*Author's Note*

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1878 Election Day Festival

Novella POV:

Nearly two months had gone by since the saloon incident with Tolbert. He was tryin' his hardest t'get me to fall in love him with, but I was still holdin' back. Of course, I let him escort me to church every Sunday mornin' and ride with him to his family's house for Sunday dinner, along with havin' him over to visit or visitin' him once in a while. But a part of me was afraid to trust him all the way. Maybe I was bein' silly, but I didn't want to let my guard down only to get hurt whether it be emotional or physical.

Today was the election day festival. The election was for local seats such as sheriff, mayor, alderman, etc. and since the population in the tug river valley was sparse, unlike population in the big city such as Louie-Ville, a festival was held for people to socialize. Vendors would sell their goods and various contests would be held. Durin' the festival Tolbert always sold his likker, makin' most of his yearly profits I surmise since he had a whiskey barrel holdin' over 53 gallons that he was sellin' bottles, shots, and cups from.

I had ridden to Blackberry Creek with my uncle and brother for the festival. Uncle Perry had taken off to talk to Ole Rand'l and Aunt Sally while Moses ran off to hang 'round Billy and another boy he knew from school. That left me walkin' 'round the venue with my cousins Nancy and Roseanna. Nancy was in between me and Roseanna, her arms loops 'round ours in a sort of chain.

We walked by Tolbert's whiskey cart and I could feel his eyes on me. "You and Tolbert gettin' anywhere, or are ya still upset with him?" Nancy asked as she glanced quickly between me and Tolbert.

"We're gettin' married once he finishes the cabin." I recited in a factual way, not revealin' how rocky we actually were due to my mistrust.

"Next time he acts up just hit him over the head with his whiskey bottle." Nancy told me casually as we walked farther 'way from Tolbert's whiskey cart.

"Nancy!" Roseanna shrieked, shocked that our cousin would say such a thing.

I just bit my lip to suppress a giggle while Nancy rolled her eyes. "Roseanna, you're too sweet sometimes. If ya get smacked only thing to do is smack the bastard back that done it."

Oh wow, Nancy's outlook certainly isn't very ladylike. It's definitely not one that I was raised with. But I get where she's comin' from. Hit him upside the head and he'll think twice bout hittin ya 'gain. I'll keep that in mind.

"With an attitude like that you won't get any suitors, Nancy." Roseanna chided, shakin' her head and givin' our cousin a disapprovin' look.

"I don't care. I'll get with someone whenever time's right." And she meant it too. I could tell by the serious look on her face that she wasn't afraid of being alone. Well, in her defense she was always lookin' after her drunk brother, playin' mother hen to him so… "So, Roseanna, have you received any courtin' offers yet?"

"No, not yet. Mama says in time I'll meet a suitable boy." Roseanna was nearly 18…oh good lord why won't Uncle Perry just make his interest in her known so she don't get desperate and start thinkin' nobody wants her.

"So, I'm the only one out of our trio with somebody?" I asked even tho I already knew the answer. "Nice to know at least I won't be an old maid." I quipped as we were nearin' a tent with tinkets and bobbles for sale.

"We won't either." Roseanna protested while Nancy just let out a snickering laugh.

"Roseanna, look, there's the Grady twins lookin' at us." Nancy pointed out, making our cousin smile shyly.

Knowing where Nancy was goin' with this I unlinked by arm from hers. "Ya'll go say hi to the twins. I should go spend some time with Tolbert."

"Are you sure?" Roseanna asked, lookin' a bit concerned.

I just nodded while tellin' her, "Yea, he's my intended."

"Come on, Roseanna, let's go get ourselves some beaus." Nancy dragged Roseanna off, determined to get them noticed by those tall and handsome beige-blonde Grady twins.

After leavin' Nancy and Roseanna I ended up buyin' a paper cone of popcorn. While eatin' the popcorn I walked over to Tolbert's whiskey cart. Tolbert was leanin' up 'gainst it while Pharmer was sittin' on the cart near the barrel. Both Calvin and Jefferson were standing by the cart, near the barrel's spicket. Bud was off to the side talkin' with Squirrel, checkin' out the gun that the latter would be usin' later on durin' the shootin' contest.

"Hi, Tolbert." I smiled, albeit a bit tightly and half-heartedly, comin' up to Tolbert's side.

