I DO NOT OWN HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS, NOR DO I OWN THE DIALOGUE.
Autumn, 1878. West Virginia.
A few weeks later, The Hatfield family and the McCoy family met on the West Virginia side of the Tug River to meet in court. As they all gathered in the courthouse, Jed and Alifair stole looks at each other. He also got a good look at Devil Anse Hatfield himself. He looked like a strong man, but Jed couldn't tell if he was trustworthy. The only thing that Jed Graham knew for sure was that Devil Anse was a dangerous looking man. Suddenly, everyone stood up as Judge Valentine Hatfield came into the courtroom and took his seat at the bench. As he did, Cotton, a relation of a Devil Anse, and the village idiot, stood up.
"Hi, Uncle Wall." He said as he father tried to shush him.
"Hi, Uncle Wall." One of the McCoy relations mocked.
"Court is in session." Judge Hatfield announced. "Thanks to those of you on the jury for coming today and agreeing to serve. I know most of you all got crops and stock needs tending. So I ain't gonna keep you from your tasks any longer than necessary." He motioned to Perry Cline who got on his soapbox.
"Judge Hatfield, members of the jury." Mr. Cline began. "It is useful to think of the law as a muscle. Like a muscle, it can be strengthened with proper use..."
"Mr. Cline, the briefer you make your remarks, the better your case is gonna be received." The judge said as some folks chuckled. "Sit down. Do you mean to call witnesses?"
"Mr. Randall McCoy and his wife, Sally both saw the McCoy marking on the ear of the hog in question." Perry replied.
"I don't think we need to call them to the stand just to say so." Valentine stated. "So to put it plain, the McCoys say it is their pig and their ear notch and Floyd says that ain't so, is that clear?"
"I tell ya, Floyd's a damn thief." Tolbert whispered to Jed.
"Is the pig in court today?"
"No, it ain't." Floyd replied.
"Why not?"
"Well, it's done been ate."
"All right, Floyd." Judge Hatfield replied. "You got any witness saw it before you butchered to say it is your notch?"
"I didn't know I needed one." Floyd admitted. "You give me a couple hours, I might could come up with somebody."
"I seen it, the hog in question." Bill Staton, a Hatfield relation and an old drunk stood up. "I seen Floyd actually out that shoat's ear...oh, do I need to say I seen it on the Bible?"
"I'd advise you not to." The judge replied as others laughed.
"That pig had black spots on its hams as I recollect, Floyd's hand slipped when he notched. He pretty near out his thumb off."
"Horseshit." Randall whispered to his wife.
"Why would Floyd show Randall that swine if he stole it?" Bill asked. "It don't make no sense.
"Cause he be a dumbass." Tolbert answered.
"That's enough, Bill." Valentine stated. "I trust y'all give Bill Staton's testimony the respect it deserves."
"No, no. I ain't quite done, you see..." Bill started up again.
"You sit down!" Jed knew that the McCoys were not caring well, so he decided that desperate times called for desperate measures.
"I will speak!" He said as he stood up to the surprise of everyone.
"And who in the Sam Hill are you?" Judge Hatfield inquired.
"Name's Jedidiah Graham, I work fer Randall McCoy. I seen him notch the pig, he notched it real peculiar. I asked him why he done it like dat, and he said so that he always knows which pigs be his and which ain't." Jed took a deep breath as he committed perjury.
"Randall, is this boy speaking true?" The judge asked as Randall took a moment and then nodded.
"He is, he was there with me when I notched it." He replied.
"Noted...Members of the jury, who thinks the hog belonged to Floyd Hatfield?" Judge Valentine asked as the Hatfield jurors raised their hands. "All right, who believes the hog was Randall McCoy's?" All of the McCoy jurors raised their hands, except one.
"What in the Hell?" Tolbert muttered.
"Selkirk McCoy?" The judge asked. "You didn't vote one way or the other."
"Well, he votes Uncle Randall." Parris McCoy insisted as he nudged his cousin.
"He has to be the one to say so, Parris."
"Well, I'm trying to do the right thing here." Selkirk replied. "You see, I am of the McCoy family...but Well, the truth is deep down, I do believe that pig was one of Floyd Hatfield's razorbacks." This pissed Randall off something fierce.
"You lowdown!" Parris exclaimed. "You do not deserve the name McCoy."
"Bill swears on oath he seen Floyd cut that notch."
"You are a lying spawn of hell that voted his Hatfield wife's apron strings." Randall shouted.
"Oh, Randall, just leave her on out of this." Devil Anse pleaded. "Gonna give yourself apoplexy, all this to-do over a pig."
"This is about honor." Mr. McCoy insisted. "About lying and stealing and murdering."
"That's not pertinent to the case." Valentine stated.
"It's about sin, Devil Anse, what's Christian right and damnation wrong!
"McCoy!" The judge exclaimed. "This case is dismissed! Everybody get the hell out of here!" Everyone delved into shouts and insults and fisticuffs until Judge Hatfield fired off a round.
"Holy shit!" Jed said to no one in particular.
"By God, I will gut-shoot the next agitator who further disrespects my courtroom." He spat. "A McCoy or a Hatfield."
"I reckon this is what I should have expected from a Hatfield court." Randall remarked.
"One more word out of you, McCoy, I'll hold you in contempt." The judge replied.
"You best watch your high and mighty ass, Preacher McCoy." Mr. Hatfield said angrily.
"Here's scripture for you." McCoy replied. "Blood toucheth blood." As the McCoys led the courtroom, they were all pissed off at the verdict. As Jed was pondering talking to Alifair, he heard his name be called.
"Jed, come over here!" Randall called as Jed walked over.
"Mr. McCoy?" He said nervously.
"I appreciate what ya done for my family today." He replied. "Ya put urself at great risk by lying in court to see what's mine returned to me. A debt not soon forgotten."
"It was your hog Randall, I seen it." Jed replied as Tolbert clapped him on the back.
"If ya be needing anything, let me know." Mr. McCoy said as he moved to get on his wagon.
"Mr. McCoy, I would ask a favor of ya." Jed stated as Randall turned to him.
"Give it name and see it done."
"I would...like ya permission...to court yer daughter: Alifair." Alifair smiled as Randall's eyes widened. He turned to his daughter.
"Do ya have feelings for this man?" He asked.
"I do poppy." She replied. McCoy nodded as he turned to Jed Graham.
"Ya may court my daughter." He said. Alifair grinned as she went over to Jed and hugged him tightly.
"Thank ya Mr. McCoy." Jed replied as Alifair kissed him on the cheek.
"Ya bring Alifair home without fail." He said as he snapped the reigns and the wagon took off. They were alone except for Tolbert.
"Look Jed, I know I was a bit standoffish these last few months...but ya earned my trust today." He said as he shook Jed's hand.
"Thanks Tolbert." Jed replied as Tolbert rode off on his horse. Once they were alone, Jed and Alifair shared a passionate kiss.
JED HAS BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO COURT ALIFAIR MCCOY. WILL SHE CONSENT TO BE HIS BRIDE? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
FACE CLAIM
WILLIAM "DEVIL ANSE" HATFIELD- KEVIN COSTNER
JUDGE VALENTINE "WALL" HATFIELD- POWERS BOOTH
ELLISON "COTTON TOP" MOUNTS- NOEL FISHER
BILL STANTON- MICHAEL GRECO
PARRIS MCCOY- BEN CARTWRIGHT