*Author's Note*

Thanks for all of the follows, faves, and reviews.

I'm glad that ya'll are enjoying this story.

American Thanksgiving is right around the corner. To everyone that celebrates it Happy Thanksgiving. I'm going to be busy cooking and with family/friends for the weekend.

WARNING LEMONS IN THIS! LEMONS IN 2ND SCENE! LEMONS WITH PLOT!

Anyways enjoy this new chapter.


Skunkie's A Star

Novella POV:

The ride back to our home was a quiet one, but it wasn't awkward. In fact, the silence felt a bit comfortable. The fact that we were now a family (me, Cap, and Anna) was eye openin'. I now had the Hatfields in my corner to protect my daughter, me too, when all hell broke loose. I had a feelin' that it was gonna break loose sooner rather than later, too.

Once we got home Cap took to entertainin' Anna by readin' to her while I baked bread, made a casserole to bring to Vera tomorrow, and put a stew on the stove top for dinner. Cap readin' to Anna, actin' like a father should, warmed my heart. My lil girl deserved a pa that was gonna treat her right, not ignore her. The fact that Anna was already so fond of him was good, meant that he wasn't gonna end up bein' an asshole like her blood-father was.

Currently the fall sun was dimmin', gettin' ready to go down, markin' the early evenin', and we were sittin' down in the livin' room after ettin' our supper of pork stew whenever the front door opened followed by Uncle Jim walkin' into our house, a hound mutt puppy under his arm and his dog on his heels. "Got the pup for the girl." The scruffy lookin' mountain man, who smelt worse than a brewery, announced as he tilted his head towards the pup in his arm.

"Thank you, Jim." I politely thanked the large man as he walked over to the couch where me and Anna were sittin' at.

Jim Vance just nodded at me 'fore placin' the pup on Anna's lap an' tellin' her, "Ya take good care of this pup an' he'll be your loyal buddy."

"Oh, this puppy's mine?" Anna asked, a shocked an' excited look on her face, as Jim started to make his way over to the open chair next to Cap.

Pausin' in his tracks, Jim turned an' looked at my daughter while coarsely tellin' her. "Yep, better give 'im a name, girl."

"So, Jim, ya tell ma an' pa I got hitch yet? I bet'cha did since ya got a big mouth."

"I don't got a big mouth, but, yea, boy, I told your folks." The large burly man told his nephew for smirkin' an' askin', "Ya know what your pappy say?"

Cap shook his head. "No, what'd he say?"

"That he ain't s'prised considerin' ya'll been in an affair for months now." Is there anybody in the Tug River Valley that don't know 'bout that? Sheesh, I thought we were bein' careful an' sneaky durin' that time.

"He would say that." Cap grumbled in a slightly deep sigh, shakin' his head.

"Your ma, well she says that at least ya married a nice girl that knows how t'do housework. Says your brother's gonna get stuck wit' some whore or worse, somehow get back with the McCoy whore." Jim Vance remarked, his tone droppin' into a bitter spat as he said the slanderin' term McCoy whore to describe Roseanna.

'Fore thinkin' better of it I narrowed my cornflower blues at my new uncle-in-law while tellin' him, "Hey, don't call Roseanna a whore."

My sudden outburst didn't even phase the crotchety mountain man. He just rolled his eyes at me 'fore chucklin', "You're a Hatfield now, honey, ya better get used to hearin' them McCoys be called what they be an' not their glossed over titles."

Cap let out a sigh 'fore lookin' at his uncle an' tellin' him, "Jim, just call Roseanna the twit 'round my wife. The twit was nice to her, they did have a friendship."

"Friendship, hell that's gone t'shit I think the second she said I do an' took your name." Jim Vance snickered, a bit of spittle runnin' down his tobacky juice stained beard.

"Did ya et? I can get'cha a bowl of stew if not." I offered as a way to cut the conversation short, end it 'fore it went somewhere too brash an' hurtful for my ears.

Jim cocked his head to the side in a thoughtful gesture 'fore noddin' an' answerin' with, "Yea, I'll take some stew supper." I just smiled and got up from the sofa. As I made my way to the kitchen, I heard the crotchety old man ask my husband, "So, Cap, is she a good cook or just good in bed?"

