Cherry dubs herself my sister. Considering all the humping, it's incest at its finest.

If there's ever a Zombie apocalypse, Mia's to blame.

Readers: I'm off work the rest of this week, so morning chapters will still come, just not at the crack of dawn. :D

I love you guise like Jessie loves naked Barbies.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Benevolence & Bricks

"Y'all got a tender heart, helping my boy out like this."

Esme's a dam about to burst with tears and Rowdy is stone-faced quiet and in shock.

"I don't want y'all to think we're some charity case," Carlisle states proudly. "Charlie, I swear, I'll work overtime and catch as many-"

Papa holds a hand up to interrupt him. "You hush that nonsense. Cotton said that there was a lot of folks in town that needed to learn kindness … I'm one of them. This money here is a gift. I don't want no payback or to see you work any harder than you already do. Just take it. And if anything else comes up, don't you dare hesitate to pick up a phone."

Carlisle goes in for a hug but Rowdy beats him to it, rolling forward and wrapping his arms around my papa's legs. Carlisle and Esme join in, and the next thing I know, Emmett runs in from outside and sees all the hugging. He doesn't know what's going on, but he can't help his chubby self and embraces my father too.

I reckon he just needs to be a part of something bigger than himself.

Papa's as uncomfortable as can be, all wrapped up in a Masen sandwich.

But he's smiling.

He's patting with his large bear-like hands, grinning until he laughs. The rest of us join in, cackling away.

Ma wipes away a tear even though she thinks I don't notice.

"Thank you, Mr. Swan! I'm so... and you are..." Rowdy trails off and his green eyes are wet with gratefulness. Papa gave him more than money.

He gave him life.

"No problem, Son," Papa replies. "You just make sure you're good to my daughter, you hear me?"

"Yessir." Rowdy grins and reaches to squeeze my hand.

We're so busy being happy that we don't notice the expressions on Billy and Jacob's faces. If I had looked—glanced just the slightest to the left—I would've seen disappointment and betrayal.

But I didn't.

Mrs. Hale says it's time for supper, and the whole lot of folks walks into the dining room. The table if full of food and every smell hits my nostrils. My mouth waters at the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens cooked with lards of fatback, boiled cabbage, buttered cornbread, and a whole array of pies and sweets. We hold each other's hands as Reverend Weber starts the prayer.

"Dear Lord, we've got a lot to be thankful for today. For Cotton, who stood up in the midst of evil to proclaim that goodness can overcome. For Charlie, whose heart is as big as Christ's love, may you bless him ten fold. For Edward, may you heal him from the bottom of his toes to the top of his head. For Forks County…"

Ma always said those who didn't pray in the morning always had a long grace to say. It seems like our own Pastor is one of them. So Ma clears her throat rudely and I giggle.

"…So I ask you to bless this food," the Reverend ends. "May it be used to nourish our-"

Turns out, Reverend Weber doesn't need Ma's help. A loud crash rings out in the dining room and it causes us all to hit the floor.

I scream as loudly as I can, but I'm not the only one. The women in the room cry out, shrieking and squealing and all poor Rowdy can do is duck and cover his head. Jessie yells out, "Baby Jesus!" and for once AJ doesn't stop her.

"It's all right, Jessie," AJ coos, hugging our youngest sister. "I've got you."

"Where's the children?" Mrs. Weber calls out.

"We're here," Jasper answers. "We're all over here."

A few are missing, but I'm too terrified to see who it is.

"Stay down," Papa orders everyone. "Stay down and don't get up!"

Rose Charlotte is crying. Fat tears roll down her face and I scoot over on my hands and knees, hugging her tightly. "It's okay, Rose."

"It's a gun," she wails. "Someone shot at us. I think you angered 'em, Cotton. Now they're out for revenge!"

I'm horrified to think I'm the cause of this. I didn't want folks retaliating against my family and loved ones just 'cause I told 'em the truth. It seems like all my honesty comes with a price.

Papa stands up, holding an object in his hand.

"What is it, Charlie?" Ma asks, still hunched over.

"It's a brick! Someone's thrown a brick through my house!"

Papa drops the dirty reddish block on the floor and takes off running as the rest of us stand up and follow.

"Get back here!" Papa's made it out the front door and across the yard to where our barn is. "I said, get back here. Get out and show your face!"

The crowd pours out onto the porch, whispering in hushed tones.

"Who is it?"

"Who could it be?"

"You think it's one of them angry town folks?"

Papa disappears behind the barn as Rowdy holds my hand. "You all right, Cotton?"

