Susanna appeared impressed. “Obviously, then, you’re a hard worker. I know the Baxters. Good people. Would it be all right if I called Mr. Baxter for a reference?”
“That would be fine. I listed his contact information on the application.”
“Perfect.”
“So tell me some things about yourself. Two good characteristics that would make you a right fit for this job.”
“I’m outgoing and people-friendly, both of which would make me good at working with customers. I will also add that I love to shop, which I think can be put to good use here by helping customers select their purchases.”
The interview went on for another fifteen minutes, at which point Susanna suggested Rachael tour the store and familiarize herself with the various products. Rachael was amazed at the different types of boots—lace-up, slip on, dress, and work. The shirts ranged in both price and style from very dressy to extremely casual T-shirts. It even seemed like there was a belt for nearly everyone’s taste. Some were very rugged, others so ornate that they crossed over into a blinged-out look.
After fifteen minutes of walking the store, Rachael went to speak with Susanna near the register. Susanna introduced her to Tracey, who seemed very nice. Tracey had worked at the store for a year and had recently relocated to Sarasota from Bradenton. Tracey reminded Rachael of someone, but she couldn’t put her finger on whom.
Susanna asked Rachael how soon she could start, and Rachael agreed tomorrow evening at six o’clock would work great. Her shift would be six to close until she was finished with training in a week. Then it would change to six-hour shifts beginning at four o’clock in the afternoon until ten o’clock at night. All of the details were worked out.
Rachael stepped outside and immediately spied Travis’s truck parked next to her car. He jumped out when he spotted her.
“I got the job!” Rachael, excited, ran toward him and threw her arms around him.
“Great. I need to be supported in style by a hard-working woman.” He grinned.
Rachael had no idea how Travis really felt about a woman holding a job. His mother was a stay-at-home mom and probably always had been. Rachael made a mental note to put it on the list of Things to talk to Travis about before taking the big leap.
“When do you start?”
“Tomorrow.”
“That’s quick.”
“Yep, can’t wait. I need a pair of boots that fit, and I’ll get a good discount.”
“Perfect. Would you like to walk to the café and grab some early dinner?”
“Love to.”
Hand in hand, Travis and Rachael worked their way toward the sidewalk running in front of the shops in the strip mall. When they were almost even with the sidewalk, Rachael recognized someone. Amber and a woman who must be her mother, because she looked just like her, were walking toward them. They held shopping bags and were headed into the Western Store.
Though they were a good distance away, something about Amber’s appearance was different. Her face looked much fuller and so did the rest of her. That’s when Rachael saw it. Amber’s abdomen was protruding a lot, even under the loose-fitting shirt. As she and her mother darted into the Western Store, Travis drew a quick breath. Rachael’s heart hit the ground.
Amber is pregnant!
JENNY HAMMERLE ON ONE HER FAMILY'S RANCHES
Nothing could have prepared her for the sight of the rugged cowboy.
Green eyes, dark-brown hair, tall, tanned, nicely muscled.
And there she was, standing in the creek in only her underwear.
West Palm, Florida
Fifteen-year-old Rachael Harte has everything she could want—plenty of money, hang-out time with friends at the beach, and Colten, the hot boyfriend every girl in her prep school drools over.
But just as she receives her long-awaited debutante invitation, scandal strikes her family. Now Rachael has to go to public high school and live with her Aunt Margaret in a place called Fruitville. How much more redneck could it get? The first day, as she’s cooling off from the heat, she hears a soft “ahem” and looks up into the eyes of Travis Baxter, the most handsome cowboy she’s ever seen. His smirk is bad enough. Worse, they’re now neighbors and will attend the same school.
As Rachael plunges into redneck life in rural Florida, she’s charmed by a quirky new group of friends, including Travis’s twin, Maysie, but still misses her friends back home. Can Rachael and Colten survive on once-a-month visits? Or will Travis’s cowboy charms win her over? What she learns as a Redneck Debutante will teach her more about love and life than she could ever have dreamed.
The REDNECK DEBUTANTE® Series
Romance that’s a little bit city,
a little bit country.
www.jennyhammerle.com
www.oaktara.com
Acknowledgments
I would first like to thank my agent, Terry Burns, for his tireless dedication to editing my books. I know my first novel came to you a garbled mess, but that didn’t discourage you. You took the time to walk a “newbie” through the rigorous task of making one book into two. Through this process we’ve grown, and you haven’t hesitated to take on my other projects. Thank you for your continued efforts!
