West Virginia, 1884
Election Day
I would find that marriage suited me right down to the ground in the ten months following mine and Williams impromptu union. We moved our belongings from our respective houses into the home we now shared with the help of our kin and Skunk Head. It had been tiresome work, but when it was done I had never felt so at home anywhere else as I did in that cabin I shared with my husband.
Husband.
Even after a little under a year, it still felt exciting and new to refer to Will as such. We made our home as comfortable as possible and always opened it to our family. Cotton staid with us more nights than not and I felt I was even happier with my brother close by. He helped Will with the horses and traveled with him every morning down to the lumber yard. I slowly but surely got over my fear of him working there and now he was a frequent, helping our uncle in his business and essentially living his own life. It was rewarding to see him so happy and to have him in our home.
For all the smiles and laughter and gifts we stalked our home with, my favorite part sat on the overhanging of our fire place. It was the 'photograph' of William and myself on our wedding day. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen and the way it was produced was still a mystery to me. Uncle wall had come with it a few days later and given us a handsome stand to rest it on. In the photograph, the laugh that had bubbled out of me had been captured, showing my face with my eyes closed and mouth open. William, instead of looking straight forward was looking up at me with a fond expression. His eyebrow was raised and his mouth tilted in an amused smirk as I laughed at the man beneath the curtain. We both held our riffles in hand. It was like our relationship defined in a solitary moment.
I liked to believe I was a good wife. I kept our home nice and clean, cooked breakfast and dinner every day, and performed my wifely duties more than willingly. We were happy together in this life, and the only thing that could have made our lives better would be children. But as I stared blankly now at our bloodied sheets in the washbasin, I feared this was not a wish God would see fit to grant. I tried not to be bitter on the matter.
"Abi?" I jumped, shoving the sheet under the water as I turned to William. He was staring at me oddly from the front door, and I realized he must have been calling after me for a while. I sniffed turning away, eyes cast so low they might have been closed.
"Sorry, I was somewhere else," I mumbled, wiping my cheek on my shoulder tersely. He came further into our kitchen area and I tried to smile at him, but it was forced and he could tell. He knew me better than anyone in this world. Coming up by my elbow, he glanced down into the murky water.
"Your flow came again." It was not a question. I sniffled, yanking my hands from the water to wipe them agitatedly on my apron.
"Your brother and Roseanna were livin' in sin and God saw fit to grant them a child," I said, voice thick as I leaned my hands against the edges of the basin, "Though, Lord help them, I hear she has been sickly."
It was true. After being returned from the hands of death by Roseanna, Johnse could still not bring himself to part with his family and marry the girl even after he had made such a fuss over her carrying his baby. She had left, heartbroken, and returned to her aunt's home where seven months later she had birthed a baby girl. Rumor had it that her name was Elizabeth or something of the like. But Roseanna had been sickly after Johnse's betrayal and her daughter was born as such. It was likely both would parish sooner rather than later.
I prayed not, but it was likely.
William pulled me into his chest as tears sprung to my eyes. "I just want a baby so bad," I whispered sadly, hiding my face in his chest as he shushed me gently.
"It'll happen," he promised, pressing a kiss to my curls. "You have to be patient." I huffed, fighting down the annoyance I wanted to speak upon. He was right, of course. All good things to those who wait. I felt awful to even think it, but I would rather have no baby than one as sickly as Johnse's daughter. We had waited and would continue to wait until we were blessed with a child of our own. I prayed every night that it would be a healthy one. "Now come on, we don't wanna keep everyone waitin'."
I nodded, leaving the sheets to soak until we returned. It was Election Day and we were all set to ride into Kentucky to celebrate with our family. It would be the first time I had wondered into the territory since the McCoy boys had taken Johnse and me by force. I did not like to think about it. Every few weeks I would have nightmares about that night, only William would not show up in time and Tolbert McCoy would shoot my cousin and I dead in cold blood. I would wake up screaming.
I wiped the memories from my mind, having promised Will I was alright to go the night before when another nightmare had plagued me. I had told him I could not turn yellow and cower here in West Virginia for the rest of my days. If I did that, then the McCoys would have bested me, and after that night I was not willing to let such a thing pass. I would go and that was the end of it.
We packed the carriage, a gift from our Uncle Lias a week prior to our wedding, and headed out to West Virginia earlier than years prior since we had a further way to go. I did not mind the location of our cabin, but some days, like today, I wished we still lived down in the valley areas nearer to our kin. Even William had complained once that he could not go hunting with Skunk Head and Jim as often since the two dreaded making the three hour ride to us. It was my belief that in a few years, perhaps when a baby finally came along, we would move.
