*Author's Note*
Thanks for all of the follows, faves, and reviews.
I hope that everyone ha a good holiday season. Sorry it took a while to get this out. I kept forgetting to write up this chapter cause I've been obsessed with playing Assasin's Creed Odysessy (got it for Christmas for PS4). Oh and playing as Alexios is nice too since he's hot LOL! But seriously tho the storyline of the game's good.
Tree Of Life
Moses POV:
The ground was covered with a white blanket of snow. It crunched under my boots as walked thru the woods' entrance to Tolbert's old still site, which was on the far edge of the cabin's property. Property that was now owned by Senator Billings Brooksdale. I was at the old still site cause I was gonna search it, see if I could find somethin' hidden or left behind by Tolbert.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, sounded out in the cool crisp late December air as I trudged to the makeshift wooden shelter that housed the copper an' tin still. I took in that the still was made well, so I reckon my late brother-in-law was had some talent not just in woodwork, but in metal work too. Hmm, shame tha idoit was a useless drunk instead of makin' good on his talents. If he was smart, he would've taken up carpentry or gotten a good wit' the blacksmith or wainwright, but that ginger jackass wasn't too smart…
I stopped an' stood under the crude wooden shelter, my hands stuffed in my coat pockets. I looked ov'r the area, ponderin' where to begin my search. I noticed in the far-left corner of the outbuildin' a stack of empty crates. They looked as if they were a marker for somethin' since they were stacked oddly, not straight an' even. Hmm, perhaps he hid somethin' under there? Quickly I went over to the crates an' flung them to the side. Once the ground was cleared an' exposed I noticed that the dirt looked disturbed, like it'd been dug up at some point. Figurin' that I found the spot Tolbert's buried treasure was located in I dropped to my knees an' frantically dug the dirt with my bare hands.
My fingers were frozen by time I uncovered what was beneath the cold ground. Ignorin' the tinglin' in my fingers I picked up my prize, a large glass jar. My hands ached from the cold as I unscrewed the lid off the dirty jar. Quickly I poured the contents of the jar out on the floor. Coins an' paper money came tumblin' out accompanied by some folded up papers. Aha, those must be the legal papers I was lookin' for.
I noticed strewn in the pile I dumped on the ground a thin golden glint. I curiously picked it up, only to end up wit' my sister's locket in my hand. I knew it was hers just by the intricate celtic knots engraved into it. As I understand it was a birthday and engagement gift from Tolbert to Nova, one that she wore ever single day 'til the death of Tol an' in result the death of her marriage. I knew, just as my sister did, that the marriage was over way 'fore Tolbert's death by Cap an' the Hatfields' firin' squad.
I had no idea if Nova gave Tolbert back the locket or if he took if from her jewelry box once she stopped wearin' it, but him stickin' it in his jar an' buryin' it wit' important papers an' money must mean that the locket's important on some level. Bein' my typical nosy self I opened up the locket, revealin' on one side a picture of Tolbert and on the other a small family portrait of Tolbert, Nova, Anna, and Tol. Hmm, no wonder my sister stopped wearin' the locket after the death of her 6-month-old son, the family was fractured an' no longer the happy (who am I bullshittin' I mean stoic lookin') family in the photo.
Decidin' that the locket's better off buried I dropped it back into the empty jar, then I grabbed the folded-up paper to look at it. After briefly readin' over the paper I discovered that it was indeed the legal document I needed. Quickly I stuffed the paper along with the money into my pocket, then I reburied the jar an' left the old still site.
Knowin' I needed a cover story for why I'm out in this area, in case somebody spots me an' tells my uncle, I mounted my horse an' made my way to where I knew Billy'd be. It wasn't his scheduled day to work for the dairyman half-hour 'way, so I knew he'd be in his deer stand few miles 'way from the McCoy cabin just sittin' 'round an' hidin' from his family. Eh, can't say I blame him since I'd wanna avoid that crazy family too.
After a lil while of ridin' I came 'cross the woods that Billy's deer tree stand was in. I stopped my horse an' looked up, only to see Billy starin' down at me. Wit' a chuckle he said, "D'cided to play hookie t'hang out wit' me an' shoot some deer?"
"Yea, but we both know you're not huntin' deer. You're here cause ya don't wanna be home on your day off from that dairy farm." I heckled my dark auburn-haired friend, my voice boomin' throughout the woods as I looked up at him wit' a know-it-all smirk painted on my face.
Billy waved at me while scoffin', "Shut up, Mo, an' get yerself up 'ere."
