Selena finds herself walking through the spirit realm, moving almost automatically—“Walking was what she did, what she had always done” (216)—with only a vague sense that she is meant to be doing something. She passes several saguaros and pauses at a third, where something peers out at her. When her wrist begins to burn, she remembers Copper’s leash pulling on her arm, and her full awareness returns.

Realizing that she is in the spirit realm, Selena panics, fearing that she may have wandered for years and that everyone else could already be dead. She calls aloud for help, and an elf owl emerges from a saguaro before flying away. Selena follows it and soon finds Copper, who is accompanied by a Yellow Dog spirit. When Selena greets the dog, the Yellow Dog speaks to her, startling her. He reassures her that Copper warned him that she might be jumpy. Selena asks him to tell Copper that she loves her and that Copper is the best dog, but the Yellow Dog replies that Copper already knows and that “best” is too abstract a concept for dogs. When Selena asks what his help will cost, he tells her that his services are free and suggests that she thank the elf owl by practicing gratitude.

The Yellow Dog leads Selena and Copper to a gathering of spirits assembled around a fire. A hawk spirit asks Selena what she wants, and she explains that Snake-Eater has been harassing her and sent her into the spirit realm. One spirit dismisses Snake-Eater as harmless, but Old Man Rattlesnake objects. Selena asks for their help, apologizing repeatedly until one spirit comments on her excessive apologizing, prompting laughter when she begins to apologize again. Selena suggests that Father Aguirre could explain the situation more clearly, and the ocotillo spirit notes that Father Aguirre is currently with his mother.

The spirits summon Snake-Eater, and Selena hears a familiar voice among them. Jackrabbit sings to call him, and Snake-Eater soon appears. Compared to many of the other spirits, who seem elderly, Snake-Eater appears young and physically powerful. Selena and Snake-Eater argue. The spirits laugh when Selena asks, “What did my aunt see in you?” (223), embarrassing him. Snake-Eater presents his grievance, claiming that Selena accepted his courtship gifts and later revealed that she was already involved with someone else. Selena counters that she did not understand the meaning of the gifts and accuses Snake-Eater of killing Amelia by draining her strength, a charge he deflects by blaming Amelia for giving it freely.

When the spirits seem inclined to side with Snake-Eater’s sense of betrayal, the familiar voice intervenes, arguing that Selena did not know what she was agreeing to. Selena realizes that the speaker is DJ Raven, who jokes about Snake-Eater persisting in pursuing someone who is not interested. Snake-Eater challenges the spirits to decide whether they will defend a human. Yellow Dog immediately agrees to help, followed by Old Man Rattlesnake and DJ Raven, giving Snake-Eater pause. When this still proves insufficient, the scorpion spirit steps forward. Scorpion explains that he will defend Selena because she treated scorpions with kindness, relocating them outside rather than killing them, as most humans would.

The spirits’ forms shift as a fight breaks out, and Copper charges into the conflict. Selena tries to stop her, but a woman—Father Aguirre’s mother, the javelina spirit—stops Selena, telling her that Selena would do the same if their roles were reversed. The confrontation ends with Snake-Eater fleeing, pursued briefly by Copper and the Yellow Dog. DJ Raven explains that they have won and that Snake-Eater will be unable to leave his home ground for a long time. Before the spirits disperse, Selena thanks Scorpion, who reflects that small acts of kindness can feel large to small creatures. Javelina then tells Selena that she must leave and pushes her and Copper back into the human world.

Selena regains consciousness at the bottom of Jackrabbit Hole, where Snake-Eater and an injured Grandma Billy are also present. Snake-Eater threatens them, but his form is unstable and visibly weakened. Copper bites him before being kicked away. Selena cries out to draw Snake-Eater’s attention away from Copper. Father Aguirre, in javelina form, charges Snake-Eater. Realizing that she is still holding Grandma Billy’s shotgun, Selena warns Father Aguirre and then shoots Snake-Eater.

Grandma Billy boasts that her idea about shooting Snake-Eater was right all along as Father Aguirre dresses himself the best he can with his remaining clothes. He warns that Snake-Eater is not dead and will begin rebuilding his power when the sun rises. They climb out of Jackrabbit Hole, Father Aguirre helping a stoic Grandma Billy and Copper limping. Eventually, they reach the truck, and when Father Aguirre starts it up, they hear DJ Raven announcing a song especially for them—“We are the Champions.” Selena sleeps the entire drive back to town.

