Cowgirl Down (Redneck Debutante)

by Jenny Hammerle

  “Where I go every Sunday morning—church.” With that announcement Travis was gone.

  Rachael worked in silence for what felt like an eternity. She was sweating profusely and had finished all thirty-two ounces of Gatorade. She switched to drinking water out of a hose.

  Oh, what the heck. Rachael used the hose to spray her hair and face down. She found a pocketknife in the tack room and slipped out of her jeans and shirt. She was so hot, and this was her oldest pair of jeans, so she cut both legs off. Next she cut the sleeves out of her shirt and tied it up around her waist. Just as she completed her ensemble, someone cleared his throat as she came out of the tack room.

  “Nice outfit,” Travis commented. “I brought you lunch. I can’t take the credit for making it, though. That was all Mama.” He set down the tray and walked away.

  “Thanks,” Rachael whispered. At times like these she remembered how much she liked Travis. Then she recalled him tattling on her last night, getting her into trouble, and arranging this horrid job. Now she hated him all over again.

  Around mid-afternoon, Mr. Baxter came outside and told Rachael to saddle Creamsicle.

  He can’t be serious. “For who?” Rachael asked.

  “For you. You, I, Travis, and Maysie have a bunch of cows to move this afternoon.”

  “I can’t,” Rachael pleaded.

  “Why not?” Mr. Baxter stood patiently waiting for an answer.

  “I’m scared. I haven’t ridden at all since Creamsicle bucked me off this summer.”

  “Rachael, darlin’, if you get bucked off, you have to get back on. The first time is always the hardest. You’ll see. Now get saddled up.” He paused and then smiled the same smile that she recognized as Travis’s. “What happened to your britches?”

  “I got hot and cut them off.”

  Mr. Baxter laughed. “Well, you can’t ride like that. I’ll get a pair of Ginny’s jeans for you.”

  She’d been hoping for even a short reprieve, but no such luck. Minutes later he appeared with a pair of tiny jeans. “These belong to my niece Susie. They should fit.”

  Rachael went into the tack room to put them on. How old is Susie? Ten? Twelve maybe?

  Rachael squeezed into the jeans and had to lie on the barn floor to button them. Maysie came in and knelt beside her to help. With both girls working together, some panting and holding of breath, they got them zipped and snapped.

  “Now I’ve seen everything,” Travis teased from where he was leaning in the doorway to the barn.

  “Ignore him, Rachael.”

  Maysie and Rachael saddled their horses just like old times. They led them out of the barn to the gate. It was mid-afternoon, but the intense Florida sun still beat down, making it as hot as a desert.

  “You think you’re going to survive?” Maysie asked.

  “I don’t know.” Rachael groaned.

  “Stick with me.” Maysie winked.

  Mr. Baxter came out of the barn with two cow dogs. He led his horse to the gate and swung it wide, leading his horse through. “Let’s ride out.”

  Mr. Baxter didn’t waste any time. Soon he was loping across the pasture with Maysie, Travis, and Rachael at his side. About the time Creamsicle hit a gallop Rachael knew she was going to be sick. At the next cross fence she leaned sideways in her saddle and threw up all down one of the legs of her pants…well, technically, Susie’s pants.

  “The quickest cure for underage drinking—a few hours of hard riding in the saddle. Just ask Travis. He’ll tell ya. Cures ya, doesn’t it, son?”

  “Yes, sir, it does,” Travis answered.

  So Travis has been in trouble before. News to me. I thought he’s always been Mr. Perfect.

  Travis opened the next gate and chained it back against the barbed wire fence, leaving it open.

  “We’ll drive the cows through here.” Mr. Baxter said. “Rachael, you and Travis circle around the southeast side of the slough and push the cows out of there towards this cross fence and the other fence line that runs north to south along the west side of the slough. The wind is out of the west. If you circle around, you can get the jump on the cows before they smell you.”

  Everyone stared at Rachael, since that was to whom Mr. Baxter addressed his directive.

  “Okay.” She was uncertain.