Lookin' over my shoulder while grabbin' a bowl outta the cupboard I saw Cap run a hand ov'r his face while lettin' out a deep warnin' sigh of, "Jim…"

"Hey, I'm just askin'." Uncle Jim defended himself as I scooped some of the pork stew into a bowl. "'Member that time Johnse's twit was helpin' your ma make stew, but Johnse came in an' ran off wit' her somewheres an' the stew burnt cause Levicy was doin' other chores an' couldn't keep an eye on the cook pot?" The large man smellin' of likker, tobacky, an' the scent of pine mixed wit' old socks an' wet dog, asked my husband as I delivered him his stew.

"Yea, ma was spittin' nails as she scrubbed the burnt bits outta her stock pot." Cap scoffed, shakin' his head, as I took my seat on the sofa next to my daughter.

So, seems that nobody liked Roseanna cause she spent all of her time daydreamin' an' playin' 'round wit' Johnse, shirkin' her responsibilities. Poor Roseanna, but I did warn her not to be so immersed in my new brother-in-law.

Uncle Jim shoved a large spoonful of stew into his mouth, then another and another. Lookin' up from his bowl as he sat in a chair next to Cap's the crochety man told me, "Dang, Nova, this sure is tasty."

Great, I passed his inspection. I got a feelin' he's gonna be hangin' 'round a lot. Whether for free food or cause Cap's his favorite nephew, I'm not sure, but I'm sure that both Jim an' his hound's gonna be a fixture 'round here.

"Anna, girl, what'cha callin' your pup?" Jim asked my daughter 'round a large mouthful of stew.

"Spot cause his eye." Anna answered her new uncle as she petted her white puppy that had a ginger colored spot covering one of its eyes on its face.

"Good name." Uncle Jim told Anna as he placed his near empty bowl on the floor for Mr. Howles to lick clean. Oh my, this is an interestin' evenin' indeed. "Skunk Hair's funeral's 'morraw. Ya gonna be okay, Cap, or have a breakdown 'gain like ya did this mornin' when we found him dead in under 'em logs?"

"I'll be fine, Jim." Cap answered, a roughness in his deep timbre, as he pulled his cigarette case out of his pocket.

Noticin' that was husband's shoulders were tensin' as he was lightin' up his smoke I looked at Jim Vance and suggested, "Maybe it's time ya get on home. It'll be time t'get her to bed soon an' we need rest, t'morrow gonna be a hard day on us."

"Yea, I'll get goin'." Uncle Jim nodded 'fore risin' from his chair. Smirkin' at Cap he chuckled, "Make sure t'get plenty o'rest on your weddin' night, Cap."

"Jim…" Cap groaned as he blew some outta his lungs from his cigarette.

Jim Vance just chuckled, snapped his fingers to get his dog's attention, and then left with his dog followin' right behind him.


I was lyin' wide awake in bed with Cap, who was also wide awake. The hard fact that Skunk Hair's funeral was tomorrow, well actually today since I'm sure it's 'bout midnight or so by now, was weighin' heavy on us an' keepin' us from bein' able to relax; find sleep. I turned my head to look at Cap only to see by the sliver of moonlight castin' a glow on his hardened face tracks of dried tear stains on his cheeks. My husband was sheddin' silent tears for his best friend since childhood an' my heart ached for him, for the hurt he was feelin'.

"Cap?..." I called his name, lettin' it hang in the air since I wasn't sure if he wanted me botherin' him or not.

Cap turned his head to look at me, his eyes, both good an' bad, were red an' puffy from cryin' silently. His jaw trembled and his deep rollin' voice was full of emotion as he told me, "We was best friends since we was little. He showed me the loggin' ropes when I started at the mill. Even shoved me outta the way when the tree we were cuttin' started t'snap. If not for him I'd be dead, not blind in one eye." I turned on my side and moved closer to Cap in an attempt to comfort him. My husband wrapped an arm 'round me while sighin', "Skunk Hair was like the older brother I nev'r had. His homelife was bad an' my folks let him stay wit' us for a while once he started work loggin'. Didn't take long for us to become friends, then best friends." Oh, well that explains how they were so close considerin' their age difference. Lookin' at me Cap sadly sighed, "It ain't fair that I was his best man, but he couldn't be mine." Before I could find any words of comfort to say he went on to tell me, "Skunk Hair would've been happy to see us married."