"I'm comin', I'm comin'." I grumbled, quickly startin' my climb up the tree. I scrambled up the wooden grippin' notches that Billy installed on the bark of the large tree. "So, got any jerky or somethin' t'et up here?" I asked my best friend as I landed on the large wooden board that was the structure of the tree stand.
Pointin' to a corner of the stand we were in Billy told me, "Yea, in that bag ov'r there."
"So, are ya really tryin' t'bag a buck or ya avoidin' the family?" I asked, in a friendly manner, as I went over to the corner and grabbed a small sack off of a makeshift table created crudely from crates an' small boards
"Lil bit o'both." He answered in a chuckle, his round cheeks pullin' his mouth up into a humorous smile, as I made my way over to where he was at.
Takin' a seat next to my best friend I pointed out, "Least ya gotta work t'morrow."
"Yea, and you gotta do yer schoolin'." Billy retorted, rollin' his eyes at me 'fore snatchin' a piece of jerky from the bag I was openin'.
"Yep." I popped, 'fore takin' a slice of jerky outta the bag an' tearin' into it with my teeth. I actually had other plans for tomorrow, but he didn't need t'know that. "So, how's your ma, pa, an' the rest of 'em doin'?" I politely asked, even know truthfully, I didn't give two shits. Was just tryin' to be nice since inquirn' bout people's family is what good friends do.
"Eh, as good as they can be." Billy shrugged, starin' down into the hill filled woods below us. Turnin' his gaze on me he sighed heavily, "Ma says I shouldn't be yer friend no more. That ya gonna end up changin', betrayin' our trust an' brotherhood."
Really, crazy Aunt Sally warned him bout me? Shit… Whatever's in the future must be bad, but I'd never do nothin' to hurt him. Billy's been my best friend since I moved in wit' Uncle Perry. Sally has to be wrong or titched in the head. Her visions can't be right.
"So?..." I asked, the single word drippin' curiously off my tongue. I was studyin' him, tryin' to read his facial features to reveal what he was perhaps thinkin' inside of his head.
"I don't think she's right. Just think she's par'noid cause o'what happened to my brothers. What yer sister did too."
"Oh…" I trailed a bit warily, my head slowly noddin'.
"We're best friends, as close as brothers, an' nothin's gonna change that." Billy nudged me in the arm with his elbow. A resolute an' reassurin' look was on his face 'fore it turned into a firm line of a smirk.
I hope not. "Yea." I nodded. "So, reckon we ought'a stake out some deer an' hunt." I suggested, grabbin' a piece of jerky from the bag in my hands an' tearin' a piece of with my teeth.
Billy reached over and snatched a piece of jerky from the bag in my grasp while remarkin', "No deer been by yet." Quickly he tore into his jerky. As he chewed, he told me wit confidence, "But if they come thru we'll get 'em."
"Ya mean I'll bag one an' you'll hit it. I'm the better shot 'tween us."
"How'd ya learn t'sho not so good?"
"Things used t'be different ya know. We both had our older siblin's an' they were married." I offered as a safe answer, leavin' it up to the dark-auburn haired teen to me to assume that Tolbert had taught me. What? It was no secret that Tolbert was an avid hunter. Wasn't a stretch to think that he taught me, instead of the truth that Nova taught me.
"Oh…" Billy sighed sadly, his face fallin' as his eyes got a dull look in them. He stared hollowly out into the vast spacious woods as his voice lost its luster wit' his honest, but sorrowful confession of, "I wish he could've taught me. I had'a learn of off makin' myself targets t'shoot at in these 'ere woods."
Great, now I made my best friend feel miserable. Good goin' there, Mo. Pattin' him on the back I gave him a thin line of a smile, one hopefully comin' across as positive an' helpful. "It is what is is, can't change it, but we do got some good memories." That was a lie, I never had a good memory with my late brother-in-law. He was a hot-headed jackass, we bucked heads. I personally like the brother-in-law I got now. "Now let's stake out some bucks t'bag."
I pulled hard an' quick on my reigns, bringin' my horse to a quick stop, as I spotted Mariah emergin' from her hidin' spot 'hind a tree in the woods not far from her home. Sprintin' up to my horse she gasped in an awed shock, "You came."
"Yea, course I did. I promised to take ya ov'r to the loggin' camp t'see Robert E. didn't I?" I snapped, rollin' my eyes as I held my hand out for her, so that I could help swing her on the back of Scout.
"Yes, you did, but I was worried ya wouldn't come." She meekly admitted, as she came to a stop by my side.
