*Author's Note*

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Paper & Quill

Cap POV:

Wet patches were formin' in the knees of my pants as I was crouched down in the snow, hidden behind some bushes 'long the creek side road not that far from the saw mill. After dinner last night I went to the main house and told pa 'bout the bounty hunters Perry Cline was gonna dispatch. Pa was pleased wit' the information I got from Moses and set up a plan to catch the bounty hunters off guard. Reason why I was hidin' in sleet-snow covered ground 'hind a bush, waitin' to counter the ambush the bounty hunters were gonna pull on us, while pa was pacin' back an' forth on his black stallion as a way to bait them.

It felt like an eternity 'fore a group of riders appeared. I was ready t'shoot, my finger loosely pressed on the trigger of my Winchester, as I watched the group stop an' stare at pa. Their leader loudly demanded, "Show yourself!" Pa didn't say a word, just lifted his head and looked at the men with a cold an' deadly stare. "I said show yourself!" The leader of the men demanded once more in a loud shout.

Pa turned his head an' nodded, signalin' for us t'put down these dogs. Swiftly we all stood and fired, sendin' bullets flyin' thru the air with loud bangs an' pops. The bounty hunters fell off their horses as the bullets pierced them. Some landed on the ground, dead as a door nail, while others were wounded an' weakly crawlin' 'round.

We all emerged from the bushes and went over to the bodies to loot them or give them a final death blow if they were still holdin' on. Pa got off his horse and walked over to us while I was grabbin' some pistols off a dead man. "Bounty hunter trash." Uncle Jim spat as he shot a man crawlin' and bleedin' on the ground as he stood near me.

"Cap." Pa said in a loud pop of his tongue, causin' me to look at him while standin' up from the body I'd just looted. "Get your paper and quill. Time to put McCoy on notice." Pa ordered as I was stuffin' my newly acquired pistol into my coat pocket.

I just nodded while Jim bent down and searched the jacket of the man he'd just shot. Smackin' my leg wit' a paper and pencil he'd found, my burly uncle told me, "Boy, use this to write that letter."

"Men, put the dead back on 'em horses." Pa ordered, pointin' the dead bounty hunters and to their horses. "We're gonna show McCoy and Cline what happens when ya cross us, try t'hunt us." Pa remarked as Lias, Alex Messer, Frenchie, Lark, Cotton, and some other men were pickin' up bodies and slingin' them over the back of the horses. "Either they heed the warnin' or they end up like these men 'ere."

I was sittin' on the ground, knees bend upright, wit' the backside of a bloody wanted poster leanin' on my knees as I wrote down a warnin' message wit' my pencil for McCoy. I knew that McCoy was illiterate and Perry Cline read all of his letters, that I learned from my wife, so I made sure the words I used were bold and that my sentences would make that snake of a lawyer swallow his teeth and stare at the note wide-eyed.

Lookin' over at me pa asked, "Son, ya almost done wit' that letter?"

"Yea, pa." I nodded as I finished up printin' the last few words of the letter.

"Pin it to the lead bounty hunter's sleeve when it's finished." Pa instructed as he watched Lias tie the reigns of all the horses together, groupin' 'em up.

"Yes, sir." I simply told pa as I folded up the bloody paper the note was on.

"Anse, I reckon me an' your boy Cap can leave the horses ground tied few miles outside of Pikeville. One of the other scumbags comin' in an' outta town'll find 'em." My gruff mountain man uncle told my pa 'fore spittin' a large wad of tobacky juice on the ground near his mud encrusted booted feet.

Pa just nodded his head silently at Jim, singalin' that he approved of his suggestion. "Men, to the loggin' camp. Let's salvage some of the day." Pa told everyone as I made my way over to the lead bounty hunter, pinnin' the note onto the edge of his sleeve.

"Come on, Cap. Let's drop off these dogs to their keeper." Uncle Jim chuckled as he grabbed the reigns of the lead horse.

Looks like I'm takin' a stroll 'cross the Tug today since my horse is back at the lumber yard. Quietly I just nodded at my unkempt mountain man uncle and started to walk down the road. He didn't say a word, but I knew we was followin' me cause the sound of multiple hooves smackin' an' clangin' in the dirt road echoed throughout the crisp winter air.


Novella POV:

I was visitin' Vera this mornin', checkin' up on her since I knew she must be havin' a hard time with Skunk Hair gone. It hasn't even been a month yet, I knew her heart was still broken and she was still sad. I considered her my best friend and was gonna be there for her. I had brought her over a tin of cookies that I baked as a kind and friendly gesture. With her still bein' a new widow I doubt she was feelin' up to bakin' holiday cookies.

