*Author's Note*

Thank you for all the follows, faves, and reviews.

Of Friends & Pigs

Jessa POV:

The trees lining the dirt road provided shade from the blazing harvest sun as me and Roseanna walked together. The McCoy family was harvesting some of their corn field today, but me and Roseanna were exempted from the work since her best friend was in town and Randall gave us permission to go see her. The friend was staying up the road from the house and just happened to be Perry Cline's nice, Novella.

"Oh, I'm so excited to see her. I haven't seen Novella since her weddin' last March."

I just smiled at my friend since her happiness was contagious. I knew that Novella was married to her uncle's senator friend, since Nancy told me last month, but I was curious to meet them. Okay, I just wanted to meet her since she was the first girl Tolbert was interested in and I guess I wanted to know why.

"Were you a bridesmaid?" I asked, assuming she was since she was best friends with her.

"Yes." Roseanna smiled before telling me, "I even got a beautiful pale pink silk dress from the weddin', but mama says I have t'save it for my own weddin' one day instead of wearin' it 'gain." Oh, it must be really fancy if Sally wants Roseanna to use it as a wedding dress. While walking down the long dirt road, Roseanna told me, "Novella's dress was so beautiful. Mama says it must've cost a fortune t'make." Really? How extravagant and poofy was the thing? I mean are we talking My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding style of dress or what? "And Senator Billings Brooksdale had a custom-made powder colored top hat and coat for the weddin'. His vest and tie were fine printed silk that he imported from France too." Who the hell did he think he was, Jean Valjean or something?

"Wow, sounds like it must've been a fancy wedding." I bet everything was covered in silk bunting and spring floral arrangements littered the venue. I can just imagine what kind of foods were on the menu too.

"It was; they got married in a large church in Frankfurt." I guess so since that's where he lives. I mean if they didn't get married in a church in Kentucky's state capitol, I'd be a bit shocked. "Perry and Brenton got us rooms at a hotel so we could go." Roseanna added as an explanation for where her family stayed at for the grand Landon-Brooksdale wedding.

Nancy wasn't lying when she told me Brenton hooked his daughter up with the senator cause he was rich. Damn, I can only imagine how much money was spent on that wedding.

"How much farther is their cabin?" I asked since I was getting tired of walking miles on end to get to a friend's house. Honestly, I missed having friends' houses close by at a safe and normal walking distance.

"Not far, it's up 'head past a low lyin' tree."

I just nodded and continued to walk up the dirt road that was surround by trees. A few minutes later the large low laying tree appeared and about a yard or so past it was a small dirt path. My friend quickened our pace and we turned down the path. After walking for another minute or so the path opened up to a large piece of land with buildings on it that was framed by trees.

Roseanna smiled at me, excitement radiating from her, as she announced, "We're here."

"Your cousin has a nice cabin." I told Roseanna as I took in the scenery around us. The cabin wasn't too large, but looked kept up with and it had a modest barn a few yards to the left of it. What made the cabin pop out with beauty tho was the various wild flowers that framed the front porch.

"Brenton keeps up with it for Nova and Senator Billings since he gifted it to them." Oh, so this cabin and land was her dowry then. Makes sense since she's Perry Cline's niece.

After walking onto the porch, Roseanna knocked on the door while I stood next to her. After a couple of minutes, the door flung open only to reveal a petite redhead standing in the threshold. A large beaming smile crossed her face. "Roseanna, it's so good to see you." She gushed, pulling the blonde into a hug.

"It's good to see you too, Novella." Roseanna replied with a smile as she and Nova broke apart from their hug.

Looking over at me, the redhead asked, "Are you the girl stayin' with the McCoys? Jessamine?"

"Yea, but I usually go by Jessa." I nodded.

"Well, Jessa, I'm Novella, but just call me Nova." With a smile Nova stepped aside from the doorway while telling us, "Come on in, ya'll."

Silently, me and Roseanna stepped into the cabin. The interior was simple, but comfortable. The living room had a sofa and a couple of wingback chairs framing a coffee table, along with a fireplace and bookshelf. The kitchen had a table in it along with a stove, sink, china cabinet, and the usual counters and cabinets.

