*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

Things escalate quickly with Tolbert's bad boozey fly off the rails temper in this chapter. You have been warned.

Piss-Poor Drunkard

Novella POV:

I was sittin' behind Tolbert on his horse, my chest pressed firm against his back while my arms circled his waist, while he guided us out of West Virginia. My chin was restin' on his shoulder as I took in the dirt road and the trees up ahead. Tolbert's head slightly turned causin' him to look at me. "Yer hearts beatin' outta yer chest. Ya okay?" He asked with a velvety softness, givin' me a concerned look.

"I'm okay." I assured him, makin' him nod and turn his head back to watch the road. After I few silent seconds I sighed and admitted, "Still shaken 'bout havin' a gun pointed at me tho."

"Y'know I'll always protect you, no matter what." Tolbert assured me, turnin' his head 'round to look at me softly.

"I know." I sighed out, a bit spooked even thinkin' on how Tolbert drew his gun and pointed it at the one-eyed Hatfield aimin' towards us while blockin' me protectively. I knew he would've gotten shot for me if a bullet was fired our way. That scared me and made me breathless. The mere thought that Tolbert would place his life on the line for me was overwhelmin'. "Ya think Bill Staton's really gonna try to cut down our family?" I asked, referin' to the drunk spectacle we saw when headin' out of town. Which was Bill chasin' Parris and Squirrel out of the Mate Creek Tavern, wavin' a knife and yellin' bout cuttin' and huntin' down McCoys.

"Don't know. Hard to tell with that drunk." Tolbert gruffly, but honestly, told me a we trotted down the tree littered dirt path.

"I hope not." I liked Parris and Squirrel, I didn't want any harm to befall them. They weren't just my cousins, but my friends too. Growin' up, much to Uncle Perry's dismay, Squirrel taught me how to use a Winchester while his brother Parris taught me how to skin small critters like possums and squirrels.

"Well, if he does I'm sure our cousin's 'll be ready for him." I suppose so. I hope it don't come down to that tho. "Ella, you wanna see how the land's comin' long?" Tolbert's velvet timbre asked in the quiet of the woods.

"Yea." I nodded my head against his taunt shoulder.

"It's not all cleared yet, but it's comin' long. Oh, I can show ya where on the land I moved my still."

"You already moved your still?"

"Mhm, my brother's help me do it the other day." He said with velvety pride as we arrived to the clearin' the tug crossin' was at.

When we arrived at a clearin' nearly 10 minutes from the McCoy farm I knew we were at the land. Only about 50 or so yards was leveled down, but so far it looked nice. As Tolbert guided his horse, Eldorado, to a low hangin' tree branch for tetherin' I noticed a stump on the far left of the cleared land with a large ax lodged into it. Also, I noticed how a bunch of logs were stacked over in the area the stump was at with long-saws leanin' up on them.

Tolbert silently dismounted his horse and wrapped the reigns 'round the branch before turnin' to me and placin' his big, calloused, hands on my hips and liftin' me up off the horse. Instinctively I braced my hands on his shoulders for balance, only lettin' them slide down and off of them once my feet touched the ground.

Tolbert, keepin' a hand on my hip, gestured to the land in our line of sight with a wave of his hand. "Well, this is it so far. Ya like it?"

"Of course, I like it." I answered, lookin' up at him with a light smile.

"Ya see I wanna clear out 'bout 'nother 200 yards or so." He explained before poitin' over to the stump and logs. "The barn's gonna be set up there." He then pointed straight in front of us. "I'm gonna build our cabin right there. Gonna make it like ma and poppy's." He pointed further to the side while sayin', "Outhouse is gonna be there. Not too far, but far 'nough not to smell shit." Only Tolbert would tell me bout how to properly place an outhouse near a cabin. "Oh, and right off the off to the left I'm gonna put some hooks and poles to make up the clothes line."

I just nodded and sweetly said, "All that sounds good to me."

"Come on, I gotta take ya to the still." Tolbert excitedly piped up before grabbin' my hand and yankin' me across the land, towards wherever he stuck his still on the endless mass of wood filled property.

I could care less 'bout the still, but he was proud of it and showin' it off made him happy. Makin' him happy made me content since I preferred him in a pleasant mood over an irate one.

