*Author's Note*
And here's the debut of Surviving With The Devil's Son, the sequel to Thrown Into McCoy's Feud. This first chapter is much like a prologue/intro and doesn't begin right after the end of TIMF, but instead a couple years after the feud ended around the time that Perry Cline's getting ready to kick the bucket. Don't worry the next chapter will pick up shortly where TIMF left off tho.
In this prologue since Rihanna 'Anna' is a teen embarking on courting I imagine her as Sophia Turner (Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones. Eh more like her S1 or S2 look.). Also, the guy she's seen with in this prologue Josiah Vance I imagine as Sam Claflin. Well, since they're only in the first chapter I guess it doesn't really matter, but whatever LOL.
Perry Cline's super young wife Karen Rhodes-Cline is a young blonde that resembles Roseanna, so picture whoever since she's only in one chapter too LOL.
Anyways Novella 'Nova' is still Rose Leslie and of course Cap is still Boyd Holbrook. Also, all the other Hatfields & McCoys cast is the same. My OCs are still the face claims/cast that they were in TIMF.
Hope you guys like this.
Looking For Miss Novella Landon
Novella POV:
The spring air was a bit breezy today as I hung up the large wash load I'd just done. Usually I had help from Anna, but today she was off wit' Josiah Vance in town havin' lunch at the tavern. At 13-years-old me an' Cap decided to let her spend time wit' potential suitors an' pick who she wanted when the time came for somethin' serious. Both of us wanted to avoid what happened to me happenin' to her, gettin' stuck wit' an asshole that was handpicked for ya.
Josiah was a nice boy, not quite 17, and was one of many nephews that belonged to Jim Vance. If I recall correctly Josiah's granny was Jim's sister. Yea, ya can tell that Josiah's pa was a bastard by the fact they used the name Vance… Oh, poor Uncle Jim, I still get teary-eyed when I think 'bout him and the ultimate sacrifice he made for Cap an' our family. Anyways, Josiah was one of the few boys interested in Anna. The others bein' Kirk, Selkirk's son, and one of the Maines boys. Think his name was Bobby Maines.
My other chil'ren, all sons, were either busy at school or inside takin' naps. In the last decade I gave birth to 5 healthy boys, I was even due to have 'nother baby in a couple more months too. All of 'em had golden blonde hair an' icy blue eyes like their pa. All tall an' lean too. I was prayin' that this baby I was currently carryin' was a girl. Don't get me wrong, I'd love my baby no matter what it comes as, but after havin' all boys ov'r the years a girl'd be a nice change.
I was hangin' up my last piece of clothin' whenever the back door opened an' out popped my 5-year-old son Brenton's head. "Mama, we're hungry. Is it lunch time?" He asked as his 3-year-old brother Lil Jimmy made his presence known by squeezin' his way outta the door to stand in front of him.
"I'm finishin' up right now. Ya'll get back inside, I'll be there to get ya'll somethin' to et in a second." I told them as I took a shirt from the basket and pinned it on the line.
My boys just nodded their head and shut the door. Most likely when I returned to the kitchen they'd be sittin' at the table waitin' on me. They always did when it came for food. Hell, all of my chil'ren were good for sittin' at the table waitin' for me to dish out food.
Once in a while when I think of my chil'ren my thoughts jump to my two baby boys that I lost way 'fore I had my boys wit' Cap. I wonder if Bert an' Tol would've lived if they'd be as good as my other boys. If they'd be happy to have Cap as their pa like their older sister Anna is. I know that Cap would've loved them cause of how good he's been to my daughter, our daughter as soon as we wed. Bert, would've been close to 12-years if he weren't stillborn an' Tol 11-years if that fever didn't burn 'im up. I think they would've been good big brothers, good sons as well. I'd like to think that they'd be helpin' their pa in the fields plantin' or at the saw mill if they would've made it. But sadly they didn't…they had the curse of their cruel hateful birth-father on their heads.
Not havin' the luxury to spend too much time dwellin' an' thinkin' on things, I shook my head to clear my thoughts 'fore takin' the last piece of wash outta the wicker laundry basket. I quickly hung it up on the line, pinnin' it tightly in place, 'fore grabbin' my empty basket an' walkin' towards the back door. My boys needed their lunch, I had'a fix 'em up somethin' real quick from last night's leftovers.
One thing crazy Aunt Sally was right bout was me havin' many sons wit' my husband. That seer's message I was glad came true. The other one she told me 'bout Cap gettin' shot while on a huntin' trip to my horror came true as well. Actually, if I'm honest that entire so called huntin' trip an' what led up to it was a horror but that's not somethin' I wish to get into. It's in the past, done an' nothin' can ever change things.
