For reasons unknown, the trip back to Eagle Creek for Emily and Sarah was unusually quiet. Sarah trilled her lips in frustration; she mumbled to herself, "Ok, I'll try the direct approach." She cleared her throat. "Emily, why are you so quiet?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, it was a good meal."

Sarah chuckled. "Good. I got a few words from you. Em, what's wrong?"

Emily shrugged. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Everything's in its right place and… and that's what scares me. I mean, the whole make up of all of this, every element is somehow askew."

"How?"

"I dunno. Everything that I expected to happen didn't and everything that was ultimately good for me feels so… so empowering that it terrifies me."

Sarah nodded.

Emily spoke in an optimistic tone, "So, you understand me?"

Sarah slowly shook her head. "Not even close."

Emily made a face and stuck her tongue out at her.

"Allow me to expound."

"We'll let me pull over first because the last time you did that it smelled worse than the horse."

"Funny. You're a regular riot, Miss Sarah Conrad. What I mean is here is how this week should have gone.

Number One: I sneak away from the bakery, my mother is furious.

Number Two: I fake like I care about being a cabin counselor. I show little interest in the kids and let them run wild.

Number Three: I meet a cute boy. We have a wild, passionate affair. And… and… that's it. Such is the script for us. This camp experience was supposed to be another chapter in the ongoing misadventures of a simple, small town tease from cattle country. But… this time, everything was ok. All was well. And that scares me!"

"Because…?"

"Because… what if… what if this is it? What if this is the best thing in life? What if everything else is downhill from here? What if this week was the whole reason I was born? I mean, come on, I'm Emily. I've a set mode, a pattern for who I am, how I am to behave and how things are to end. I am supposed to not learn my lesson and spend the next few weeks revealing in the exquisite memories of the handsome stranger with whom I shared my deepest passions. But, instead of that, dang it, I've learned my lesson. I helped people. I cared about the stupidest things. That should have been me running away on that first night not the little faux-French pastry. It's as if I'm… I'm… I'm growing up or something."

"And growing up is a bad thing?"

"Yes! I mean… no. See, my mother was once like me and although she rarely discusses her upbringing way back in the Stone Age, I think it is reasonable to assume that she was once a rambunctious, fiery eyed hellion such as myself. Although she would deny it, she probably got into trouble when she was my age. She probably had forgetful flings with local boys, but, one day that ended. She grew up. She was no longer a care-free kid, she was an adult."

"And that scares you?"

"It terrifies me! I'm Emily! I don't tell kids to clean up the kitchen; I mess it up with them. I don't get up at 4:30 am to make breakfast, I stay up until 4 am eating éclairs and thinking about boys. I'm not supposed to care. I'm not supposed to win a stupid Spirit of Sunflower Award; I'm supposed to be called to the director's office and told to not come back."

Sarah could not believe her ears. "So, you are disappointed that everything worked out for you?"

"Yes! I had a tremendous time and I hate that. If I grow up; I grow old. Soon, I'll be the one acting responsibly. Think about this, Kim Buchanan is, what, thirteen or fourteen?"

Sarah shrugged. "Fourteen, I think."

Emily covered her face. "Sarah that means in two years I will be the one nagging her to button up her blouse around Brian Anderson and Jake or some other little runt who will become a bold, bulging mass of muscle like Pete Jackson and Tommy Grossman."

Sarah wiped the sweat off of her brow. "Those two have gorgeous bodies don't they?"

Emily smiled too. "They do. Tommy's shoulders are… anyway… um, what was I saying?"

"You were discussing Tommy Grossman's shoulders."

Emily tried to regain his composure as did Sarah. They cleared their throats and straightened out their dresses.

"Oh Sarah, I so adored kissing him at the carnival."

Sarah chuckled, "My goodness Em, I thought Lynn was going to claw your eyes out at the River City Carnival."

Emily laughed. "The first time was an accident I promise."

Sarah gave her a doubtful look.

