*Author's Note*
Thanks for reading, faving, following, and reviewing.
Strong Family Values
Novella POV:
I was sitting on the examination table in Doc Rutherford's office, waiting for him to come in and see me, while Cap sat next to me in a chair. I told him he didn't have to be here, but he claimed he didn't mind. That he actually wanted to be here. Just that fact that Cap was at this appointment with me proved that he was serious bout raising this baby with me, being a father.
Posters and diagrams showing the uterus and different stages of pregnancy covered the white walls of the room I was in. Staring at them made everything all the more real. I mean all of this is a bit nerve wracking in a way, exciting too.
The door opened and in walked Doc Rutherford. He had salt and pepper hair, wore glasses, and looked to be in his 50's. Typical doctor in the hills pretty much. "I'm Doc Rutherford." He greeted in a drawl after closing the door. "And you must be Miss Novella Landon?" The doctor asked me as he took at seat on the stool by the counter that had a monitor on it.
"Yes, I'm Novella." I confirmed as he rolled over to where I was perched on the examination table.
"And I see ya brought baby's daddy with you today." He remarked, looking between me and Cap.
Before I could say a reply back to the doc my boyfriend opened his mouth and simply said in his deep rollin' timbre, "Cap Hatfield."
"Hatfield, you related to Johnse?" Doc Rutherford asked, his brow raised slightly over his wire framed glasses, as he looked at my boyfriend.
"He's my big brother." Cap confirmed, noddin' at the doctor.
"Ah…" Doc nodded his head before going on to say, "I'm his wife's doctor. Saw him last week wit' her." Oh, so Johnse and Mira use Doc Rutherford's Mate Creek office. Good to know I guess. "So, ya took a home pregnancy test and it came up positive?" The doc asked, wanting to confirm what was in the chart that the nurse had given him.
"Yea, took it couple days ago." While locked in the bathroom at the Cline Attorney Of Law Office, on the verge of having an anxiety attack. Yea, not tellin' my doctor that tho.
"Been experiencing morning sickness yet?" He asked, adjustin' his wire glasses on the bridge of his nose, as he sat on his stool right in front of me. Doc was lookin' 'tween me and Cap, it felt like he was studyin' us or our relationship. As if he couldn't fathom that Johnse's reserved little brother had knocked up a girl or something.
"Yea, been a bit nauseas in the mornings for a few days now." I left out the part bout puking my breakfast up Monday morning, along with how I skipped breakfast yesterday and today due to a flippy stomach. Cap wasn't too pleased that I didn't eat breakfast for two days, he thought that I needed somethin' in my stomach since I was expectin'.
"That's normal, all part of the pregnancy." I already knew that, hell I think most women do. "Now, let's do a scan and see how far 'long you're measurin'." The doctored suggested as he stood up and went to grab a bottle of gel.
I laid down on the table, with my shirt pulled up to show my stomach, while Cap just sat next to me holding my hand as Doc put some gel on my still flat belly and ran a wand over it. A little fuzzy dot the size of a pea appeared on the monitor. Doc Rutherford looked at the monitor, pointing at the image on the screen, while announcing, "You're measurin' at 5 weeks 5 days long."
Damnit, that's too close to 6 weeks for comfort. It's too close to tell who the baby daddy is. Great…I was hoping I was more like 4 or 3 weeks, but of course I'm not.
Cap just ran his thumb over my knuckles, silently letting me know that everything was okay. Giving me support and comfort while we quietly looked at the screen with the pea sized baby on it.
"I'll print off some pictures for ya'll if you'd like." Doc offered as he turned the monitor off and wiped the gel off my stomach.
"Yea, that'd be nice." I nodded while Cap just remained silent by my side.
While the doc printed off the pictures for us Cap helped me sit up and fix my shirt. He knew that I was in a bit of shock at hearing how far 'long I was. Oh god, I hope he's not upset or disappointed.
Handing me the scan prints Doc Rutherford said, "I want to see ya in 3 or 4 weeks for your next checkup."
"Anythin' else, or can we go?" Cap bluntly asked, his deep wavin' tone a bit clipped. Clearly, he wanted to leave.
"You're free t'leave. Just schedule an appointment at the desk." Doc Rutherford told us before leavin' the room, no doubt having to check on another patient.
After scheduling a follow up appointment, we left the doctor's office. We were riding on the highway, making our way back to downtown Pikeville where we both worked, with the radio playing some old country music on it. I was looking out the window at the fall jewel toned trees whenever Cap's deep rollin' timbre echoed out in the truck with, "We better go to the jewelry store 'fore gettin' back to work."