I walked up to my back door and opened it only to step inside my kitchen to see both Brenton an' Lil Jimmy sittin' at the table, as I knew they'd be, waitin' on me. "Okay, how 'bout meatloaf sandwiches?" I asked the boys, a small smile on my face as I placed the basket on the chair right next to the door after I shut it.
"Yea." Lil Jimmy nodded his head quickly, a big smile breakin' 'cross his face.
"Okay, mama." Brenton told me, excitement in his voice since meatloaf sandwiches were on of his favorites.
I just smiled at my boys 'fore movin' ov'r to the counter where the wrapped up leftover meatloaf an' bread was at. At least lunch was simple 'nough to make. A trick I learned from my mother-in-law Levicy was make more then 'nough for dinner cause it's gonna be everybody's sandwich meat for next day's lunch. Cap an' our school aged boys got sent off wit' the meatloaf sandwiches today too.
After fixin' up the sandwiches I placed them in front of Brenton an' Lil Jimmy. "I'll get ya'll some milk then join ya wit' my own sandwich." I told them 'fore leavin' the table to grab some glasses an' the milk jug.
Yep, just 'nother day in my simple life as a mama an' housewife. A simple life that I loved an' reveled in, wouldn't trade for anythin' in the world.
Anna POV:
I was walkin' out of Mate Creek's tavern wit' Josiah after havin' a meal that was a bowl of stew an' tea. Well tea for me an' whiskey for him. I didn't dare drink whiskey, was too 'fraid of how my folks would react by smellin' it on my breath. My parents were good lovin' people, but could also be harsh an' strict. I think it's cause we spent roughly 8-years livin' deep up in the mountains tho cause the crazy McCoys wanted to kill our entire family an' friends. My parents never talked 'bout the feud that only ended couple years back when my slow-minded cousin Cotton was hanged due to a lawyer's lies an' tricks. The lawyer's name was Perry Cline. My pa, mama, an' Unca Mo spat his name wit' utter hatred an' disgust when they found out he was the reason why sweet Cotton was sentenced t'hang.
The feud was somethin' that was off limits to talk 'bout. My brothers Wilson, Wyatt, Tommy, Brenton, and Lil Jimmy were all too young to 'member how bad the feud was, but I grew up 'round it and 'member how my mama would watch the door every time my pa, pap-pap, an' all my uncas left t'go do somethin'. I 'member how my ma nearly tripped over her own feet jumpin' up from the table whenever my pa came home shot in the back right thru his shoulder, a result of bein' ambushed on a huntin' trip. An ambush that my Unca Jim was slaughtered in, gunned down like a dog. His dog, Mr. Howles, was actually gunned down too.
"So, ya like lunch?" Josiah asked me as we walked 'long the wooden sidewalk on our way to his cart parked a few yards 'way.
"Yea, it was nice." I nodded, a small smile on my lips.
"Nicer then that picnic Kirk took ya on?" Josiah asked, raisin' one of his bronze brows at me.
"You heard 'bout that?" I squeaked out, shootin' him a look full of shock an' disbelief, as we continued on our way down the sidewalk.
"Mhm." He nodded his head, the brim of his hat bouncin' slightly. "Everyone at the loggin' yard knows." Josiah added in, givin' me a serious look wit' his sea green eyes.
'Fore I could say anythin' back to my luncheon companion a young woman in a velvet blue top hat carryin' a swaddled baby walked up to us and said anxiously wit' a polite smile, "Oh, excuse me, do you happen to know where I can find a Novella Landon? All Doc Rutherford said was she lived here in Mate Creek, but none of the shop keepers I've asked will tell me anythin' bout her though."
Thank god I knew how to read lips or I'd be screwed since the lady was soft spoken. My right ear was strong an' could hear good 'nough in place for my left deaf one, but soft speakers always took more strain an' concentration to hear in busy an' loud places. Like down town Mate Creek for instance. I only ever had to use my lip readin' talent while in town since my entire family all spoke loud, so did the friends of my family.
Havin' only one good ear never bothered me tho. My pa only has one good eye an' he's known as the best shot on both sides of the Tug. My Unca Mo always says that havin' only one ear is beneficial cause people'll spill beans 'round me cause they'd assume I can't hear. That I'd be able to learn a lot by bein' quiet an' invisible. Yea, he always seemed to be speakin' as if from experience when it came to his advice an' knowledge bout eavesdroppin'.
I nodded 'fore quickly goin' on to explain, "Novella Landon's my mama, but that's her birth name. She goes by Mrs. Nova Hatfield."
