*Author's Note*

Thanks for reading, faving, following, and reviewing.

Warning this chapter has LEMONS! Yup, LEMONS in the second scene! Eh, after the drama in the last chapter Cap and Novella deserve some LEMONS LOL. It's LEMONS with plot too considering the topic of a baby comes up…Ooo that was a spoiler wasn't it? LOL!

Anyways this chapter's long. Enjoy reading it.

One Of The Family Now

Novella POV:

"Oh, ya'll must be so tired an' shaken up. I made coffee, sit down at the table for a cup." Levicy rambled as she ran over to greet us as soon as we stepped over the threshold.

"We'll be a'ight, mama. Just our cars got burned, nothin' too bad." Cap played off the severity off our situation, pattin' his ma on the shoulder.

"It's a miracle the house didn't burn down an' ya'll didn't get hurt." Mama Hatfield wasn't goin' to let her son downplay the incident tho. Not by a long shot.

Devil Anse turned his attention to his wife and told her in a deep and firm tone, "Levicy, show Nova to Cap's old room. I needa talk to our son for a bit."

Levicy just nodded her head at her husband while givin' him a tight look. "Come on with me, dear." She told me, givin' me a quick look, 'fore headin' for the stairwell that separated a part of the main room from the open kitchen.

I just tightened my grip on the duffel strap over my shoulder and followed the tall toffee haired woman. It took a minute to climb the stairs and step foot onto the second floor. Without saying a word Levicy just walked by a small sitting area and down a hallway. Her long nightgown made a swishing sound as she moved.

She stopped by a door near the end of the hallway. "That's Cap's old room. Bed's made up. He only uses it if he drinks too much while over for dinner." Levicy told me, pointing to the door in front of her, as I came to a stop next to her. "Don't worry, Anderson'll get all of this straighten out. Cap'll have ya'll back home soon 'nough."

I just nodded. While placing my hand on the door knob I turned to her and said, "Thank you for welcoming me into your home when you didn't have too."

"Nova, you're one of the family now. You're Cap's girl, where he goes you go." She told me in her twangy syrup like voice as she patted my cheek. "We take care of our own in this family." She informed me with a semi-smile. Before walking off she told me, "I'll bring up a cup of coffee for you."

I opened the door, walked inside the room, and flipped on the light switch by the doorframe. A ceiling fan that doubled as a light came on, the light part not the spinning part. It was hanging over the bed which was maybe full sized. The rooms décor was classic Cap, simple with a few pops of blue. The bedding was blue plaid and the window drapes were navy. The bed was oak wood, the dresser and bedside table were too. I noticed that a few wooden shelves hung on the wall near a window, they were full of various sports and hunting trophies and medals. Also, a rifle rack was hanging up above the dresser, which has a small tv perched on it.

I dropped the duffle bag against the far near the door, slipped off my slip-slops, and went over to the bed. I was exhausted, but since my mind was reeling I doubt I'd be able to sleep. I grabbed the pull-corn dangling from the ceilin' fan above the bed an' turned the light off before pulling the blankets back and climbing in.

Cap POV:

Me and pa walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Ma had a full pot of coffee, bottle of cream, bowl of sugar, and a bunch of mugs set on the lazy-Susan. I grabbed a mug and the pot while askin' my pa, "What'd ya wanna say that ain't suitable for my woman's ears?"

"You gotta make sure she quits her job, Cap." He told me, grabbin' himself a mug, as I poured myself a cup of coffee. As I passed him the coffee pot he added in, "Or at least does watered-down work if she don't quit."

"Pa…" I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. Now was not the time to be talking bout how to meddle in my girlfriend's career. "Can't this wait?" I asked, grabbin' the bottle of cream an' a spoon.

"No, son, it can't." Pa told me, a serious tone in his voice, as he placed the pot back onto the lazy-Susan after pourin' himself some of the hot black liquid. "She's with our family now, her job has got to reflect that."

"We're not usin' her to swing the trial our way." I firmly told him while I put the cream bottle back on the lazy-Susan and dropped my spoon onto the table.

"I didn't say that, son." Pa sipped on his coffee, tryin' to act like the thought wasn't in his head.

