A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"You guys go ahead and eat here. We'll take care of this ourselves," someone said, waving a hand dismissively.

"Yeah, let a couple people stay with Callie and Silas, and the rest of us will go talk things out with the folks from Ivory Town," another chimed in.

Everyone was talking at once, but they hadn't forgotten to look after Calliope and Silas.

Calliope was already on her feet. "Well, if that's the case, I'm coming too. Jacob's hurt, isn't he? I should check his wound."

"No way," Ryan said quickly. "What if things get heated and you get hurt?"

Calliope just shrugged, but Silas spoke up, "She'll be fine. I'll look out for her." He turned to the group, "So where's all this going down? We'll come along."

Ryan shot Silas a skeptical look.

Silas grinned. "Hey, the guys I brought with me are way tougher than this Kyle you keep mentioning."

"Come on, Neil," Calliope called. "Let's sort this out."

Neil looked apologetic, glancing at the half-eaten plates of burgers and fries. "I feel terrible, making you guys get involved before you've even finished dinner. Callie, Silas, I'm sorry we're such lousy hosts."

"Oh, come on. Family's family-your problem is our problem," Silas said with a lopsided smile. "Besides, I did get that wedding gift from you all. Gotta earn my son-in-law stripes somehow, right?"

a warm glow inside

the way, the group headed toward the source of the

called his crew, and gave them the address, telling them to meet

you so long?" someone called out as they approached. "Things are

stood with a group from Ivory Town, arms

go. He's already hurt. Are you really going to

hurt, you think you'll just walk away from

shouting at the Ivory Town

If we're going down, you are too!" someone from Ivory

your guy back, you'd better cough up half of what you made off those

a fair

stepped forward, Calliope and

going a bit too far, Isaiah?" Neil said, his voice tight. "Come on, our towns are practically neighbors hell, we're almost like brothers. You all turned down working with us when we first pitched the idea. Now you're pulling

You guys didn't want to

Neil. "How were we supposed to know

we get

folks pass through, but we're the

them in.