A Cowgirl at Heart

by Christine Lynxwiler

  When she finished reading and praying, she hurried in to shower and dress and get ready for the day. Back to the routine was what she needed.

  Five dogs later, Elyse wondered why she’d thought routine was so great. Her arms ached and her clothes were wet and sticky. But she was done for the day. She jumped in the shower again and had just finished dressing when the phone rang. Suddenly she regretted letting caller ID go on her home phone in an effort to economize. What if it was Luis?

  She let it ring two more times. What if it was him? Wouldn’t it be better to know what he wanted? What his angle was this time? “Hello?”

  “Elyse, it’s Jack. We’re outside with your Jeep.”

  “Perfect timing. I’ll be right out.”

  She pulled her damp hair up in a messy bun and slipped on her shoes. When she opened the door, she smiled. Her Jeep was back. She’d bought it a couple of months ago in an effort to be less afraid, and it had instantly become a part of the family. She felt like hugging it. The first thing she was going to do was clean out the interior. The thought of Zeke sitting in her seat and breathing the air inside the vehicle made her feel yucky. Crazy, but there it was. She waved at Jack. “Thanks for bringing it.” She jogged down the walkway to him. “She looks as good as new.”

  “Smells as good as new, too, thanks to him,” Jack said, nodding his head toward the pole barn.

  “Thanks to Andrew?” she said as she stepped over and opened the Jeep door. The new car smell hit her in the face, and she saw paper mats on the floorboard.

  “Yep. He called and asked me to have the dealership detail it inside before I brought it home. They said it’s just like new.”

  Elyse laughed as she ran her hand over the clean, shiny seat. “This is awesome! Can you have them send me a bill?”

  “No, ma’am. He drove into town awhile ago and paid them for doing the interior.”

  “That silly guy.” Elyse couldn’t believe how lighthearted she felt. What a nice thing to do.

  After Jack left, she glanced at the barn. Andrew’s truck was gone. She’d have to thank him later. She ran back to her Jeep and jumped in. Right now it was time to go for a ride. Somewhere neither Zeke nor Luis could find her. She called Crystal on the way up to the big house. “Whatcha’ doin?”

  Crystal groaned. “Working on my business plan for the drama studio.”

  Elyse wrinkled her nose. “Sounds like you need a break.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Good. Let’s go for a ride.”

  “When?” Crystal sounded interested but a little confused.

  “Now.”

  “Where?”

  “Wherever we feel like going.”

  Crystal hesitated then laughed. “That sounds perfect. Come on over. I’ll be ready.”

  “I’m here.”

  “In that case, give me two secs to grab some shoes and brush my hair, and I’ll be out.”

  A minute later, Crystal ran out and jumped in. “Let’s blow this Popsicle stand.”

  Elyse shifted the Jeep into reverse and threw a little gravel as she accelerated out of the driveway.

  “Wow,” Crystal said. “What’s gotten into you? You must have been going ... like ... twenty miles per hour.”

  “I know, right?” Elyse smiled at her sister and turned toward town. “I got my Jeep back, and I’m feeling wild and crazy.”

  “It smells brand-new again.”

  Elyse told Crystal about Andrew having it detailed.

  “He really likes you already, doesn’t he?”

  Elyse shrugged. “Maybe. But we’re just going to be friends.”

  “Been there, done that.” Crystal held out her hand. “Got an engagement ring.”

  “You and Jeremy are different.”

  When Crystal didn’t respond, Elyse glanced at her. “Crys? You okay?”

  The smile Crystal gave her didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I don’t want to bring us down. Let’s keep it light for now, okay?”

  Elyse had heavy stuff she didn’t want to talk about, too, so she could totally relate. “Hey, I have an idea.”

  “Uh-oh, what now?”

  “Why don’t you text Kaleigh and see if she’s busy?”

  “You want to drive all the way to Searcy?”

  Elyse kept her eyes on the road, but she could feel Crystal looking at her as if she’d lost her mind for considering an hour and a half drive without planning it. “We could be there by the time she gets out of class and hang out for a couple of hours. Why not?”

  Crystal pursed her lips then hit the dash with her hand. “It sure beats waiting around for Jeremy to call.” She lifted her phone and punched some buttons. “Maybe I can catch her between classes.”

  Elyse turned right at the highway, just in case, and headed toward Batesville. They could always just go to a movie or something there.

  In a few minutes, Crystal punched her fist in the air. “She’s free. She’s got something to talk to us about, so she’s really excited that we’re coming.”

  “Cool. Now would you do me a favor and text Luke and ask him to go over and let the dogs out when he gets home from work and again right before he goes to bed if we’re not back by then?”

  “Sure.” In less than a minute, Crystal nodded. “He said he would. No problem. And I texted Mom, too, and told her neither of us would be around for supper.”

