Chapter Twelve

It had been about two hours since the whole fiasco with the McCoy family. We had just been keeping a vigil. Then I heard the whistles of the guards, letting us know that something was awry. That someone was coming that wasn't kin or friendly.

"I come to ask for my boys." I tensed as I heard who it was who was on our property. Randall McCoy. "You got my word, I'll turn them over to the law in Pikeville." I shook my head at his audacity.

"Your boys stabbed my brother. They stabbed him over and over again and then shot him." My Uncle Anse replied.

"Penalty for that's the same in Kentucky as it is in West Virginia." I closed my eyes. "How is Ellison? I pray he recovers." Cotton whimpered as Daddy's hand closed tightly around his.

"Shh, Cotton. It's alright." I said.

"You still believe in praying?" My Uncle Anse asked.

"I do." Randall McCoy asked.

"Then we'll leave it to the Almighty. If my brother survives, you can have your boys. You can let Kentucky law take its course. If he dies - " Uncle Anse broke off for a moment. "If my brother dies, your boys will stay here and not long before justice will be done on them."

"Is there anything I can say or give you that'll move you from that?"

"No." My Uncle Anse said firmly.

"I'd like to see my sons." Randall McCoy said.

"I don't think so."

"Then let their mother see them?"

"Yeah." Aunt Lavicy said softly.

"We'll send for her."

"Devil Anse Hatfield, I rue the day I saved your life. May God damn your eternal soul!"

"That may be Randall, but I don't recall God saving your ass that day." Uncle Anse bit out. "We saved each other because - "

"Come on," my Aunt Lavicy said.

"Because that's what men do in war. This all here, this all sits the way it sits because of us and nobody else. If you feel the need to bring up God one more time, whose side he sits on," I heard the sound of the gun being primed. "You won't be making the ride home." My Uncle said firmly. My daddy thrashed.

"Uncle Anse! Cap! Aunt Lavicy!" I screamed, trying to hold my daddy down onto the bed. Cotton just sat there and looked at Daddy confused. The three rushed into the room. The doctor not far behind, but he just shook his head.

Cap and Uncle Anse held daddy down, until his fit was over. I swallowed hard and wiped the blood that was beginning to pool off his abdomen. Cap met my eyes, before he made his way outside.