*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews.

Poor Novella's gonna get blindsided again by Tolbert when it comes to the courting stuff lol. Also it's kinda hinted at that Tolbert's had a little crush on Novella for a while too, even though she's kinda oblivious to it.

Holdin' Hands

"Mama's gonna be so happy when we tell her we're courtin'. She likes ya a lot, ya know that?" Tolbert told me as we rode through the woods in his wagon, on our way to the McCoy house.

"Really? Well, that's good."

"I'll have to inq'ire 'bout gettin' some land to set up a cabin on." Of course, he's already thinkin' about building us a home. Shit, it's only the first day of courtin' and he's already trying to get everythin' worked out and planned.

"We just started courtin', Tolbert. There's no rush in findin' land; no need to go into debt over somethin' not needed right away."

"Ella, weren't you payin' any attention to me when we were playin' checkers? I said we'll be havin' a short courtin' due to our bein' kin and knowin' one 'nother already." He snapped at me, whipping his head to the side to give me a hard stare while his nostrils flared out of either offense or annoyance.

"Most courtships are roughly a year or so, Tolbert." I informed him of what I knew about courtships and marriage. Needing to know what he had planned for us I asked, "How short of one are we talkin' bout?"

"Few weeks."

"Oh…"

"Havin' second thoughts?" He asked, his velvety voice rising and crumbling a tiny bit.

I shook my head and told him the half-truth of, "No, I just wasn't expectin' you to cut the courtin' that short's all." The whole truth was yes, I was havin' second thought, but that was just cause who he was. He was a mean man with a temper. It didn't take much to provoke him either. I know I've heard his gruff voice sneer and bark at me plent of times growing up. His sneers and gruffness only calmed down a bit over the last couple of years with me, but it never stopped completely.

He took a breath and let it out before telling me with a clenched jaw, "Told ya I needa wife and ya needa husband, no need to drag this out."

"I reckon you're right 'bout that." I sweetly told Tolbert even though I really wanted to smack him upside the head and scream at him til I was blue in the face.

In a few short months I'd be his wife. No more workin' as Uncle Perry's law assistant. Nope, I'll be too busy tendin' to Tolbert and takin' care of a place of my own. At least I won't be an old maid. I don't know how I'll deal with his temper. He's a hot-head that fires up over nothin' and everythin'.

"We're 'bout here." Tolbert pointed out his family's large cabin in the tree line up ahead.

I could see his younger brothers scurrying about doing chores as we pulled up to the McCoy's house. I didn't see his older brother, Jim, so I figured he was out in the fields or callin' on the girl he was interested in called Lissa. But, I could see Bud in the barn collecting the firewood stored there as Tolbert parked the horse and wagon between the house and the barn.

"Hi Bud." I called out to my cousin, causing him to wave and give me a bashful smile. Boy most likely knew what I was doing here with his brother, Tolbert. Hell, bet the entire McCoy family knew that Tolbert was going to town to see if I would court him.

Tolbert jumped down from the wagon and then held his hand out for me to take. It was something he had started doing right after I turned 14, when I got my flow and officially became a woman. He would help me on and off of the wagon, the handful of times that I found myself getting a ride from him.

I placed my hand in Tolbert's and bunched my skirt up with my free hand, so I wouldn't trip over it and got down from the wagon. But unlike all of the other times he's helped me down this time he placed a hand on my hip and nearly lifted me out of the wagon. As soon as my feet touched the ground Tolbert removed his hand from my hip. He never let my hand that he was holding go though. He looked over his shoulder, to where the barn and his brother was at, and barked, "Bud, get the horse brushed and fed. I ain't able to do it."

"Of course, Tolbert. I'll get yer horse settled." Bud replied, even though it was useless since Tolbert was leading us over to the house.

"Mama, me and Ella's courtin' now." Tolbert announced, using the nickname he stuck me with a year or so ago, while dragging me into the house. I noticed that Aunt Sally was kneading bread dough on the flour covered table while Roseanna sat at the said table peeling potatoes. I didn't see Alifair, so I figured that she was out back doing laundry or some other lady's chore.

