Cowgirl Coed (Redneck Debutante Series Book 4)

by Jenny Hammerle

  “Daddy, I just can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I was blessed to have your mom all these years. When you’ve had the love and life together we’ve had, you can’t help but be happy. I’ll miss her, but I want to remember the happy times and good times we shared.”

  Rachael and her father walked out of the hospital arm-in-arm.

  #

  Back at home, Rachael found Michael in his bedroom playing some military espionage game. Levi was there keeping him company. Bags of empty potato chips and sub wrappers cluttered the floor. It looked like a true bachelor pad. Michael’s appearance looked like he’d been out riding four-wheelers, hunting, and perhaps playing football. And from the smell of it, he needed a bath. She didn’t know how Levi could stand being this close to him.

  “Hi,” Rachael called from the hall, not wanting to venture any further into the stench.

  “Hey, Levi and I are in hibernation.”

  “Yep, it smells that way. Have you given any thought to taking a shower?”

  “Not much,” Michael winked.

  “Dude, you probably should take a bath. You stink, man, really stink,” Levi offered his support.

  “Nah, I’m good.” Michael nodded. “How’s Aunt Margaret?”

  “Still no change. But I’m not giving up hope.”

  Michael just nodded again. If he had any thoughts on the subject he wasn’t disclosing them to Rachael. He had deep purple rings under his eyes and he looked like he hadn’t slept since their mother had passed away. The stairs creaked behind her and Rachael turned to find Travis on the bottom step. He held his finger to his lips and motioned for her to follow him. Rachael glanced around and went back downstairs to sneak outside with Travis. The crickets chirped in the surrounding woods and frogs called for rain. Somewhere in the distance a horse whinnied. It was nearing midnight and the moon stood straight overhead. Wispy clouds fluttered across it, obscuring it from sight before revealing it once more.

  “Where are we going?” Rachael whispered.

  “Fire hunting.” Travis grabbed a rifle and a headlight where he’d stowed them beside a large brace post in the fence line behind her house. He picked up a black bag and opened it in the moonlight. “Put these on,” he said handing her a camo shirt and ball cap.

  Next, he placed the headlight on his own head, but he didn’t switch it on. Rachael followed him, walking very quietly for several yards. An owl in the woods to her left hooted startling her and sending her into Travis’s arms. He merely pried her off of him and grabbed her hand, laughing down at her. They walked further and further. He switched on the walking lamp that was affixed to his forehead by some sort of elastic headband. Rachael followed him deeper still into the trees, until the bright moon overhead was completely blotted out.

  A small fire came clearly in to view. Tree stumps on either side with a two-by-four set across them made a makeshift bench. A picnic basket sat nearby and Rachael knew they weren’t hunting at all. They were having a midnight date, in the woods, by firelight. And she had to admit that it was romantic.

  Travis led her to the bench, and turned her, hugging her as tightly as he could. “I’ve been worried about you. Please tell me you’re okay. Tell me what you need from me. Tell me how I can help you.”

  “Just kiss me, Travis. Carry me away to another place and time. Help me forget.”

  Travis’s mouth was on hers, kissing her deeply into surrender. His hands were in her hair, entangling and twisting themselves in each curl. Rachael kissed him with an urgency and a hunger. She felt it in the pit of her stomach. She knew she needed to feel another human’s touch. To feel alive. To feel something wonderful. Something to push aside the pain and the worry. Rachael found herself unbuttoning his shirt and ripping it from his body. She wanted to feel his skin on her hands. She kissed his chest and up to his neck. He smelled so incredibly good.

  “Rach, I’m not making love to you in the woods.” His laugh felt good to her spirit.

  “Why not?”

  “It’s not the most romantic of settings. In all honesty, I didn’t bring you out here to seduce you. I brought us some food- and drinks.”

  Rachael pulled his face down to her hers, she kissed him squarely on the mouth, tasting his lower lip. “Hold me, Travis. I need to feel everything. I need to feel alive.”