I'm trembling, still shaking in fear, but I'm fine—and alive. That's what matters. All I can do is nod.

"How dare you!" Papa's voice bellows out as he tugs and pulls on a person. They struggle, but Papa jerks real hard and they come stumbling out into our view.

"Jake?" asks Ma.

But Papa's not through. He coaxes out the rest of 'em, and staggering behind him are three girls as guilty as can be: Angela, Bree, and Victoria.

The Reverend and his wife gasp. Billy's face turns mighty red and Ma shakes her head.

"How could they? Why would they do this?" Maggie questions in shock. I stay on the front porch with Rowdy but the rest of 'em go pouring out into the yard.

"I invite you into my home and you pay me back by throwing bricks through my window? Why I oughta…" Papa trails off before he says something he'll regret.

"Now, now," Ma says, waving her hands. "Everyone just calm down. Jacob? Girls? Why would you do this?"

Jake breathes heavily, his chest rising and falling. "'Cause of you!"

He points directly at me and I glance around, as if he could possibly be talking about someone else. "Me?"

"I've liked you since we were young'uns, Bella!" Jacob wipes his sweaty face with a dirty hand. The grime from the brick is now soiled across his face. "You ain't never pay me no mind and now you're with him? Declaring your love all over national television and you don't give a shit about how I feel!"

It was local cable, I want to say. However, now is not the time or the place to point out specifics.

I watch Rowdy swallow a lump in his throat and I know he somehow blames himself. I won't let him. So I grasp his hand. It's my own quiet way of showing him my affection. Jake never stood a chance even before Rowdy came along.

"Watch your mouth, boy," Papa warns. "Cotton's made her choice and I support her. You're just going to have to get over it!"

"Jake made us do it!" Angela cries. "He made us help him with the brick and with the rifle in the bush and with hanging the overalls…"

Bree and Victoria warn her to be quiet, but the damage is already done.

"You've been at it this whole time?" Papa takes turns looking them all in the eyes. "You see, Renee? I told you it won't no damn raccoon!"

"That's it, girls!" Maggie Weber shoos them to the side. "I've had it up to here with your tomfoolery! You're making us all look bad! Apologize to the Swans and get in the car! You're going home and you'll be lucky if you see sunlight the rest of the summer!"

"Sorry." They all apologize one by one, but they're not sorry at all, just regretful they've been caught. Bree smirks at me on the way to their vehicle, and I stick my tongue out at her. At least I won't have to see them for a couple of months.

"Jake, I'm disappointed in you. You should know better. I've been good to you!"

Billy steps between them and pulls Jake to the side. "Let's go, Son."

Papa looks at Billy incredulously. "Ain't you going to say nothing to your boy?"

"He's right, Charlie. That daughter of yours has been leading him on. Serves you right. We had a plan. Get our kids married and you ruined it all with those Masens!"

Papa balls his fists up tightly to avoid hitting something.

Or someone.

"You knew about this, didn't you?" Papa accuses him. "You don't look surprised at all."

When Billy doesn't say anything, Papa explodes. "You ain't changed a bit, Billy. After all of these years, you're still the same, bitter man. Get off of my property! We're done, Billy! I don't want to ever see you or Jacob again! You're both fired!"

"Fuck you, Charlie!" Billy practically pushes Jake towards their van. "Let's go, Jake. They always thought they were better than us … You're a fool, Charlie Swan! A damn fool!"

We watch in horror as they climb into their vehicle and spin dust all over the yard with their tires.

"My, oh, my!" Ma shakes her head in dismay. "I just can't believe it!"

"It's a doggone shame," Mrs. Hale agrees.

Papa storms in the house and we let him be. He needs a chance to cool off because even though Billy betrayed him, he still lost his best friend.

"Come on, everyone," Ma shoos us into the house. "Excitement's over. Time to eat before the food gets cold."

"Boy, that was something, wasn't it?" Rowdy tries to hold back his laughter, but practically spits as he holds his stomach.

"What are you laughing at? None of this is funny!" I fume.

"I think it is," Rowdy exclaims, pushing himself back into the house. "You got all of these folks riled up today, Cottonseed. Charlie's lost his 'bud' Billy and Jacob is 'blooming' mad…"

"Har, har," I say sarcastically. "Enough with the cotton puns, they're getting old."

"Okay, okay. You're right." Rowdy holds up his hands in surrender.

"But even so, I'm just 'tilling' it like it is…"

Rowdy bursts into laughter, I smack him on the shoulder, and Jessie screams that she doesn't want any taters.

Cotton jokes and brick bombs aside, it's been a good day.