Cowgirl Strong

by Jenny Hammerle

  “No, thank you for inviting me. I graduated last year. This will probably be my last homecoming.”

  “Are you in school?”

  “I am, in Tallahassee, but let’s not discuss it in front of Travis. Tallahassee’s a fighting word among us.”

  “Can’t say I’m a Nole fan, either.” Shannah confessed.

  “You never know, you might come around. I’ve seen people change team loyalties for all sorts of reasons.”

  Rachael wasn’t sure they were exactly hitting it off, but at least Shannah was talking. She seemed nervous.

  When they pulled into the gate, Wade got out to open it and swung it wide for them to pull through. Travis looked straight ahead, grinning…and said not a word.

  He drove through the gate and parked the truck and trailer off to the side. Shannah jumped out first to help Wade unload the horses.

  When Rachael was sure they were out of earshot, she asked, “You think they’re okay?”

  “They’re fine. Shannah seems a bit off though.” Travis admitted.

  “I don’t know why.” Rachael vented. “But she needs to pull out her A-game.”

  “I think Shannah always chooses really bad guys, and I think she does it on purpose.” Travis whispered.

  “Whatever. She does not.” Rachael defended her friend.

  “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe she chooses them because they’re safe? The bad guys are emotionally unavailable to her, they only want one thing, and she can keep them at arm’s length. Then they break up, so she’s never really gotten close to anyone. Think about it. I’m right. Now she’s faced with a really good guy. He’ll treat her right. I bet she runs. If he lets her.” Travis smiled and opened his door.

  “What do you mean ‘if he lets her’?”

  “I warned him and he has wanted to meet her since two years ago. He likes her and won’t give up easily.”

  “Must be a family trait.”

  “Must be.”

  Rachael slid across the seat and jumped down into his awaiting arms. She had to laugh at the sight of Shannah up on the side of the horse trailer.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting on. I’m a redneck, not a cowgirl.” She protested.

  “Nonsense.” Wade walked over and lifted her down off of the side of the trailer in spite of her protesting. “Just put your foot in the stirrup like this.” He lifted her sneaker clad foot into place. “Grab the saddle horn.” He put her hand on the saddle horn. “And up you go.”

  He was so swift and methodical about it, she couldn’t say no. Next thing you know, she was up on the horse and he was handing her the reins.

  Rachael looked at Travis who tightened his own girth strap, never looking up to make eye contact. Shannah and Wade rode off ahead of them. He swung up into the saddle and cut his eyes over at Rachael a few moments later.

  He mouthed the words, “If anyone can handle Miss Shannah- it’ll be that man. Come on.”

  They struck a lope and caught up to them across the pasture.

  “Where are we exactly?” Shannah asked.

  Rachael had been planning on asking the same. They were out past Shannah’s house at a pasture even Rachael had never been in.

  “This is our bull pasture.” Travis explained. “We needed to ride over to check on the bulls Wade and his dad picked out in Kenansville. Make sure they aren’t too stressed. They’ve been in here for a few weeks, adjusting.”

  “We’ll leave them here until January and then move them to our place. They’re all three’s.” Wade added.

  “Three’s?” Shannah questioned.

  “Three year olds.” Rachael explained. From her conversation regarding Taffy a few months back she understood that much.

  “These are all bulls?” Rachael asked.

  “Sure are.” Travis and Wade looked at each other.

  “What are they teaching in biology class these days?” Wade asked.

  “Not enough, obviously.” Travis answered.

  Rachael looked more closely at the bulls and saw that where there would’ve been utters, if they’d been females like Taffy, there was something else entirely different. It reminded her of the trucks she saw all over town with the yucky stuff hanging from where the hitches were.

  She knew she was turning red and decided to keep any thoughts she had in regard to the physical anatomy of a bull to herself.

  She could hear Shannah and Wade talking about cattle breeds and bull breeding programs, pasture rotations, etc. She seemed genuinely interested in the conversation.

  Rachael saw one bull with something wrong with its eye. Travis and Wade spotted it first and rode over to look at it more closely.

  “Pink eye.” Travis said.