We reached the Kentucky election grounds at around midday to find out we were the last Hatfields to arrive. Our family was spread out everywhere, some waving to us as we arrived and others not noticing since they were involved in one activity or the other. I left William's side to greet my brother and daddy who were situated near the dance tent, Cotton watching girls twirl about in interest. William went to find Jim, wherever the scoundrel may be.
"Abigail!" I turned and smiled as I saw my cousin Nancy hurrying toward me, her sisters following close behind. "You're a sight for sore eyes," she enthused, opening her arms to hug me once she was in range. I held her close to my chest, smiling brightly. Though our family still spent a great deal of time together, I did not see Nancy half as much as I saw Cotton. She was fifteen now and I feared our time together before she was married off was limited. "How are you?"
"Fine," I laughed, pulling away to greet Mary and Elizabeth, now eleven and nine respectively. They could have been twins for how similar they looked and I admired how they stuck together, hands clasped as they walked away from us. "My, but they're shootin' up like weeds."
"Pains in my ass, both of them," Nancy scoffed, looping her arm through mine and ignoring my disapproving look as we began to stroll around the festivities. "So how is married life?"
"Wonderful," I gushed honestly, looking up to spot Will speaking animatedly with Jim around twenty yards across the way. As if feeling my eyes on him, he turned to me and smiled. I felt like I was glowing. "I never been so happy before." Nancy nodded.
"Are you and my brother gon' have babies soon?" This was a common question, and I was used to it, but an ache still sprung to my chest as I remembered the bloody sheet drowned in water back home. Nancy noted my crest fallen countenance and frowned. "What's the matter?"
I shrugged, squinting in the bright sunlight as I avoided my young cousin's gaze. "We been tryin' to have babies, but…it hasn't worked."
"Yet," Nancy stated firmly, gripping my forearm in her spidery fingers. "It hasn't worked yet. You gotta keep faith," she informed as we circled the fair. I nodded my agreement even though on the inside I felt hopelessness begin to creep between my ribs. How long would I be waiting? We walked around exchanging pleasantries for a while. Nancy, pretty young thing that she was, had a suitor by the name of Charlie Mullens.
"I am not too partial to him though," she confessed, "For some months now I have had my eye on John Vance."
"He's another nephew a Jim's isn't he?" I asked curiously as we reached a group of men gathered not far from the carts, drinking and looking at a plank that was set up around ten yards in front of them.
"Great nephew," Nancy corrected as I drew us to a stop. "He's just a bit younger than Johnse and Will." I nodded, listening but attention held by the men before us. I believed they were having a shooting competition and as they laid a branch down to set the mark, a smile burst onto my face. "What's got you lookin' all sunny?"
"Wait here," I urged my cousin, picking up my skirt so that I might run over to where we had left our cart. Climbing into the back, I grabbed my riffle and hurried back. As soon as Nancy saw what I carried, her eyes widened in a scandalized gaze.
"You cannot be serious," she whispered firmly as I checked my barrel.
"I'm gonna shoot," I stated proudly making my way forward.
"Abi, they won't let you."
"They won't have a choice." Two McCoy men had already shot, one of them getting within the circle placed round the nail that signified the center of the target. I squeezed my way between them. "Can I have a go?" They all turned to me, shocked, before falling into hysterical fits of laughter. I did not budge.
"Little lady," a round man in a bowler had chuckled, stepping up to me, "This here's a shootin' contest."
"Which is why I have my gun," I explained slowly as if he were a child. One of the men, still laughing rather loudly, staggered forward, leaning against the man's shoulder. Jefferson McCoy. Lord, but he had become a drunk. I scrunched my nose up.
"Aw let her shoot," he hiccupped, eyeing me openly as he stood back near his kin. I spotted Calvin with them and tried not to glare too heatedly. "She probably don't know how to hold the gun no how."
I frowned at him, shoving passed to stand at the front of the group. I politely asked all the men to step back as I toed the line and hoisted my rifle up to take aim. The target was not far and I just had to do better than the last man to shoot. I breathed deeply, easily keeping both eyes open as I pulled the trigger. The shot rang out, the kick yanking my shoulder back in a familiar way and I smiled as the bullet splintered the wood...right between the nail and the Sam McCoy's bullet hole.
There was silence until-
"Woohoo!" Nancy cheered, jumping up and down as she came to stand beside me. "Some shot, Abi!" I smiled demurely, lowering my riffle and turning to look at the crowd of shocked men behind me. I squinted, searching each face before I found the mediator.
"I'll take my prize now," I said cooly.