"Both him an' Vera felt that we're a good fit for each other." I told Cap, confirming that our friends wanted to see us together.

"Yea, they thought there was somethin' more to our affair." Cap told me 'fore goin' on to reveal, "Nova, I don't want our marriage to be tense or out of necessity. I know it was rushed an' out of the blue, but I do care 'bout ya an' would like to make things work."

"Ya mean you want more children an' a marriage where we get on as partners?" I asked, makin' sure that I was comin' to the right conclusion 'bout what he'd just told me.

"Yea." Cap simply said with a nod. "I don't wanna be miserable in my own home. Guess I want a happy family or as close to it as I can get."

"But I thought you weren't much of a family man?" I asked him, half serious and half teasin'.

"Yea, well, reckon fate has other plans for me." Cap answered, a slight chuckle laced underneath his deep wavin' tone, as his hand drifted up an' down my spine.

"Reckon so." I simply nodded, feelin' his fingertips trail lightly up and down my spine softly as he continued to trace the bone in the middle of my back. Before I could think better of it, I asked, "Do you want children right away or want to wait?"

"Sweetlin', babies come when they come. We're married, no need for me to be careful wit'cha."

"Cap, you weren't even careful 'fore when-" I began to say, only to get cut off by him grabbin' the back of my neck and quickly pressin' his lips 'gainst mine in a silencin' kiss.

When he pulled away slightly, partin' our lips, but keepin' our foreheads so close they were hardly touchin', he said in a deep and firm near whisper, "Don't bring that up no more. It don't matter, it's in the past. It's time we just move on from it."

I knew what he meant even tho he didn't come right out an' say it. Cap was tellin' me that whatever happened 'tween us when I was married to Tolbert was irrelevant to us now bein' married; to our intimacy that was sure to come with our union. We had a past, but it didn't matter anymore. We were linked together, had a family and would add to it most likely in the near future.

"Okay." I simply told my husband, my voice soft an' flowin', as I brushed his stubble covered jaw with my fingers on my left hand, my thin golden ring shinnin' in the moonlight.

Cap closed the distance 'tween us, his hot breath fannin' my face, as his lips crashed into mine for a kiss. As his lips melted over mine responded in kind, matchin' the movements of his soft lips with my own. When we pulled apart to catch our breath our eyes were blown wit' a mixture of need, lust, an' an urge for comfort.

"Will, let's try to feel somethin' other than pain an' sadness t'night." I suggested to my husband, usin' his real name, as a way to confirm to him that I'd do the trick with him tonight.

"Ya know, Nova, I quite like it when ya call me by Will." My husband told me, his deep timbre low wit' a hint of mischief, as he sat up an' pulled me to sit up wit' him.

"I know." I simply said, lookin' my husband's bare-chested form over, as he manured me to straddle his lap.

"Well, sweetlin', seems that we're gonna start tryin' for 'em babies." My husband told me as he took the hem of my shift in his hands, pullin' it up over my head.

Cap had my shift bunched up in his hand an' tossed it to the side, causin' it to land somewhere on the floor near his side of the bed, as I told him in a slightly sarcastic flowin' tone, "How romantic of ya to say, Will."

"Yea, reckon so. I mean we both know I don't got the silver tongue like my brother's got." Cap shrugged as I straddled his lap, now bare-naked.

"Let's not talk about your brother right before we're gonna do the trick. Okay." I suggested to my husband, runnin' my fingers thru the dustin' of golden hair that was splattered across his chest.

"Okay." My husband simply said, runnin' his hands up and down my sides, 'fore pressin' a kiss on my shoulder.

It didn't take long 'fore Will was placin' a trail of open mouth kisses from my shoulder to my collar bone. Flippin' us so that I was lyin' on my back an' he was above me, he kissed a path 'tween the valley of my breast an' then up my neck. As he began to place nibbles an' kisses in the crook of my neck I rested my hands flat on his back. I could feel the muscles in his back ripple under my fingers as he began to untie his sleep pants with one of his hands.