"Hey, Ella, ya done strollin' 'round with Roseanna and Nancy?" Tolbert asked while turnin' his head to give me a slight smile that seemed to be genuine.

"Yea." I nodded before pointin' a little ways to a tent to the far left and sayin'. "They're chattin' up the Grady twins now." Tolbert just rolled his eyes and let out a huff, indicatin' that he didn't like the twins. Hell, he didn't like nobody really. "I figured I'd keep you company here at the whiskey cart."

"You can sit down over here." Tolbert gestured to an empty space by the barrel on the edge of the cart while gently placin' a hand on the small of my back. I just nodded and smiled weakly, lettin' him guide me over to where he wanted me to sit at.

"Hey, cousin, good t'see ya." Slurred Jefferson before takin' a swig from his bottle. I hope he paid for that or else Tolbert'll be madder than a hornet.

"Good seein' ya too, Jefferson." I told him a bit tightly as I sat down besides the large barrel of whiskey.

"Ya know that ain't free." Barked Tolbert, his face hardenin' as he stood by me with an elbow leanin' up on the edge of the cart.

"Don't worry, I got his greenback in yer cash box." Calvin assured his older brother with a knowin' smirk on his round face.

"Novella, ya know that Jim moved out few days 'go. Gotta house in town now." Pharmer told me from his spot on the other side of the barrel I was by.

"Really? I didn't know that." I responded while holdin' my paper cone out to Tolbert, offerin' him some since I knew he liked popcorn. Okay, the boy just liked corn period in any shape or form includin' fermented in likker.

"Yea, that girl's poppy gave him a job securin' his shop too." Tolbert spat, his stormy eyes turnin' black with disapproval and hate, as he stuck his hand in the cone and grabbed a handful of the hot popcorn.

"Oh…" I trailed off, not knowin' what to say that wouldn't set Tolbert off. I knew how Tolbert felt bout Jim separatin' himself from the farm life in these hills for his downtown girlfriend. Tolbert felt that Jim should make Lissa into a proper farmer's housewife verses becomin' a townie for her. I mean Tolbert's made it known since my birthday that once we're wed I ain't allowed to work for my Uncle Perry no more. I was to tend to the homestead while he made the money shinnin'. We would also be workin' the land. I knew my easy town life would end as soon as I said I do. Lissa's tho wouldn't since she was easin' Jim into the town life.

Maybe Tolbert was right and Jim needed to find somebody that would be okay with bein' a farmer's wife. I mean I was okay with it. It wasn't ideal, but I knew that realistically it's just 'bout what everyone does 'round these parts. Farmin' and shinnin' is just a way of life. Not everyone's lucky 'nough to get educated and have jobs downtown, only a handful do that.

I just tilted the popcorn cone toward's my ill-tempered beau, figurin' that if he was eatin' he couldn't grumble.

Me and Tolbert were holdin' hands while walkin' 'round the festival, browsin' and takin' in all of the tents, stalls, and tables set up. "The cabin'll be finished in a few weeks." Tolbert announced as his head moved 'round slightly as he was searchin' for somethin'.

"That's good." I smiled tightly, keepin' my voice as even as possible even tho I felt nervous. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the cabin to be finished.

"Let's look at the quilts. See if ya like anythin'." Tolbert suggested as he started to lead us to the large stall that a woman was sellin' all sorts of handmade quilts at.

"Since when are you interested in lookin' at quilts?" I asked him, my face pulled up in confusion. Men don't give a hoot 'bout quilts. That's a lady thing.

Tolbert looked at me while seriously replyin' with, "Since we're gonna need one for our bed."

"Our bed?" I squeaked out, feelin' a bit scandalous that he would mention us sharin' a bed out in a public place where anybody could here. It wasn't proper to talk bout such things.

"Yea. In a few weeks after the cabin's done I'll be furnishin' it." He explained before sarcastically addin', "Unless ya wanna sleep on the floor we're gonna have a bed."

"Tolbert, this isn't somethin' to be talkin' 'bout here and now." I hissed at him, embarrassed that somebody might over hear us.

He rolled his storm-blue eyes at me. "Fine, but I'm still havin' ya look at them quilts. Like I said, we're gonna need one."

Silently I nodded in agreement with him. He had a point 'bout the quilt. I guess gettin' one from a festival vendor would be cheaper then buyin' one and gettin' it shipped from the city, it'd be faster then me makin' one too.