"But you're implyin' it." I bluntly told him, my voice quick, but deep.

"Son, you need'a have a long an' hard talk with her 'bout her job. No good'll come outta her workin' with Perry Cline. Man might be her uncle, but he'd side with Randall an' the rest of 'em McCoys 'fore his blood 'n' kin. McCoys got that man ball an' chained, 'specially since he's wit' his daughter."

"Shit…" I long before taking a sip of my coffee. Looking into my coffee mug I revealed, "They're gonna hate Nova once Johnse files for his parental rights of the McCoy whore's bastard."

Pa furrowd his brows and lifted his cup to his outh while asking, "Why? What's goin' on, Cap?"

"Girl's name's McCoy-Hatfield. Nova sent me a pic of her homework askin' if me or Johnse knew. Pic's gonna be evidence."

"Roseanna ratted Nova out so she shouldn't feel slighted when it comes out that she's the reason your brother wants his rights instated."

Slamming my mug onto the table I grumbled, "Everythin's a fuckin' mess."

"It sure is, but it'll get cleaned up." Pa assured me in his deep wind-like voice before takin' a sip of his coffee.

"Nova's a bit shocked. I'm goin' to bring her some coffee." Ma said as she walked up to the table. Hmm, I didn't even notice she was even comin' up on us.

I shook my head and waved my hand at her in a dismissing motion while saying, "Don't, I'll just give her some of mine. She prolly won't want it anyways, not wit' bein' shaken up."

Rubbing my tensed shoulders she firmly told me in her twangy tone, "Ya'll are stayin' here til your pa gets this taken care of."

"Okay, ma." I nodded, already figurin' out that was the case when pa drug us over here.

"I'm just glad that ya'll are alright." My ma told me, givin' my cheek a motherly pat.

"I'm gonna go to my room, join my girl." I announced, getting up from the table and grabbing my mug.

My parents just nodded their heads in silent approval. Without a word I made my way to the staircase, needing to see Nova. I had to hold her, make sure she was okay.

Novella POV:

I was laying in bed just starin' at the wall in the dark whenever I heard the door creak open. Turning my head to see who was at the door I noticed the figure was insanely tall, meaning it was Cap. "Babe, ya up? Brought us some coffee we can share." He called out in his deep rollin' timbre, what was softly tinted, as he shut the door.

"I'm up, can't sleep." I told him as he walked over to the bed.

"Figured." He placed the coffee down on the bedside table before laying down next to me in the bed. Pulling me into his side he told me, "Ma an' pa wants us to stay here til things get straightened out."

"I can't do that, I gotta work." I reminded him, resting my head on his wife-beater covered chest.

Running a hand slowly and soothingly down my back he simply said, "Call in an' take some time off. I'm takin' a few days off myself."

"But Uncle Perry needs me at the firm and what am I supposed to tell him? I can't tell him the car got blown up, he'll freak."

"Hell, tell him you totaled your car and are staying with your boyfriend for a few days. Most likely he knows bout us from that two-faced McCoy whore."

"Hey, don't call Roseanna a whore." I snapped, disgusted that he was calling her that.

"Babe, that's her nickname in this family. The McCoy whore, been her name since she was with Johnse." My boyfrield explained to me, his deep voice a bit flat and void.

"Oh…" I didn't like that. Roseanna was so sweet, she didn't deserve to be called such a mean thing.

"You needa call Moses too." He reminded me as we laid together in his dark room.

I didn't want to call him up. Moses can be a smartass. "My brother's gonna be all like I told ya so or somethin'."

"Maybe, but it'd be best for him to hear the truth instead of the bullshit your gonna feed Perry Cline."

"Reckon you're right." I sighed in defeat.

"I know I am, baby." Cap stroked my back gently, his deep voice lightly vibratin' in his throat.

"I just can't believe this is happening to us."

"It is, but we'll get thru it." He told me reassuringly, kissin' me on top of my head. "I'm gonna keep ya safe, I promise."

"I know, Will." I replied, my voice soft and a bit wispy.

"Later today we're gonna have a talk bout your job and how risky it is."

"Why later, why not now?"

"Cause you're too shaken up right now. You needa calm down, get some sleep."