I could feel my pulse race an' my heart hammerin' in my chest at the promise of what was to come. No, this wouldn't be the first time I'd be layin' wit' Will, but it felt a bit different then the other times I was wit' him. Those other times sleepin' wit' him was taboo an' forbidden, a part of our illicit affair. This time we're married so sleepin' together's not taboo, it's natural an' what a proper married couple does. Just bein' able to be wit' him, entirely, was mind bogglin'.

No, I wasn't madly in love wit' my husband, but I truly did care for him. I also had no problems wit' performin' my wifely duties, hell if one thing me an' Will did good it was fittin' together 'tween the sheets.

Will stopped kissin' my neck only to pull his sleep pants off. He tossed them somewhere over his shoulder 'fore decendin' on me, capturin' my lips in his for a kiss. Instantly I placed a hand on the back of his neck as our kiss deepened.

"Goddamnit, Will." I moaned on his lips, suddenly feelin' him touch my achin' wet heat.

"Oh, sweetlin', you're definitely ready." Cap smirked, lazily strokin' me to stoke my inner fires.

"Will…" I moaned thru gritted teeth, rollin' my hips slightly 'gainst the palm of his hand, in an attempt to get him to stop his teasin' and to just take me already.

"I've missed hearin' ya moan out my name like that." Will told me, his deep voice husky an' laced wit' lust, as he removed his hand from my core and placed it to grip my upper thigh instead. "I quite enjoy our trysts." My husband told me as he settled himself between my legs. Considerin' I'm prolly the only woman that hasn't charged him for a go an' can look him in the eye with'out cringin', I'm not surprised that he enjoys our trysts.

I placed my hands on his shoulders, bracin' myself for what was goin' to happen in a few short moments, while my husband placed on of his hands on the bed to steady himself while keepin' my thigh in his grasp with his other hand. Will kept his mismatched eyes locked onto my cornflower blue ones as he swiftly entered me, makin' us both let out little groans an' mewls from the good feelin' we've both missed in the last few months. After a still moment he rolled his hips, beginnin' the movements that'd bring us pleasure an' bliss.

Every movement he made I matched. It went on like that til wispy moans of, "Will…Will…" fell from my lips paired wit' my nails rakin' up an' down my husband's back.

Will just grunted an' sped up his movements, determined to push me ov'r the edge into a pleasure filled euphoria. Sweat rolled down his brow and his hand curled into the quilt as he pushed himself to go as fast as he possibly could. Before I could even think or comprehend a thing, I felt the tight coil deep in my belly spring free. As a wave of pleasure washed over Will's name fell off my lips over an' over 'gain in a mewlin' mantra. Will made a few jerky movements 'fore spillin' his seed while gruntin' out my name of Nova a few times in the still crisp night air.

Cap rolled off me and laid flat on his back, his chest heavin' up an' down as he tried to catch a calmin' breath. He reached his arm out an' wrapped it 'round my back. Restin' his hand on the small of my back he gently pulled me into his side. I just rested my head on his chest, placin' one of my hands to rest lazily on it as well. Silently my husband grabbed the edge of our simple blue quilt an' pulled it over us, coverin' us up.

The thumpin' of Cap's heart accompanied by the gentle rise an' fall of his chest under my ear lulled me to sleep. I'm sure that my soft soundin' breaths must've lulled him to sleep too as he held me, his arm never waverin' in its hold 'round me.


The mid-mornin' breeze had a chill in it as I walked onto the front porch, large dish of sweet potato casserole in hand, with Anna and Cap followin' right 'hind me. "Hell, gonna be a cold one today." Cap remarked, pickin' Anna up 'fore followin' me down the porch steps.

"Yea, we'll prolly get a snow fall for Thanksgivin'." I nodded, walkin' over to the wagon Cap had hitched an' ready to go for us.

"I hope not. Don't wanna deal wit' snow while loggin'." Cap grumbled as we reached our wagon.

"It's not what ya want, it's what mother nature wants t'happen." I pointed out to Cap as he placed Anna into the front seat of the wagon.

