*Author's Note*

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

Thanksgiving, 1880 Pt.2

San Francisco, CA

Olga POV:

The train had finally made it t'San Francisco, much t'my relief. After gettin' off the train, Asa had gotten us a cab. He insisted on escortin' me t'Jenny an' Amsterdam's, which I thought was very nice o'him t'do. The ride to the address I had for Jenny an' Amsterdam was quiet, but I didn't mind. The silence felt peaceful. It felt nice t'have somebody just bein' by me an' not bitchin' 'bout my faults; puttin' me down.

Once we reached the saloon, Gold River, Asa helped me out o'the cab. "Do you want me to walk you inside, make sure they're inside?" He asked while grabbin' my bags from the back o'the cab.

"No, I'm a'ight on my own." I declined his offer while takin' my bags from 'im.

Asa nodded his top-hat covered head 'fore tellin' me, "Well, I'll be by to call on you once I'm settled in."

"Okay." I nodded wit' a smile 'fore headin' to Gold River's door. As I reached the door, I heard the cab ride off. I'm sure that I'll see Asa soon, he seems t'like me well 'nough.

After enterin' the saloon I immediately spotted Amsterdam. He was cleanin' glasses behind the bar, his brown hair pulled half-back wit' a leather cord in its signature style. A smile crossed my face as I made my way ov'r t'him. "Hi, Amsterdam." I greeted my da-like figure as I reached the bar.

He looked up from the glass in his hand only t'smile, "Christ Almighty, I weren't expectin' ya t'come 'ere." Placin' the glass on the bartop, he told me, "It's so good t'see ya." Lookin' ov'r his shoulder to the kitchen, he called out, "Jenny, get in 'ere! Olga an' the baby's 'ere!"

In a flash Jenny ran outta the kitchen. She had her bright red hair piled up in a messy bun on top o'her head wit' an apron tied 'round her waist. Upon seein' me she rushed ov'r t'my side an' pulled me into a hug. "It's so good o'ya t'come 'ere." She looked 'round the room slightly 'fore askin' me, "Well, where's yer man at? He 'ere or ya just visitin' on yer lonesome?"

"I left 'im back in West Virginia. It weren't workin' out 'tween us." I honestly answered the woman that took me on when my ma died; in a way became a ma t'me.

"Well, yer 'ere now an' there's a room upstairs ya can have." She told me while givin' me a hug.

"Ya gotta pull yer weight 'round 'ere an' work some." Amsterdamn told me, lettin' me know that the set up would be no dif'rent then in New York.

Meanwhile Back In Mate Creek, WV…

Roseanna POV:

I was helpin' Jessa peel potatoes when Johnse walked into the kitchen. Comin' up to my side, he looked 'tween me and Jessa while askin', "Jessa, you mind if I have a moment with Roseanna?"

"No, I don't mind." Jessa simply told him while swiftly peelin' the potato in her hand.

Johnse took the half-peeled tater outta my hand 'long with my parrin' knife and set them on the table. Takin' my hand, he helped me up from the table while tellin' me, "Let's take a quick walk."

"Okay." I nodded with a small smile.

"Don't knock her up, Johns!" Jim Vance loudly cackled as Johnse led me to the back door.

"Jim…" Sully loudly hissed. "Don't be crude." He ordered the large an' mean man that was slumped in a sittin' chair wit' his mangy dog by his feet.

"Uncle Jim, hush or my girl's gonna toss ya out on your ass." I heard Shaw tell Jim Vance as Johnse opened the backdoor an' ushered me outside.

"I know Uncle Jim's been harpin' on ya, but I don't want ya bein' sad over it." Johnse told me as we walked 'way from the house. "I love you; my uncle's mean words ain't changin' that either."

"I know, but it hurts that he hates me so much when he don't even know me all cause my name's McCoy." I honestly told him, lookin' straight 'head so he wouldn't notice the tears that had begun to brim 'round my eyes.

