Chapter Seven: 1882

The cold of winter was slowly starting to lift and Adaline was looking forward to it turning to spring in a month or so, she was due for her baby in May and was glad she wasn't going to have her newborn in the cold of winter.

Joseph was packing his suitcase to go away on a buying trip to Charleston and Adaline was laying out his freshly starched shirts, being married to a merchant had given Adaline a new appreciation for tailoring and caring for her husband's clothing. Even being pregnant, Adaline's clothing would always get dirtier than Joe's.

Joe had planned on being away for a fortnight, and regretted having to leave his pregnant wife behind. He had left the young clerk in charge of the store while he was away, and Adaline was to check in on him to make sure he was doing a fine job.

Adaline was going to miss him while he was away, she had spent so many years in her own company, but she had quickly grown accustomed to having Joe come home in the evenings and share stories from his day. He had started a tradition of Sunday lunches with Adaline's kin every few weeks, and finally found himself being a part of the family.

Adaline walked with her husband up to their wagon that would leave with just his suitcase and would return with all sorts of fine wares for the store. Adaline always looked forward to anything modern that he brought back with him, and of course he would always make sure he brought back a new selection of novels for his wife. Joseph found that for all Adaline's quirks, she was an easy women to keep happy; just be nice and give her books.

Adaline kissed her husband before he climbed up onto the wagon, "I'm going to miss you Joe."

"I'm going to miss you too Addy, but I promise, I'll be back before you know it." He kissed her again before climbing up and moving off.

Adaline watched him disappear down the road, and went back inside to pack away the rest of the laundry that she had been ironing that morning. As the snow had melted she considered going out hunting, she was becoming quite large in the belly and wasn't feeling too light of foot. Joseph had insured all the firewood had been cut and that there was little in the way of outdoor chores for his wife to do in his absence. It was almost a game for him as Adaline grew more pregnant, that she would be less stubborn about relinquishing some of her more masculine pursuits.

The task that he had given her while he was away was to find a new housekeeper, they could afford it and he didn't like the idea of her being alone heavily pregnant or with a newborn while he was away for work. Adaline had agreed, and had started asking around the County if there were any women that were suitable for the role.

Feeling at a loose end, Adaline decided to do some baking and take it up to her aunt who had recently given birth to her ninth child, the admiration Adaline had begun feeling for her aunt was of note. She hoped that she would be strong like Levicy, and bare her husband as many healthy children in the future.

It was getting harder for Adaline to get up and off her horse, so she hitched the buggy to head up to her Uncle Anse's. It was mid-afternoon by the time Adaline arrived and her aunt was pleased to see her.

"Oh Addy," Levicy said, looking tired, "bless you."

Adaline looked about the house to see if there were any chores she could help with, but Levicy had everything in order.

"Aunt 'Vicy, why don't you have a little lie down while I'm here. You have few hours before the boys will be home."

"Do you mind Addy?" Normally Levicy would never have agreed, but Adaline could tell by the look of her face that she had endured countless sleepless nights of late. Levicy handed Baby Elias to Adaline and retired to her bedroom, Adaline marshalled the young children out doors and sat on the porch keeping an eye on them.

Rocking back and forth in Anse's rocking share, the baby was soon asleep and Adaline felt at peace. It was only the sound of horses coming down up the road that broke he meditative state.

"Children, mind the horses," she moved the little ones up to the porch as Anse and Cap rode toward the house.

"Hello Addy,"Anse said, "Levicy OK?"

"Yes Anse, I just told her to have rest while I minded the little ones."

"OK, well let's leave her in peace." He sat down in the rocking share and motioned for Addy to pass him his fresh baby. With all the children Adaline had seen as infants in the house, this was the first time she could recall having seen Anse holding a baby.

Adaline sat down on the long bench seat and leant back against the house, as Cap idled up the stairs and lay down on the rest of the bench laying his head on Adaline's shrinking lap. Adaline brushed the hair off his forward instinctively and he reached up and patted her belly. Anse looking at this couldn't help think it was a damn shame that it wasn't Cap's child she was carrying.

"Not long for you now Addy," Cap said as he patted her bump.

"Two more months, I hope." Adaline laughed.

"You nervous?" He asked.

"Sure am." Adaline said truthfully.

"You got nothing to be worried about Addy, softer women than you have brought a dozen babies into this world."

Adaline laughed, "Thanks Uncle Anse."

