Cowgirl Coed (Redneck Debutante Series Book 4) Read online

  Cowgirl

  Coed

  Jenny Hammerle

  Cover design by Jenny Hammerle

  Copyright © 2017 by Jenny Hammerle. All rights reserved.

  Redneck Debutante is a registered trademark of Jenny Hammerle.

  Cover and interior design © 2017, Jenny Hammerle. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author. The only exception is brief quotations in professional reviews.

  Cowgirl Coed, Redneck Debutante #4 is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. All other characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination. The perspective, opinions, and worldview represented by this book are those of the author and are not intended to be a reflection or endorsement of anyone else’s views.

  ***

  For my sorority sisters,

  first and finest,

  friends forever.

  ***

  Trust in the Lord

  with all your heart.

  Proverbs 3:5

  Chapter One

  Rachael lay awake in the quiet dorm room. She’d come up two weeks early to get settled in and found herself regretting her move. Getting a jump on the situation had afforded her the opportunity to choose the bed she wanted in the small triple, yet it had made it apparent just how dependent on Travis she was. Travis was still in the Dominican on his annual mission trip, while she was here alone, in a darkened dorm room.

  And, boy how I miss that cowboy…

  Green eyes the color of water on a shallow sand bar, coupled with strong arms and legs, broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline made for an irresistible combination. The first day she’d met him astride his horse still held a captivating charm that worked a number on her time and time again. Rachael sighed.

  The triple housed three beds. A set of bunkbeds and one single-sized bed along the far wall. She knew from Maysie’s cousin, Janet, that all of the triple dorm rooms were arranged in exactly the same manner. Rachael had wanted a room all to herself, but quickly learned that there were very few of those available. Furthermore, she found out that a single or even a double with just one roommate were not in her very tight budget. She had a small scholarship, available to most Florida students with better than average grades. Rachael also had a grant, thanks to the citrus company where one of her best friend’s fathers worked. He’d encouraged her to apply. Rachael wasn’t studying citrus or agriculture, but Shannah had promised her that ag experience wasn’t a requirement. The grant money sat unclaimed from year-to-year, with no one even applying for it. So while Rachael was doubtful, she filled out the application and wrote an essay on the current drought situation and the difficulties the citrus producers of Florida faced. The end result was a literary piece of substantial weight in both its length and the knowledge it contained which was surprising even to Rachael. A few short weeks later a letter arrived and in it news of her receiving the entire grant for the next four years. Rachael was shocked and excited, the realization that just the one grant would cover her books was more than she’d hoped for. The Florida Academic Scholar Scholarship covered most of her tuition, and that left only the dorm fees for her parents to cover.

  The jostling of the door handle and its lock brought Rachael upright in her bed in an instant. She knew she’d have two roommates, Caroline and Lucia. Rachael sat quietly wondering which one was about to walk through the door. One thing was for certain- whichever one it was she was noisy! She chatted loudly on her cell phone, apparently to her mother. She seemed a bit rude, snapping at her mother and treating her more like a friend than a parent. The door flung open and hit the doorstop with a thud.

  “Mom, I have to go. Go out with your friends. Busy yourself. Start dating again. I won’t be home for a few weeks.” She kicked her shoes off and barreled into the room, flinging her tote in the process, leaving everything strewn where they lay. “Hey.”

  “Hi, I’m Rachael.”

  “Caroline. Decided to get here early to get a jump on the bed situation?”

  “Pretty much.” Rachael thought about offering to switch beds, after all that would be the nice thing to do- but she quickly reconsidered when she heard the sarcastic tone to Caroline’s voice. If first impressions were the basis for true friendship, she knew instinctively that the two of them wouldn’t be fast friends.

  Caroline wheeled in her matching set of expensive luggage. She claimed the bottom bunk and shoved her bags underneath, not bothering to unpack. She grabbed her purse, keys, and cell once more and headed for the door. “See ya,” she announced and slammed the door behind her.

  Rachael plopped back down and pondered the not-so-sweet Caroline. Her vibe wasn’t evil, or rude. Maybe spoiled was a perfect adjective. Before Rachael got any further into her own thoughts, she heard the door once more.

  Perhaps she forgot something…her broom, black hat, or maybe green face paint.

  Rachael climbed out of bed and flipped on the light. When it appeared that the person couldn’t figure out the lock, or maybe even had the wrong key, Rachael opened the door for her. Another girl stood there, her arms overflowing with three books, a laundry basket, and one very large purse. At her feet lay a large duffel bag that easily could hold an entire closet of clothes and a few pairs of shoes- or a body. Rachael quickly dismissed the silly notion and offered assistance. She couldn’t let the strange Caroline influence her thoughts of this other roommate who was apparently Lucia.

  “Can I help you?”

  Nodding her head and mumbling a garbled yes from around a campus newspaper she held in her teeth, Lucia entered the room. She glanced around and saw that the only remaining bed was the top bunk. If she was bothered, she didn’t say as much. She walked over to the closet and frowned.

  “One closet for three girls?”

  “The dresser situation isn’t any better. There’s only two.”