A look of relief crossed over the young blonde's face. "Oh, thank you. Dear, I have urgent news for her. Can you tell me how to get to her place?"
"We're headed back there right now. If ya'd just follow us, ma'am, we'd take you there." Josiah offered, pointin' to his cart a few paces 'way.
"Oh, thank you very much. The both of you." The woman told us wit' a grateful smile 'fore takin' off towards a buggy that was parked a few yards down the way. A buggy that looked costly, like that rich city folk drive.
"Wonder what news she's got for your ma." Josiah remarked, curiosity evident in his tone, as we resumed walkin' down the walkway.
"I wonder too." I admitted, my sweet voice a bit smaller then usual. I just couldn't figure out why this young woman, who only looked to be a few years older then me, was lookin' for my mama for. Why she needed to speak with her.
"Hope it's nothin' bad." He remarked as we reached the cart an' horse.
"If it was bad wouldn't she be lookin' for my pa?" I asked as Josiah helped me up into the front seat. Quickly I went on to add, "He is a lawyer, or least he will be once his bar results come in the mail."
"Ya heard her ask for Novella Landon, I don't think she realized that your ma ever settled down and had a family." Josiah pointed out as me walked over to his side of the cart and climb up into it. Sittin' down an' grabbin' the reigns he suggested, "Since she knew your ma's maiden name, maybe she's long lost kin."
"Maybe, but if she was long lost kin wouldn't she be lookin' for my Unca Mo too?" I asked Josiah as he snapped the reigns, causin' the horses to pull the cart down the street.
"Ain't Moses an' your ma half-siblin's? Reckon the lady might not know 'bout him."
"Reckon not." I agreed wit Josiah as we headed out of town onto the road that'd take us up the hills an' to my house.
Novella POV:
I was in the kitchen washin' the dishes from lunch whenever I heard the front door creak open. I didn't have to look ov'r my shoulder to see who it was since I already knew it was Anna returnin' from her lunch date with Josiah. Most likely Josiah had followed my daughter into the house. Honestly out of the three potential suitors she had I think she was gonna pick him in the end, but that was mostly cause their banter reminded me of my an' her pa. When I say her pa who I mean is Cap, the man that raised her and gave her his name after we married so quickly when she was barely 3-years of age.
"Mama, there's a woman right 'hind us. Says she's got important news for ya." I heard Anna tell me over the sound of the door slammin' shut.
"What? Who is it?" I asked, lookin' over my shoulder to see both Anna and Josiah walkin' 'cross the main room towards the kitchen.
"Don't know, Mrs. Hatfield. The lady just asked if we knew where to find ya, said she's got important news to tell ya an' none of the shopkeepers would let her know how to find ya."
"Please, Josiah, call me Nova. Mrs. Hatfield's my mama, not me." I chastised the young man, earnin' me a nod from him. Givin' both Anna an' Josiah a pointed look I asked, a bit sarcastically might I add, "Then how'd she know to look for me in Mate Creek if nobody in town was tellin' her how to find me?"
"She says Doc Rutherford told her ya live in Mate Creek. She only knows you as Novella Landon tho."
"That'd be her knockin'." Josiah remarked as a knock suddenly sounded at the door.
Great, just what I didn't need right now. Some mystery woman sent with vague information by Doc. Doc knows where I'm at, known for the last decade how to always find me and the Hatfields, so him not tellin' whoever this woman is means he don't trust her all the way. Only reason I can fathom for him sendin' her on a wild goose chase when she supposedly has somethin' important to tell me.
"I'll get the door, watch the boys." I instructed them, wipin' my hands off on my apron 'fore goin' over to the door. As soon as I opened it I was met wit' a young woman, no more than 18-years-old, holdin' a swaddled newborn in her arms. She had a sweet innocent look to her, reminded me a lot of my late cousin turned brief sister-in-law Roseanna. The woman in front of me had some kind of money, I could tell by the fancy bustle dress an' little mini-top hat on her wheat-blonde bunned head. "Can I help ya?" I asked the woman, just cuttin' right to the chase.
Wit' a bright smile the young woman asked, "Yes, are you Mrs. Nova Hatfield?"
I nodded, 'fore goin' on to say, "Yea, my daughter an' one of her pursuers said ya had important news for me."
"I do. I'm married to your uncle, Perry Cline, and he's dying of tuberculous. He wanted me to find you and your brother, he wants to see you." Well, that wasn't somethin' I was expectin' to hear. Shit.