Ramona Tucker and the rest of the Oak Tara team: Thank you for your hard work and dedication in bringing these novels to life.
To my husband and boys, I love you all so very much! You bring joy to me in so many ways, and I can’t imagine our life together any differently.
A huge thanks to my big sis, Veronica, who always stepped in to defend or support me. As little girls playing hide-and-seek and eventually through high school, college, and beyond, you’ve had my back from day one. With you by my side, nothing seemed scary—not even the monsters under the bed or in the closet. I love you!
My little brother, Lem, for your outrageous personality and sense of humor. You have provided us with hours of laughter and entertainment. I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve ever talked me into doing, even High School Varsity weightlifting! Thank you for forcing me to step outside of my comfort zone and attempt new things. I love you, too!
For my sister-in-law, Mya, for being my sister in all things Redneck! Luv u.
Judy, my mother-in-law, who will always be more like a second mother to me than a mother-in-law. Thanks for challenging me to see new things and be a stronger Christian!
For Momma and Daddy: Where do I begin? You took a child filled with tenacity and spunk—that’s putting it nicely (smile)—and molded her into a lady. Thank you for being there to pick me up and set things right when I got off on the wrong path. You’ve inspired me to be the parent I am, always looking to serve my children’s interests and do the best I can by them.
Momma, you’re my editor and proofreader. Your wit and feedback helped shape my writing from a young age. I may have struggled with those first book reports and research papers, but I aspired to more because you wouldn’t let me quit when things got tough. Not in sports and not in my writing.
Daddy, I know I was like that 4-H heifer that didn’t want to be tamed or gentled. Your ways, while unconventional at times, were highly effective parenting tools. Thank you for being tough, as well as gentle, when you needed to be.
To Madeleine and Hannah, my nieces and friends, you served as my sounding board on this series! Thank you for taking the time to listen.
Finally, for my aunts, uncles, grandmothers, cousins, friends, and sorority sisters: They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in my case that is probably true! Thank you all for your advice, support, and love. The texture of my writing reflects the person I am and the influential people who have touched my life.
About the Author
JENNY HAMMERLE is a sixth-generation Floridian and grew up on a working cattle ranch. Her father still manages ranches in twelve Florida counties. She’s been bucked off more than a few times…and lived to write about it. Her writing revolves around rural Florida and ranch life. “My favorite place
to be is at the hunt camp, sitting around the campfire and listening to, or in some cases, telling funny stories! I also love to work cows in the cow pens—branding, tagging, marking, legging, and parting out calves to keep or sell.”
Jenny first came up with the idea of the REDNECK DEBUTANTE® series when she and her sister-in-law, Mya, cut and wrapped wild pork in Jenny’s kitchen and Mya told her, “You’re such a Redneck!”
When Jenny argued otherwise, Mya pointed to the side of pork on her kitchen counter and the butcher paper. “Seriously? What other woman likes to hunt and spend a lot of time in the woods? Face it—you’re a Redneck. And if you’re not, then what are you?”
Jenny replied, “I’m a Redneck Debutante.”
They both cracked up.
A few weeks later, based on a calling from God, Jenny began penning what would become the first and second books of the REDNECK DEBUTANTE® series. A series where girls are a mix of country and city, balancing two very different worlds. From cotillion to cowgirl, this is the story of a Redneck Debutante’s life!
“Storytelling is something that comes naturally to most cowboys or cowgirls,” says Jenny. “If you join us on any workday, around a campfire in the cow pens, you can experience that tradition for yourself!”
Jenny is now the mother of two wonderful little boys and also coaches a group of elementary and middle-school cheerleaders, keeping her in touch with their slang, drama, and texting practices. During college, she was a dancer for the University of Central Florida while working for Walt Disney World as a real-life princess.
“I think it’s important to try anything you want to! Be who you want to be!” Jenny tells her squad on a weekly basis, encouraging them to pursue their dreams. Growing up, Jenny was involved in cotillion, 4-H, track, weightlifting, gymnastics, dance, competitive cheerleading, modeling, and more. “Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking you need to limit yourself, because you don’t!” Jenny says and winks.
www.jennyhammerle.com
www.oaktara.com
Table of Contents
Prologue
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Jenny Hammerle on one her family's ranches
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Cowgirl Down (Redneck Debutante) Page 24