"I can't sleep." I admitted, tilting my head up slightly to look at him.

"Then just rest in my arms, Nova." Cap suggested, resulting in me just nodding my head and laying it back down on his chest.

I silently did as he suggested for a few minutes til I broke the silent air with an apology of, "I'm sorry bout your car."

"Baby, I don't give a shit 'bout my car. Only thing I care bout's you and you're safe with me." Cap told me, pullin' my head up and back slightly so that I could see his face in the dark room slightly illuminated by the moonlight streamin' from the sliver in the window curtains.

Cap wasn't a feelings type guy, but he had his moments. Like right now counted as one of those moments. I couldn't help, but to love this guy. He was always so cocky, cold, and methodical, but underneath that exterior was a heart fully capable of loving beyond measure.

I smiled at Cap while honestly telling him, "I'd be a wreck without you right now."

"I know." He told me a bit softly before bringing his lips to mine, kissing me a bit slow and soothingly.

I pushed my lips into his a bit faster, trying to speed up the kiss, as one of my hands snaked into his shaggy blonde hair. Cap responded to my efforts by speedily gliding his lips over mine. One of his hands rested on my hip while the other held onto the side of my neck above my collarbone. He pulled me up so that I was straddling his lap as we kissed, nipping and tugging at each other's lips needily and hungrily.

Cap pulled his lips away from mine only to trail open mouth kisses along my jaw and down my neck. I moved my head slightly to the side, giving him better access to my neck. As I felt his hands slide under my large shirt and touch my skin, roaming up and down my ribs, I jolted my head back and had a sudden revelation. Holy shit, in my rush to pack us a bag did I bring my pills? I know I brought his wallet and my phone, which was in a wallet-case, but I can't recall if I packed my pills.

Cap looked at me with worry in his lone icy eye and it's milky-white twin. "What's wrong, baby? Am I movin' too fast, are ya too shaken up to wanna do anythin' this morning?"

Shaking my head, I told him, "I'm fine, it's just I don't remember if I packed my pills or not. Missing just one day's a set up for an oopsie."

He ran his long fingers thru my copper tangles of hair while suggesting, "Babe, let's just forget the pills. Just do our thing."

"But Cap-" I began to say til I was cut off by him saying, "Nova, you just turned 28 last month and I'm turnin' 29 in February. We're old 'nough to handle whatever happens."

"So, we're not really trying to have a baby, but not preventing it either?" I gathered, looking at him for confirmation.

"Yea." He nodded, his deep voice softer than usual.

"Okay." I told him, even tho inside I was freaking out. I never thought much on having kids, getting pregnant, but now I was just going to leave all of that up to chance. God, I must really love Cap to be taking this dice roll of knock-up fate.

"Now where were we, babe?" Cap asked with a playful smirk before grabbing the hem of my shirt and pulling it up to expose my torso.

Lifting my arms up, so that he could pull my shirt all the way off, I told him with a smirk of my own, "Getting ready to play baby making roulette."

After pulling my shirt over my head he tossed it somewhere before hooking his thumb into the back collar of his wife-beater and pulling it off in one quick swoop. With a crooked grin he tossed his wife-beater to the side and then latched his lips onto my collar bone, all why I continued to straddle his lap. I held onto his bare shoulders, my nails most likely digging into them, and let a small moan escape my lips as he kissed a trail of open mouthed kisses across my collar bone and down to the valley between my breasts all while cupping them and flicking the pads of his thumbs over my nipples, sending shockwaves tingling down my spine.

Goddamn, Will was too good at this. Everything he did left me craving for more. In response to the feeling of his mouth and the touch of his hands my back was arching, bent tighter then a bow, and mewls flowed out of my slightly parted mouth. He pulled away from me with a self-satisfied smirk on his face while trailing his hands down my sides to rest on my hips. Will didn't say a word as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of both my panties and yoga pants, pulling them both down in one swift move. I placed a small kiss on his lips before maneuvering myself so that I could get my pants fully off. While I was doing that Will was pulling his own pants and boxers off, or at least partially off since he never left the bed. I ended up pulling them the rest of the way off his long legs.