"Hop on, we can't stay 'round here too long 'less ya wanna get caught." I ordered in a slight hiss. Mariah just nodded an' placed her hand in mine. Quickly I helped her onto the back of the horse. It took her a minute or so to get settled 'fore she placed her hands on my shoulders.
"Will it take long t'get there?" Mariah asked, curiosity high in her voice, as I took off trottin' down the wooden trail.
"I dunno, we'll get there when we get there." I spurred on my horse, feelin' an urge to get as far 'way from Mariah's house vicinity as possible. "I gotta use back trails so…" I trailed off over the sound of Scout's heavy hooves smashin' an' crunchin' into the twig an' leaf covered ground. "Billy's workin' today, so I hope that cover story the mailman's givin' ya's a good one." I told Mariah as I spotted a the area up 'head that I needed to veer off on, needed to change trails at.
"It is."
"Better be."
Mariah didn't say anythin' back, just remained silent. I was grateful for that, since I didn't really wanna talk. I had to concentrait on gettin' us 'cross the Tug without gettin' caught, last thing I needed was talkin'. Hell, voices could attract unwanted attention. I mean who the hell knows who's in these hills anymore. Friend or foe come in many different forms. I for one learned that keepin' to the hidden trails an' shortcuts my sister told me 'bout is my safest bet.
After an unknown amount of time trottin' long hidden trails, we made it into West Virginia an' were able to use a real road. After a small while of ridin' on the road the clearin' to the Hatfield lumber mill came into sight. Thank goodness.
"Well, here's Devil Anse's loggin' enterprise." I announced to Mariah, a cheerful tone to my voice, as I pointed to the camp a few yards 'way. "I'll help ya find Robert E., 'fore I go off to see Jim an' Cap." I told Mariah as our horse trotted over the mud and sleet covered ground.
"Thank you for doin' this, Moses." Mariah gratefully told me as we rode towards the entrance of the saw mill.
"It's nothin', I don't mind helpin' ya out. I mean I'm comin' over here an' Robert E.'s kin in a way. So…" I rambled an' trailed off as I rode into the camp, recievin' waves and nods from the loggers as I did.
"But still, ya don't have to help." Eh, reckon she's right 'bout that. Yea, I don't have to do it, but I'd feel bad if I didn't help her and Robert E. out. "It means a lot that you are, since everybody else back home wouldn't." I heard the girl behind me say as I guided the horse over to the hitchin' area.
"Everyone back home's bullshitted by Uncle Perry an' Ole Rand'l." I spat out lowly, pullin' to a stop right at an open hitch post.
"Yea…" Mariah sighed out in a long sad soundin' huff as I got down from the horse.
I heard her feet land on the ground as I tied Scout's reigns to the post, my back to her. The sounds of wood bein' cut filled the air wit' loud buzzes as the saws ran furiously. When I turned my attention back to Mariah, I noticed that she was hesitantly lookin' 'round, takin' in the environment of the saw mill.
"Come on, let's find Robert E. for ya." I gestured for Mariah to follow me as I walked 'way from the hitchin' area an' towards were I suspected Robert E.'d be at, by the area were logs ready to cut were piled up.
I could her Mariah followin' right behind me, her heeled boots tappin' 'gainst the ground wit' every step taken. When I spotted Robert E. at a log pile helpin' some man, who I didn't know the name of, I waved at him an' shouted, "Robert E., I got Mariah 'ere to see ya."
Robert E.'s toffee colored head popped up as he looked at me, a large grin splittin' his face as he spotted the dark-haired girl right ov'r my shoulder. "I gotta see 'em for a sec, I'll be real quick." I herd him tell his co-worker as me an' Mariah reached him. Lookin' at me he said, "Moses, ya didn't have no trouble gettin' her over here, did ya?" Quickly his attention turned to the girl I escorted, his eyes twinklin' an' softenin'. "Oh, Mariah, it's so good t'see ya"
Oh yea, these two were gonna be sweethearts. Well, actually they already were… Young bloomin' and blossomin' love, how sweet. Eh, better them then me. I ain't the type to swoon an' get mush-headed over a girl. Hey, I flirt and tug on some girls' braids an' pigtails teasin'ly, but I ain't lookin' to find the one til I'm much older. Like thirty.
"Nope. Kept to the back trails." I answered Robert E. while at the same time Mariah sweetly smiled, "It's good seein' you too, Robert E."
