Chapter Three
Rachael and her heifer, Taffy, progressed beyond the typical round pen exercise routine to a more dog-like relationship. Taffy now weighed over eight hundred pounds and enjoyed long walks down the driveway with Rachael on her lead rope. Sometimes Rachael would bring along a good book to read while Taffy enjoyed munching on the grass and wild flowers that dotted Aunt Margaret’s vast front yard. Rachael noticed a change in the weather, the sky began to cloud up and the breeze began to blow.
“Come on, Taffy. We better head to the barn.”
Moments later, it began to pour. Rachael and Taffy made it into the barn and to her stall just in time to get drenched. Ole’ lonesome George had already ventured in on his own and glanced at them as if to ask, “What took you two so long?”
Lightning zigzagged across the sky. Rachael waited out the storm for another ten minutes, but when there was no sign of improvement she decided to make a run for it. Once inside, Rachael dried off in her bathroom and changed into dry clothes. She could hear Michael’s television on and knew he was probably playing video games with Levi, as usual.
Aunt Margaret and her mother were at work at the beach resort, and wouldn’t be home until much later. Rachael heard her cell phone ring and went to answer it.
A very upset Maysie was on the other end.
“Slow down, Maysie, and start over again. What’s wrong?”
Maysie drew a quick breath. “It’s Gabe. I just heard from Alex that Gabe was at the beach today with another girl.”
“Okay, so don’t freak out.” Rachael soothed.
“Don’t freak out? We know the girl couldn’t have been Shannah. She is still in South Carolina! So, if it’s not Shannah, then who was it?”
“I don’t know, but it could have been anyone. His cousin, a good friend. Anyone.”
“Kissing cousins? Literally.” Maysie spat.
“That changes everything- and you are sure? Alex is sure of what she saw?”
“She said so. They were holding hands! Kissing in the water! She said they were quite natural about it. But that was until they spotted Alex and Fred. I guess they made a bee line for the snack bar in order to flee. Alex said that Gabe looked terribly uncomfortable.”
“Well, he should be- the cheater!” Rachael yelled.
“Exactly! What are we going to do?”
“I’m not sure. Shannah isn’t due back until next week. We certainly can’t go calling her in South Carolina with this type of news. She’d be devastated!”
“Definitely. I can’t believe that after almost two years of dating he’s spotted hooking up with some skank at the beach.”
Maysie must’ve been angry, very angry. In the past two years, Rachael had never heard her refer to anyone by that name- or to even speak ill about anyone for that matter.
“Maybe she already knows.” Rachael suggested.
“Don’t you think she would’ve called us if she did?”
“Not necessarily. She’s pretty private about those types of things.”
“You’re right. I think we need to drive over there.”
“To his house?” Rachael sighed.
“Yes, to his house. I’d like to give him a piece of my mind.” Maysie offered.
“Bad idea. Besides- what if they’re broken up? Then what? We’d look like a couple of crazies!”
“Shannah will be back next week, and when she is…we’ll sit her down and tell her.”
“Okay.” Rachael was anything but ‘okay’ with it all.
“I wonder if Travis knows.” Maysie murmured.
“Of course not! He would’ve told me if he knew.”
“Maybe not. Guys stick together. Maybe he didn’t want to out his best friend.”
“No. There’s no way he knows.” Rachael defended her boyfriend.
She heard the rumble of his diesel truck outside, amid the cracking lighting and drumming rain.
“I’ll ask him. He just pulled up outside. I’ll call you in a bit. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Who me? Never, but I’ve been brainstorming a little.”
“Maysie- sit tight.” Rachael set the phone down.
She jumped off her bed and ran to the front door. She’d opened it even before Travis had the opportunity to knock or ring the doorbell. Travis had a strange, hard to describe look, on his face.
Rachael frowned, “So you’ve heard.”
“Yep, I’ve heard all about Gabe and Heather at the beach. I guess they’ve been hanging out for a couple of weeks.”
“And?”
“I think it’s a crappy thing to do to Shannah. She is away for the summer and he didn’t want to break up with her over the phone.”
“So he starts dating someone else while she’s gone? He doesn’t even wait until she gets home?”
“He said he never expected to like Heather. He knows her from his Tae Kwon Do class. They were sparring a lot near the end of the school year…and I guess things became…”
“Became what?”
“Somewhat physical.” Travis smirked.
“Somewhat physical? Define somewhat physical.”
“You know what I mean.”
“What a pig!”
“I don’t know that I’d go that far. They were only dating. It’s not like they were married or anything, Rachael.”
“Oh. And that’s what you’d say if I went out and met some other guy, things progressed, and we became somewhat physical?”
“Of course not. This isn’t about us. It’s about them.”
“But we are only dating- yes? And we’re not married- right?”
“Yes, but don’t misrepresent what I said. I don’t know the inner workings of their relationship.” Travis spouted. “Maybe things between them were different or changed somehow.”
“Obviously! She wouldn’t do ‘it’ with him last year and he has probably gone off and found someone else that would!” Rachael yelled. “Someone who’d get somewhat physical, as you described it!”
“Don’t kill the messenger, Rach. As soon as I heard, I came straight over here to tell you.”
