Cowgirl Coed (Redneck Debutante Series Book 4)

by Jenny Hammerle

  Morning Rach, we’ve survived the night. Only 7 short months to go. I think we need a better plan…T

  Rachael walked over to the coffee maker and poured herself a cup of coffee. She had the final day of Rush today and she really wanted to make it. It started at one o’clock and if she went to every house that had invited her back, it would run late. That would give her one night’s reprieve from throwing herself at Travis, into his arms, and onto his bed.

  Yep, I’m in trouble. A Travis Baxter lush. And it’s me that’s the problem- not him.

  The sudden realization that it was her and not him was shocking. He’d never pushed her and she couldn’t keep her hands off of him. She’d always blamed his family and hers for not trusting them, but the problem was she didn’t trust herself. She couldn’t trust herself. It was becoming all too clear to her now. One night, and not far off in the future, she knew she’d call him. Ask him to come pick her up- and she’d just do it. And she wouldn’t regret it. But would he? Was it fair to ask him to go against everything he believed and held dear. The commitment he’d made and the seriousness with which he took that commitment. She thought of Maysie and how it had affected her. Was it really that big of a deal at this point in their relationship?

  The door opened behind her. She stood silent and still in the kitchen. She couldn’t believe the words she was about to utter.

  Travis came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “Let’s elope.” Rachael announced.

  “Now I know we’re both crazy.”

  “Why not? We know we can’t wait. Let’s do it.”

  “Today?”

  “No, I have Rush.”

  Travis chuckled. “That’s not something you hear every day.”

  “Saturday?”

  “This is your plan?” He asked doubtfully.

  “Yes, what was yours?”

  “I move to Alaska. For 7 months. Take a job on an oil rig, deep at sea. Explore the Antarctic. Perhaps go on safari.”

  “Let’s do it.” Rachael announced.

  “Can we- really do it- right now?”

  “Be serious, Travis.”

  “Okay, Saturday it is. Elopement. And then, what? We keep it a secret and have a summer wedding?”

  “Nope. I move in here.”

  “Okay.”

  “I thought you’d be more excited than just ‘okay’.”

  “I’m afraid you’re going to change your mind.”

  “Not a chance. I will be Mrs. Travis Baxter by Saturday.”

  “Can I be honest here? I think, if I know you, which after several years together I know you pretty well. There’s something else amiss here. You want me and are nervous we are not going to make it, but I think there must be something else too. And, whatever it is, I know you’ll tell me in time.” Travis sat down at the table and pulled her over to sit on his lap. “But you had plans. Big plans. When we got engaged I promised you that you’d have a year of college, parties, and sorority life. And until today you were excited about all of those things. So, I think we need to stick to that plan. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be right here when you finish the year, and in June we’ll have ourselves a wedding.”

  “What if we don’t make it to June?”

  “Then, we don’t. But I’m willing to try. I’ve waited this long- I don’t think waiting a bit longer is going to kill me.”

  Rachael grabbed Travis’s face and bent her head to kiss him on the lips. “See, this is why I love you Travis Baxter. And to think I spent nearly a year avoiding you when I first moved to town.”

  “Don’t remind me. A fruitless year on both our parts dating idiots. I can’t forget. Wish I could.”

  #

  Rush that evening was more fun than Rachael thought it would be. She made the rounds, house by house, not because she wanted to, but because to stand a sorority up would be rude. It firmly cemented in her mind the group that she thought was a right fit for her. She felt at ease with this group of girls. They weren’t defined by any boundaries or clear cut path. They were a combination of sports and pageant girls, weightlifters and dancers, academics and party-girls. A real mix and every single one of them was nice. And while Rachael enjoyed her evening, she thought of Travis.

  By dark, she slowly made her way back to her dorm room. Knowing it would be her room for an entire year wasn’t exactly exciting. She liked Lucia, but living in that loud building for more than a few weeks was not her idea of bliss. Travis waited for her outside and insisted on walking her all the way to her door. After he saw her safely inside, he left for the night.