  “Yep, weren’t all these bulls vaccinated against pink eye?”

  “Thought so.”

  “Will it kill them?” Rachael asked.

  “No, but it can be a pain to treat. Glad we rode out here.” Travis nodded toward Wade. “We ready for pizza?”

  “Ready if y’all are. Ladies?” Wade asked Shannah and Rachael.

  “Sure are. I’m starved.” Shannah added.

  “You don’t look like you could weigh more than a buck, maybe a buck ten.” Wade smiled at her.

  “Don’t be fooled. I can put it away.” Shannah challenged.

  “I hear you can whip my butt, too.”

  “Maybe I can.”

  “I’d like to be on the receiving end of just such a butt whipping.”

  For once Shannah didn’t say anything in return. If any other guy had said that to her, or even made the suggestion that she ‘whip them’, she would’ve gone crazy on him. But here was a direct challenge from Wade and she merely took it, not saying a word- not rising to the occasion- not putting him in his place.

  Maybe Travis is right. There’s no running from this one. He’s got her beaten already and she knows it!

  Shannah and Wade raced their horses to the trailer. Of course he won, he was the much better rider.

  “Are you sure he’s a gentleman?” Rachael asked, riding side by side with Travis on Coal.

  “He wouldn’t lay a hand on her, but he’s been on dates.” Travis pondered his statement looking for the right words. “He’s not as religious as I am, but he’s had a good time and now he’s looking for the right girl to settle down with.”

  “He’s had a good time! How good of a time?”

  “Let me rephrase.” But before Travis could rephrase, Rachael was turned in her saddle shaking her finger at him.

  “Did we set her up with a player?”

  “I didn’t say player. What, you think she can’t handle him? She knocked a guy out two days ago, Rachael. I think she’ll be fine. I was just saying he’s not a monk. Okay? Not a monk, but not a lecherous creep either. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

  “Looking to settle down.” Rachael thought aloud. “Why do you country guys like to get married so young?”

  “Because we know the obvious, all the good ones get snatched up early. It’s slim pickins’ if you wait too long to get married. Can’t let the right one get away. Come over here.” He beckoned.

  “Are you intentionally annoying me today?”

  “Yep.”

  “Then nope. I’m going back to the truck.” She loped away.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The following morning was a blur of hair and nails. Shannah, Maysie, and Rachael sat in the salon with those wedge-like foam separators stuck between their toes while the nail tech finished their nails.

  “I for one think this is ridiculous. Look at this torture we’re having to endure. And what do you think the guys are doing?” Shannah spouted.

  “They’re out baiting hog traps and running dogs.” Maysie chirped.

  “That’s what I’d like to be doing. Not having this popsicle stick stuck under my cuticles.” Shannah griped.

  ”She’s pushing your cuticles back and trimming them, not sticking a popsicle s
tick under them.”

  Rachael decided to change the subject. “Down and curled, in a sleek retro style. That’s how I’m wearing my hair.” Rachael blurted.

  “Up with a tiny tiara. I’m a redneck princess tonight, girlies.” Maysie added.

  “In a knotted braid, at the back of my neck.”

  Everyone’s heads whipped around. Shannah never opted for the coifed, classy slash refined look.

  “Do you like Wade?” Maysie asked.

  “It’s too soon to tell for sure, but I do. I like him, a lot. He makes me feel, fragile.”

  Maysie squealed and clapped her hands. “Yippee! We’ll all be Baxters.”

  “Hold your horses, Maysie, this isn’t Dallas and we’re all not moving up to the big house to live with Daddy in a few short weeks.” Shannah spat. “But I will admit to really liking him even though he’s not my usual type.”

  “Well he’s clean for one. And I don’t mean in the he’s taken a bath recently sort of way.” Maysie smiled sweetly.

  “Clean?” Shannah almost sounded offended.

  “Yep. No drug test or other types of testing needed.”

  “Meaning I usually go for the loser, looks like he could be a druggie or a total sleaze gigolo?”

  “That sums it up.”

  “She’s right.” Shannah acknowledged. “He is out of my normal realm of losers. What am I thinking? I can’t even find a single flaw. And I like them flawed.”