"Come over here, baby." Will told me, his deep rolling timbre both soft and lust filled, as he crooked his finger at me, beckoning me to straddle his lap.

I just smiled at him before straddling his waist. Hovering over where he wanted me to sink down, I pushed him to lay flat on his back. "Lay down, ya get sit up when it gets intense." I told him as I braced myself by placing my palms on his chest.

Grabbing each of my hips he told me, "Ya ready to ride my dick or ya just gonna keep teasin' me?"

"Will, you gotta dirty mouth." I told him, biting back a turned-on smile, before sinking down on him.

He gripped my hips and let out a deep moan of, "Ya love it."

"Mhm, reckon I do." I sighed as I rolled my hips, controlling the speed of our love making.

After a while my movements began to get sloppy and Will pushed himself to sit up. He bucked quickly into me, somewhat taking the lead in our lovemaking. His hands rested along my spine, his open palms pushing my torso forward and into his. My arms were wrapped around his neck as our chest were flushed together. Every time we moved his blonde chest hairs grazed against my peaked nipples, making me moan and bite my lip. I felt my climax begin to build and from the sweat rolling fown Will's brow along with his fast jerky movements I knew his was building too.

"Fucky, baby, I'm gonna come real soon." Will groaned out, his voice trembling and strained.

"Me too, Will. I'm so close." I panted, my voice high pitched, as my own sloppily movements struggled to keep up with his.

Will crashed his lips against mine and snuck his hand between us where we were joined. Quickly, in motion with his movements, he roughly rubbed his thumbs against my clit. In less then a minute I was moaning into his mouth as we kissed, my hands clutching onto the back of his neck, as I saw stars and came crashing down in pleasure. Will greedily kissed me as he bucked wildly. It didn't take long before he was tugging on my lip with his teeth while spilling inside of me, finding his own pleasure.

With his chest heaving my boyfriend flopped flat on his back, his sweat soaked head lightly bouncing against his pillow. With shakily legs that felt like Jell-O I got off of Will and took my spot next to him, nestled into his side. My breath was racing as I rested my head on his chest. As I listened to the racing of his heart I felt him wrap an arm around my middle.

Perhaps now we'd both be able to get some sleep since we were spent.

Bright sunlight was streaming through the small crack in the drapes whenever I blinked my eyes open. I wasn't sure what time it was, but I'm betting it had to be later then 7 or 8 in the morning. I gingerly sat up, careful not to wake Cap, who was peacefully sleeping on his back with an arm half resting on me. His blonde shaggy hair was sticking up every which way against his blue pillow, making the blonde locks stand out. I smiled at the sight of him snoring softly, glad that he was getting much needed rest.

I myself still felt a bit tired and worn, but I think that's due to the events of last night. I gently pushed Cap's arm off of me before swinging my legs over the bed. As I stood up in all my glory I heard Cap ask in a tired mumble, "Where ya goin'?"

"To get dressed." I answered as I went over to our bag.

Cap didn't say anything, but I bet he nodded his head tho. Silence filled the air was I put on my panties and bra. Whenever I pulled on some jeans is when the silence broke with the sound of Cap's groggy deep wavin' tone asking me, "You sleep any?"

"Yea, did you?" I replied while pulling my shirt on.

"Yea, but still feel tired." He told me as I slipped on my flats. I felt the same, but I wasn't going to tell him that cause I didn't want him to worry about me. "Wanna bring me over some clothes?" He asked before I could grab my hairbrush from the bag.

"Sure, reckon you can't lay in bed naked all day."

"As much as I'd like to, no I can't."

After pulling some boxers, jeans, socks, and a shirt from the bag I walked over to the bed and dumped the stack of clothes next to him.

"Can ya sit for a sec? We needa talk." He told me, grabbing his boxers and standing up.

I just sat down on the edge of the bed while asking, "What is it, Cap?"

"I don't just want 'cha callin' out today, I want ya to quit." Cap revealed, his deep rollin' timbre stern and somber, as he pulled on his boxers.

"Quit, but why?"

"Cause after the shit Nancy and Bad Frank got done last night I don't think you'll be safe 'round the McCoys." He snapped, pulling on and zipping up his jeans.

