*Author's Note*

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


A Spring Wedding & Scheme

Nova POV:

Today was a beautiful bright and sunny spring day. The air wasn't too humid, but wasn't chilled either. It was a perfect day for Nannie and John Vance's weddin'. Despite the devastatin' news that Sawyer had been captured a couple days ago, the weddin' was still being held. Well, there wasn't a reason to stop it even tho Uncle Wall wanted it delayed in order to give everyone time to digest the news of another family member bein' captured. Anse wasn't havin' it tho, he wanted his daughter to have her scheduled wedding day; to be happy.

I had just helped Levicy fix up Nannie's golden hair, placin' it up into a half updo and weavin' flowers into it, 'fore leavin' the main Hatfield cabin and makin' my way over to the chairs and tables Anse and the other men had arranged for the weddin' festivities. As I took a seat at the table occupied by my husband an' chil'ren, Cap asked me, "Is the bride ready yet?"

"Yea, weddin' should be startin' soon." I confirmed with a simple nod as Wyatt climbed onto my lap from the spot 'tween me an' Cap he was sittin' at.

"Well, I hope that dress ma made her's nice. Smugglin' in all that white material an' lace cost pa a pretty penny, was also a bit risky t'get up 'ere too." Cap grumbled, soundin' a bit agitated that his sister's weddin' was runnin' a bit late.

Lookin' at my husband with a stern look I chastised, "Cap, stop complainin'. The dress is nice, hell the whole weddin'll be too."

"Better be." Cap snipped 'fore quickly remarkin', "I don't see why Nannie's weddin' has t'be such a grand event. Not like they're gettin' sent off to a big honeymoon afterwards. Hell, once the weddin' over they're goin' to his cabin further in the settlement an' the rest of us'll still be livin' our lives in the shadows." Shakin' his head, my husband scoffed, "All this hoopla's a waste o'money if ya ask me. Money we could be usin' for the settlement."

I didn't say a word, just rolled my eyes at him. I understood where he was coming from, but as a woman I also knew how important a weddin' day was to a young and new bride. Honestly, when I was married the first time, I was glad to have the nice elegant weddin'. When I married Cap, I didn't care for a big ceremony cause A- it wasn't my first time on the rodeo and B- we had to get married wuick for survival and to keep Anna safe. Cap's a man, he just doesn't get the sentiment behind a young bride's big day. I didn't feel like explainin' it to him either, so I chose to keep my mouth shut. Hell, I knew that once the vows were over and it was time to et the reception food that my husband would be singin' a different tune.

Suddenly, I noticed Levicy steppin' out of the cabin and goin' over to where Anse was waitin' at. Hmm, seems that it was time for the weddin' to get underway. "Pa's headed to the cabin to get Nannie." I pointed out to my husband.

"Thank god, I thought we'd be waitin' for 'nother hour or so for this weddin' to start." Cap sarcastically remarked, causin' me to just roll my eyes and shake my head at him.

Whenever Devil Anse stepped out of the cabin with Nannie, everyone hushed and turned their attention on them. Nannie looked like a beautiful bride in her handstitched white muslin and lace dress. Her small bouquet of wild flowers matched the ones threaded in her hair. She was beamin' as she walked to the alter with her father, who kept a straight and hard front on even tho inside he must've been a bundle of nerves givin' away his daughter's hand. At the alter, which was just a makeshift wooden arch in front of the slate mountainside, was Uncle Wall and John Vance. John looked a bit nervous, but happy all at once. His bronze hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, much in the same manner Uncle Jim wore his.

As soon as Anse and Nannie came to a stop in front of Uncle Wall and John, the judge looked at his brother and asked, "Who gives 'way this woman?"

"Her mother an' I do, Wall." Anse announced 'fore placin' Nannie's hand into John's awaitin' one. "Ya hurt her an' I'll kill ya." My father-in-law promised, not threatened, John before walkin' off towards where his wife was sittin' at next to Josiah an' Jim Vance.

