Kirsten Osbourne [Osbourne - The Singing Cowgirl (Bear Creek Rodeo)

Emily Kelly hurried into the living room of the three-bedroom apartment she shared with her sisters and business partners. I think we may have just gotten our big break!

Brittany pushed her glasses up on her nose and pulled an ear plug out of her ear. What do you mean? What happened?

Stephanie glanced up from her book. Whats going on?

Emily plopped down on the couch and leaned forward to share her information. I just got a call from the organizers of the Bear Creek Rodeo!

Wait... isnt that the huge rodeo that takes place just north of Houston every summer? Brittany suddenly had an interested look on her face.

Yes! Emily said. They want us to be their opening act at the rodeo this summer. Just two months away. She jumped to her feet and started pacing. Well have time to do ten songs. We have to decide which ones!

Stephanie frowned at the other two. We need to do at least two original songs. We cant just keep doing covers if we want to make a name for ourselves.

Brittany nodded. I hate to say it, but Steph is right. We need to do some originals. Maybe Cowgirl? She suggested one of the songs Stephanie had written and theyd recorded independently. I think people will love it, and maybe theyll download it from Amazon or iTunes and it will gain some traction. They all understood that the more buys a song had, the more visibility it got, and the more it would sell. It was a vicious circle.

Emily pursed her lips, thinking about it. I agree with Cowgirl... and maybe Lipstick on my Jeans?

Yes! Stephanie said animatedly. Lipstick on my Jeans is really different than anything out there right now. And they can download that as a single as well. She shrugged. Or I could write something new just for the rodeo.

The other two exchanged looks.

I dont think you should, Emily finally said. Those two are our big sellers and the most requested songs we do in bars. Well, our most requested original songs. Those two are perfect.

Are we actually getting paid for this gig? Brittany asked, always worried about the bottom line.

Emily grinned. We get a portion of the gate. They said last year they had two thousand at the kick-off concert. If we could do that again, it would be amazing.

More than weve ever made for one gig, for sure, Stephanie seemed to think about it for a moment. Lets do it.

I already told them we would! Emily said, clapping her hands excitedly.

Brittany shook her head. What if I had plans for that night?

They all laughed, knowing any plans would be cancelled for this. They were finally on their way!

Emily was cat-napping on the couch when Brittany walked into the room, poking her. We just got another call from Bear Creek.

Stephanie turned from her computer, where shed been typing away. She had an article to write for an online magazine, and she needed to get it done if they were going to have the money to pay their rent. The Bear Creek Rodeo was going to do a lot for their bottom line, but they needed to be working in the meantime. Whatd they say?

They want us around all weekend. There will be a booth set up to sell our CDs, which is awesome, but one of us needs to be at the booth at all times. Brittany sighed. Not the call I wanted to get after a long day of piano and guitar lessons.

Emily nodded, rubbing her eyes. At least youre not spending all day trying to sell cowboy boots. She shook her head. Ill be glad when we make enough from singing that all of us arent working other jobs to make ends meet.

Im writing an article about the benefit of using actual cow manure as fertilizer rather than buying something in a package. If either of you can tell me what youre doing is worse than that, Ill be shocked. And then when Im done, an editor will tear the whole thing up. My blood curdles at the thought of altering one comma. Stephanies eyes looked tired. Shed obviously been working for a while. One of my favorite Cyrano de Bergerac quotes. Her sisters would obviously know what she was quoting from, because Cyrano was her favorite, but she liked to work the name of the play into conversation at least once per day.

I concede! Emily said. I wouldnt trade you for the world.

Brittany shrugged. Well make it work. I already ordered some CDs. I figured Id order the whole album, and if they want just the singles, they can buy from online.

Works for me. Stephanie sighed. This is going to be a lot of work, and its going to be hot. Ugh.

But, if we do as well as I think we will, were going to make good money off this, and well be able to grow an audience of brand-new listeners. Its not a bad thing at all. Brittany sighed. Its just a lot of work in the heat. But if we each take a two-hour shift and we keep an ice chest full of water bottles under the table, I think well do just fine.

All right. Emily sat back, ready to continue her nap. Rehearsal later? Like in an hour or two?

As soon as I finish my article, Stephanie said. I have to get this done today, or I dont get paid for it, and after all the stinky research Ive done...

You need to be paid. Fine. Brittany shrugged. Hurry and get done. Maybe you can sneak one of your Cyrano de Bergerac quotes into it.

Oh, dont worry. I will find a way. Stephanie got back to work as Brittany put her ear plugs in. Soon theyd all be singing together, which would make them happy.

* * *

So exactly why are we sitting here with CDs before we perform? Emily asked Brittany. It would make so much more sense if we waited until after our performance, when they knew what we were all about.

Brittany shrugged. This is what weve been told is required of us. Half the gate, she reminded her sister. I brought a CD player. Have us going. Our music will draw people to you.

While you do what exactly? Emily asked, looking back and forth between Brittany and Stephanie.

Im getting some food thats bad for me and looking at pretty little things people sell at craft fairs, Stephanie said with a smile. And being ignored by my sister who will have headphones in the whole time.

You two have fun. I expect to be relieved in exactly two hours! Emily watched the other two run off, picking up one of their CDs. The cover art was great. It had the three of them all wearing similar outfits and made up the same way. Brittany wasnt wearing her glasses for a change, so they were identical triplets in all their singing glory. Shed hoped at first that just being identical triplets would be enough of a gimmick to get them seen, but so far, it hadnt worked.

A man stepped up to her table, and she smiled at him. Hi! My sisters and are I singing at the opening ceremony tomorrow night. The music youre hearing right now is a sample of one of our original songs, Lipstick on my Jeans. What do you think? She hated feeling like a saleswoman and not a singer, but thats how life went these days. You had to sell yourself for everything.

The manhandsome in a cowboy hat, jeans, and a button-up shirttilted his head to one side to listen carefully. He reached for one of the CDs. Why are there three pictures of you on the cover of the CD? he asked. Sisters werent as pretty?