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I waited for the rendezvous under the same pavilion that Ms. Gentry had led us to after the ceremony. Due to my current mood, it should’ve been a dark and stormy morning. But no, I’d been cursed with nothing but sunshine and clear skies.
Sitting still at the green-painted picnic table was crazy difficult. The only thing I could do to keep calm was count the number of kids walking past me leading their 4H animals to the barns. It was Monday and the official start of judging for the fair. I’d counted at least twelve sheep, five rabbits, seven cows, and even a handful of geese.
I had to laugh softly as each of them went by. My parents had wanted me to pick up a passion at the fair this week. I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d say if I suddenly decided raising sheep was my new passion. We’d never even owned a dog until Mom decided we couldn’t live without the chocolate lab Mandy had used in her promposal to her boyfriend, Jayden. It was now the most spoiled dog in all of history, but even after that, I didn’t think she’d like the idea of a sheep living in the backyard.
The sound of footsteps approaching on the gravel walkway behind me had me spinning around in my seat. Lexi and Beth were finally here. Both of them wore hesitant smiles as they slid into seats across from me. I glowered at them, tapping my nails on the table.
“So...?”
It felt like an interrogation, with so much tension in the air. All that was missing was the small, dark room and the lamp I could aim directly at their guilty faces.
Lexi peeled back her glossed lips to smile extra big at me. “So...you’re super excited to be in the Junior Rodeo Queen competition this week?”
One quick glare in her direction had the smile melting right off her face. “Try again.”
“You’re imagining hundreds of ways to kill us slowly and painfully,” Beth offered.
I snapped my fingers at her. “Bingo.”
They both sighed loudly and slouched in their seats.
“Come on, Charlotte,” Lexi said, her eyes filling with tears. The girl was good. She didn’t even smear her mascara. “You know it’s not that bad. We were just trying to help you.”
I gaped at her. “How? Ms. Gentry is crazy. I’m pretty sure she’s the type that’ll rap me on my knuckles if I step a toe out of line. And Sarah Claiborne officially wants to murder me. This is her thing.”
“Sarah Claiborne deserves to be taken down a few notches,” Beth said, crossing her arms over her black t-shirt and glaring at me. “And there’s no one better to do that than you. Think of this as your revenge. It’s the perfect way to get back at her for everything she’s done.”
Just as I was about to shake my finger at her and tell her how wrong she was, I froze. The idea was kind of tempting. Beating Sarah on her own turf would definitely teach her a lesson. The thought had even occurred to me back at the diner yesterday. But this was a competition of poise and skills, as Ms. Gentry had repeatedly stated. Both of which I severely lacked.
“Even if I wanted to do that, there’s no way I’d win.” With my elbows on the table, I cradled my head in my hands. I frowned at them, my lower lip pouting. “You should see them. I’ve got nothing on those girls. They’re all beautiful and talented and know where they’re going in life. I’ll be laughed off the arena floor as soon as the crowd gets a look at me.”
They exchanged exasperated looks and shook their heads.
“Listen, Charlotte, I’m going to shoot this to you straight,” Beth said, taking her headphones off her neck and placing them carefully on the table. She stared at them for a moment, took a deep breath, then flicked her emerald gaze up to mine. “We put your name on that list because we really think you can do this. You’re just as good, just as pretty, and just as talented as any of those girls. If anyone can win, you can.”
I made a face. “What? No way. You don’t really believe that.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Come on, Charlotte. Stop the act. You’re tougher and smarter than you think. Lexi was right. If someone doesn’t give you little push in the right direction, you’re going to start believing the lies you say about yourself.”
My cheek stung, as if she’d slapped me across the face instead of delivering this strange combination of insults and compliments. I wasn’t sure how to take it.
“You barely know me,” I grumbled, crossing my arms. “We’re not even friends.”
“We know enough.” Lexi raised her sculpted eyebrows. “Come on, Charlotte. We’re not trying to be mean. We really wanted to help. If you do this, your parents might finally get off your back this summer.”
I perked up a little at that suggestion. Mom would love the idea of the competition. She’d see me trying to make up for my mistakes from last year. Maybe, she’d even let me quit the diner once I’d proven to her that I was serious about it.
I tapped my finger on my chin. “I guess that might work...”
“And just maybe, Sarah Claiborne might regret the day she crossed you,” Beth added, nodding slowly. “I dare you to try.”
The idea of me beating Sarah was still ridiculous, but I didn’t need the crown to win this game. Just being in the competition was enough to drive Sarah crazy. That was revenge enough.
And to top it off, Hunter had seemed excited to see me compete. What was so bad about baking a pie and judging a few contests? As much as I hated to admit it, Beth and Lexi might have been right. This would be a way to change up my summer—for the better. I could handle
that.
“Okay. Fine. You’ve convinced me,” I said, rising from the table to give them both the evil eye. “But don’t think I’m doing this alone. You’re going to be there every step of the way. If I have to spend my entire week at the fair smelling like animals and straw, then you do, too. Starting now. Come on, Ms. Gentry will kill me if I’m late to the first event.”
