I DO NOT OWN HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS
West Virginia. January, 1881.
Jed tried to stay warm in the Hatfield's shed. He was being kept there while Devil Anse and his kin were debating his fate. Johnse, Roseanna, and Cotton top brought him food, blankets, and news every day. From what Jed had heard, Ellison was trying to convince Anse to let Jed go back to Pike County. Jim Vance on the other hand, wanted to round up a firing squad to ensure one less McCoy. Devil Anse seemed to be walking a tightrope between both sides of the issue. Until a decision was made, Jed was being kept in the shed while Cotton Top and Skunk Hair kept the guard. On this particular day, Roseanna came to visit Jed in the cold shed.
"Hi miss Roseanna." Cotton said as he waved while holding a rifle in his hands.
"Hi Cotton top." Roseanna replied as she walked over to Jed carrying a blanket and a steaming bowl.
"Roseanna, I was hoping you would come." Jed said as she hugged him.
"I brought ya another blanket, and Mrs. Hatfield made ya a bowl of hot stew." She replied as she handed him the offerings.
"Thank you." Jed said as he put a spoonful of stew on his mouth. "Do you think that the Hatfields are gonna turn me loose?"
"I honestly don't know Jed." Roseanna sighed with a worried expression on her face. "Mr. Hatfield don't want any trouble with Billie Jo. Jim Vance thinks that they should offer him yer blood as a peace offering so he'll go on back ta Nashville." Jed's heart sank at this news, but being a son of their hated enemy, he didn't really expect much better.
"I see, do the other Hatfields fell the same?" He asked.
"No, Cotton's pa thinks that Mr. Hatfield should turn ya loose. Johnse's doing what he can to convince them." She explained.
"Speaking of you and Johnse, has Devil Anse consented to yer marriage?" Jed inquired as Roseanna teared up.
"No, he won't allow it." She wailed. "I think he's hoping that Johnse'll get bored with me and turn me out."
"Ya know that ain't gonna happen." Jed assured his sister in law as he grabbed her hands. "Johnse loves you, just like I love Alifair. I see it in his eyes. Do you love him?"
"More than anything." Roseanna insisted.
"Than you'll find a way ta be together." Jed said as he and Roseanna embraced. He knew that if Johnse and Roseanna were going to survive, they would need allies.
While Roseanna was comforting Jed, Johnse was begging for his life.
"Please pa, ya can't hand Jed off ta that Preston bastard." He pleaded as Devil Anse smoked a pipe.
"Why the Hell not, He ain't nothing ta us." Jim Vance shot back.
"That ain't true uncle Jim." Johnse explained. "He's a friend, he supported me and Roseanna when no one else would and he's selling me corn fer my still!"
"Preston said that Jed murdered his father, according to the law, he oughta hang." Devil Anse pointed out.
"There were circumstances!" Johnse exclaimed. "Billie Jo's old man violated Jed's sister, she was so dishonored and in so much pain...the girl took her own life."
"Damn..." Ellison sighed as he shook his head.
"We already got the McCoys after us, we don't need this Preston giving us Hell." Anse said as he stood up. Johnse would not be deterred.
"Well let me ask ya something pa...what would ya do if some animal laid hands on ma?" This got Old man Hatfield pissed.
"Don't you dare talk like that boy!" Hatfield shouted as he grabbed Johnse by the collar.
"What would ya do!" Johnse shouted.
"I'D KILL THE BASTARD!" Anse roared as the thought of his wife in pain hurt him deeply. "I'd gut shoot the man who dared laid a hand on my Levicy..."
"That's what I thought." Johnse said as he shook himself loose. "You just keep that in mind before ya hand Jed over." Devil Anse Hatfield lowered his head because he knew that his son had won this round. He could not send Jed to die merely for defending his sister's honor.
WILL DEVIL ANSE WARD OFF BILLIE JO AND HIS POSSE OR CAN RANDALL AND THE MCCOYS SAVE THEIR KIN? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.