  “Well, I’m glad I didn’t bring any hang-up clothes. No dresses or fancy shirts here. Thank goodness I’m a jeans and t-shirts kind of gal.” Lucia grinned. “Did you already claim a few drawers?”

  “I did. There are four drawers in the big dresser and three in the other. Odd number, so I took two in the big dresser.” Rachael acknowledged.

  “What about our roomie?” Lucia motioned to the luggage stowed under the bed.

  “She didn’t stay long enough for me to find out.”

  “Where’d she go?”

  “She came in, dropped her bags, and left. I don’t know.” Rachael laughed. She didn’t want to badmouth Caroline, so she didn’t say another word. She really had no idea where she’d disappeared to.

  “What time did she get here?” Lucia asked.

  “Shortly before you, but she was only here a few minutes. Literally, a few minutes, and then she was gone.”

  Lucia glanced at her watch. It was black, looked waterproof, and had a really large face. “At nine o’clock at night? Maybe she was hungry. I’m starving myself. I rode all the way from Pennsylvania.”

  “Really?” Came Rachael’s surprised question.

  “Yep, straight through. Five cups of coffee and a good book- and here I am.”

  Lucia was fun. She seemed like a no nonsense kind of girl. Her hair was cut in a short spike and bleached bright blonde. Her face was full and she had amazingly white teeth! Rachael had never really noticed teeth before, but Lucia’s were a striking pearly white and perfectly straight. She’d definitely had bra
ces- for years no doubt.

  “What do you say I put this stuff away and we grab a bite to eat? I’m starving and you look like you’ve been in here awhile.” She teased motioning to Rachael’s plaid, loose fitting pajama pants and red t-shirt. The orange comfy socks set the whole ensemble off to perfection.

  “I think that sounds like a great idea. I’ve been here since last week.”

  “That’s how you got the prime bed.”

  “Yep, we can trade halfway through the year if you’d like.”

  “No, I’m cool with the top bunk. Reminds me of camp.”

  Rachael walked over and opened the two top drawers of the dresser where her things were stowed. “These are empty.”

  “Cool, I’ll take those and leave the closet and this other small dresser for the princess.”

  “What makes you think she’s like that? A princess,” Rachael didn’t exactly like Caroline herself, but she wasn’t sure she’d think of her as a princess either.

  “Look at those suitcases. Hot pink? Couture? She’s a princess for sure. If she isn’t I’ll eat my words.”

  Rachael grabbed her jeans and a worn flannel shirt and disappeared into the bathroom. There was a time when people would’ve called her a princess, too. She had to admit that her West Palm Beach persona was very different from who she was today, but deep down she was the same person. That same girl with the same confidence, insecurities, flaws, and hidden personality. She took a while to get to know. You seldom knew what she was thinking and she didn’t trust easily. She’d been a spoiled rich kid, a poor country kid, the daughter of a convicted felon, and now she was a college student. Not that all of that was apparent from the outside, but she knew it, and for that reason, she worked very hard to give every person the proverbial benefit of a doubt.

  “She seemed okay,” Rachael stepped out of the bathroom, tossing her stuff on her bed.

  “These shoes hers?” Lucia pointed to the shoes in the middle of the floor that the two of them had to keep stepping over.

  “Yep,” Rachael smiled.

  “I rest my case.” Lucia picked them up off of the floor and placed them neatly under the bed next to Caroline’s other things.

  Rachael grabbed her wallet and they walked out the door. The door locked automatically behind them. Rachael decided that she needed to steer the conversation to other things, so she chose the safest topic she could think of.

  “What’s in Pennsylvania?”

  “A little town called Danville. Parents live there. Retired Army. I’m an army brat. I spent the first ten years of my life bouncing around, then Dad finally retired. Danville became home. I was glad to spend the last nine years in one place. How about you?”

  “I’m one of two kids, younger brother Michael. My parents live outside of Bradenton, between Sarasota and Myakka.”

  “I have no idea where Myakka is. Sarasota brings to mind beaches and condos.”

  “Think way outside of town. Think cows, fields of hay and crops, the occasional equestrian set-up. That sort of thing.”

  “A country girl. That’s cool.”

  “Formerly a princess- West Palm Beach style.” Rachael laughed aloud.

  “Really?”

  “Really,” and in that moment Rachael realized just how different she was. In the past she’d have shied away from everything, but now she just pushed on through. “My dad was gone, it was a long few years, but we all overcame it and here I am.” If she was going to live with this girl, Lucia needed to know the truth up front. No lies.

  Of course, Rachael didn’t go around broadcasting her personal life and airing out dirty laundry and all that other stuff. She wasn’t looking for pity or any type of emotional support. She just didn’t want the people living with her over the next year not to know her. Lucia seemed like the kind of girl she could share this with and maybe even be friends with.

  “So, you wound up in rural Florida. I can relate to that. A lot of my close friends grew up in the country. Not that I’m much of a cowgirl. I’m more urban in my tastes.”

  Of course the small tattoos on her wrists and neck, along with the short sleek hairstyle had already given that much away. Rachael pegged Lucia for a Chipotle kind of girl. Maybe organic food eater and vegetarian. She’d bet money on it if she had the chance, but time would tell.

