AN: This is my first story in a really long time, and the Hatfields and McCoys have held my attention for a long time so hey why not right? Let me know how you feel about it please!

Chapter One.

Annabel wiped off a bead of sweat forming on her forehead. She had just finished pinning up the wet laundry onto the clothes line. With the way that hot West Virginia sun was boring down on her, she figured the clothes should be dry in no time. She could just barely make out her Pa and brothers out in the field below her. Sighing, Annabel turned and hiked her way back to the house. She figured with the heat her father and brothers could do with a drink.

Making her way into the kitchen she poured out some fresh lemonade for herself, she figured she could go for a few minute break herself. She had been at it all day today. So far she had done all of the laundry, cleaned the house spotless, started dinner for the night, and had even gone as far to wash Pa's dog for him. He thought of the mutt as his baby, no matter how filthy the thing was. Annabel wasn't about to let no dirty thing track dirt into her house after all her hard work.

She gulped down the rest of her drink, and turned to pour some more for the others. Grabbing the glasses she began to carefully hike down to her Pa and the others.

"Bless you, Annie," her eldest brother Elliot said as he made a beeline straight for her and the glasses.

"Welcome, El," she laughed as she watched her brother gulp the glass down, spilling it all over his face. Shaking her head softly in amusement, she turned to give the remaining glasses to her Pa and her other brother Matthew. They both eagerly gulped their drinks down as well.

"So how's your day been coming along Annie?" Pa asked, giving her back the cup.

"Oh, you know. Same as usual. Finally gave that filthy thing of yours a bath today," she teased at her Pa.

"Watch it, little girl," Pa growled playfully back at her. Annabel laughed softly. She loved her Pa, no matter how crazy his dog was. Her Pa was unlike a lot of other men she knew. Pa didn't treat her like some fragile little piece of glass, nor did he act like she was his property. Of course Pa had his rules for her and told her when she was out of place, but Pa loved to joke around with her and play with her.

"Pa, ya' hear anymore bout that Union McCoy that found himself dead?" Matthew asked leaning back against the wagon behind him. Pa sighed. "Nothin' new. Just what everybody has a been sayin'. That ol' Jim killed him."

"Ya believe it?" Elliot questioned him curiously. Again Pa sighed. "I ain't a clue. Anse swears up and down that Jim said he ain't a thing to do with it. But then again who's to know." Pa closed his eyes for a minute, taking a deep breath. "All I know is Anse a better be ready for the outcome. The tensions gonna be risin, and oh its a be risin fast."

Annabel cast her eyes downwards. She had know that something like this was going to be happening soon, everyone did. Ever since Randall and Devil Anse had returned the tension had just been growing and growing between the two families. She was fortunate enough to not be on either side. She was a West, just the way she liked it. Her Pa was close to Devil Anse, had been for years. Her and her brothers both growing up constantly in the Hatfield boys presences. She knew if it came down to it her Pa would take the Hatfields side in a heartbeat, but she knew her Pa was a kind hearted man and didn't believe a lick in fighting and was gonna keep his family out of it the best he could.

"Well boys I reckon we better finish this up before it starts a gettin dark," Pa said. "Plus we wouldn't wanna keep little Annie here a waiting too long on fixing us dinner." Her Pa winked at her. He knew how much she hated being talked about like some housewife. She would much rather be outside with the boys, but with her mother dead she was the only one who keep the house in some sort of order. Lord knows what would happen if one of the boys took to it.

Please let me know what you thought! It was pretty shaky and I don't know how I feel about it! Should I continue? Yay? Nay? Thanks so much guys!