*Author's Note*
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Telescope For A Gun
Moses POV:
I walked into Adam's, my coat half buttoned since it was a blustery spring day, on a mission to pick of some package for my uncle. He ordered some books, new law books for me, from out East. Lucky me… As I walked closer to the counter, I saw some woman buying a bag of Folger's while Squirrel, whether he was workin' or off I didn't know, was leanin' 'gainst the counter ready a pamphlet. Parris was lookin' out the window with that stupid gun telescope he ordered months ago. Eh, so it finally came in.
Stoppin' at the counter next to the woman exchangin' coin for coffee, I looked over at Parris and Squirrel to observe and eavesdrop on them.
"Tele-scop" Squirrel struggled to say only to have Parris turn 'round from his spot at the window to correct him with a quick, "Telescope."
"Telescope for a gun." Parris told his brother, pointin' at the pamphlet in Squirrel's hand. "Latest thing."
"Are ya joshin' me?" Squirrel asked his older brother, a look of awe all over his dirt smudged face. Eww, when was the last time the hunter bathed? He was stinkin' of dead squirrels….
"Oh, you must be here for those books your uncle ordered?" The clerk asked me as soon as the woman took her basket and left.
"Yea." I nodded while seeing Parris peek out the window once more, most likely to check out the whores down the road hangin' and smokin' on the porches of the saloon. Hmm, he was a married man now so shouldn't he be restrainin' himself from checkin' out whores?
"I'll get that from the back."
"Makes 100-yard shot same as 25-yards." Parris bragged, comin' up to his brother's side.
Suddenly a grin split Squirrel's face in half. "Hard to miss at 25-yards."
"Plannin' on tryin' it out on Ole Devil Anse himself, lil brother."
"Yea, let's go do that."
Shit! I'm stuck here in Pikeville and can't warn anybody at the loggin' camp about Parris and Squirrel's afternoon plans. I hope Jim and Cap catch them while patrolin' or else Anse's a dead man.
Cap POV:
There was a slight breeze in the air this mornin'. Since it was early March it didn't start warmin' up til sometime after noon, but I didn't mind. The slight chill in a way was relaxin' since it wasn't too cold. I was just walkin' up the side of the mountain overlookin' the lumber yard. Jim was with me since it was our job to patrol the site. We found it easier to keep guard by movin' to higher ground, it let us see everythin' that was goin' on from all angles.
I froze in my tracks and jutted my arm out, causin' Jim to crash into it and come to a sudden stop. I nudged my head up towards what I spotted a good 100-yards 'way as I aimed my gun. "Oh, he ain't gonna know what hit him." Jim muttered under his breath as I looked down the barrel of my Winchester at Parris McCoy, who was aimin' a telescope fixed gun at my pa. I pulled the trigger, causin' a loud pop to sound out in the air as the bullet pierced Parris in the jugular.
Pa ducked and looked 'round, tryin' to figure out what was goin' on while Parris fell over dead in the spot he was crouchin' in up the hill and 'hind some brush. His neck was spurtin' out blood from the kill shot I did. As Squirrel scrambled up the hill, runnin' like a scared rabbit for his life, Uncle Jim loudly cackled out, "Anse! We got ourselves a real McCoy!"
Pa looked at us and then over to the hill that Squirrel had scrambled up top off. His eyes looked wide, as if he couldn't believe that he had been in danger, as he stood with his hands on his hips.
"Ya saved your pappy." Jim beamed, pattin' me hard on the back. I just nodded at him, a smirk on my face. I was proud to have saved pa's life. I'd do it again too. "Y'did good, son." Jim smirked at me, pride radiatin' from his gruffy large form.
I just nodded my head 'fore silently makin' my way 'cross the hill. Workday was still in progress an' guardin' had'a be done. Never knew if I'd have to shoot anymore trespassers.
Novella POV:
My pregnancy was takin' a toll on me. I felt so tired, even tho I was only 'bout a couple of months or so 'long. Hell, I even looked a bit farther 'long then I was too. Today I was at the main house, helpin' Levicy do some spring cleanin' since she too was startin' to feel a bit exhausted at roughly 4-or-so months into her own pregnancy. Currently, I was outside with Levicy, helping her beat the dirt out of some area rugs that were hangin' on the line. Anna was playin' tag with her aunts and uncles, havin' so much fun runnin' 'round in the sproutin' green grass nearby.
"How's everythin' with your pregnancy so far, sweetheart?" Levicy asked me in her sweet an' twangy voice as she whacked a rug with a broom, causin' dust to puff up in the air.
"Good, but I'm always so tired." I answered my mother-in-law, givin' my rug a big whack with my own broom. I shook my head as I mused in a slight chuckle, "Oh, and I'm already getting' fat."
"Yes, you do look bigger then ya should be." Levicy agreed with me, her head noddin' slightly. Givin' her rug 'nother whack she remarked, "Either it's a big baby or twins your carryin'."
