*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

I know this story was on hiatus for a few years, but it's rolling now. Hoping to get to the pig trial in a couple more chapters, but we'll see.

Sunday With Tolbert

Novella POV:

Since the Tug Fork Church of Christ was on the other end of the town's main street me and my uncle always walked from our house to it. It was only 4 or 5-minute walk, if that. This morning was no different. We walked quietly and in perfectly sync to Reverend Garrett's church, dressed in our Sunday best. I noticed as we got closer to the church that Tolbert was already there and was standing a few feet away from the steps, waiting for me to get there.

"Looks like Tolbert wants to walk you inside." My uncle told me, his sly smile making the ends of his mustache stand up.

Rollin' my eyes I scoffed, "We're courting, Uncle Perry, so I hope he'd want to."

"I'll go on ahead, let you have your time with him." My uncle smiled at me and patted my arm gently before walkin' off, goin' ahead of me to enter the church.

A few paces later and I was face to face with Tolbert. He cracked a grin at me while holdin' his arm out for me to take. "Mornin', Ella. Ya look purty."

"Thanks. You're fine-lookin' too this mornin'." I replied, since it was true. His green pea coat that he wore over his best black suit and evergreen shirt made his slate eyes pop and brought out the brightness of his red hair, which was popping out in curls from underneath his har.

"Ready t'go inside, let everyone know yer mine?" He inquired, offerin' me his arm.

I took his arm while sayin' with slight confidence, "As ready as I'm gonna be."

"Then let's go." Tolbert told me before walking us towards the large double door of the church.

As we walked inside the church the singing of hymns filled the small room. I noticed that some eyes were on us as we walked up the aisle towards the pews that my uncle and his family always used. Thankfully there was an open spot near the end so Tolbert didn't have to gruffly order his sibling to scoot down or anything. Quickly me and Tolbert took our seat on the pew and grabbed the hymn books in the shelf built into the back of the pew in front of us.

"Look, Jim's up front with that girl. She thinks she's too good t'sit back here with us." Tolbert leered, a bit too loudly, as he pointed up to where his dark-haired brother was sitting with a blonde that had her hair pulled int a pristine bun complete with side ringlets.

"Tolbert, not now. We're in church." I muttered under my breath, shootin' him a wide-eyed look.

"I know where we're at, darlin'." Disdain dripped off of Tolbert's tongue as he scrunched his nose up at me. Clearly he was gettin' into one of his testy moods.

"Then act like it." I snapped before shakin' my head and goin' back to singin'.

After a few songs Reverend Garret took to his pulpit and began his preachin'. Time seemed to go by quickly and suddenly it was time for Reverend Garrett to push the heavy doors open to let everyone out and officially end the services.

Every Sunday after church was spent at the McCoy house. Usually I would help in the kitchen, but today I was granted permission to spend time with Tolbert. Currently we were takin' a walk, hand in hand, in the woods that surround his house.

Golden amber leaves crunched under our feet as Tolbert's velvet voice broke the natural silence in the woods. "There's a large tree 'head we can rest at. Talk a bit."

"We can talk while walkin'." I told him, steppin' over small fallen branch so I wouldn't trip.

"We are, but we should rest a bit."

"We're only talkin' cause you wanna rest at a nearby tree." I scoffed, lookin' at him with a raised brow.

"What'd ya want me t'say?" He questioned in a cantankerous, but smooth, way as his heavy booted steps crunched onto leaves as we led us to where the tree was at.

"Anythin' really, but I don't mind our silence." I supplied as I watched a small squirrel hustle up a thin tree trunk.

"Make up yer mind, either ya want me talkin' or don't." He snapped, soundin' a bit bad-tempered, as he gave me a slight scowl.

"You've been moody since seein' Jim sittin' upfront with Lissa."

"He should've been with our family, brought her t'our family." Tolbert spat out furiously as his jaw shook. His eyes showcased his disappointed and disgust with Jim, more so then his anger filled smooth voice.

"Tolbert, Jim's not you. He's goin' to court his own way." I pointed out as I noticed a big tree up ahead.

"No shit." Was the harsh gruff reply from Tolbert as he quickened our pace, dragging us to the tree. "I like to bring ya 'round my family. He's avoidin' bringin' his bitch home."

"Tolbert!" I exclaimed before furrowing my brows and chastin', "Don't be like that."

"Like what? Honest? Cause that's how it is." His question shook with a velvet roughness as we reached the large tree he wanted to rest at.