Looking at him with a raised brow I asked, "Why?"
"Why? Cause we gotta buy rings, that's why." Cap remarked, drummin' his thumbs on the steerin' wheel along to the beat of the Brooks & Dunn song that was comin' on the radio.
"Cap, just cause I'm 5 weeks and 5 days pregnant doesn't mean we gotta buy rings and rush down the alter."
"Yea, actually it does." My boyfriend said, his deep voice rumblin' over the music in the truck. He looked at me a bit sternly while explainin', for the umpteenth time, "We gotta keep Tolbert at bay when it comes to the baby, only way to do that is ya becomin' Mrs. Cap Hatfield."
"Oh my god, this is movin' way too fast." I muttered under my breath, restin' my elbow on the edge of the window and leanin' my head on my fist.
Cap's head snapped and his mismatched eyes narrowed at me. Uh oh, he heard my muttering. "Really? You're gonna say that shit right now? We already live together and you're pregnant, but gettin' hitched is movin' way too fast?"
"Don't get all offend, Cap. I was just saying…" I sighed, not feelin' like havin' a lover's spat over nothing. Hell, someties Cap can be so quickly insulted.
"There's no other way to ensure that guilty as sin McCoy can't get rights to the baby other then us being married when it's born." Cap told me, his deep voice solid an' unmoving.
"I know…" I sighed as I felt a sinking feeling hit the pit of my stomach. God, I was just as bad as Roseanna if not worse. Hidin' a child from their father. Lordy…
Changing the heavy atmosphere in the air Cap turned to me and smirked, "And I reckon ya don't wanna be a fat bride so we gotta get married 'fore you're too far 'long."
"So, you're saying by time I'm 4-months we'll be married." I stated since that's the conclusion I was reaching.
"Yea."
"Oh…"
"Babe, I know this ain't a dream proposal wit' me gettin' down on one knee, doin' a song an' dance, and havin' some asshole film it an' upload it onto youtube, but I love ya and want a future wit'cha."
"I know, Cap. It's just a lot to take in, but guess we're in it for the long haul now." I told him as we sat with the turn signal on, waitin' for a clearance to pull into the shoppin' center that the jewelry store was in.
"Yep, which is why we're pullin' into the Kay Jewelers parkin' lot." He chuckled, makin' his turn as soon as a car zoomed by us.
"Uncle Perry's gonna freak whenever I get back to work."
"Oh well, it's your life not his. He's engaged to who he wants to be with, you're gonna be engaged to who ya wanna be with." Cap shrugged, pullin' into a parkin' spot close to the Kay's.
After picking out a ring set for me and a band for him Cap dropped me off at work. Of course, he kept our wedding bands boxed with him while I was currently wearing my new engagement ring. Thankfully decrypted older then time itself Aunt Betty didn't notice the rock on my left hand whenever I walked into my uncle's firm.
Currently I was sitting at my desk admiring my new ring even tho I should be checking my emails and going over stuff for the McCoy boys' case, like trying to figure out an actual defense. Maybe it was wrong that I was captivated by my engagement ring, but to my defense it was unique and I'd never seen a ring quite like it before. My ring was from the Neil Lane collection, it was rose gold with white diamonds on each side of the band and a princess cut pink diamond in the center, white diamonds edging it. Cap spent a pretty penny on it, but he didn't complain. I think he was just happy that I agreed to his idea of getting married.
The door of my office opened followed by the gate keeper herself, Betty, walking in and popping my happy little bubble. "You should go to your uncle's office, help him work on my nephews' case." The old hag told me in her raspy voice.
I didn't want to deal with my uncle right now, but I guess since my job was to help him with the case I needed to be more onboard with everything. Although I did tell Cap I'd try to lessen my load, put more of it onto my uncle. Blah, I'm in a catch 22 situation.
"Okay, I'll go see him." I told Betty, my tone a bit tight as I forced a smile at her.
"Unless that ring's from Tolbert, ya shouldn't be wearin' it here." Betty told me in a snarl before turning her back on me and leaving my office, to either go back to the reception desk or into the break room to grab more coffee. Bitch…
I just shook my head before getting up from my desk. Quickly I made my way across the hall and to my uncle's office. I opened the door and walked in while saying, "Hey, Uncle Perry, um do you wanna work on the defense plan for the McCoy boys?"