  “Thanks. So how’s the business plan coming? Are you still planning on opening in January?”

  Crystal sighed.

  “Uh-oh, not light enough conversation?”

  “Oh, it’s fine. I always want to talk about the drama studio. At least I feel like I have some control of that situation. Yes, I’m still planning on opening in mid-January. I guess you know that Mama and Daddy are having Andrew paint the barn inside and out as a wedding present to me.”

  “Yes, he’s really excited about it.”

  “Me, too. That’s not an expense I have to figure in, but there are so many other things. The curtain, some basic props, insurance, and the list goes on.”

  “Anything worth having is worth working for,” Elyse said.

  “Okay, Daddy.”

  Elyse shrugged. “He’s a smart man. What can I say? So are you going to advertise? Hand out flyers at the school? Or what?”

  “Actually”—Crystal stared down at her lap—“I’m already filled to capacity for all the classes and have a waiting list.”

  Elyse glanced at her. “Wow. I guess I forgot you were a famous Broadway actress. Thankfully, everyone else remembered.”

  “Don’t be silly. But having students lined up will definitely make things go better at the bank.”

  The family had always known that Crystal’s move to New York after Cami’s death was more about running away from her grief than about following a dream. And though Cami had been obsessed with going to Broadway, Crystal had always enjoyed working with kids. “I was proud of you for getting the lead in that play, but I’m so glad you’re finally fulfilling your own dream.”

  “Me, too.” A shift in Crystal’s tone made Elyse nervous. “And even if Jeremy and I don’t end up getting married, I’m not sorry I moved back home to open the school.”

  Not get married? Elyse clutched the steering wheel tightly, unsure what to say. “Is that a possibility?”

  “I don’t know. I went ahead and ordered invitations without him. We set a date, and if he doesn’t want to get married, he’s going to have to tell me. I deserve that much.”

  “Have you asked him?”

  “Only over and over.”

  “What does he say?”

  “He uses Beka’s presence as an excuse not to answer. And when I ask on the phone, he always has to go. But the other night...”

  Elyse listened quietly as Crystal told her about Jeremy calling the night of the storm. When she described the anguish in his voice when he told her he loved her, Elyse felt her eyes burning. “Something’s not right.”

  Crystal nodde
d. “I know.”

  “Have you considered confronting him while Beka is at school? Just driving over there and asking him what’s going on?”

  “You don’t think that would be sneaky? Like an ambush?”

  Elyse shook her head. “You do deserve to know.”

  “Okay then. You convinced me. I’m going to do it tomorrow.”

  “Good.” Elyse pulled up to a stoplight and looked over at her sister. “Call me after if you need me.”

  “I will. Now back to light subject matter. We’re supposed to be having fun.” She gave Elyse a mock-stern look. “Say something fun.”

  “Did you hear the joke about the three guy dogs who saw a pretty poodle go by?”

  “Oh no, even your humor is going to the dogs.”

  “Fine. Lucky for you, we should be at Kaleigh’s dorm soon. She’ll have something fun to talk about. She always does.”

  Twenty minutes later they pulled up to the dorm. “There she is,” Crystal said. She frowned. “At least, I think that’s her.”

  “What is she wearing?” Elyse asked, puzzled. “Some kind of costume?”

  Crystal shook her head. “It looks like a brown pantsuit.”

  Elyse squinted at the girl making her way across campus. “And pearls?”

  “Yep. And her hair is straightened—all over.”

  Usually their impetuous sister only had the time or patience to straighten her side bangs. The rest of her hair was either swept up in a messy bun or it cascaded down her back in wild, beautiful red curls. Elyse loved it either way. Although with it straight, she looked more chic and stylish. “She looks like a model,” Elyse whispered, even though Kaleigh couldn’t hear her yet.

  Crystal nodded. “But she doesn’t look like herself. I guess this has something to do with what she wanted to talk to us about.” She opened the door and got out.

  Elyse joined her.

  When Kaleigh got to them, she pulled them both into a hug at once. “I’m so glad y’all are here. Is everything okay?”

  “Yep.” Elyse grinned. “Just celebrating getting my Jeep back.”

  “Yea!” Kaleigh pirouetted. “So? Notice anything different?”

  “Are you kidding?” Crystal asked. “We almost didn’t recognize you. What gives?”

  “I’ll tell you about it at the park. I ordered pizza to be delivered there in”—she looked at her phone—“ten minutes. Is that okay?”

  Elyse laughed. “What if we say no?” She glanced out the car window at the beautiful blue sky and still bright sunshine. Who could say no to being outside on a day like this?

  “Then there will be one irritated delivery guy, won’t there?” Kaleigh said as she shoved her corduroy Hollister bag into the backseat and climbed in after it. “I brought jeans to change into. But I wanted y’all to get the full effect so you’d know the sacrifice I’m making to get a date for your wedding.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Elyse and Crystal exchanged a look. Kaleigh had never had trouble getting a date for anything. Elyse didn’t question her. She had a feeling this explanation would probably go down better with pizza.