Cap looked at me, his hands held out, while sayin', "Let me hold that so ya can get in." I just nodded and handed the casserole dish over to him. Quickly I got up into the wagon and sat down. After smoothin' my skirts I gestured for him to pass me over the dish. As he was givin' me back the casserole the sound of hooves broke out in the crisp air. "Your brother's here." Cap told me, nudgin' his black Stetson covered head into the direction that Moses was ridin' in from.

I craned my neck 'round only to see that Moses was in deed trottin' his horse towards us an' the hitch post by the porch. "Moses, shouldn't ya be in school? What're ya doin' here?" I asked my brother while my husband just waved a greetin' at him 'fore roundin' our wagon an' climbin' into the driver's seat of it.

"Came by t'check up on ya'll." Moses said, stoppin' his horse at the hitch post. Gettin' off his horse an' tyin' it up to the post Mo went on to expand his answer with, "Some bounty hunter by the name of Bad Frank Phillips brought Skunk Hair's skunk stripe head to Perry's for proof an' collection." Standin' right by my husband's side of the wagon, but lookin' straight at me my brother said, "I know what Perry's done, he's got a price on your head 'long wit' the Hatfield clan."

Cap looked right at my brother while informin' him, "Nova's part of the Hatfield clan now, so is Anna. We married yesterday."

"That's gonna piss off the McCoys, make Perry go nuts too." Mo warned before goin' on to ask, "So, where ya'll headed? Hopefully nowhere near the Tug. It's crawlin' wit' bloodthirsty bounty hunters."

"Skunk Hair's funeral. If ya wanna come 'long just hop in back." Cap told Moses, tiltin' his head towards the back of our wagon.

"Sure." Moses nodded 'fore quickly climbin' into the back of the wagon. As Cap snapped the reigns, guidin' the horse to pull the wagon 'way from the house, my brother spoke up to say, "Ya know I overhear a lot of things clerkin' after school at the Cline law office. I wanna spy on him, relay anythin' I find out to ya'll. Figured it can help keep ya safe, sissy." What? Oh no, it's too risky.

I spun 'round in my seat an' gave my brother a look that was full of concern as I told him, "Mo, if ya get made it could be your head with a price on it next. Our uncle's not loyal to blood, he's loyal to money an' political ambitions."

"Nova's right, kid. Eavesdroppin' an' spyin' could prove dangerous for ya." Cap remarked, never takin' his eyes off the road as he drove our wagon in the direction the cemetery was at.

"I know, but I wanna do it. If it can help my sister an' niece, hell all of ya'll, then it's worth the risk." Moses firmly said, a strong sense of determination in his tone.

"McCoys ain't very forgivin' people, kid. If ya even catch a drift that they think somethin' fishy's up wit'cha then you come straight to our house." Cap sternly told Moses, lookin' at him quickly from over his shoulder. "Understand me, Moses?"

"Yea, I understand." Moses told my husband as we rode down the dirt mountain path towards the direction the cemetery was in.

A silence fell over us, the only sound being that of wagon wheels cracklin' over the fallen leaves on the road and horse hooves spatterin' in the muddy dirt road.


Pullin' up to the cemetery was heartbreakin'. This shouldn't be happenin', Skunk Hair should be wit' Vera an' Bridie not bein' buried six feet in the cold dark ground. Wagons and horses were lined up all 'long the dirt road that was next to the large green grass covered cemetery. Headstones littered the land, markin' the spots of the dead, while rollin' hills of West Virginia served as a backdrop of the place meant for final restin'. As we all got out of the wagon, I noticed that a countless amount of people were gathered 'round a freshly dug grave near a willow tree.

Reverend Garrett was by the grave an' the pine-box next to it. He had his bible open an' his head held high, a grim look on his face. Funny how he's the only preacher for ov'r 80 miles an' has to perform services for both of the feudin' families. Bet he's gonna be gettin' rich off all the deaths. Five funerals in nearly three weeks, thank 'bout a hefty payday. I know for a fact that he don't donate his services for free, charges a fee for funeral words.