"Twins? Like two babies, oh lordy…" I sighed out in a shaky breath, the grip of the broom in my hand loosenin' up a bit due to my shocked state. I never even thought 'bout the rare possibility that I could be carryin' twins.
"Dear, even tho twins are rare it's been known to happen." She didn't need to tell me that since I already knew it was a rare occurance, but one never-the-less. She smiled at her, in a motherly fashion, while tellin' me in her honey-tangy voice, "You'd be the first in this family to bear them if that's the case."
Givin' her a smile of my own I gave my rug 'nother whack while replyin' with, "Reckon I'll just have my hands full."
Honestly, if I was blessed with twins I'd be happy. I mean if I didn't lose my boys I'd have three chil'ren right now. Maybe, just maybe a pair of babies is what I need in order for my soul t'heal.
Moses POV:
After pickin' up the books from the store I went home, where my uncle insisted that I spend time with him in the study readin'. I really didn't want to, but I didn't have a choice. Eh, at least Ole Rand'l's drunk ass ain't here. Also, I'm sorta glad to be home instead of at the office. Anymore I hated that office. I felt that 'tween school an' my uncle's office that's all I ever went durin' the week. Well, unless I skipped school to sneak Mariah over into West Virginia and to see my sister or I just skipped school to go huntin' or somethin' with Billy when he wasn't workin' at the dairy farm.
Uncle Perry was nose deep into some large book and I was tryin' my best to read one of my new law books, that I was just gonna give to Nova and Cap anyways since they actually liked the shit, whenever the loud sound of the front door openin' was heard. Uncle Perry jumped up, startled, in his chair as footsteps echoed on the floorboards mixed with shouts of, "Lawyer Cline! Lawyer Cline, they killed Parris! Hatfields killed Parris!" Uncle Perry looked to the door and rose from his chair right as Squirrel rushed in while announcin' in a slight shout, "Cap shot Parris! My brother's dead."
"Why'd he get shot?" I asked, lookin' at my cousin that looked like the critter he was nicknamed after, as I stayed in my seat.
"He was tryin' to take out Devil Anse." Squirrel answered, his tone a bit husky, while givin' me an odd look. It was as if he thought my question was stupid or unneeded, somethin' like that.
"Oh, poor Parris." Uncle Perry sighed, his face turnin' a pale shade as a small amount of horror crossed his weasel like features.
"Poor Parris…" I trailed off, a small hint of sarcasm in my voice. I didn't give a shit bout Parris, he did it to himself trespassin' on the Hatfield's loggin' land. Everyone knows that in the backhills trespassers are shot, ain't like the big city where they get hauled off to jail. Mountain people serve their own justice, a dish best done cold too.
"Well, Squirrel, I don't want you goin' anywhere near the Hatfields 'gain." Before Squirrel could protest my uncle gave him a stern look while tellin' him in a slick and overly-faked pitiful tone of, "It'd kill your mama if something would happen to you. You're all she has left." Uncle Perry walked over to Squirrel and patted him lightly on the back while tellin' him, "Go fetch your ma and bring her to town. I'll talk to Mr. Adams, arrange for ya'll to use one of the apartments over the store."
"Mama ain't gonna wanna leave her house that poppy made for her." Squirrel told Perry, which just earned him an eye roll from my snobby uncle who clearly only faked feelin's other then revenge an' greed. Squirrel let out a long trailin' sigh of, "When he didn't come home from war…It's all she's got left of him…"
Damnit, now after hearin' that I kinda feel bad for his mama, Nina McCoy. Poor old hag didn't deserve the shitty hand she was dealt. Eh, guess that's what happens when your husband dies for the Southern Cause and then your sons are murderous lil shits…
Uncle Perry looked at the fur covered man in front of him with a fake sympathy in his snake-like eyes. Pattin' him on the shoulder my uncle told him in a very convincin' and light tone, "I know, but livin' so far out in the woods isn't safe in these troublous times. Livin' in town's the only way you'll be safe."
Squirrel just nodded, seemin' to be affected by my uncle's words. "I'll tell mama what happened an' bring her here soon."
Perry just nodded an' let his hand slide off of Squirrel's shoulder. "Very well. Go get Nina an' I'll go talk with Mr. Adams."
After Uncle Perry haggled with Mr. Adams in order to get Squirrel a deal for cheap rent on one of the vacant apartments above the general store, we got stuck goin' to the McCoys for dinner. A very unexpected dinner. I knew why we had to go even tho my uncle didn't say it. Uncle Perry needed to tell Ole Rand'l and the others 'bout Parris. Eh…seems that these days he can't wait to be the bearer of bad news.