I just shook my head as I sat down on the leaf riddled ground under the tree. Tolbert joined me, sittin' so close that our legs brushed against one 'nother. I remained silent since I had no words to reply with that could calm down his rage. It had to pass on its own, anything I'd say would only spark his fiery temper more.

After a few moments and a few deep breaths Tolbert spoke up. "Lissa's from a shopkeeper's family and Jim's a farmer. She has to get to know us, our way of life, or it won't work with her and my brother."

I looked at with wonderin' in my eyes. My voice was slightly shakin' as I meekly asked, "What 'bout us, Tolbert? My uncle's a lawyer and yer not just a farmer, but a 'shiner too."

Tolbert, who was usually so hard and full of anger, looked at me softly while wrapping an arm around me and pullin' me into his chest. While placin' his chin on the top of my copper hair he told me smooth and warmly, "We're different, darlin'. We grew up t'gether and ya understand my way of life."

His words rung true. I knew he was right, we were different then Jim and Lissa. Uncle Perry was close to Ole Rand'l and Aunt Sally. I was friends with all of my McCoy cousins, not just Tolbert's siblin's, since I was 'round them from a young age. It was true, I was already apart of the McCoy family, the lifestyle, even if I wasn't bound to them yet by oaths and vows.

"We should get goin'. It'll be time t'et soon." Tolbert suggested as he broke his wrapped hold on me. I used one of my hands to push myself away from his chest, makin' me sit up right. He stood up and offered me his hand, which I took. Quickly he pulled me up off the ground like I weight nothin'. "Come on." He simply ordered as he started to drag me off back the way we came however long ago.

We silently walked back together, holding hands. The only sounds made by us was the crunching of leaves from our steps. Suddenly, when we were almost to the house, Tolbert looked at me and asked, "Do ya like the woods or do ya want the land all cleared when I get it?"

"Why're ya ask-" I began til I realized the reason why. I looked at him with wide eyes as I blurted out, "Wait a minute, are you close to gettin' land?"

He shrugged and kept his gaze down casted on his boots as he explained, "I'll know for sure this week, I reckon. Waitin' for yer uncle to look into somethin' for me."

I nodded before coming to the conclusion of, "And when you get it you'll start buildin' on it, clearin' it."

"Yea, why I'm askin' if ya like woods or not."

"I like woods, you don't have to clear everythin' off the land once it's yours." I told Tolbert, earning me a nod.

"If I can get my brothers and poppy t'help me it won't take long t'build us a cabin." Tolbert told me with excitement and hopefulness laced in his velvet timbre as we got closer to the clearin' that would take us back to his house.

"Okay." I knew that my time as a single woman was quickly fading fast. Tolbert always hinted at a winter wedding and now that he's most likely gettin' land soon those hints are goin' to become as real as ever.

Jim was missin' as we all gathered 'round the two long tables in the McCoy's kitchen. Clearly he was eatin' with Lissa's folks. Nobody mentioned his absence, but I knew that it angered Tolbert. Chatter was all over the room, everyone seemed to be havin' their own conve'sations. Well, everyone, but me and Tolbert. He was quietly stewin' therefore I was bein' quiet.

When dinner was over I volunteered to help clear the table and clean up, an act that earned me a slight lined smirk and near soft look from Tolbert. The lil ones took off to play while the men talked 'round the table as us women cleaned up.

After the clean up was done I ended up in a game of checkers with Tolbert while his brothers sat 'round talkin' and watchin' our game. Uncle Perry and Ole Rand'l were outside smokin' while Aunt Sally, Roseanna, and Alifair were sittin' 'round the fire sewin' and watchin' the lil ones play with their simple wooden toys and rag dolls.

"Don't do that, Novella." Pharmer ordered, causing me to pause in my motions and still my hand that was ready to slide my checker piece.

"Yea, he'll get'cha." Bud added in.

"Shut up ya morons. Let her move it how she wants." Tolbert snapped, starin' at his brothers with annoyance.

"But she'll lose if she does that move." Calvin pointed out from his spot nearby.

"I said shut up." Tolbert barked as he glared menacin'ly at his brothers.

"Boys, thanks for the help, but I'm fine." I told Pharmer, Bud, and Calvin in hopes that they would stay quiet and not rile up Tolbert anymore.

"Tolbert…" Aunt Sally trailed off warningly while shootin' her ginger ill-tempered son a look that screamed behave.