"Karen, come inside. I'm 'fraid this is a matter I need to talk to ya wit' privately ov'r a pot of coffee." I told the woman. Turnin' 'round I looked right at Anna an' Josiah while orderin', "Ya'll take the boys outside. I need to talk to Missus Karen for a bit."
"Yes, mama." Anna nodded as both her and Josiah rose from the table.
"Come on, Brenton, Lil Jimmy, let's go outside." Josiah told the boys, placin' his hands on the boys' shoulders.
My sons just nodded their heads and got up from the table. Silently they all walked out of the backdoor as Karen walked inside, baby held tight 'gainst her chest. A baby that was my cousin. Oh boy. I closed the door an' followed behind Karen only to ask, "Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Oh, a boy. His name's John." Karen replied as we made our way to the kitchen, lookin' over her shoulder to flash me a nervous smile.
After Josiah an' Anna took Brenton an' Lil Jimmy outside to play, take a spring walk, whatever, I put on a pot of coffee. Karen had taken a seat at the large kitchen table. She was lookin' all 'round, takin' in her suroundin's studiously, as she patted the sleepin' baby in her arms.
The kitchen we were in was expanded a bit whenever a couple years back Cap an' Moses made additions to the main room, additions which included widenin' the room an' addin' on a couple more rooms to act as bedrooms an' an office. Cap decided that once he passed his bar he wanted to work from home, have his office here so that I could help assist him. He said he wanted to be a lawyer that helped people and met them on their level, he didn't want a fancy office and didn't want to have outrageous fees like my estranged uncle did. Cap swore that he wasn't gonna be a lawyer like Perry Cline, a greedy shyster that twisted the law for his own means and purpose.
Once the coffee was done I poured us both a cup an' placed them on the table. Silently I placed the coffee pot 'long wit' the sugar bowl an' cream cup on the table as well. "If ya want cream an' sugar ya gotta get it yourself, I ain't no hostess. Accordin' to my husband I never was." I joked, hopin' to lighten the heavy air 'tween us, as I took my seat 'cross from Karen. The fact that my estranged uncle was on his death bed an' I had to reveal to his sweet an' young wife the reason why I couldn't see him, why my brother would refuse also, was very hard an' heavy to confront.
Karen's sweet youthful face faltered as she let out a flustered, "Oh. I supposed you'd just offer to fix up the cup."
"Damn, you're really soft spoken an' proper ain't ya?" I rhetorically asked, pourin' a small stream of cream into my coffee. Wit' a tight smile I pushed the sugar bowl 'cross the table while revealin' to the uptight wheat-blonde, "It was a joke, Karen. Don't take it as an insult."
"Oh, okay." She nodded, pickin' up the sugar bowl.
"So, how bad's Perry's consumption? How much time did Doc give him?" I asked 'tween sips on my coffee as I watched my aunt by marriage, who I was a good decade older then, toss a good 4-5 spoonfuls of sugar into her hot mug. Dear lordy, that was gonna be some awfully sweet, all she needed was to pour half the cream dish into the mug an' she'd have a treat swet 'nough for a young child.
Karen placed the sugar back onto the table 'fore grabbin' the creamer, a grim look on her youthfully fresh face. Pourin' the creamer into her cup, like I knew she'd do, she sighed, "He's not expected to live past spring. He's been spittin' up so much blood, hackin' up pieces of his lungs too."
Oh no… That's sad, but he stopped bein' my family a decade 'go. I'm sure Doc mustve told her as much. I took a long sip of my coffee 'fore tellin' her in the sweetest an' softest tone I could muster, "I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm 'fraid I can't do as you ask and go see him."
A look of confusion crossed over Karen's face as she held her blue-tin mug in her hands. "Why not?" She asked, her eyes borin' into mine wit' a lost look in them. "Perry wants to see both you and Moses before he dies. I was told you'd know where Moses was, that if I talked to you then it'd be a better chance of you and your brother seein' your uncle 'fore he dies."
Of course, I know where Moses is. I mean he just lives up the road wit' Betty an' their babies on a parcel of land that Anse gave them. Yep, Moses was married to Cap's little sister Betty. He even worked at the lumber yard too. Perry always wanted Mo to take over the law practice, he'd prolly have a conniption fit if he knew that he became a logger instead.
"Sweetie, you're young and naïve when it comes to the ways of the world." I bluntly told her, not carin' if my remark was offensive t'her or not. I let out a long sigh. "My Uncle Perry stopped bein' my uncle an' became a shyster snake of a lawyer named Perry Cline to me a decade 'go whenever he turned his back on me and betrayed me. Did the most heinous and unthinkable thing to me, somethin' both me and my brother can't ever forgive him for."