We were sittin' at her table havin' some coffee while Anna and Bridie were on a blanket in the main room nearby. Well, Anna was sittin' an' watchin' the baby while said baby just kicked her long legs and wiggled 'round on the floor. "She'll make a great big sister." Vera told me, voicin' the exact same thought I had in my head as if she could read my mind.

"I'm not pregnant yet, Vera." I told her, pickin' my cup up and bringin' it to my lips to take a sip off it.

"Not yet, but in time you will be." My best friend told me with a thin smirk 'fore takin' a sip of her coffee.

The sooner I got pregnant the better since my desire to have a baby was overwhelmin'. I wanted more chil'ren an' my husband did too. Of course, we weren't focused on it, but me fallin' with child quick would be a blessin'. Just like my friend just said, in time I'll be pregnant.

"Are you insistin' that me an' my husband can't keep our hands off of each other?" I asked in a slight giggle, my cheeks turnin' a shade of rosy pink as I jested with the brunette sittin' 'cross from me at the table.

"Why of course I am, honey." Vera smiled, a teasin' tone to her lightly drawled out voice. "So, how are ya'll doin'?" She asked, clearly referring to how my first month, or near it, of marriage was goin'.

"We're doin' good. Cap's a good man an' pa, he's also easy to get 'long with." I honestly revealed with a small smile.

"That's good, but how are your feelin's towards him?" Vera clarified, a curious look in her big brown eyes.

"He's my husband and I care for him."

"Just care for him?" Vera asked rhetorically, her brow raised. Silently I nodded my head, which only prompted her to tell me, "Oh, come on, Nova, ya'll were in an affair for some time and now you're married. Don't tell me he doesn't mean somethin' to ya, somethin' special."

"Vera, I-" I began with every intent to deny whatever it was I felt for Cap only to end up sighin' out truthfully, "I suppose he means a lot to me."

"And you mean a lot to him." She smiled softly. Grabbin' her cup and takin' a quick sip she took me by surprise by tellin' me, "Tom told me so 'fore he died. Said he even told Cap to talk to ya 'bout it and to resume things wit'cha."

A sad half smile took over my face as I told her, "Skunk Hair was a good man, good friend to Cap and our family too."

"We're not religious folks, but we wanted you an' Cap to be Bridie's godparents. We were gonna ask the next time we had dinner, but…" But Skunk Hair was murdered, gruesomely, 'fore that could happen.

"How're ya doin' without him? You can be honest, I won't judge." I softly asked while pickin' up my cup and takin' a small sip of coffee.

"I'm sad an' miss him somethin' terrible, but I got our daughter to remember him by." I nodded at her, showin' her that I understood where she was comin' from. Anna's what kept me from fallin' into a deep depression after I lost Bert and then Tol. A baby, a child, will take your mind off of your hurt and pain just enough for those feelin's of despair to stay at bay. "You know that Brigid was the name he suggested cause he had an older sister named Brigid, Bridie for short." I just shook my head while Vera sipped on her coffee. "He adored her, but she married and moved to Ohio when he was 12-13-years old. They lost touch since she, like him, didn't get 'long wit their folks and didn't keep in contact."

'Fore I could say a word loud pops echoed in the crisp cold air. Since it was so cold out sound traveled throughout the air, somethin' 3 or 4 miles 'way sounded closer then it was. I knew in my gut tho what and who cause those gunshots. My husband and the rest of the Hatfield clan.

"What in the world was that?" Vera asked over the sound of her baby cryin'.

"Mama, Bridie's upset. Loud noise scared her." Anna told me as she sat next to the wailin' baby, lookin' at me wit' a startled look.

"I know, sweetie." I told my daughter while both me an' Vera stood up from the table. "The men took down a group of bounty hunters. Those were gun shots" I honestly told Vera as we rushed over to where our girls were at on the floor.

Quickly she scooped her baby up into her arms while I knelt down next to Anna an' checked up on her. "Don't be scared, everythin's okay. The sounds far 'way from here." I gently told my daughter, grabbin' her hand and pullin' her to stand up wit' me.

"Okay, mama." Anna simply nodded her head while clingin' to my skirts. I just patted her on the back, reassurin' her that she was fine.

Pattin' Bridie's back while swayin' back and forth soothingly, Vera asked, "Why'd ya say that?"

"Moses stopped by yesterday wit' word that Perry'd be dispatchin' a group of bounty hunters to the creek side road near the saw mill. Cap told Devil Anse the news after dinner an' they came up wit' a plan to ambush 'em."

