“Girl power!” shouted twelve-year-old Mandy Highwalker and held up her hand.
“Girl power!” the others hollered in unison, each reaching up to slap Mandy’s palm, one after the other.
Loudly congratulating each other, they herded Van toward the stage. A frantic glance back at the table revealed Evan, Daphne and Callie, staring after her, looking bemused.
Van mouthed, “Help!” at her roomie and Callie gave her a determined smile and a big thumbs-up—whatever that meant.
Numbly, she mounted the side steps leading up the stage.
Last year’s Miss Bronco came to meet her halfway. “Congratulations, Vanessa,” the girl said in a sweet and silky voice. Gently, she took Van’s hand. “This way...” And she led Van to center stage.
Dumbfounded, Van tried to pull herself together, but she felt pretty much immobilized at what had just happened. She ended up staring blankly out at the crowd, registering random facial expressions—everything from glee to fury to total bewilderment.
The former Miss Bronco handed her the winner’s massive armful of roses and then helped her juggle them in order to settle the victory sash across Van’s cherry-stained Science Is Like Magic—but Real T-shirt.
Carefully, after last year’s winner set the crown on her head, Van reached up and straightened her glasses. As she did that, her gaze slid to the John family’s table, where Jameson looked troubled. He probably didn’t know how to feel about his beautiful, talented sister losing to his one-night stand from New Year’s Eve.
His mother looked crushed, and his father shouted angrily, “What’s the damn point, I ask you? This is ridiculous. We don’t need a Miss Bronco who didn’t even bother to compete. How can this be happening when several talented young ladies gave their all for the crown today? And come on, just look at her. Old jeans and a baggy shirt? Look at the expression on her face. She doesn’t even want to be up there!”
Vanessa’s head spun and her stomach roiled. She drowned in a sea of conflicting emotions. She felt pride at what Cleo, Emma, Mandy and the rest of the girls had accomplished. Yet at the same time, she couldn’t help mostly agreeing with Jameson’s dad. The write-in rule sucked. Why hadn’t she realized that earlier and convinced her Young Adventurers that it had to go?
It wasn’t fair. She hadn’t competed. She’d neverwantedto compete. And now she wore the crown that Charity John truly deserved.
Random voices called out, demanding a recount.
Earl tried to shout them down, but they wouldn’t be silenced until the volunteers counted every ballot for a second time right there on the stage. As they retallied every vote, Van, the ten actual contestants, the mayor, Earl and the former Miss Bronco stood up there and waited.
That process seemed to last forever and a day. Vanessa spent most of the recount clutching her roses while secretly rooting for the agonizing process to end her unexpected reign before it could really begin.
She did not get her wish. Somehow, her Young Adventurers had convinced a clear majority of voters to write in her name—all without anyone telling Van what they were up to.
When the mayor declared Van the winner—again—most of the crowd applauded with enthusiasm, after which the mayor invited her to say a few words.
A speech?He had to be kidding her.
But he wasn’t.
She pulled it together, praising the skill and heart of the ten real contestants and thanking the people of Bronco, especially her brilliant, resourceful Young Adventurers. Almost all the spectators actually applauded when she finished, so she supposed her impromptu acceptance speech hadn’t beenthatbad.
At last, Earl Tillson took over again. He thanked everyone for coming and reminded them to get their tickets for the rodeo tomorrow and not to miss the big barbecue on Independence Day or the Favorite Pet Contest July fifth out at Happy Hearts Animal Sanctuary.
He added with enthusiasm, “As all of you are probably aware, our lovely Miss Bronco will be hosting all three events. Be sure to attend, folks. Red, White and Bronco is an important and meaningful town tradition, one none of us can afford to miss.”
A last burst of applause followed and finally, the crowd began to disperse.
Van remembered her manners and thanked Earl, the previous Miss Bronco and the other contestants. Before she could make her escape, a woman slipped out from between the curtains at the rear of the stage, marched straight to Van and introduced herself as Maureen Kelly, pageant coordinator. She took Van’s email address and phone number so that she could get in touch with her when necessary.
Maureen promised, “As soon as I finish up here, I’ll email you the list of events at which you’ll be expected to appear. The list includes your duties at each event, what time you’ll need to be there and with whom you should check in when you arrive.”
Though Van longed to rip off her crown, tear the victory sash from her chest, toss the roses over her shoulder and sprint away screaming, she answered politely, “Thank you so much, Maureen.”
When Van finally escaped the stage, Callie, Evan, Daphne and the still-excited Young Adventurers met Van at the foot of the steps. They surrounded her with hugs and congratulations. Evan suggested pizza for all, his treat. Not all the girls could come, but the ringleaders’ parents gave permission. They went to Bronco Brick Oven Pizza and claimed a big table.
The girls were still flying high with the success of their campaign to transform the Miss Bronco beauty pageant. They kept offering toasts, raising their draft root beers high. Van tried to keep a positive attitude in order not to bring her day campers down.
She waited until she and Callie got home alone to let her true feelings show.
“This is awful,” she moaned, bracing her elbows on the kitchen table and burying her face in her hands.