What took me aback was seeing a dark-haired man, who appeared to be in his mid to late 30's, dressed in a vest and tie sitting on a chair in the living room with his legs crossed, reading the paper while smoking a cigar. Right away I knew who he was, Senator Billings. Nova's senator husband looked a bit regal as he read his paper, not even bothered by our arrival.

As we sat down on the sofa Nova took a seat in the chair next to her husband's. "Billings, we have guests."

"It's not the lil prick, Tolbert, I hope." Scoffed the senator in a long sarcastic filled drawl as he turned the page of his paper.

"No." Nova sighed tightly, swatting her husband's knee in a slight scolding gesture. "It's Roseanna and Jessa, the girl the McCoys took in." She told him, leaning back slightly in her chair.

"Ah…" Senator Billings nodded, taking a large puff off his cigar. Looking over his paper he greeted us politely, but generically, with, "Good morning, ladies."

"Oh, don't mind him. He's useless til he finishes readin' the paper." Nova said, her voice a mix between playful and serious, as she pointed at the newspaper her husband was holding.

Looking over his paper at his wife, Senator Billings asked with a slight know-it-all smirk on his face, "Honey, how am I to know what's goin' on in the world if I don't read the daily paper?"

"Would ya'll like some coffee or tea?" Nova offered with a smile.

Before me or Roseanna could open our mouths to say yes or no, Senator Billings bluntly told us from behind his paper, "Just go get it yourself cause if you say yes, she'll just tell ya it's on the stove."

"Billings!" Nova shrieked, her cornflower blue eyes staring daggers at her husband.

"What? It's the truth." The senator said, acting as if he didn't just insult his wife. With a chuckle, Senator Billings told Nova, "Hell, I'm lucky you even feed me and pour me my mornin' coffee." Nova rolled her eyes at her husband before getting up and rushing over to where the coffee pot was at on the stove. Chuckling, the senator remarked from behind his newspaper, "My wife's not much of a hostess. Hell, our dinner parties are quite the gossip topic back home."

"Why?" I asked, not understanding what could be so bad about their parties that would make them talked about.

"Why?" He repeated in a chortled boom. "Cause my wife's not as refined as the other women in Frankfurt." He answered me, flipping his page. "She's a bit antisocial too." He added in before going on to read his new page.

"I'm not antisocial, Billings." Nova protested, walking out of the kitchen with a pair of steaming hot coffee mugs.

"No, of course not, honey." Senator Billings said sweetly from behind his paper before sarcastically following it up with, "You just don't like to be 'round a lot of people is all."

Um, isn't that what being antisocial is?

Nova appeared in front of the sofa, handing me and Roseanna our coffees, while informing her husband, "I don't mind people, it's just twits that act like wiltin' violets I can't stand."

"Of course, honey, cause you're the sandspur in life's garden." Senator Billings sing-song in a near scoff while his wife took a seat in the chair next to him.

Nudging Roseanna, causing her to turn her attention to me, I whispered, "They do realize we're here, right?"

"I think they're just like this cause they're newlyweds." Roseanna whispered before taking a sip of her steaming hot coffee.

But they've been married since March, that's not that new.

Nova just shook her head at Senator Billings while picking her cup up from the table between their sitting chairs. I got a wift of a mint scent floating up into the air from her cup, causing me to ask, "Is that mint tea?"

While turning his page, the senator blandly remarked, "It helps with the morning sickness."

Hmm, he didn't sound too excited about being a father to me. Maybe he was just grossed out by his wife being sick every morning. If not, then Nova's got problems.

Roseanna's jaw dropped as she gushed, "Oh my god, Nova, you're expectin'?"

"Yes, I'm due in spring." Nova smiled, taking a sip of her mint tea.

She's already pregnant, but they've only been married for 5-months and he's so much older then her. Oh wow, I guess things move fast in the 19th century. At least Nova sounds happy about being a mother, unlike her husband who seems like he could care less.