My uncle nodded his head and started to open his mouth, only to close it and narrow his eyes. I noticed that he was looking straight at the ring on my left hand. Uh oh…
Meanwhile Over In West Virgnia…
Devil Anse POV:
Yesterday Moses planted some bugs in Perry's office, both the one at his firm and in his home, and downloaded the cameras' app onto my office computer and my phone. Kid set it up so the feed would just open up, I'd be automatically logged in. So, I was currently sittin' in my office watchin' the feed of the planted cameras. Nova had just walked into Perry's office, asking if he wanted to work on the defense plan. She sounded a bit leery, like she didn't actually wanna work on it, but was obligated too. Perry looked like he was gonna start his lawyer mumbo jumbo til his eyes turned to slits, starin' at Nova.
"My god, Novella, you went and got engaged to Cap Hatfield. Are you insane?" Perry seethed, his slick voice low with disgust.
With where the camera was placed in Perry's office, on the top shelf hidden in some knick-knacks, I was able to see both Perry at his desk and whoever was in the room with him. I could see shinnin' on Nova's left hand a sizable diamond ring. So, Cap was serious when he said he wanted a future with her.
"No, I'm not insane." Nova spat at her uncle, sittin' a cross from him. "I don't see why my engagement's a shock to you, I'm living with the man."
"He's not a man, he's a one-eyed demon that's charmin' words have made you think you're in love with him."
"Uncle Perry, you're so full of shit. If you knew anything bout Cap you'd know that his words are far from charming, nothing that's very wooing." Oh, she's right 'bout that. If Cap had'a profess his love he'd fail, he don't know how to sugar and sweeten up his words. From what I know of Nova she doesn't care 'bout sweet words, she seems to be a bit jaded herself. She's got a quick wit and sharp tongue that matches my son's. Nova's face went hard as she stared her uncle down and told him in a low tone, "I don't think I'm in love, I know that I love him. He's a good man and he's my fiancé whether you accept it or not."
"I never thought you'd be so stupid. He's using you to further his career, to get over on the case." Perry seethed, sittin' up straight and giving his niece a snake-eyed look.
"That's a lie. We were together back in Baltimore, he's not with me to get me to fuck up on the case." I had'a hand it to Nova, she was defendin' my son tooth and nail when it'd be easier to just agree with her uncle. Clearly, she loved Cap. That much was evident by how she was reactin' to Perry's bullshit.
"I didn't raise you to be so stupid, Novella. Damnit, you were top of your law class in Louisville so I know you're smart enough to see through his bullshit. Why you're so blinded's a mystery."
"I'm not blinded. Why can't you understand that I'm happy with him? We're in love and want a life together."
"I call horse shit on that. I believe you're with him for other reasons, ones I do not know yet." Always an ulterior motive with that man. Perry Cline just couldn't accept that somethin's things are the way they are without underlyin' reasons. Bamboozlin' jackass, just cause he's a cheat don't mean everyone else is. "I pray you're not pregnant, that would be very unfortunate."
"Well, unfortunately for you and the McCoys that you seem to care 'bout more then me, I am havin' a baby with Cap. We're due in the summer." She spat, her jaw tremblin' more then rocky ground durin' an earthquake.
Oh, well that explains why she's sportin' a rock on her left ring finger. My son was raised with strong family values. Cap would never want his child to be a bastard, not with how he saw chil'ren treat bastards in his childhood. He was always defendin' his cousin Cottontop growin' up form bullies, on bein' both a bastard and slow-minded. Even tho times have changed, they haven't changed so much and the small mountain towns still revolve 'round a church culture with gossipin' old bitties and hypocrits makin' sneers 'bout the bastard born chil'ren. Sneers that chil'ren pick up on and repeat.
"You know that Tolbert wants more children, I'm sure once we get him and his brothers cleared he'll take pity on you and your predicament since he loves you." Perry's gone and lost his ever lovin' goddamn mind with his stupid remark. My son ain't gonna let that hot-head murderous McCoy near his kid let 'lone get a shot at raisin' him.
"I don't need his loving pity, I got Cap and his devotion." Nova told Perry right before turnin' her back on him and stormin' out.
Perry was stunned. He just sat behind his desk with a fallen look on his face, 'bout ready to have a mental break down. I don't think he's too happy 'bout the news he's gonna be a great-uncle.
