West Virginia, 1883

"William, I am tired," I groaned in exhaustion, my back sore as we trekked uphill, my cousin far out in front of me. I had woken this morning, much like other mornings, aching and bruised from Tolbert's rough treatment many nights prior inside the small cabin in the woods of Kentucky. Dark, hand sized marks were littered up and down my arms, and my side was discolored from being tossed to the ground one time too many. "May we please go back?"

My love did not answer, as he had not this entire journey. I would grow frustrated and call him heartless if not for the fact that he would often look back to check on me as well as stop to allow me to catch him up. All these reasons, plus the fact I loved him dearly kept me walking, though very slowly, behind him. He had come to my father's home with the sun today, riffle over shoulder and rushed me to dress. After informing me to also grab my gun, he had ridden me way out into the forest, silent as death as the sun rose higher the further we rode.

And now we walked in silence, both toting our guns along with us. I knew something was troubling him and that whatever it was, he would need time to sort it out in his head before he voiced it. That was just how William was. He did not do or say things carelessly and without thought. It was not so much that he wished to spare others' feelings, more around the likes of he did not want to waste breath on something he was not adamant about. He reminded me of my father in this way and I chose to show him the same respect I showed the man who had raised me and not rush his thought process.

He stopped at the peak of the hill, squinting out into something I was not yet high enough to see. I prayed he had truly stopped and was not simply waiting for me, because I was not sure how much further I could walk before I would feel compelled to ask for his assistance or something of the like. With a great huff of breath and hair stuck to my forehead, I finally came to stand beside him and looked down the other side of the hill into an area that looked familiar to me.

"This is where you had your accident," I breathed thoughtfully, surprised I remembered the place. I had refused to go anywhere near my uncles many timber yards after that day. When my father had suggested Cotton beginning to work in them as well, I had had a hysterical sort of fit with my throat and eyes eventually ending up sore from crying. It had done nothing.

"It wasn't no accident," Will finally spoke, spitting into the dirt in front of us as I turned to him. "I lost the use of my eye to save you."

I nodded solemnly, the usual sense of guilt settling over my heart as I recalled the incident. I had never, never forgiven myself for what had happened to William that day. Every time I looked into his milky eye, I saw the bloody mess it had been after he pushed me and Cotton out of the way of that falling tree. It was true, most of my dreams were of my cousin coming to save me from horrible fates only the devil could think of, but every once and a while, a nightmare came along where William would curse me for losing his eye. I had never told anyone of these dreams, but I woke up crying each and every time they surfaced. I could never forgive myself.

"William, I am…so sorry," I said slowly, eyes pricking as I looked up into his face. He nodded solemnly, not lifting his gaze from the space below us. It looked different than it had all those years ago, my uncles luck in timber having expanded. Five thousand acres. This, once just a grassy hill before a road, now lead down into one of the main yards, lumbering equipment and carts scattered about and overhanging built as shelter from the sun set up. It looked different, but then time changes all things.

"I don't regret it," my cousin insured, finally gracing me with his gaze. I sniffled, head falling as I nodded despite the fact that I did not believe him fully. My tears were fat and salty on my face as he stuck a hand under my chin. "Abi…I'd do it again."

"No," I said, reaching up to hold his wrist between my hands. "No, don't say that-"

"I would," he insisted vehemently, face looking severe as he shifted his weight so that it was almost as if he were curving into me. "I would risk anythin' to keep you safe." I blinked, not sure where he was going with this. His expression softened as he kissed the furrow upon my brow. Pulling away, fingers still pushing my chin up to look at him, he spared me a small but beautiful smile. "Marry me."

I laughed in endeared confusion as I rolled my eyes at him, moving one hand to stroke his beneath my face. "I plan to, you silly man." He shook his head.

"I mean today," he explained lowly. My heart skipped a beat, I was sure. "Right now."

I narrowed my eyes at him before pulling my chin out of his grasp. My lips parted in shock as I took a step back from him. He stared after me, face looking completely blank. I took another step back, mouth working like a fish as I tried to come to terms with what he had just suggested. Married? Today? At this very minute? A disbelieving laugh fell from my lips as I shook my head at him in good humor.