Silently I moved my piece, not the original one I was plannin' on movin' but a different one, as I took in the scrunched up look on Tolbert's face as he bit his lip to keep his temper from slippin'.

The sound of the door openin' caused me to look away from the checkboard and towards it only to see Jim walkin' inside. I tore my eyes off him and watched Tolbert move one of his dark pieces across the board while Sally's motherly tone rung out in the cabin with, "Jim, did you have a good meal with Lissa and her family?"

Tolbert's nostrils flared and his head snapped 'round to look at his brother, who was hangin' his coat and hat on the hooks near the door while replyin' with, "Yes, Mama, I did."

"Ya better start bringin' her 'roud the family, Jim. She needs t'know how life is in the woods." Tolbert advised with a meanness laced in vis velvet voice as his brother walked away from the coat hooks and towards a chair.

"Tolbert, don't tell me how to court. Unlike you I still have to win over her relations." Jim countered as he took a seat on the sittin' chair near the window.

"Maybe she ain't worth it if yer still tryin' t'win them over after they gave permission for yer courtin'." Tolbert sneered while everyone was silently lookin' between him and Jim. Oh boy, an argument was brewin' it couldn't be stopped. Tolbert was in a hostile mood tonight.

"It's not me they're leery of, it's the fact I'm the brother of a hot-head that gets into fights at the drop of a hat that bothers them." Jim revealed, causin' all of us in the room to look between him and Tolbert nervously.

"Soon 'nough I'll be out on my own so yer bitch's kin don't gotta worry 'bout m bad influence on you." Tolbert snarled as he angrily flung his arm across the table, making the checkboard and all the checker pieces got flyin' every which way.

"Tolbert, calm down." Sally scolded while Tolbert just shot up from his seat, pivoted on his heel, and stormed out.

Jim just shook his head as he leaned back comfortably in his chair. Clearly, he was used to his brother's moods.

Without thinkin' I got up from the table and ran on out the door. Once my feet hit the floorboards of the porch both Uncle Perry and Ole Rand'l turned their heads to look at me. My uncle just motioned his head to the left, signalin' where Tolbert stormed off too. Quickly I rushed down the steps and went into the direction I was hinted to go.

I quickly sprinted until I reached the chicken coop. Tolbert was slumped 'gainst it drinkin' outta his flask. His shoulders were tense and his eyes were dark with hatred and coldness. Tentatively I sat down next to him. "Tolbert…" I cautiously placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to pause his flask mid-air and to turn his head 'round to look at me.

"Ella…" Anger and sadness flowed from his velvet timbre. His stormy eyes locked onto me as his mind registered that I came after him. I just gave him a half-hearted smile, causin' him to downcast his gaze. He took a quick swig of his whiskey before placin' the stopper in the bottle. "Guess I can't get drunk with ya 'round."

"No, guess not." I replied as I watched him in the light of the moon stick his flash into his shirt pocket.

His stormy eyes raked over me as his voice shook curiously with, "Why're ya here?"

"I dunno. I just ran after you, didn't think of why I was doin' it."

"I'm glad yer here. Means ya care."

"Of course, I care." Why wouldn't I? I've known his moody ass for a long time. I can't imagine not carin' for him, 'specially after all the times he took up for me an' protected me as we grew up t'gether. I cracked a smile while pointin' out to him his bad personality with the remark of, "Even tho you're a cruel jackass."

"I've never been cruel t'ya." Tolbert's smooth voice softened a bit, like melted butter, as he told me, "Irate, yea, not cruel." His stormy-blues softened as he barely whispered, "I love ya, Ella."

"You love me?" Softly fell out of my mouth as I looked at him with blown blue eyes. I felt like an ice-cold bucket of water was thrown over my head. I never thought that I'd ever hear him open up and admit his feelin's, his love, to me.

"Yea…" He trailed off, shiftin' his gaze from me to his hand that he had restin' on his knee.

"Novella it's time to go! Don't make me walk all over this farm to fine you!" Echoed Uncle Perry's calls throughout the air. He was nearby, that much I could tell.

"I better go." I quickly got up and took off towards where my Uncle's voice was comin' from. I just left Tolbert leanin' 'gainst the chicken coop without a reaction to his love confession. I know I should've said somethin', but I was stunned and didn't know what to say back. I wasn't in love with him, but after these past few days of courtin' I could see myself fallin' for him. I already cared for him, that was the first step to love. Or at least I hope so.

Hopefully the next time I see him I can give him a proper reaction to his love confession instead of runnin' off like a scared rabbit.