  “Flawed hasn’t been working for you.” Rachael commented.

  “I know. Right? He’s practically perfect.” Shannah wrinkled her nose. “I’ve become one of you!” She faked horror. “Maybe I should cancel.”

  “No!!!” Rachael and Maysie cried in unison.

  “I’m sure he has a flaw. A big one.” Maysie chimed.

  “Like what?”

  Maysie and Rachael considered what would be bad boy enough for Shannah to want to date him, but not so bad that she’d rule him out entirely.

  “Why does he have to have a flaw?” Rachael asked. “I mean for real. Why? Why can’t he be what he is? An all-around really good looking guy with an amazing body, personality, and charm. He’s a cowboy to boot. Don’t you deserve perfect? Who wants flawed? Certainly not me.”

  “You know Rachael, you’re right. I deserve a good guy, a good guy like Wade.”

  “Yes, you do.” Rachael emphasized. “And he deserves for you to treat him right.”

  “Yes, he does.” Shannah looked at her nails. “Do you think I could get some sparkle on these nails?”

  “Rhinestones.” Maysie nodded. “We all need rhinestones.”

  “No tiara though. I’m drawing the line there, only rhinestones.” Shannah emphasized.

  After their nails were polished and studded, Rachael had the nail tech write Travis on her pointer finger and dazzle it with some glitter. Maysie liked it so much she had Tristan’s name put on hers as well.

  “Got a rifle you could put on there?” Shannah joked.

  “No firearms on your nails!” Maysie interceded.

  “Joking.”

  Next the women set to work on their hair, working for hours to get it just right. By the time they were finished even Rachael felt half-starved and weak. Her mother came in to pick them up and cart them over to Aunt Margaret’s to get ready. Since Wade and Travis were staying at the Baxter’s, getting ready there was out of the question.

  At her house they each ate a sub, some chips, and downed a soda for strength. Maysie set to work on all of their make-up. Her makeup tackle box was full of stuff that even Rachael didn’t know what half of it was for. She picked through everything until she found the right colors for each girl. Finally, it was seven o’clock and the girls slipped on their dresses.

  Maysie’s ensemble was young and whimsical- everything she’d wanted. A sleek updo adorned with a small rhinestone tiara and matching rhinestone jewelry. It made her look like royalty. The black four inch, rhinestone studded heels, set the whole thing off. She looked at herself in the full length mirror behind the door.

  “It’s all about the shoes.” She grinned.

  Shannah’s sky blue dress was slinky and feminine. It accentuated her flat abs and strong thighs. Her long lines were perfect in this dress. With coifed hair and silver strappy platforms, it was truly an elegant look.

  “Bam! What a dress!” Maysie teased.

  “Is it too much?”

  “Nope, but we wanted you to be the hottest girl there, well look out Gabe and Romero!”

  “Come on, Rachael! Hurry it up. The guys are here. I just heard a car door.” Shannah fussed.

  Rachael opened the bathroom door. She wore a simple, strapless pink camouflage gown. It was snug at the bodice and around her rib cage, but looser through the hips where it flowed freely about her to the floor.

  “Gone With the Wind meets modern Redneck Glam!” Maysie called.

  The sweeping blonde hair set in long flowing waves over one shoulder sat in contrast to the bright red lipstick.

  The doorbell rang and Aunt Margaret rushed to get it.

  “We want pictures!” Mrs. Harte exclaimed. “I’ve promised all the moms.”

  Maysie, Shannah, and Rachael made their way up the hall to the family room. The guys stood in awe.

  Travis was the first to come over and hug Rachael. He gave her a wrist corsage with purple roses and Babies’ Breath.

  “Need a shawl? You might get cold.” He teased.

  “No. I’m fine and you’ll be too.” She kissed his cheek.

  Maysie went over and twirled around in her dress for Tristan.

  “I love it. Can’t wait to take you hunting in that. The hottest whitetail to step foot in the woods, ever. Six months and counting.” He whispered giving her a sweet hug and placing the daisy corsage on her wrist. It was huge and Maysie just loved it.

