“It’s okay. I know you were upset.”
“It’s just I haven’t been fully honest with you.”
“About…?”
“The ‘it’ conversation. I was too embarrassed to admit it then, but I think about ‘it’ all of the time. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.” She hung her head. “Then today the incident with…my friend. It’s a good reminder of why I’m waiting. I felt guilty for even thinking I was grateful it wasn’t me in that situation. Bottom line is, anyone could be in that situation. I don’t want it to be us.”
“Me neither.” Travis grabbed her hand and kissed it.
“So I was thinking that now might be the time to get me one of those purity rings,” she announced.
When Travis started laughing, she lifted her eyes and glared at him. “What’s so funny?”
“The ring isn’t magical or anything. It’s symbolic. You still have to control yourself.”
“I know. But it serves as a reminder.”
“Yes. There’s that. So you need a constant reminder to keep from thinking about me in that way?” He cocked his head with a smirk.
Rachael wouldn’t even answer his question. She was still too uncomfortable with the whole topic when it came to discussing them. Other people was one thing. Travis and her? That was an entirely different subject.
“I’m flattered. Flattered and scared of you, girl. You better keep your distance.” He hugged her more closely to his side.
“Funny. Funny.” Rachael pouted until they got home.
He lifted her down, telling her, “I’ll get you the ring.”
Rachael texted Amber twice that night to check on her but never heard back. She decided texting her any more tonight would be too pushy, so she decided to let it go until tomorrow.
*
The following day, bright and early, she rode to school with Travis.
“So I told my parents about the whole purity ring conversation.” He grinned.
“What?!” Rachael shrieked. “You are kidding, right?”
“No, I’m serious. My dad said he thought it was a great idea after the whole tree-stand kissing the other day.”
“Oh. You’re a funny guy this morning, Travis Baxter. You really had me going there for a minute.”
“Nope. I’m serious. I guess there’s a game cam up there on the other tree that records every time an animal, or in this case a person, moves.”
Rachael covered her face with her hands. “Your parents hate me. I just know it. I’m like some evil Jezebel leading you astray.”
“They don’t hate you, Rachael. My parents actually thought it was pretty funny. Dad is calling it the Rachael-Travis Highlights Reel. Kissing is okay, Rachael.” As if Travis felt he had to convince her further, he continued, “But anything beyond kissing is where they draw the line.”
“I could just die. Totally die.”
“You are not going to die. I think this is good. Because of the Highlights Reel, my parents now know how serious I am about you.”
“Please stop calling it that,” she begged.
“I don’t know.” He chuckled. “I think it’s quite catchy. It ranks right up there with the Rachael’s Greatest Hits Collection that Levi showed me last week. The camera is not your friend, my dear.”
Horrified, she decided in that moment she might actually kill both Levi and her little brother.
“So, about that ring. What’s your ring size?”
“Five.”
“Yellow or white gold?”
“Surprise me,” she murmured in a hurt tone.
“Buck up, Rachael. We are not in trouble. My parents have quite the sense of humor. My dad thought it was uproariously funny.”
She sniffed. “I’m glad to hear that.”
His gaze intensified. “Are you really mad about this?”
“Not mad. Just a little embarrassed. I know they’re teasing me. But I feel like I’m a bad influence on you. That they’re worried about us dating.”
“Rachael, I dated Misty, remember?”
“How could I forget?” she said a little snidely.
“Do you remember that speech my father gave you that first day you worked with us about the underage drinking, ‘ask Travis,’ and all that? That wasn’t for nothing, Rachael. You seem to think I’m this perfect guy who has never screwed up. That’s not the case. I’ve made some huge mistakes. Huge.” He shook his head. “I’m just like you or anyone else. I’ve been working to move forward from those mistakes for over a year, and at first the journey wasn’t easy. But I’m getting there. Us kissing in a tree stand is minor stuff, even in my parents’ eyes.”
“Is there audio on those cameras?” Rachael was worried that the entire “it” conversation had been recorded.
“No, but it wouldn’t matter if there had been. I talk with my dad and mom openly about us—even the ‘it’ conversation.”
“Good.” Now Rachael was on the receiving end of how he felt that day learning that she had discussed them with her father. Now she understood. It makes you feel a little strange.
“Rachael, I don’t plan on dating you for a week, or a month, or even only a year. I’m thinking very long-term here.” They had pulled up to her house now. After putting his truck in park, he reached for her hand. He looked very serious. “So talking to my parents about every aspect of our relationship is important to me. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s totally fine. About this ring…do I have to sign some sort of agreement with your parents?”
“Of course not.” He smiled at her now. “They know about it, and my mom helped me choose one last night, but that’s it. They’re not going to make you prick your finger and seal the deal in blood or anything. They trust you. They trust me. That’s it.”
“When will my ring be here?”
“Should be by this weekend. I’m taking you on a girly date, as you put it. You won’t get it until then.”
“Okay.” Rachael gave him a sweet peck on the lips.
“After all of that, all I get is that little kiss?” He sounded disappointed.