  Inside, Lucia sat perched on her bed sipping a beer. Rachael was sure there must be some sort of campus rule against drinking in the athletic dormitory, but she didn’t comment. Rachael was a little self-conscious at the fact that she hadn’t been staying the night in her bed. If Lucia noticed as much she didn’t say. She was unusually quiet and Rachael knew she should ask why, but she didn’t know her all that well and was afraid to pry.

  Rachael disappeared to the bathroom to change and shower. Maybe Lucia needed a little privacy. Maybe Rachael had returned home at an inconvenient time. Rachael really had no idea what to do, but she decided it would be better to air on the side of eager to help than on the side of cold, distant uncaring girl.

  “What’s going on?” Rachael plopped down on her own bed, after draping her towel across the metal rail at the bottom to dry.

  “Nothing much. My mom’s sick. MS is acting up again.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Beer?” Lucia held one up to her.

  “Sure,” it wasn’t Rachael’s first drink. She’d had one beer with her father last year, at home of course, and none since. Then, of course, there was that one awful night a few years back when Melinda had gotten her wasted on moonshine- a night she’d tried not to think of since. Yet, she was clearly not a big drinker. Never had been.

  Lucia opened up. Perhaps it was the beer, but she talked and talked. During her many childhood moves, overseas from this place to that, her mother had been her rock. She was loving and kind. Lucia was an only child. Her parents had wanted more children, but had been unable to have any more. Lucia’s father had been a workaholic, always gone. Her father and she didn’t appear close. His parenting style being more appropriately described as absentee by choice, rather than by necessity. Her mother was fun-loving and passionate, yet a heavy smoker. It was the smoking that caused the awful illness she was battling now- or so Lucia thought. She’d battled it and won once before, not really ever getting rid of it, because no one really got rid of it. But she’d quit smoking and drinking, and her mother’s overall health had improved. Medicines had kept her MS at bay and life had returned to a more normal existence. Lucia was worried she couldn’t do it again. It had taken its toll the first time around and now she was much older. Add to that the fact that her mother was drinking and self-medicating with painkillers- and it was a bad situation. Ten years had passed and it had aged her immensely to hear Lucia tell it.

  Hours passed and before they realized it they’d been talking until dawn. They walked to eat breakfast on campus. Lucia knew the perfect place. A small eatery, A Slice of Pie, boasted the best pies and coffee. Rachael hadn’t had any pie since Aunt Margaret and the thought made Rachael homesick. Perhaps Maysie had the right idea not going off to college. Lucia’s mom, and now the other night with Travis, had Rachael rethinking her entire college plan. Colten’s timely appearance on campus yesterday hadn’t helped any and she still hadn’t even mentioned that part to Travis. Her parents had always said she had to go to college and get a degree, but what did she want?

  The blueberry pie she ordered hit the spot. Coupled with the coffee it made her feel incredibly tired and by the time they’d paid their check, Rachael was ready to climb into bed. She set her alarm for the last afternoon of Rush where she’d need to fill out her preference card selecting her top two choices. Just about the time she was
climbing into bed, poor Lucia was headed out to soccer practice.

  “Thanks for listening, Rachael from Florida.”

  “Anytime, Lucia from Pennsylvania.”

  #

  Rachael slept hard, and when the alarm clock sounded she felt like she’d barely slept. She definitely wasn’t a night owl and pulling an all-nighter was completely foreign to her. She glanced at herself in the mirror and realized it would take nothing short of a miracle to put herself in order. Curlers, make-up, a coke. Yep, she’d have to pull out all the stops or risk looking as exhausted as she felt. If only she’d had a team of people to help her out. An entourage of five makeup artists and stylists. Where was Maysie when she needed her?