"In time he'll leave ya be. I promise." I nodded, even tho I was chewin' my lip an' didn't fully believe a word he said. How could Jim Vance leave me be when he hated me? What if he got t'Johnse an' convinced him to be done wit' me? As if Johnse knew what I was thinkin', he cupped my cheek and told me, "Don't worry, my beautiful sweet darlin', I ain't gonna be gettin' bored of ya or sendin' ya away." A soft look appeared on his face as he swore "I promise I'm gonna make you my wife, even if I have to go up 'gainst my family to do it."

Jessa POV:

Everyone was gathered around the table for dinner. The turkey sat on a platter in the middle of the table, as the centerpiece. Shaw had carved about half of it, leaving the sliced meat on the platter so everyone could pick what they wanted. Everyone passed food around; making up their plates while engaging in conversation. It was a very different experience from how the McCoys did Thanksgiving dinner since they were quieter and more reserved (they also said grace too).

Looking right at me, Jim Vance plopped a spoonful of sweet potato casserole into his mouth and remarked, "Unlike that crazy Yankee bitch, ya can cook."

"Thank you, Jim." I replied to his blunt and outrageous compliment. Hey, he liked my cooking and that's all that matters at the moment.

"Jim…" Sully warned in a low sigh while cutting his blue eyes at his crochety uncle. "Let's not ruin dinner by bringing her up. She did kidnap my granddaughter."

"Actually, yesterday I remembered something that'll help me get my daughter back." Shaw revealed, looking at everyone, before eating a large scoop of mashed potatoes.

"What's that?" Johnse asked in between eating some turkey while Roseanna, who was next to him, had a curious, but hopeful look on her heart shaped face.

"Olga got a letter from her own a couple months back; it was from San Francisco." Shaw told Johnse, just like he told me last night.

"So, you're gonna galivant 'cross the country to San Francisco t'get your girl back?" Jim Vance asked around a mouthful of food, crumbs falling from his lips and onto his straggly tobacco stained beard.

"No." Shaw shook his head, spearing some gravy covered turkey with his fork. "I can't since I gotta work and have a family to take care of." He explained before eating his forkful of turkey. "I gotta go hire a Pinkerton tomorrow to track them down and bring Lydia home."

"That's a detective, right?" Todd asked before shoving a forkful of green bean casserole into his mouth.

"Yea." Shaw nodded, reaching to grab his glass from the table.

"No, a Pinkerton's more ruthless then just a typical detective." Sully piped up, a flat look on his face, as he picked up his coffee mug.

After taking a long sip off his glass, Shaw told Sully, "Dad, a Pinkerton's the only one that can do the job I need done."

"I don't know if I like the idea of gettin' a Pinkerton involved. They can be ruthless." Sully sighed, placing his coffee mug back on the table before shoving a forkful of cornbread stuffing into his mouth.

"If it means gettin' my great-great-niece back then I say he needs t'hire the ruthless Pinkerton." Jim Vance spoke up around a mouthful of food. "We can't have a stupid crazy bitch keepin' one of our own kidnapped from us forever." He firmly remarked, tossing a slice of turkey to his dog, Mr. Howles, that was under the table before shoving some more turkey into his mouth.

Thanksgiving dinner with Shaw and our family was loud, chaotic, and the total opposite of any dinner I've had at the McCoys. Somehow, the loud chaos felt natural in a way.

Allie POV:

After hours upon hours of cooking, dinner was ready. Everyone was crowded around the table, eating the food us women cooked. Sad to say, but the dinner felt more carefree and breathable with the absence of Shaw. People could talk without worrying about him making a negative comment. I just feel a bit bad that Jessa's stuck with him. I can only imagine how shitty her holiday dinner is.

"Me an' Jessa's got some good news to share." Cap spoke up after taking a sip from his shine glass.

"What's that, son?" Devil Anse asked, looking up from his loaded plate only to lock his eyes on both me and my husband.

"Allie's expectin' come spring." Cap announced with a proud smile on his face.

"Congratulations, we're happy for ya'll." Levicy told us with a smile as she patted her husband's hand, gesturing that her and Anse were excited to have another grandbaby.