Twelve days had flown by since Joseph had left for Charlestown, Adaline was determined to have someone hired for the housekeeper's position by the time he returned. Today she had a meeting with a woman who had been widowed during the war, Mrs Tait, and never remarried, her sister had also been widowed and they lived together on 500 acres outside of Mates Creek.

Adaline travelled toward Mates Creek in her buggy feeling optimistic about the references she had been given on the sisters and wondered if she had ever passed them while she was in town. Pulling the buggy outside of their home, Adaline tethered the horses and walked up to the front door. Adaline had said the meeting at Mrs Tait's home so she could get a better sense of what sort of woman she was.

The door opened and woman that looked a little older than Levicy opened the door, she had a kind face and Adaline took an immediate liking to her.

"Hello, Mrs Grant, please come in." Mrs Tait said gesturing through to her home.

"Thank you Mrs Tait," said Adaline shaking the hand that Mrs Tait had extended, "it's a pleasure to meet you."

Adaline learned a lot about Mrs Tait and her sister, Mrs McInerney, in the short visit and was certain that she would be a good fit in her own household. Mrs Tait would continue to reside with her sister and was happy to travel to the house each day and stay overnight if needed. This suited Adaline as it was only her days that she was needing assistance with, all of Adaline's preferred past times happened during daylight hours.

Adaline continued in to Mates Creek to check on the store and see that Billy, the new clerk, had everything in hand. As she was tethering her buggy outside the store, she saw the local sheriff walking out, when he saw her, his face looked stricken. Making her way up to the porch, she felt her heart rate increase.

"Sheriff," Adaline nodded, "how are you today?"

"I'm fine Mrs Grant, but I wish I came bearing better news. Come inside dear," The Sheriff took Adaline's arm and steered her back inside the store, "you had best sit down."

Adaline took one look at Billy, to know how bad the news was.

"What has happened Sheriff?" Adaline already regretted the words.

"I'm so sorry dear, we have just received word from Chapmanville that Josephs wagon was ambushed," the Sheriff paused and shook his head, "and the mongrels killed Joseph."

Adaline couldn't speak, she was having trouble processing the information.

"Billy, I think you best go fetch one of the Hatfields." The Sheriff suggested to the store clerk.

Adaline felt like she was frozen, and that if she moved, it would make the news truer.

"Adaline dear," the Sheriff, "can I get you some water? Perhaps you should lay down."

"No, I'm fine thank you Sheriff," Adaline had switched to auto pilot, "if you could please turn the sign to Closed on the door, that would be much appreciated."

Adaline stood up and went to the chair located near the fitting rooms at the back of the store, it felt like she had been sitting there for days when she realised Ellison had knelt down next to her.

"Addy?" She heard Caps voice on the other side of her and tried to focus.

"Take me home Cap." Was all that she could manage, and with that he lifted her out of the chair and carried her out of the store handing her up to her Uncle Anse who was standing on the back of his own wagon. The rest was a blur to Adaline, as were the next few days.

She woke up to the curtains in her room being opened.

"Good morning dear." Mrs Tait came over to the bed, "Now let's sit you up and get you fed."

It took a moment to register that days must have passed and Mrs Tait had arrived at the home on the decided start date, Adaline didn't know if she wanted anyone around her at the present, but she also knew she had to get out of bed eventually.

"Thank you Mrs Tait." Adaline croaked, she hadn't spoken in days either and her throat was hoarse.

Mrs Tait handed her cup of tea and set another pillow behind her as she sat up, there was a tray of fruit and toast on the bedside table, and Mrs Tait left her be to eat it. Adaline finished as much as she could manage and the got out of bed, walking towards the bathroom where a bath had been drawn.

She stripped off her bed clothes and lowered herself into the water, where she began sobbing uncontrollably. Mrs Tait walked in and her heart broke for the young girl, who was an entirely different creature to the one she had met not five days ago.

Eventually Adaline got out of the bath and got dressed, walking out into the kitchen her Uncle Ellison, Uncle Anse and Cap were sitting at the table.

"How are you feeling Addy?" Cap asked kindly.

"I feel like my loving husband just got murdered while I'm seven months pregnant with my first child, Cap." Adaline couldn't make eye contact with any of them for fear of dissolving into tears again. "Do you want to come for a walk with me?" She said to nobody in particular, but she felt like she needed some fresh air.

