Cowgirl Strong

by Jenny Hammerle

  Their previous dance captain, Trisha, had graduated last year and as seniors there was a good chance that one of the girls at her slumber party tonight would be selected as captain by the band director. Rachael felt nervous about the upcoming try-outs and hoped she would make the team again. The other dancers had tried out at the end of the season, but Rachael hadn’t been eligible to try-out at that time. Yet she hoped she would get one of two coveted spots, left vacant by Amber and another friend who had moved away.

  Rachael considered the slumber party invitation list. She’d gone out on a limb and even invited Honey. She decided she needed to reach out to her regarding Misty and hoped that together they would all be able to help her.

  Around eight o’clock sixteen girls had arrived. That was most of the squad minus Honey, Misty, Selena, and Alex. While Rachael wasn’t shocked that Honey and Misty had chosen not to come, and Selena was out of town, the real shocker was Alex. Alex and Rachael were very close friends. Alex had even sent an RSVP text saying she would be there, yet here it was eight o’clock and she hadn’t arrived. Rachael disappeared down the hall to her bedroom and checked her voicemail. Nothing. Just then, a text came in. It was from Alex.

  ’Not going to make. So sorry. Tell everyone I said hi!’

  Back in the living room, Maysie led a line dancing session. Even Amber, at nearly nine months pregnant, was up and joining in the fun. The evening continued with an American Idol style karaoke contest with judges and everything. Rachael had gone down to Michael’s room to recruit both he and Levi to serve as the judges. Her Aunt Margaret was the third. Rachael armed each of them with dry erase boards and markers. The real highlight of the night was when her own mother got up and sang Sir Mix-a-Lots Baby Got Back! Rachael had never known her mother to be a fan of rap or hip hop- and there she was rapping! She knew every word!

  Rachael and her friends laughed so hard they nearly fell over. Michael, Levi and Aunt Margaret named Amber and Jody the winners for their duet of the theme song from the movie Titanic. Everyone crashed around three o’clock in the morning. Dawn came quickly and so did a few of the parents.

  Rachael was surprised when the doorbell chimed before eight. It was Lisa’s mother. She was there to pick up Lisa, Marcey, and Tina. Rachael thought it strange she would be coming this early to pick the girls up, but assumed they must have something important to do. Then as the doorbell chimed again, this time nearing nine o’clock, Rachael opened the door to Jen’s mother. She looked very agitated.

  “You have some nerve, Rachael Harte. I should’ve expected as much from you with your own father being in prison.”

  The lady swept past Rachael and called for Jen to grab her bags and meet her outside. Rachael was at a loss for words, as both Jen and Gina rushed past her with their sleeping bags and overnight bags in hand.

  “Bye, Rachael. Thanks! It was fun.” Jen whispered.

  “Thanks for coming.” Rachael called to her turned back and shut the door. She knew immediately what this was all about.

  Amber.

  Was I wrong to invite Amber? She was pregnant, but that didn’t mean she’d changed. She was still the same sweet person she’d always been. Rachael fought back tears and the hateful attack Jen’s mother had made against her, her own father, and family. Rachael walked into the kitchen and got out orange juice and donuts for the remaining guests. Savannah, Caitlin, Jody, Maysie, and Shannah attempted small talk to distract Amber from what just transpired, but to no avail. They’d all witnessed the scene at the door.

  “Thanks guys for this wonderful display of friendship. I had fun. I truly did. My mother texted me and will be here in a few minutes.” Amber was on the verge of tears.

  Rachael hugged her friend, “I’m sorry.”

  Amber wiped away the tears trickling down her face. “Don’t be. I’m not. This was one of the nicest things anyone has done for me. Thank you for being true friends and including me in your sleepover.”

  All of the girls went over, one by one, hugging Amber and wishing her well. Her mother arrived. Everyone helped her carry her things outside and load them in her car. She drove away.

  “When is she due?” Caitlin asked.

  “A few weeks.” Maysie answered.

  “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pissed.” Shannah spat. “I can’t believe how Jen’s mom behaved toward Rachael.”