"Oh…" Rolled off Vera's tongue in a slight linger.

"I'm gonna go home now. Let ya calm down an' tend to Bridie." I told Vera, sensin' that she needed some alone time wit' her baby to process everythin' that I just told her.

"Okay." The brunette smiled 'fore suggestin' to me, "Maybe I'll stop by for a visit in a few days."

"Feel free to come over for dinner soon. The house is always open t'you and Bridie." I offered with a smile to my friend, remindin' her that she was welcomed at my house anytime since she was a big part of me and Cap's life.

"I'll be over soon, in a few days." Vera told me, settin' up a dinner plan for some time this week.

I just smiled and nodded 'fore tellin' her, "That'll be great. Bye, Vera."

"Bye-bye Vera." Anna cheerfully told the slender brunette who was holdin' her baby close an' rockin' her.

"Bye ya'll. Have a nice rest o'your day." Vera told me and my daughter with a soft, but thin smile on her face.

Still holdin' Anna's hand I led her over to the hooks by the door to grab our coats. I helped Anna into hers, quickly doin' up the buttons, 'fore tossin' on mine. Silently I opened the door, took my daughter's hand, and walked out of the house and onto the porch. The cool air was bitin' and bone chillin' as we walked down the porch steps and over to the wagon.

"Mama, it's cold." Anna told me as I loaded her up onto the front seat.

"Soon 'nough we'll be home were it's warm." I told her as I rounded the wagon and climbed up into it. Grabbin' the reigns an' steerin' the wagon 'way from the Wallace house I looked over at Anna and suggested wit' a smile, "How 'bout we make a hearty stew for dinner. Pa's out in this cold workin', think he'll like that to et when he gets home?"

"Yea, pa'll like that to et." Anna told me with a big smile as the wagon wheels were crunchin' on sleet and snow that was dusted on the dirt road as we rode home.


Moses POV:

The school teacher, an old maid named Miss Graves, gave us a half day and sent us home since she was behind on gradin' our assignments. Since it was lunch time, I knew that Uncle Perry and Ole Rand'l would be at the diner so I decide to go there to meet them. Hey, I'd rather deal wit' my uncle and the drunk McCoy patriarch then that reformed whore that's playin' housekeeper at home.

I can't stand Misty, the sooner she leaves town the better. She's nice, but in my opinion she's too nice. Like she acts like she's my mother hen or somethin' everytime I enter my house. With her it's always somethin' like, 'Wipe your dirty boots on the door mat, Moses.' or 'Straighten your shirt out Moses, it'll wrinkle.', or my favorite one of all, 'Moses, don't sit out on the porch without your coat. It's cold out.'

I don't need Tolbert's mistress playin' mother hen wit' me, I got a sister to keep me on the straight and narrow. Hell, I got my sister and her entire Hatfield family to worry bout me now. I don't need some whore makin' me her concern. Nova's not even as smotherin' as Misty is either.

I was walkin' down the wooden sidewalk, a bunch of boys that were classmates of mine where runnin' and chasin' each other down the walkway, whenever I spotted Uncle Perry and Ole Rand'l up 'head. I had to bite back my laughter whenever my classmates nearly ran into them, causin' them to quickly jump back on their heels to avoid fallin'.

"Uncle Perry, school teacher gave us half a day." I called out to my foxlike uncle, wavin' as I made my way towards him.

"Ah, I see." Uncle Perry nodded, standin' in place so that I could walk up to him. Ole Rand'l just stood next to my uncle starin' into space, much like a lost child does. "Well, then, Moses, join us for lunch." My uncle suggested as I stopped right in front of him on the wooden walkway.

"Are we goin' to the diner?" I asked as we started to walk together in a group. Me, my uncle, and drunk McCoy.

"Yes." My uncle answered me 'fore quickly addin' in the reason for goin' to the diner bein', "Ole Rand'l's not too fond of our housekeeper."

"She disgusts me." Ole Rand'l spat with his nose scrunched up. Ah, so Uncle Perry told him exactly who Misty is. That's the only reason I can think of for him not likin' her.

"Don't be so harsh on the girl, cousin." Uncle Perry advised Ole Rand'l as we walked down the sidewalk, inchin' closer to the diner. Ole Rand'l just shook his head, quietly let out a huff of disgust and protest. My uncle placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder while slickly tellin' him, "The baby she's carryin's part McCoy, belongs to Tolbert. That baby's the key to snapping Sally out of her half-mad state." Pattin' the man on the back my uncle smirked, "I'll be by for dinner tonight to discuss the details on the newest McCoy baby due in a couple of months."

