*Author's Note*

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Heard From That Pinkerton?

Devil Anse POV:

When Uncle Jim pulled me aside yesterday to talk to me about Abel seein' Nancy McCoy, Harmon McCoy's daughter, I was stunned. First thing I asked was if he was sure and of course he said he was, even said he heard the news from Shaw a few moments earlier. Also said that Shaw already confronted Allie an' Cap bout it, but that they just got insulted an' brushed him off. Hmm, now I'm startin' t'see why my son an' his wife's got a rift goin' on wit' their cousin.

I told Uncle Jim that nothin' was to be said 'bout it; that I'd have a word wit' Abel, but I wanted it kept mum cause of Allie's delicate condition. Didn't need no shockin' news causin' my daughter t'misscarry my second grandbaby. Jim told me he figured I'd say that an' then took off to go grab some shine.

Hell, watchin' Abel drag felled trees ov'r to the saw, I just couldn't fathom why he'd strike up a romance wit' Nancy McCoy of all people. Shakin' my head, I decided that I was gonna have a quick word wit' him 'fore lunch break so that nobody'd be able t'pay attention to us or overhear what we were talkin' 'bout.

"Abel, come 'ere for a minute!" I called out to my employee (who was also an extended member o'my family) while takin' my pipe outta my mouth an' pointin' it at me.

"Sure thing, boss." Abel nodded 'fore leavin' the area where the cut logs were at. As he trudged his way ov'r to me Selkirk took his place in draggin' trees over to the saw for cuttin'. Ah, now Selkirk was the only McCoy I liked, but that's only cause the man's honest an' married t'my niece. "What's up, Anse?" Abel asked, comin' to a stop right in front of me.

"I heard somethin' unsettlin' 'bout you from Uncle Jim." I told the young man, placin' my pipe in the corner of my mouth an' walkin' in a slow pace. "That you're wit' Miss Nancy McCoy." I pressed on as he fell into step next t'me.

"Let me guess, Jim heard it from Shaw." Abel stated, not asked, as he fought hard t'keep a straight face. He was losin' that battle since he was lookin' like he'd seen a ghost.

"Yes." I nodded, looking at him inquisitively; waitin' for him to try and explain himself.

"Shaw had a fallin' out with Cap and Allie over him stealing Jessa from Tolbert, so he's prolly just talking shit to stir up the family." Quickly fell off of Abel's tongue in a long-jumbled mess of words that ran into each other. Upon seein' my unimpressed look, he took a breath and had the nerve to tell me, "I wouldn't dwell on it, Anse."

"Shaw's a lot like Jim, he wouldn't be sayin' you're shacked up wit' a McCoy if it ain't true. He hates McCoys, but wouldn't lie 'bout one just to get underneath a family member's skin." I firmly told my employee, who was also in a way like a son to me since he's sister was my daughter-in-law.

A dark look crossed over Abel's rough face as he told me wit' a bite, "What I do in my house and who I do it with is nobody's business, but mine."

"I don't like the idea of you with Nancy. She's been accusin' my uncle of killin' her pap for years and bein' with you's just a means to an end for her." I informed Abel, causin' him to roll his eyes at me. Pointin' my pipe at him, I firmly ordered, "Either end it or find a new job."

"What?"

"I can't have problems arrisin' from whatever you've got goin' on with Miss Nancy. Your sister's expectin' 'gain, she needs peace not chaos at this time."

"No problems are going to arise, Anse. Hell, there's only a problem cause Shaw opened up his big mouth to Jim, most likely when he was drunk too."

"You ain't bringin' that McCoy 'round. Things said 'mongst us ain't meant for McCoy ears." I told him since I got the feelin' that he wasn't goin' to listen, but was goin' to continue carryin' on with Harmon's daughter.

"But Johnse brings Roseanna 'round. Hell, he just married her yesterday." Abel threw up in my face, most likely as a way to soften me. Too bad it ain't workin'.

"Roseanna, unlike Nancy's not a danger. She's a sweetheart, wouldn't hurt a fly." I told Abel, lettin' him know that Roseanna was welcomed in the house, but not his woman. Hell, my wife would have my head if I banned Johnse from bringin' his new wife too the house especially after she made us attend the weddin' and throw a reception yesterday.

"So, do I got a job tomorrow or not?"

"For now, you're still employed, but for how long I can't say."

Abel just nodded 'fore turnin' his back to me and goin' back over to the log pile to resume his work.