Ellison and Anse hadn't even considered that she was talking to them as Cap got up and walked Adaline out the front door, collecting her coat on the way. They walked across the road and down toward the Tug, it was a sunny day with a cool breeze in the air.

They walked up the bank a little and Adaline sat down and took her boots off, letting her bare feet run in the cooler water, and Cap did the same.

"I know, it doesn't feel like it now Addy," Cap ventured, "but you're going to be OK."

"I know Cap," Adaline agreed, she had now suffered the loss of someone she loved deeply three years in a row, she hated to admit it but she knew that in time the grief would pass, and then she would just miss Joseph, until she eventually just looked back on their time together fondly.

This time Adaline was the one to lie down and put her head on Caps lap, as he brushed her hair in a soothing way as the sun shone on her face.

Mrs Tait proved herself the perfect fit in the months after Joseph's death, and Adaline was grateful for her each day, pushing Adaline to do the preparation for the birth of her first child. The nursery was all set up, and Adaline had Billy order in all she thought she would need when the time came.

Uncle Anse had kept the store ticking along, checking in with Billie and putting Robert E. on to manage the running of it for the interim. Adaline appreciated this immensely, as the trips in and out of town were becoming more uncomfortable the closer her due date got.

Adaline didn't know but Anse had gotten the family together on hearing the news of Joseph's death and made the decision about who was going to pitch in, and in what way, to help Adaline get through until after the birth of her child. He had learnt that her default position to grief in the past was to isolate herself and she would never ask for help, even though she had always been happy to offer it to others. Anse thought it would be easier on the whole family if they didn't let her withdraw into her own world again. Anse didn't exactly say it but he also had every intention of pushing Adaline and Cap back together within time.

Soon it was time for Adaline to become a mother, and between the midwife, Mrs Tait and Levicy, they got Adaline through the birth of her first child without any complications. Adaline had given birth to a little boy that she named, Joseph M. Grant, after his father.

Mrs Tait had just arrived at Adaline's as she had finished feeding Baby Joe, she had planned to go into town to check on the store and check the stock levels and wanted to make an early start. Adaline was back in her riding habit, but after the death of her husband she now wore two side pieces whenever she was outside of her house.

"Well you're cutting a serious looking image today Adaline," Mrs Tait said taking in the young mothers outfit, "very smart indeed."

"Well I can finally get my jackets done up again so I thought I would take to wearing proper clothing again. I'm more conscious now of my appearance on account of Baby Joe, I don't want people thinking his mother looks like a poor hillbilly. At least in public, there's practical limitations in all this material." She laughed.

Mrs Tait thought she looked just fine indeed, if not a little exotic with her guns holstered, that was something you didn't see often, but she had soon learnt that Adaline would do just what she felt like doing, no matter the propriety of it.

As she rode into town, she felt good being back in the saddle again, she sped up to a gallop just to feel the wind in her hair. Slowing as she saw a group of horses riding toward her, she couldn't make out who they were just yet, but suddenly she felt nervous and she reached and unclipped one of her side arms.

The group got closer and she could make out the McCoy boys, she relaxed and clipped her piece back in. As disagreeable as she found the McCoys they weren't a threat to her. She hadn't seen Calvin in well over a year, and hadn't given him too much thought up until now. The group slowed when they reached her, with Calvin coming to a holt when he recognised her.

"Hey Addy," Calvin beamed. "It's great to see you, it feels like forever."

"Hi Calvin," she said and nodded to the rest of them, "Jim, Tolbert, Pharmer, Bud."

They all mumbled different versions of 'Hello'.

"Where are you boys off to?" Adaline asked casually, "it sure is a lovely day."

Calvin went to answer, when Tolbert interrupted, "C'mon Calvin."

"Calvin," Adaline wouldn't stand for being interrupted. "Have you seen your sister lately?"

"No, Addy." He looked down to the ground, "Have you?"

"I have, and you should go and see her, she could use the cheering up after losing Sarah Elizabeth. Trust me." Adaline said kindly.

"I know," Calvin nodded, "I hear that you're a mother now."

"I am, but no longer a wife." With that she nodded to Calvin and rode on.

Thinking about Roseanna brought a dark cloud to her thoughts, she would get her something nice while she was in town and call on her later in the week.

Continuing on into town, she noticed Uncle Jim and Cap walking out of the Mates Creek tavern and concluded they must've stayed the night. Adaline decided not to dwell on the implications of that thought too long. They had seen her, so she waived to them and continued on to the store.