"I won't be around the McCoys, I'll be in my uncle's law office." I pointed out while watching him pull his t-shirt on.

"Where McCoys drop in and out of cause of the case." Cap snapped quickly and deeply as he sat down next to me, grabbing his socks from the bed.

"The only McCoys that pop in are Randall and Tolbert. Pharmer and Bud only come in when they're told to." I assured him as he pulled on his socks.

With a raised dark blonde brow he asked, "And what 'bout Bad Frank, he come by?"

"No, just if he's invited or maybe after a hearing for the case."

Cap shook his head as his body shook in frusteration. "Babe, I just don't see how you're so flippant 'bout this. These people hate you now and you still wanna help them."

"They don't hate me." Hate was a strong word, dislike would be better used.

"Really? Oh, so our cars just got burnt to a crisp cause you're popular and are best fucking friends with them?" He snapped sarcastically, his deep tone loud like waves crashing against the shoreline in an angry storm.

"Cap, stop it." I hissed out, my eyes narrowed a bit. "You know that what happened last night had nothing to do with the case. It's Nancy getting her husband to fuck with me cause I picked you and not her hot-headed cousin." I spat at my boyfriend, my voice high with aggravation.

"It's more then that, but if that's what you wanna believe then so be it." Cap shook his head at me, much like one does to somebody they think's acting foolish. He narrowed his lone icy eye and it's milky-white twin at me before stating, "I also don't want you anywhere near Tolbert. That guy's crazy, no tellin' what he might do."

"Oh my god, I can't believe you'd think he'd hurt me."

"Maybe you're too blinded by your past with him, but I know he's a loose cannon. He murdered my uncle for Christ's sake."

"Cap…" Rolled loosely off my tongue in a long, tired sounding sigh.

"If you won't quit working for your uncle then just promise me you'll be careful." My boyfriend told me, settling and making a truce.

"Okay, I can promise that." I nodded, my voice coming out soft and light.

"And just let Perry Cline carry the load of the McCoy boys' case. Don't do too much that'd put you one on one with those people."

"Fine, if that'll make you feel better that's what I'll do." Actually, the case was giving me a headache so I kinda didn't mind giving most of the load back to my uncle. I hated the case, made my skin crawl knowing that I was trying to free guilty men.

Cap pulled me into his arms, embracing me, while admitting, "I love ya and just want you safe. Don't know what'd I'd do if somethin' bad happened to ya, baby."

Poor Cap, of course he was scared of me getting hurt. After last night how could he not be. I wasn't making things easy for him by refusing to quit my job. A lesser man would've broken down by now, but not him. No, my Cap was cold and collected. He was strong and could handle tough things, but I reckon my line of work might take a small toll on him. Damn…

Devil Anse POV:

I was sitting on the porch smoking my pipe whenever Uncle Jim's old Bronco pulled up into the drive. I called him, didn't tell him what happened, but did tell him he needed to come over right 'way cause we needed to have a talk bout Cap. Cap was that crochety old man's favorite nephew, I'd knew he'd come. Jim got outta the truck with his mutt-hound dog followin' him. "What's goin' on wit' Cap, Anse?" He asked in his rough drawl as he started to walk over to the porch.

"Bad Frank and his wife had a goon from the James Gang go after Cap and Nova's cars last night. Scorched 'em up bad, nothin' left, but the burnt metal frames." I explained to my uncle, who was wearing the same ole smelly thing he had on yesterday, as he climbed up the porch steps and then took a seat on the rocker next to mine.

"Shit, so we're gonna retaliate." Jim stated, not questioned, as I took a puff off my pipe.

"Yes, but Cap wants in." I nodded, holding my black wooden pipe in a firm grip.

"Then let him be in." He simply said while scratchin' behind his dog's ears as the mutt-hound sat by his side.

"He wants to take his rightful place as my lieutenant." I reveled, my deep voice solemn, as I looked straight into the distance ahead of me.

"So, what's wrong with that?"

"He's a lawyer, the ADA in Pikeville. He made somethin' of himself and he wants to throw it all 'way to join the family business." I ranted, moving my pipe hand around in frustration and causin' smoke to waft in the air.