"Well, it didn't take long to make me an uncle again." Abel chuckled with a smirk on his face as he picked at his plate.

"Cap and Allie's havin' 'nother baby?" Cotton asked with a huge smile on his face as he finally realized what was going on.

"Yes, son, they're havin' another baby." Ellison nodded to his son with a soft smile before eating a forkful of turkey.

A big bright smile lit up Cotton's face as he quickly babbled out the announcement of, "I'm gonna be the new baby's friend just like I'm Captain W's friend."

"Looks like me and Vera needa try harder for another baby. Can't have you havin' two an' us just havin' one." Skunk Hair told Cap between eating his meal, causing everyone to chuckle and smile.

"We don't need to try harder." Vera piped up, causing everyone to look at her. My friend swallowed a lump in her throat before announcing, "I'm a couple weeks late so most likely I'm expectin' too."

"Oh my god, we're gonna be pregnant together." I gasped in excitement, happy that my friend was going to be having another baby too.

Everyone congratulated Skunk Hair and Vera, genuinely happy about their news.

Tolbert POV:

I was sittin' at the crowded table for Thanksgivin' dinner even tho I didn't wanna be. I weren't hungry even tho 'nough food t'fed an army was piled up on the table. I didn't wanna be 'round my family, who I'd been avoidin' all day by drinkin' out in the barn wit' my huntin' hound (who took off t'my folks' while I've been holed up in my still the last few days). Hell, my dog don't seem t'want me no mores either. Just my luck, huh?

"Tolbert, sweetheart, ya needa et somethin'." Mama told me, her eyes flitterin' 'tween my empty plate an' the flask in my hand.

"I ain't hungry, ma." I gruffly told her since food was the last thing on my mind. I was heartsick an' needed t'drink t'make myself feel somewhat better.

"At least nibble some on a biscuit." She softly suggested in her motherly tone, ploppin' a large biscuit on my plate.

I just rolled my eyes at the biscuit, shook my head, an' tipped back my flask. As the likker smoothly went down my throat, my cousin Nancy snipped, "Starvin' yourself ain't bringin' that hussy back, Tolbert."

I cut my stormy eye at my cousin and ordered in a loud bitin' bark, "Don't call her that, Nance."

"Why not? It's the truth, she's a hussy since she done ran off wit' Shaw." Nancy said with disgust in her sugary tone 'fore ettin' some turkey.

I took a long swig of my shine 'fore defendin' my estranged wife's actions wit', "She only did that cause he's rich. She was worried 'bout Silas growin' up livin' hand t'mouth."

"Oh, I thought her leavin' had t'do wit' him bein' the boy's poppy." Squirrel remarked as he ate his turkey dinner.

Great, just what I didn't want my entire family t'know. Goddamnit, I told ev'body I was wit' on election day to fuckin' forget the remark Shaw made 'bout Silas bein' his. Looks like they don't listen, 'specially Squirrel.

I narrowed my stormy eyes at my squirrel fur covered cousin an' barked, "Shut up, Squirrel."

"What? Silas ain't Tolbert's, but's Shaw's?" Poppy asked, pausin' in ettin' his holiday dinner. Aw, shit… Shakin' his head, he angrily spat, "That girl tricked ya an' our family, Tolbert. Two-timin' ya wit' our sworn enemy." Lookin' me right in the eyes, he ordered, "Don't brood ov'r her, she ain't worth it."

"She didn't two-time me, poppy. I offered t'marry her an' raise the baby as my own when she turned up pregnant after breakin' it off wit' the Vance Bastard." I revealed 'tween drainin' my flask since I wanted poppy an' my entire family t'know that I weren't two-timed. I made the choice t'raise Silas wit' Jessa, it didn't get forced on me.

I could feel everyone's eyes borin' into me as they stared in either disgust or shock. Hell, even the lil ones were starin' at me as they et. It made me feel uneasy.

"Ya should've left her off 'cross the tug, not taken her in." Poppy told me, pissin' me off. How dare he say that? "Explains now why the marriage was nev'r legal."

