“What are you doing?” Travis said.
“Lying here trying to decide what to do about Brittany.”
“Oh. That’s a hard one,” Maysie muttered and plopped down on the bed. Travis took a seat at the foot of the bed.
“Knock knock,” Shannah hollered out from the doorway.
What’s going on here? Rachael never expected this much company. It was like a convention in her bedroom.
Shannah came around the far side of the bed and jumped in beside Rachael, managing to lay down in one fluid movement. “What up? I gotta leave for Granny’s place in the morning. Thought I’d come say good-bye for the summer.”
“Bummer. You’ll miss the guy-girl campout.” Maysie looked deflated.
“Gabe will be there. He’ll keep an eye on Rachael and Travis for me.”
“Funny,” Travis said sarcastically.
“Back to the topic at hand. Brittany. What to do. What to do.”
“Well, she did apologize,” Shannah said curtly.
“Yeah. There is that,” Travis stated. He was definitely not a Brittany fan.
“But she did intentionally go after a friend’s ex, which probably sabotaged y’all’s relationship,” Shannah offered.
“I probably shouldn’t be in here for this.” Travis stood to go.
“Please stay, Travis, I need your help too.” Rachael gave him a sweet smile.
He reluctantly eased back down.
“She did do that, but I was meant to be with someone else,” she said, “someone special.” Rachael wasn’t looking directly at Travis. But she knew he would be happy to hear it. She could sense him grinning.
“Okay, I’m glad I stayed for that part.” Travis nodded.
“Life is about forgiveness,” Maysie said. “I, for one, have always said that an apology is an apology. You can’t really question the motives behind one. You don’t know the whys or hows. You should just accept it and move on. Look at Travis and Jason. They’re fine now.”
Travis laughed.
“Why? What happened?”
“We worked it out,” was all Travis would say.
“Travis busted his nose, Jason busted his lip. It was an ugly fight, but no one died,” Shannah said off-handedly.
“And now they’re friends again!” Maysie, ever the positive one, cheered.
“Maybe that’s how we need to handle this Brittany thing.” Shannah glanced at her watch. “Wonder if I have enough time to make a run to Palm Beach and back again?”
Rachael and Maysie simultaneously yelled, “No!”
“I wouldn’t really have done it. I’ve progressed way beyond my initial animalistic ways. Give me some credit, girls!” Shannah chided. “Tacking her driveway, though, is a different story. I may still want to tack her driveway when I get back at the end of the summer.”
“Like you did to poor Gabe when he pushed you too far?” Maysie giggled.
“Served him right. He had two flats on the way to school the next day. Now he knows better than to pressure me about ‘it.’ ” Shannah seemed really proud of herself.
“Don’t get any ideas, Rachael,” Travis warned jokingly. “Tires for a truck the size of mine are expensive.”
“Okay. Let’s get back on track here!” Maysie took charge. “Just send her an email. Short and sweet. And be fast about it! We’re going out air-boating for Shannah’s last day.”
Everyone took their cue from Maysie and walked out of the room, giving Rachael an opportunity to type the email.
She went over to her computer, sat down, and began typing. She wasn’t sure what she would say, but she had to start somewhere.
Dear Brittany,
Thank you for your apology. Apology accepted. I wish you all the best senior year! Can you believe we are going to be seniors? I can’t. TGFT.
Rachael
Rachael jumped up and put on her bikini. It was a conservative bandeau-style bikini without too much going on up top. She pulled a tank top on over it and some shorts. After their break-up Rachael had decided one thing—while she would do her best to work with Travis on their joint effort, it shouldn’t require her to completely change who she was. God had made her this way, and she wouldn’t go around dressing in men’s sweatshirts and T-shirts all of the time.
Rachael came down the hall and stepped outside. She nearly dropped her beach bag when she saw Colten’s Jeep parked in her driveway behind Travis’s truck and airboat. Shannah and Maysie were running interference/referee. Things looked tense.