I'm fine with Cap and Nova havin' a baby, means that she's definitely on the Hatfield side of things. She became part of the family, 'long with her brother, when Bad Frank torched the cars, but now with a child she's forever linked to us. Miss Nova won't be gunnin' to save them McCoys while bein' pregnant, hell might not eeven be on the case anyore due to stress in the first trimester.
Oh, I'm happy to be a gran'pappy to Cap and Nova's future child. Levicy'll love the news as well, but I won't be tellin' her. I'll let Cap and Nova announce the good news to the family durin' Sunday dinner this weekend.
Now I better go check on the men runnin' my saws and see how the truck load ups of the arms is goin'.
Tolbert POV:
I was checkin' on my still, jarrin' up the batch o'shine that got made, whenever my phone started to ring. Pausin' what I was doin' I pulled my phone outta my back pocket. I saw Jim flashin' on my caller ID. Great, my brother wanted to talk. I sighed 'fore answerin' my phone wit', "What'cha want, Jim?"
"Need ya t'help me and our brothers with a job for Bad Frank and Perry Cline." Was the answer he gave me.
"What's the job?"
"Gettin' rid of Johnse Hatfield. He's tryin' t'get some custody of our niece."
"Hell, don't Bad Frank got his gang peoples t'do that kind'a shit?" I asked while screwin' the lid on a bottle I just filled wit' shine.
"James brothers won't send anybody t'do the job. One of their soldiers went missin', a guy that specialized in fire-bombs." Sounds like the dumb sum-bitch blew himself up out on a job.
"Ah, so that leaves us Roseanna's brothers t'get rid of that lyin' no good horn dog Hatfield." I stated, fillin' up my last bottle an' emptyin' the bucket used t'collect my likker.
"Yea. He usually heads near Belfry 'round noon on Wednesdays for deliverin' his shine. We can cut him off on a back road, take him somewhere, and get rid o'him." I listened to Jim say as turned off the propane tanks that I use t'fire up my still. Shuttin' down my op'ration for the day since I knew I'd be out huntin' that horn dog Hatfield.
"Yea, that'll work. We ought'a take him t'Uncle Harmon's old place down near Mouthcard. It's far out in the woods that nobody'll know." I told Jim as I quickly walked out of the wooden structure that covered my still, hidin' it from pryin' eyes. To outsiders it looked like a crude shed, not a still set up.
"Bad Frank and Perry Cline can't have this fucked up, linked on our family." Jim warned me in the voice that he usually uses wit' his bratty kids.
"Just follow what I say an' we'll make sure that Roseanna don't lose Sarah Elizabeth. Ain't gonna be no fuck ups, Jim." I assured my older brother as I started to go over to my truck, which was some yards 'way. "You'll be able to get home, lie 'bout workin' the security graveyard shift, an' do whatever borin' shit ya an' yer town bitch wife do like brunch an' mimosas." Too many times I got stuck doin' brunch wit' Jim an' Lissa when I was wit' Mary. I hate frittatas an' mimosas, et 'em one too many times ov'r the years. My poor brother, he's stuck ettin' that shit til the day he dies.
"Don't talk 'bout Lissa like that. Stop hatin' her cause she introduced ya to Mary." Lissa an' Mary were best friends, but ain't been since the whore ran out on me after Sally Ella was born. Jim made sure that she didn't see her an'more.
"I hated her 'fore I met Mary." I reminded my brother as I opened up my truck door.
"I know. Just meet us at ma an' pa's so we can do this job."
"On my way now." I told my brother 'fore hangin' up my phone an' peelin' outta the woods.
Hell, reckon Ella's gonna get a call from the pre-k teacher to pick up Sally Elle. Hope she takes her to Perry an' Roseanna's, I don't want my daughter 'round no filthy Hatfields.
Johnse POV:
"Ya want me to bring anythin' home?" I asked my wife, Mira, as I sat on my chair pullin' on my boots in the main room of our trailer. The place weren't no palace, weren't big an' fancy like my folks' or y brother's places, but it was home. Place might not be pretty, but it's a roof ov'r my wife an' chil'rens heads. It's bought an' paid for, no bank loans on it, so nobody can ever take it 'way.
"More Mountain Dew, we're almost out." Mira told me from her spot on the couch as she grabbed her Big-Gulp cup from off the coffee table.
"A'ight." I nodded, restin' my elbows on my knees after puttin' on my boots. "Maybe some Tasty-Cakes for the kids too?" I suggested, knowin' that my kids loved the buck treats from the convenience store.
"Yea, that'd be nice." My wife smiled. "So, when d'ya hear bout the case for Sarah Elizabeth?" She asked, sippin' on her Mountain Dew while watchin' some talk show on ABC.