"That's insane," I huffed, feeling short of breath as I rested my hands on my hips. I made sure to keep my riffle pointed into the dirt. "We don't even-"

"Our fathers consent." I nodded slowly, face turned into a thoughtful frown. Will had told me of how his father had somehow been aware of the fact that Will had suffered at my kidnapping. "We're both of age-"

"We haven't planned anythin', William!" I threw my arms up, riffle shaking haphazardly as I turned my back on him and walking away a bit.

"We could go down and have Uncle Wall marry us right now with no plannin' needed!" I chewed on my lip nervously, not knowing what this twisting feeling in my gut was. I wanted to marry William, truly I did, but I had not expected for him to spring this proposal on me in such a way.

"Be that as it may-"

"Do you love me?" I spun on him, hand poised at the back of my neck nervously. Lord, but I wanted to strike him with the butt of my riffle. I had never lifted a hand to William, let alone an armed one, but at the ridiculous question I could have laid him right there in the dirt. He seemed to see this in my eye as he leaned away from me slightly. He did not, however, retract the question. I glared halfheartedly at him.

"You know I do."

He nodded silently as I continued to pace.

"Then marry me"

I stopped my pacing and fixed him with a steady gaze. I had never been one to imagine the glory of my wedding day as I imagined many girls my age and younger did. I had no 'dream wedding' to live out. I was not protesting because I wanted to be dressed to the nines in a new black dress instead of a green skirt and white blouse. I was not suffering the absence of a wedding party where we would be gifted with the necessities needed to survive the first year of marriage. I would not miss writing out a long list of invitations to be sent to the far corners of West Virginia calling forth the Hatfield clan to celebrate the event. I was not reluctant to follow through for any of these reasons. I was reluctant because…

"I'm scared," I said lowly, casting my light blue eyes to the ground in shame. I heard rather than saw Will approach and huffed tiredly as he wrapped me into his arms, riffle through his belt.

"Hey," he soothed, pressing a kiss to my hair. I squeezed my eyes shut. "I'm here ain't I?" I nodded into his chest. "Then you got nothin' to be scared of." He pulled away so that he might squat and look up into my eyes. I sighed, stroking lovingly at his cheek as I stared into his mismatched eyes. Lord, but I loved this man.

"Okay," I whispered, "Let's get married."

He picked me up so suddenly that I could not help but shriek. It quickly turned into a laugh however as he spun me around, my skirt fanning out around us. When he finally set me down, he grabbed my hand free hand in his and yanked us back the way we had come, leaving the scene of his accident behind us. I laughed nervously, nearly tripping as he ran us down the hill. I was weight down by my riffle which I now had to question the use for.

"Why'd we have to bring our guns if you were gonna prupose marriage?" I wheezed as we reached the place where we had tied the horse in about half the time the original trek had taken. I was winded.

"You'll see," Will promised, taking the weapon from me now to load into the saddle bag. He looked manic. As he grabbed me round the waist to hoist me into the saddle, I settled my hands on his arms to tell him to wait.

"Will," I huffed, still not having caught my breath. "We're gon' go into town right now without anyone but Uncle Wall there." He looked about to interrupt but I placed a hand over his mouth. "I don't have a problem with that," I said truthfully. I would mourn the absence of my daddy and Cotton on the most important day of my life, but I would live through the disappointment. "But I don't want the first time we kiss as a couple to be in front of our daddies' big brother…"

He froze as he took into account what I was saying. It had taken me a great deal of courage to say it, and my cheeks were hot even now as my two cyan eyes locked with his one taupe eye. His mouth had parted slightly and as I reached up to push it closed, he stepped further into me. I shivered, feeling as if I was as good as naked as he gazed deeply into my eyes. He leaned towards me, breath tickling across my lips as I melted into his arms slightly. He held me fast, bringing his face down to mine and pressing his lips against mine.

To say kissing William while he was conscious was different from when he was heavily sedated would be an understatement. I was not sure if I could even call the peck I had landed on him a kiss anymore as the man was about to marry crushed me to his body. I gasped, pulling away slightly only to be yanked by in by Will's hand on the back of my head. A fire shot through my body and I reached my arms up to encircle his neck as he leaned down into the kiss. We parted briefly to breath before diving in once more, the force of his grazes causing me to step back and pull him with me every time our lips reconnected. He would have kissed me straight into the ground and I would have allowed it had we not eventually backed up into his mount which whinnied in indignation.

He pulled away from me suddenly, leaving me a panting blob in his arms, my face hot and my lips feeling swollen. He glanced at the horse before turning back to me. I looked up at him, eyes wide and hazy as he leaned down to press a far more innocent kiss to my forehead. I heaved a sigh of relief. Had we started again, I'm not sure if we would have ever made it into town.