"Why's that, poppy? Hmm?" I asked, my face hard as I stared him down.

"Her an' that Vance were in cahoots t'bring down our family from wit'in. She couldn't risk bein' legal bound t'ya." Snarled poppy as he angrily cut his turkey into smaller pieces.

"Yer bein' so goddamn dumb right now, poppy." I seethed 'fore standin' up. "I ain't gonna sit 'ere an' listen to all this bullshit. I'm heartbroken, but seems nobody understands that." I told my family, my gruff timbre loud an' crackin', 'fore stormin' out the backdoor. I was goin' back t'my still.

Jessa POV:

After dinner all the men went out on the porch to smoke and talk while me and Roseanna cleaned up the kitchen. Todd and Mary were in the main room with Silas, playing with him. I smiled at the sight of Todd as he stood my son up, trying to get the boy to take a few steps. I noticed that Roseanna paused in washing the bowl in her hands only to look softly at Silas. Quickly, I realized that her maternal instincts were kicking in and her longing for a child was forming.

"Don't worry, Roseanna, one day you'll be married to Johnse and you'll have a baby too." I assured my friend, pausing in drying a platter; nudging her with my elbow and flashing her a warm encouraging smile.

"I'm scared that as of right now our chil'ren'll be born on the wrong side o'the bed an' nobody'll accept 'em." Roseanna confessed, lookin' down at her hands as she went back to washing the serving bowl she was holding.

"Don't worry, that won't happen." I more or less told my friend that her future children (unlike my son and my daughter *well step-daughter, but I was going to treat her just like she was my own*) wouldn't be born bastards. Johnse was dead set on marrying her and with Shaw in his corner giving him courage I knew without a doubt that he'd be marrying Roseanna (unlike what I read about in my history book).

Roseanna nodded her head, handing me over the bowl she just washed. While grabbing another dirty platter to wash, she asked, "Does it bother you that Silas was born on the wrong side of the bed cause my poppy wouldn't let ya be wit' Shaw once his bloodline was revealed?"

"No, not really." I shook my head as the fair blonde began to wash the dirty platter. I let out a heavy sigh before honestly telling Roseanna, "I made a choice to take Tolbert up on a deal to hide the fact that I was pregnant out of wedlock. I could've gone to Shaw, but I didn't, so Silas being born on the wrong side of the bed's on me."

"It's not on you, Jessa. It's on poppy." Roseanna assured me, passing the wet platter over to me. As I took it, she went on to say, "He told ya he'd kick you out if ya went wit' Shaw after the funeral. Ya didn't wanna lose us since ya already lost family."

"In hindsight I should've just went with Shaw. It would've prevented so much heartbreak." I sighed, placing the dry platter in the cabinet while Roseanna washed another dish.

"You're with him now and his poppy likes you. Even Jim Vance seems to like you." The soft-spoken blonde pointed out, a soft line of a warm smile on her face. "If only Johnse's poppy would relent." She sighed, a long look on her face, as she handed me a dish to dry.

"In time he'll come around." I told Roseanna while drying the blue-bone china dish. After drying the dish, I placed it in the cabinet while informing my friend, "I mean after you and Johnse get married he'll have no choice, but to warm up to you."

"You really think he'll marry me?" Roseanna asked, taking me aback, while handing me a dish to dry.

"Yes, I know he'll marry you." I told her, drying the dish as she washed another one. "And since Shaw's helping him put the finishing touches on your cabin, it'll be soon too."

"I'm grateful that you and Shaw are so supportive of me and Johnse. I don't know what I'd do if nobody stood by us." Roseanna honestly told me, handing me another dish to dry.

Before I could say a word to her the door creaked open, followed by the sounds of boots echoing against the floor. "Roseanna, I'd like to talk to Jessa for a moment." Sully's voice sounded out in the still air as he made his way into the kitchen. "Perhaps you can spend some time with Johnse; rescue him from Jim's blunt remarks."