I just smiled, trying to look happy and excited even though deep inside I felt anything, but that. Ugg, who I'm stuck courtin' so I would end up like Aunt Betty…Tolbert wasn't bad, it could be worse, I mean he could be a lazy drunkard or a Hatfield, but he was just…I dunno he just wasn't a boy a girl runs after.

Roseana's eyes went wide in shock and she mouthed a silent 'Oh'. Aunt Sally on the other hand was overjoyed, just like Tolbert said she'd be. She stopped kneading the bread dough and dusted her flour caked hands off on her apron before rushing over to where me and Tolbert were standing, hands still clasped together. I really wish he would let my hand go. It's gonna cramp up with him holdin' onto it so long.

Smiling, Aunt Sally stood in front of me and placed a hand on both of my cheeks before kissing me on the forehead. "You'll make my Tolbert a fine wife." She told me as she pulled back from me, before going over to Tolbert. She patted his cheek and told him, "I'm proud you decided to man up, court Miss Novella."

What the blazes did Aunt Sally mean by that?

"You take her on out to the porch to visit with." Aunt Sally instructed Tolbert with a smile as she dropped her hand from his cheek. "I'll let you know when dinner's ready." She added before walking back over to the table Roseanna was at in order to resume her work on the bread dough.

Without a word Tolbert turned around and walked out of the front door, dragging me behind him since he had a hold of my hand. As I heard the door slam shut behind me I pulled my hand free of Tolbert's. He gave me a funny look, but I ignored it and made my way over to the pair of rockers. I sat down and he sat down in the one next to me.

"So…" He dragged out as we both began to rock in our rockers. I didn't say a word. I didn't know what to say so I just shrugged and bit my lip, opting to look at the trees that surrounded the front of the McCoy property. "D'you like it here in Kentucky?" He asked as he reached out and grabbed my hand with his.

What kind of stupid question is that? "I've lived here for like 8 or 9 years, Tolbert." I scoffed at him as I tried to wiggle my hand free from his.

Tolbert just rolled his eyes at me and swayed our linked hands. "I know that. I wanted to know if ya like Kentucky tho." He said a bit gruffly before stilling our hands and letting them hang in the space between our rockers.

"Yea, I reckon I like Kentucky." I answered, causing a thin smile to appear on Tolbert's otherwise stony face.

"Good, cause I don't wanna leave here." Was Tolbert's response to my answer.

"What? If I said I didn't like bein' here you'd pick up and move?" I sarcastically asked him, slight skepticism dripping from my tongue.

"Yep." Tolbert said, poppin' his p.

"But why?" I blurted out before I could even think or stop myself.

"You're a smart lil lady, Ella. Sure you'll figure it out." Tolbert told me, staring at me in such a way that made my heart nearly beat out of my chest.

I don't know how long I was sitting on the porch in rockers with Tolbert for whenever Ole Rand'l walked up the porch steps, seeming tired from a day of tending to a field of crops. He looked at me and his son, locking his eyes onto our joined hands. Yea, sadly for me Tolbert insisted on holding my hand as we rocked in our rockers side by side. I did try to pull my hand from his, numerous times, only to have him tighten his hold and give me a nasty looking side-eye.

"Y'two courtin' now?" Ole' Rand'l asked us as he stood right in front of his door, turned to look at us though.

"Yes, Poppy, we are." Tolbert answered, his voice leveled, as he turned his head to look his poppy in the eye.

"You, me, and Perry'll talk after dinner 'bout this." Ole Rand'l informed Tolbert, earning him a simple reply of, "Yes, Poppy.", from Tolbert.

"Novella, that's a nice locket you wearin'." Ole Rand'l told me right before he opened the front door and walked inside. I didn't get the chance to tell him thanks or that Tolbert was the one to get me the locket, but I think he already knew.

AN:

Yea poor Novella she feels like she's stuck with Tolbert. I read in an article that Appalachia courtships lasted anywhere from a few weeks to a year. Since Tolbert and Novella already know each other they're getting the short courtship. I also read that families were a big part of the courtships too, meaning that if they didn't approve it didn't happen. *Cough*Why Johnse and Roseanna didn't work out*Cough* Obviously with Tolbert and Novella EVERYBODY is on board and supportive, yay!