  “It’s one thing not to want your daughter here, but it’s something entirely different to attack another girl.”

  “She should’ve just picked her daughter up and taken her home.”

  “I guess I should’ve told all of the parents on the invite about Amber’s pregnancy.” Rachael muttered.

  “No, it’s each girl’s responsibility to share that with their parents. Then, if their parents wouldn’t allow them to come, then so be it.” Jody advised.

  “Jody’s right. I told my mom. She didn’t have a problem with it.” Savannah added.

  “I disagree.” Shannah hissed. “Why should anyone have to take out an ad? I think it’s ridiculous! Maybe everybody could have mentioned it to their mom, but either way there is no excusing her behavior.”

  “What’s done, is done.” Maysie surmised. “Let’s go back inside and finish breakfast.”

  Most of the remaining girls were seniors, as well, and had driven themselves to the party. Everyone finished breakfast, packed up, and went home. Rachael, Maysie, and Shannah sat discussing the morning’s events a few hours later on the back porch.

  “I just don’t understand. Jen’s mom is supposedly this super Christian member of our church. We preach forgiveness…and that babies are a blessing…and all that other stuff. Then she shows up here and attacks poor Rachael.” Maysie scowled.

  “She didn’t behave like a super Christian this morning. She behaved like a super jerk.” Shannah verified.

  “Don’t worry about it guys. I knew along the way there would be those people who wouldn’t approve of me based on my family and my father being in prison. It didn’t come as a surprise.” Rachael smiled tightly.

  But no matter how much Rachael tried to reassure them, she knew deep down it had hurt her. Am I going to be judged by the mistakes of my father and wrongly accused? What she’d done in having Amber over had come from the heart, from some place good. For it to be turned into something ugly was upsetting.

  *

  She spent the afternoon lying in the loft listening to music. She heard boots clomping up the steps, shuffling across the wood floor of the loft. Without even opening her eyes she knew it was him.

  Travis lay down beside her in the hay.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Nope. You were right.”

  “Not entirely. I was wrong about the fact that most of the girls’ parents didn’t have a problem with it. Only a handful of the parents did.”

  “Yes, five to be exact.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” Rachael knew she was lying, and that if she opened her eyes and actually made eye contact he would know the truth.

  “My mom called Jen’s mom and gave her an earful.” He rolled onto his side.

  “She did?”

  “Yes, she did. She told her she was wrong and had behaved wrongly toward a young lady who deserved her kindness. There was a whole lot of scripture quoting in there, too.”

  “It was nice of her to defend Amber that way.”

  “It wasn’t Amber she was defending, Rachael. It was you.”

  Shocked, Rachael couldn’t speak. She hadn’t told her own mother yet about what had happened because she’d been at work this morning and still was. Here was Travis’ mother defending her.

  After the conversation the other day Rachael knew just how serious she’d been when she mentioned their future together. Rachael had become much more to his family than just his girlfriend, she was family.

  Rachael rolled over to face him, lying on her side. He reached his hand out and cupped her cheek.

  “You did
the right thing. Aside from a few crazy women, I heard the party was a total and complete success.”

  “It was. Amber is due in a few weeks. Then she will begin the difficult step of continuing her life and moving forward from this. I plan on being there by her side, every step of the way.”

  “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  Rachael and Travis lay in the loft until dinnertime chatting about his birthday party that would take place in a few days- and the reward placed on Gabe’s head. She, Maysie, and Shannah agreed that any girl that could take him out would receive a gift certificate for a pedicure. While he didn’t laugh, she knew him well enough to know that Travis thought it was hilarious.

  Chapter Six

  The day of Travis’ birthday party arrived. Anybody and everybody had been invited, with the exception of Misty. Travis’ very own mother had sent the invitations, and for reasons of her own she thought it would be inappropriate for her to attend.

  Rachael, Maysie, and Shannah went shopping the night before and purchased camo pants and matching tank tops. They wrote on them with a pink glitter, gel pen Team High Caliber in the spirit of paintballing. When they pulled into the parking lot and parked it didn’t take them long to see that most everyone had come.