"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?" Calvin McCoy asked, clearly enraged as he stepped forward. I shrugged nonchalantly.
"My husband taught me." it was true. Every Sunday after church, Will would take me up into the hills and teach me how to shoot like a man. After ten months I was pretty good, if God did not think me proud for saying so. I was not as good as Will, however, since he had a natural born talent for the activity, and I was only learning. I spared Calvin one last condescending smirk before turning back to the mediator who was scratching his head thoughtfully. "My prize please."
"Well I-"
"Tell 'er she can't have it!" I turned to frown at Paris McCoy.
"Yeah, women can't shoot here!" Jefferson joined in, flanking his cousins with a face like thunder.
"She won fair and square," Nancy declared, taking to my side. I touched her shoulder to calm her as I turned my glare on the man running the contest once more. He did not look willing to stand up against the angry family men.
"Well we've never had a woman shoot so-"
"So there is a first time for everythin'," I snapped, growing irritated. Moving quickly, Clavin stepped forward and yanked my riffle roughly from my hands. I turned to him, fuming. "Give it back!" I barked.
"Women shouldn't be shootin'," Calvin said slowly, holding my gun across his chest as he glared at me. Lord, but I wished I had some water to spit in his face right now. I went to make a snatch for my gun and he looked ready to shove me.
"Don't you touch her," Nancy hissed, "I'll run and get my brother and he'll shoot you dead."
"Go and get that freak," Calvin challenged, sneering at the young girl before looking back at me, "He can't do nothin'."
"Funny," I scoffed as I heard the dirt shift beside me letting me know Nancy had run off, "Since the last time I saw you, you and your brothers were on your knees in front of Cap and our family."
"Shut your trap!" Calvin shouted in my face, eyes zooming to his surrounding kin who had formed a semi-circle around us. I smirked.
"Gimme my gun," I growled lowly, hands clenched in fists of rage as he looked down into my eyes again.
"You don't deserve it," he breathed menacingly as he stepped into my personal space.
"Boy." We all turned, the men parting to show Will, Nancy, and our Uncle Jim who was chewing loudly at some tobacco. "I wouldn't talk to my little niece like that; her husband might just see fit to put a bullet in your brain."
Will came forward, glaring at Calvin who quickly stepped away from me, throwing my riffle to the ground at my feet. I scoffed, scooping down to pick it up and turning to Will. He leaned over me, shooting warning glares at all gathered before looking down at me. His expression softened and he gave me a curious look, asking if I was okay. I nodded. Looking satisfied, he spit into the grass and turned to the men.
"This competition still open?" he asked, taking a swig of the large pint of whiskey he had carried over from where he and Jim had probably been set up at the barrel. The men shifted.
"Long as you don't mind wastin' a bullet," Paris grunted, not meeting Willaim's mismatched eyes as he passed the glass to me.
"I ain't wasted one yet," he jeered before turning to me. He smiled, leaning down to plant a sensual kiss on my lips before stepping up to the line. Looking over, I saw Calvin fuming silently and had to smirk at my husband's back. He loved getting under the McCoys' skin. Nancy and Jim came to stand beside me.
"Hey, hey," Paris interrupted before William could fire. Pointing down, he told my husband to toe the line which his shoe was slightly over. "You're over the damn mark." Jim stepped up to Will's shoulder as I glared at the sniggering McCoy bunch.
"Just do what you do, son," he coached before stepping away from his nephew's arm.
"What he does is miss," Paris' brother Sam heckled as Will lifted his rifle. Their laughter was shattered just as quickly as the lantern hanging on the pole next to the target as he fired.
"Ah, Cap," Calvin teased. "You missed completely." The McCoys fell into laughter as my family all gathered behind Will, each of us staring up to the target where the judge was looking curiously at the nail that marked the center.
"No he didn't," Nancy laughed by my elbow. They all turned.
"He hit the nail on the head," Jim grunted as the judge turned to look at us, nodding subtly. "Right on the dog gone head."
I beamed in pride, reaching up on tip toe to kiss Will's cheek. He smiled at me as the McCoys became rowdy, claiming he had missed the target. I stepped around Will's protective arm, invading Calvin's personal space and smiling wickedly up at him.
"He won fair and square," I mimicked sweetly, taking a swig of the glass I still clutched in my tiny hand. Calvin looked livid. He shoved me.
"Shut up, Abigail!" Will stepped forward and grabbed him by the throat so quickly, he dropped his own glass.
"Touch her again and see what happens," he growled so venomously that I could see fear spring to Calvin's eyes as his cousins rushed to pull Will off of him. "I'll kill you, McCoy!"