Roseanna's blue eyes darted between me and Sully before she nodded and simply said, "Okay.", before leaving my side.

I didn't say a word as Sully walked over to me, instead I just washed a glass. Sully leaned against the sink once he reached my side. Clearing his throat, he told me, "Shaw hasn't been happy in a while, but he's happy now that you and Silas are here with him."

"I'm happy we're here too, Sully." I told my former teacher turned soon-to-be father-in-law as I dried a glass and placed it inside of the cabinet.

"I'd hope so considering you're engaged to my son." Sully deadpanned, folding his arms over his chest as he continued to lean against the sink. "You know, you're not just making a commitment to my son, but to his daughter too since he's a devoted single father."

"Don't worry, Sully, I've already talked to Shaw about us getting Lydia back. I'm going to be her mother and I'm fine with that." I assured the man next to me while I washed and dried a glass before putting it away.

Sully nodded before telling me, "Make sure this is what you really want, Jessa, cause my son's heart won't survive another heartbreak if you decide to leave and reconcile with Tolbert."

"I promise, I want to be with Shaw and I won't leave him." I told my old teacher, even tho it was a half-truth. I was with Shaw for our son, Silas; so that he could have parents that truly loved him, but I wasn't exactly with him cause I was in love with in. Deep down somewhere in my heart I did love him, but it wasn't a strong love since I've been with Tolbert for the last 23-months. Truthfully, I'd never return to Tolbert cause he can't handle being a father without grudges and stipulations.

"Shaw's got a lot of his Uncle Jim in him so be prepared to deal with a few pissy tantrums or sly remarks here and there."

"After living with both my mother and Tolbert I'm sure that any fit Shaw has will be a cakewalk."

"So, your mother was a bit mentally unstable?" Sully asked me as I placed the last glass into the cabinet.

"Yes, she's a bipolar with manic depression." I answered while pulling the plug out of the sink.

"Well, that explains why you put up with Tolbert for so long. You were trying to fix him; play shrink with his head." Sully concluded as the water went down the drain (that led right outside of the kitchen window) in a large whirlpool type motion. "Lucky for you, my son doesn't need you to fix him."

"I know." I simply said as I went over to the table so I could sit down and get off my feet for a bit.

Sully followed me over to the table. I was sitting, but he just stood by me while pointing to the diamond ring on my finger and telling me "That ring belonged to my mother. I gave it to Shaw the night his mom died since I had no use for it, but knew he did." He patted my hand and weakly smiled, "I'm glad he was able to give it to you, break the cycle and prevent himself from becoming me and his son from becoming him.", before walking off to go join the men back outside on the porch.

Abel POV:

I managed to leave the Hatfields' holiday dinner early without any problems. Turns out my lie of 'I need to leave cause I've got a bad migraine' worked. The entire ride to Randall McCoy's was nerve wracking. I didn't really want to eat pie with the man, but was going to only cause my girl wanted me to meet her family (minus Jefferson and Sarah Wolford since I already knew them). I was worried that Randall would shoot me on sight since my sister was married to Devil Anse's son. Yea…I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Torn between my sister's in-laws and my girlfriend's kin. I can only imagine the problems that'll bring me in the future with this feud and all.

When I rode up to the McCoy farm, I discovered that the house was a modest log cabin, one that looked nice enough. A large barn was near the house too which was good, meant the people had livestock to survive with. The area in front of the house was crowded with wagons and horses, meaning that the entire family was there. Great…

I dismounted my horse, hitched him to the porch post, and walked on up the porch steps and over to the front door. I took a deep breath and knocked. This was it, no goin' back now. I was meeting my girlfriends overly religious, drunk, and extreme grudge holding family. Oh man, what did I get myself into?...

"Abel Freeland, I presume?" Randall asked, standing in the doorway after answering said door.

"Yea, that's me." I nodded. "And you're Randall McCoy, Nancy's uncle." I told the McCoy patriarch, letting him know that I knew who he was too.

I went to go inside, but Randall blocked me. Pointing to the rockers to the right of the door, he told me, "Sit down, I wanna talk to ya."

