A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope knew that if she just walked away, the folks from Ivory Town would probably keep making trouble for Oxcreek Town. So, she made sure to say what she needed to, right there in front of everyone from Ivory Town.

"Oh, by the way," she said, flashing a sly smile, "some of the big shots who work with Oxcreek? Yeah, I know them personally. If you ever need help, you could just ask them. It'd be the same as asking me, really."

She said it so casually, but everyone from Ivory Town just stared at her, wide- eyed.

Nobody could quite figure out who this Calliope really was, or why she was so confident. But one thing was clear: the people from Ivory Town were suddenly a lot more cautious.

They could tell that Calliope and Silas, standing quietly at her side, weren't the kind of people you wanted to mess with. If they pushed too far, things probably wouldn't go well for them.

Then, Calliope turned sharply to face the mayor of Ivory Town.

"Isaiah, right?"

He nodded, swallowing hard.

"If you've still got any complaints about Oxcreek, why don't you say them now? I'd

be happy to pass them along to the folks up the chain, see if you're still the best fit to run this town."

icy, "after what happened today, you all ought to apologize to us, right here and

like how Oxcreek responds.

was done

There's

whether I have friends in high places? Well, you're welcome to

growing fast. That means good things for everyone around here. But if you want

as for

phone. "Let's see what the folks at

about how you've been treating

her contacts. She'd done a lot for Oxcreek lately, and just so happened

familiar tone, and

Go ahead-listen. You might be in for a

the phone like it might bite him, but he took it. A few minutes later, after a barrage of ster words from the other end, he looked

was wrong!" He

Oxcreek. We'll

was on the line, desperate

as mayor. Can you help me

back to Calliope,