  While Kaleigh went to change into jeans, the young delivery boy delivered a large pepperoni pizza. “Yum.” Elyse breathed in the scent as she and Crystal split the cost, adding a generous tip.

  Kaleigh ran across from the restroom toward them.

  “She looks more like herself now, doesn’t she?” Crystal murmured.

  “Yes, why would she want to change that?”

  “Hey! I didn’t mean to skip out on paying.” Kaleigh slowed to a walk and rummaged in her bag the last few steps. “What’s my share of the bill?”

  “Your share is telling us all the latest news.” Elyse smiled at her. “It’s on us today.”

  “When you’re out of college and working next year, you can buy the pizza every time,” Crystal said, grinning, as they claimed an empty picnic table. “Want me to say the blessing?”

  Elyse and Kaleigh nodded and bowed their heads.

  When Crystal finished, Kaleigh slid a slice of pizza from the box. “Actually, the future is what I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.”

  Crystal and Elyse ate pizza while Kaleigh told them about her plan to get a wedding date and how Chance had been honest with her, so she’d changed her plan from Operation Wedding Date to Operation New Me. When she finished her pizza, she pulled a black notebook from her bag and laid it on the table. “It just hit me when he was pointing out how guys never want to keep going out with me, that if I don’t change, I’m going to end up like Chance’s and my granddad before he died.”

  “Living on a houseboat on the Mississippi?” Crystal asked, her expression puzzled.

  “No, silly. That’s the same thing Chance said.” Kaleigh rolled her eyes. “Old and alone before I die.”

  Crystal frowned. “He wasn’t alone. You and Chance visited him for two weeks every summer until he...”

  “Died three years ago,” Kaleigh said flatly. “Old and alone.”

  “Honey,” Elyse said softly. “You’ve got us. All of us. The chances of you ending up old and alone are very slim.”

  “Okay, I know that. But I also know that I can be difficult. And sometimes people don’t like me.”

  Elyse couldn’t believe her ears. “What’s not to like? You’re amazing.” People who didn’t know Kaleigh well sometimes equated her impetuousness with shallowness, but her family realized that her spirit ran as deep as the mighty Mississippi River she’d been raised on the first several years of her life.

  Crystal’s mouth dropped open. “Kaleigh, how can you say that? People love you.”

  “Not as much as they will if I become like everyone else.”

  “That would be such a waste,” Elyse said. “I’ve always admired your spunk. And especially how you are you no matter what anyone thinks.”

  Kaleigh stared at her. “I thought you, of all people, would understand. What I’m doing isn’t that much different than you buying the Jeep and trying to overcome your fears like you were talking about at the end of the summer.”

  Elyse didn’t know what to say. It was very different. She’d wanted to deepen her faith in God and quit being so fearful. But she wasn’t trying to change who she was as a person. Was she?

  Kaleigh’s chin lifted in that way that Elyse had come to recognize over the years. “Look. I’m going to change who I am, slowly but surely. First I’m going to get a respectable date to your wedding, Crys. Then who knows? Maybe even something more permanent, eventually.”

  Crystal shook her head. “But anyone worth having will love you just as you are.”

  Kaleigh sighed. “You have to say that—you’re my sister. Besides, they will love me just as I am. I’ll just be different.”

  Elyse laughed. “One thing hasn’t changed. Your logic still makes my head spin.”

  “Mine, too,” Crystal said. “Don’t sacrifice too much for a date to my wedding. Who knows if there’ll even be a wedding?”

  Kaleigh frowned. “Why don’t I call Jeremy and ask him exactly what his problem is?” She punched her fist in her palm and waggled her eyebrows. “I’ll make him talk.”

  Crystal chuckled. “I’m going to talk to him tomorrow while Beka’s at school. If that doesn’t work out, I just might take you up on that offer.” She waved her hand. “I just remembered. Assuming there is a wedding, I need to get a list of your fishing guide schedule for between now and the wedding so we can plan things like fittings.”

  Another reason Elyse admired her youngest sister. Instead of denying their childhood as Elyse had, Kaleigh and Chance had put their river rat backgrounds to use by paying for a lot of their college with income from their own business, K & C Guided Fishing Tours.

  “Okay. I know we’ve got one coming up in November for some medical group out of Memphis. Hmm. I guess if Carlton doesn’t pan out as a date, I can do Operation New Me that day, and maybe I’ll bring a doctor to the wedding.” Kaleigh gave them an i
mpish grin.

  Elyse put her hand to her mouth at the thought. “I’m pretty sure if you try to be a ‘whole new you’ on the boat, Chance will have a heart attack and you’ll need a doctor for more than a date.”