Cowgirl Coed (Redneck Debutante Series Book 4)

by Jenny Hammerle

  Rachael had moved in promptly after Christmas Break and it had been smooth sailing ever since. Travis helped the Dukes find other accommodations, explaining to them that they couldn’t move back in with him- and so far everything had gone according to plan. The interesting thing is Rachael and Travis were beginning to find a balance in their party habits. They attended parties together as a couple, rather than separately. This seemed to work wonders with their misunderstandings where other guys and girls were concerned. Travis still got hit on, as did Rachael, but between living together and discussing things more openly as they had prior to coming to college, things had completely returned to normal.

  Well, all except for one thing.

  If Travis had been worried about chemistry or a lack there of, he’d been worried for nothing. Rachael was more attention needy than she ever imagined she would be. And Travis, well, he was more than happy to oblige her every whim.

  This morning he’d offered to come with her to have her dress alterations made. She couldn’t conceive that it’d be exciting for him, but she thought it was sweet that he wanted to go. She heard the shower turn off and he called her for a towel. Rachael merely laughed.

  The laundry…my nemesis.

  It was one thing to do laundry for yourself as a single girl, but to do laundry for two was a different story. Of course, he’d said he would continue doing his own laundry, but his schedule of doing it vexed Rachael. Why should she care? She’d asked herself the same question over and over again. But, for some weird reason she did care. He did things, guys things, which really annoyed her. Things like draping sweaty running shorts, t-shirt, and a cap over the edge of the garden tub to dry.

  Gross!

  Rachael clomped her way to the laundry room. She’d done the towels last night and knew they’d be right where they should be…in the dryer.

  She clomped back to the bathroom, the high heels she’d bought for the wedding were relatively comfortable, but very high. She didn’t want to look like a shrimp next to Maysie on the altar. She was glad she was taking them on a practice run today. She’d never been all that graceful in heels anyway, and it would take a little getting used to a pair this high. At four inches, these stilettos would bring her up to almost jaw level with Travis.

  She opened the bathroom door and found him standing in the middle of the tile floor, shaving, water running off of him. The tile around him was soaked. He did a double take in the mirror at her newfound height.

  “Don’t fall,” he grinned his crooked grin over at her. “I’m loving the heels, but I don’t know that I’d pair them with those yoga pants.”

  Rachael tossed the towel, intending to hit him in the back with it. He reached out a hand and caught it. “Cat-like reflexes,” he warned. “Don’t go far.”

  Rachael started to back out of the bathroom.

  “Oh no, Travis. I know exactly what you’re thinking and you’ll make me late.”

  He hung up the hand towel and finished drying off wrapping the bath towel around his waist. “What do you mean?” He followed her out into the bedroom.

  Rachael tripped, falling backwards onto the bed and squealed as he pounced on top of her. “I’m serious, Travis. This is important. Your sister’s wedding is a week away.”

  “I know, but I had to give you a good morning kiss. That’s important, too.”

  Travis kissed her tenderly and pulled her to her feet. Then, he walked over to the closet dropping his towel. He selected a shirt, a pair of jeans, and Sperry’s. Rachael stood watching him, knowing she better get a move on if she were going to actually make it. She carefully walked to the walk-in to join him. He took up so much of the closet she had to squeeze to get past him. He merely grinned over at her.

  “You need to get by?”

  “Yes, sir, I do.”

  “Sir, I like that. But it’ll cost you,” he stepped back allowing her to pass.

  “And what’s the price of passage?”

  “Dinner tonight with me at a steak house and a swim later.”

  “I accept those terms.”

  “I thought you might.” Travis cleared his throat. “Baby, you haven’t really said much since our wedding. Are you happy with the way we did things?”