Vera, my heart-sick an' broken best friend, was standin' under the willow wit' Bridie swaddled up in her arms. Both her dress an' the swaddlin' cloth was black, the sight of it broke my heart an' brought me to tears. Cap just placed a hand on my back, lightly rubbin' soothin' circles to try an' calm me down while givin' me a look full of support an' backbone. A look that I needed right now.

Moses was holdin' Anna's hand, walkin' in front of me an' my husband towards the willow tree. I could see that Mo's cerulean eyes were the size of quarters as he took in the large number of mourners at the funeral. Confusion was painted on my innocent daughter's face as she walked hand in hand wit' her uncle thru the crowd to get to where Vera was by that willow tree. Poor Anna, had no idea that she was at Skunkie's funeral. Skunkie was what she called Skunk Hair. She adored him, but I think that was cause she adored Cap an' Skunk Hair was his best friend and around a lot.

Me an' Cap came to a stop next to Vera under the willow tree. Moses was standing there as well, a sad look on his face. I left my husband's side and went over to comfort my friend. While placin' a supportive arm 'round Vera's shoulder's I told her in a heartfelt tone, "I'm so sorry, Vera. He was a good man. I'm here for ya as your friend."

Lookin' at me wit' tears in her eyes she told me in a soft, but shaky voice, "Thank you so much, Nova. Your friendship means so much right now that I've lost my Tom an' ain't got no family nearby no mores."

"Ya got me an' Cap, honey. I'm sure ya got the entire Hatfield clan as well, but me an' Cap'll help ya wit' Bridie any way we can." I told her, not even botherin' to ask my husband if I could say those words. I knew how Cap was, how the Hatfields seemed to take care of their own, and assumed that Vera'd be included in that.

Cap looked at Vera from his spot next to me while assurin' her in his deep timbre, "Nova's right, we're all behind ya, Vera. Skunk Hair as my best friend, I'll make sure ya'll are taken care of."

Cap nodded at the reverend, signallin' for him to get the service started. Reverend Garrett held his bible firmly while sayin' in a loud boomin' tone, "We're here today to give our goodbyes to Tom 'Skunk Hair' Wallace. For we shall not mourn, but rejoice that his murder wasn't in vain, but was a revelation of the dangers Satan has unleashed upon us all in this land." Oh, hell, I don't think that sentence's very comfortin' to Vera. My friend shook, sobbin', in my arms as the preacher went on to say, "Skunk Hair is a martyr and shall be welcome into the promised land by the embrace of the Lord himself." I noticed the both Cap, Devil Anse, an' Jim Vance cut eyes at the reverend, shootin' him looks that silently read 'Get this shit wrapped up'. A startled look passed ov'r the reverend's face while the gave diggers began to lower the casket into the ground. Reverend Garrett took a small breath before sayin', "Man returns to dust as his soul goes to the heavens. Dust to dust and ashes to ashes. Skunk Hair has returned to his maker, to the earth." The preacher then closed his mouth and looked 'tween the casket an' us under the willow tree signalin' it was time to place a handful of dirt into the grave.

Vera's lip trembled as she blinked back her tears and walked up to the hole in the ground that her husband was now in. Wit' a tight hold on her baby she bent down an' picked up a handful of dirt. She stood in front of the grave for a few silent moments 'fore tossin' the dirt into the grave. Vera took a light breath 'fore returnin' to stand by the willow tree. Moses held Anna hand and led her over to the grave, me an' Cap followin' them. My brother helped my daughter scoop up some dirt an' toss it into the grave. I felt horrible as I bent down, scoopin' up a handful of brown dirt to toss onto Skunk Hair's casket. This funeral's a tragedy, no call for it. Cap bent down an' grabbed a handful of dirt right whenever I tossed my handful into the grave. My husband stood up straight an' wore a hard face, hidin' his hurt, and threw his handful of dirt into his best friends gave. Once the dirt hit the casket wit' loud thunks Cap nodded his head at Moses, signalin' that it was time for us to go back to our spot underneath the Willow tree by Vera to let others toss their handful of dirt in.