"Boy's got a good head on his shoulders. Make a fine lieutenant."

"Cap was always mesmerized by the law. I was relieved and happy whenever he decided to go to college and law school cause I never wanted him to devote his life to arms like I did mine." I really didn't, never wanted my way of life for him. I always felt that he could have a good life, big career for himself in law or politics cause of how smart and level-headed he was.

"Cap's got too much of you in him, was only a matter o'time 'fore he asked to join us." Jim chuckled, a large grin spread over his dirty bearded face. My uncle was right, lookin' at my second son was like lookin' into a mirror and seein' myself as a young man. Didn't know whether to be proud or scared. I wanted Cap to settle down and have children, but it seems the woman he's picked to do that with's the kindlin' to his outlaw fire.

"I told him I'd let him help you take care of the man that burnt the cars, but I'd think 'bout makin' him my lieutenant. I reveled, shovin' my pipe into the corner of my mouth.

"Anse, just let him do it. He knows how the life is, he can handle it."

"Jim, if I let him into the family business and make him my lieutenant ya gotta promise me that you'll keep an eye on him for me. Make sure he can do what needs done."

"I'll do that, Anse." Uncle Jim nodded, a serious look on his grubby round face. "So, what 'bout the girl? Miss Nova here or back in Kentucky?" He asked, sounding genuinely concerned for the girl. I think he had a soft spot for her, why only god knows.

"She's here. They're both upstairs sleepin'." I answered, my tone deep and flat, as I rocked and looked out at my front yard. Watching the empty stretch of road yards away.

"Thought ya didn't like her, why'd ya lettin' her stay here for?"

"I don't like her, least I didn't, but now she's one of us. The McCoys are ragin' war on her 'long with our family. 'Sides she gave Cap evidence bout Roseanna legally namin' her girl McCoy-Hatfield and keepin' it a secret from Johnse for all these years."

Jim tilted his head and waggled him brows. "Ooo, so since she's turned on the McCoys in favor of Cap ya trust her a bit now." Wavin' a finger at me he smirked, "Told ya she's a good girl."

"Shut up, Jim. Go inside and get yourself some coffee or somethin'. I gotta wait out 'ere for Billy and one of the other boys to bring over some trucks." I ordered, not in the mood to hear Jim's bullshit.

"Mr. Howles stay." He ordered his dog 'fore gettin' up from his chair and going inside the house.

The mutt-hound just looked at me with its big brown eyes. Damn thing looked 'bout as grungy as it's owner. The dog's blue bandana and brown collar 'round its neck was new and looked better then the clothes my uncle donned. Uncle Jim needed to get his priorities in order, buy new clothes and stop wastin' money on that Chewy site for his mangy mutt.

Novella POV:

After our tense talk, that was a near fight, we went downstairs to the kitchen for some coffee and something to eat. We were the only ones in the kitchen. Everyone also was either at school, work, or busy doing something. I didn't mind tho, I think I've would've felt too claustrophobic if the kitchen was full considering the ordeal I just went thru a few hours ago.

I was sitting at the table with Cap, drinking coffee and eating an elderberry jam smothered buttermilk biscuit, whenever the loud scuffing sound of boots hitting the floor echoed out. Great, the devil probably wants to talk to us 'gain.

"Anse told me what happened, what a shame." I heard Jim Vance say in his deep crochety tone as he walked by the table and over to the counter where the coffee pot was at. "Ya stick with our boy Cap 'ere and he'll keep you safe." The mountain man that looked like an older and fatter version of Jeremiah Johnson told me as he grabbed the coffee pot out of its holder.

"Jim…" Cap hissed over the cup of coffee that was close to his lips.

"What? Just sayin' you'll keep her safe's all." Jim told his nephew, waving off his protests, as he poured himself a large cup of coffee. Walking over to the table and taking a seat across from us he told me, "It was a nice car that ya had, Nova. Reckon Bad Frank Philips and Miss McCoy knew it was worth a lot when they torched it."

"Yea." I nodded sadly before sighing and revealing, "They were sendin' me a message."