  “You know what? I am.” Rachael thought back to the conversation with her mother and father. They hadn’t been angry or disappointed with her. They’d both known that it might happen like this. “I think it has actually made things a lot simpler.” Rachael changed into a sensible skirt and knit top. It was the only thing she could pair with the heels that didn’t look ridiculous. “There are girls that dream of that big wedding day. I was never one of those girls. I remember when our mothers came to visit and brought me those magazines. While it was a nice sentiment, I leafed through the pages only once and decided that the gowns and flowers, along with the multi-tiered cakes, were just a lot of extra. And, in the end, I didn’t want any of that fluff and extravagance.”

  “I just wondered. With Maysie and Tristan’s wedding right around the corner, I questioned if you’d decided you wanted a large ceremony after all. I always want to give you exactly what you want.” Travis carried his shoes out to the bed and sat to slip them on. “You’d tell me if you wanted something- anything at all- right?”

  Rachael zipped up the back of her skirt and walked over to rest her hands on his shoulders. She looked him square in the eyes. “I have everything I want right here, Travis. I’d like to do a quaint little ceremony in the barn on your parents’ ranch. I’d like to renew our vows with a minister present. I’d like to wear the simplest of cotton dresses and have our families there to witness it. But that doesn’t have to be now or anytime soon. My mom sent those announcements that I helped her choose, and for now, that’s enough.”

  Rachael bent her head and kissed him lightly.

  “That’s good enough for me.” Travis stood abruptly, lugging her with him. “We better hurry. You’re making us late.”

  Rachael loved this guy, even if he did his darnedest to tease her on a daily basis. She couldn’t imagine life differently or doing things differently. It was amazing how easy things became once they decided to stop playing games. It seems that dear, old Mom knew best after all.

  Travis seized his wallet off of the counter and shoved it in his pocket. Outside, the bright sun gleamed and a cool breeze swirled around them. Rachael thought back to cleaning the barn, sweeping, and singing to her favorite songs. It made her homesick for Aunt Margaret’s place and the barn. Thoughts of the hayloft and Travis brought a smile to her lips. She’d have to make sure to stop by there this next week when they were home.

  The seamstress’s office was located in a house across town. It was a modern ranch-style home, built of block, sitting on a one-acre corner lot. A small dachshund came bounding out to greet them at the truck. Rachael reached out her hand for the dog to sniff.

  “Ken, get back here.” Its owner called from the screen door. “You must be Rachael and Travis. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Nadia.”

  “Hi Nadia, nice to meet you as well.”

  “Is that the dress,” she pointed to the dark green, strapless gown draped across Rachael’s arm.

  “It is. It’s in bad need of a reduction through the midsection.”

  “We can fix that.” Nadia led the way through the house to a backroom, filled with dresses on mannequins and racks. There must have been nearly a hundred gowns. Most of them looked like prom dresses, bridesmaids’ dresses, and there were even two wedding dresses. She showed Rachael to a dressing room down the hall and instructed her to slip the cocktail dress on and return to the front room when she was ready.

  Rachael could hear Travis speaking with her and asking a few questions. She merely shook her head at his ability to talk to anyone about anything. Even things that only remotely interested him. Rachael tried to discern what he was saying exactly, but over the sound of the washing machine that shared the wall with the dressing room she was in Rachael really couldn’
t comprehend much.

  The dress fit her top relatively well. She zipped up the back and walked back down the hallway to where they awaited her. Nadia immediately set to work, pinning this and that. The hips would need altering as well, and the midsection just as Rachael had suspected. Then, as a safeguard, Nadia measured Rachael’s height, waist, hip circumference, bust, and distance between the hem and her ankles. She took other measurements, including the distance between her shoulder blades and across the top of her back and rib cage. After thirty minutes she announced that the dress would be ready in two days. Rachael was ecstatic and relieved. She’d do one more fitting at that time and hope that everything would fit like a glove. In the corner, sitting on a chair, Travis beamed over at her. He seemed awfully cheery for a guy who just had to sit at a dress fitting for over a half hour.

