Royal Rocker by Chalen D. (phonics readers .txt) 📖

the kitchen.

"Kenna!"

"Hey guys!" I said, hugging them.

"Liam!" Jake said, throwing himself at his big brother.

Liam scooped the eight year old up and held him close.

"Don't worry Liam I've been taking care of everything While you've been gone, Well until Kenna came." Jake said, as Liam put him down.

"You did good." Liam said patting Jakes shoulder.

Jake stood taller and smiled.

He hugged Owen next.

"Don't I get a hug?" Liam asked the girls who where holding onto me.

They looked up at me.

"Go hug your brother." I nodded once.

They let go of my coat, and slowly hugged Liam. Liam hugged his mom. I walked out of the house.

"What are you doing?" Liam asked, matching my brisk walk.

"What do you mean?"

"Kenna! Over here ready to Check the traps?"

I walked over to Dean.

"Here." Dean said giving me a sack. "Liam." He said, shaking his hand.

"Dean."

"Are you here to stay?"

"He's my baby sitter." I said.

Dean led the way to the traps.

"Whoo! I got one!" I said.

Liam's eyes where cold.

"Whatever Liam, I Think it's cool."

I took the wild bird from the trap and shoved it into my bag. We went back to the log. Dean pulled out a bird plopped it on my lap and gave me a knife. I stared at it. Liam let out a long breath and plopped down next to me. He took the bird and knife, and began to skin it.

"That's gross."

Liam looked at me and smiled."Guess there's just some things a man does."

"Whatever." I got a bird and a kife.

The knife slipped and I cut my self.

"Ow." I said.

Liam put the bird down. He took off his shirt and wrapped it around my arm. We walked into the house.

"Kids, go to your room, Mom I need your help, Kenna hurt herself."

The kids went to thier room and Liam walked me to the Kitchen.

"Liam, if you want me to help her you have to let me have her." Grace said

.Liam nodded once and handed me over to his mom.

"What happened?" Grace asked, walking me to the sink.

"I cut myself."

"With a skining knife." Liam said.

"Liam-"

"I know, It was stupid I should of warned her."

"It wasn't- ow."

"Don't yank away honey." Grace said.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"It's alright love." She said taking off his shirt. "I have to run it under water."

"Do you have to?"

"I'm sorry honey."

"It stings." I said, as she poured water over the cut.

"I know, Liam get me the first day kit." Liam looked pained, as he watched us. "Liam go, and put a shirt on."

Liam left. He came back to my side holding out the first aid kit, still not wearing a shirt.

"A shirt Liam."

Liam shiffed from foot to foot.

"Go." I said.

"I'm fine." He said eyes on my hand.

Grace brought me to the table. She put this clear gooy stuff on it and some butter fly band aids. She wrapped it up.

"I want you to stay at the castle for the next couple of days, where I can keep an eye on it and change the dressings."

"But what about the kids, and hunting? Dean can't do it all."

"You mistake me Princess." Dean said at the door. "I agree with Grace, no more hunting until you heal."

"But Dean-"

"You'll thank me later Kenna." Dean said, cutting me off, sounding like someone who really cared about me.

"Take this, it will help with the pain." Grace said, giving me a pill and a water bottle.

"I have to get to the castle and explain why I'm late, Liam when the Pills kick in, take Kenna back to the castle."

Dean went back outside and Liam brang me to his room, so he could get a shirt and keep an eye on me. I lay on his bed. He sat down on the edge. The pills where working.

"You look good with out a shirt."

"Okay the pills are working let's go."

"No I'm going to sleep." I said closing my eyes.

Liam easily picked me up and carried me out side.

"Are you sure you have the kids?"

"They're fine Liam, take care of Kenna." Dean said.

I remember Liam telling me to sleep as he carried me up the stairs, and that was it.

"What Time is it?" I asked looking around.

Grace was fixing my arm again, and Liam came to me with a glass of water. I drank the water, and handded him the cup back. Grace left and Liam sat in the chiar next to my bed.

"You okay?"

"When I can hunt again I'm showing you who can skin a bird."

"There wont be a next time."

"What do you mean?"

"Your not going back."

"Why not?"

" 'Cause I said so."

"Uh last time I checked I'm the one with the crown."

"And the last time I checked, I'm the one who gaurds you. You hurt yourself hunting so your not going back."

I cracked my jaw in annoyance.

"You can hate me if you want to but-"

"I don't hate you. I really don't like you, but not hate."

He noded eyes, unreadable.

"Okay, how about I get to go back but no hunting at all."

He pressed his lips into a thin line.

"What? are you going to keep me here?"

"Yes."

"Dude, look. I didn't come from your ball sack, your not my brother or Boyfriend, there for I don't have to listen to you."

"I can change the boyfriend part."

I blew out some air and rolled my eyes. Liam became serious, as he took my hand.

"Kenna." He said, as if it were hard to speak. "I just want to keep you safe."

"Your job."

He gripped my hand tighter when I tried to pull away. His hand was warm, and could probably hold both of mine in it.

"No. Your- I don't know. I feel the need to keep you safe. You helped my family-"

"So its payment. I don't want anything. It might come to you as a shock, but thoes kids are my little siblings too. Grace, is more of a Mother to me, than my Mom, just in the short time I've known her. I did It cause I felt like I had to help my family."