"We're here today to celebrate the union of Nancy Bell 'Nannie' Hatfield and John Vance." Uncle Wall loudly spoke out, officially startin' the weddin' that was just the beginnin' of the day's long events.


Moses POV:

I walked out of the general store with my fresh pouch of tobacco whenever Calvin pulled his wagon to a stop right by the porch of Adam's. He had his son, Bayrd, with him. The toddler was the spittin' image of my late brother-in-law Tolbert. Ginger hair, stormy eyes, and a permanent scowl painted on his face. "Hey, Moses, how ya doin'?" Calvin asked me as he got down from the wagon.

"Doin' good." I replied, watching Calvin take his son out of the wagon. "So, pickin' up some supplies for your folks?"

Balancin' Bayrd on his hip and walkin' up to the store's porch, Calvin nodded, "Yea, ma needs some more flour and sugar. Some other supplies too."

"He's gettin' big." I pointed at the ginger haired toddler as Calvin approached me by the door of Adam's.

"Yea, he is." The father agreed with me, noddin' his head slightly. Givin' me a proud smile he added, "He's very wiry, but ain't too talkative."

"Well, how 'bout I watch him while ya get your shoppin' done?" I suggested since I figured Calvin'd be able to get his shoppin' done faster without a totin' a toddler 'round. I didn't mind watchin' the kid either; other then bein' moody he was an okay lil boy.

"Sure." Calvin nodded. Passin' Bayrd over to me he asked, "Ya takin' him to work?"

Where else would I be takin' him? The whorehouse ain't fittin' for a kid. Keepin' my wits 'bout me, I answered Calvin with, "Yea, I think Bad Frank and me can use 'nother deputy at the jail for a bit."

"I'll get from ya when I'm done." Calvin assured, inchin' closer to the store's entrance.

"Okay." I nodded at Calvin, causin' him to walked into the general store. Lookin' down at the boy on my hip, I smiled enthusiastically, "Well, lil man, we're gonna go see Sherriff Bad Frank."

Bayrd just smiled while blurtin' out a loud, but simple, "Okay."

I just smiled at the boy and made my way over to the sidewalk. "You're gonna be a lil deputy in trainin' today." I told the boy while walkin' in the direction the jail was at.

"Like ya an' poppy?" The boy asked me, excited oozin' from his small voice.

"Yea." I nodded 'fore goin' on to explain, "But your poppy's not a deputy. He's a part of the paddy wagon crew."

"Paddy wagon?" Bayrd parroted, lookin' at me with curious stormy-blue eyes.

"Yea, it's a caged wagon that the prisoners ride to jail in." I told the boy, earning me a silent nod, as I walked up to the jail. Opening the door and walking in, I announced to my boss, who was sittin' at the small table and sippin' on some coffee, "Boss, we got ourselves a deputy in trainin' today."

Bad Frank nodded 'fore askin' me, "Calvin's runnin' errends then?"

"Mhm, he's pickin' up supplies at Adam's." I answered while takin' a seat next to my boss at the table.

"Well, then, looks like we'll just have t'keep an eye on the boy." No shit Sherlock. Really, I wouldn't 've brought the boy here if watchin' him wasn't my intention. Shit, sometimes I wonder bout how smart my boss really is. I mean he's been screwin' 'round with Nutty Nancy for a couple of years now and she's married to Johnse still, so…

"Me hungie." Bayrd announced, lookin' up at me from his seat on my lap.

"Well, boy, lucky for ya you're a deputy in trainin' this mornin' an' the jailhouse's got biscuits." Bad Frank told Bayrd, grabbin' a biscuit from the pan on the table and handin' it over to him.

"What'd ya say, Bayrd?" I prompted the boy as he grabbed the biscuit from my boss.

"Thank ya."Bayrd told Bad Frank 'fore bringin' the soft and fluffy biscuit up to his mouth an' takin' a bite out of it.