  As she and Travis rode off in a direction that she assumed could possibly be south and also maybe east or maybe even west or north for that matter, Travis started to laugh. “You have no idea what he just asked you to do, do you?” He grinned.

  “Not a clue. It was like a bad geography class/pop quiz. I have no idea which way is east, west, north, or south. All I know is I’m about to throw up again.”

  “That’s okay. I brought you another Gatorade.” Travis produced another Gatorade from his saddlebag.

  “Thanks.” Rachael took a big swig. “I think your dad is trying to kill me.”

  “I think maybe you’re right. Can you ride?”

  “I have no choice,” Rachael muttered.

  She followed Travis, who obviously knew where he was going. The cattle saw them as soon as they were on the south side of the slough and started to run. The chase was on. Cows were running. Dogs were barking. Rachael’s head was pounding.

  Yeah. I’m gonna die. My first real cattle drive and I may not live to see the end of it.

  Mr. Baxter and Maysie appeared on the east side of the slough. Rachael quickly discovered she and Travis had the hardest part. The cattle very obviously didn’t want to leave the safety of the slough and the deeper water. Rachael’s horse had to jump its way through the slough, while Travis was steadily pushing the cattle out of the slough to the drier ground to the east. The dogs were following commands to “get ahead” of the running cattle and make them stop so they could be more easily controlled.

  Twenty minutes later, Rachael couldn’t really explain how it all had happened. All she knew is the cattle were through the cross fence, she was muddy, wet, and sore, and maybe done being sick. Maybe…

  When they were all done and back at the barn, Mr. Baxter offered to unsaddle her horse for her.

  “Good job out there today, Rachael. Way to hang in there. Just a little something for you to think on.” He shot her that Travis-like smile. “I bet you won’t drink like that again.”

  9

  MONDAY MORNING CAME WAY TOO EARLY. Rachael was tired and sore from her grueling new job she had started the day before. She had blisters on her palms and fingers from cleaning the twenty stalls at the Baxter barn yesterday afternoon. Her backside and inner thighs had some bruises from the fast-paced riding she had done on the cattle drive.

  Yes. All in all I’m looking and feeling pretty rough.

  Rachael slithered out of bed, careful not to move too quickly. She crawled to the bathroom to get a hot shower before school. Her mother and aunt hadn’t said anything to her when she had gotten home last night. Rachael knew they were aware of every detail about her night at Melinda’s house…at least everything there was to know.

  Rachael mistakenly drank some spiked moonshine punch and passed out. Yes, there were also guys there and girls, but that hadn’t been Rachael’s fault either. She hadn’t known the guys had been invited. Furthermore, it wasn’t like she wasn’t allowed to go to guy-girl parties. What made this one different was her accidental consumption of moonshine.

  The only thing that is very definitely my fault is my lack of judgment where friends are concerned. Hadn’t everyone warned me to stay away from Melinda? Did I listen? No! I’m not only a “loser chooser” where guys are concerned, but also a “loser chooser” where friends are concerned.

  She pursed her lips in determination. Well, I won’t make the same mistake a third time.

  Just then Rachael heard a light rap on the door, followed by her aunt’s sharp call: “Hurry it up in there, Rachael, or you’ll be late for school!”

  Rachael hadn’t even noticed the time. She jumped out and toweled off. She threw on a pair of her lo
osest, most comfortable jeans, a baggy T-shirt, and her high tops. She slicked her hair back in a ponytail and was ready when Maysie got to the door.

  “You survived,” Maysie teased.

  “Barely.”

  In the car, Rachael decided she needed to talk to Shannah and Maysie about what had happened this weekend. “Uh, guys, I’m sorry for not listening to your warning about Melinda. I should have known when she first nearly got me arrested a month ago for trespassing. Now this! I won’t be hanging around her any more. I know I haven’t been the best of friends lately, and I hope you both can forgive me—for everything.”

  “Forgiven,” Shannah said. “We all go through rough times. You came out of it all right. That’s all that matters.”

  “Yep. Ditto.” Maysie smiled sweetly. “Maybe we should have ratted you out over the skipping dance practice stuff months ago. Then maybe none of this would have happened.”