1 DAY LATER:

The air was chilly today and the sky was grey, which was odd coniderin' it was only late August. I was at my uncle's law office, so was my brother since Uncle Perry was having him act as the file clerk til the school house opened up after the end of harvest. I was typing up a document for my uncle whenever the door chime went off. Looking up from the typewriter I noticed Ole Rand'l stalkin' inside the office followed by Jim, Tolbert, and Calvin and they were all armed with Winchesters.

"What's goin' on?" I asked Tolbert as he stopped at my desk while his poppy and brothers went over to my uncle's desk.

A long, but grimly serious, look appeared on Tolbert's face. With a smoothly leveled voice he told me in length, "Our cousins Parris and Squirrel got hauled off to jail in Mate Creek cause they had t'kill Bill Staton 'long the road 'fore he murdered them."

"Oh my god…" I let out in a shaky whisper, coverin' my tremblin' mouth with one of my hands.

In one swift motion Tolbert leaned his gun 'gainst my desk and scooped me up in his arms. He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips before lookin' into my eyes and sayin', "Don't worry, we'll get 'em back. Poppy's askin' for Perry's help."

Suddenly whatever Ole Rand'l told my uncle lit a fire under his ass cause he jumped up from his desk. "Novella, stay here and watch your brother." Uncle Perry order me, his slick voice stone-edged with seriousness.

I just nodded my head while Tolbert broke our embrace. He just gave me a slight lined smile before following my uncle, his poppy, and his brothers out the door.

After a few hours, Ole Rand'l's wagon had pulled up in front of the office. I quickly jumped from my desk and ran outside, leaving my brother sitting on the sofa near my uncle's desk. Everyone was getting out of the wagon as I ran over to them. "What happened? Are Parris and Sammy okay?" I frantically asked no one in particular.

"Parris and Sam are fine. Judge Hatfield let them go due to self-defense, I surmise they already made it back here 'fore us." Uncle Perry told me while Tolbert stalked off down the road towards the saloon. Ole Rand'l, Jim, and Calvin all went inside of the office while Uncle Perry pointed to Tolbert's form down the road and sighed, "Jim Vance insulted him." I just shook my head. Of course, he wants to go drink cause that crazy man ran his mouth., "He's been drinking ever since. Perhaps you can talk to him, sober him up." My uncle suggested, patting me on the shoulder, before walking by be and to the door.

Damn it, now I gotta go get Tolbert out of his stupor. I bit my lip and let out a small frustrated sigh before heading down towards the saloon.

Two soiled doves dressed in their corsets and ruffled side-slit skirts were leaning against the porch railings smokin' and gigglin' in front of the saloon. They looked at me curiously as I walked by them and into the buildin'.

The inside of the place was large. The floor was filled with a bunch of round tables and chairs. A couple poker tables filled the room too. A huge windin' staircase led the way to the second story, where the rooms the whores no doubt serviced men were at. A large bar was in the back against the wall and sittin' alone at it was my moody ginger-haired 'shiner.

I walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Whenever he turned his head I gave him a tentative smile. "Tolbert."

"Ella." His eyes went wide as he quickly looked me over. "Ya shouldn't be in here." He snapped before downin' his drink.

"Uncle Perry told me Jim Vance insulted you." I told Tolbert while he motioned for the barkeep to pour him another shot. While the man poured more amber likker into the shot glass I sighed took a seat next to Tolbert. "Figured you'd need me t'keep ya from gettin' blackout drunk."

He shook his head while staring down at his glass while sighing out velvety, "I don't need ya t'do that. Yer my woman, not my mama."

"Tolbert, Uncle Perry says you've been drinkin' since ya'll were in West Virginia. Maybe you should slow down the whiskey shots." He rolled his eyes at me before downin' the said whiskey shot. He pointed to his glass, signalin' for another. I placed my small hand over the glass and gave the bartender a look that screamed 'no more for him'. The bartender just put the bottle down on the bar, out of Tolbert's reach too.

"Take yer hand off my glass." Tolbert demanded in a low velvet slur.

"No, Tolbert, you've had 'nough." I firmly told him, keepin' my hand on top of the glass.

"Don't tell me when I've had 'nough. Not yer place." He hissed, his face getting' dangerously close to mine.

"I'm gonna marry you, it is my place to tell you to stop drownin' your sorrows." I reminded him before takin' a small calmin' breath and suggestin' with a sweet, but exasperated smile, "Now let's go take a walk, get ya calmed and sobered up some."

