“We certainly don’t need any of that. Even Ellery has a touch of redneck in her. She suggested cutting his valve stems and tacking his driveway. And possibly cutting his battery cables. You gotta watch that girl. She’s really growing on me,” Shannah boasted.
All of the girls laughed.
“While I hate him right now, I’m glad you guys convinced her to avoid the illegal activities.” Rachael grinned.
“You know what they say, don’t you, Rachael?” Maysie asked sweetly.
Rachael shook her head, a little afraid of what Maysie might say next.
“You can make a redneck into a refined lady, but even a refined redneck is still a redneck.”
24
IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF SCHOOL Rachael realized just how affected she was by her break-up with Colten. They had dated for a year and a half. She had loved him.
Truly loved him.
He was my first kiss…my first romance…my first love.
Rachael put away the picture frame he had made her. She wanted to erase Colten from her life. She didn’t need any more reminders of their time together. She threw away her surfer bracelet and the picture of them taken at the Sadie Hawkins Dance. She took off the silver ring for the first time since he had given it to her and placed it in her jewelry box.
Time slipped by. Rachael finished the school year and her final exams.
One Saturday morning she sat at the bar contemplating her life over a cup of coffee. Rachael’s father’s trial was scheduled to start in the fall, and she had no idea where that would lead. Rachael walked out to the barn to feed Taffy and ole’ lonesome George and decided to keep right on walking. It started to rain, and the drizzle became a downpour. She crossed the property line onto the Baxter Ranch and continued onward. She knew that both the break-up with Colten and her father’s upcoming trial were only the beginning of what would be very tough times.
What if her father were found guilty? Worse, what if he went to prison? Her mother would be devastated. Rachael had no idea how that might affect Michael. They still had the support of their Aunt Margaret, but even she had decided to take a job to make ends meet. The attorney’s bills kept right on coming. Their assets were still frozen. Her mother had applied for a job in Sarasota and would start in the next week or two.
Rachael felt hopeless. There was only one place for her to go—one person for her to turn to. One person who knew her and accepted her, even when he wasn’t always happy with her. One person she suddenly realized she not only liked, but loved with all of her heart.
Without even realizing it, she was walking in the direction that led her to the Baxters’ barn.
JENNY HAMMERLE ON
ONE OF HER FAMILY’S RANCHES
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
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Acknowledgments
About the Author
Redneck Debutante Page 27