I felt the eyes of the prisoners on me as I sat with Bayrd in my lap as he silently nibbled on his buttermilk biscuit. Bad Frank pointed to the boy with his coffee cup while remarkin' to me, "You're good with lil kids."

"Yea, well, 'fore I became your personal deputy I used to be an uncle to a lil girl." I dryly reminded him of the other life I led, one that felt ages 'go instead of years.

Noddin', Bad Frank let out a half-sigh of, "Ah, yea, your sister's kid."

"Mhm…" I sing-songed out, subtly watchin' Bayrd et t'make sure he didn't choke to death or somethin'.

"Ya think she's gotten more kids by now?"

Shruggin', I played off Bad Frank's question with the quip of, "Reckon she does, she's married t'Cap Hatfield ya know."

Settin' his coffee cup down and puttin' his hands up in mock surrender, Bad Frank told me, "Don't get all snappy at me. Just askin', meant no harm."

"Haven't thought bout my sister nor my niece in a long while. Just got rubbed the wrong way I guess." I lied thru my teeth as I looked 'tween the boy on my lap and my boss sittin' next t'me.

"Nova's got twin boys. Expectin' 'nother boy come summer." Sawyer's voice sounded out from the cage he was in on the other side of the small room.

"Well, that's that then." Bad Frank tilted his head at me 'fore pickin' up his coffee an' takin' a sip of it.

I just snaped my head 'round an' gave Sawyer a dirt look. Silently with my cerulean eyes I told him to shut up. Sawyer just cut his eyes at me. Clearly, my distant cousin didn't like me one bit. Eh, he was still sore 'bout bein' arrested days 'go.


Nova POV:

It's been a few days since Nannie and John got married. Everythin' 'round the settlement returned to normal. Everyone was back to their daily chores and routines. Cap was on watch duty, patrolin' by standin' up on the flat part of his parents' roof, while I was making bread dough; Anna was outside churnin' butter. The twins were nappin' so I cringed whenever Anna called out loudly from the porch, "Unca Robert. E's here!"

I looked up just in time to see my brother-in-law bargin' into my house. "Don't you knock anymore?" I sarcastically asked Robert E. as he walked over to the table.

"I need some advice an' I can't get it from Cap." My brother-in-law told me, taking a seat at the table with the grace of a floppin' fish outta water.

While kneadin' my dough I raised a brow at him and asked, "Why not? He's your brother."

"He's not very sympathetic to my problem."

I paused in my kneadin' to grab a handful of flour to dust on the table while asking Robert E., "You mean your situation with Mariah bein' engaged to Billy?"

"Yea." Robert E. nodded. Runnin' a finger idly thru the flour dusted table top, my brother-in-law told me, "Cap thinks I need to either go get her or shut up 'bout her."

"Go get her?" I asked in a slight tremble. I know that's what Cap did with me, but I was widowed and was about to be handed off to a politician as a ploy to get political backing for the McCoys' part of this bloddy feud against the Hatfields. Dusting my flour coated hands off on my apron, I gave Robert E. a pointed look while asking, "Oh no, you're thinkin' 'bout that ain't ya?"

"Well, not til Cap suggested it." I doubt that my husband suggested it out of the kindness of his heart; I think he did it sarcastically while lashing out in annoyance at his little brother. Hell, Cap felt that Robert E. and Mariah was too young to be head over heels for each other. Well, I couldn't blame my husband for bein' a bit jaded considerin' his own experiences.

Placin' a hand on my hip an' archin' a brow, I asked hesitantly, "So, what advice do you need from me?"

"Um, Moses knows about me and Mariah." Robert E. whooshed out in a slight mumble. I just gave him a pointed look, not particularly fond of the idea that my brother was sorta mixed in with Robert E. and Mariah's relationship drama. Chewing his lip, he asked, "Do you think I should let him in on a plan to snatch her up 'way from Billy?"