I mustered up a polite smile and told Nova, "Congratulations." Honestly, I was a bit taken aback by a 16-year old being happy about being pregnant. I mean in the 21st century it's kind of a taboo thing that's frowned upon even tho MTV made a tv series about it.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you." Roseanna genuinely smiled. I think it was easier for her to be happy for her friend since she was raised to think having babies as a teen was normal.

"Thank you, both of you." Nova genuinely told us between sipping on her tea.

Suddenly Senator Billings blurted out, "Goddamnit!", while clutching his paper in a vice grip.

"What?" Nova asked, sounding a bit concerned, as she placed her cup on the side table and looked at her husband with an arched auburn brow.

"This damn backwater rag has enough nerve to say that I'm just a one and done term senator. That I have no chance at reelection." Senator Billings ranted to his wife as he smacked the paper, like a parent does a bad child. Shoving the newspaper at her, he demanded, "Read it, honey."

Taking the paper, Nova sighed, "I'll read it, but I don't know why you're so worried 'bout it. Like you said, Billings, it's a backwater rag."

"A backwater rag that voters read." The senator reminded his wife before puffing on his cigar. With a sigh Senator Billings stood up. "I'll let you ladies visit for a bit; I'll be out on the porch." He leaned over and pressed a kiss on the side of his Nova's copper-red hair before walking out of the living room and over to the door.

As soon as the door slammed shut, indicating that the senator was out on the porch, Nova placed the paper on the side table while telling us, "Don't mind him, this election season's just hard on him."

Roseanna just nodded, taking a sip of her coffee, while I asked, "Why? This is his second time running, he must know how a campaign works."

"He wasn't married the first time he ran." Was the answer Nova gave me while picking up her teacup.

And then it dawned on me, Nova not being refined like the other women in Frankfurt was considered a black mark and a scandal for Senator Billings. Well, if he knew she wouldn't be good for his campaign then why did he marry her? Nancy alluded that it was as a favor to Perry Cline and Brenton Landon, but that's a big and career costly favor for him when you think about it.

As if she could read my mind, Nova gave me a tilted look from over her teacup while curtly saying, "We courted for over a year. He knew what he was gettin' into when he proposed." Placing the teacup on the side table she looked at the blonde by my side asked, "So, Roseanna, have you gotten permission to court anybody yet?"

Roseanna's bright blue eyes went dull as she shook her head, her voice a solemn whisper of, "No, I haven't met a nice boy that wants me."

"Oh, well in time you will." Nova assured her best friend in a soft tone. Looking at me she asked confidently, "And you're with Tolbert?"

"No, we're not together." I quickly responded while at the same time Roseanna asked, with a shocked look on her face, "Why'd ya ask that, Novella?"

"Uncle Perry told me that Tolbert's taken responsibility for her, I just assumed they were courtin'." Nova said in a simply sounding tone as she picked up her teacup.

"Well, we're not." I assured her before I drank some of my coffee. Coffee that tasted a bit strong too. Oh how I missed Starbucks frappes and lattes right now.

"I grew up with Tolbert, so let me give ya a fair warnin' 'bout that jackass." Nova told me with a knowing look in her cornflower blue eyes. "He's meaner than a striped-ass snake, selfish, and has to have his own way. Even tho he does have his moments of niceness it's not 'nough to outweigh his cruel temper."

I already knew about his unpredictable temper, but I was slowly trying to get him to work on that. I didn't find him cruel or selfish, just a bit misunderstood and moody.

With a thin smile I told the red-head sitting across from me, "I think I can handle Tolbert just fine. We've been getting along since the spring, but thank you for your warning."

"Oh, dear, his sweetness is an act. It'll fade, so watch yourself." Nova snipped at me before taking a sip of her tea and placing the cup back onto the side table.

I furrowed my brows at her. Who does she think she is to judge Tolbert. With my chin held up high I told her, "You're one to talk, your husband's a good 20-years older than you."

"Yes, Senator Billings is much older then me, but at least he treats me with kindness and respect. We have, believe it or not, a lot of common interests." Giving me a pointed look, she advised, "Just worry about keepin' Tolbert's temper in check instead of judgin' the age difference 'tween me and Billings."