Jessa POV:

"How's your first week and a half of marriage going?" I asked Roseanna as we sat at the small table in the kitchen area of the one room cabin, she and Johnse called home.

A large smile pread over my friend's face as she gave me the answer of, "Oh, it's goin' great. I just love bein' married t'Johnse."

"That's good to hear. I'm happy that everything's going good." I genuinely smiled, sipping on my coffee.

"Has Shaw heard from that Pinkerton he hired?" Roseanna asked, sounding a bit apprehensive as she reached for her coffee cup.

Setting my coffee down and taking a cookie from the plate between us, I answered my sweet cousin-in-law with, "No, he hasn't gotten any Western Union's from the Pinkerton, but he thinks that the man must be arriving in San Francisco soon."

Roseanna just nodded, sipping on her cup of coffee. "I pray that the Pinkerton can find Lydia. She's such a sweet baby; should be wit' you an' her poppy not that bitter woman." She told me, placing her cup down on the table.

Hearing my sweet cousin-in-law (who was once my common law sister-in-law) call somebody bitter was shocking. Roseanna never talks bad about anybody, so Olga must've given off a bad impression for her to call her bitter.

"I only know what Shaw told me about her, but from what I do know she wasn't mentally stable enough to take care of the baby." I honestly told the fair haired girl I was having afternoon coffee with as I nibbled on a sugar cookie.

"She wasn't just mentally unstable, Jessa. She was bitter that Shaw loved ya; not her." Roseanna told me while grabbing a cookie from the platter.

"I'm not surprised since he told me she seduced him when he was torn up over me."

"She wanted 'im real bad." Roseanna told me after taking a bite out of her cookie. I just nodded, causing my dear friend to expand her previous remark with the details of, "Always gave me nasty looks or cold shouldered me cause of our close friendship. She also felt that I was betrayin' my brother for thinkin' that ya'd be happier wit' Shaw than Tolbert."

Grabbing another cookie, I revealed, "She was borin' a hole in my head at the election day festival. It was unsettlin'."

"Y'know that Levicy told t'go back to her own, but by herself, since she was an ill fit for the family. Told her that it'd be best for ev'one involved; that Shaw'd be fine raisin' the baby on his own since he was such a devoted poppy." Roseanna told me in a hush hush and scandalized type tone as I scarfed down my cookie. Holy shit, these sugar cookies taste really good.

"Seems she only half listened and took Lydia to spite Shaw; to hurt him." I concluded, snatching up another sugar cookie since I had a sudden craving for them.

"Johnse told me that Shaw said she never left her bed for 3-whole-months after the baby was born. Only left when he threatened to fire her an' throw her out since Todd an' Mary were helpin' 'em wit' the baby an' house chores."

"Yea, he told me something along those lines." I nodded, grabbing my coffee since I needed to wash down the three cookies I scarfed down. "At least that chapter's almost done. Once Lydia's back home safe and sound we won't ever have to think about her again." I told Roseanna between sipping on my coffee.

"Oh yes, thank goodness."

Setting my almost empty cup on the table, causing a slight clink to echo out into the one-room cabin, I gratefully and honestly told the fair and sweet girl, "Roseanna, thank you for bein' such a good an' understandin' friend. Most would want their friend to stay with their brother, not support them in leaving him and taking up with an ex-boyfriend."

"Shaw's not just an ex-boyfriend, Jessa. He's the father o'yer son an' yer true love." Roseanna told me with an unwavering tone to her sweet bell-like voice. "I just want ya t'be happy like me an' Johnse are, but ya can only have that wit' Shaw. Not Tolbert, he's too moody an' mean." The blonde added in, grabbing her cup and taking a sip of it.

Cap POV:

Today was like any other day at work, I was patrolin' the loggin' camp wit' Uncle Jim. I preferred patrolin' over fallin' trees or mannin' the saw, less strain. I was the best shot on both sides o'the Tug so I think that's why pa always put me on patrol with my uncle, but I weren't complainin'.

We were walkin' 'round, rifles slung over our shoulders, whenever Shaw's wagon pulled into the camp. Oh lord, seems he's here t'bum wood from pa. Bastard's always usin' the family discount to get free or half-priced wood for all the shit he's makin'. Few days 'go he needed wood for a high-chair. Wonder what he needs wood for now.