  She contemplated eloping once more. If at some point Travis agreed to her wild idea, she should probably include Maysie and Shannah, even if it were merely a quick saying of vows on the courthouse steps. But she also knew they’d both try and talk her out of it. They’d think she’d gone crazy and hadn’t really thought things through, but it was exactly the opposite. Rachael had thought things through. She knew where she was headed. She knew she had to do things the right way or risk messing things up with Travis. They should’ve just gotten married after high school. She realized that now. He’d been correct all along. But now it didn’t seem she’d be able to convince him otherwise.

  Rachael put on the finishing touches and ran down to fire up the old Mustang. She’d drive to Greek Row across campus, not wanting to mess up the amazing patch job she’d done on herself. She had fifteen precious minutes to get there and if she left now she’d make it. She nearly ran a red light, only noticing it when the car in the lane beside her screeched to a halt. When it changed to green she floored it.

  Thank goodness no campus police were nearby.

  She turned into the large parking lot where they were supposed to pick up their card, offering an invitation to join a Sorority. For some girls, it would be a tearful moment according to Aunt Margaret. Some would get an invitation from a house that wasn’t their first choice. Others would get an invitation from two houses and feel torn. Some girls wouldn’t get any invitation at all.

  Rachael’s hands sweated profusely as she queued up to pick up her invitation at the table for last names beginning with the letter H. She seized her envelope and opened it. Alpha Delta Pi was spelled out across the top line. Relief and happiness swept over her. She’d be joining her first choice. The same sorority her Aunt Margaret had belonged to long ago. A familiar voice approached from behind. It was Lucia.

  “Did you get what you wanted?”

  “I did.” Rachael hadn’t even realized Lucia was rushing. “You?”

  “I rushed last Fall. I’m already in a sorority. Come on, I’ll walk you over.” It was like Lucia knew exactly where to lead her.

  “Are you an ADPi?” Rachael asked.

  “Sure am. Don’t tell anyone about the fight, okay? I’d get called to Standards and that would bite.”

  “What’s Standards?”

  “I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.” Lucia grinned.

  Rachael thought about her nickname, Luke, but didn’t ask her if she wanted her to call her that. She’d introduced herself that first time as Lucia and Rachael would keep calling her that until she specified otherwise.

  “So, this hottie popped by to see you. Said his name was Colten.” Lucia glanced at her.

  “Ex-boyfriend. From years ago,” Rachael thought it best to clarify the situation. “Travis doesn’t like him much.”

  “Looking like that, what current fiancé would like him?”

  “I guess you’re right, but my fiancé is no slouch either. He’s gorgeous.”

  “I know- you have a picture up.” Lucia reminded her of the small, framed photo of Travis on a horse on her bedside table next to her clock radio. “A cowboy and a surfer. Opposite ends of the spectrum.”

  “They totally are, but no feelings there for Colten anymore. None whatsoever.”

  “I don’t know, I’d have trouble letting that go. He’s the complete package and then, there’s that accent.”

  Rachael couldn’t decide where this was going. Maybe Lucia was interested in Colten and wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be any hard feelings if she pursued him. Rachael decided not to read too much into it.

  “You don’t know the whole story. If you did, you might feel differently.”

  “Maybe so, maybe not.” Lucia shrugged.

  Rachael really wasn’t sure what to think about Lucia yet. She seemed hot and cold, up and down- just a compilation of opposites. It was probably too much to expect to know her at all after less than two weeks, so for now Rachael would reserve her final judgement of Lucia and just take their roommate situation for what it was- extremely new.

  Rachael loved the ADPi house. The enormous pillars were white set against a red brick backdrop. The house appeared Colonial in style and felt enormous, until you passed its front door. Inside it was warm and inviting, smelled of lilac and jasmine. There was an enormous meeting room and it seemed that was where they were headed. A party was underway and soft music played in the background, while sweet iced tea and cookies were being brought around. Girls, both new and old, mingled exchanging names, cell numbers, and other tidbits such as majors and areas of study.

  Rachael didn’t recognize anyone she knew as she made her way around the room- that was until her eyes locked on one very familiar set of eyes. Her Aunt Margaret was there to welcome her to what was also her chapter and sorority. Of course that had been a number of years ago, but according to her that sisterhood and the friendships she’d found there had lasted her a lifetime and seen her through many a crisis. Rachael rushed over to hug her.

