*Author's Note*
Thanks for all of the follows, faves, and reviews.
Originally, I had given Senator Billings Brooksdale the face claim of Robert Downey Jr. but after seeing The Greatest Showman I'm changing it to Hugh Jackman. You guys can use either or for your choice of face claim, I just wanted to let ya'll know bout the change I did tho.
This chapter's all done in Moses POV, but once you read it, I think you'll understand why.
P.S. POOR MOSES!
Politician's Ploy
Moses POV:
Spring was pretty uneventful when it came to lawman work other then a large posse of over 20-men was signed up. Unfortunately, there was a stalemate in the capitol about getting legal papers set us for everyone in the round up group, including my special US Marshall/Deputy Sherriff status and Bad Frank's US Marshall/Sherriff status. Eh, everyone else was gonna be a regular deputy, but since I was the ex-outlaw's toadie I got a special title. Yay, me…
It was the afternoon and I was walkin' down the sidewalk with Bad Frank, headin' to the diner for lunch, whenever none other than Senator Billings walked up to us. Clearly, he'd come from my uncle's office. Hell, I could even see his fancy buggy parked in front of the office down the way too. Tipping his top hat at us, he greeted, "Good afternoon, gentlemen."
"Afternoon, Senator." I politely greeted the man I detested.
"Senator? So, you're Mr. Perry Cline's friend that's trying to get our papers put thru?" Bad Frank asked instead of greetin' the man blockin' our path to the diner. Hell, my boss can be so blunt at times that it's a bit rude and embarrassin'. Like he couldn't 've said something like, 'Afternoon sir. So, you're the senator Mr. Cline knows?', but no that was just too hard for him.
"Yes, I'm Senator Billings Brooksdale." The dark-haired man in the pitch-black top hat confirmed, his mouth in a slight line. "I saw Perry to tell him the news personally that Governor Buckner'll have the papers signed and delivered by dispatch no later than tomorrow afternoon."
Shit, that's not good! Damnnit, looks like I'm makin' a trip 'cross the Tug to warn everybody to move out by dawn. I knew that they were settin' somethin' up deep up in the hills incase they had to hide, but guess I always hoped it wouldn't come to that.
"Good, that's good." Bad Frank nodded, shufflin' a bit to ease some of the weight off of his bad poker leg.
"Uncle Perry said you'd help and ya did, so thanks for that." I told the senator with fake gratefulness, hiding my real feelin's of hate and loathin' for the bastard. God, I wanted to knock his top hat off and beat his face in with it for comin' thru on those papers.
Secretly, I was wishin' for the governor to ignore the papers and the issue for a few more months. Seems like wishes don't come true tho. Like they say, shit in one hand and wish in the other, see what gets filled first.
"Well, seems like I gotta make arrangements for the posse to cross the Tug t'morrow." Bad Frank announced, spittin' some tobacco over the sidewalk and onto the dirt road. Gesturin' to the diner he told me, "Go on, have lunch without me."
I just nodded, watching my boss pivot on his heel and walk back towards the saloon.
Claspin' me on the shoulder, Senator Billings remarked, "Well, Moses, seems like we're havin' lunch."
"Yep." I popped my tongue 'fore jerkin' my shoulder 'way from the senator's hand and walkin' off.
"You know, Perry's invited me to the McCoys for dinner tonight and to lodge at his house for the evening too." Senator Billings revealed, walkin' in stride with me down the sidewalk.
SHIT! How am I supposed to sneak over into West Virginia with this dickweed in the house? Looks like I ain't…
"Why don't ya stay for the posse crossin' over the Tug too." I suggested, trying really hard not to sound sarcastic even tho the remark truly was that.
"Yes, I think I might." I heard the senator's smooth timbre float 'cross the air as we reached the diner.
Silently I pulled the door to the diner open and walked inside, the senator's bootsteps echoin' 'hind me. I just walked over to the open back table by the window, the one that was literally reserved and kept open for me an' Bad Frank.