After the funeral everyone gathered at Vera's house to pay their respects and drop off covered dishes. She seemed very grateful to everyone that showed up. I could tell that it meant a lot to her knowin' that she had the entire Hatfield clan to lean on for support. Me an' Cap, along wit' Anna an' Moses, were the last people to leave the Wallace homestead. We rode back to our place up the mountainous road in silence. Once we got back to our homestead my brother bid as farewell an' then went back to Pikeville, no doubt to do clerk work an' spyin'.

It's been a few hours now and the sky was a dark near black blue. Countless stars twinkled in the sky, shinnin' bright yellow; surroundin' the sliver crescent moon. Cap was rockin' on the front porch wit' a cigarette in one hand and his flask in the other. He was lookin' at the sky, studyin' the stars. He'd been out there for a while now. I didn't know how to approach him, ask him to come in, so I used the only excuse I could think of which was our daughter. It was strange callin' Rihanna Anna and Cap's daughter given we'd only been married a day. S'pose in time it'll seem all the normal, but now not so much.

I walked outside, my sleepy daughter right besides me, and stopped at my husband's side. "It's bout Anna's bed time. I was gonna put her down, reckoned I'd ask if ya wanted to help."

Cap turned his head an' looked at me, Anna too, 'fore pointin' to the sky wit' his cigarette an' sayin' in a deeply hoarse tone, "When someboy dies their soul becomes a star an' they watch ov'r their loved ones." Oh, I never heard of that 'fore. Hmm, must be a tradition the Hatfields have cause the McCoys say that there's no life after death other then heaven thru the Lord Savior Jesus Christ. I knew that the Hatfeilds weren't a religious bunch, I seemed to like their laid-back approach at church an' religion. I grew up 'round religious people an' lookin' back on it they're a hateful bunch. My own uncle put a price on my head so…

With a sad, but small smile, I softly asked, "What star do ya think's Skunk Hair?"

"That one right there's him. It's a new one." Cap said, pointin' to a bright yellow-white star 'fore takin' a drag off his smoke.

"Pa, how many stars are there?" Anna asked, lookin' 'tween Cap an' the sky.

"Too many to count, sweetie." Cap answered 'fore explainin', "Ever since man was created there's been stars an' death. Stars mark the heavens, when people pass their soul becomes a star as they reach heaven."

"What's a soul?" Oh boy, of course my 3-year-old would be asking all these questions. She never asked Tolbert questions, but yet 'gain he'd just bitch or wouldn't answer anyways. I hope Cap doesn't get aggravated, he did just bury his best friend since childhood today.

"An essence an' energy of a person. It goes back to the heavens when somebody dies." Cap explained, knockin' back a small sip from his flask an' he rocked in his chair.

"So Skunkie's a star in the heavens?" Anna innocently asked, her eyes glued onto the sparklin' sky.

"Yes, Anna, he is." I simply told my daughter, placin' a hand softly on her shoulder as we looked at the stars up in the sky.

Cap took another drink from his flask 'fore remarkin', "He'll be watchin' over everybody now, keepin' us all safe."

Anna tore her gaze from the sky and looked at Cap while sayin' in a sad an' small voice, "I miss Skunkie. He was nice."

"Yea, I miss him too." My husband nodded, a lost look quickly passin' over his face.

Watchin' Cap an' Anna have a bondin' moment, over a sad event, was heart meltin'. Cap was grievin' his best friend, was hurtin', but he wasn't takin' it out on Anna or me for that matter. He was dealin' wit' his emotions, hidin' them well in order to carry on.


AN:

I remember hearing once or twice that a death either brings a couple together or tears them apart. With Tolbert and Novella death always tore them apart, but with Cap and Novella it brings them together. They care about each other and try to comfort each other, etc. Deeper feelings still need to develop with Cap and Nova, in time they will. Right now, caring and a physical attraction's gotta make do. Moses has a dangerous job to do, acting as a spy for Novella and the Hatfields. Oh, Uncle Jim, gotta love that crotchety old drunk…I got the sense from the show that the only thing Jim Vance cared about other them himself was his dog and Cap so I try to expand on that, add in Cap's new wife and daughter (Nova and Anna) into that little bubble of people Jim cares for. And once again poor Skunk Hair.

The next chapter won't be til after the holiday. Johnse'll be in that one.