Rachael walked over to where they all stood.
Calm yourself. Forgiveness. Forgiveness.
Rachael repeated the mantra over and over again. She wasn’t sure how this situation would play out, but it was already underway, and she knew she would have to throw herself into the middle of it.
Travis and Colten were exchanging heated words. Rachael was afraid it would come to blows. Thank goodness Colten was not the fighting type and probably had never thrown a punch in his entire life. Travis, on the other hand…well, if Colten dared start anything, it wouldn’t go well for him.
Rachael stepped in between them. “I’ve got this Travis.” She placed her hand gently on his chest. She could tell it took every ounce of inner restraint Travis possessed for him to stand there and let her handle it.
She swiveled toward Colten. “Colten. What brings you by today?” She tried to convey a calmness she was in no way feeling.
“Rachael. We need to talk. I know I have messed up hugely. I know Brittany has told you everything. I just wanted to come and tell you my side of things. Try to explain. Apologize for everything.”
“I appreciate that, Colten. I really do.” Rachael found that saying those words was much simpler than she’d ever imagined it could be. She had truly moved on. She was in love with Travis Baxter and had been for a really long time. “I accept your apology and need to apologize myself.”
Maysie gasped from somewhere nearby.
Rachael went on. “While you and Brittany were getting close, I had started a friendship here that eventually led to much more as well. Just like you and Brittany, I didn’t start dating Travis until after we broke up. I realized, though, that being that close with another guy while you are in a relationship is a bad idea. That’s why I would never do that again.”
Colten’s eyes looked anguished. “Wow. So I’m truly too late.”
Rachael could feel Travis getting ready to blow behind her. “Yes, Colten, you are. I wish you all the best. No hard feelings on my part.” Rachael extended her hand and they shook. “Friends,” she offered.
“Friends,” he accepted. He turned, got into his Jeep, and drove away.
Everyone got into their vehicles without saying a word. Travis was clearly angry, and Rachael couldn’t figure out why.
Finally, he spouted, “Friends? I don’t think that was such a bright idea.”
“I don’t mean in the literal sense of the word, Travis. He’s not going to be calling me or texting me or anything like that.”
“And what if he does?” His eyes flashed sparks.
“Then I will tell him to stop, block his calls, and all that. You can do that, you know.” Rachael looked over at Travis, sitting there so handsome and all. “What are you doing way over there?” she asked.
“I don’t know. You’re the one who climbed in on the wrong side.”
Rachael made a big production of sliding over and sitting so close to Travis that he could hardly move to drive. He cut his eyes at her.
“You’re going to have to trust me to handle things. I think I did a pretty good job back there.”
“I especially liked the part about developing feelings for me last year. You’ve never told me that. Why did we waste so much time not dating or, even worse, dating the wrong people?”
“I’m glad it happened when it did. The timing was right. Besides, you have to make it another seven years.”
“Two. I’ve been reconsidering that whole thing.”
&
nbsp; “Two!”
“Just hear me out. I’ll be eighteen in August. You’ll turn eighteen after graduation next year. Technically we could marry right after graduation. I’ll be almost nineteen, and you’ll be eighteen.”
“Nope. I’m sticking to my guns here, Travis. We’re at least finishing our associate degrees. Then we can get married and work toward our bachelor degrees together. And let’s not forget that my father would kill you.”
“Not necessarily. I already spoke with him.”
“What? When?”
“He had my number from the whole tea and coffee service thing. Anyhow, he called me after your chat with him this morning.”
“Did he threaten to send someone over to your house?”
“He certainly did. I really like him. I liked that part of our conversation the most.”
“You are so strange, Travis. So what happened?”
“Well, then he offered me some fatherly advice.”
“About?”
“If you want to know the answer to that question, you’ll have to ask him. I’m not telling you.”
“Okay. So get to the part where the two of you talked about marrying me off at eighteen.”