A heavy silence filled the air, making the atmosphere feel awkward. It was only broken by Roseanna's sweet voice asking, "How long are you here for?"

"Roughly a week." Was the reply Nova gave her best friend, causing the heaviness in the air to dissipate a bit.

Tolbert POV:

I was ragin' mad as I pulled up to Ella's cabin. I saw her damn senator husband smokin' on the porch and felt my hot blood boilin' even more. I hated that prick. Senator Billings thought he was somethin' great cause he married Ella, the first girl I tried t'court. Bastard always got under my skin. I didn't wanna deal wit' him now tho, not wit' how I was already in a foul mood cause Floyd stole the missin' pig. Damnit, reckon I should've listened t'Jessa an' searched the land's edge by Floyd's.

"What're you doin' on my property?" The senator asked me as I stopped at the hitch post, dismountin' Eldorado.

"Ain't yours, it's Ella's property." I spat out, hitchin' up my horse's reigns to the post.

"It's both of ours, remember I married her." He didn't have to reminded me, I was there at that damned weddin' even tho I got kicked out for disreputin' the peace. As I walked up the porch steps, I heard the senator sneer, "Dumbass prick."

Snappin' my head t'look at the rich bastard I told him, "I'm not here t'visit. I gotta pick up Jessa an' tell my sister t'go take my place in the corn fields."

"Very well." Senator Billings nodded. Hitchin' a thumb ov'r his shoulder he told me, "They're inside visitin' with my wife." No shit, that's why they were here for in the first place.

I rolled my eyes at the senator 'fore walkin' by him and into the cabin. Roseanna, Jessa, and Ella all turned their 'tention to the front of the cabin as I slammed the door shut 'hind me. My stormy eyes meet Ella's cornflower blues as I simply told her, "Hi, Ella."

"It's Nova, Tolbert." Ella reminded me wit' a tight smile, her flowin' voice stiff and low.

Goddamn, she hated me ev'r since b'comin' Mrs. Brooksdale. Hell, what kinda name is that? Brooksdale. Sounds stupid t'me. Hell, and Ella's husband's Senator Billings Brooksdale. His folks must've been drunk off their asses when they named 'im.

Jessa knitted her brows, givin' me an odd look as she placed her coffee on the coffee table in front of her. "What're you doing here? I thought you were working the harvest."

"Not anymore. We gotta get to Pikeville an' talk to Perry Cline." I told Jessa, causin' her to nod and stand up from the sofa. Lookin' at my sister I added, "Roseanna, poppy wants ya takin' my place in the cornfield."

Jessa walked ov'r to my side while Roseanna just nodded at me. Puttin' down her coffee an' standin' up, my sister told Ella, "Bye, Nova. It was nice visitin' wit'cha."

"We'll visit 'gain soon before I go back to Frankfurt." Ella assured Roseanna as she made her way ov'r to me an' Jessa.

"Yer invited t'dinner tonight. Both you an' yer husband cause poppy needs legal advice." I told Ella, earnin' me an arched brow an' a nod, 'fore usherin' my sister an' my, uh-well-, Jessa out the front door.

Nova POV:

I walked out onto the front porch only to see Roseanna walkin' down the path while Tolbert was takin' off on horseback with Jessa sittin' behind him. I made my way over to the empty rocker next to my husband and sat down. "He invited us over for dinner. Says Rand'l needs legal advice."

Billings took a drag off his cigar before askin' a bit dryly, "Your legal advice or mine?"

"Both I guess." At least that's what I thought. I knew Tolbert hated Billings and was pissed at me for spurnin' him an' marryin' an older and distinguished politician. Oh well, he better get over it cause he's got himself that raven haired girl now. "He's on his way to Uncle Perry's office for somethin'." I remarked while looking between my husband and the flowers that surrounded our front porch.

"But he's bringing Jessa with him."

"She's his responsibility." I reminded Billings, nearly choking on my own words. Eh, I had such a bitter taste in my mouth when it came to Tolbert. I still can't believe the man came to my weddin' drunk an' tried to stop it too.