I shook my head and let out a heavy sigh before giving Robert E. the lecture of, "Moses is in a tough spot. He works with Bad Frank and he's friends with Billy. If he got caught helpin' Mariah sneak off to you, well it'd be bad."

"But he knows 'bout me and Mariah. I mean, he could help indirectly by takin' Billy out to the whorehouse or somethin' for a night." Countered Robert E., his shoulders rolled up slightly and his neck craned as he tried to make his case to me.

"Robert E., I personally wouldn't involve my brother since he's already spyin' for us, but do whatever you deem fit." I told my brother-in-law, my tone curt and flat, since I knew tryin' to talk sense into him wasn't worth the energy or time. Robert E., bless his heart, was gonna do whatever he wanted and anything I said wouldn't change that. It seemed, or at least to me it seemed that Robert E. already had his mind made up and was gonna lasso my brother into his scheme to whisk away Mariah no matter what.

Robert E. just nodded his head, not givin' me any hint on what he was gonna do, 'fore standin' up from the table. His boots echoed against the floor as he walked to the door. Before he could open up the door, it flung open only to reveal Cap walkin' into the house. My husband raised his brow at his brother as he stormed by him and out the door.

"He's in a mood this mornin'." Cap remarked as he made his way over to the kitchen table after hangin' his hat on the hook by the door. Hmm, I guess Charles must've relieved him from guard duty. Only reason I can think for him bein' home.

"He's upset about his situation with Mariah." I told my husband as I went back to kneadin' the bread dough.

"Oh god, now he's pissin' and moanin' to ya 'bout it too." Cap scoffed, rollin' his eyes as he took a seat in the chair that Robert E. was in minutes earlier.

"No." I shook my head. Looking at my husband, I sighed, "He asked me for advice, but I don't think he's going to take it tho."

Cap cocked his head to the side, his brow furrowin' curiously. "Bout what?"

"Whether he should ask my brother to help him sneak Mariah up here and 'way from Billy." I honestly told my husband, not seein' a reason to keep the truth from him since it'd come out eventually, as I worked the bread dough.

"Jesus, is he stupid?" Cap spat out rhetorically. Shakin' his head, makin' his shaggy blonde hair wisp 'round every which way, my husband let out an incredulous remark of, "Moses is already riskin' his neck spyin' for us, now he wants him to bring that girl t'him on a silver platter too."

"Actually, he wants Moses to take Billy to the whorehouse while he sneaks down and steals Mariah away." I informed my husband, placin' the finished dough into it's bowl and placin' a towel over it so it could rise.

"I hope you told him no." Cap slightly huffed, borin' his mismatched eyes into me took my apron off and dusted the flour from the table with it.

"I did, but I also told him to do what he felt was right." I told Cap as I placed the bunched up apron on the table and sat down.

"Hell, I better go find that knucklehead and have a talk with him." My husband announced, standin' up from his chair.

Placin' a hand on his arm, I looked at him with my cornflower blues and ordered in my flowin' tone, "Don't, Will, it'll only make things worse. You gotta let him figure this out for himself."

Cap just shook his head and slunk back in his chair. He let out a frustrated sigh of defeat while pulling his cigarette case out of his pocket. Silently, he took a cigarette out and shoved it into his mouth. "He's gonna get your brother killed…" Cap mumbled as he lit up his cigarette.

I didn't say a word, jut bit my lip an' down casted my eyes to look at the flour coated navy apron balled up on the kitchen table. I was secretly scared to death that Moses would get himself hurt or killed helpin' Robert E. My husband voicin' that thought wasn't helpin' ease my mind at all.


Moses POV:

It was dusk and I was sittin' at a table in the saloon waitin' for Ima t'bring me a bottle, like I did most nights anymore, whenever the mailman that was also the Hatfields' smuggler walked into the joint. I noticed him casually lookin' 'round as he walked further into the room. He made eye contact with me 'fore quickly makin' his way over to my table. "Hey, Mo." He tipped his hat at me in greetin'.