Tolbert pushed my hand off his glass while bitin' out, "I wanna drink, not walk 'round town with'cha."

"Fine!" I shouted loudly with my eyes narrowed in frustration. No doubt the patrons sittin' 'round the place were starin' at me for yellin' at my poutin' drunk beau. I was so irritated that before my mouth to brain filter could work I screamed out bitterly, "You drink yourself into a drunken stupor over a crazy man and while you're at it take a hooker upstairs to calm down with cause it's clear you don't want my help!"

Before I could even blink or cry out I was backhanded 'cross the face by Tolbert. The force of it knockin' me off my stool. My eyes went wide in shock as I brought my hand up to touch my throbbin' cheek. "Don't ever tell me t'go fuck some whore 'gain! No get outta here!" Tolbert ordered in an angrily growl as his nostrils flared, much like a bull when ready to charge. This was the first time I heard him use the mother of all curse words and just like the smack to my face it shocked me too.

The room was so quiet a pin droppin' could be heard. I stood up while tellin' Tolbert shakily, "Go make that cabin for yourself, Tolbert."

I didn't wait for his drunken reaction, I rushed away as quick as I could. Tears began to form in my eyes, blurrin' my vision, which caused me to accidently bump into somethin' solid.

"You okay, cuz?" Squirrel's voice asked me, causin' me to look up and see his fur covered form thru my watery blue eyes. Parris stood next to him, eyin' up my red and swellin' cheek. I figure they saw what went down with me and Tolbert from their spot in the saloon.

I quickly wiped my wet eyes before tellin' my cousins, "I'll be okay. Me and Tolbert just got into it's all."

"The hot-head piss-poor drunkard hit ya." Parris stated, shakin' his head, while Squirrel just placed his arm comfortin' 'round my shoulder.

"How 'bout ya hang with us for a spell." Squirrel suggested with a thin smile, pointin' to a card table.

"Thanks, but I better get back to my uncle's office." I declined, not in the mood for a game of cards. I just wanted to leave the saloon as soon as possible.

"We can walk with ya. Tell Perry Cline what happened too." Parris suggested kindly.

Squirrel nodded his head while adding in, "Yea. We'll help ya out, cuz."

"Okay." I simply said, causin' my cousins to led me out of the saloon and down the street to my uncle's workplace.

Tolbert POV:

I was starin' down at my hand in shock. I hit her. I didn't mean to, but her words fired me up and 'fore I could think I swung my hand, smackin' her 'cross the face. Damnit, how could I do that? I'm suppose to love and protect her, not hurt her.

"Son, it's time to go! Now!" I heard my poppy yell at me as he grabbed the back of my collar, yankin' me down off the barstool. "What's wrong wit'ya, boy? Layin' hands on yer fiancé for no reason." Poppy shook his head, pushin' me towards the door.

I craned my neck to look at him while mutterin', "Didn't mean to, Poppy."

"I'm takin' you home to sober up." He told me as his face scrunched up in anger. "Damn fool, ya better hope she accepts yer apology t'morra or the courtiship might be over." Poppy barked as he dragged me out of the saloon.

Over? Over! I didn't want it to be over. Aw shit, what did I do? I gotta get her forgiveness. "What'd I gotta do t'keep her?" I asked my poppy as he shoved me down the saloon's porch and towards the wagon my older brother Jim was sittin' in.

"Go over for supper t'morra night, sober might I add, and tell her yer sorry. That you was boozed up too bad'a know what you was doin'." Poppy advised me while helpin' me into the wagon.

"Once the shopkeepers see what ya did to Novella's face I'm a have t'bend over backwards for Lissa's pa t'let me keep company wit'her." Jim remarked flatly, turning his head to glare at me, while poppy got into the driver's seat of the wagon and snapped the reigns, movin' us 'way from the bar.

Shit, why'd I have t'be likkered up so bad. I don't wanna lose Ella, she's my everythin'.

AN:

I imagine that Tolbert was a real moody son of a bitch after getting told off by Jim Vance in front of the jail in Mate Creek and being laughed at by the Hatfields. Also, he does sulk and drain a flask in town, pulling out a gun and pretending to shoot Jim Vance too, so I imagine that he wouldn't be in a good mindset once he got back home to Kentucky either. Tolbert and Novella will talk things over in the next chapter. Novella will also have talks with some other characters too.