Uncle Jim waved at Shaw, who just waved back at him 'fore walkin' to where my pa was at by a saw. "You ever gonna make nice wit' your cousin, Cap?" Uncle Jim asked me, no doubt due to the hard look on my face.

"Nope." I popped my tongue 'fore addin' in a quick scoff, "Can't stand the bastard."

One of my uncle's brows arched up curiously. "Why not? He seems good t'me."

"Jim, he ain't a good person. He's heartless."

"Nah, son, he's got a heart. Just doesn't wear it on his sleeve like ya do."

"I don't wear my heart on my sleeve." I denied since I honestly thought that I was good at hidin' my feelin's.

"You're good at keepin' yourself in check, but ya need t'work on hardenin' yourself." Uncle Jim told me with the tilt of his head, his blue eyes holding a perceptiveness in 'em.

"Uncle Jim-" I began only to get cut off by my uncle's rough words of, "You've never experienced heartbreak, hurt, war, or pain so you're still untouched in a way. With this feud ya need'a harden your heart more then it is cause with how 'em McCoys are I reckon when we least expect it all hell's gonna break lose."

"McCoys are only gonna unleash hell on us cause Shaw dumbly stole Jessa from Tolbert last month."

"Boy, he didn't steal her. She went to him willingly after bein' trapped under the McCoys' thumb for so long outta fear. Just talk to her; you'll see she's a good match for your cousin."

"I don't got nothin' 'gainst her." I honestly told my uncle, causin' him to let out a loud sarcastic snort of a scoff. I rolled my mismatched eyes at Jim 'fore pressin' on with a lengthy, but bluntly honest clarification of, "Hell, Jim, she used to be my wife's best friend when they were lil, but I don't think that her bein' with Shaw's what's best. I'm sure she's nice, but she's gonna bring the wrath of the McCoys on us. Much like how Johnse and Roseanna's bulshit marriage is gonna do too, might I add."

"Remember, son, it's the McCoys we hate not each other. Don't matter if they annoy ya or not, we stick by our kin."

"Mhm, I hear ya, Uncle Jim." I told him even tho his words went in one ear and out the other.

Bad Frank Phillips POV:

After askin' 'round on the Vallons I learnt that they owned a saloon/whore house in the Barbary Coast called Gold River. Stupid name for a saloon if ya ask me. I made my way over to the place, which looked like most saloons did. It was a large buidlin' with whores hangin' off the balcony in an attempt to lure customers. Some of the whores looked washed up while some looked pretty 'nough, but I weren't here for a romp tho. I was here on a job, a high priced one too.

I walked up to the double doors of the saloon and pushed 'em open. Smoke filled up the air 'long with the loud sound of a whore singin' the song Spanish Lady. As I walked into the room, I saw that it was full for noon on a weekday. Hell, I miss the ways of the west. Makes me reminisce 'bout my wild youth runnin' with the James Brothers' Gang.

I walked thru the crowd til I reached the bar. I knew that the man 'hind it cleanin' glasses was Amsterdam since I learnt from somebody on the streets that the Irishman manned his own bar. "What can I get'cha?" The man, who had his long brown hair pulled half back from his face, asked me as I leaned an elbow on his bar top.

Getting' right to the point, I told the hard-lookin' barkeep, "I'm a Pinkerton out of the Lousiville, Kentucky office and I'm workin' a kidnappin' case. I've got it on good authority that you're housin' the kidnapped girl 'long with her kidnapper, Olga Becker."

"Don't know nothin' 'bout no kidnappin'." He quickly told me, lookin' down at the glass in his hand instead of into my brown eyes. Tell tale sign he's lyin'.

Leanin' over an' getting' into his face, I told him, "I'm 'fraid you do; I don't like bein' lied to."

"Amsterdam, what's goin' on?" A woman with a messy bright red bun on her head, who must've been Jenny, asked as she walked out o'the kitchen and up to Amsterdam's side.

'Fore the barkeep had a chance to tell his woman anything, I piped up with, "I'm lookin' for Olga Becker. She kidnapped my client's daughter and I know that ya'll know where she is since she's your kin."

Jenny held her chin up, tellin' me in a quick brogue, "We don't know where she is nor nothin' 'bout no kidnappin'."

Oh, now comes the threats. Seems in my line o'work I'm always threatenin' to jail people for interferin' in my legal cases. With an unyielding look, I told Amsterdam, "Now, it isn't wise to lie to a Pinkerton man on a custody case. Can be bad for ya. Ya can get jailed an' lose your saloon that you worked hard for all for aidin' and abettin' in a kidnappin'." Lookin' at the woman with wild red hair, I added in, "Your woman'll get locked up too since she knows whatever you do."