"She is looking something in that get up." Jim said to Cap, spitting, he had felt fresher.

"If I was to picture what a lady Pinkerton looked like, that would be it." Cap agreed. "C'mon, I need to get more ammo before heading home anyway."

The two men walked into the store and Adaline was reviewing the accounts as Robert E. was giving her an update. Adaline looked up and cast her eye over them, trying to gauge how dusty they were from the previous night.

"Well you two look like you may have had too good a time last night, hmm?" She said in jest.

"You're not wrong," Cap said going to sit down in the back office.

"Are your horses round back?" Adaline asked Jim.

"Yessum". He replied.

"I don't think I've seen you looking quite so sorry for yourself Uncle Jim." Adaline never thought she would see the day he would out drink himself.

"Well I made a particular effort last night, none of which you need to know about." He said sheepishly.

"Trust me when I say, I do not want to know about what you and Cap have gotten up to, that would result in you walking out of a whore house near noon the next day." Adaline said in all seriousness.

"Tavern." Uncle Jim objected.

"I see," Adaline had turned attention back to her book work. "Robert E., go and get your wastrel Uncle and brother some soda pop from chest out back so they can rehabilitate themselves." Adaline asked without looking up.

Walking into the back office, Cap had his head down on the desk facing into his hat, she patted him on the back of the head and he slowly looked up.

"I don't feel good Addy," he said with whiskey on his breath.

"You don't look good Cap."

He motioned for her to come closer as if to tell her a secret, but put his hand on her face and kissed her instead. Adaline closed her eyes but pulled her face away.

"And you're still drunk." She said walking out to the front counter and giggled to herself, until she married Joseph, Adaline would've given her right hand from one kiss from that boy, and now here he was just giving them away. Adaline found herself wondering who else he was giving them too, she physically shook her head to move on from the thought.

Adaline coaxed them both out of the store through the back with Robert E. packing some ammo into Caps saddle bag before they left.

The fair was taking place in Blackberry Creek and as Adaline pulled her buggy up it seemed like there was a festive mood; she had left Baby Joe with Mrs Tait on the promise of bring her back a jar of pickled ochre. Adaline had agreed, as she felt like it was important to get along to these events with her family.

As she arrived she spotted Johnse selling his whiskey, he was with Skunk Hair and Robert. E. She could hear gun shots being fired on the far side of the fair and she walked over to find the source. Adaline saw Sam 'Squirrel' McCoy taking his shot in a shooting contest, his shot wasn't bad. Adaline looked around for Cap knowing he wouldn't be too far from a shooting competition.

The McCoy boys seemed pretty chuffed with their efforts, and as she spotted Cap and Uncle Jim in the distance she knew it would be short lived. Calvin was amongst them too, carrying on with the rest of them. Keeping her distance, so as not to interrupt, Adaline sat off in the distance.

Cap walked up to the group standing about the range, "Competition still open innit? He asked, with Uncle Jim following right behind him.

"If you don't mind wasting a bullet," the judge replied.

"I ain't wasted one yet," Cap said stepping forward, it would've sounded arrogant if she hadn't known it was the truth.

Cap stepped up to the mark, while Jefferson McCoy heckled him from one side and Calvin, Paris and Sam stood on the other. Adaline couldn't deny looking at Cap, that she still felt something each and every time she saw him. She knew she shouldn't think such things when her Joseph was so near departed, but Cap had marked her heart early, and if he had have given her any encouragement years ago she knew she would've waited out the decades for him.

"How you going to beat that fog eye?" Jefferson taunted pointing to Sam's last shot. If any of them had any sense, they would not poke that bear, even if it only had one good eye.

"Good luck," Sam and Jefferson toasted sarcastically laughing at their own joke.

Paris started up next, "Hey hey, toe on the line," he walked up pointing to Caps boot standing on a stick they were using as their mark, "you're over the damn mark." They all laughed again, "Yeh, judge shoulda caught that."

Jim leaned putting his hand on Caps shoulder, "Just do what you do son."

"And what he does is miss!" continued Paris.

Cap finally took his shot and it ricochet off the nail in the centre of the target smashing the lamp hanging about one of the judges. Of course, the McCoy boys hadn't seen Cap shoot before so they thought he had missed and hit the lamp.

"Oh Cap," started Calvin, "you missed completely!" He said as they all fell in laughing.