“It was his idea. He said it’s really not such a big deal. They trust us to finish school—four years of college to be exact—each. We could live on the ranch in the guest house behind the big house, or we could go off to school together. Why not?”
“Why not? I’ll only be eighteen! Eighteen! Absolutely not. I want my associate’s degree first. That’s compromise enough from my original seven-year plan. I’m meeting you halfway here, Travis.”
“He told me you would say that. He knows you pretty well. Okay, but it was worth a try.”
“And no more talks with my father about whatever else you guys discussed.”
“I can’t promise that. We are similar in some ways—he and I. He had some solid advice.” Travis was really having fun with her now.
“La la la la la!” Rachael was singing at the top of her lungs, holding her fingers in her ears. “Don’t tell me. Please don’t tell me anymore.”
“Now you understand the torture you and Maysie have put me through for two years.”
20
IT WAS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT ON THE RIVER. All of their closest friends were there. Maysie was the only one who wasn’t part of a couple, and it didn’t seem to bother her in the least. She was completely unaffected by it…or was she?
Since Rachael had known Maysie, she had always had a crush—always. Jason, Adam, and the many before Rachael even knew her. Now for the last four months or so there had been nothing. No mention or interest in any guy. None whatsoever. As her friend, Rachael thought this was odd. Today she intended, with the help of Shannah, to get to the bottom of it.
The guys were off fishing on Travis’s airboat while Shannah, Maysie, and Rachael had stayed behind on the shoreline sunning. Rachael decided that there was no time like the present to talk to Maysie.
“So, Maysie, I’ve been meaning to ask you, what is going on in your love life?”
“Nothing to report there. Absolutely nothing.” But Maysie, sitting in a lawn chair next to her, was smiling from ear to ear.
Rachael eyed Shannah, who looked at Maysie, and then back again at Rachael.
“Something stinks,” Shannah said bluntly.
“Oh, it’s just the water, Shannah,” Maysie explained in a chirpy tone. “It’s muck bottom on this part of the river. The water is a little stinky this time of year when it starts to all heat up again.”
Shannah rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t talking about the water.”
“Maybe I didn’t put on enough deodorant or something.” Maysie smelled her own armpits. “Nope. It’s not me. Must be Rachael.”
“It’s not Rachael’s armpits either, Maysie. I was being figurative. Something stinks as in the big ole’ fat lie you just told about not liking someone.”
“Oh, that. No, really, I’m not dating anyone, talking to anyone. No plans of any kind here, ladies.” Maysie closed her eyes and lay back down.
Rachael frowned at Shannah. While Maysie always had a crush on someone, she wasn’t a liar. If she said she wasn’t dating anyone or planning to, she was being honest. Yet something was off here.
Rachael was determined to figure it out. “Do you like anyone?” she asked Maysie.
“Define like”
“Maysie, who do you like?” Rachael raised her voice. “We have to know. You’re killing us here.”
“Oh. That kind of like. I wasn’t sure what you were asking.”
“Is it Tristan?” Rachael hoped the answer would be a definitive no.
“Of course it’s Tristan. I’ve always liked Tristan.”
“Tristan? As in the man!” Shannah sounded as if she didn’t believe it. “How old is he anyhow? Thirty? Forty?”
“No. He’s twenty-three. Soon he’ll be turning twenty-four.”
“Too old for you, Maysie. Way too old,” Shannah warned.
“I know that. I’ll be eighteen in August, though.”
“Eighteen and a senior in high school. Not eighteen and a freshman in college. There’s a big difference between the two,” Rachael reasoned.
“Same difference. Eighteen is eighteen,” Maysie argued.
“I don’t think your father will see it that way.” Shannah shook her head.
“No, probably not. That’s why there’s no plan there. Besides, I’ve already told Tristan.”
“Told him what?” Rachael asked.
“I told him that I liked him, that I have always liked him. That I have this huge crush on him and always have.” At their blank stares Maysie merely asked, “What’s so wrong with that?”
“What did he say?” Rachael asked.
