A McCoy, For Better Or Worse

by CalvinHobbesGatsby

Jed Graham is a man on the run from a dark past that haunts him. He comes to Pike County and finds himself smitten by the beautiful Alifair McCoy. Jed courts her and becomes part of the McCoy family. However, this puts him in conflict with the Hatfields of West Virginia. Can Jed keep his wife safe not only from Devil Anse Hatfield and his kin, but from those who would see him hang?

9. Meeting A Hatfield

I DO NOT OWN HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS

Summer, 1879. Pike County, Kentucky.

As Summer came to the Tug, Jed's confidence had finally recovered from the McCoys learning the truth about his past. A couple months after Perry Cline's pathetic power play, Jed decided to ask Randall for Alifair's hand in marriage. However, before he could ask Mr. McCoy, he needed to prove that he was serious about providing for her. For many months, Jed had been saving up his money to purchase a ring for his love. He rode into town and went to the local shop where he had found a ring that he could afford. It was a plain band, nothing special. However, it was a physical symbol of his willingness to take care of Alifair and that was all that mattered. Jed went into the shop and bought the ring. It cost quite a pretty penny, but Jed had saved up enough to pay for it. As he left the shop with the ring safely in his pocket, he saw a young, handsome man with blonde hair selling moonshine. Jed always liked moonshine and he thought that it might help as an icebreaker between him and old man McCoy. He walked up to the stand.

"Hello there friend." The young man said cheerfully. "Ya looking to drink?"

"One bottle of your finest moonshine please." Jed ordered. "It's a special occasion."

"What be the occasion, if ya don't mind my asking?"

"I'm taking myself a wife and I'm gonna ask her daddy fer her hand."

"Congratulations!" The blonde said as he offered up a bottle. "Who's the lucky lady?"

"Alifair McCoy." Jed answered as the man's smile faded.

"Her daddy be Ol' Randall McCoy?" The blonde inquired.

"Yes sir." Jed replied as he noticed the man's hesitance.

"Is Ol' Randall really as Orkney as people say?"

"I don't think so." Jed stated. "He's a real good fella once ya got to know him, unless you's a Hatfield." The blonde nodded as he handed Jed the bottle.

"75 cents." He said as Jed paid him the money.

"Thank ya kindly, I never did catch yer name." He said as he offered a hand. "Jed Graham."

"Johnse Hatfield." The blonde replied as Jed walked away feeling confused. Randall always said that the Hatfields were murderers, but Johnse didn't seem to be the murdering type. It was puzzling, to say the least.

NEXT TIME, JED ASKS TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APRECIATED.

FACE CLAIM

JOHNSE HATFIELD- MATT BARR