When we reached the quilt stall I noticed that countless quilts of various patterns and colors were folded and stacked all over the counter neatly. The woman running the stand just smiled at us while I began to look at the quilts as Tolbert stood by me. He wasn't really lookin' at the quilts, but more so at me lookin' at them.

Suddenly I felt Tolbert's hand on the small of my back and his breath 'gainst my ear. "Ya like that one?" He asked, his eyes dartin' between me and the patchwork quilt made of various pink and green fabrics I was runnin' my fingers over.

"Yea, it's nice." I looked at Tolbert with a small smile, my fingers freezin' on the quilt I seemed t'be partial of.

"A'ight, then we'll get it." Tolbert told me, a soft smirk crossin' his usually hard-bitten lookin' face.

I was holdin' the new quilt flush 'gainst my chest while Tolbert's hand was restin' on my back as we were makin' our way back to his whiskey cart. We were halfway there whenever Cap crossed our path. He tipped his hat at me. "Miss Novella Landon." He shot Tolbert a hard look before rumblin' out, "Crazy McCoy."

I could feel Tolbert's hatred rollin' off of him. Oh no, not good, so not good. Tolbert's back straightened and his shoulders squared up showin' off their slight broadness, as he stared down Cap with a twitch in his eye. "Better watch yerself, fog eye, or ya end up losin' t'other eye."

Cap shook his head before sarcastically lettin' out the remark of, "Well, ain't ya just a real humdinger. No wonder she's with ya, with sweet talkin' like that how could she resist." Cap smirked and let out a slight chuckle before mockin' Tolbert by sayin', "Oh, wait, now I 'member she's stuck with yo'ass cause she don't any other suitors a knockin'."

Tolbert moved to get up in Cap's face, to start a fight, put I quickly grabbed his hand and tightly squeazed it which cause him to stop in his tracks and look over to me. I looked him in the eyes while pleadin', "Tolbert, don't, please I just wanna get back to the cart."

"Yer lucky my woman's here or I'd beat ya to a bloody pulp." Tolbert sneered warnin'ly at Will right 'fore draggin' us towards the cart loomin' in the distance.

Subtly I looked over my shoulder at Cap only for him to smirk at me. Whenever I turned my gaze straight 'head I heard Tolbert's velvet timbre ask, "Why'd ya stop me from defendin' yer honor?"

I let out a sigh before lookin' at him and honestly replyin', "I just don't want no trouble's all. We've been havin' a nice time together and we don't need a Hatfield ruinin' that. I don't like it when you're fightin' wit' 'em cause then ya get mean and stay like that for a while."

"I only listened to ya this once cause we do gotta get back t'my cart 'fore my brothers give all my whiskey way for free, but next time don't even think 'bout tellin' me what to do." Tolbert told me, his jaw lockin' while his velvet tone got deep. "I'm the man, yer the woman, so don't undermine me. Get all the shit outta yer head that Perry Cline put in there now cause I ain't gonna have no wife tellin' me what an' what not t'do." I was shocked to hear that flow bitin'ly off his tongue.

Instead of agreein' with him I stubbornly defended myself with, "I wasn't tellin' ya what to do Tolbert. All I wanted was to go back to the cart."

"Ella, stop tryin' to justify yer boldness in gettin' 'tween men's matters." Tolbert snapped as we trudged along on our way to his likker station. "Ya gotta learn yer place, darlin'. I won't be havin' an interferin' wife. If I get into a brawl that's my affair, not yers." He droned as we neared our destination.

"Okay." I nodded my head, agreein' to his bullshit, right before we reached the cart.

Things with Tolbert's moody ass wasn't gonna be easy that's for sure. I'm still not sure if I want to open up fully to him and let myself love him. He's such a volatile jackass. I know he has his moments of tenderness, but those are few an' far 'tween lately. Ever since Squirrel and Parris got cleared by reasons of self defense me and Tolbert have been rocky. I know he's tryin' his best, but I just wished that he'd be more sensitive and not so harsh.

AN:

Tolbert's trying, but no matter what that temper likes to rear its ugly head up. Novella's still iffy bout him, but eventually she'll realize that she's in love with him. Next up will be Thanksgiving. Oh and Cap won't be back for a very long time, like after Novella and Tolbert get married long time lol.