I DO NOT OWN HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS.

December, 1880. Tug River valley.

it had been a few weeks since Bille Jo Preston and his posse had arrived in Pike County and things had eventually gone from bad to worse as Jed knew they would. Billie Jo struck again a couple weeks later at Jed's home. Alifair was starting to get a baby bump and Pharmer McCoy had come over for a visit. He was taking being an uncle in stride and had begun to come over often to help Jed put the harvest to bed.

"Hi, it's yer uncle Pharmer." He said as he rubbed Alifair's belly with two fingers. "Ya'll decided what ya gonna name 'em yet?"

"Well, if it's a boy, I'm gonna name him Randall after poppy and if it's a girl, Alifair's gonna name her Jessamine." Jed replied.

"Jessamine, What kind o' name is that?" Pharmer asked as Alifair shrugged.

"I dunno, I read it in a book once, sounded pretty." She answered.

"So...ya heard from Roseanna?" He inquired.

"She's living with Johnse." His sister explained. "He's building a home down the road a stretch from here so he can marry her proper."

"Johnse and I actually struck up a deal." Jed admitted. "He's buying corn from me ta use in his moonshine."

"Tolbert ain't gonna like that none." Pharmer replied.

"Well, when Tolbert owns the corn, I'll do whatever he pleases." Alifair's husband shot back. "I'm doing what I can ta support my family." As they talked, they heard horses galloping up to the cabin. Jed and Pharmer went out and saw to their horror that Billie Jo and his posse was riding up with their guns drawn.

"Get out o' here Billie Jo!" Jed ordered as he and his brother in law stood their ground.

"The Hell I will!" He replied as he and his goons dismounted. "I've chased yer murdering ass from Tennessee to Kentucky and now to the Tug. I'm taking ya back to Nashville and ya gonna swing on them gallows!"

"You leave my brother alone, ya bastard!" Pharmer shouted as he charged the posse. He managed to lay a few punches before he was subdued. As the middle McCoy Son was held down, Billie Jo grabbed his enemy, threw him down in his stomach, and began binding his wrists.

"Jed!" Alifair cried as she came out of the house. "Let him go, damn you!"

"Alifair, get inside!" Jed ordered as the cruel hunter pulled him to his feet.

"You get yer ass inside that house slut." Preston snarled as he began dragging her husband away.

"Don't worry Jed, I'll get poppy and my brothers." Pharmer promised. "We gonna come fer you."

"Alifair, you get to Johnse, tell him he can have the corn in case I don't come back." Jed shouted. He was hoping that if he gave Johnse got the corn, he might look out for Alifair and the baby. As Billie Jo rode away with his prisoner, Pharmer and a Alifair each saddled a horse and rode off.

West Virginia

Alifair rode as fast as she could across the river over to West Virginia. She had checked at Johnse's cabin, but he hadn't been there. In desperation, she rode over to the one place she knew where she could find him: The Hatfield home. As she rode up, she was seen by Cap Hatfield.

"Who the Hell are you?" He asked, rifle in hand.

"Alifair Graham, I need ta talk ta Johnse Hatfield." She insisted. Cap looked her over for a second and then ran into the house. A few minutes later, Johnse and Devil Anse came out.

"Alifair, what in the Sam Hill's going on?" Johnse inquired.

"Billie Jo Preston took Jed, they're taking him back ta Nashville so they can hang him!" She cried.

"Holy Hell!" Johnse cursed. Roseanna had told Johnse about Jed's past and from what Jed had told the McCoys about Billie Jo, he seemed like a monster. Roseanna has heard her sister's cries and feared for her brother in law.

"Please Johnse, ya gotta help him!" Roseanna begged.

"He's a McCoy, He ain't no relation o' ours." Cap argued.

"Jed saved my life!" Johnse shot back as he turned to his father. "Tolbert McCoy would've shot me dead if Jed hadn't intervened. I owe him pa." Devil Anse thought about it for a second and then sighed.

"Fine, we'll git him." Hatfield said as he gathered himself. "Cap, round up our kin, we're gonna need plenty of support."

"Yes Pa." Cap said as he ran off to to find the other Hatfields. Meanwhile, Johnse turned to the McCoy women.

"I ain't gonna let nothing happen ta Jed, I swear." He vowed.

Pike County, Kentucky.

While the Hatfields roused themselves, Billie Jo Preston and his posse stopped with their prisoner near a grove of trees.

"Why we stopping?" Jed asked as he was pulled off a horse.

"I figured, why wait till we git ta Nashville?" Billie Jo smirked. "Why not just dispense justice right here, right now?" The men began grabbing Jed as Billie Jo took out a length of rope and began making a noose with it. As Billie Jo tied it onto one of the trees, the pack was ready to lynch Jed. However, they didn't get that chance.

"I hear horses!" One of Billie Jo's men said. The galloping got louder as a bigger posse came into view. Jed felt relief at the sight of Devil Anse Hatfield and Johnse leading the pack. With them was Cap Hatfield, Cotton-top, Ellison, and Skunk Hair among others.

"Move along, there ain't nothing fer ya here." Billie Jo said as the Hatfield Patriarch rode up to him.

"I'm gonna assume that you're Mr. Preston." He said dryly. "I am Devil Anse Hatfield."

"As I said before Mr. Hatfield, move along." Preston gritted.

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you Mr. Preston, but I'll be taking yer prisoner."

"You ain't got no right ya him."

"Maybe not." Devil Anse replied as he drew hIs pistol. "But I'm taking him anyway."

"Jed Graham's going to Nashville ta hang." Billie Jo explained. "He's a cold blooded murderer!"

"No he ain't!" Johnse shot back. "Yer daddy violated his sister so bad that she killed herself. Whatever Jed did to yer pa, he damn well deserved it!" This pissed Billie Jo off bad.

"You blonde fuck!" He snarled as he raised his pistol, only to see several Hatfield rifles pointed right at him.

"You raise your gun at my son again and you won't be making the ride home." Anse stated. "I got my own stake in this on account of him being a McCoy, that complicates things. I'll take Jed and see that justice is done on him."

"As fer the rest o' you sorry sons of bitches." Cap spat. "If you got any regard fer ya own personal safety, I say be gone!" Billie Jo, along with the rest of his posse, slinked off on their horses, muttering threats and curses. Meanwhile, Devil Anse turned to his new prisoner.

"Mr. Graham, I'm afraid you'll be coming with us." He explained. "Cotton, secure him." Cotton dismounted and walked over with rope.

"Sorry Mr. Jed, uncle Anse says I gots to take ya prisoner since you's a McCoy." He said meekly.

"It's all right Cotton." Jed said as his wrists were bound. He was helped on to a horse and ridden from one deadly situation to another.

WILL JED DIE AT THE HANDS OF HATFIELDS? WILL RANDALL AND THE BOYS RIDE TO RESCUE THEIR IN LAW? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.

FACE CLAIMS

Cap Hatfield- Boyd Holbrook

Ellison Hatfield- Damian O'hare

"Skunkhair" Tom Wallace- Andy Gathergood