I DO NOT OWN HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS.
Summer 1880. Pike County, Kentucky.
After the honeymoon was over, Jed and Alifair began preparing for their future together as husband and wife. As part of his wedding present, Randall McCoy had gifted Jed about seven acres of land. It also gave with a good plot to build a house upon. As Jed began building his house, the McCoy brothers ere always around to help.
"I'm telling ya, this gonna be a mighty fine house when we done with it." Pharmer said as he helped Jed raise the foundations for his new home.
"Better than anything those damn Hatfields could do." Tolbert insisted.
"Yeah, I heard that they steal the stones they use for their houses." Bud added.
"Where did ya hear that from?" Jed inquired as Bud and Pharmer chuckled.
"From Tolbert." They both replied as the eldest McCoy brother shook his head and let out a hearty chuckle. Nothing could cheer the McCoy boys up like a good round of bitching about the Hatfields.
It took a couple of months, but Jed and the McCoys came through in fine style. They had built a one story four bedroom home that included a strong stone chimney for the couple. Jed and the boys had began planting corn to sell to the liquor makers around the area. It was hard work going at it by himself, but knowing that he had Alifair to come home to made Jed not mind it so much. As he was plowing his fields one day, he received a visit from an unexpected guest: Johnse Hatfield.
"Hello Jed." He said as he rode up to him.
"Johnse Hatfield, What brings ya out ta this side o' the Tug?" Jed asked.
"I figured i'd bring ya little wedding present." Johnse said as he pulled out a bottle of moonshine. "I know it's a bit late, but I felt generous, no charge."
"Much obliged." Jed said as he took the bottle. As he took a swig, Johnse cleared his throat. He clearly had ulterior motives.
"While I be in the neighborhood, I was wondering if ya could tell me a little bout yer sister in law?"
"Which one?"
"The unspeakably beautiful blonde one." Johnse clarified.
"You mean Roseanna McCoy." Jed said with a smirk. "What ya looking ya know?"
"I was curious...as ta if she had any suitors?" Johnse asked nervously.
"Not ta my knowledge, unless ya count lawyer Perry Cline always making advances." Jed replied.
"She accept 'em?"
"She don't want ta. The problem with Roseanna is that she's so sweet and so kind, she just don't have it in her ta tell him ta piss off."
"Well, I wish ya luck with yer crops." Johnse said as he turned his horse fer West Virginia. "Say hi ta the missus fer me."
"Johnse!" Jed hollered as the Hatfield prepared to leave. "I ain't got nothing personal against you Hatfields, mainly cause I don't know ya; but my in laws do and Ol' Randall won't take kindly if ya show up on his doorstep coming ta call on his favorite daughter."
"Thanks fer the warning." Johnse replied as he rode off undeterred. After Johnse had left and Jed had finished in the fields for the day, he went back home where his wife was waiting for him.
"Yer back, finally." Alifair said as she wrapped Jed in a huge hug. "I got news fer ya."
"I got news myself, but you first." Jed replied as he got off his feet.
"I...I ain't had my flow in two months." She said as Jed's attention was fixed. There was only one logical explanation for why a girl would not have her monthly visitor.
"Alifair...is ya saying what I think yer saying?" He asked nervously.
"I'll have ya go into town and call on doc but...I do believe that I'm with child."
"I...I'm gonna be a daddy?" Jed asked in shock. He had always wanted a wife and child, but after Billie Jo ran him out of Nashville, he felt it was never gonna happen. Now that it was, it was almost too good to be true. He picked up Alifair and kissed her deeply. He then kissed her belly. As Jed and Alifair cried tears of happiness, he realized that for the first time in a long time, Jedidiah Graham was truly happy with his life.
JED AND ALIFAIR ARE EXPECTING! NEXT TIME, JED FINDS HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRAGIC LOVE AFFAIR. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.