The ride to the prison where our Uncle Wall worked was silent. I hugged William tightly around the waist, head buried between his shoulder blades as we approached. I was about to become a Hatfield. Something I had dreamed of being since I was able to understand what people meant when they called my brother and I bastards in the street. I could have cried from happiness, but as we rode up outside of the jail and I saw my daddy, brother, and Uncle Anse sitting outside playing a game of checkers, I could only give a confused looked to William who was wearing one of his trademark devilish smirks.

"It's about time you got here," my uncle said as way of greeting as we reared to a stop. "I was ready to bet your daddy that you had turned him down."

"No," I sputtered, casting a shocked look between my family members as William stepped down from the saddle. He greeted everyone with large hugs and then turned back to me, hand extended to help me down. I crossed my arms in annoyance. "What's goin' on here?"

"Abi, you're gettin' married!" I turned away from Will to look up on the porch from where my brother had called from. He stood next to my father, both having abandoned the checkers board, dressed in his Sunday best and smiling infectiously at me. My daddy stood on, also suited up with a hat and all as he smiled proudly at me and motioning towards a still waiting William with a tilt of his head.

He had brought my family here for me.

With a watery laugh, I reached down to my husband-to-be and slid easily into his arms. He gave me a loving squeeze before setting me down and taking my hand. We walked by my Uncle Anse who nodded at me, pipe for once not making the smile he sent me crooked. We walked by my brother who leaned forward to hug Will and myself. I sobbed happily into his shoulder before pulling we reached my father just before the threshold. He looked proud and I felt myself glowing in his gaze as he shook his nephews hand and placed a warm kiss on my cheek.

"I love you, angel."

"I love you too," I replied, voice cracking with emotion as I pulled away. Smiling in his usual excited way, he waved us through the door, promising to be here when we were through. I nodded, stepping into the jail with Will still gripping my hand.

"It's about time you two got in here," my Uncle Wall greeted merrily, stepping forward to clap William on the back and hug me warmly. "Don't cry there, little lady. It's your weddin' day." I laughed. "Alright lets get this over with – we've all waited long enough."

I could not have agreed more as I stood before the curiously on looking prisoners and Cotton who my father had advised to sit silently in the corner of the room. Uncle Wall walked us through the vows, having to eventually hand me his kerchief out of his pocket as I could not seem to stop crying. William landed an affectionate kiss to my hair as I mopped at my eyes. I was just so happy.

"By the power vested in me by the state of Kentucky, I now pronounce you man and wife." He smiled fondly at us and we shared an awkward sort of chuckle before he bent down to kiss me. It was short and innocent, reminiscent of the one I had given him when I was thirteen that he still was unaware of. I smiled as he pulled away, laughing as Cotton finally burst, jumping up and down as he clapped happily.

I walked over to my brother, leaving William to sign the marriage license first as I pulled my twin into a hug. He crushed me unintentionally to his breast and I reveled in it, knowing I was going to miss receiving these before bed every night. I would miss my brother even though I was see him nearly as often as I did now, but I was married now and my devotion must lie with William. Still, I paused my Uncle Wall where he was about to sign as our witness, asking if Cotton may be listed instead.

I stood behind my brother, guiding his hand to spell out his name since he was not literate like myself or William who watched on silently. It felt like when we were children and I would help Cotton with any and everything. He was not nearly so dependent now and it brought me joy and sadness all at once. When 'Ellison Mounts' was sloppily scrawled on the designated line, I signed my own name and that was it. We were married.

"Congratulations to you both," my uncle nodded. We bid him good day, stepping back outside to our fathers waiting arms. Once hugs were passed around, my father passed William his rifle and my uncle gave me mind. I frowned, having forgotten we had brought them. I asked William if he would finally tell me what we had them for. He smiled fondly at me, nodding to the edge of the jail's porch. I noticed a man there setting up some odd contraption that was held on three thin legs. A curtain hung from the back of it which his head was shoved under.

"What in the world…?"

"It's a new invention," my pa informed, ushering Will and myself forward. A lone chair was placed in front of the device and the man, having come out from under the curtain, motioned Will to sit in it. I frowned. "It puts you on paper just like printed word."

"You're hornswoggling me," I gaped as the man came forward, taking me by the elbow, and guided me to Williams left side. He smiled up at me. I returned the look.