"Reckon soon, Cap dropped the papers off to Perry Cline the other day."
"Your brother says you'll get your rights, right?"
"I should, yea, since she's got my name and I'm listed as her legal father in documents." I still can't believe that Roseanna gave our daughter my name, put me on certificate, but nevr told me. Never wanted to see me, had her old Aunt Betty, which I don't particularly care for, shoo me outta the hospital. Even had that old bitty tell me that I had no rights. What a bunch'a liars.
"Well, the chil'ren will be happy t'get a new sister." Mira assured me wit' a thin smile, lookin' ov'r at the love seat that my toddler Bobby was curled up nappin' on. I knew the kids, 'long wit' her, would do good with my oldest daughter. Mira was a good woman, took good care of all my chil'ren. I knew she'd get 'long good wit' Sarah Elizabeth.
"I gotta get goin'. Gotta few deliveries ov'r in Kentucky I gotta do. Can't be late or I might lose the customers." I told Mira as I stood up from my creaky recliner.
"Okay. Be safe, get home whenever y'can with that stuff from the Gas 'n' Go." Mira told me 'tween sippin' on her pop cup.
I went over to the couch my very pregnant wife was loungin' on, bent over, and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Luv ya, sweets."
And I really did love Mira. It wasn't as deep as my love was for my first love, Roseanna, bu it was real. More real then what I felt for my ex-wives. Those were feelin's of likin' that I tried to force into love. If only ma an' pa'd get over what Mira's job used t'be and let her come over for dinner one Sunday night.
"Love ya too, now go on 'fore your late."
I just waved goodbye at my wife 'fore crossin' the few feet 'cross our trailer to the front door. Quickly I exited our place, walked down the old porch, and over to my truck. My truck's seen better days, but she worked good. The door handle stuck a bit these days so I had'a pull it hard to open the door. Once the door flung open I got inside my truck, slammed the door shut, and then pulled out of my driveway.
Since I bottled my shine yesterday an' loaded my truck up earlier I didn't need to make a stop at my still. I just pulled onto the road and made my way down the direction that would lead me into Kentucky. The ride wouldn't take that long so I'd be able to get back to my still to fire it up some today to start a fresh batch of whiskey.
I was listenin' to music on the radio, hummin' long to it t'pass the time, and before I knew it I had driven by the Welcome To Kentucky sign. I was the only vehicle on the road, or at least I was til a convoy of trucks pulled up from the side of the road, off of a dirt back road. The convoy had crowded round me, pinnin' me in. I honked my horn 'fore stickin' my head outta the window an' shoutin', "What the hell ya doin'?! You're blockin' me in!"
The brown truck's doors opened only for Tolbert and Pharmer to pop out. I noticed in my truck's side mirror that the green an' blue trucks' doors opened, revealin' Jim and Calvin. What the hell was goin' on that they needed t'block me in on the roadside? Figurin' I needed to find out what they wanted I got outta my truck.
"Hey, boys, what's goin' on?" I asked, slammin' my door shut an' lookin' at the crowd of brothers surroundin' me.
Jim, Calvin, and Pharmer all looked at each other while Tolbert got right up in my face and seethed angrily, "Ya think ya can just waltz on in an' take my niece from y sister, do ya?! Ya ain't gettin' no rights t'my niece!"
So, they're upset bout the mediation request for my custody rights? Oh, wow, I didn't think it'd cause this much trouble. I mean I know Tolbert can get fired up, but upset that I wanna do right by my child's crazy. "Calm down, Tolbert. No reason t'get all fired up."
"Ya ain't goin' near my niece an' ya know why? Cause I'm gonna kill yer ass, get rid of my sister's problem!" Tolbert screamed in my face, veins poppin' outta his neck while his entire head was redder then his hair. Oh, he's angry ov'r nothin'.
'Fore I could say anythin' calmin', Tolbert took a gun outta his waist band an' hit me hard in the head wit' it. I felt my skull achin' while my vision was spotty. Suddenly everythin' went black an' I felt the floor give way underneath me as I lost all my senses.
AN:
Oh snap! The McCoy boys, minus Bud, just kidnapped Johnse and plan on enacting the hit on him. Uh-oh! Yea, this ain't gonna be good for Tolbert and Pharmer's case… Novella and Cap are engaged with a baby on the way, so things are going full steam ahead with them. But will the their engagement prove to be a problem later on during the trial?