Emily swished her mouth. "Ok, I was thinking about how wonderful it would be to kiss him as the sweat beaded down his neck and back… however, I was attempting to signal Lynn to give him a kiss."

Sarah giggled, "But that doesn't explain the second kiss."

"I know, I know. Look, I don't rob banks but if our local branch of Montana Chemical is giving away cash… well, what am I supposed to do?"

"Not sure about the rules regarding financial institutions but as a general rule you're not supposed to kiss your friend's date in front of her… twice."

Emily laughed and then paused. "That's it! That's it! I am supposed to be the one who kisses other girls' guys in front of them. You are supposed to be the one who gives me a lecture and Sarah, stop thinking about his kissing Tommy."

"How'd you know what I was thinking?" asked Sarah.

"We've been best friends since we were five. How could I not know?"

Sarah nodded.

Emily guffawed, "Ok, back to me, I am terrified of growing up; of settling down; of maturing and getting a perfect house and perfect husband and a flabby body from my nine kids."

"Nine kids?"

"I'm just expounding."

"Emily Jean Clementine, did you expect to stay a little girl forever?"

"No. Of course not."

"Then why do you expect to remain sixteen-years-old forever?"

"I don't... but, maybe… maybe I do. Sarah, things have been rushing along so fast for us. This time last year we still had not really been on dates or anything but then, you and I hoped aboard this race horse and galloped our way into womanhood at break neck speeds. I went from being curious about Tommy last year to being smitten by Russell Stead at the Christmas Ball to being, well, boy crazy. The corset was in April. In May, I fell in love with Jeff. In June, I wanted to elope with him."

"How do you feel about Jeff now?"

"Let's see… today is… August…?"

"13th."

"Alright then, today I can't stand Jeff. In two more days I will be wailing for his tender caresses."

"That's my Emily."

"I still have it… true… but… what if it goes away?"

Sarah did not immediately know how to respond, she just remained quiet for a second to collect her thoughts. Emily did the same. As the wagon rolled Emily turned around and saw the last structures in Madoc reflected in the fading amber of dusk. As they approached Eagle Creek they discussed their recent successes and failings with boys.

"Well, you're not the only one. I essentially did the same thing with Jeff. I guess every woman has to go through these trials."

Sarah tilted her head. "What'd you just say?"

Emily shrugged. "I said, 'I guess every woman has to go through these trials.'"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why does every woman have to go through these trials? Why do they have to put up with self doubt? My father always speaks about the power of choice. Isn't one of the biggest choices we make as women is the choice to live as a victim or as a conqueror?"

Emily nodded. "It is but most of the time women think they're powerless. But you've certainly convinced me and Amanda and Lynn to make changes. If you wanted to I think you could change the whole world."

Sarah stared straight ahead. "Then I'll do it.'"

Emily chuckled, "Do what change the world?" Emily looked at her with a smirk.

Sarah wore a determined expression on her face.

"Sarah Conrad you can't change the world!"

"Why not?"

Emily threw up her arms. "Because… because… you're a girl. No one's going to listen to you."

"Well, so far, three young ladies have listened to me. And I made an impact on the girls in my cabin and Alexis' mother. So…" she nodded to herself. "I can change the world!"

Emily rolled her eyes. "You're daft! This sounds ludicrous."

"This sounds revolutionary and I will see it accomplished! Emily, I'm sick of being afraid and timid like some skittish little hare."

"You're really going to do this? You're going to change the world?"

Sarah paused. She bit her lower lip and briefly turned her eyes to the night sky.

She whispered, "I'll do it, Em. I'll do it for me, for you, for Lynn but more importantly, I'll do it for Alexis and Nancy and Melissa and those other girls. I'll do it for them."

Emily chuckled, "Fine."

As they approached the bakery, Sarah could see the slightly illuminated figures of Crystal and Preacher Sam walking on the sidewalk.

"Emily, stop the wagon." It stopped.

Crystal smiled. "Evening girls, how was camp?"

Emily began to answer, Sarah interrupted her, "Mrs. Hines, can I spend the night at your house tonight?"