*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows. I know this fandom isn't very popular or that most stories just get forgotten for Hatfields & McCoys, but I plan on keeping up with this story and my other one for the fandom regularly. I appreciate you taking your time, a few minutes really, to read this.

Novella's step-father Fred Quincey is in this chapter. Just imagine Jeffrey Dean Morgan for him if you want, but he's probably never going to be seen or heard from again so... Also, Novella's little brother Moses Quincey is introduced. His face claim's August Maturo, he played Auggie Matthews in Girls Meets World.

500 Acres

Novella POV:

It's been a few days since I've seen Tolbert, heard his love confession. He hasn't been by my uncle's office or house to see me and I've been too busy helping Uncle Perry try to round up a jury and submit papers for a pig sue, which will be judged by Wall Hatfield. The pig trial would be held soon, so we were hustling.

I guess I should've went to visit Tolbert on my own to talk to him 'bout what he said leanin' up on the chicken coop, but I didn't since I was leery to travel on my own. I've only been on horseback a few times and I'm not that confident to drive a buggy by myself. Usually either Uncle Perry or Tolbert mans the reigns. Honestly, I've never been in a cart by myself before, the thought of it kinda makes me nervous too.

I was sittin' at my desk in the lobby double checking some paperwork for my uncle whenever the door chime when off. Whenever I lifted my eyes up to see who had entered the office they landed on my step-poppy Fred and a little boy trailin' behind him, no doubt my half-brother Moses. I paused in the work I was doin' while declarin', "Uncle Perry, Fred Quincey's here."

Fred didn't even bat an eye at me as he walked by my desk and further into the room where my uncle was at behind his large mahogany desk, which had legal files on it. The little boy, my brother, gave me a tentative look before chasin' after his father. I turned 'round slightly in my seat so that I could see what was goin' on.

My uncle's head raised up and he closed the file he was readin' thru. "I expected you to send word, Fred, not come all the way up here to relay an answer to an inquiry." Uncle Pery remarked, tossin' the file onto his desk with a loud splat.

"Y'want me to give 'way 500 acres t'sum man that wanna marry my step-daughta so I think this git done in person not letta." Fred grumbled as he plopped down on the small leather sofa under the window. Moses silently took a seat next to his father.

Oh my God! He's who Uncle Perry was tryin' to get Tolbert into a land deal with? Seriously, of all people. I didn't see that comin' to be honest.

"Novella's suitor's currently working a harvest on his family's fam. He'll have to be brought here for the transaction." My uncle said matter-o-factly, starin' my step-poppy down with a firm look that would make anyone squirm in their seat.

"Then git him 'ere. I ain't givin' nuthin' 'way til I meet him. An' I ain't givin' squat to sum fancy dandy boy." Fred ranted in a semi-slur, indicatin' that the likker he'd drank on the long ride here was startin' to kick in.

"Trust me, Fred, when I say this, Tolbert McCoy's a hard-working man and not a fancy dandy boy. I approve of him for Novella which is my right, not yours, since I raised her instead of you." Uncle Perry boldly told my step-poppy, leanin' back in his chair with his chin held up high. Fred just rolled his eyes and pulled out a near empty flask, taking a drink out of it. My uncle made a repulsed face before tellin' my step-poppy, "That land belongs to Novella by rights, it was Rihanna's from our daddy and is due to be passed on to her daughter."

Without thinkin' piped up, "I'll go get Tolbert. I've been meanin' to speak with him 'bout somethin' anyways." Yep, this would kill two birds with one stone. Get him here for the land and be able to talk 'bout his love confession.

Uncle Perry nodded his head. "Alright, just be careful." As I left my desk and made my way towards the door he warned, "Oh, and don't wreck my buggy. You're a terrible driver."

Whenever I pulled the buggy up to the McCoy house I saw that Tolbert was outside by the barn, choppin' firewood. Even tho he had on a shirt I could see his taunt back muscles ripplin' and flowin' with every swing of the ax he made. His movements were graceful as he placed wood core after wood core onto the cuttin' stump, bringin' his ax down on it to slice it in two.

I hated to interrupt his work, but I had too. "Tolbert!" He turned 'round, holding his ax to his side, in response to my shout.

He raised a brow and looked at me with surprise written all over his face. "Ya hate drivin'. What're ya doin' here?"

"Uncle Perry sent me to get'cha. My step-poppy Fred showed up to the office." I explained, taking in Tolbert's sweaty appearance along with the large pile of cut wood on the ground near the barn.

Tolbert stuck the axe blade into the cuttin' stump before rushin' over to me. "Scoot over, darlin'." Was his velvety order as he reached the buggy, beginin' to climb up in it. Quickly I made room for him, handin' him the reigns as soon as he sat down. With a loud yah he spurred on the horses, quickly pullin' 'way from the house and down the dirt path cut into the woods. "You think he'll give us the land?" Tolbert asked as we pulled onto the main road and off of the path that led to and from the McCoy farm.

"I dunno, but I think so. He wouldn't 've rode 3 or 4 hours if he wasn't." I answered, earnin' me a simple nod from the man next to me. I turned my attention to the trees losin' their leaves along the road since I had nothin' for to say on the matter of Fred and the land.

"Yer uncle says the land's not far from mama and poppy's." Tolbert told me with much enthusiasm laced in his velvet voice as he steadily held the reigns, guidin' the horses pullin' the buggy.