  “One more thing,” he stood, carrying with him a stack of fabrics. He handed the swatches of cloth to Rachael, while handing Nadia a tip. He put his hand behind the small of her back and escorted her along with him. “Thank you for lending us these samples. I’ll have them back in a few days.”

  “No rush,” Nadia waved from the doorway and closed it quietly behind them.

  “What are you up to?”

  “Just making sure my baby gets what she wants. Turns out she made all of those dresses. Alterations are only a minor fraction of her business. I asked her if she could make a simple dress, whatever you want. I’d like to do that June ceremony just like you’d wanted. Small, family and friends, in the barn. Nothing extravagant, but Nadia said if you could come up with an idea for what you wanted, she could make it. Anything. As simple or as elegant as you want.”

  “There’s really no rush, but June does sound nice.”

  “I always keep my promises, Rachael. I just can’t help it if your desirability and drug-like effect on me made we want to marry you before June.”

  Rachael ignored his jokes and started browsing through the swatches of fabric. A rose pink fabric caught Rachael’s eye. She could imagine that it’d look lovely with a lighter shade of pink over it. She tapped it with her finger. “I think this one.”

  Travis covered his eyes. “Don’t show me. I don’t want to know. You can speak with Nadia when you pop by to fit your dress in a few days. It may surprise you, but I’m really looking forward to this. Not that I would want to go back and change anything- I wouldn’t.” He cleared his throat. “I just like the idea of the vows, the minister, family and friends. It makes it all just fall into place.”

  “You are so very romantic. But, I was thinking, I need a second honeymoon.”

  “Whatever you wish. Where will we go this time?”

  “Somewhere new, different. A cruise or a trip to Rome.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Travis reached over and gripped her hand. “Anywhere you want.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.

  The next few days went smoothly. The green gown had been transformed into a fitted cocktail dress. Its crushed fabric was sophisticated and stylish, yet fun. Rachael couldn’t believe her own reflection. The heels complemented the dress perfectly. Travis hadn’t gone along with her for this trip and she was glad. She’d taken the time to sketch a peasant dress that she thought would be perfect for their barn ceremony. It wasn’t surprising to learn that Travis had already discussed the event with Nadia the other day before she’d been fitted. Turns out he’d told Nadia that whatever Rachael wanted she could have.

  Rachael presented Nadia with her sketch and vision for her dress. Nadia loved it and offered her a broader selection of lace from which to choose. In the end, Rachael opted for a soft, blush pink that would complement, but not overpower the underlying rose pink. Rachael wanted something that was feminine and sweet, yet that she could partner with a pair of cowgirl boots. She knew that with the style and design she’d selected she would accomplish just that.

  By the time Rachael and Nadia had finished discussing her dress plans and reliving the story of how she’d met Travis in a creek bed while trespassing on his family’s ranch so long ago, it was time to rush home for dinner. Rachael still hadn’t blossomed into an amazing cook or anything, yet Travis didn’t complain. He was still such a big kid himself and it didn’t take much to make him happy. Things like homemade macaroni and cheese, served with hamburgers and side salads were his favorites. Tonight, however, she knew she wouldn’t have to worry about dinner. He was taking her out and she had the perfect outfit in mind.

  She’d bought a pale yellow sundress with crocheted flowers along the bodice during one of her shopping sprees a while back. She’d never found the right occasion to wear it. She’d been waiting for him to plan something special. She’d told him long ago that as the guy she expected him to ask her to hang out or plan dates. That hadn’t changed just because they’d gotten married. So, like their dates of years before, she’d go home and put forth that same level of effort. A commitment to looking good for each other hadn’t ended with their marriage. If anything, she felt more strongly about him now than she did before they’d wed.

  She was glad to see he wasn’t home when she arrived back at their apartment. She’d have the privacy she wanted to transform herself in to his vision of perfection. She smiled to herself a short while later examining her reflection in the mirror. She would have Travis’s undivided attention and at the end of the evening he would be hers- and only hers. She looked forward to their night out with eager anticipation.