  All eyes were on Shannah who walked over to talk to Wade. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. She held out her wrist where he placed red roses accompanied by tiny white tea roses.

  “No wonder you won Miss Teen Florida Orange Blossom Princess.”

  “You saw that?”

  “Two years ago.” He smiled.

  “My dad made me do it. I had no choice really.”

  “I’m glad he did. I wouldn’t have agreed to drive four hours to go to a high school dance if he hadn’t.”

  If Rachael wasn’t mistaken, Shannah actually blushed. She hadn’t thought it possible.

  Mrs. Harte snapped numerous pictures. Rachael’s lips and cheeks ached from smiling.

  “I think I’m getting a twitch in my right jaw.” Travis griped.

  ”Be quiet, Travis, and just stand there and look handsome.” Aunt Margaret chided.

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  When the photo session finally came to an end, they walked toward the front door. Wade opened it and held it wide for Shannah. She passed through and he followed her, quick to take her hand and lead her to the waiting limo. The limousine driver held the door open as the three couples slid in.

  Inside there were bottled waters and sodas, along with fruit and veggie trays. A cheesecake platter looked tantalizing, as well. Shannah spied a piece of turtle cheesecake, but Maysie shook her head with a look that said, don’t you dare mess up that makeup!

  Wade saw the exchange and grabbed the platter and a napkin. He fixed one of each type for them to sample. Shannah took one being polite and ate it daintily. Maysie looked on approvingly. Rachael poured herself a soda and handed one to Travis as well. Everyone chatted non-stop the entire way there.

  “You look gorgeous.” Travis whispered. “Stunning.”

  “Thank you. You clean up nicely too.”

  When they pulled into the restaurant and hotel down on the bay where the dance was being held, they were in line behind a few other limos waiting to unload.

  Travis climbed out first and helped each girl out. When he got to Tristan and Wade he merely said, “I ain’t helping y’all.” Laughing, he walked aw
ay.

  Rachael and Travis held hands as they walked up to the door. Rachael saw Fred and Alex coming up the walkway waving to them. Elena was behind them with Bobby alongside. When they met, they stopped briefly to say hi, and then proceeded inside.

  “See, she had nothing to worry about. Fred is a good guy.” Travis grinned.

  “Yep. He is.” Rachael agreed.

  “I’m still not going to sign on for any exchange students.” Travis warned. “So don’t ask.” He said to both Maysie and Rachael.

  “I don’t know. There was some French guy who needed a place to stay and Mama thought it’d be nice to offer…” Maysie winked conspiratorially at Rachael.

  “And that’s when I offered our house.” Rachael added.

  “Not funny.” Travis griped.

  “I heard Elena has a cousin coming and she needs a place to stay.” Tristan gave Travis a look. “If y’all are taking in exchange students, why not her. A good European girl in need of a good home.”

  “Truce.” Maysie threw up her hands.

  “I thought so.” Travis nodded.

  “Were they always like this?” Rachael asked Wade.

  “Since childhood. There were many times I had to remind him she was a girl and kicking her butt would land him in a load of trouble.”

  “Are you saying girls are weak?” Shannah jumped into the conversation taking Wade on.

  “Not at all. I like a strong woman who’s able to defend herself, but a man should never lay a rough hand on a lady.”

  “Well put.” Shannah complemented him.

  Inside they found their way to a back corner, the benefits of coming early…you usually got your choice of table. The music was an eclectic mix and the option to go with a DJ, rather than a loud band like last year, had been the right choice. The menu was a choice of either chicken marsala or sirloin tips, with asparagus and mashed potatoes. It was surprisingly good and Rachael found herself enjoying the evening more than even she expected.

  Tristan, Wade, and Travis all got up to fetch the girls’ drinks. In their absence, Rachael, Maysie, and Shannah all slid over to sit closer together. From where they sat, they could observe everyone. The buffet line was still full of students holding their plates, patiently waiting their turn. The oversized dance floor held a cluster of over-eager dancers in the center. The types that started dancing, as soon as the doors opened, and danced until Shout played closing the dance as the final number.