"I'm gonna go see Jim an' Cap 'fore headin' off to my sister's. Know where they are?" I remarked, knowin' that the friends err buddin' couple wanted some time to talk an' visit 'tween him workin'.
"They're on patrol. Either they're walkin' 'round or spotted ya an' makin' their way 'ere."
I nodded, acceptin' his answer. Bouncin' my weight from one foot to the other I told my friends, "I'll be back in a couple hours to take her back to Kentucky."
"Okay." Both Mariah and Robert E. told me as they stood next to each other, ready to talk an' visit.
I gave them one last nod 'fore walkin' off in order to find my brother-in-law and his uncle in order to say a quick hi and warn 'em 'bout Mr. Miller's plan to scope out the Mate Creek Tavern tonight.
The smell of fresh baked bread hung heavily in the air as I pushed open the front door an' walked right on into my sister's house. "Moses, how was your holiday?" I heard my sister ask me as I took my hat off, hangin' it on the wall hook near the door. "Hi, Unca Mo." My niece cheerfully greeted me from her spot at the table as I took my coat off, hangin' it by my hat.
"Hey, Anna. Ya helpin' cook?" I asked my niece as soon as I turned 'way from the wall hooks an' began my trek into the kitchen.
"Yea. We made bread." Anna proudly announced, a wide beamin' smile on her face.
"Yea, it smells good." I told the girl, smilin', as I took a seat at the table wit' her. Lookin' at my sister, who was cleanin' up snow peas, I answered her question wit' a simple, "Christmas was like it always is. Church an' dinner at the McCoys." My eyes noticed that my sister's usually bare neck was no longer so and was now adorned wit' a golden knotted tree necklace. Yggdrasil, the tree of life, if I remembered my mythology correctly. "Cap get'cha that for Christmas?" I asked, gesturin' to her necklace wit' a flick of my wrist. Eh, I knew the answer was yes, but I just wanted to hear it confirmed outta my sister's mouth. I'm glad he got her the necklace. New necklace to go wit' a new man, family, an' life. It's all very poetic if ya ask me.
Novella POV:
One of my hands went to the gold pendant restin' right below my neck an' held it. A blissful smile crossed my face as I thought 'bout my husband for a mere moment. Noddin' I let go of the charm while tellin' my brother, "Yes, he did." I grabbed a pea an' proceeded to clean it. "Cap noticed I hadn't worn my old necklace since-well ya know-and thought it was time for me to start wearin' somethin' 'gain."
"Yggdrasil." Evenly fell off Moses' lips 'fore he asked with a smirk an' a raised brow, "Does he know what that is or he just think it's a pretty tree?"
While grabbin' some more snow peas I chuckled 'fore tellin' my brother, "He knows, he's well read an' knows a lot 'bout myths an' such things." The large bookshelf near the fireplace bein' filled to the hilt should be 'nough proof that my husband's well read. All the books in it are his. He even bought some more, for gifts to me, for Christmas.
"Good." Mo nodded, the messy bun on the top half of his head bobbin'. Lookin' at Anna wit' a smile my brother suggested, "Why don't 'cha go play wit' one of your new toys, I gotta talk t'mama 'bout somethin' that's grown up talk."
"Okay." Anna simply agreed, noddin' her head wit' a smile, 'fore quickly doin' what she was told. Leavin' the kitchen an' takin' off to go get a toy from her room, which was upstairs.
Moses craned his neck, watchin' Anna pitter-patter over to the stairs. Once she finished ascendin' up them my brother looked at me while pullin' a folded-up piece of paper out of his shirt pocket. Slappin' it on the table he told me, "Tolbert had a will an' what not drawn up and not by Uncle Perry. He named Calvin the benefactor and overseer of you, Anna, the house, and all financial aspects." What? Is he serious? Upon seein' my shocked look he pointed to the paper an' announced, "It's all in there. Calvin told me bout the set up on Christmas and I found the paper." With a stony look on his face he snarled, "Uncle Perry's a liar, a thief, and a forger." Pointin' once more at the papers he smirked, "If put in the right hands, these papers could get him disbarred an' end the feud."
"I'll talk to Cap 'bout this, see if he thinks it's a good idea to bring to Devil Anse." I told my brother while watchin' him pull his cigarette case from his pocket.
My brother was growin' up too fast to suit me. He picked up smokin' from my husband, but next he'll be drinkin' and then one day chasin' girls. Seems like only yesterday he was barely 9, instead of bein' barely 13-years-old. I just hope that as he ages, he doesn't experience hell and heartache like I did. Livin' over in Kentucky with Perry Cline an' bein' 'round McCoys ain't no easy feat. 'Speccially when havin' Hatfield ties.