"This here's a shootin' contest boys!" the round man claimed, stepping between our two parties as Uncle Jim took Will under arm.
"And my husband won it," I stated firmly, tossing down the now empty whiskey pint and hoisting my riffle up. "He hit the nail on the head."
"He didn't hit shit!" I raised my rifle to take aim at Jefferson McCoy, but the barrel was grabbed by Jim, who yanked it down and put his arm around my shoulder to yank me away. My blood was boiling and I could feel that my face had flushed in rage.
"Let it go, lil sister," Jim spat, reaching out to againgrab Will who had an arm around Nancy. He steered us away from the competition area, mumbling about how McCoys always had been sore losers.
"That ain't fare, Uncle Jim," Nancy piped up once we were some ways away. I now walked besides Will, tucked safely under his arm as his little sister strolled beside Jim. "Abi won that contest and they wouldn't give her the prize, and then Will won and they wouldn't give him the prize neither!"
"Well," Jim sighed, "Them McCoys always were sneaky bastards. I 'spect your brother and sister-in-law there could out shoot any of 'em any day. Now what the hell is goin' on here?"
We had approached the center of the grounds and it was obvious from the way people were gathered around that something was happening. A fight from the sounds of it. Out of no where, a shot rang out and I yanked Nancy to my chest, lifting an arm to protect her head just as William did the same to me. Uncle Jim drew his pistol, spitting into the dirt as he continued forward into the now hysterical crowd.
"Ellison!" My blood ran cold as I heard my Uncle Anse's voice over all others. Yanking myself from Will's arms, I rushed forward after Jim, picking my skirts up when I heard him yelling for a doctor. My heart was thudding in my chest and as I shoved my way through the crowd, I wondered helplessly what I would find when I finally reached the scene of the fight.
"DADDY!" my scream as I saw my father lain in the dirt was filled with so much despair that I did not know how I had not died on the spot. I ran to him, body already shaking with sobs as I overtook him and my uncle who was crouched at his side. "Daddy!"
"Abi," he rasped, somehow still alive despite the grotesque amount of blood that was currently soaking through his clothes. I wept, falling to my knees besides him and taking his hand into mine. He was cold. "Abi?"
"I'm here," I stammered, looking up only briefly as the doctor came. I looked away as he pulled up my father's shirt, not wanting to see the damage. I gazed into my father's face, but his eyes were far away and he looked pale as I had never seen him. I felt like I was drowning in my rising panic.
"McCoy boys shot him," my aunt Lavicy whispered from where she had fallen to her knees beside me. My mind reeled, thinking ten steps ahead as I imagined bringing those devils to justice.
Their hides would pay the price.
My father began to mutter and I shook myself from my murderous fantasies, bringing my ear down to his lips. "W-Where's Cotton?"
"Cotton? Cotton!" Looking up, eyes bleary with tears, I saw my brother coming towards us slowly. I reached out my hand, yanking him down to the ground as he took it. I placed it with my own over my fathers. "He's here."
My father nodded, obviously in a great amount of pain as tremors shook his body. I sobbed harder, begging him to hold on as Cotton pleaded to go home. This was all too much for him. I squeezed his hand over our fathers as Will, Johnse, Lias, and the doctor each began to lift him from the ground. Following closely behind with my brother in toe, I helped them ease him into my uncle's cart before climbing in to sit beside him, Cotton hugging me tightly.
Through my hazy mind I thought of something and yelled out blindly for William, not knowing if he had remained or not. He appeared beside the cart on my side almost immediately, looking frazzled. I breathed deeply, reaching out to grip his shoulder and pointing in the direction his daddy had run after Skunk Head.
"You get after 'em," I ordered, voice trembling. "You get after them McCoy bastards and you bring 'em back here to have justice done on 'em. You do that for me."
"I will," he swore, reaching up to cup my face between his hands as the doctor and my aunt Lavicy climbed into the front of the cart. He kissed me soundly but briefly, my tears seeping between our lips and turning the kiss salty. "I love you."
"I love you," I sobbed as the cart jerked into motion. We rode away from him and I had to pray he was successful as he rushed after his family to chase after the men that had done this to my pa. I turned back to him now, gasping weakly at my knees. I lifted my skirt, not caring for it as I pressed it firmly over the bullet wound in his gut. "Hold on, Papi," I whispered shakily, "You can't go, not yet. I need you – we need you. Me and Cotton."
He did not reply, but his eyes fluttered open just enough for him to look at me. I stared hard at him, hoping to tether him to this world with just my gaze. He could not go yet. I was not ready for him to leave.
