down and sighed happily, thankful for the day off from touring. Last nights show had been another success. The auditorium was filled, tickets had sold out almost instantly. The new song that she had been rehearsing got a standing ovation from the crowd, setting a large smile on her face as she and the band took a bow. Halfway through the show she looked out into the audience and saw posters and banners with her name on them, she had to even compose herself before singing because the effort that those people had made to come to the concert and show their love for her in such a way made her choke up a little. Again reminding herself to thank God for letting her be in such a privileged position.

After lunch Reba and Narvel were walking back towards the theatre about an hour before the show started. Reba had been very quiet the entire walk and Narvel was wondering if he had said something wrong back at the diner. Suddenly she turned to him, grabbing his arm and stopping them in their tracks.

"I just got an idea!" She exclaimed

"Do I like where this is goin'?"

Reba playfully hit him on the shoulder

"Number 9!"

Narvel just stared blankly at her, waiting for her to continue

"Red you feelin' okay?"

"Number 9 Narvel! How's about we put it in the show tonight?!"

"Tonight? ummm..."

"Come on, think about it, it's a great way to introduce the new song and Charlie ain't here so he can't say no. If we try it tonight and it works, then he'll have to agree to that idea! We can do this for all your ideas! When he's not here, we'll do a new idea each show, then if we think the audience likes it then we keep it, if they don't we forget about that one and try a new one"

Narvel looked at the ground and then back up to Reba's excited face. Her eyes were bigger than a kids on Christmas morning.
She sure was up for anything. Didn't care if it failed or not, always wanting to try new things. Another reason as to why he was beginning to like her just that little bit more.

"Reba, I'm not sure. It sounds like a great idea but...lying to Charlie? What if he found out what we were doin? I'd be fired for sure. I'm up for anything red but I'm not sure laying my job on the line for some dumb ideas is worth it"

Reba's face slowly fell as he spoke.

"Dumb? Narvel how many times do I have to tell you, these ideas are really great. Heck if I thought Charlie wasn't coming back I'd put 'em in the show now and keep 'em there. Please? Please? Just one little idea tonight and then we'll sort something out tomorrow".

"Charlie's not gonna find out?"

"I promise" she held up three fingers on her right hand.

Narvel nodded his head, Reba laughed in delight as they walked to the stage door of the theatre, just before walking in Reba stopped herself and turned quickly to Narvel.

"You do realise I was never a Girl Scout right?" she winked and fled through the door and ran down the hallway.

"RED!"

Reba smiled at the memory as Narvel chased her down the hall and made her promise again, this time she used her pinky.

"I never break a pinky promise Blackstock, remember that"

A knock at the door broke Reba from her thoughts. She sighed again, getting out of bed and putting on her robe, she slowly made her way to the door and opened it forcefully.

"Wakey wakey eggs and- oh RebaNeller you look rough. Bad night's sleep?"

Reba screamed and jumped into her brother's arms as he spun her around. When he set her back down they were both grinning from ear to ear.

"What the heck are you doin' here?!" She asked as she slapped Pake's chest.

"Well, I got no rodeoin' to do for about a week so I thought I'd drop by on my superstar kid sister...Where is Susie?" he asked looking around.

"Ha ha". she clocked him upside the head.

"Naw in all seriousness sis, I'm just checkin' in to see if you're doin' okay"

"Well, I'm doin' fine. Just tired I suppose from the show" She smiled at him. "Oh I'm so glad you're here!" she cried as she hugged him again.

"Alright, let me go and get ready, I see you've already met the boys so just go relax and I'll be out in a sec".

"Sure thing RebaNeller"

She glared at him

"Sorry, Miss McEntire" he said as he bowed dramatically.

She threw a pillow at him "Get outta here!" she laughed as he walked backwards out of the room carrying her pillow, still bowed over.

"Boys! Don't you get him in trouble!" she called out to the bus full of men.

She needn't have bothered, for as soon as she closed the door she heard her band members leap up from their respective seats and carry her brother out of the bus where they proceeded to laugh, holler and play-fight in the hot sun.

"Craaaaaaaaaap"