Russ and Charity trying to put a stop to all of it.
Of course, Jenny dodged, but I was quicker,
and came around the table at her. I got a fistful of that red hair and pulled
it hard as I could, trying to yank it out by the roots. She was screeching and
trying to bite me, but I got a good punch in before strong arms came around me
and picked me up, feet kicking and arms flailing to hit her or whoever it was
that had me.
“Settle down,” said Cody’s uncle in my ear.
I wasn’t anywhere near ready to settle down, but the harder I struggled, the
harder he squeezed me until I couldn’t hardly breathe.
“Okay,” I gasped, “I’ll behave. Put me
down.”
Hank put me on my feet, but kept one strong
hand wrapped around my upper arm while we surveyed the scene. Celeste had a
fierce grin on her face that looked like she might have liked a go at Jenny
herself. The other three looked like they might cry, huddled together and
shaking. Charity was helping Janet put the table and the food that I’d knocked
over to rights, and Russ was examining Jenny’s face, which was already swelling
with a huge purple bruise under her eye. She was crying and telling him she
quit. That brought me up short. What had I done? Cody needed his physical
therapy, and I’d attacked the person who was there to give it to him. I
collapsed into a chair that was behind me, startling Hank as I pulled him down
with me.
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed, not knowing who I
was apologizing to. “But sh-she called my k-kids b-bastards.” It even surprised
me when I heard myself say that. I didn’t think that was what had set me off,
or maybe it was. All of my sisters ran to me then, and huddled around me,
hugging and patting me. If my kids were bastards, then so were theirs, and we
needed to stick together. Celeste stood up and aimed a mean face at Jenny.
“Apologize, you skank,” she said. I barely
had time to wonder where she learned that word when Russ finally stepped
in to settle matters.
“That’s enough name-calling, all of you.
Annalee, Celeste, I’m surprised at your behavior, but I’ll agree Jenny had no
call to say that about your kids. Jenny, I’m sorry you feel you have to quit,
but if that’s the way it is, I’ll drive you into town tonight.”
“I should have some compensation for that
crazy bitch giving me a black eye,” she replied.
All eyes were on Russ as he frowned. “I
think I already said that was enough name-calling. I’ve watched you making
mischief among my family for nearly a month now, and what you said about
Annalee and her children was uncalled for and unforgivable. You’re fired. Go
get your stuff together so I can get you out of here before I have to let these
girls finish the job Annalee started.”
The silence that greeted this speech was
total. No one even dared breathe as we watched Jenny for what she might say
next. We all knew that Russ wasn’t to be crossed in a mood like that, and I was
deeply grateful that it was me he was standing up for.
After a few minutes of uneasy silence,
Charity got brave enough to speak. “Um, Russ?”
“What,” he almost snapped at her.
“Don’t take that tone with me. I merely
wanted to remind you that there’s a blizzard in the forecast. Do you really
think it’s wise to drive her to town tonight?”
Russ kind of shrank back to normal size,
then, after swelling up to boss size when he gave Jenny that lecture. “Sorry,
Babe, and you’re right.” Turning to me, he said, “Do you think you can keep
your hands off her until I can get her out of here?”
“Long as she keeps hers off of Cody,” I
said, sounding braver than I felt.
“I wouldn’t touch that ignorant cowpoke
with a ten-foot pole,” she said, causing Hank to growl where he stood beside
me.
“Jenny, I’d suggest you keep your mouth
shut. Go to your room. I’ll have Janet bring you your meals there until the
weather breaks and we can leave. One more word and I’ll send you out of here
Of course, Jenny dodged, but I was quicker,
and came around the table at her. I got a fistful of that red hair and pulled
it hard as I could, trying to yank it out by the roots. She was screeching and
trying to bite me, but I got a good punch in before strong arms came around me
and picked me up, feet kicking and arms flailing to hit her or whoever it was
that had me.
“Settle down,” said Cody’s uncle in my ear.
I wasn’t anywhere near ready to settle down, but the harder I struggled, the
harder he squeezed me until I couldn’t hardly breathe.
“Okay,” I gasped, “I’ll behave. Put me
down.”
Hank put me on my feet, but kept one strong
hand wrapped around my upper arm while we surveyed the scene. Celeste had a
fierce grin on her face that looked like she might have liked a go at Jenny
herself. The other three looked like they might cry, huddled together and
shaking. Charity was helping Janet put the table and the food that I’d knocked
over to rights, and Russ was examining Jenny’s face, which was already swelling
with a huge purple bruise under her eye. She was crying and telling him she
quit. That brought me up short. What had I done? Cody needed his physical
therapy, and I’d attacked the person who was there to give it to him. I
collapsed into a chair that was behind me, startling Hank as I pulled him down
with me.
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed, not knowing who I
was apologizing to. “But sh-she called my k-kids b-bastards.” It even surprised
me when I heard myself say that. I didn’t think that was what had set me off,
or maybe it was. All of my sisters ran to me then, and huddled around me,
hugging and patting me. If my kids were bastards, then so were theirs, and we
needed to stick together. Celeste stood up and aimed a mean face at Jenny.
“Apologize, you skank,” she said. I barely
had time to wonder where she learned that word when Russ finally stepped
in to settle matters.
“That’s enough name-calling, all of you.
Annalee, Celeste, I’m surprised at your behavior, but I’ll agree Jenny had no
call to say that about your kids. Jenny, I’m sorry you feel you have to quit,
but if that’s the way it is, I’ll drive you into town tonight.”
“I should have some compensation for that
crazy bitch giving me a black eye,” she replied.
All eyes were on Russ as he frowned. “I
think I already said that was enough name-calling. I’ve watched you making
mischief among my family for nearly a month now, and what you said about
Annalee and her children was uncalled for and unforgivable. You’re fired. Go
get your stuff together so I can get you out of here before I have to let these
girls finish the job Annalee started.”
The silence that greeted this speech was
total. No one even dared breathe as we watched Jenny for what she might say
next. We all knew that Russ wasn’t to be crossed in a mood like that, and I was
deeply grateful that it was me he was standing up for.
After a few minutes of uneasy silence,
Charity got brave enough to speak. “Um, Russ?”
“What,” he almost snapped at her.
“Don’t take that tone with me. I merely
wanted to remind you that there’s a blizzard in the forecast. Do you really
think it’s wise to drive her to town tonight?”
Russ kind of shrank back to normal size,
then, after swelling up to boss size when he gave Jenny that lecture. “Sorry,
Babe, and you’re right.” Turning to me, he said, “Do you think you can keep
your hands off her until I can get her out of here?”
“Long as she keeps hers off of Cody,” I
said, sounding braver than I felt.
“I wouldn’t touch that ignorant cowpoke
with a ten-foot pole,” she said, causing Hank to growl where he stood beside
me.
“Jenny, I’d suggest you keep your mouth
shut. Go to your room. I’ll have Janet bring you your meals there until the
weather breaks and we can leave. One more word and I’ll send you out of here
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