“This should be good. What would you say if you were some twenty-something-year-old guy—correction, man—and a beautiful, young teenager was throwing herself at you?” Shannah added a solid dose of reality, as she usually did.
“It may surprise you to learn that he said I was too young for him now and that while he was flattered by my attentions, I was way too young for him. Period. Then he finished working that horse for Daddy and left. End of story.”
Shannah and Rachael stared at each other. Then Rachael asked, “How long ago was this?”
“This morning,” Maysie chirped.
“This morning!” Rachael knew in the pit of her stomach this didn’t bode well.
A few minutes later she heard the hum of an airboat in the distance. The guys were coming back too early. Rachael and her friends exchanged glances.
Travis idled up to the shoreline. His jaw was clenched, and he said, “Okay, ladies. Sorry to call it a day so early, but we have to head home. Just got a call from my dad.” He shot Maysie a look that could kill.
Without another word everyone packed up. Gabe and Shannah had driven separately. Rachael hugged Shannah good-bye and told her to have a great summer. Then, in silence, Rachael, Maysie, and Travis jumped into his truck.
“Tristan, Maysie. Tristan?” was all Travis could bring himself to say.
Maysie didn’t even answer him. Rachael dared not say a word. This was proving to be quite the day. First the near fight between Colten and Travis, and now this situation with Maysie and Tristan.
When they got home to Maysie’s house, Mrs. Baxter was waiting out front to greet them. “Travis, why don’t you run Rachael home, dear?” Then she turned to Rachael and smiled genuinely. “Rachael, it’s your job to keep him there. He can be a little hot-headed at times like these. If you are going to get married someday, you should know these things now.”
“I will, Mrs. Baxter.” Rachael had every intention of keeping Travis as far away from an altercation with Tristan as possible.
Travis backed down the driveway, sending gravel flying. Rachael could tell he was in a mood.
“You are not heading over there, Travis.”
“Wouldn’t you if it were yo
ur sister?”
“No. Because nothing happened. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“You knew about this, and you didn’t tell me?” he yelled. His hands gripped the steering wheel even more tightly.
“Calm down and pull over,” she soothed. “We’re not going anywhere with you driving like a maniac.”
Travis did as she asked and pulled into the driveway of their gate leading to the east side of their ranch. He threw the truck in park and sat there fuming. “He’s twenty-three, Rachael,” he spouted.
“I know he is, but nothing happened. I only learned about her crush on him this morning. I guess she felt the need to tell him, so she did.”
“When?” he barked.
‘This morning. And he said that while he was flattered, she was way too young for him.”
He exhaled. “He’s certainly got that part right.”
Rachael watched as he started to calm down. “So,” she added gently, “I don’t see what can possibly have gone so wrong between this morning and now.”
“I guess he was caught off guard by her announcement. He’s close friends with my father, so he went to speak with him and confirmed everything you have just said, except with one minor addition. Maysie will be eighteen in August.”
“I know. You’re twins, remember?”
“Well, he admitted to my father that he was planning on asking her out when she turns eighteen.”
“And that didn’t go so well?”
“No. It didn’t. It didn’t come to blows or anything, but my dad is one ticked-off man right now.”
“O-o-kay. Poor Maysie.” She winced.
“Poor Maysie!” he exploded. “She practically asked out a twenty-three-year-old! There is no poor Maysie about it. And if he’s as innocent in all of this as you say he is, then it may have cost him a friendship.”
“Let’s take a walk.” Rachael recognized that without some physical exertion of some kind her cowboy boyfriend was going to blow a fuse. The more time she spent with him, the more aware she became of how active he was—constantly on the move. He was a physical type of guy.
Travis reluctantly climbed out of the truck and lifted Rachael down behind him. She took his hand. He opened the gate for them, and they headed through the pasture. She tugged on his hand until he slowed his fast and angry stride to a stroll.
Cowgirl Down (Redneck Debutante) Page 22
