I DO NOT OWN HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS OR THE DIALOGUE.

Election Day, 1880. West Virginia.

Jed and Alifair decided since they didn't live too far away, to visit the McCoy home. They arrived and were greeted warmly by Randall and Sally.

"It's so good ta see you both." Sally said as she embraced her daughter and son in law.

"Ya taking care of my daughter?" McCoy asked as he shook Jed's hand.

"Yes sir." He replied as they heard the sound of a wagon approaching. It turned out to be Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy.

"Where's Roseanna?" Mr. McCoy asked as he realized that the brothers were alone.

"She ain't here?" Tolbert asked.

"She is supposed ta be with you!" He exclaimed.

"We was thinking that she got a ride home." Bud explained as an angry Randall pulled out his belt and began tanning his sons hides.

"One thing I said ta do without fail was bring yer sister home!" he roared.

"We figured she got a ride. How was we to know?" Tolbert shot back.

"We tried!" Pharmer added. "We called out, she didn't answer." Randall kept swinging his belt in anger.

"I said, without fail!" He shouted. "Go find her, and don't come back till ya do." Jed and Alifair watched as Rolbert and his brothers went off into the night. As they left, Mr. McCoy turned to his son in law.

"Jed, could you go out and look fer Roseanna?" he asked.

"No problem." Jed replied as he kissed his wife goodbye, got on his horse, and rode off. He had a lump in his stomach because he had an idea as to where Roseanna had gone and who she had gone off with.

Johnse's POV

Meanwhile, at the Hatfield home, Johnse and Roseanna arrived. They went inside and told Devil Anse Hatfield what had transpired at the election day festival. As expected, Johnse's old man was less than pleased.

"Only a goddamn idiot would bring Randall McCoy's daughter back here, and after midnight." he stated.

"She couldn't very well walk back home in the dark by herself." Johnse pointed out. "Ya don't want her here, that's fine...but don't strike me as overgenerous. Shit, I'll hitch a wagon and ride her home."

"Ya ain't riding her nowheres." Mr. Hatfield said. "Way ya make this predicament worse is fer Randall McCoy ta see ya with his daughter; He'll shoot your damn head off and I wouldn't blame him."

"What do you want me to do?" Johnse asked.

"I want ya ta stay away off of her, that's what!" Hatfield roared. He was getting stares as he tried to keep cool. "Levicy, have the girls make down a pallet on the floor fer our guest."

"Thank you pa." Johnse said with relief.

"Come morning, ya take her to the edge of the Tug and then leave her off." He ordered.

"Yes, sir."

"And then get rid of them fancy-nancy boots, you're supposed to be a workingman." Devil Anse stormed off as Johnse shot a wink to his beloved. Roseanna and the Hatfields ate a hearty dinner. As Roseanna was helping Mrs. Hatfield clean the dishes, a horse was heard coming up to the Hatfield residence. Everyone looked out and saw Jedidiah Graham riding up.

"Jed, what you doing here?" Johnse inquired.

"Is Roseanna here?" he asked. Roseanna came out onto the porch when she saw Jed.

"Roseanna, your poppy's fit ta be tied." he explained. "He's got me and yer brothers out looking fer ya."

"Mr. Hatfield offered to let me stay the night." She replied. "Please don't tell him tonight." Jed sighed as he looked at the lovers.

"You answer me true Johnse Hatfield, are ya serious about my sister in law?" Jed asked.

"Yes I am." Johnse swore. "The feelings that I have fer Roseanna, I ain't never had these feelings fer anyone other girl. That's God's honest truth o' the matter."

"Then I won't tell him tonight." Jed promised as Devil Anse came out on the porch.

"Git inside, both o' ya." He ordered as he stared Jed up and down. "What's a McCoy by marriage doing on my porch?"

"Just checking up on my sister in law sir." Jed replied. "Mr. Hatfield, I would like to say something ta you, if I may?"

"Make it quick and then be about yer business." He said.

"I don't know all the details having ta do with the bald blood between you Hatfields and the McCoys. Frankly, I don't care ta know. All I know is that I want no part o' yer feud. All I want is ta love my wife, grow my crops, and raise my child." Devil Anse nodded. He could tell that this boy was sincere. He'd married the woman he loved and it had drug him into a conflict that had nothing to do with him.

"Then ya best got to it." Devil Anse replied as he he went inside. Jed turned around and made for Kentucky, not knowing what to make of the Hatfield patriarch.

CAN JED STAY OUT OF THE CONFLICT? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.