As I sat at the table, pickin' at my sparsely filled plate (thanks to Alifair's horrible cookin'), I wondered why my uncle hasn't said anythin' yet 'bout Parris. I knew that's why we came for dinner, so him keepin' quiet was odd. I couldn't help but subtly look over at Cal as he cradled his few weeks old son, rockin' him slightly in order to soothe him. How he et while dealin' wit' a fussy baby was beyond me. Too bad Ole Rand'l put his foot down an' forbade anyone in the family to help Calvin with his baby. The baby was a boy that had ginger hair. Yea…it looked like Tolbert… Calvin named him Bayrd, Bayrd Caleb McCoy.
"Ya wanna hold 'im?" Calvin asked, takin' me by surprise.
"Um…sure…" I hesitantly nodded, hopin' that I wouldn't get into any trouble for takin' Cal up on his offer.
Surprisin'ly, nobody gave a shit whenever Calvin passed Bayrd over to me. Hmm, the McCoys seems a bit cold these days. Guess the death of Tolbert, Pharmer, an' Bud, really fucked them up. Eh, not like the family was that normal to begin with, but still it seems that those three's death broke the thin string that was tyin' the McCoys together.
Uncle Perry grabbed his coffee cup an' rose from the table. He stood by Ole Rand'l an' gave him a pat on the shoulder, signalin' that he wanted him to join him standin' nearby. Ah, so now my uncle was gonna unveil the news 'bout Parris. I just sat an' rocked Bayrd in my arms, watchin' Ole Rand'l take his own cup in his hand, rise from the table, an' join my uncle a few feet away. My uncle too a sip of his coffee as he thought 'bout the words he was gonna say while Alifair walked over to Sally, who was in her usual spot which was the rocker by the corner window, an' asked her, "Are ya sure ya don't want anythin' t'et, Mama?"
"I'm fine, sweetheart." Sally assured her daughter, givin' her a weak smile from over her shoulder. Alifair just kissed her mother's cheek an' then went back to clearin' the table.
"Ole Rand'l, I'm afraid that I have terrible news on your nephew Parris." Uncle Perry announced, lokin' 'tween his cup that his fingers were curled 'round an' Ole Rand'l's lost lookin' expression. My uncle shook his head in a fake show of sadness while revealin', "He was murdered today by Hatfields." Of course, that was half-true considerin' Parris got shot by Cap cause he was tresspassin'; ready t'commit murder on Anse too, but of course Uncle Perry's gonna ignore all the facts.
"Poor Parris." Heaved Ole Rand'l, his hand shakin' a slight bit from his shock; causin' some of the hot dark liquid in his up to splash out an' dribble down the mug.
"It seems like the Hatfields aren't takin' us seriously. It's like pokin' a mad bear wit' a twig only to make it madder. We need someone with a big stick to defeat the bear." Oh god, my uncle would be usin' a dumbass metaphore instead of just sayin' what he means.
"Pa, let me go after my brothers' murderers." Calvin pleaded, risin' from his spot next to me at the table and runnin' over to join Ole Rand'l and Uncle Perry nearby. Hell, Calvin's a pa now he should be more worried 'bout his baby then playin' bounty hunter.
"Yea, we can get my brothers' murderers." Jim pipped in as he too rose from the table and joined the lil group of men nearby. Jim's wife Lissa narrowed her eyes from her spot at the sink as she helped Alifair with the dishes. Yea, she would be pissed that he wants to go off ridin' into West Virginia to arrest men that'll shot first an' ask questions later. Goddamn, is she the only smart one here?
"No, no, boys." Uncle Perry quickly sputtered out, causin' Calvin an' Jim to give him arched looks. Puttin' on his slimy lawyer act he told the group, "With all due respect, to catch the Hatfields we need someone with experience. We need Bad Frank Phillips."
Ole Randa'l weathered face went hard, like a brick, as he spat hatefully, "I don't like that man, he's a savage."
"Will this bad man, the savage, bring my boys back?" Aunt Sally asked rhetorically from her corner spot. She never stopped starin' outta the window, which I thought was eerie.
The group just looked at her with wide-eyes 'fore downin' their coffee cups. Clearly, they were shaken up by Aunt Sally. Uncle Perry was the first to calm himself and regain his compsure. Funny how a cup of coffee can relax the sly snake. With a slick tone in his voice the weasel announced, "Monday we'll talk to Bad Frank at my office 'bout him takin' care of our Hatfield problem for us." Thank god I'm at school on Monday. "Moses, I want you to stay home from school so you can be apart of the meetin' as my assistant." Uncle Perry told me, lookin' at me from over his shoulder.
Ah shit…I spoke too soon. "Okay, Uncle Perry." I simply answered him 'fore goin' back to cooin' at baby Bayrd. Looks like I got a lot o'stuff to report to my sister an' Hatfield in-laws wit' on Tuesday.
AN:
Sorry that this is a short chapter, but I hope ya'll enjoyed it tho. I'm still working on the next chapter for TLRD & TT. I'm also still writing the first chapter for my Assassin's Creed story, which I still haven't named yet lol.
