Corrina works in the garden of her own accord. Tiger goes back to the nursery with her father, but he senses incoming severe weather from a nearby hurricane because of how birds and cows are behaving. Lonnie convinces the nursery owner and most of the other employees that they need to move all the fragile and expensive plants inside. When they are done, Tiger runs back home but stops to guide an escaped calf back into a pasture that belongs to Abby Lynn, the most popular girl in school. Abby Lynn begrudgingly compliments Tiger on her haircut, noting that it looks like Audrey Hepburn’s, before getting scared by the weather. However, Tiger realizes she couldn’t care less about Abby Lynn’s opinion. The rising action intensifies as the novel approaches its climax.

In the climax of the novel, Tiger returns home as the storm is hitting in earnest only to discover that her mother has snuck out to look for her. Tiger finds her in the woods and remembers what Granny said about the pure strength of Corrina’s love. They return home where they and Magnolia wait out the worst of the storm, and eventually Lonnie returns home.