Ole Rand'l just nodded his head, acceptin' Perry's plans as we reached the door of our destination. Uncle Perry reached to grab the door handle whenever a man's voice behind us stopped him with, "Man down the road says you're the lawyer, Perry Cline."

My uncle spun on his heel and looked at the man talkin' to him. The man was on a horse with a bunch of other horses teamed up 'hind him, bein' led in by him no doubt. "Yes, I'm Perry Cline. This here is Ole Rand'l McCoy and my nephew, Moses Quincey. What business do you have with us?"

"Name's Miller." Okay, I don't think my uncle or McCoy cares 'bout your name tho. I know I don't. "Found these 'ere horses ground tied few miles from town." The man explained, cockin' his head towards the group of horses that had dead bodies slung ov'r them. Aha, so Cap and the Hatfields used my tip an' took down the bounty hunters. Good for them. "Letter was pinned on the lead horse. Addressed to you Mr. Cline and to you Mr. McCoy." Mr. Miller told my uncle and the drunk, holdin' the letter out for one of 'em to take.

Uncle Perry quickly snatched the letter, which was written on the back of a bloodstained wanted poster, and unfolded it only to widen his eyes and blanch a bit. Takin' a calmin' breath and puttin' a stern look on his foxlike face my uncle loudly announced to every passer-by, "Hatfields have written a letter to Mr. McCoy and myself. A letter I'm sure is very damnin'." Oh, he saw somethin' in it that spooked him, if not he wouldn't be makin' a big spectacle outta readin' it. He wants the town to hear it for a reason, his shyster ass don't do nothin' without an ulterior motive. Clearin' his throat he read, "My name is Nat Hatfield, I am not one, but many." The crowd all looked confused, but my uncle continued on with, "We ask that you stop sending your men into West Virginia to hunt Hatfields. If you continue to do so your hides will pay the price." The group of town's folk gathered 'round looked fearful as my uncle looked up from the letter in his hands and said, "This is a good written confession of the deeds and intentions of the Hatfields."

Ole Rand'l snatched the letter from my Uncle Perry's hand 'fore goin' over to stand by the horses Mr. Miller brought. Holdin' the letter high up in the air he hollered, "Devil Anse Hatfield threatens to kill us all!" Pointin' to the dead bounty hunters he added in a loud boomin' tone, "Just like he did these men! He wants to kill us!"

Oh lord…Ole Rand'l's tryin' to rile up the town. Well, there goes my peaceful lunch. Uncle Perry and Ole Rand'l are gonna be schemin' and bondin' over their hatred of the Hatfields. My best bets to go home and deal wit' the annoyin' housekeeper.


Calvin POV:

Alifair was slavin' way at the stove while I was sittin' at the table, havin' coffee with pa and Perry. The chil'ren were scattered 'round the room, playin' wit' their toys, while Billy an' Moses were talkin' 'bout somethin' while sittin' on the lower steps of the stairs. Moses had been actin' odd since Thanksgivin', he won't go too far into the house an' avoids the main room an' my ma at all costs. I dunno what's goin' on wit' him, but I think his sister's absence is messin' with his head.

"Ole Rand'l, look at poor Aunt Sally sufferin' from the heartbreak of losin' her sons." Perry said with pity heavy in his voice, nudgin' his head slightly towards the corner ma was in. He took a long sip of his coffee 'fore sayin' in a knowin' tone, "The loss of her favorite son in particular has her near broken, but surely his newborn can snap her out of her depression."

"Tolbert's child with that whore's a bastard, Perry." Pa spat, his nose crunchin' up in disgust. "I'm not too sure I want it under my food, not even sure it'll help out my wife." Pa sighed, his knuckles whitenin' as he held his mug in a crushin' grip.

The lawyer let out a long sigh 'fore givin' pa a piercin' look. "If you don't take it in, cousin, the baby won't have a home. I'll be forced to have my friend Senator Billings find it a home in an orphanage somewhere in the city."

"I'll take it on as my own." I spoke up, not even thinkin' 'bout what I was doin'. Both pa and Perry looked at me like I'd just sprouted 'nother head. Quickly I explained my outburst with, "It's what Tolbert would've wanted, he was gonna give the baby to Novella after sayin' he adopted or found it."