  Most of the dance team and cheerleaders were present, as were the football players. Shannah locked eyes with Gabe- and there by his side was Heather.

  “She’s taller than I thought she’d be.” Shannah noticed aloud.

  “And blonder, too.” Rachael added.

  “She’s not that tall, but she certainly is blonde. Perhaps Miss Clairol box number 101 if I had to guess.” Maysie countered.

  “Not compared to you she’s not that tall, but not all of us are amazon women with strikingly long legs. And the hair- you’re right. She’s not a natural blonde. I should’ve brought a date. One who was hot, with big muscles.” Shannah snarled.

  “To a paintball birthday party?” Rachael smirked. “Come on, Shannah. You could outshoot her any day.”

  “True. Maybe I’ll take her out while I’m at it.” Shannah’s eyes narrowed at Clay and Travis standing near Gabe and Heather. “What are they doing fraternizing with the enemy?”

  Rachael had to laugh at her use of the word fraternizing. So Shannah… to pull out the big vocab word.

  “My brother’s not the enemy and neither is Clay. They’re friends with Gabe, and while even they think he has seriously messed up, they’ve been friends for a long time.”

  “Whatever-but goldilocks over there is mine. No one take her out but me. Got it?”

  “Got it.” Maysie glanced at Rachael, arching a brow. “But keep it fair. Only shooting in the safe zones. Don’t take her eye out or anything.”

  “She’ll have goggles.” Shannah countered.

  “Am I going to have to hogtie you?” Maysie asked.

  “Maybe, but not yet.” Shannah grinned.

  Shannah walked toward the equipment shed to get suited up. Her purposeful strides and quickened steps conveyed her mood.

  “Something tells me we’re in for a long day.”

  “Don’t you know it! I’ve never seen her this mad.” Maysie thought about it. “Never.”

  Rachael started to follow Shannah across the parking lot, Maysie in tow, and paused a third of the way to the shed.

  “You go on. I’m going to go say hi to Travis.”

  She turned to see Travis coming across the parking lot toward her.

  “Hey.” He greeted sheepishly. He appeared anxious, like he was in trouble or something.

  “I’m not mad at you for standing with Gabe.” She admitted.

  “I know but I didn’t expect you to have to walk over there and say hi to him and his new girlfriend either.” He glanced around behind her, scanning the parking lot.

  “What’s up? Are you looking for someone?”

  He nodded his head.

  “Who?”

  “Rach, I’ve got to tell you something. Heather said Misty plans on stopping by.”

  “She wasn’t invited.”

  “No she wasn’t, but you know Misty. That’s never seemed to matter in the past.”

  “Well, that figures.”

  “What?”

  “That she and Heather would be friends. Birds of a feather and all that. I guess the same could be said of mean girls.”

  He sighed, “I don’t want her here either, but what do you expect me to do?”

  “Throw her out.”

  “I can’t do that. Then I’d be no better than the women who so harshly judged you recently.”

  “Do what you want, Travis. I’ve gotta go.”

  Rachael turned and walked toward the shed. In seconds he caught up to her placing his hands on her upper arms, gently stopping her.

  “Rachael, please don’t be angry with me.”

  “If the situation were reversed and Colten showed up at my birthday party- you’d expect me to tell him to leave. It’s not appropriate. She’s no longer your girlfriend. She’s not nice and she’s a druggy.”

  “We don’t know that last part, so we shouldn’t spread it around.”

  “And now you’re protecting her? Unbelievable.” Rachael shoved past Travis continuing toward the shed.

  She saw a sleek sports car pull into the lot. The doors opened, both Honey and Misty climbed out.

  Travis caught up to her once more. She heard his footsteps behind her. She didn’t stop walking, and merely tossed over her shoulder, “And now you’ll get the chance to tell Misty because there she is.” Rachael smirked in Misty’s general direction. “Or should I ask her to leave?”