  Travis led Rachael over to the bench and continued kissing her, leaving her breathless. Rachael urged him on, knowing what she asked. Travis held her in the darkness a long while later. He didn’t speak. Since their wedding, their passion only grew and intensified with each day. If there was anything she was learning about life as of late it was that life was short…

  It was too short and could be clipped away at any moment. I will take every moment I’m given with Travis and make it what I want it to be.

  #

  The funeral service was more of an emotional upheaval than Rachael had been prepared for. She’d been numb for the past few days. Family friends from back in West Palm Beach and all over the state of Florida came to celebrate her mother. Her father spoke and a priest from a nearby Catholic Church did the readings. For Rachael it was a blur. Some happy and some sad. She wanted to block it all out. She only wanted to remember to good times. The times from her childhood in West Palm Beach, as well as the times with her mother here at Aunt Margaret’s. Her mother had been a strong, courageous woman. It was unfair that a woman like her should get struck down in the prime of life. It was unfair that Rachael and Michael should have to live without their mother. It was unfair that just at the point that her father got out of prison and made his way back to his family, that his wife get ripped away from him.

  Life is not fair.

  Her mother had said those same words to her a long time ago. Perhaps it was Rachael’s fault. If they’d moved back to West Palm Beach, none of this would have happened. Her mother wouldn’t have been working that late night hotel job. She and Aunt Margaret wouldn’t have been on the road at that time of night. The sounds of voices around her made Rachael’s head spin. She needed to get out of there. She needed to run.

  People milled around outside, giving their condolences to her father. Rachael spied Travis across the parking lot. He stood talking with Michael and Levi. Michael looked okay and appeared to have actually showered. At Rachael’s approach, Travis searched her face, sensing she was deeply troubled.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she pulled him towards the truck with her.

  “Where to?” His face looked puzzled.

  “The beach.” Rachael knew that if there were one place where she could just sit and be, it would be the beach.

  “Okay, I’ll text your dad.” Travis slowly made his way out of the parking lot behind the many other cars and trucks.

  Mrs. Harte was being cremated, therefore there wouldn’t be any graveside service. And for that small blessing Rachael was immensely thankful. She couldn’t stomach anymore sad, tearful faces. Or anyone else pitying her. She hadn’t been able to face anyone. Not Maysie, not Shannah, not even her own father. She was at the bottom of a dark pit and she felt completely alone. More than feeling completely alone- she wanted to be completely alone. If she’d had her own car she would’ve just disappeared. Her car was back at school and that seemed like it was so very far away.

  Rachael didn’t cry. She refused to cry.

  “Travis, could you please just drop me at the beach. I need to be alone.”

  Travis merely pulled into the parking lot and put his truck into park. “Call me for a ride.”

  Rachael climbed out the passenger side, kicked her shoes off, and carried them. She walked towards the shoreline and stared out at the waves coming in one-by-one, crashing into the shore. She turned and started walking, heading nowhere in particular. She walked and walked, feeling coquina dig in beneath her feet. The sand was cool and refreshing on her toes. She continued, further, until the tall expanse of gulf-front condos vanished from view. The beach
became narrower and private homes set far offshore spread out before her. Rachael still walked. The tide rolled out more slowly now and more seawater remained onshore. High tide was coming and it called to Rachael.

  She walked out into it, until she was knee deep and stood there. Waves violently crashed against her thighs. She waded in deeper still. Her black dress filled with water and clung to her frame. She stood there looking out. The sun was setting low in the sky.

  “Go home, Rachael. Go home.”

  She heard her mother’s voice so clearly. She glanced around, wondering if she were losing her mind. The wind swept her hair away from her face and she turned seeing Travis on the edge of the sand. He smiled warmly at her. He held a towel, stretching it out to her.

  Rachael walked to him and smiled. “How did you know where to find me?”