  Travis knocked on the front door. She’d heard the diesel pull up out front and she giggled at the thought of him knocking on his own door. Rachael trotted over to answer it. Travis stood holding a large bouquet of mixed wildflowers in his hands. He handed them to Rachael and bent to kiss her cheek.

  “I don’t ever want to take us for granted.”

  “Me neither.” She beamed.

  “You look hot as hell tonight. New dress?”

  “Sure is.” Rachael turned and locked their door, linking arms with Travis and allowing him to escort her to the truck.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Maysie’s wedding day arrived sooner than they’d thought it would. Maysie was a bundle of nerves, along with a bundle of something else. Her morning sickness had kicked into overdrive and the ginger ale she sipped was doing little to quell it. Rachael and Shannah did their best to comfort her. Shannah placed a small icepack at the nape of her neck and Rachael held a washcloth to her forehead.

  Her ivory satin dress was heavy and warm for a March wedding. It was sleeveless with a scooped neckline and elaborate beading. Maysie’s hair was a mess of curls cascading down her back, with the top and sides swept up on top of her head. She looked absolutely beautiful and aside from the nausea it was perfect.

  Rachael and Shannah didn’t say much, and if Maysie noticed the silence she didn’t let on. Rachael switched the washcloth to her bare arms and carefully wiped each one down.

  “Can either of you check the thermostat? It feels so warm in here.”

  “It’s just you. I just glanced out in the church. You already made us turn it down twice. It’s sixty degrees in here and a couple of your guests have now gone out to their cars only to return with parkas.” Shannah chortled.

  “It’s probably just me. I know girls at the end of this nine months I’ll be a happy mama, but right now it’s pretty awful. I can’t lie.”

  “Take deep breaths. No one expects you to be the life of the party. You just need to make it through this part and then, your handsome groom can whisk you away on a honeymoon.” Rachael soothed her.

  “I’ve had this nausea for two weeks now. I don’t know who came up with the term morning sickness. For me it’s kind of an all-day affair. Usually I feel better around dark. I eat a large dinner, watch some television, and pray it doesn’t come back tomorrow.” Maysie giggled.

  “I’m not having kids. I couldn’t do this,” Shannah protested.

  “Don’t be silly. Of course you can do this. Nine months isn’t all that lo
ng of a time and I’m sure it goes away at some point.” Rachael offered.

  “I don’t know. I told Wade the other day. I don’t want anything to change. My body, my boobs. I can’t imagine mine sagging. Visions of grannies on the beach keep me awake at night.” Shannah confided.

  “Quit making me laugh,” Maysie snorted. “You’re making me forget how miserable I am.”

  “That’s the point.” Shannah now held a handheld fan that Mrs. Baxter had given her. “Now, repeat after me. This is the happiest day of my life.”

  “This is the happiest day of my life.”

  “I look the best I’ve ever looked.”

  “I look the best I’ve ever looked.”

  “I’m marrying the man of my dreams.”

  All the girls laughed uproariously at Shannah’s reference to their conversation about Tristan from long ago. When Maysie first admitted to liking Tristan, everyone had freaked out over their age difference and the fact that to them he was truly a man.

  When her laughter subsided, Maysie continued the mantra. “I’m marrying the man of my dreams.”

  “And we will be happy.”

  “And we will be happy.”

  The music started in the church signaling the time for them to begin processing in. Maysie’s cousin, Janet, the barrel racing bombshell from long ago was the maid of honor. Rachael was second, followed by Shannah. As each girl marched up the aisle, she joined the groomsman opposite her on the altar. Tristan’s groomsmen were his best friend Alton, Travis, and Wade.

  Tristan looked marvelously handsome. His eyes glinted in the lowlight of the church and the tux he wore fit him to perfection. His smile as Maysie made her way towards him told Rachael just how deeply he loved Maysie. Maysie’s long-flowing train was decorated in the same ornate beadwork. Janet straightened each layer of the long dress and laid it carefully down the altar steps.