"Calvin, you'll be responsible for the baby. From raisin' it to providin' for it, I won't be spendin' money on a baby that ain't mine." Pa told me in a very level an' stern tone. His eyes were hard as stone as he stared at me, tryin' to get his point 'cross.

"I understand, pa, an' I'll take care of it." I firmly told him. I intended on keepin' my word too. "The burden won't fall on ya an' ma can tend to the baby only if she wants too." I added, lettin' my pa know that the offer of ma bein' involved wit' the baby, my adopted baby, was open to her always.

"Well, then, looks like that's settled." Perry smirked while givin' me a nod of approval.

Pa just let out a gruff breath 'fore snatchin' his coffee mug from the table and takin' a long sip off it. I nodded at Perry 'fore lookin' over at my ma, who was sittin' in her corner rocker by the fireplace starin' aimlessly out the front window. I wonder if Perry's right an' a gran'baby can snap her out of her despair. I looked over the room casually while bringin' my cup to my lips only to notice Moses starin' at me instead of listenin' to whatever Billy was tellin' him. His gaze on me felt studious an' uneasy, made me shake my head an' turn my attention to starin' at the table I was sittin' at.

Moses POV:

Damn, Calvin just agreed to take on Tolbert an' Misty's bastard as his own. Raise the baby as if it was his child all for the sake of savin' the McCoy name and keepin' men rallied to hunt Hatfields. Oh boy… I don't blame Ole Rand'l for not wantin' the burden of his late son's bastard. The ole drunkard seemed to have a moment of lucidity there. I doubt that baby's gonna bring Sally back into a normal mindless. Maybe slow down the progression of her depression, but I doubt fully end it.

"Mo? Mo, ya listenin'?" Billy barked while swattin' me on my arm, pullin' me out of my thoughts.

"Uh, yea, yea I'm listenin'." I quickly muttered, noddin' my head an' hopin' that my friend wouldn't notice that I wasn't payin' attention to him at all.

"Like I was sayin', since Jefferson's married to Sarah now I was thinkin' that I could go over to the Wolford's more often to see Mariah, but just use the 'cuse that I'm visitin' our cousin."

"Uh, Billy, visitin' a few times a month's fine, but don't make it too much like a handful of times every week."

"Why not? What's wrong wit' me goin' t'visit half of the week?" Billy asked, lookin' at me with a curious and slightly scrunched look on his chubby face. 'Fore I could even answer his question he told me in a haughty tone, "The Wolford's place is on the path home from the dairy farmer I do odd jobs an' chores for."

While shakin' my head at my best friend I sighed, "It just seems a bit obsessive an' stalkerish t'go ov'r there every other day or somethin'. 'Specially since Mariah don't like you."

"Course she likes me." Billy arrogantly told me 'fore quickly addin' in the sarcastic question of, "Who else could she like other than me?"

"Robert E." I deadpanned with a serious look on my face.

"That Hatfield? Please, stop joshin' me." Billy scoffed, a slight smirk pullin' up his chubby cheeks.

Billy's an idiot, I should push him down the stairs to knock some sense into his fat head. I'm not joshin' him, I'm tellin' him the truth. He's gonna make a fool outta himself runnin' after a girl that don't want him. I imagine he's tryin' so hard cause in a couple years he plans on snatchin' her up an' marryin' her. Hell, can't Billy just be a normal 13-year-old an' worry 'bout guns, huntin', an' the like instead of worryin' 'bout a girl that hates him? I can see I'm gonna have trouble on my hands when it comes to my best friend an' tryin' to get him to tame down his obsession for Mariah Wolford.

It ain't normal, ain't right, to be obsessin' that bad over somebody. Hell, wonder if that's how Tolbert was wit' my sister. If so, no wonder Nova got stuck marryin' that jackass. Thankfully she's free o'him now an' with a man that treats her right. Seems to me that the Hatfields are a bit more normal then the McCoys, but it ain't my place to judge an' point fingers. Oh, who the hell am I kiddin' I'm the biggest finger pointer judger out there. McCoys are a bit off their rocker these days if ya ask me, an' my Uncle Perry's just as out of it with blind vengeance himself.

If it weren't for me gettin' useful an' life savin' information from evesdroppin' at my uncle's law office I'd be runnin' 'way from home an' goin' to my sister's 'cross the Tug. Everyone in Pike County's losin' it these days if ya ask me. Either they come to their senses or I'm doomed to deal wit' their bullshit. Sadly, the latter seems most likely as of now.


AN:

Pay attention closely to Moses and Billy's interactions, it gives off clues to a possible reason why Sally's vision might come true. Anyways I hope ya'll liked this chapter.