"No it aint, he hit it on the head, the god darn head!" Jim hooted.

The crowd behind them cooed in awe of the shot, while the McCoy boys tried to scrap at Cap and Jim over the verdict.

"Now now, this is a shooting contest boy…" The judge was trying his best to break it up.

Adaline walked over to the fray and pulling off one glove, put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. The men stopped their shoving momentarily to look up, once they saw Adaline standing there with her side arm drawn they ceased their tussling.

"I don't mind wasting a bullet judge, a waste a lot of them anyhow." Adaline pushed Cap to one side and Calvin to the other. "Stand back boys, I want to see the range on my new side piece." Cap laughed as Adaline did an exaggerated sway of the hips and winked at him over her shoulder. Addy then squared up to the target and extended her arm, "Are my toes ok for you Paris?" She added in gest and then took her shot. Adaline landed within the grey target area, marginally closer to the centre than Sam's.

"I think it's safe to say that your competition could use a little more yardage judge."

"Now you're just showing off." Uncle Jim laughed.

"True, but it's good to know that I wouldn't need to walk all the way over to someone to shoot them, which could get tedious." Addy put her hand to her forehead dramatically.

"Is that what happened to you husband?" Jefferson asked before thinking twice.

Adaline just looked at Jefferson, and then looked at Calvin and shook her head. Calvin went to reach out to her but Adaline quickly pulled her arm away as she pushed passed him. He went to go after her when Cap pulled back on his shoulder.

"She's not yours to console Calvin, so leave her be." Cap said coolly looking down at Calvin, who genuinely looked concerned. Cap knew that Addy had been friends with him at one point but thought they must've had a falling out.

"Oh what, I suppose you think she's yours you one eyed freak?" Jefferson continued his missteps.

"Yep," Cap said simply leaving off after her.

"You're just lucky she didn't end you on the spot, Jefferson McCoy," Jim said following him.

They caught up to Addy and rounded in front of her.

"Sorry, I thought I was either going to burst into tear or shoot him." She laughed. "I guess it was the tears. I'm fine now." She assured them. "Plus I wanted to make the rest of them feel bad." She smiled weakly.

"Well Calvin clearly did, but Jefferson is too brain dead to know he crossed the line." Cap said.

"Brain dead is right," Jim agreed.

"Isn't that his sister that Johnse is speaking to?" Adaline nodded over in Johnse direction.

"That won't end well," Jim said rolling his eyes.

Shouting broke out across the other side of the fair and the three of them set out to check it out when suddenly another gun shot rang out.

"You two check it out, I'll check on Robert E. and Cotton" Adaline said as she took off toward the whiskey wagon where she had last seen them both, and in the clearing she saw her Uncle Ellison lying on the ground. Anse was standing over him, "Cotton give me the reigns and go over to your daddy. Quick!" Adaline said trying to stay calm, she could see the men run off into the woods after whoever had shot him.

"Robert E., hop down and hold the horses, while I go find your sister. You head around to my buggy and we'll meet you there." He nodded.

Ellison was being loaded in Levicy's wagon and Adaline let her know quickly that she would bring her children home with her. Levicy just nodded. Doc Rutherford climbed on the back of the wagon and they were off, Johnse and Cap had gone after their father into the woods. Adaline found Nancy with Elliott and Mary and piled them into her buggy as they headed back toward Anse's.

Adaline thought better of taking the younger ones back to Anse's, the scene there could be bloody and violent. Instead she dropped the buggy with the little ones at her home with Mrs Tait with a quick explanation, before following Robert E. up on her horse.

As she went to leave there was a posse of Hatfield men leading three of the McCoys up the road to Anse's, Adaline held back and Anse nodded for her to come over to him.

"Where's Robert E and Nance?" He asked.

"Robert E. is headed up to your place with the wagon, but I have left Nancy and the little ones at home with Mrs Tait."

"That's for the best." He nodded. "I want you to stay with Cotton and Levicy, this is going to get ugly and I need to know they're looked after."

Adaline nodded.

There were more Hatfield men riding up behind them and forming look outs along the road to Anse's house. Suddenly Adaline thought of what if the McCoys were forming a similar posse at the same time.

Adaline tied her horse at the side of the house in case she, or someone else needed in promptly. She had a rifle loaded in the saddle.

Following Anse in, she feared what she was going to see inside.