“Yeah. I figure there might be a game cam in this truck. I can’t be too careful.”
“Okay.” He laughed.
*
It was the week of Winter Break. The week flew by in a blur of semester finals and cramming. Amber was absent day after day.
By Friday Rachael surmised she wouldn’t see her until after the Winter Break. She had called and texted Amber for days.
No answer. No response.
While Rachael was worried about her, she had to assume Amber was okay. She even rang her house a few times. At first Amber’s mom said she had the flu and was resting. Other times she said she was out or not available. Rachael didn’t know what to do, but if Amber’s mother wasn’t worried and knew her whereabouts, then it was really none of Rachael’s business.
On Friday after school Rachael looked forward to her evening with Travis that she had been anticipating all week. She knew he had the ring, even though he wouldn’t admit as much. Rachael remembered back to the ring Colten had given her so long ago. That ring was just a ring. A piece of jewelry. It held no true significance or meaning. This ring from Travis was different.
A purity ring? Who would have ever thought it possible?
To Rachael it meant so much more. An unspoken promise to each other. A promise to work together toward something special that, in the end, would be worth the wait. Rachael had butterflies just thinking about it. It was a big deal. She had two more years of high school and four years of college before she would even consider marriage.
Hold on a minute here. Is this a purity ring or an engagement ring? Let’s not get carried away here. Travis had said nothing about the latter. He’d never even mentioned it. And hadn’t she been the one to ask for the ring in the first place?
Oh, my gosh! I asked a guy for a ring? What was I thinking? Well, not just any ring. Correction: I asked a guy for a no “nookie” ring! I nee
d to email Dad.
Rachael went into her room and emailed her father. He would get the message and call her back. It didn’t take him long.
“Hey, baby girl. What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing much. But I’ve set something in motion here that I’m not sure I should have.”
“Like what?” her dad prompted, waiting patiently for her to explain.
“Well, Travis and I have been spending a lot of time together, and we’ve gotten really close.”
“How close is close?”
Though the change in tone was slight, Rachael picked up on it immediately. “Not that close, Dad!”
“Okay. You had me worried there for a minute. Continue.”
“Then this friend of mine starts having “nookie” with her boyfriend. Next thing you know she thinks she’s pregnant.”
“Well, is she? This friend of yours?”
“I don’t know. She hasn’t been to school in over a week. Her mom says she’s out or resting or whatever else when I call to check on her, but that’s not why I’m calling. Well, not really.”
“So why are you calling? What’s bothering you?”
“I started thinking, She’s in a serious relationship. I’m in a serious relationship. She messed up and is in a difficult situation. I’m relieved not to be in that same situation. So I decided I needed some way to make sure I don’t end up in that situation. I asked Travis about a purity ring.” She giggled. “Actually, I guess I asked him for a purity ring.”
“Like the one he wears.”
“Exactly, like the one he wears.”
“A purity ring is good,” her father said approvingly.
“I knew you’d say that, but please try not to think like a dad for a moment and tell me like you would a friend. I have two more years of high school and four years of college. Is it realistic that a couple, in love, can wait that long?”
“As a friend, I’ll tell you it is. People accomplish exactly that all the time. As your dad, I have to say I certainly hope so! Put that ring on and don’t take it off!”
“Funny, Dad. But you don’t think it’s weird and all to get a purity ring from my boyfriend?”
“I think it’s great. It shows you guys have an understanding. An agreement. It’s not like it’s an engagement or promise ring or anything of that sort. Just appease me and tell me it’s not,” He joked.
“No way.” She paused. “Mmm, it is a sort of promise ring. A promise to work hard at avoiding what you like to call ‘nookie.’ ”
“Then great! I can’t tell you how excited I am to learn about this ring! I have to go. Love you, honey.”
“Love you too.”
Rachael went into her closet and picked out a nice jean skirt, top, flip-flops and her cowgirl hat from Travis. She was nervous but had no idea why.
*
When he came to the door he had purple roses for her. Aunt Margaret and her mother both merely waved from the kitchen when they left. Travis was becoming a part of everyday life around their house, and all of the formalities had gone out the window some time ago.
“You look nice.”
“Thanks. Where are we going?”
“Dinner.” Travis was evasive.
They drove into town and toward the beach. He took her to a restaurant that faced the bay, where they feasted on oysters, lobster, and shrimp.
Afterwards he suggested a walk on the dock, where Rachael thought he would produce the ring, but to her surprise he didn’t.
Instead he turned her toward him and asked, “Rachael, are you sure you want a purity ring?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I?” She wondered what had prompted his sudden reluctance.
“I’ve been thinking that I wouldn’t want you doing it for the wrong reasons. I did it because I wanted to. Not because my girlfriend made me feel like I had to or something.”
“You’ve never made me feel that way, Travis. As a matter of fact, I think that I asked you for the ring. If anything, I’m making you give me one.”
“Seriously, Rachael. What I’m asking is, you didn’t ask for one because my family in any way made you feel like you needed one or required one or anything like that?”
He was serious. Dead serious. He thought she had somehow been bullied into this or been made to feel inadequate in some way. His family had never done any such thing.