  “No. My mom knew about that and grounded me last month. That’s why I stopped, but even as bad as it was, it wasn’t enough to make me stay away from Melinda. I still had to learn the hard way.” Rachael sighed. “I guess I need to see Ty today at school and talk to him too. I remember him coming into the party, and I’m embarrassed about my behavior.”

  “Why would you want to talk to that jerk? After what he did?” Shannah said with attitude. “It’s him who should be embarrassed about his behavior.”

  “What did he do?” Rachael asked, confused.

  “Really? You don’t know?” Maysie asked.

  “Know what?” Rachael wondered what could be so bad.

  “Wow. Maybe this is a conversation better left for after school.” Maysie tried changing the subject. “How about that new exchange student from Brazil? He sure is a cutie.”

  “Maysie.” Rachael gave her the look. “What is it? You can’t say all that and not tell me.”

  Reluctantly Maysie launched into what had truly transpired on Saturday night. “Plain and simple, Ty and Misty had this plan to get you drunk. Honey and Melinda weren’t in on it, really, but Melinda knew the punch was spiked. Misty’s fruit punch is always spiked. They are partiers, remember? But other than that, Melinda was innocent and naïve to the whole plan. So Ty and Misty thought you’d get wasted and pass out. Then Ty, being the jerk that he is, had other plans for you. But no one had counted on Honey calling me. So when she did, I told Travis and sent him to the party.”

  “I think I’m going to be sick.” Rachael closed her eyes.

  “Anyhow, when Travis arrived, Ty had carried you to a bedroom. Nothing happened,” Maysie announced swiftly, evidently glimpsing Rachael’s horrified expression. “I repeat, nothing happened…except for the fact that when Travis got there, he found you passed out on the bed. Ty was just closing the door. Travis beat the crap out of him and took you home. End of story.”

  Rachael was numb, sick, and cold all at once. How could I have been so blind? Ty played me. First, he buddied up to my little brother. Then he befriended me. Finally he laid a horrible plan because I told him I didn’t want to date him. Fear descended as her thoughts raced. If it weren’t for Travis, Ty’s plan would have worked. Now I have to face him at school, and everyone else for that matter. Melinda and Honey were not at fault here—other than for the underage drinking. It was Misty and Ty who had done something terrible.

  My mother and Aunt Margaret must know all about it. Why didn’t they say anything? Maybe they thought I was aware enough to remember some of it. I can’t be sure. This is so humiliating and awful. I don’t even want to go to school today…or ever again.

  “Rachael, are you okay?” Maysie asked from the front seat.

  “Sure.” But Rachael wasn’t at all sure anymore. The only thing she was sure of was she needed to escape.

  When they got to school, Rachael walked in the direction of her first class, certain every set of eyes was glued to her face. She felt ashamed even though she’d done nothing truly wrong. Bypassing class, she continued to the clinic, where she explained to the nurse that she wasn’t feeling well and needed to lie down. Around eleven o’clock the nurse asked her if she needed to go home.

  I’d love to, but no one is home. My mother and aunt are both at work. They can’t afford a day off, and I’m not really sick.

  Rachael told the nurse she was fine and could return to class, but before she finished gathering her belongings to go to her next class, Travis came into the clinic.

  “So there you are. When you didn’t show up to your first period class, we began to get worried.”

  “I wasn’t feeling well. I came to the clinic to lie down.” Well, that’s the truth.

  Travis persisted. “When none of us saw you after your first and second period classes, we were more than a little worried. I checked with Maysie, and she said she had brought you to school. So next we called your mom.” He held up his hands. “Now, before you freak out, please hear me out. We were worried. Your mom was concerned too, but she called the front office, and they advised her that you were in the clinic.”

  Just then the nurse, who had been on the phone this entire time, hung up the phone and spoke to Rachael. “It seems your mother phoned the school and has arranged for you to go home for the day. Please go to the office to sign out.”

  Rachael walked out of the clinic, Travis insisted on carrying her book bag and purse. He escorted her to the office where she signed herself out.

  Travis signed himself out as well.

