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.”
Beth nodded in acceptance while Lexi squealed and jumped up to grab my arm.
“I can’t wait,” she gushed, squeezing my forearm. “But I don’t suppose we have enough time to do a wardrobe change before the event? I’m not loving the white tee and jeans combo for some reason.”
Wardrobe change, my rear.
I shot her a sour look that had her changing course real fast.
“You know what? Never mind. That look is totally in. White tees never go out of style. I’m going to handle your wardrobe and your makeup and your prep work. Beth can handle your PR. Just leave everything to us. And maybe, if you’re really lucky, by the end of this we might even snatch up one of those hot cowboys for you.”
My mouth went dry as I tried to swallow. That wasn’t what I’d had in mind.
I had enough on my plate. Wrangling a cowboy wasn’t on it. But I had the feeling that wouldn’t stop Lexi from trying.
Maybe I hadn’t thought this all the way through.
But it was too late to pull out.
Chapter Seven
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I stared in horror at the scene in front of me and the six other Junior Rodeo Queen contestants. Seven woolly, stinky sheep stood on a cement pad behind the animal barn, bleating their displeasure as their young owners hung onto their bridles. As I worked backwards in my head, trying to figure out exactly how Lexi and Beth talked me into staying in this contest, someone tugged on the hem of my white tee and I looked over to see Geminia grinning at me.
“You’ve got the wrong animal. It’s, you’ve got to be lambing me.”
I snorted loudly, drawing a displeased expression from Ms. Gentry as she ticked our names off her clipboard. According to her, our first event as Junior Rodeo Queen contestants was to assist the young 4Hers in washing their sheep for judging. A small crowd had gathered nearby to watch, including that guy Graham and several of the rodeo boys I’d seen at the arena yesterday. Hunter stood in the middle of them and waved at me when our gazes met, sending a shot of nerves through me.
“Each of you will assist your 4H contestant in bathing your sheep,” Ms. Gentry said in a loud and dignified voice. “You will be judged on your ability to calm the animal, teamwork skills, and aptitude toward hard work. Please maintain decorum. Even menial tasks deserve a Rodeo Queen’s full attention and effort. I expect you all to do your best work.”
“You’d think we were serving tea to the queen, not washing muck off farm animals,” Geminia whispered in my ear.
I laughed again and this time the dirty look came from Sarah. She stood on the other side of Ms. Gentry, wearing a little red flannel shirt, tied off just above her jeans, with her belly button piercing playing peekaboo every time she moved. Jealousy bubbled up inside of me. The girl looked effortlessly good, no matter what she wore. The hatred was still there when she looked at me, burning strong in her eyes rimmed with thick fake lashes. I quickly pressed my lips together and averted my gaze toward Ms. Gentry as she assigned us to our sheep.
“Ms. Hale, you’ll be at the one on the end with Dennis,” she said, getting to me last.
The sheep she pointed me toward had a black face and dark gray wool. It danced nervously as I walked up beside it. The owner was a little red-headed boy with freckles sprinkled across his nose. Dennis looked to be about seven years old, but I could never tell with little kids. Either way, he gave me a look that was far too superior for a kid that was almost a foot shorter than me.
“Timmy don’t like strangers much. Especially girls,” he said, pursing his lips while looking me up and down. “I’ll try to keep him from biting you, but no promises.”
I threw back my head and groaned. That was just what I needed right