It was a bloody mess, Cotton was at his father's side, and Ellison was lying in a pool of blood on Anse's bed. Floyd and Valentine had arrived with their mother and they all sat solemnly in the room. Adaline walked in and kissed Ellison on the head and stood behind Cotton. Adaline could hear that Ran'l McCoy was outside pleading his sons' case, there would be no respite for them when Ellison passed.

Addy went and sat on the back step to give Sarah her husband's last moments. She saw Cap walk down and start cutting the boards for Ellison's coffin and she could barely hold back the tears. She watched as Anse threw the coffin over, holding out hope for his brothers recovery.

Cotton's cry could be heard from the front of the house and Cap resumed his work, Adaline got up to track Cotton down, with her and Anse walking him back up on the porch. Adaline sat Cotton down and she put her arms around him, rocking him back and forth as he wept.

Anse was rounding all the men up as they moved the McCoy boys down to the old school house. Adaline didn't like to think of what would be played out next, but when a former Civil War doctor described violence as some of the worst he has seen, it makes you think about the sort of person that could do such a thing. The Doc had counted no less than 26 stab wounds, and one gunshot wound on her Uncles body.

Adaline sat with her guns loaded on the porch until the Hatfield men returned; they all looked solemn and she wondered what carrying out this form of justice would do to each of their souls.

"I'm going to take Cotton home with me Anse, I'll keep your little ones down there too until you send for them." She kissed her Uncle Anse on the cheek, his heart was so heavy.

"Cap," he sung out for his son behind him who came riding up behind him, "Follow Addy and Cotton home, I don't want any member of this family without protection."

"Yes, daddy." He waited for Adaline to fetch Cotton who climbed behind her on her horse hugging her the whole way home.

Mrs Tait was pleased to see them walk through the back door, and Adaline hugged her to say thank you for looking after the little ones.

"They're all fed and tucked up in the spare beds, Joe will need feeding though dear." Mrs Tait had done a good job and looked as though she had started baking for Sarah and Levicy. Such a good woman.

Mrs Tait fixed Cotton and Cap a bowl of stew as Adaline went into feed her baby, she brought the bassinette into her bedroom at the front of the house so Cotton could sleep in the bed in the baby's room.

Cap went out the front to keep an eye on anyone coming up the Tug River Road. It wasn't that cold out being August, and Cap wondered how far down the road the next look out was stationed. He whistled out into the night, and in the distance her heard the familiar whistle back.

The Hatfields had developed a handy system of keeping on guard, there was the neutral whistle that meant no danger that Cap had just sent out into the night, and then a whistle to let the next post know that there was danger heading their way.

Adaline felt exhausted as she took off her jacket and sat on her bed with Baby Joe propped up to her bosom to feed. It was going to be a long feed as the poor little fella had been starving all day, Adaline put her head back and closed her eyes, making sure there was a pillow under her arm in case she accidently dozed off.

When Joe had had enough, Adaline put him back into the bassinette and proceeded to get undressed, she walked over the basin and washed up. It had been a long day and suddenly a wave of grief and exhaustion rolled over her. She wrung the washer and placed it over her face, as if in an attempt to rid it of her hot tears.

Cap was rounding the corner of the house and through the window he could see Adaline standing in her room naked and in tears, he knew that he should look away, but she was beautiful standing in the soft light of the oil lamp. As he watched her move the washer over her body, he couldn't stop looking at her long lean legs and swollen breasts. He didn't know if it was because he was outside with his rifle, but the moment struck him like that when he was hunting, when he was just watching an animal, them oblivious to his presence carrying on their normal routine.

Cap continued on, not wanting to alert Adaline to his presence as she turned to put her nightgown on.

Adaline crawled into bed heavy from the day, she knew Cap was outside somewhere, probably with dozens of Hatfield men that were stationed around the County on high alert. Thinking about what tomorrow would bring, she drifted off to sleep, only waking to Joe's crying in the early hours of the morning.

Adaline walked out into the kitchen to start breakfast before the little ones rose, leaving Joe still sound asleep in the bassinette.

Mrs Tate walked down stairs shortly after Adaline had walked back in from collecting eggs from the barn. Nancy came down a few moments later with her little brothers and sister.

Mrs Tate started making waffles with syrup and ham and eggs, she believed food could heal all emotions. Adaline looked in on Cotton who was still sound asleep, which Adaline wanted to preserve for him for as long as possible; he would only awake to a new wave of grief.