  Travis? Travis is running me home? I’m so embarrassed, for so many reasons. Why won’t he leave me alone?

  Rachael was too exhausted and humiliated to argue further. She and Travis walked in silence to the parking lot. He opened her door and helped her in. Putting the key in the ignition, he started the truck. Rachael closed her eyes again praying for sleep.

  “I’m sorry, Rachael,” Travis said softly.

  “What are you apologizing for?” Rachael snipped back.

  “I hate seeing you hurt like this.”

  “Well, don’t apologize. I don’t need anyone’s pity,” she spouted. “I realize I messed up huge, and I take responsibility for it.”

  There was a pause and then, “Listen. I was angry with you for putting yourself in a bad situation. And for that, I’m sorry. I’m just thankful nothing bad happened to you the other night. As for your mother and aunt, they didn’t know about the passed-out part of the evening in the bedroom with Ty. I left that part out. They only know about the spiked moonshine fruit punch. I had to tell them because you were really drunk and passed out when I brought you home. I didn’t want them to think I’d gotten you drunk or anything.”

  That part actually made Rachael smile. She couldn’t imagine Travis getting any girl drunk or having improper intentions of any sort.

  “You think that’s funny, do you?” He seemed puzzled.

  “Yes,” Rachael admitted. “You’d never get any girl drunk, Travis. You’re one of the good guys.”

  “Tell me about it.” Travis sounded discouraged. “Anyhow, now your mom knows about the bedroom part. Maysie is the one who called her. She thought you knew about the other part from me. When it became apparent this morning that you didn’t know, Maysie was worried sick that having told you made you disappear or something. She called your mother and told her everything, so here we are.”

  Her eyes misted. “Thanks for being a true friend to me, Travis.”

  “I always said I was.” He grinned.

  “And thanks for beating the crap out of Ty. I guess he deserved it.”

  “No guessing about it. It wasn’t just about you, though. He pretended last year to get stuck with Maysie. They were out mudding. Then he tried to put the moves on her. I guess she punched him in the groin, using some Taekwondo move Shannah had taught her. She walked all the way home. She never told anyone about it, including me, until the other night. I wanted to kill him.”

  Rachael laughed. “She alluded to him ‘pretending’ to get stuck one time but never finish
ed the story. I wish she had. I would have known then he was scum.”

  Just then Rachael noticed they were driving nowhere in the direction of home. “Travis? Where are we going?”

  “Shopping. You need a new cowgirl hat. One from me. We’re going to burn the other one.” He smiled.

  *

  A short time later they arrived at a Western Store in Sarasota. Rachael was surprised she was actually excited about shopping when she’d had such a bad start to her day.

  “Maysie said shopping was the cure for any type of girl blues. Especially for a broken heart,” Travis said as he opened her door.

  “Oh. My heart isn’t broken. Make no mistake there. I was only dating him because I was fearful of another serious relationship after Colten.”

  “What? Are you kidding me? I specifically remember you saying you were dating seriously.” Travis placed a lot of emphasis on the word seriously.

  “No, Travis. I specifically remember you asking if I was dating him seriously, and I said that we were just hanging out. At that point we were just friends. Literally—friends hanging out together. That’s all.”

  “Hmmm,” was Travis’s only reply as he held the door open for her. She seemed to have annoyed him again.

  I don’t understand why he’s always so angry with me lately. I seem to make him mad no matter what I do. And men say that women are a mystery. I can’t figure him out. Besides, he was the one dating the beauty on the horse and maybe Misty too. Of course Rachael hadn’t seen him with either of them since, but that didn’t mean they weren’t dating.

  “Let’s look at some hats,” Travis announced.

  Rachael immediately saw one with a braided brown hatband she really liked. It was a beaver felt fedora hat. She ran over and tried it on. “What do you think?” She modeled it for Travis.

  “It’s a little masculine, don’t you think?”

  “Fine.” Rachael put it down. Next she picked up the most ridiculous, girly, pink hat she’d ever seen. A bunch of dyed pink feathers cascaded down the back from the hatband.

  Definitely not my style, but let’s see what Mr. Picky thinks about this one.