Billings taped some of his cigar ashes onto the wooden floorboards of the porch. "Poor thing, she's stuck with him cause he found her."

"I brought him up to her. She's convinced she can change him."

"Unless he wears a diaper, she ain't changin' that man." My husband chuckled before bringin' his cigar up to his mouth for a long puff.

I just shook my head at Billings blunt, but truthful, remark. Poor Jessa, I hope that girl can handle what she's gettin' herself into. Tolbert's not an easy man to get 'long and I think that might be somethin' Jessa'll have to learn the hard way. I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to a live with that cruel tempered bastard.

Jessa POV:

I had a suspicion that the reason we needed to see Perry Cline was to tell him about Floyd stealing the missing pig. I mean I wasn't sure when the pig trial occurred, since I didn't actually read that part in my history book, but I can't think of any other reason why Randall would send Tolbert to town to talk to the lawyer for.

"Why does Randall want us to get Perry for?" I asked, just wanting to hear the reason from Tolbert's lips.

"Floyd had poppy's pig in his cart as he walked down the road. Poppy saw it when standin' by the fence an' talkin' wit' the thievin' Hatfield."

"Oh…" I trailed off. So, I was right, the pig trial was going to be happening soon. "But if Randall wants to talk to Perry then why did you invite Nova and Senator Billings over for dinner?"

"Ella did clerk work for her uncle an' poppy 'fore she married the senator an' her husband used t'be a lawyer 'fore a becomin' a pol'tician. They can give poppy advice." Okay, now that made sense. Randall needed all the legal advice he could get about the pig trial.

"Um, how did Randall know it was the missing pig? By a marking, right?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound dumb to Tolbert, since I had no clue how the identity of the pig was uncovered. Now I wish I would've read the part in my history book about the pig trial instead of just listening to a paraphrased version of it from Allie.

"Yea, pig had poppy's notch in it's ear. He does it particular t'keep 'em from gettin' took or mixed up if lost." Looking over his shoulder at me he pointed out, "Ya seem a bit interested 'bout this. More so then any other woman'd be."

"I never knew anything bout farming until I got taken in by your family. It's interesting and new to me, that's all."

"Yer somethin' else,darlin'." Tolbert mused in his smooth timbre, his brown hat covered head shaking slightly. "Only ya'd say farmin's interestin'."

"Are you making fun of me?" I hope he wasn't.

Looking over his shoulder he smirked, "No, more like teasin' ya."

I just shook my head, suppressing a slight smile at his remark, before resting my chin on his shoulder. Tolbert placed a hand on mine, patting it softly and taking me by surprise. He never voiced up an interest in me, but when he did small gestures (like patting my head just now) he came across as being interested. Deciding to clear the air on his actions, I mustered up all of my courage and asked, "Tolbert, do you like me?"

"Darlin', if I didn't would I be 'round ya all the time?" Tolbert deflected with a rhetorical question as a way to avoid giving me a real answer.

"Tolbert, I mean-" I began to say only for him to gruffly cut me of with, "I know what ya mean, Jessa."

"Well?" I asked, letting my one-worded question hang out heavily in the air.

"Well what?" Tolbert's gruff velvet timbre echoed out into the air.

"Do you like me?" I repeated my original question.

"It ain't as easy as sayin' yes, darlin'. It's more complicated than that." Tolbert sighed, his gruffly smooth voice sounding a bit heavy and high pitched all at once.

"I don't see what' so complicated. It's a yes or no question." I told him since I didn't understand why he answered me the way he did.

"Of course, I like ya, but timin' ain't right for us t'do nothin' right now." What? Was he rejecting me even tho he liked me? Really, how could this be happening? When he only got silence as a reply, Tolbert sighed out, "I'm not the county catch an' don't want'cha wit' me outta pity cause I found ya. Cause we work t'getha ev'ryday."

"But I don't like you out of pity." I told him, a bit offended that he'd even think that. I took a deep breath before telling him, "I like you cause you're nice to me, even tho you need to get a better grip on that fly off the rails temper of yours."