The air at the McCoy's durin' dinner was full of elation and vengeance. It was clear as day that everyone couldn't wait to start the Hatfield round-ups. Well, everyone except for me and Mariah. We were mortified 'bout it. I felt horrible cause I couldn't go warn the Hatfields tonight due to Senator Billings using the house as his personal hotel while Mariah was scared for Robert E. since she liked him.
Lookin' at Jim, Billy, and Calvin, who was pattin' his fussy baby 'gainst his chest while ettin' his meal with his other hand, my Uncle Perry told them in his slick mediator's tone, "Boys, it's best if you three were in charge of the paddy wagon."
"But we wanna hunt 'em murderers, not show up after they're caught." Billy spat a bit gruffy 'fore tearin' into his roll wit' his teeth, much like how a wildcat viciously tears into its prey.
"Billy, mannin' the paddy-wagon's an important job, it's how the prisoners get transported to jail." I told my best friend, cuttin' him a look that screamed just take the job and shut up.
"It ain't too dangerous is it, Perry?" Calvin asked. Lookin' down at the baby in his arms and then back up to my uncle he added, "I got a babe t'worry 'bout raisin' ya know."
In an overly slick tone, Uncle Perry assured the young father, "No, Calvin, it's not dangerous."
"We'll do it." Jim, whose wife and child was absent from the family dinner like always, quickly spoke up in commitment.
"That's very good, boys." My uncle nodded approvin'ly, cuttin' up his slice of pork. "Well, I must say I'm very thankful to my old friend Senator Billings for workin' so hard to have our cause heard and accepted by the governor."
Senator Billings took a long sip from his coffee cup 'fore placin' it back down on the table with a slight clunk. He bowed his head before sayin', "It was an honor bringing this issue to the governor." Reachin' slightly to his left; grabbin' the bowl of peas and dumpin' a heapin' spoonful on his plate he said in a steady tone, "I just can't have the people of my district being murdered unjustly and having said murderers getting' away with it." Placin' the servin' bowl back in its spot and goin' back to ettin' his dinner, the senator followed up his remark with one of, "I care 'bout the folks in these hills and I'll do my damn best to ensure justice, peace, and a life of dignity to them."
Honestly, that all sounded like a political ploy for votes to me. It seemed to touch Ole Rand'l tho since he nodded his head and told the senator, "Thank you, Senator, for your kindness. You're doin' god's work helpin' my family."
"Well, I live to serve." Senator Billings nodded at Ole Rand'l 'fore turnin' his attention to Alifair and payin' her the compliment of, "And you, my dear, have made a lovely dear." Now that was a lie. The meal was okay, not lovely.
"Thank ya." Alifair blandly replied, not even makin' eye contact with her family's dinner guest, as she roughly cut into her piece of sliced pork.
"Alifair here has dedicated herself to carin' for her family while Aunt Sally deals wit' her heartbreak in her own ways." Uncle Perry told Senator Billings, tryin' to make Alifair's moody old maid ass out to be some kind of martyr or pariah of her family. In reality she was stuck takin' care of her family since her mama was scatter-brained these days.
Senator Billings drifted his line of sight over to the rocker in the corner where Aunt Sally was at mendin' an old shirt, rockin' away. By the slight raisin' of his brows and the tiny gesture of bitin' his lip, I got the impression that he thought Aunt Sally was off her rocker. No pun intended. The senator just nodded his head while smoothly remarkin', "Well, then I shall pray the lord takes away her pain and swiftly."
"God is just, he shall give us justice and the bounty of Job ten-fold." Ole Rand'l devoutly boomed in a booze-coated tone as his eyes turned into hard stones. Great, now he's compairin' himself to Job…I think that biblical man had it worse than Ole Rand'l ever could, but whatever floats his boat.
Everyone remained silent, most likely cause we didn't know how to respond to Ole Rand'l's words. I mean how to ya respond in a way that won't get the drunkard ramblin' on and goin' into a sermon? Yea, answer is there ain't one. So, seems like the rest of the meal's gonna be as silent as the grave.
After dinner was over me and Perry went home in our buggy while Senator Billings followed us in his. Once at the house Perry and his friend spent some time together in the study while I went to my room. I ended up cleanin' my guns 'fore readin' a book.