I just nodded my head. That explained why Uncle Perry was tryin' to broker a land deal between Tolbert and Fred. 500 acres near Ole Rand'l and Aunt Sally would be ideal for us, for our family and what not. Vistin' won't take a long ride and we'd still be able to spend Sundays at the McCoy house without worryin' bout a long ride 'cross the county.

Silence began to loom over us, but I knew I had to bring up what happened on Sunday. Clearly, he wasn't, but it had to be addressed. I didn't know what to say so I just opened my mouth and spoke the first thing that popped into my head, which was the question of, "Tolbert, did you mean what you said Sunday night? That you love me?" I looked up at him with an inquisitive blue gaze.

"Of course, I meant it, Ella." His voice was so calm as he looked at me with soft stormy eyes. He turned his head 'way, breakin' his look on me, while sighin' downheartedly, "Shouldn't 've told ya tho. You weren't ready to hear it."

"No, Tolbert, it's not that I wasn't ready, but I wasn't expectin' to hear it." I truthfully told him, my voice soft like spreadable butter. Boldly I placed one of my hands on his upper arm, causin' him to look at me. With sentiment in my flowin' voice I confessed, "I care deeply for you, Tolbert. Underneath your bad temper and mean spirit, you're not that bad." With a small smile I confessed, "In time I'll love you."

"I'll wait for yer love all the time it takes." Tolbert's velvet timbre rung out in the desolate wood encrusted road as he continued to steadily drive the buggy towards town.

After arriving in town Tolbert pulled up in front of the law office. Quickly he got out of the buggy and held his hand out to me, indicatin' that as always he wanted to help me down. I scooted over on the seat near him and took his hand. In what seemed to be a second, he pulled me out of the buggy, then dragged us over to the office door in a rushed walk. He flung the door open and led us inside while my uncle remarked, "There they are. Told you she'd bring him here."

My uncle was still sitting at his desk while my step-poppy along with my brother were sittin' on the leather sofa 'gainst the wall catty-cornered to the desk. Fred looked Tolbert, me too I reckon, over as we walked further into the room while askin', "Yer the man that wanna git the land?"

Tolbert stood proud and tall while curtly noddin' at my drunken step-poppy. "Yes. I'm Tolbert McCoy."

"Fred Quincey." The man with short dark hair with a salt 'n' peppered beard stood up, introducin' himself as he stuck a hand out. Tolbert just looked at the hand like it was a snake ready to bite, instead of takin' it to shake. Fred, havin' been snubbed by the bad-tempered ginger, placed his hand by his side. "What ya do for yer livin'?" He asked even tho I'm sure Uncle Perry already told him.

"I'm a shiner and farmer." Was Tolbert's simple reply as he stood my side, in front of my step-poppy that reaked of cheap likker. The kind Tolbert calls horse piss, like the swill Johnse makes.

"Best she's gon get I reckon." Fred scoffed sarcastically, makin' Tolbert's face twitch angrily. Clearly Tolbert felt insulted.

Tired of my step-father's spite laced words my uncle furrowed his brows and asked in a low tone, "Fred, are you giving them the land or not? If not, I don't see a reason for you being here."

"I'll give 'em the land, but in return yer takin' my boy off my hands, Perry." Fred snapped pointin' a dirty finger at my uncle.

Uncle Perry sat up straight in his chair while keepin' a neutral face on. His eyes landed on the little boy sittin' quietly on the sofa before lookin' at Fred and sayin' in his slithery voice, "I must ask why you're placing the boy in my care."

"Cause I can't care for him no mores. Too many mouths to feed wit' my wife and yunger ones."

Uncle Perry nodded his head, acceptin' the reasonin'. "Let me pull out the pre-drawn land papers I have in my desk for the transaction." Fred and Tolbert went to stand right in front of my uncle's desk while I went over to the sofa, takin' a seat next to Moses.

"Ah, I wanna shine bottle too." Fred demanded, lookin' at Tolbert, as Uncle Perry quickly opened his desk drawer and pulled out a land form, slappin' it on his desk.

Tolbert rolled his eyes before gruffly snappin', "It ain't free. Ya want it ya buy it, gotta make a livin'."

"Greedy shit." Fred grumbled before takin' the offered pen from Uncle Perry and making his mark next to the place my uncle's finger pointed to on the document.

"I don't give free likker t'my cousins, what makes ya any different?" Tolert rhetorically asked, snatchin' the pen from Fred's loose grip.

"I'm kin." Fred informed the redhead as he quickly signed his name on the legal land document.

Uncle Perry rolled his eyes and made a disgusted look. Clearly, he didn't like Fred. Honestly, neither did I.

"Ya def? I said I don't give free booze t'kin." My intended barked as he dropped the pen near the document, lookin' dangerously at my step-poppy.

"Land's yers now. Reckon I best go." Fred said in a leery stumble of words, barely meetin' Tolbert's eyes.

"Yes, it's time to get back home to the Blue Ridge. We all got things to do, no time I'm afraid for visiting and nonsense talk." Uncle Perry said in a polite, but sarcastic, way as he signed he part of the document as the legal advisor and notary.

Fred went to leave, but passed in his tracks and turned his head to look at me. "Ya look like Rihanna." He told me, soundin' a bit dumbstruck. He gained his wits quickly and sneered. "Gud luck, yer gon need it wit' what yer marryin'." He never said a word to his son, just walked right out of the office and went on his way back to Asheville.

Wow, Tolbert got us 500 acres and my Uncle Perry got himself 'nother kid t'raise. Talk bout a deal huh…

AN:

Next up is the pig trial.