"I'm gonna be workin' on my own for a bit after the harvest. Poppy's gave me some of his far sided land, where my still's at, an' I'm gonna set up a place on it." Tolbert revealed, his usual smooth gruff tone sounding a bit flat and rigid.

"So, you're moving out's what you're saying?" I asked, feeling my chest begin to well up and tighten with a sense of loss. A loss I didn't even have a right to feel. Damn my silly crush on Tolbert.

"Yea, but I'll be 'round for supper. Lord knows I can't cook, 'cept for rabbit stew." I didn't know he knew how to make stew.

"Guess I'll just see you at suppertime then."

"Yea." He simply said before going on to reminded me, "But you'll see me at church too."

"Look, Pikeville's up ahead." I pointed at the town coming into view; changing the subject off of the sad reality that Tolbert was moving out of the McCoy house.

"Yep." Popped off of Tolbert's tongue. "We'll be at Perry's office in a minute or so." He told me, spurring his horse into a faster trot towards the modest town that was only a few odd yards away.

The main dinner table (the grown-up table) was a bit more crowded than usual tonight since Perry, Brenton, Nova, and Senator Billings all came over. Everyone was eating a meal of pork, bread, green beans, and potatoes, as Randall let out a grumble of, "Perry, Floyd Hatfield stole my pig."

Perry paused in cutting up his pork and raised his brow curiously. "Your missin' one?"

"Yes, that one." Randall nodded, shoving a forkful of food into his grim lined mouth.

"Ya sure Floyd took it? He doesn't come 'cross as the thievin' type." Brenton asked before eating some vegtables.

"Of course, he took it. Who else's close 'nough to my land t'do so, Brenton?" Randall snapped at the broad brunette man, his voice oozing with sarcasm.

"I was just puttin' it out there that maybe, just maybe, you're mistook and it's not your pig he had with him." Brenton explained his prior remark. "I mean he seems like a nice guy." He shrugged, cutting up his slice of pork.

"He's a Hatfield, nothin' nice 'bout him." Tolbert blurted out, his velvet voice low and gruff, as he stabbed at some green beans furiously with his fork.

Nova rolled her eyes at Tolbert, clearly not liking his outburst about Floyd Hatfield, while her husband Senator Billings just shook his head while reaching for his coffee mug. Brenton let out a silent huff while a slick smirk crossed Perry's face as he said, "Fine point you make, Tolbert."

In between eating my slice of pork, I spoke up with my opinion of, "Floyd's land backs up into the part that Randall just gave to Tolbert to settle on so it makes sense that he took the pig when it crossed over."

"Jessa and Tolbert's right, Perry. Floyd stoled my pig cause he's same as all the other Hatfields." Randall told the lawyer in a firm tone, causing Perry to just nod in return.

Silence fell over the room for the rest of the meal, only to be broken by Sally askin', "Did everyone have 'nough t'et?", while standin' up to start cleanin' off the table.

"Oh, yes, Aunt Sally, it was just delicious." Perry told her, wiping the corner of his mouth off with a napkin and placing it onto his empty plate.

"It was good, thank you." Brenton politely told Sally, reaching for his coffee cup.

"We enjoyed supper very much." Senator Billings answered for himself and Nova, who was silently sitting with her eyes slightly drifting between her uncle and Roseanna. It struck me as odd, but whatever.

"Roseanna, Jessa, Alifair, please help me clear the dishes." Sally told us in a motherly tone as she took her and her husband's dishes over to the sink.

While Roseanna stood, grabbing her dish and Perry's, I heard Perry tell Randall, "I'm very sorry to hear about your livestock." Perry took a quick glance at Roseanna, who was going over to the kitchen counter, as I followed behind her with me and Tolbert's dishes in my hands. As I stacked my dishes ontop of the pile sitting on the counter I heard Perry's voice declare, "I must say that the situation calls for a sue."

"Over a damn pig?" Brenton exclaimed, sounding as if he'd just sucked on a sour lemon. Letting out a long sigh he asked, "Hell, can't ya just ask Floyd for some meat or some kind'a compensation instead?"