  Rachael turned and strode toward the shed to join Maysie and Shannah inside. Their mouths looked pursed, jaws clenched tightly. Shannah’s lips were moving in a flurry of words that couldn’t be considered polite or delicate.

  “Rachael? Where are you going?” Travis called.

  “I trust you to handle it. I’m going to join my team.”

  Rachael selected everything she needed. She pulled on the pants and long-sleeved shirt. She watched as Travis made his way over to Misty and Honey. He was courteous in typical Travis fashion, but they couldn’t hear what he was saying.

  “They look like ghosts of their former selves.” Maysie said.

  “Yah. All frail and stuff.” Shannah commented. “Weak. I like the odds, ladies.”

  Rachael placed a calming hand on Shannah’s shoulder.

  “Nope. I’m tired of dealing with her. Showing up at his house and stuff. Then there’s what she said to me at the store. He needs to make it clear to her he’s moved on. I’m above getting in some fight with her over him. If he hasn’t made it clear he should. Then, if after that, she’s rude with me, well that will be a different story.” Rachael picked up her paintball gun and lowered her goggles.

  Maysie and Shannah followed suit. All three of them stood liked armed guards at the entrance to the paintball field. They continued to watch Travis’ conversation with Misty from afar.

  “Whatever he’s saying- it’s getting heated.” Shannah observed.

  “Maybe I should go over.” Maysie offered.

  “No, ladies- give him a chance.” Rachael ordered.

  Misty was screaming at the top of her lungs about Travis’ choice of white trash over her. Shannah made a movement to cross the parking lot. Rachael stopped her with her hand.

  “No. I’ll go.”

  Just then they heard Travis tell Misty to go home.

  “You and I are over and will never be again.” He yelled, “I’m in love with Rachael Harte and I will marry her.” His finger was a mere centimeter from her nose, his expression conveyed fury. “And if you ever so much as step foot on any of our places- I’ll have you arrested.”

  He stepped around Misty and opened her car door. Honey came over and grabbed Misty, pushing her inside the car. Travis whirled and stomped toward where Rachael stood, mouth gaping. He reached her in five long strides.

  “How w
as that?” He barked.

  “Good job.” Rachael wasn’t sure what else to say, but words weren’t needed. He was kissing her in a way that conveyed he meant every word of what he’d just said to Misty. “And if pretty boy ever shows up again I’ll expect the same. Now that we’re clear on that- let’s go have a party.” He winked and tugged her along with him to join his friends.

  Everyone was divided into groups of six. Rachael didn’t know about anyone else, but she was roasting in the paintball gear. Travis and several of the guys only had on t-shirts and pants.

  “Where’s your hotter-than-hades gear?”

  “We don’t need protection- we’re that good.” He attested.

  Rachael just rolled her eyes at him.

  “Oh, and try not to kill Gabe.” He teased.

  He ran off toward his group, which of course included Gabe. Rachael looked around and saw Heather seated safely in the stands outside of the fenced-in field.

  “Too bad.” Shannah waved to her.

  “Stop it!” Maysie squealed.

  Rachael grabbed them both by the arms and headed for a blind she’d spied off in a far corner. Along the way, they received a lot of fire but managed to avoid getting hit by ducking behind obstacles along their path.

  The girls found themselves squatting behind a climbing wall, occasionally firing around the sides and top, still an overwhelming twenty yards from the blind.

  “What are we doing?” Maysie yelled.

  “We’re trying to make it to that blind in the corner.” Rachael pointed it out to the others.

  “We’ll never make it. The guys are closing in on our location and I think they’re down to two teams. With the other teams numbering six players each we are seriously outnumbered.” Shannah observed.

  “Okay, I’ve got an idea.” Rachael offered. ”You and Maysie make a run for it. I’ll play decoy.”

  “Just get in the blind and wait for them to close in. I like it.” Shannah said. “Then, I can pick them off one at a time.”

  “Go.” Rachael jumped up and stepped out into the open, firing upon the guys on the other side of the hill. They shot her numerous times and she fell to the ground, holding her ankle.