I wasn't quite sure what time it was whenever I heard footsteps echoin' upstairs and down the hall. Eh, reckon our house guest is headin' to the guest room for the night.
"You old enough to go to a saloon yet?" I heard Senator Billings ask me as my door creaked opened.
"Reckon so." I told him, snappin' eyes off my book to look at my doorway only to see the senator leanin' 'gainst it. I slammed my book shut and tossed it onto my bed while tellin' him, "I'm 14 and spend most of my time there with Bad Frank. Why?"
"Cause I'm headin' out, figured I'd invite you along." He shrugged, pushin' himself off of the doorjam.
"Fine, but you're buyin' the beer." I told him, jumpin' off my bed.
"I can handle that." Senator Billings nodded as I walked over to him.
"So, there a reason you wanna pal 'round at a saloon with me?" I asked the man, followin' him down the hallway.
"No." The word was short, but rang out sharply, as he took the first step down the stairwell. "Just thought I'd hit up the saloon while here; since you're the age I was when I started frequentin' them I thought I'd invite ya." Senator Billings explained to me, his voice thick in the air as our boots thumped against the stairs as we descended them.
"Oh, well thanks then." I said, shruggin' even tho he couldn't see it, as we walked over to the foyer and the front door.
Senator Billings didn't say anything, just walked out the front door. Silently I followed him out onto the porch, shuttin' the door behind me. Quickly, we descended the porch stairs and walked down the path.
"This fence suits Perry." Senator Billings scoffed when we reached the white picket fence surroundin' the house, seperatin' the property from the dirt road. "I've never had a fenced in yard in my life." He admitted as we began our walk down the street towards the Pikeville Saloon.
"I lived in a half-rotten cabin 'til I was like 9, then I moved here when my sister married her first husband cause my pa and his wife didn't wanna be bothered wit' me no more." I bluntly, but honestly, revealed to the senator. "I'd rather be in Perry's white picket fenced house then back in Asheville." That was true to an extent. I'd prefer to be in Mate Creek with my sister and her family, but that's just not possible.
The senator quickly pushed me down an alley, tellin' me in a hushed tone, "If you want to talk bout your sister you better do it now."
"Why'd I want to talk bout her?" I asked, my brows furrowed in confusion. Where was he comin' from?
"Boy, maybe you got the town fooled, but not me. The way you mentioned her, ya care 'bout her." I didn't say a word, just stared him down with my cerulean eyes. "Look, Perry told me that he's goin' have your sister charged with conspiracy of murder after she's brought here and locked up." No shit, it's what she's wanted for. His voiced got a bit low as he hissed, "He's goin' to let her hang."
"You think I don't know that?" I rhetorically asked, my face twitchin'. "I'm not stupid, I know what he's gonna do, but there's nothin' I can do bout it." I snapped, lettin' a tiny bit of my anger shine thru a crack in my resolve.
"You have access to the jail." Of course, I'm Bad Frank's personal deputy after all. "After you arrest the Hatfields tomorrow, lock her up in a cell by herself. When night falls, we'll go to the jail; you'll let her go and I'll take her with me to the capitol where she'll be safe from the noose."
"I don't get how you can help or why since you're my uncle's friend."
"I don't want to see a woman hanged. Jailed a bit in the town cage, fine, but hangin' a woman's a bit much in my beliefs."
"If I accept your help, you'll have to take my niece too. Nova'll never go without her daughter, she's her entire world." I firmly told the man that I knew disliked children, greatly. Either both or none, I'd keep my sister in jail 'gainst my want for to be free if he declined to her daughter too.
"Fine." Curtly flew out of the politician's mouth. With a calculated look on his face he told me, "Bring the child back here tomorrow with the pretense of reunitin' her with Perry, then in the middle of the night I'll leave with Nova and the girl."
I didn't want to take his offer, it could be a trap, but I was backed into a corner and had no choice. I didn't have the time or leeway to go warn my sister 'bout what's planned for tomorrow. The Hatfields are gettin' captured and I can't stop it. At least I can save my sister's life. She might hate me for it, for sendin' her off wit' the very man I begged Cap to save her from, but at least Nova'll be safe and able to raise Anna.
