The January month was still rather cold, but nothing like December's chill. Rowena had been residing in Forks for almost four months now. She had officially managed to stay longer in a place than a month.

Forks held a certain beauty to it that stuck with Rowena so well it made her want to stay even longer. She made good solid friends with Billy Black, his son Jacob, and the friend Sam. She eventually met some more of Sam's friends. She could only remember a few of their names. A Paul, Jake, Embry and somebody else, started with a Q.

Other folks were just as kind or some just wanted to meet her for gossip. She was the strangest of strangers joining Forks, especially the way she dressed so varyingly from the regular citizens.

One day, she was working in the shop's backroom, grinding herbs into a poultice. She was making an order for a lady who had joint pain, and while she did take medication, she wanted to try an alternative medicine.

Ching! Ching!

The sound of the shop entrance being opened stopped her from her work. Wiping her hands onto the apron she wore, "I'll be there in one moment!" She called as the sound of someone ringing her counter bell gained her full attention.

Stepping out of the backroom, she smiled at the sight before her. "Afternoon, Rowena." Billy Black smiled waving, he had Jacob and someone new with him this time.

A young girl with brunette hair and dark eyes, her skin pale, however, the rings under her eyes proved weariness. She seemed nervous, leaning closer into Jacob and the attentiveness he returned to her fidgeting made her smile in return.

"Afternoon to you as well Billy." She nods to Jacob. "So, who's this?" She asked looking at the girl.

"Oh! This is my son's friend, Bella Swan. You've not met her, she's the Chief-of-police's daughter, Charlie Swan. I don't think you've met him yet." Billy explained, his smile suggestive as he pointed to the girl named Bella.

Grinning herself, she held out a hand, "Nice to meet you, Bella. I'm Rowena Evensson. Just call me Rowena." Her hands were gloved this time as she shook Bella's hand. She looked rather different to Bella. Her curly dark hair pulled up in a messy bun, her violet eyes bright with gentleness, covered in tattoos, but she had this sort of elegant atmosphere about her which made people become attracted to her. "What can I get for you Billy?" she asked the man in the wheelchair.

"That muscle pain salve you had given me, I was wondering if I could buy it. It works wonders on my legs and back. The hips sometimes act up. I've not been feeling too much discomfort, but the sores have been bothersome and I was hoping we could strike a deal."

"Ah, so you've come to barter." Rowena laughed turning to her cabinet and pulling out a container, the same color as last time, and then she pulled out a second item, this time it was dark blue in color all around. "Here ya go, and this one will help with those sores of yours, just apply it after you've had a bath once, don't apply too much though." she explained, writing some notes down.

"Where do you even get this stuff? My Dad hasn't been complaining for weeks. Maybe Bella could give some to Charlie, right Dad?" Jacob asked, looking between his father and the girl of his dreams.

Rowena raised a hand to her mouth, her smile wide, "Thank you for the compliment Jacob, I make these salves myself, everything in it is home grown and localized here in Forks." she stated.

Blinking in surprise, Billy guffawed, "Well, good to know, as for the-"

"Take it as thank you from me for me being such a good customer, Billy. As my number one, just send one of your boys here when you need some more. I take payments in the form of home cooking, hiking trips, and friendly fun with company included." She suggested, her words directed to Billy, but her eyes were looking at Jacob and Bella.

"Wait what?" the boy spoke confused.

"Well, I'm celebrating a special occasion this weekend, I could use some helping hands, and if you'd like..." She looked at Billy. "I'd love to invite you to my place for a bit of a BBQ, I've a grill and everything. What do you say?"

"That's quite the invitation, Rowena. What time is it?" Billy asked.

She wrote down on a slip of paper, "I'll be cooking early in the afternoon, it'll all be ready by 5ish, show up anytime around then. You won't see me in the morning, I'm usually out. Here's my address." she held out the paper to the man.

Taking it, Billy looked down reading the address, he blinked in surprise, her property was directly on the border between the vampires and the Quileutes. Her house could practically be split in half where it was sitting. He heard someone had purchased the five acre patch of land, but never found out who, now he knew.

"See you this weekend then!" He was about to turn just as she waved for Jacob, kind of.

"Hold on, Bella?" she lifted something from a shelf, holding it out to her. "Here. Maybe I'll see you around as well."

Gently taking the item, Bella opened her hand to see a hand-carved mountain lion with black markings all around it. It was beautiful. Leaving a resounding mark on her, Bella felt the corners of her lips lift a little as she nodded.