“But you sound like you’re defending him.” Rachael crossed her arms across her chest and cocked her right eyebrow.
“No. Definitely not defending him- I’m merely pleading the fifth. He’s my friend.”
“And she’s mine. She’s going to be heartbroken and I’m heartbroken for her.” Rachael walked over to the sofa and plopped down.
She thought back to the ‘it conversation’ from the slumber party last year- it seemed to haunt her now. First Amber, now this. And then there was the later conversation she and Shannah had shared. Shannah’s mother and her teen pregnancy was no secret among any of the girls- and for that reason alone, Shannah had deep convictions against premarital sex, and anything else that went along with it. She didn’t want to end up in the same situation as her mother. Rachael thought that Gabe respected that- understood it. Gabe obviously needed something more, and Shannah had been unwilling to give it.
Travis sat down next to her and took her hands.
“Baby, try not to worry. You don’t even know how she’ll react. You may be borrowing trouble. He has every intention of going over and breaking up with her in person when she gets home.”
“So she can be blindsided by it? I don’t think so.”
“So you think it’s a better idea to call her and tell her over the phone? I think that’s an awful idea.”
“If he were halfway decent, he would’ve done so himself, or had the decency to wait until she returned home.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Maybe I am right!” She stood and gestured toward the door. “You better leave, Travis Baxter!”
“So now you’re kicking me out?”
“I am. I’m kicking you out! Go over and console Gabe in his moment of need! Maybe there’s some sort of cheaters’ counseling you can help him with.”
Travis laughed.
“This is
n’t funny, Travis.”
“No it’s not- but I like it when you get really feisty with me.” He winked.
“See yourself out.” Rachael stomped down the hall.
After a few minutes, she felt rather childish. When ten minutes had passed and she still hadn’t heard Travis’ truck leave, she opened her door and slunk back up the hall. He was in the kitchen fixing himself a sandwich.
She exhaled sharply, “Go right ahead and help yourself.”
“This isn’t for me- it’s for you. Since we are past the twin’s evil appearance, I figured you must be hungry, so I fixed you a sandwich.”
“Food doesn’t fix everything.”
“If you’re a guy it does.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Okay, I’ll eat it. So back to our conversation before you threw a temper tantrum and disappeared down the hall.”
“Be careful, Travis, I’m not my usual chipper self.”
“So I’ve noticed. Let me start again. I think what Gabe did was wrong and unkind, but he’s my friend and it’s not my place to judge. That’s it- plain and simple.” He took a huge bite of the sandwich.
“I respect that, but I feel very differently. If a friend of mine were to do something like this- I’d march over there and set her straight. I’d tell her that she’d disappointed me.”
“That’s you- not me. I believe he will see the error of his ways soon enough. Shannah is a great girl. He traded that in for a good time. He’ll regret it. Eventually. Not now, but once the newness of the other wears off.”
“The other?”
“I don’t have details, so don’t ask me. Do you want to go to the movies tonight?”
“No. I have plans with your sister.”
“I’ve been put on the back burner for my sister?”
“Yes. Besides- don’t you have some good ole boy two-timing cheater friend that would like to hang out with you?”
“So you are still annoyed with me? I haven’t really done anything wrong.”
“Except for the fact that you still want to hang out with the cheater.”
“I’m not going to stop being his friend- if that’s what you mean. He has made a mistake, but I’m still his friend.”
“If you lay with dogs, Travis, you’re bound to pick up fleas.”
“Okay, I’m leaving this time. I need to seek cover until this storm blows over a bit.”
For the first time, Rachael just watched him leave, making no effort to walk him to the door. A few hours later the rain had subsided and it was getting dark. Aunt Margaret and her mother brought Chinese food home for dinner. They brought a carload of groceries, too.
When Rachael heard the horn honking, she called for Michael and the two of them ran out to carry everything inside. The smell of Chinese food from the dining room was tempting, but Rachael still had very little appetite. The dinner table was unusually quiet until Michael broke the silence.
“Heard about Shannah and Gabe. Not cool.”
Rachael blew out a ragged breath. “Even a fourteen-year-old gets it.” Rachael stopped herself, realizing she’d actually said that last thought aloud.
“What was that, honey?” Aunt Margaret questioned.
“Gabe is dating someone new. Shannah doesn’t know because she’s still out of town. I’m annoyed at Travis because he’s still friends with Gabe. Guys suck. That’s all.”
“Not all guys suck.” Her mom protested.
“Yeah. Come on. Cut him some slack.” Michael interjected. “They’ve known each other forever. He’s not gonna just write him off.”
“I think he should. Once a cheater- always a cheater.”
“You’re only in high school. This isn’t an indicator about the rest of his relationships, or his future ability to commit, or anything, Rachael.” Aunt Margaret pointed out.
“So everyone is siding with the cheater.” Rachael stood up. “May I be excused?”
“Yes, dear.”
Rachael slipped into her jammies and climbed into bed.
*
A while later, there was a light tap on her window.
Rachael sat up in bed and glanced at her clock. Three o’clock.
Who would be coming by at three o’clock in the morning?
Travis.