"I accept, but this better not fall thru." I told him, my jaw set in a hard lock. Starin' him down intensely wit' my cerulean blues I ordered, "And ya keep your word that my sister'll be pardoned by the governor."
"Don't worry, I can spin straw into gold to create any story I want." Oh, so what he's the Rumpelstiltskin of politics and speeches? Nice to know… With an air of confidence, he smoothly assured me, "I'll feed something good to Governor Buckner, make him believe that Perry was either mistook or that Nova was a victim as well."
"You do right by my sister too, ya hear." In so many words I was nicely tellin' him that once Cap was punished for his crimes my sister better become an honest woman; not be his high-class mistress. Ick, this entire situation burned a hole in my soul an' left a sick feelin' in my gut.
"Yes, I hear ya." Senator Billings nodded. Good, at least he agreed he'd not have my sister as a kept woman. Claspin' me on the shoulder he ushered me out of the alley while sayin', "Now, let's go to the saloon."
The saloon was so full that it felt more crowded than a sardine can tonight. A man was playin' a catchy tune on the piano while Wiggings was mannin' the bar like he had a fire under his ass. Men were drinkin' and celebratin' the fact that the posse was able to be dispatched t'morrow. The whores flittered 'round, busier than a bee, with excitement due to the large crowd an' all the money they'd be makin' t'night.
I sat at a table with Senator Billings, a thick cloud of smoke hangin' over us as we played cards. "Your call." The dark-haired senator told me 'round the large stogy in the corner of his mouth; placin' a coin in the bettin' pot.
"I'll match that bet." I replied, takin' a drag off my cigarette 'fore grabbin' a coin and tossin' it into the pile.
"Moses, it's a surprise seein' ya here." Rang out Nancy's sweet shrill of a voice as she appeared at my table, as if out of thin air or the snap of a finger.
"It's more of a surprise for ya t'be here considerin' your Mrs. Hatfield these days." I countered, raisin' a brow at Nancy, while the senator took a drag off his cigar and tapped its ashes into the crystal tray 'tween us.
Senator Billings' eyes darted 'tween me and Nancy, guagin' the situation that was unfoldin'. I could tell that the politician's wheels were turnin' in that dark-haired head of his. Hell, from the short time of bein' 'round him I picked up that he was a bigger scammer then my Uncle Perry was and that's not somethin' to be said lightly. Damn… What do law students learn in Louisville, the art of bamboozlin' an' snake charmin'?
"Hell, that's just a means to an ends." Nancy assured me, boldly sittin' at the table even tho she wasn't invited to do so. Leanin' an elbow on the table she went on to say, "Your sister's the real Mrs. Hatfield and kin trader. Seems she's grown mistrustful and moody since weddin' that fog-eyed bastard."
"Oh…" I nodded, usin' all of my willpower not to snap since her remarks grated on my nerves and got under my skin.
Senator Billings smiled politely while sayin' in a very charmin' tone, "Well, miss, I assure you that come tomorrow all of your family's troubles will cease to exist."
"Of course, they will." Nancy grinned in agreement with the senator. Suddenly her grin turned into an all-out cackle as she bragged, "Frank Phillip, he's gonna kill Jim Vance for me."
Before either me or the senator could utter a word, Bad Frank's voice pierced the air as he sauntered up to the table, drinks in his hand. "Have a drink, pretty lil lady." Bad Frank winked at Nancy, handin' her one of the drinks.
"Why thank you, Mr. Phillips." Nancy smiled, her pearly whites barred like a shark's, as she took the drink.
Bad Frank nodded at the black-eyed beauty, restin' a hand on the back of her chair as he stood next to it. He took a sip of his drink 'fore pointin' at me and sayin', "Don't get too into your cups t'night. I need my personal deputy well an' able to ride t'morrow."
"I'm keepin' an eye on him. Moses will be fine, we won't be stayin' too much longer either, Mr. Phillips." Senator Billings assured Bad Frank, once 'gain usin' his butter smooth tone that I truly realized was his politician's voice.