"Not at all," the man sniffed, not sounding from around these parts as he prepared to go back under the curtain. Such a strange device. "Now please, both of you, hold up your guns." We did so; me holding mine across my middle while Will's was leaned against his knee, aiming into the overhang. "Now do not smile."

I quirked a brow at this, glancing at William and getting reprimanded for it. Apparently we were not supposed to move either. But how could I not smile? This was the happiest day of my life! Just thinking that I was now a Hatfield made a smile burst through on my face. The man behind the contraption was not amused. He waited patiently for me to control myself before ducking down again. The motion in itself was humor to me and my chest shook as a laugh fought to burst out of me. When his arm came up from nowhere holding a strange tree branch looking object I could not help myself. There was painfully bright burst of light just as I let out a laugh.

I gasped, jumping slightly as smoke rose up into the air, barely noticing as the man seemed to have a tiny fit, trying to reprimand me only to be stopped by Will who fixed him with a glare from his milky eye. He left shortly after, packing up his strange machine and saying he would deliver our "photograph" to the jail when it was ready. I had no idea what that meant but did not care as Will pulled me to his side. I looked up at him, smiling brightly. We were married.

We stayed to talk with our kin for a time but after none too long, our daddies were urging us to leave. I was suspicious of this since we would have no choice but to return to one of their homes. Why were they rushing us? Still we dropped our farewells and rode away, me clinging to William as he had set a rather grueling pace. It didn't take long after we entered the forest for me to see we were headed in the direction of William's home. I groaned internally at the thought of facing my Aunt Lavicy. I could not imagine her approving of this union. Perhaps she was not even aware of it.

I needn't have worried however. As we cleared the trees in front of my uncle's home we did not slow in the least. Nancy and her sisters were seated on the front porch and when they saw us approaching, each jumped up and waved enthusiastically. I laughed, waving back. We passed them though, and I heard them shout kind sendoffs in our wake. We passed through the back yard and barn area never slowing our pace. I questioned my husband as to our destination but he simply told me it was a surprise.

We ran into the forest behind the Hatfield property, carrying further up into the hills. We passed the lake and Jonse's drip mill and cabin and simply kept going. We rode in silence for an hour until we turned onto a path I had not known before. The ground was stripped clean and trodden on as we neared our destination far, far into the hills. Our poor mount was sweating.

"We're here," Will panted as we finally began to slow to a light trot. I peared around his shoulder, not seeing anything until we rounded the corner of the hill we were currently riding parallel to. I gasped as I took in the cleverly placed cabin. It seemed to be built right into the rock of the earth. It looked to not have been inhabited for some years, but it was not at all desolate or decaying.

"What is this?" I breathed as we finally came to a complete halt. I leaned back as William dismounted, smiling up at my confused face proudly.

"This is our home," he stated matter-of-factly, turning to it. My breath hitched as I looked back at the moderately sized cabin. I did not know the Hatfield history well enough to know who this had belonged to beforehand but it was ours now and that was what made tears spring to my eyes for the hundredth time that day. Turning to me, Will grabbed be round the waist, dragging me from the saddle to stand beside him. "Do you like it?"

"It's perfect," I breathed shakily, putting my cheek to his chest. "Thank you so much."

That was to be one of the last things I said that night. Will took me on a quick tour of the cabin. It was spacious and well kept even after all these years. I found that it was considered a sort of hunting lodge for his father in years passed, but he rarely traveled to it now which was why we would be moving all our belongs, and soon to be delivered wedding gifts, into it first thing the next morning.

But first came the wedding night.

I was terrified once we found ourselves in the bedroom, the whole cabin having been shown and found worthy of living. I had fidgeted, not knowing exactly what to do with my hands until William came to me and eased me gently to the bed. We were slow with each other as it turned out this would be both of our first times. I would be lying if I said I was not slightly surprised. His feathery light touches across my bare skin left me flushed from head to toe, my tint only growing darker as I saw him naked for the first time.

There was the pain, yes, but it was brief and Will was quick to kiss the tears from my eyes, still being very gentle with me even when it had eased. We made love long into the night, becoming familiar with each other's bodies in ways I had only ever dreamed of. When all was said and done and we lay in a worn out silence, I raised my head to press a kiss to his bare chest. He hummed in content and I knew I would never need another in my life. William was all I would ever need.