  “I tracked you. I’m not a hunter for nothing.” He wrapped the enormous towel around her encircling her in a bear hug. “It’s not going to be easy, but we can do this. We can do this together.”

  “I know we can.” Rachael reached up on tiptoe and kissed Travis’s nose.

  “It’s been a long time since you kissed my nose like that.” He grinned down at her. “Not that I minded those more interesting kisses last night.”

  “About that,” Rachael blushed. “I think the woods got into me last night.”

  “Maybe we’ll have to go camping sometime after school lets out in May. I like when the woods get into you like that. Come on, let’s go.” Travis walked Rachael back up the beach. “I think I may have some news you’d like to hear.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Aunt Margaret woke up while you were out walking. Your dad and Michael headed up to the hospital. I thought we’d join them, but you need to go get changed first.” Travis glanced down at her dress.

  “I can go like this.” Rachael grimaced.

  “You’re soaked to the bone. Come on, I’ll help you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  A week later Rachael sat at Aunt Margaret’s bedside. She blinked her eyes. They’d said she was awake, but she seemed drowsy at best the last two times Rachael had visited. Rachael was relieved to see that most of the initial bruising had faded and the large gash across the crown of her head looked like it was starting to heal. Last week, Aunt Margaret had abrasions on her hands and forearms from the airbags. Even those were beginning to lighten. Her color that once had looked ashen gray now returned to a soft hue of pink. And while her eyes weren’t as bright as they normally were, they were open and looking around the room.

  Rachael reached out and touched her hand.

  Dad said he told her about Mom. I can’t even imagine how she must feel.

  Soft tears trickled down Aunt Margaret’s face. She didn’t speak. The air tube had been removed earlier that very day and the doctor informed them all that her esophagus would be sore for a little while. Rachael patted her hand, as if to say it was all right. Time would heal things for all of them. Yet, Rachael knew that this wound in particular may take a long time to heal or may never heal at all.

  She’d lost her very own mother and Aunt Margaret had lost her sister and best friend. Rachael and Aunt Margaret cried together, in silence. Aunt Margaret closed her eyes against it all. She mouthed the words I’m sorry.

  “It’s not your fault. We all know that.” Rachael hushed. “The service was beautiful. I’m sorry we couldn’t wait to have it. We just didn’t know when or if you’d awaken. I’m sorry, too.”

  Rachael decided she should try to change the subject. She didn’t dare speak of Michael and just how hard he was taking it. That despite going to the accident scene and the funeral, Michael still wouldn’t believe any of it. He’d gone hunting every afternoon until dark and then, locked himself away in his bedroom. Rachael’s own father had worked on trying to speak with him and help his son cope with the loss of his mother, but Michael needed time and space to work it out on his own. His best friend Levi, along with Travis, had been his rocks these past two weeks. Travis had been Rachael’s rock, too.

  How did you go about thanking someone who’d been there for you and your family through it all?

  Your father’s stint in prison, your own difficult times, and now this?

  Travis was her best friend and lover. He was everything she needed and more.

  Aunt Margaret breathed quietly, the medicine working its magic, both numbing her pain and helping her sleep. Rachael’s father opened the door and poked his head inside. Rachael glanced at him and smiled. He’d taken this better than any of them. Perhaps it was maturity or the fact that he and Mrs. Harte had so much shared time and love. Rachael couldn’t be sure the reason, but if he was crying himself to sleep at night she’d never seen it. He seemed at peace with everything. Rachael hoped in time she’d find that same peace.

  Rachael considered her situation at school. Her brother needed her. She had two weeks of finals remaining. Most of her professors had been understanding when she emailed them. They’d said not to worry. Take a few weeks. Regroup. Then, return to school just to take finals. Rachael planned to do exactly that. Travis had gone back last week immediately after the funeral. He’d gone around to all of her classes and picked up her make-up work. He’d texted her some reading assignments and asked the professors to email her a few study guides. The few paper copies he’d been given he’d faxed to his mother’s house and Mrs. Baxter had made sure to get them to Rachael.