The sun was blazin' hotter than a hot poker pulled from the fire as the posse came to a stop at the edge of the Tug. It was the moment of truth, as soon as Ransom arrived after gettin' the dispatched papers from town we'd be ridin' into West Virginia to apprehend my friends and family. My very own sister, but at least I made a deal with the devil for her freedom. That said devil, Senator Billings, sat on his horse next to my Uncle Perry by the riverbank. They were just a rock throw 'way from me, Bad Frank, and Ole Rand'l, who I'm sure thought he was comin' 'long even tho in reality he was gonna be left behind.
My stomach was tied in a million knots as I waited for the inevitable to happen. I hated what I was gonna be doin', but I had no choice in the matter. If I didn't participate in the captures, I'm sure that Bad Frank would blow my brains out. Personally, I quite like my brains intact inside of my head instead of splattered all over the ground.
"It's official!" Cried out Ransom's slow and heavily accented voice over the sound of his horse's hooves quickly trottin' on the ground as he rode up to Bad Frank. Comin' to a stop he pulled a wad of folded up papers from inside of his breast pocket. "Papers come thru, it's official."
Uncle Perry rode the short distance over to Ranson, stoppin' 'tween him and Bad Frank only to snatch up the deputy papers. Unfoldin' them my uncle smirked, "Special Sherriff and Marshal Agent of the state of Kentucky, Mr. Frank Phillips. Special Deputy Sherriff and Marshal Agent of the state of Kentucky, Mr. Moses Quincey." Handin' the papers over to Bad Frank he confirmed the legality by sayin' "Signed off by Governor Buckner."
Bad Frank stuffed his paper into his pocket while handin' me mine. As I took it from him Ole Rand'l took his hat off. Bowin' his head, the McCoy patriarch ordered, "Let us pray." Everyone took off their hats, me included, while Ole Rand'l said the prayer of, "Dear Lord, bless our endeavors an' protect these men. We are not infidels like the Hatfields, we are godly men of the law an' ask for blessin's in the task of fetchin' the demons an' devil 'cross the Tug." Liftin' his head and placin' his hat back on, Ole Rand'l ended the farfetched prayer with a simple, "Amen."
"Amen." Everyone repeated, placin' their hats back on.
"Men, it's tim-" Ole Rand'l began to announced til Bad Frank abruptly cut him off with a scoff of, "I hope ya don't think you're comin' 'long."
An offended look appeared on Ole Rand'l's face as he protested, "It's my sons needed revenged."
"Your years 've past t'lead the charge, leave it up to the younger men." Bad Frank snapped, a harsh tone in his voice, as he cut his eyes into slit at the head of the McCoy family.
"Ole Rand'l, you're not deputized and this all has to be done legal." Uncle Perry pointed out, earnin' himself a glare from Ole Rand'l.
Bad Frank pointed to the paddy wagon in the back of the posse. "Your sons ride in your stead."
Ole Rand'l opened his mouth once more to protest, but closed it and stood down whenever Senator Billings told him in a very convincin' and smooth tone, "Mr. McCoy, perhaps you'd be better suited comfortin' Missus McCoy at home. I'm sure she must be out of her mind with nerves and fear for her other boys, the ones goin' off to fetch the known Hatfield killers."
Ole Rand'l just nodded his head, silently showin' that he had backed down from his original plan of ridin' wit' the posse. I looked at the senator, noddin' my thanks to him since he got Ole Rand'l to back down. Honestly, I didn't feel like dealin' with his self-righteous, hypocritical, drunken ass t'day. Senator Billings nodded back at me while a discreet look in his eyes silently reminded me of our deal for my sister and niece's lives; their freedom from persecution.
Bad Frank straightened his posture and pointed over the river while loudly announcin', "This way!" In a flash my boss spurred his horse on, gallopin' 'cross the river.
Quickly, I took my place at Bad Frank's side as his personal deputy and crossed the river in a gallop as well. A chill went up my spine as our horses' hooves set foot on West Virginian soil. Soon 'nough we'd be ridin' into Mate Creek and then onto all of the houses of the wanted.
AN:
I must say, this story is coming along nicely in terms of speed and where I want it to go. Hope ya'll are enjoying it.