Moses opened his case, placed a cigarette in his mouth, and struck up a match. After lightin' his smoke he snuffed the match flame out an' took a long drag. While lettin' his first cloud of smoke out of his lungs he snickered, "You're just sayin' that cause you don't wanna come to terms with what 'em papers mean."
"And please, pray tell, explain yourself." I told my brother, raisin' a quizzical thin brow at him.
"Even tho Uncle Perry forged the documents makin' him the guardian and executor over you an' your household, Tolbert did assign that power away. Assigned it to Calvin, therefore not trustin' you t'care for yourself and your daughter. He felt ya inferior an' incompetent." Moses explained lengthily, leanin' an elbow on the table. "Our uncle stole from you, but ya were always supposed t'be handed off to a man for support an' care." In a heavy sigh he honestly an' bluntly told me, "If not for Cap helpin' ya run 'way, 'long wit' takin' up wit' ya an' what not, you'd be stuck in some sort of miserable situation premade for ya."
Would I be miserable tho? Calvin was nice, but I never really spent too much time talkin' to him. The last time I did have words wit' him they were harsh an' hateful, from him not me, all cause I was defendin' Cap's incredible win at the Election Day shootin' contest. Calvin never seemed hateful, til that day. Would he have been as bad as Tolbert was, or could he have been manageable? I'll never know, but honestly, I don't think I want to. I'm happy wit' Cap, even tho we got together a bit unexpectedly.
Noddin' I sighed, "I'm afraid, lil brother, you're right 'bout that." Cleanin' snow peas with flawless movements I prodded, "So, seems like your Christmas wasn't so normal since you found those new documents. Anythin' else transpire?"
Moses' cerulean blue eyes darted down to look at the table as he let out a smoky sigh of, "Sally creeped me out again with her crazy sight and warnings."
"Mo…" I heaved out in a heavy sigh, shakin' my head. Sally givin' my brother more warnin's ain't good. Not at all. Hell, her stern premonition of Moses murderin' Billy and her continued prodin' of it ain't normal. It's somethin' to heed, to try an' change or do all in one's power to change. My brother actin' like it's nothin', when in fact it's a very big deal, ain't good. He's scared, but also too flippant 'bout the forewarnin'.
"It was just crazy mumblin's that shook me up." Mo tapped some cigerettee ashed into the small tray Cap left on the table. I narrowed my cornflower blue eyes at him which only cause my brother to quickly assure me, "Nothin' for ya to worry 'bout."
"You're my brother so I'm gonna worry 'bout ya, 'specially when Sally keeps tellin' ya ominious visions an' warnin's." I sternly told my brother, roughly tossin' some cleaned peas into the bowl on the table.
A few silent moments passed, where the only sound heard was the snappin' of peas, 'fore my brother announced, "I struck up a deal wit' Mariah, dropped her off at the lumber mill today t'see Robert E. Gonna pick her up once I leave here."
I quirked a brow up. "And why'd ya do that for? I thought Billy, who fancies her, is your best friend."
Moses shrugged 'fore goin' on to honestly reveal, "Mariah's my friend too and she can't stand Billy. She likes Robert E. and he likes her, but she's stuck bein' 'round Billy a lot cause her sister married his cousin plus his work at the dairy farm ain't too far off from her house."
"I've got no place to talk cause I snuck ov'r the Tug all the time to visit people, but be careful. What you're doin's makin' me nervous. If ya get caught…"
"I know, sissy." Did he tho? McCoys are killin' Hatfields an' anyone that helps us, my brother's playin with fire as he goes back an' forth 'tween both side. "I promise I'm bein' careful, but I can't just sit back an' not help my family an' friends."
Havin' no other choice, but to accept my brother's answer, I nodded at Moses. "Want a cup of coffee 'fore ya gotta go down to the mill?" I asked, attemptin' to lighten the mood and switch the subject.
"Yea, a quick cup'll do." My brother answered, a slight smirk on his face.
I nodded 'fore quickly gettin' up from the table and goin' over to the stove to put on a pot o'coffee. Decidin' that our grown-up talk was ov'r I looked ov'r my shoulder an' shouted loud 'nough up the stairs, "Ana, ya can come down the stairs now!"
Within seconds I heard Ana barrelin' now the stairs. "Unca Mo, you're still hear." My daughter observed, no doubt goin' over to the kitchen table to see him.
