I DO NOT OWN HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS. THANK YOU TO THE GUEST WHO LEFT A REVIEW

Pike County, Kentucky. Spring, 1878.

Pharmer McCoy pulled up to the tavern to have himself a drink. his brother Tolbert McCoy was trailing behind him. As they walked inside, the bar room atmosphere hit them like a barrel of Whiskey. There were old drunks on bar room stools and other drunks playing cards and losing money like there was no tomorrow.

"A Fool n' his money are soon parted." Tolbert remarked.

"Dat be the truth o' the matter." Pharmer agreed as the brothers sat down. They had a couple shots of whiskey and talked about the difficult upcoming farming season.

"It gonna be a long n' hard season." Pharmer remarked as he downed his shot glass of whiskey.

"Don't remind me." Tolbert shot back. "Poppy said he gonna hire some hands, but ain't no one come round that be good nuff for Randall McCoy." Pharmer was about to agree with his brother when a stranger that no one in that part of Kentucky had ever seen before. He was a young man with deep brown eyes and fluffy brown hair. As he sat down at the bar and ordered himself a drink, everyone stared at him; trying to size him up. In small towns such as that, a stranger riding into town was something of note. As the stranger drank his whiskey, he turned and saw the McCoy brothers eyeing him up.

"Ain't ya never seen a fella drink whiskey before?" He asked.

"Plenty o' times." Tolbert answered. "We jest ain't seen yer mug round these parts before."

"Strangers tend ta stick out like a sore thumb." Pharmer added.

"Well, allow me ta introduce myself: Jedidiah Graham, but everyone calls me Jed." He replied as he offered his hand which both brothers took.

"Tolbert McCoy, and this here be my brother: Pharmer McCoy."

"Pleasure."

"So Jed Graham, What be bringing you ta Pike County?" Pharmer inquired.

"I was hoping to find me some work." Jed explained. "If's there's any ta be had." The brothers shared a look before turning back to Jed.

"Our poppy be looking for strong arms." Tolbert said.

"Well, ya poppy be in luck, I got two o' em." Jed pointed out.

"We got a farm and we could sure use help with the harvest come autumn." Pharmer said.

"Well, I got plenty o' experience with the farming business." Jed assured the McCoy brothers. "Perhaps I pay ya poppy a visit." The three men finished and paid for their drinks. They then got on their horses and rode off in the direction of the McCoy farm.

When Jed Graham and the McCoy brothers rode up to the McCoy home, they found a bearded man on the front porch. He had a pair of wide eyes that advised you not to mess with him.

"Hey Poppy!" Pharmer shouted as they stopped their horses at the porch. "We found a hand fed the harvest!" All three men dismounted their beasts as the man came up to Jed.

"Randall McCoy." He said in a low voice as he stretched out his hand.

"Jedidiah Graham, call me Jed." The two shook hands as Randall motioned him to come inside. As the men walked inside, an older woman was at the table making bread.

"Hi momma." The boys said as Mrs. McCoy turned to them.

"Ya didn't get too drunk, I pray." She said.

"No momma." Tolbert replied. "We brung home a worker for the farm." As Jed and Randall sat down, drinks were poured.

"So Jed, ya got experience with fieldhanding?" Mr. McCoy asked as Jed nodded.

"I used to work with my pa out in fields soon as I was old nuff." Jed pointed out. "We owned bout a hundred acres a land back in Tennessee. He was planning on getting more land after the war."

"Did he serve?"

"Yes sir, Calvary unit under General Felix Zollicoffer, even gave me his saber." The young man motioned to the sword hanging off his waist.

"What yer pa say bout you coming out to Kentucky?" Randall asked as Jed averted his eyes.

"I wouldn't rightly know with him bein dead n' all." He said softly.

"I'm sorry fer ya loss." Mr. McCoy replied.

"How he die." Pharmer asked as Sally McCoy gave him a look.

"He was murdered by a man who was gunning fer me, that's all ya need know." Jed insisted.

"Well, ya can come wit us to the fields tomorrow." Randall decided. "Consider it a trial run, ya do a good job, I'll keep ya on."

"Thank ya Mr. McCoy, you ain't gonna regret this." Jed replied as the two men shook on the deal.

NEXT TIME, JED IS PUT TO WORK AND MEETS THE REST OF THE FAMILY, INCLUDING A VERY SPECIAL LADY. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.

FACE CLAIMS

RANDOLPH "OLE RANDALL" MCCOY- BILL PAXTON

SALLY MCCOY- MARE WINNINGHAM

TOLBERT MCCOY- SAM REID

PHARMER MCCOY- MICHAEL JIBSON