"Hey, George." I nodded, watchin' him take a seat at my table.

In a low voice, barely 'bove a whisper, he told me, "Got a message for ya from Robert E."

"It a letter or hearsay?" I asked him, leanin' my elbows on the table.

"Letter. I figured I'd just give it t'ya here an' make it look like I forgot t'deliever it earlier."

Noddin', I sighed, "Hand it over."

George took an envelope out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the table right in front of me. "Have a nice night, Mo." He told me, standin' up as I picked the letter up.

"Have a good one." I nodded, tuckin' the letter into the inside pocket of my jacket. Curious t'know what the letter was about, I got up from my chair and made my way to the stairs in order to go to my room. 'Fore I could make it to the staircase I was stopped by Ima, who had a full bottle of whiskey in her hand. "Where ya goin', Mo?"

"Upstairs t'read some mail." I told her, earnin' me a huff and a cocked hip with a hand on it from her. "Just wait 'round for me, I'll get'cha when I'm ready for ya and the bottle." I told her with a smirk 'fore walkin' off.

I bet she was cursin' my back right now as I ascended upstairs, but I didn't care. I wanted t'see what Robert E. was writin' me for. His letters were few an' in'tween, so him sendin' me one meant somethin' was up. He needed my help or information on somethin'. Quickly, I walked down the hall and into my room. Not even botherin' to sit down, I took the letter out of my pocket and opened it. Quickly, I read:

Moses,

My friend I'm in a bind and need your help. I want to be with Mariah and she with me, but we need to distract Robert E. so she can get away from him. I need you to distract him by taking him to the saloon for a night of drinking. Please, let me know if you're willing to do this for me and Mariah. If you are willing, then I'll be able to set up a date and time with Mariah to get her. I'll let you know when I need you to distract Billy. If you're not willing to help, well I hope that you keep quiet about my relationship with Mariah and don't tell Billy she's going to run off with me.

Thanks,

Robert E.

Dear lord, this is quite the pickle I've found myself in. Billy was my best friend since childhood, but one the other hand Mariah and Robert E.'s been my friends for a few years now too. I knew that Mariah was miserable with Billy; that she wanted to be wit' Robert E., but was I willin' to betray my childhood best friend in order to help the star-crossed lovers? Hell, I felt stuck 'tween friendships. I let out a sigh, knowin' that I'd help Mariah and Robert E. when it all came down to it since I felt bad for their situation. Quickly, I stuffed the letter into my pocket before grabbin' a sheet of paper and my ink pen from the nearby desk. In a rush I scribbled down the note of:

Robert E.,

Against all logic and my better judgement, I'll help you and Mariah run off together. Just tell me when to keep Billy occupied.

Your Friend,

Moses

I stuffed the note into my pocket, intendin' of givin' it to George tomorra for smugglin', 'fore walkin' out of my room. I went downstairs, actin' like everythin' was fine and I didn't just decide to betray my best friend. With a smirk I walked up to Ima, who was at the back table I was sittin' at not that long 'go. "Told ya I'd find ya, honey." I told her, takin' a seat next to the pretty brunette whore.

Noddin', she filled me up a glass of whiskey. While I took the glass, Ima asked me, "What was your letter 'bout?"

"Nothin' too important, don't worry 'bout it none." I told her 'fore downin' my shot. Drapin' an arm over her bare shoulder, I smirked, "Now, let's just worry 'bout us." Noddin' my head to the bottle on the table I added, "And this 'ere bottle of whiskey."

I needed a night full of whiskey and the comforts of a whore considerin' 'morraw mornin' I was gonna be handin' off a letter to the smugglin' mailman that sealed my part in betrayin' Billy so that Mariah and Robert E. could be happy. Good lord, I hated feelin' torn an' in the middle of friends. Friends who're all my kin too.


AN:

I hope ya'll liked this chapter. It took a little while to get done cause I kept getting distracted by Transcending Time, lol.