"Yep." Mo's tongue popped 'fore he said wit' a smile, "I need some coffee an' to see ya for a bit 'fore I go."
Cap POV:
After a long and hard day at work a bunch of us went to the tavern for some drinks an' to unwind. I usually did this on Fridays and my wife was fine with it, as long as I didn't stay out too late and came home for dinner. I never angered her or broke her rule 'bout my goin' out to the tavern after work, but I never planned on breakin' her trust and conditions either.
I was sittin' at a table in the back near the bar wit' Jim an' Cotton. Jim was teachin' Cotton how to play that endurance game of holdin' your hand over a candle flame. Goddamn, I hated that game. Uncle Jim's hand was made outta calloused course leather or somethin' cause he could hold his hand over the flame for longer than humanly possible, causin' ya to lose 'gainst him.
Johnse was two sheets to the wind an' barely standin' straight as he rose from his table on the other side of the room Mira, a whore that was partial to my brother, placed a hand on his arm an' 'nother on his shoulder while tellin' him somethin'. Whatever she told him didn't work, he just shrugged her off an' wobbly walked 'way from her and out of the tavern.
I down my shot as Cotton yanked his hand 'way from the candle's open flame, craddlin' the fire bitten thing close to his chest. Jim chuckled as I slammed my empty shot glass on the table. Lookin' over my shoulder at the bartender I called out, "Cog, 'nother bottle!" After a few moments of nothin' I called once more, "Cog! Cog, 'nother bottle!" Once 'gain I was ignored. I noticed Mira makin' her way over to our table, a sad an' forlorn look on her face. I wasn't dealin' with that whore pinnin' an' poutin' over my big brother, so I got up from the table to get a bottle of whiskey from the bar.
Jim POV:
Cap had just jumped ov'r the bar to get us more whiskey whenever that stupid whore, don't member her name worth a damn, that's foolishly in love wit' my wussy nephew came over an' stopped at our table. The dark-haired soiled dove braced her palms on the edges of the table, hunchin' over a bit to reveal her cleavage tightly bound in her black corset, while sighin' sadly, "I love Johnse Hatfield so much." I just gave her a stony look, raisin' my brow as a way to silently ask why are ya tellin' me this for? The dark-haired whore shook her head 'fore tremblin', "Why don't he see it? Why don't he love me?"
"On account that you're a whore." Cotton innocently answered. Damn, you know you're a whore when the slow minded turd tells ya so.
"Better then some McCoy bitch!" The whore growled, smackin' her hands on the table, 'fore pushin' up off the table. Right as she stormed off Cap slid 'cross the bar, bottle in hand, an' waltzed up to the table.
Silently he sat down, opened the bottle, an' poured himself a drink. I noticed a man on the other side of the room, 'gainst the room, eyin' up my favorite nephew. I saw that under the table he had a partially folded wanted poster in his hand. Aha, so that must be the deputized bounty hunter Mr. Miller that Moses warned us 'bout earlier.
"Cap, finish your drink an' make like nature calls." Subtly noddin' my head at the bounty hunter I added in, "Ya get my drift."
Cap's mismatched eyes darted to the direction I motioned in. He nodded 'fore quickly knockin' back his shot. After slammin' his shot glass on the table he stretched his arms while loudly annoucnin' for all to hear, eh mainly Mr. Miller in order to have him follow, "Time for me to go find a tree to water."
After Cap left the table and the room I noticed Mr. Miller get itchy in his seat. "Ya know, Cotton, I once knew a boy thirty year 'go that could hold his hand ov'r the flame an' take the pain." I told my slow minded nephew as I waited for the bounty scum to take the bait me an' Cap laid out. "You know who that boy was, Cottontop?" I asked as he looked at me wit' inquirin' blue eyes. The boy just shook his head which prompted me to point at myself an' tell him, "Your ole Uncle Jim Vance."
"Nah…" Cotton bashfully shook his head while Mr. Miller quickly left the tavern.
"God's truth." I smirked at my nephew, which in turn urged him to put his hand over the flame. Knowin' I needed to get outside I told Cotton, "Tell Alex Messer t'drop ya off at him. Tell 'im I said cause I gotta help Cap wit' somethin' tonight."
"Ookie dookie." Cotton nodded with a while.
I needed to get outside an' quick 'fore Cap got taken down fo'real.
AN:
I had originally planned to add more to the end, but since I didn't want to make it too long, I decided to leave that stuff for the next chapter. I hope ya'll liked this chapter.