"Amsterdamn, we don't got no political protection 'ere like we had in New York. If he makes good on his threat an' we get jailed noone'll be able t'look after an' take care o'the girls. They'll be left out on their own or at the mercy o'pimps." I heard the woman frantically hiss high pitched at her man. Good, least she's seein' reason.

"Jenny, you're not sayin'?..." Amsterdam asked even tho he most likely knew what Jenny was suggestin'.

"We got no other choice, Amsterdam." Jenny firmly sighed, soundin' a bit conflicted.

Amsterdam left out a heavy sigh and ran a hand thru his greasy long hair. His chest heaved up and down 'fore he told me, "Olga's out with her man, Asa. They're at bistro near the Golden Gate Park wit' the baby."

"Thank you." I told the man, tippin' my hat at him and his woman 'fore turnin' my back to the bar.

'Fore I could walk 'way I heard the man swear, "Next time ya come in here you're a dead man, Pinkerton."

Lookin' over my shoulder, I told Amsterdam, "I won't be back, your saloon's safe from me since ya done the right thing."

He gave me a hard look, gesturin' with me to leave with the quick jerk of his head tilted towards the main saloon doors. His woman had a worried look on her face as she made the sigh of the cross, mutterin' something under her breath. No doubt to was a prayer.

Quickly, I exited the saloon and made my way towards the park and its nearby bistros in order to do my job and get my client's baby back.

Olga POV

It was a lovely sunny afternoon. I weren't used t'warm winters, but in California the air had a warmth in it instead of a chill. Winter in San Francisco felt much like spring did back in New York. It was refreshin' not havin' t'be so bundled up, not havin' a bonechill go thru ya either.

I was takin' a stroll in the park wit' Asa. We were wheelin' Imogene after havin' lunch at a nearby bistro. Since our time 'ere, he's called on me a handful o'times. I think we were courtin', but since he didn't say so I wasn't too sure. "Asa, are we courtin'?" I curiously asked, for the sake o'my sanity, as a blush creeped ov'r my cheeks.

"I believe so, Olga, unless that's not what you want." Asa told me in a serious tone even tho the corners of his mouth were hitched up in a thin smile.

"Don't worry, Asa, it's what I want." I assured my suitor wit' a smile.

"Miss Olga Becker?" A man's raspy pitched voice asked from 'hind me.

"Yes?" I asked, turnin' 'round t'look at whoever called for me while keepin' a hand on the baby buggy.

"Hand over Lydia and I promise ya won't be hurt." He told me before lookin' at Asa an' addin' in, Neither of ya."

"You're mistaken, our baby's named Imogene not Lydia." I told the strange man as fear filled my heart. Oh god lord 'bove, don't tell me Shaw hired a tracker.

An odd look crossed ov'r Asa's face as he asked the man who'd approached us, "What's goin' on here?"

"What's goin' on, Mister, is that your lady friend 'ere kidnapped my client's daughter once she was fired after he took up with his first born's mama." The tracker told Asa, causin' a look of disbelief to overcome 'im.

"That's a lie. The blackheart liar, I didn't kidnap my own daughter." I quickly spat out, defendin' myself. I just can't believe that man'd do this to me, hire somebody t'steal my daughter back for 'im.

"Ma'am, he said that you were a bit titched an' I believe it." The weasel like man scoffed 'fore havin' the sand t'say, "Now, please just roll ov'r the buggy to me an' I'll be on my way."

"No, ya ain't gettin' her t'give her back t'im!" I cried out in a loud, scoopin' my baby outta her buggy an' takin' off down the sidewalk in a run.

I knew that my only chance at keepin' Imogene wit' me was runnin' an' prayin' that tracker couldn't keep up since I was so lite.

AN:

I know, I know, I ended it on a cliffhanger. Roseanna and Jessa had some girl time. Due to Shaw's portrayal of Olga and how Olga cold shouldered Roseanna the sweet girl got a bad impression of her so… Hmm, do you guys think that Anse's talk with Abel did any good or no, the man's too enchanted by Nancy. And how do you feel about Jim's talk with Cap?

Anyways, next chapter will be the conclusion of the Bad Frank, Olga, and Asa stuff.