"What did he do that was so bad?" Karen asked, as I suspected she would, while sippin' on her overly sweet coffee.
I took a long sip from my mug 'fore placin' it on the table wit' a loud clunk. Leanin' an elbow on the table I made the thoughtful remark of, "I take it you're not from these parts or you'd never would've set foot over this side of the Tug or even set foot on Hatfield land."
"No, I'm from Lexington." Karen answered, confirmin' my suspicions that she wasn't from these hills. Instead of just leavin' it at no she went on to say, "My father's a doctor at the mental hospital Perry and your Aunt Sally's at. I met Perry there when he was visiting Sally and I was training to be a nurse."
"You can't be more then 18, mighty young to be a nurse."
"As I said my father's a doctor. I never became a nurse, I married Perry a couple years ago instead."
"Jesus Christ, the cradle robbin' snake married ya when you were 'round 16?!" I exclaimed, my cornflower blues poppin' out of my head in shock. I shook my head while mumblin' under my breath, "Dear lord…"
Her face turned beet red as she said in a flustered tone, "Oh my, a Mister Bad Frank Phillips said the same thing when we went to his book signin' right after we were engaged."
"Bad Frank Phillips murdered my Uncle Jim Vance, my husband's best friend Skunk Hair, and some other good men. I'm glad the bastard's dead." I spat out lowly, causin' Karen to give me a look full of shock. I didn't care tho, after what he did to my best friend's husband I'm glad to know that the crazy bastard was burnin' up in hell. While grabbin' my cup off the table I smirked, "Heard he was gunned down by his own deputy. That right?"
"Yes, that's right." Karen nodded, lookin' a bit uncomfortable 'bout the subject of Bed Frank bein' dead.
"Anyways…" I drawled off, my words fallin' like a boulder crumblin' off a cliff. "Ya hear any bout the Hatfields and McCoys, the feud that went on for a good 25-years or so?" I asked, my brow quirked up, 'fore takin' a long sip of my coffee.
"No, can't say that I have. I do know that Aunt Sally's name's McCoy and your married name's Hatfield."
"Yea, and Perry Cline was pourin' fuel on the deadly fire that caused the feud to blow up outta proportion." I deadpanned, earnin' me a curious look from the woman sittin' 'cross from me. "Scales should've been leveled after the McCoy boys Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud died, but Perry an' Ole Rand'l put out bounties on all of the Hatfields wantin' their heads on a silver platter."
"Oh, so you're upset that your uncle put a bounty on your husband and in-laws." Karen concluded, foolishly thinkin' that it was actually that simple.
"No, sweetie, it's more complex then that, but if you'd care to hear the entire story on why I can't see my uncle even tho he's on his death bed I'll gladly tell ya it."
"Yes, if you don't mind I'd like to know what happened that made you stop considerin' Perry your uncle anymore."
I let out a long sigh 'fore admittin', "I haven't talked 'bout this with anybody. My own daughter doesn't even know the truth, which is somethin' me an' my husband've decided to keep from her since she was so young when we married."
"Wait, your daughter isn't your husband's?" Karen asked, a tone of shock an' wonder in his sweet tinted voice.
"No, she was three when we married. I was actually the widow of Tolbert McCoy, the man that Cap had shot in the heart durin' the pawpaw tree execution incident." I honestly told the woman sittin' 'cross from me at the table.
"Oh my, you married your husband's killer?"
"It's a bit more complex then that since me an' him were once lovers 'fore my husband died, but yes I did."
"Why, how could you do that?" The sweet naïve young lady asked, a look of puzzlement all over her face. Yep, this girl was too gullible for her own good. No wonder my snake of an estranged uncle snagged her up, her can control her easily.
"If you'd shut up and listen I'll tell you. It has a lot to do wit' why I'm estranged from my uncle." I told Karen, tryin' my best not to snap at the girl. She just nodded her head, motionin' for me to continue. "It'd been a lil over a week since my husband had died an' I had'a flee my home to go 'cross the tug to avoid gettin' sold off like a milk cow to my Uncle Perry's friend Senator Brooksdale."
AN:
The next chapter will take place in 1882. The first line will be the last line of this. If ya didn't figure it out it's gonna be like Novella's tellin' her life story of surviving the feud with Cap to her new and young Aunt Karen. The explanation behind why both Nova and Moses don't trust Perry and hate him is in the story. The last chapter/epilogue of this will pick up back with Nova talkin' to Karen. Yea, that's a long ways off since this story has just began lol.
So, can any of ya'll guess what Perry Cline did to make Nova and Moses disown him? It's kinda shocking….