  Rachael completed everything, sending it back in and now all that remained were six exams. The first exam was scheduled for tomorrow morning and while she hated to leave Aunt Margaret on her first alert day she had little choice. She couldn’t fail. She wouldn’t fail. Her mother had been obstinate that her daughter would finish college.

  And I will.

  JJ popped his head into the room.

  “Miss Rachael, can I come in?”

  “Yes, JJ, of course you can.”

  Travis came over to the bedside and handed Rachael a stack of photographs. “I thought you’d like to see these.”

  Rachael flipped through each one. It was her impromptu wedding day with Travis on the river. It may have turned out to be less impromptu than she initially thought, but nonetheless they’d eloped. Rachael held them up for Aunt Margaret to see. She smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Rachael hadn’t remembered seeing a camera in JJ or his friend’s hand. Who’d taken the pictures?

  “I wish my mom had been there.” Rachael spoke aloud, not meaning to.

  “Well, she was Miss Rachael. It was our little secret. I had her staked out in a stand of trees nearby, up in a tree stand. She snapped these hurself.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, I couldn’t be a party to no dishonest act with you elopin’ and all. So, I went by to see yur mother. We’d been friends comin’ twenty-five years. I’m sure you understand.”

  Rachael remembered her mother’s words on that fateful day. ‘Yep, thank me tomorrow…’

  What Rachael had thought was merely her mother being facetious, she now realized was much more. Her mother had known and she didn’t try to stop them. She’d gone and taken part in her own private way. Mrs. Harte hadn’t told her father. Rachael knew her mother better than that. She’d kept her daughter’s secret and hadn’t even tried to intervene. Rachael missed her so dearly already and was thankful to have these pictures confirming her mother’s quiet resilience and confidentiality. The last photo of JJ and her mother standing on the bank of the river with Travis’s airboat in the background must have been taken after Rachael left in the helicopter with Travis.

  “She drove that thing back for Travis. Scared the heck out of me, an’ my friend, but she’d operated airboats in college giving glades tours.”

  “I didn’t know that.” Rachael giggled.

  Aunt Margaret nodded her head and grinned.

  “Thank you for these, JJ. Thank you,” Rachael hugged JJ. The scent of baby powder and Old Spice wafting through the air.

  “You k
now, Miss Rachael, yur mother told me when my own Mama passed on. She said, ‘JJ, you can’t live life the way you want it to be. Only the way it is.’ Those words got me thru, Miss Rachael.”

  Rachael nodded her head affirming what JJ said. Her mother had given her more life lessons than she could count. She’d been content with the life and time she’d been given, never asking for more and always expecting the best. When life hadn’t gone her way, she’d merely kept on. Life could be unfair and unkind, but she never complained or griped. Rachael knew she must do the same.

  She reached across the bed hugging Aunt Margaret. A woman who’d stepped in and raised her when she didn’t have her father. Now it was her turn to help Aunt Margaret. “I’ll be back in a week. I expect to see you up and around by that time. No excuses.” Rachael wagged a finger at her. “Keep an eye on her, JJ.”

  “Yes, ma’am, Miss Rachael.”

  Rachael walked towards the elevator, glancing at her pictures once more on the ride down. The selfie of her mother in the tree stand with the image of Rachael and Travis in the background moved her to tears. It wasn’t a traditional wedding day photograph, but it was there captured forever. Travis had been right in making the plans he had. If they’d waited until June, her mother wouldn’t have been there to see her get married. Rachael tucked the photos in her purse and walked towards Mrs. Baxter’s awaiting SUV.

  The ride back to Baxter Ranch to return the SUV and get her things seemed shorter today. Rachael was on a mission to pass some exams, finish school for the year, and get back home. She parked out front and walked onto the porch she’d stepped onto for four years. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter sat having coffee at the breakfast table. Both stood to greet her and hugged her tightly.