"No, they sent us a message. They did it on my land, got me involved." Cap barked in his deep rolling tone, his stone-cold face hard and scrunched up. For some reason deep down in my bones I got the feeling that getting my Hatfield boyfriend involved was a dire mistake for Nancy and Bad Frank.

"No, they got the entire Hatfield clan involved." Jim remarked in his cantankerous tone in-between sipping on his pitch-black coffee. "Ain't too smart of them, but we all know them McCoys and theirs ain't too bright." He chortled, a mocking gleam in his eyes.

Before anything else could be said my phone started to go off. I pulled it from my back pocket and sighed whenever I saw the ID screen.

Cap looked at me with one of his brows raised. "Who's callin', babe?"

"My uncle." I simply told him, my voice a bit flat and full of dread.

"Oh, this ought'a be good. The snake's checkin' in to see if the car's blown up." Jim Vance chuckled, sprayin' dark liquid into the air and down his straggly grey beard.

Cap shot daggers at his uncle while barking out, "Uncle Jim, shut up."

"I'll go answer it outside in the back." I told them before getting up from the table and heading towards the back door.

My phone rang nonstop as I walked to the door. On like the 6th-7th ring I stepped outside and answered my iPhone with a simple, "Hi, Uncle Perry."

"Novella, dear, it's past 10 o'clock in the morning. You should be back by now, so, where are you?" Uncle Perry told me with concern laced into his slippery smooth voice.

"I totaled my car last night so I'm staying with my boyfriend out of state." I told Uncle Perry, opting to go with the explanation Cap came up with earlier.

"Boyfriend out of state?! Dear lord, you took your idoit brother's advice and got together with ADA Hatfield to try and help our case didn't you? Don't lie to me and say you're not with Cap, he's the only man you have a history with other then Tolbert in the Tug River Valley."

"Uncle Perry, it's not like that. Will's actually a nice guy and I was with him in Baltimore. We decided to see each other again, that's all."

"He was in Florida for that wedding, wasn't he?" He asked in a firm tone that made it sound more like a statement then an actual question.

"Yea." I truthfully answered since lying was useless. My uncle was smart, he was figuring everything out.

"Novella, I can't spin this in a way that Ole Rand'l will accept. He'll view this as you siding with a criminal, lying, murderous, thieving enemy. Hatfields are dangerous, my dear, and now you're the moth getting too close to the flame." My uncle warned me, his slick voice heavy with sadness and defeat.

"Uncle Perry, don't be so dramatic. They seem like nice people. Devil Anse is even giving me a truck to use." I told him, hoping to get him to see things from my perspective. I mean evil people don't demand that you take their truck and let them handle the fallout of your car getting torched. The man seemed decent last night and his wife was very nice too.

"What?!" Uncle Perry's slick-tinted voice shouted out of my phone. "Now you listen to me Novella LaVerne Landon, don't you dare accept anything from that man. It's bought from dirty money. Those people are no good, they're just trying to trap you so that they can turn you into their little minion." Uncle Perry ranted and raved so quickly that I'm pretty sure he got everything out on one big lungful of air.

"Uncle Perry, take off your tin foil hat. You're sounding like a conspiracy theorist now." I never took my uncle as one of those paranoid people, but right now that's how he was coming off as.

"The Hatfields make their money trafficking illegal firearms. Devil Anse heads one of the biggest smugglin' operations, sends the guns all over the country hidden in his lumber trucks."

"What?!"

"Yes and he gets away with it cause he knows so many people in high places."

"Oh my god, are you serious?" I knew drugs (mostly meth, heroine, fentanyl, and pills) got pushed in the hills, but guns? Really?

"Yes, I'm serious. Your boyfriend's most likely involved, bet he's a dirty lawyer." Cap, my Cap, who's a blunt and honest lawyer involved in gun running? No, it can't be. Oh my god…no just no…"Now get that no-good boyfriend of yours to either drop you off at Enterprise or in Kentucky, but I want your ass back in Pikeville and away from those treacherous people." Uncle Perry barked, his slick tone raised, before he hung up on me.