"Clam down. Please." He said, stroking my hand.

"I've never fit in anywhere before. Being with Them, and Grace, it made me feel whole somehow. And Jenny, and Joesett, Trace, and Sareena, they all took me in so quickly, no questions asked. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a family. A home. I belonged somewhere, Liam. I fell in love with everyone, It's wierd I guess. You can't keep me away from my family. Please."

"Get Better." He kissed my forehead and was gone.

*******

"What does it look like?"

"It's healed." Grace said, a smile in her voice.

"It is?" I asked, looking at my arm.

Grace laughed.

"It is!" I said, throughing my arms around her. "Since it's better can I go back now?"

"I don't see why not."

"Yes!" I said hugging her again.

She laughed as I grabbed pants, a shirt and my boots, running to the bathroom. I snuck out of the room, and got into the carriage. As soon as I stepped out of the car I took a deep breath. Dean was at the stove.

"Need help?"

"Kenna! I might not kill the kids yet."

"Where are they?" I laughed.

"They're somewhere." He waved a hand.

I ran from the house.

"I got them!" Jenny yelled walking over, holding Owen and Sammie's hands. Jake walked by Jenny's side. Ally ran at me and launched herself at me. I picked her up and hugged her.

"Alright everyone inside-" I stopped as Jenny grabbed my arm.

I watched as they went inside.

"Come over to my house when your done. I Made something for you." She said, backing up.

"Jenny!" I smiled.

She laughed, turned and jogged to her house, Where Trace was sitting on the pourch with Sareena. Josett came out and handed something to Jenny and waved at me. I waved back and headed inside. Once they where fed, they went outside, and played with the other kids. I sat on the log next to Jenny.

"I'd like to think we're friends."

"Yeah." I nodded.

"I made you this." She gave me a bow. I took it from her, and looked it over.

"It's beautiful."

"Thanks, before my Dad died, He taught me to make them."

"Who taught you to hunt?"

"Liam."

"He's such a prude."

"I'll take you."

I quickly looked up, "Really?"

"Liam Can't find out though.""

Gottcha."

"Trace I'm going hunting." Jenny said, standing.

She picked up her bow and handed me a thing of arrows she taught me how to shoot, and then we hunted. We made a good team. We walked quietly side by side, getting four birds each. As we came back, It was just getting dark.

"See ya Jenny!" I waved.

"Tomorrow!" She waved back, motioning Joesett inside.

"Now that's something I know how to cook. Let's take a look at them." Dean said.

He whiped his hands on a towle and came over to me taking a bird.

"Nice kill. Sit down, I'll show you how to skin it."

"Really?" I asked, voice going high.

"Of course. No niece of mine is not going to learn how to skin."

I was filled with so much Pride I almost cried. I sat down at the table. Dean pulled out a Packet of knifes and layed them on the table. He explianed what each knife was best for and then gave it to me, letting me get the feel of it. After he Explained all the knifes I remembered each one, so I could pick some up, for me and Jenny as a thanks for the bow. He showed me how to skin it and then I got into the car. I went to the local hunting shop and got some kinfes and game bags. I got two belts, you could stick knifes into it. The belts came with an ax as a gift. It was too dark to go back, so I went back to the castle.

*******

"Have fun?"

I jumped, as I came through the back door. Liam came out of the shadows, his face was wiped smooth from all emotion.

"Liam."

"What's in the bag?" He cocked his head.

"It's stuff for Jenny."

"Jenny?" He scoffed.

"Yes, Jenny. My friend. And there's some stuff for Dean, for watching over the kids."

"He doesn't need payment. He's thier Uncle, he can watch them for a while."

"Why are you so cold to him?"

"You weren't there when My Father first died Kenna." hH said, showing full on Irratation. "Your such a girl. You never listen, Even if it's for your own good."

"If I'm such a bother Get on with your life." I said, tightening my grip on my bag and heading to my room. "We don't have to talk for you to do your job."

"Your cute when your mad."

"Stop talking to me, I'm a bother."

"I never said that. You might irratate the hell out of me but your not a bother."

"Good night." I said, pushing open my bedroom door.

Liam grabbed my arm and I turned to him.

"What Liam?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Okay look. I thought it over and it's not cool for you to stay away from your family. When you want to go over there I'll go with you."

"Really?" I asked, dropping the bag and throwing my arms around him.

When he hugged me I pushed away.

"Don't hug me, I'm still mad at you." I grabbed my bag and shut my door.

I reopened it, Kissed Liam's cheek and then closed it again.

******

Truth was, I was excited as hell to go back home. Even though Liam sat beside me in the car frowning, I was still siked to give Jenny her stuff.

"I'll be back."

"Kenna-"

"I'm going to see Jenny, I'm not flying to cali."

"Where?"

"Never mind. Can you see if the kids ate yet?"

I grabbed the bag and headed to Jenny's. I knocked on the open door.

"Jenny?"

"I'm in my room!"

I walked in to her room. She was getting dressed.

"Look what I got you." I said, taking the stuff out of the bag.

"No way! This costs way more than I'd ever earn!" She paused, holding the belt. "The catch?"

"No catch. You taught me to hunt, and gave me a Bow."

"Alright." She said eyeing me. "Here." she pulled out hunting pants which looked like black pants with a bunch of pokets, A red long sleeved shirt and a hunting Jacket.

"Realy?" I