Alifair was clearing the kiddie's table while I started to pump the sink's water into the dish pan. Roseanna and Sally were collecting plates as Perry made a grand speech of, "It is useful to think of the law as a muscle. Like a muscle it can be strengthened with proper use, but used too little it becomes too feeble and weak to protect you."

"That's fine talk, Perry. You've got the gift." Randall mused, sounding awestruck as he sipped on his coffee.

"Perry, you need to come up with another openin' law speech. The muscle metaphor's a bit much." Senator Billings dryly remarked, making it seem like Perry only ever uses the muscle law speech as his opener. Well, maybe he did. Who know, who cares.

Perry rolled his eyes at his senator friend turned nephew-in-law, clearly not pleased with the remark he earned from him. Returning his attention back to Randall he offered, "I can arrange for a fair jury trial."

"Ya know Hatfield's their judge." Sally reminded the lawyer while cleaning up a large serving plate. Shaking her head before walking off she remarked, "Suing over a pig'll make us look the village idoit."

"Sally…" Randall sighed out warningly while Roseanna was starting to putting leftovers in small tins.

While Alifair was dropping the last of the children's plates and glasses off at the sink, Perry got up from his seat and made his way to Randall's side. Sitting down, causing Calvin to scoot over, the lawyer made the remark of, "The lord works in mysterious ways. This pig sue's the way to get justice for your family and their struggles at the hands of Hatfields."

"Please, don't sue over a damn pig. It'll make me look like the laughin' stock in the capitol, plus it's election season." Senator Billings pleaded, sounding like a child begging to stay up an extra hour for bedtime.

"Suin' over a pig does seem farfetched."

"Shouldn't ya be helpin' clear the table instead of nosin' in man's affairs?" Randall sarcastically asked Nova, turning his nose down at her voicing up her opinion about his legal troubles over the stolen pig.

While washing the dishes I looked over my shoulder only to see Senator Billing sit up ram rod straight while telling Randall in a low-slung snap, "Randall, we're guests in your home and as a guest my wife has the right to sit by my side and listen to your legal woes over a goddamn pig."

"Ole Rand'l, listen to me." Perry ordered his friend as a way to get his attention again. Randall turned his head to look at Perry, causing the lawyer to say, "we must go ahead with this pig sue. It's the lord's way of ensuring we get justice."

Looking up at his eldest son he asked, "Jim, what say you?"

"I say we sue." Jim said confidently as his father grabbed his coffee mug and took a sip of it.

"Well, it ain't gonna be right 'way. Judge's nephew got his eye gorged by a large splinter yesterday." Brenton revealed, confirming the accident that causes Will to morph into Cap had happened. Since I knew what happened I wasn't surprised. I just continued to help wash the dishes, even tho the women around me all had looks of dread or shock on their faces.

Perry narrowed his eyes at his brother-in-law while asking, "What? How do you know this?"

"I saw Devil Anse bring his boy into Doc's when I was there pickin' up some mint tea for my daughter." Brenton revealed, sipping on his coffee. "And that boy didn't look too good, blood oozin' from the eye; he was shakin' worse than a leaf on a tree." Eww, did he have to go into the gory details? Nobody wants to hear about that. Yuck.

Oh no, if it was that bad, I wonder how Allie dealt with it since she's with Cap. She had to have seen the eye in all it's gory glory. I felt bad for Allie, not Cap. My ex-best friend shouldn't be hurting over that one-eyed Hatfield. If only she would've left the Hatfields, but of course she didn't.

I couldn't think about her tho, I had after dinner chores to do. I just handed the wet dish over to Sally before grabbing another dirty one to wash, immerging myself into my work as a way to ignore my thoughts on my ex-best friend.

"Then I suppose it'll be at least a month before Judge Hatfield hears our case." Perry pointed out in a deflated tone, his shoulders slumping slightly in disappointment.

Well, looks like the pig trial won't be right away after all.

AN:

Hope I did Nova and Senator Billings justice as a couple. I've only ever written her with Tolbert or Cap so writing her with somebody else (an OC too) was new, but also a bit fun. So, any thoughts on Tolbert moving onto the land Randall gave him and trying to slightly distance himself from Jessa?