  “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “Me too,” Rachael hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek.

  “This must be Lucia.” Aunt Margaret shook Lucia’s hand and thanked her. “Lucia here helped me send in your letters of recommendation. When she called and let us know that you two were going to be roommates, I knew you were in good hands.”

  Aunt Margaret and Rachael visited with as many people as possible, including two Chapter Advisors that were there overseeing the entire Rush Week. Rachael enjoyed the event immensely, but really hoped for some time alone with Aunt Margaret. So much had transpired and she’d always been her confidante in the past. She could trust her with most anything. That person used to be her very own father, but he’d changed since returning home last spring. Prison had transformed him somehow or perhaps Rachael had changed. Or maybe it was a combination of the two. She used to text him with her every thought or worry. He could be depended on to provide the perfect word of encouragement or even emotional support. However, when he came home he’d morphed into this uber protective, super dad. It was such a change to how he’d been before and the contrast really took Rachael by surprise. Of course, she’d considered things from his perspective as well. He left home, and she’d been this young teen. A bony, long-legged girl who was cute, but really awkward. By the time he returned, Rachael had herself transformed into a young woman. She’d grown up physically and emotionally. Maybe he’d felt he’d missed out on it all. And suddenly, things that had been okay before weren’t okay any more. Travis couldn’t even walk down the hall toward her bedroom. Then, when they moved he wasn’t allowed on the stairs- at all. The days of falling asleep on the sofa at his house or hers had become a definite no-no, and Rachael felt betrayed. It was like the cool dad she’d known before he’d gone to prison had suddenly returned home a completely new, uncool person. She’d never put any of this in to words before, not even to Travis. She knew part of it was that he’d felt left out and was trying to make up for lost time. Trying to hold onto his baby girl, but Rachael couldn’t help how she felt and where she fit into the equation.

  “Thank you so much for everything.” She could hear her aunt saying goodbye as they walked toward the door. She gently grabbed Rachael’s elbow and gave it a tug. Outside in the co
ol evening air, she turned facing Rachael. “Are you okay?” When Rachael didn’t respond she merely pulled her along beside her. “Come on. I know just the thing that’ll help you along. I’ve planned a nice dinner at Travis’s place.”

  Rachael stopped abruptly, hoping her face didn’t betray her.

  “Are you guys alright? Are you fighting or something?”

  Rachael knew that it was exactly the opposite. She and Travis couldn’t get much closer than they’d been just a day ago.

  “No, we’re fine. Let’s go over there.”

  Rachael immediately thought back to the night before. Had she left anything over there? She knew she’d placed a toothbrush in the bathroom and while she could lie and say she’d left one there to brush her teeth after meals, she knew it would sound absolutely ridiculous. She would need to move it- ASAP. It was one thing to have your friends know you were staying over at your boyfriend’s.

  Two nights in a row, but who’s counting?

  But it was an entirely different situation to admit you were shacking up to your dear aunt. Yep, that toothbrush needed to disappear.

  “I couldn’t believe how nicely he’d had it put together- and in just a few days. That boy works fast.”

  Rachael bit her bottom lip. “You were over there today?”

  “Sure was. For hours,” Aunt Margaret opened her car door and pressed the unlock button unlocking Rachael’s side for her.

  “What did you make?”

  “Your favorite Lasagna. Homemade with garlic toast. And Caesar salads with extra croutons and dressing.”

  “Sounds absolutely amazing.”

  “I’ll bet it will be, but you know I was thinking that after all that garlic you’ll want to brush your teeth.”

  Rachael burst out laughing. Leave it to Aunt Margaret to work the toothbrush into casual conversation.

  “You’re right. That’s the reason I leave a toothbrush at Travis’s place. Before he takes me home each night, he always wants to give me a goodnight kiss and- well- voila, there’s that trusty old toothbrush.”