The new album had broadened Reba's audience, and captured so many new fans. Everything was working to plan and the redheads career was now soaring to new heights.
One night on tour Narvel had been alerted that there was a young girl trying to break into the backstage area asking to talk to either him or Reba urgently. Generally he would just tell them to deal with it, but all the extra baby making he and Reba were doing had put him in a great mood. He had completed all the checks he needed to, and Reba was in her dressing room playing a game of backgammon with her new tour manager Carolyn. He knew she wasn't coming out of there anytime soon, especially when Carolyn was unfortunately dying a sad death.
"Ask the young lady if there is anything in particular she would like to talk to us about. Or is she just a new fan?" "We have Sir, and all she said was that it was a private matter, but that it was very urgent. She doesn't seem like a normal fan. She's very quiet" "Have her checked, and hold her a moment. I'll be there soon." "Yes Boss!"
Narvel extended his hand out to the young lady who looked as if she were no more than 13 or 14 years old. "Hello ma'am, I'm Narvel Blackstock. How may I help you?" "Hello Sir, I'm Kylie." She shook his hand strongly. "I'm so sorry for causing a scene, I really just urgently need to speak to you and Reba in private." "Oh sure, what about?" "Well it's about my father Charlie." "Your Charlie's daughter? Why didn't you contact us through him? It would have been much easier that's for sure." Navel guided her through the backstage set-up looking in rooms hoping to find an empty one. "Well I would have, only he doesn't know I'm contacting you, and I would rather he didn't because not only would I be in so much trouble, but because it just wouldn't work." He walked into a room that would generally house all the bands wardrobe. It was almost big enough to hold a conference in. "Okay, I hope this doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, but Reba won't be able to see you before the show because she is currently in hair and makeup, well… That and she's also playing an intense game of backgammon, and I won't dare interrupt. I just think it would be best if we discussed things after the show anyway, when you have our full attention." "She an intense player?" "Like you wouldn't believe. Interrupting her on a winning streak is like ordering a Meet & Greet with Jesus. When I walked by to come and see you, she was winning." "Oh, let's not do that then. It's ok, I understand she has to work, and I'm patient. I did come at an inconvenient time after all." "Thank you for understanding. Now would you like a drink or anything to eat?" "Umm no thank you, I'm fine." "Are you sure? We can walk by catering and pick you something up, or I could get someone to bring you something." "I am a little hungry, but I don't want to be more of a bother than I already am." "Tell ya what, we can walk by catering and then you can chose something."
"Now what would you like to do? I can find you somewhere comfy backstage to hang out while you wait for the show to finish, or I can find you a good seat and you can watch the show, or you can just follow me around and come to the sound booth to watch from there. It's up to you." "May I please come with you? I'm not really used to big crowds." "Of course! I have to do last minute checks on everything before the show so we will be walking around the place a lot to start with. Also we have meet & greet, and I like to show up to that for a few minutes just to check on things." He got up and started for the door. "What's a meet & greet?" "It's a time before the show that fans who have got special meet & greet passes get to meet Reba, have their picture taken, and spend a couple of minutes." "Oh my goodness. I want a meet & greet with Dolly Parton." "Me too." "Haven't you already met her?" "Yes, but she is so lovely and so talented you just can't get enough of her." She giggled at his response following closely behind.
Narvel and Kylie sat down and had something to eat while Narvel asked one of the crew to pick up a backstage pass for her. "Now this is your pass. Do you have a cell phone?" "No Sir." "You can call me Narvel. Okay I'm going to write please return me to Narvel on the back and sign it. If for some reason you or I get separated show this pass to one of the crew and ask them to get in contact with me." "Got it! This is more than I ever hoped for. I feel so special. Thank you." "You are most welcome. So who do you life with? Your mother?" "No I live with Charlie. My mother died a little while back and I had no-one so I had to move in with him. We didn't even know each other existed before then." "I'm so sorry. That must have been a real hard change for you." "It was, but I have faith that everything happens for a reason." She put her head down and sneakily wiped a tear from her eye. "So does Charlie know where you are? I mean obviously not. Where does he think you are? How old are you?" "I'm 14. He has no idea. I just ran away. I had to. he wouldn't have ever let me come" "What? He must be worried sick. We have to call him." "No you can't. He will just come and get me, and I still haven't talked to you yet." "It's okay. I will ring him and tell him you are here safe and sound and will be staying with us for at least the night. We have a show in Oklahoma in a couple of days. We will bring you back then." "Are you sure?" "I don't think he will want to put you out like that. He is a good man you know." "I know. And don't worry I will handle it right now. If you were my daughter I would be beside myself wanting to know you were safe." "Thank you."
"Your father said it is fine, he will see you when we get back, and he hopes you brought some clean clothes." She dropped her head staring at the floor. "I didn't think that far ahead. I didn't think I would get this far to be completely honest." "It's fine. We will sort something. The girls have tomorrow off, so they will probably want to thrash our credit card in a mall somewhere anyway." She tried to pick herself up and smile again.
Reba was in her dressing room getting ready to leave when Narvel knocked. "Baby you ready?" "Sure am! Let's blow this sucker!" Reba jumped on Narvel locking her legs around his waist and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She was getting ready to kiss him passionately when she suddenly noticed a young lady at his side. She jumped down unwinding her arms and dropped them to her side. Narvel grabbed her waist pulled it close to his and then kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Hun I want you to meet Kylie. She's Charlie's daughter. "My Charlie, Charlie?" "Uh...Yeah?" She opened her arms for a hug. "Well get over here sweetie! What brings you here?" "Well, it's a long story." "We're gonna have a little chat with her after the show if that's okay with you?" "Certainly. Can't wait to get to know you" "And I've put her in the room next to ours." Reba tried not to look confused. She smiled chirpily. "Terrific. Well it's time for me to go on. Come to the wings with us." Reba walked to her spot just off the stage and grabbed Narvel's hands bowing her head habitually. Together they released a hand and took one of Kylie's joining her in the prayer circle. When prayers were done Narvel automatically slipped Reba's in-ear monitors in and kissed her deeply. "Break a leg Honey." "Good Luck!" "Thank you two. See you in a bit."