“No, of course not. I may have felt some inadequacies at first, but that was on me. Your family has been nothing but kind and welcoming to me from the beginning. I’ve obviously had some issues of my own to work through over my father, our situation, and my own mistakes. I feel I need the ring to help remind me why we are waiting.”
“And why are we waiting, Rachael?”
Oh he would have to go and ask me that! He knows it makes me blush. Just the thought of “it” with him….
It was there, in that moment, standing on the dock with Travis, that Rachael realized the why of “why” she wanted to wait. If she was mature enough to ask Travis for this purity ring, then she was mature enough to discuss the reasons behind asking for one.
To really discuss the reasons.
She looked him straight in the eyes with an unwavering gaze. “Because long term I think it is the right thing for us as a couple. In the end it will make our relationship stronger and better. I’m not saying I won’t think about sex with you from time to time and imagine that it could be nice, but that is where it will stop. Then someday, far off in the future, the time will finally come for us—I hope—even if I have to wait seven years.”
“Seven years!” Travis nearly choked. “Wow! That’s a long time.”
“My dad and I spoke about it.”
“Of course you guys did. What did he say?”
“I have high school to finish. Then four years of college. Then marriage, a career, and kids.”
“Boy. You really have all of this planned. I agree with all of it, except for the order. I was thinking more along the lines of graduate high school. Start college. Finish the two-year degree. Get married. Finish the bachelor degree. Mine was more of a four year plan. Well, maybe three and a half years. You already have some college credit courses and so do I.”
“We don’t have to decide it all tonight.”
“No. Thank goodness. With your plan I may have to join the priesthood or something instead. I’m a strong guy, but seven years!” He grabbed his stomach, laughing. “Come on. Let’s go.”
He took her hand and led her back down the dock. They headed home. Every few minutes he smiled, looked over at her, and murmured, “Seven years. Hmmm.”
When they got to Travis’s house, Rachael was suddenly very nervous again.
Is this going to be a family affair? Let’s all give Rachael the purity ring and have an in-depth sex talk? I hope not!
“Don’t worry. No one is home.” Travis read her thoughts.
“Good.”
They walked inside hand in hand. He led Rachael into the dining room. Laid out on the dining table was her grandmother’s Tiffany Sterling Tea and Coffee Service.
Rachael gasped. “Travis, that isn’t what I think it is, is it?”
“It is. Now, before you object, hear me out. My father wanted to buy you a vehicle when you came to work for us. It was going to be your Christmas bonus/gift, but I convinced him and my mother it would bother you. That buying a vehicle is something you wanted to do on your own. So in the end we brainstormed, and Maysie suggested this. We called Leopold’s, and it was still there.”
“I can’t accept it, Travis. No matter how much I want to, I can’t.” Tears blurring her vision, Rachael sat uncertainly in a chair by the dining table.
Travis knelt in front of her. “It should make you feel better to know that we spoke with both of your parents first. While they both felt it was a very expensive gift, they understood why we wanted to get it back into your hands. Please accept it. My mother will be heartbroken if you don’t.”
Rachael picked up the coffee pot. Someth
ing rolled around inside it. She lifted the lid and peeked inside.
The ring.
She looked up at Travis, who was still kneeling on the ground at her feet. She poured the ring out into her hand and studied it. It was white gold and simple in design. A white gold vine wound its way around, making a band. From it grew small gold hearts in every direction.
“I love it, Travis.” Rachael put it on her own finger.
Travis pulled her to her feet and kissed her.
15
TRAVIS AND HIS FAMILY FLEW OUT TO PARK CITY in the morning where they would spend all of Winter Break. Rachael would be helping care for the horses in their absence, but she knew no matter how busy she kept herself, she would miss Travis a lot.
A few days into their break the weather really warmed up and Rachael, Shannah, Michael, and Gabe headed to the beach. A nice breeze was blowing in off of the Gulf, and it was in the mid-seventies.
Shannah and Rachael made their beds out of towels on the sand and began sunbathing. Rachael loved to lay there and soak up the rays. Michael and Gabe wrestled in the water. Michael was determined to catch a small fish in his hands as well. He’d already been at it for over an hour and refused to give up.
“Hey, Rachael,” Shannah said in a barely audible breath.
Rachael didn’t even open her eyes. “What?” she asked in the same hushed tone.
“Isn’t that Amber over there?” Shannah had needed glasses for a while, but being as ornery as she was, she still refused to go get some. She could see up close, but the distance thing was blurry at best.
“Amber?” Rachael sat up like a shot. Sure enough, it was Amber. “Who is that girl she’s with?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go over and say hi.”
“Okay.” Both girls stood, dusting the sand from their legs, and made their way over to Amber. Rachael couldn’t tell by her expression if she was excited to see them, or if something else was going on. She waved as they got closer.
“Hi,” Amber greeted them. “Rachael, Shannah, this is my friend Shannon. Shannon, this is Rachael and Shannah.”
All the girls exchanged greetings.
Cowgirl Down (Redneck Debutante) Page 17