Upon arrival at Quartz Creek, they go straight to Rosa’s, where Grandma Billy announces that they fought a roadrunner spirit. Copper’s leg is injured but not broken, Father Aguirre has two broken ribs, and Grandma Billy must stay overnight for observation. Rosa says that she will call in a doctor to see to Grandma Billy’s wounds; she thinks Grandma Billy is okay but does not want to risk it. Rosa is frustrated at them for risking Grandma Billy’s safety, but Father Aguirre argues that they did not mean to put her in danger.

Selena visits the dreamlike space where she had sexual encounters with Snake-Eater, but this time she finds that she is in bed with Yellow Dog, who says that Snake-Eater will be weakened for at least a century. Yellow Dog explains that the space is Selena’s, not Snake-Eater’s. She thanks him again for his help, talking about how she felt helpless. Yellow Dog tells her not to degrade herself, pointing out how making friends “is doing something” (239), as is the consistent kindness Selena has shown those around her. Yellow Dog advises her to rename her house, and they discuss how Amelia changed it so that Snake-Eater could come to the house. He argues that Snake-Eater wasn’t “so bad” before Amelia died; the spirits don’t always understand human death, and Snake-Eater felt abandoned. Selena wants to ask more questions, but Yellow Dog leaves with a final reminder to change the name of the house.

Three days later, Selena holds a ceremony to change the name of her house. She invites several people, including Grandma Billy, who is using a cane. She announces the new name—Copper Dog House—and the others solidify the name by calling back “Witnessed!” Jenny says that she will update the records. After everyone else leaves, Selena talks to Father Aguirre, telling him about her encounter with Yellow Dog. He confirms that Amelia was happy with Snake-Eater and that she probably didn’t realize that Snake-Eater was draining her energy, as she was lonely. Selena counters that her aunt “should have gotten a dog” (242).

With the arrival of the fall tourist season, Selena remains busy. She helps the Rivendell commune prepare accommodations for visitors and assists Lupe at the restaurant. Father Aguirre continues delivering his usual sermons but spends much of his time repairing his damaged truck. Grandma Billy enjoys the influx of tourists, openly flirting with visitors and eventually taking one of them, Darren, home. Selena earns a significant amount of money during the season but feels relieved when the tourists finally depart.

One afternoon, while Selena is sitting on her porch, Connor’s son arrives to tell her that there is a man in town insisting that Selena must leave. Fearing that the long-delayed residency interview Jenny mentioned has arrived, Selena retrieves Copper and walks into town. However, as she approaches the church, Selena recognizes Walter’s voice. She also hears Father Aguirre defending her. Entering the building, Selena finds that Jenny is there as well. Selena reminds Walter that she left him deliberately. Walter claims that he understands and explains that a letter was sent to his address after Selena completed her residency paperwork. Nevertheless, he insists that she must return home, arguing that she has a mental illness and is imposing on the people of Quartz Creek. 

Disturbed by the suggestion that she is a burden, Selena initially does not respond. At this point, however, Grandma Billy enters and challenges Walter, asserting that Selena is not a burden. Walter attempts to charm Grandma Billy and then looks to Father Aguirre for support, but Father Aguirre responds only by smiling at Grandma Billy. Lupe enters to observe the confrontation. Walter continues to insist that Selena has “episodes,” but Selena interrupts him and firmly states that she is finished with him. When Walter grabs Selena’s wrist, Jenny’s demeanor shifts. She orders him to leave. Walter says that he will find a hotel, but Jenny informs him that there are none nearby and tells him not to return. When he challenges her authority, Jenny states that she is both the mayor and the chief of police. Grandma Billy jokingly offers to remove him herself, noting that Jenny might be charged with police brutality otherwise. Father Aguirre reminds them that they are in a church, and Jenny escorts Walter out. Walter leaves in his car and does not return.

After Walter’s departure, the group gathers in the rectory to talk. Grandma Billy admits that she was listening to the confrontation and intentionally waited for the right moment to make her entrance. Father Aguirre pours wine, and Selena apologizes for imposing on the people of Quartz Creek. The others firmly reject this characterization, assuring her that she has not been a burden.

During the conversation, it becomes clear that Grandma Billy has been giving Selena her excess eggs. Lupe scolds Grandma Billy for this, though Selena expresses her gratitude for the food. She also notes, with amusement, that Grandma Billy has already begun giving her large quantities of summer squash as well.

As they continue talking and laughing, a teenage boy knocks at the door, having heard about the community meal. He offers to wash dishes in exchange for food, but the group declines the offer and instead begins preparing for the meal together. Selena reassures the boy that they will help him find work and welcomes him to Quartz Creek, and Copper leans companionably against the boy’s legs.