"Yes, Sir." I nodded before going over to the rocker and sitting in it.

Quietly, Randall joined me by sitting in the rocker next to me. He took a flask out of his pocket while giving me an appraising look. Great, looks like I'm not getting a slice of pie anytime soon, but a grill sesh with Nance's uncle. Randall uncorked his bottle and took a swig off it before asking, "Yer Hatfield kin, why're ya with my niece for?"

"Cause I love her." I answered Randall, giving him a serious and truthful look.

"But yer sister's married t'Cap Hatfield and ya work for Devil Anse." Countered Randall as he took another swig of his flask, giving me a hard stare with his eyes.

I tilted my head at him and furrowed my brows. He didn't need to throw up my brother-in-law and my boss to me, I knew that aspect of my life and didn't need reminded of it. "Yea, I know, but that don't change the fact that when I first met Nancy, I was lovestruck. I helped her track down a drunk Jefferson, offered her my friendship, and everything grew from there." I informed the patriarch next to me while staring at the trees that surrounded his cabin.

Randall took a long sip from his flask before telling me in a hardened tone, "Considerin' what Jessa George an' Shaw Eldridge pulled on my boy; I can't afford t'be wrong 'bout ya an' yer intentions towards my family."

Looking between Randall and the trees, I made the honest remark of, "I remember Jessa as a girl from when she was friends with my sister before I joined the army years ago and she was always sweet. Shaw, now that's one crazy dude I can't stand. He corrupted Jessa's sweetness with his manipulations."

One of his brows arched up as he asked, "So, ya admit that Shaw's crazy?"

"Yea." I nodded before quickly adding' in, "Even a blind man can see that Shaw's about as insane as Jim Vance." I shook as I admitted, "God, that man scares me and I don't scare that easily since I was a soldier and saw some fucked up shit." Looking at the McCoy patriarch I sighed, "Shaw and Jim Vance are always joking about killing Tolbert and one day I think the jokes are going to turn into a goddamn murder."

"And you don't want my son killed?" Randall asked even tho with how firm his tone was it sounded more or less like a statement.

"No, he might be a hot-headed drunk, but he's Nancy's cousin and him getting hurt or killed will upset her."

"Yer sayin' all the right things, but are ya doin' it cause it's what I wanna hear or is it cause ya mean it?"

"I mean it, Sir." I honestly answered the man that I knew was both dangerous and righteous.

Pointing his flask at me, he said in a stern tone, "If ya truly want t'be wit' Nancy then ya must denounce the Hatfields an' yer sister t'be a Hatfield defiler."

"But I got a nephew and my sister's pregnant again." I protested, trying to make him see that cutting my sister completely out of my life was unreasonable.

"I won't have no active Hatfield kin comin' 'round mine." Randall declared, sipping on his flask. "Ya want Nancy, then ya leave yer sister's family t'join mine otherwise yer not gonna be wit' her." Randall corked his flask and placed it into his pocket. Standing up, he told me "Lets go inside; have some pie."

"Okay." I nodded, standing up and following Randall into his house for pie (the reason I was even at his cabin for in the first place). Dear god, I survived a grill sesh from Randall. Hopefully all the other McCoy men'll go easy on me, especially since Jefferson might've put a good word in for me (since he liked me and all).

When my eyes met Nancy's as soon as I walked over the cabin's threshold, I knew in the moment that I was goin' to chose her over my sister. Allie had her life, but I couldn't let it control mine. I loved Nancy; couldn't lose her. It was time for me to start my own family with Nancy even tho that meant breaking ties with Allie.

AN:

Hope you guys enjoyed this. Olga's officially in San Francisco now and Shaw's for sure hiring the Pinkerton. So, both Allie and Vera are pregnant, how exciting. Poor Tolbert… What do you think about Jessa's talks with Roseanna and Sully? Abel, he's in so deep with Nancy that he's going to pick her over Allie and the Hatfields. Yikes!

Next up is Shaw's meeting with Bad Frank along with some other things.