Rachael strode over to the window and opened the blinds with a harsh pull of the cord. She was surprised to see Maysie and Shannah!
Rachael tiptoed down the hall to the front door and opened it.
Shannah’s eyes were puffy from what looked like hours of crying. Rachael threw her arms around her.
“What are you doing home? I thought you had another week to go?” Rachael whispered.
“Grab your shoes and come on. There’ll be time to explain in the car.”
“In the car?” Rachael squeaked.
“Shh.” Maysie chastised her for making too much noise.
All three girls went and climbed into Maysie’s convertible. They drove out of the driveway, the top down, hair flying wildly in the night breeze.
“What are we doing?” Rachael looked at Shannah and Maysie, both wearing short pajama shorts and fitted tank tops. Their hair standing on end. Had they just gotten out of bed?
“We are on a mission- a little Redneck Retribution.” Shannah explained. “My father had made arrangements for me to come back early this summer. My mom has some business trip next week. The timing couldn’t have been any better. When I hadn’t heard from the butthead in over three weeks, I was smart enough to know that something was up. Little did I know it was his…”
“Shannah!” Maysie cut her off midsentence, sounding horrified.
“Sorry, Maysie!” Shannah apologized. “So anyhow, I texted Maysie when I got home tonight and went to her house where she explained all.”
“He has no idea you’re here in town?”
“None. So after everyone went to sleep we hatched this plan.”
“I can’t wait to hear this.” Rachael knew if it was one of Shannah’s ideas of Redneck Retribution, she may need to be the level-headed one tonight.
“She can get pretty creative when she’s fired-up like this!” Maysie smiled.
“Maysie and I decided the shoe polish we had left over from writing on our car windows for the band competition last year might be a nice touch.”
“Sure, as long as it won’t cause any permanent damage.” Rachael questioned.
“None. Just to his over-inflated ego.” Shannah surmised. “Unless of course we get it on the paint job as well.” A naughty sparkle flashed in her eyes.
“Let’s just stick to the original plan, windows only. Anything else is off limits.” Maysie interjected.
Rachael reached into the plastic bag on the seat beside her. She pulled out two bottles of white shoe polish.
“There are only two.”
“Maysie is driving the get-a-way car. You and I’ll take care of the writing. Only the windows.” Shannah winked conspiratorially at Rachael.
“Got it.”
They slowly pulled into Gabe’s neighborhood. There weren’t any neighbors outside or up and about at this time of the morning.
“I’ll drop you, circle the block, and come back by. You’ll only have a minute or two.”
“We’ll get it done.” Shannah narrowed her eyes, while Rachael’s heart drummed widely in her ears.
Maysie slowed her car as Shannah and Rachael jumped out of the back over the doors- so as not to make any noise. They ran up to Gabe’s car and began writing on the windows. When they were finished one set of windows read ‘Cheaters Never Prosper’, while the other said ‘Hope She Was Worth It’. Shannah managed to scribble ‘Cheater’ across both the front and back windshields in extra-large script, as well. A neighbor’s dog barked loudly.
Maysie pulled back up just in time for both girls to jump in over the side of the car and into the backseat.
Things had gone incredibly well and all three were feeling rather proud of themselves until flashing
blue lights in the rearview mirror caught their attention ten miles up the road.
“Great.” Maysie muttered, as she pulled over. They were almost home. She glanced at her watch. It was nearing 4:30 in the morning.
Shannah opened the glove box and handed Maysie the title, registration, and insurance information.
“I’ve been pulled over before.” She smiled over at Rachael and Maysie. “Just cry. It really does work every time.”
Maysie looked like she was about to cry and for real- no faking necessary.
A young, rather robust deputy walked up to the side of the car.
“Good morning, ladies. What brings you girls out at this hour?”
Rachael looked at the three of them. They must be a sight- all wearing PJ’s, hair wild from blowing in the wind, and to top it all off, Maysie was wearing pig slippers!
Maysie appeared to have stage-fright, she uttered not a word. Rachael decided she should serve as the spokesperson. She still held the shoe polish in her hand, even if she hadn’t been- her fingers were covered in white polish.
Always tell the truth. She remembered her mother’s words and decided that was her only option.
“Yes, sir, I can explain. Shannah’s stupid boyfriend cheated on her and planned to dump her when she got back in town. So we were a little upset and decided to pay his vehicle a visit. I shoe polished his windows with descriptive words like cheater and such. Now we’re on our way back home.”
“Have you ladies been drinking?” The officer used his flashlight to shine around the car.
“No sir.” All three answered in unison.
“Can you ladies step out of the car?”
“Yes, sir.”
Rachael, Maysie, and Shannah piled out of the car.
“Do you mind if I search your car?”
“No, sir.” Maysie answered.
The officer shined his flashlight all around the vehicle.
“And you say that you only shoe polished the windows- not the paint.”
“Only the windows.” Rachael nodded.
Maysie was shaking, she was so nervous.
“Okay- then get on home, Miss Baxter.”
The deputy handed Maysie back her paperwork. Rachael, Maysie, and Shannah climbed back into the car, buckled their seatbelts, and pulled cautiously out onto the road.
Cowgirl Strong Page 3