Oh my god, I can't believe this shit. The Hatfields were gun runners?! What the hell?! Oh, I needed answers and I needed them now. I marched over to the back door and flung it opened. Whatever conversation Cap and Jim Vance were having died as I marched into the kitchen, no doubt my face looked as friendly as Medusa's right now. They just looked at me, not saying a word.

While going over to the table and taking a seat next to Cap I told him, "I told my Uncle Perry that my car got totaled and I'm staying with you and you know what he told me?"

"No, what'd he tell you?" Cap asked, a wary look on his face, before taking a quick sip of his coffee and setting the mug down on the table.

"That your family traffics firearms. You're a bunch of gun smugglers hiding behind a lumberyard." I spat at him, my flowing voice high-pitched with anger, as I sat down next to him with my cornflower blue eyes cutting into his form.

Jim Vance let out a loud, deep, cackling laugh while pounding his hand on the table. Glad this subject's making him laugh cause I don't find it funny at all.

Cap placed his hand on mine that was on the table. Rubbing my knuckled with his hand he told me with a soft look in his mismatched eyes, "Baby, he's lying to ya so you'll break up with me. You know that you can't trust his word, just look at how he lied to ya so you'd work with him."

"I know, but-" I began to say til Cap cut me off firmly in his deep rolling timbre with, "No buts, this is just one of his slippery lies to get you back under his thumb. Perry Cline's known to have the gift of gab, he's a damn good liar."

"He sounded concerned tho." I sighed out, confusion dripping from my flowing voice. How could my uncle be lying and sound worried at the same time? He couldn't be lying to me, not 'bout this.

"Nova, babe, his fiancé got her crazy cousin and cousin-in-law to torch our cars. Your uncle's not on your side, he's jus tellin' you shit to twist your head up bout me. Him and the McCoys are the bad ones, not me and mine."

"I know, Cap, that what you're saying makes sense, but he's my uncle."

Cap removed his hand from mine and gently placed it on my shoulder while telling me, "Just cause he's your uncle don't mean he's got your best intentions in mind."

Jim Vance's voice quickly piped up with the blunt remark of, "Yea, Perry Cline's always been stuck up Ole Rand'l McCoys ass. His friendship wit' him's more important then the likes of you."

I was speechless. Jim Vance's words were like a hard slap to my face. I wanted to crumble, to scream and cry all at the same time.

"Babe, there's a stream with a dock not that far from here. How 'bout we go take a walk, help ya calm down some." Cap suggested with a softness shinning in his mismatched eyes as he rubbed my shoulder soothingly.

I quietly nodded my head at him, agreeing to his suggestion.

"I'll let your pappy know where ya went." Jim Vance told us with the tilt of his head, sipping on his black coffee, as we got up from the table.

Cap just nodded his thanks at his great-uncle before ushering us out the back door. Silently we walked together across the grass towards where the dock was at nestled somewhere in a nearby wooden area. Cap's hand has holding mine, our fingers laced together. Seems that no matter how crazy shit was getting I had him. I knew need down in my soul that our relationship was full speed ahead now with no slowing down or turning back. I was now fully on the Hatfield side of the river, most likely for life, thanks to the irrational and hateful decisions of Nancy McCoy and Bad Frank Phillips. How can I go back to Kentucky knowing that most of the people I've trusted and considered friends there are close to Nancy and her husband, are her kin, and most likely secretly hate me now? Only one in Kentucky I can trust's my brother, but I got a feeling that eventually Moses is gonna be running away from the Pikeville too.

AN:

And Cap lied to Novella's face bout the side business and basically turned her against her uncle. Yea, no way in hell was he going to tell her that Perry Cline, who he's been pumping into her head has been dishonest to her about everything since she got back, is actually telling her the truth for once. Poor shady lawyer Perry Cline, when he actually tells the truth it's not believed.

Oh boy drama, drama, drama. I know no Tolbert, I didn't have time to fit him in yet. I plan on having him in the next chapter tho. Just to point out Roseanna DID NOT betray Novella and tell on her, just that Novella and the Hatfields think she did. Poor Roseanna…Anyways, Novella's in it deep now isn't she?

Oh, and do ya'll think Cap genuinely wants to have baby with Novella or does he just want to knock her up to get her to quit her job due to high stress not being good for the first trimester of pregnancy?