  “How’s that pizza place?” Lucia pointed to the small Italian restaurant across the street.

  “It’s okay. Not the best or the worst pizza I’ve ever eaten.”

  “That sounds like a ringing endorsement. Let’s go,” Lucia grinned.

  “Has anyone ever told you that you have the nicest teeth they’ve ever seen?” Rachael couldn’t help herself.

  “My uncle’s a dentist. That’s a perk, but the downside is I’ve had more dental care than anyone should ever get.” Lucia opened her mouth and pointed at her molars, shutting it once more. “Every single tooth is sealed. Preventative maintenance- I’ve had it. Teeth whitening- I’ve done it. Cosmetic dentistry- yep, I’m no stranger. Let’s consider this four-year-stint my long-awaited break. I’m not complaining, I just think enough is enough.”

  “You’re funny. Don’t glance in this mouth. I’ve had two cleanings in the past four years.” Rachael confessed.

  “Better than my situation. If we turn out those lights over there,” Lucia pointed to a street light that lit up the sidewalk around them, “my teeth may actually glow.”

  Rachael was laughing so hard she nearly peed her pants.

  “Who knows what the stuff is made of,” Lucia added. “The super powers of these teeth are unprecedented.”

  “You’re a trip,” Rachael grabbed the door to the restaurant and pulled it open. Stepping inside she glanced around and saw the booth in the far corner was empty. Both girls headed that way. Halfway across the room, a tall girl called out to Lucia.

  Lucia nodded over at her and stopped to say hi.

  “Rachael, this is Kelsey. Kelsey this is Rachael, my roommate.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.”

  Kelsey was tall, as in really tall. Perhaps over six feet. She had chiseled arms and legs. She must be an athlete. If Lucia caught her expression, she didn’t let on. Rachael quickly masked the awe with which she glanced up at the Amazonian-height Kelsey.

  “Kelsey and I are on the soccer team together. Here on scholarship.”

  “You play?” Kelsey asked.

  “Me,” Rachael squirmed, “I hate to admit I’m not much of an athlete. I dance though. I’ve thought about trying out next year. This year I’m going to try to focus on my studies.”

  Rachael knew from Lucia’s short bio the school had sent her that Lucia was a sophomore, but the small write-up made no mention of her being on the university’s soccer team. That in itself was pretty amazing! No wonder she wore her hair in a short style. The Florida heat would make long hair miserable. If Rachael had played a running sport like that, she may have cut her hair shorter. She didn’t know how they did it. Soccer was an all-out, intense sport and in Florida, the subtropical climate of central and north Florida was brutal.

  Lucia walked over and sat down across from Rachael. “This pizza place is new. Last year this was some sort of deli. It went out of business on account that their food sucked.”

  “Well, let’s hope you like the pizza better.”

  “Kelsey said it’s pretty decent.”

  “Do you like living on campus?” Rachael asked.

  “I have to, it’s part of the deal. It’s okay. I get a meal plan that covers everything. Just watch.” The waiter appeared and took their order.

  Rachael insisted on separate checks when it became apparent that Luigi’s took the school meal plan for athletes and there was no way Rachael would even try to pass herself off as some sort of soccer player. The thought of it cracked her up. She was many things, but a soccer player wasn’t one of them. She could barely kick a ball let alone dribble one, bounce it off her head, and score a goal. />
  “You’re by the book, Rachael from Florida.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “I like that. Who’s your boyfriend?”

  “What makes you think I have a boyfriend?”

  “That big rock on your left hand.” Lucia pointed to her engagement ring.

  Rachael shrugged, forgetting she had the ring on. She must look pretty ridiculous.

  “His name’s Travis. We’ve been together for a long time now. Getting married this summer.”

  “This summer?”

  Rachael took an enormous sip of soda. “This summer.”

  If Lucia sensed her reluctance to discuss her upcoming nuptials, she didn’t let on. She merely talked about campus life, her circle of friends, and the fact that for her university life revolved around soccer, soccer practice, study hall to get good grades to play soccer, and how burned out on the whole process she was. Rachael just listened, not interjecting anything about herself. Lucia’s scholarship and the requirement to keep up her grades seemed like a lot to ask. There must be thousands of students across the United States that face the same dilemma. Perhaps they too were burned out on their sport, wanting to just go to college, but had to keep playing or risk not being able to afford to finish. Rachael wished she had some great advice or solution for her new friend, but she had nothing. So for now, all she could do was listen and encourage her. The first year was behind Lucia and the next year was just around the corner. Rachael drifted off in thought and was brought back into the conversation by one, very startling question.

  “So, Rachael from Florida, if you’re in this serious, committed, getting married any day now, relationship- why on earth did you choose the coed athletic dorm?”

  Rachael nearly spit her soda across the table.

  “What?”

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t know. Guenther Hall has always been a coed jock dorm.”

  “I didn’t choose it! I just filled out the application. I checked all-girl dorm.”

  “Well, you got coed, filled with crazies dorm. I think they put us all in one place. A few residents and monitors in place to keep us on track. Strict lights out policy at eleven o’clock. We’re supposed to have a curfew, but no one enforces it really.”