Adaline walked out to the front porch to find Cap and French Ellis sitting on the cane chairs.

"Do you boys want any breakfast?" Adaline asked.

"Yes, thanks Addy. Can you bring it out? We gotta watch the road." Replied French wearily.

"Are you fairly certain that the McCoys are going to come back at us?" Adaline wanted to know what was going on, not there was much she could do about it either way.

"Dunno." Cap mumbled, "Ol' Ran'l may not have the stones."

"Or he may have better sense not to?" Adaline offered.

"That too." French added.

Adaline brought them some eggs, ham and tomatoes out, as they were determined to stay sitting on the porch with their eyes on the road. Not that she was begrudging them the vantage point, but if Randal McCoy was going to target Hatfields, the only thing that would bring them by her home would be the two Hatfield boys sitting out the front of it.

"Thanks Addy," said French, who tucked into the breakfast as soon as the plate hit the table.

Adaline nodded and walked back out to the kitchen.

French turned to Cap, putting his fork down, "You going to try for that now?" Looking back toward Adaline.

"Dunno, maybe." He replied.

French laughed, "Well, she'll just be bowled over with that sort of enthusiasm. After all, the last one just treated her like a princess and tried to buy her the world, and then, then, got tragically cut down at the height of their happiness. But, yeh, she'll come running at 'maybe', Cap."

"Well French, that's thing about that one, she don't necessarily want the things that come by easy the most."

They all gathered at the Hatfield Cemetery to bury Ellison three days later, it was solemn, with a current of anger running through all their kinsmen present. Adaline felt like they were sitting on a powder cake, one spark and they would all go up in flames.

Anse was determined to carry on business as usual, and made it clear to Cotton that he wasn't to sit by his father's grave wallowing in grief. It was expected that everyone else would follow suit, and for a few weeks this worked fine.

It came out of the blue when the McCoys first struck back, Adaline was on her way into town to check on the store when she passed Cap coming up the rode in his daddy's wagon. He stopped when he saw her coming. Adaline saw Tom lying dead in the back of the wagon.

"What the hell happened Cap?" Adaline thought it may have been a lumbering accident due to the state of poor Toms head.

"Bounty hunters." Cap said, she could hear the anger and sadness sitting just behind his cool façade.

"McCoy bounty hunters?" Adaline was horrified to think poor Tom had been hunted down and then scalped like some trophy.

"Yep." Cap said handing out a piece of parchment to her, she rode up closer to look at it.

It was a bounty reward poster, it was for William 'Cap' Hatfield, who had a price of $500 on his head. Cap continued on, leaving Adaline looking at the poster, Adaline unclipped both her side arms and overtook Cap to lead up to Anse's place first. There was a price on Caps head, there were bounty hunters this side of the Tug and Cap was headed the first place a bounty hunter would look for a Hatfield.

Adaline looked for any movement at the side of the road on her way to Anse's, with Cap about 200 yards behind her. When they reached the clearing, she rode along the tree-line making sure there wasn't a posse set back into the woods. Cap had headed up to the barn, and Adaline rode over to help him get Tom out of the wagon.

"You didn't need to come up here Addy," Cap said as she hoped off her horse.

"I wasn't going to let you come home by yourself when there's bounty hunters this side of the tug." Adaline was a bit annoyed but reminded herself that his best friend had just been murdered and scalped.

They got Tom down and Cap started fixing the boards for his coffin, Adaline knew it was best to leave him in peace when he was upset, so Adaline simply sat up in the barn where she could see most of the perimeter. It was hours before Anse and the others emerged from the woods, and Cap had just about finished building the coffin. Adaline had sat in silence the whole time, her mind reeling on the implications of bounty hunters coming into West Virginia to kill her kin.

The next day she cleaned the store out of weapons and ammunition and told Billy that he was not order in or sell any weapons or ammunition to anyone that wasn't a Hatfield or friends of the Hatfield's. If bounty hunters were coming to Mates Creek, they had better bring their own bullets.

She delivered most of the arsenal up to Anse, but had left some hidden about her property in case the time came she needed them.

"Good thinking Addy, any chance you want to head to Pikeville and buy them out?" Anse asked.

"No problems, they can't touch a hair on my head without hanging, Uncle Anse." She paused. "It's not to say they'll let me have them but I can try?"

"Good, good" Anse was deep in thought, thinking about how best to keep his family safe.