*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

I know poor Novella, went from being a career woman to a housewife that's expected to shut up and listen. Well, it's the 1800s and it wasn't very popular for women to have careers back then, but of course some did. Like the newspaper writer Blythe. Eh guess I watched way too much Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman growing up cause of course I made Novella want to have a man's career LOL! Anyways Perry Cline seemed like the type that was a bit unconventional, I mean that man offered to marry Roseanna quickly and claim a baby that wasn't his in the miniseries…so…yea…

I do plan on following the storyline of events as close as possible from the miniseries. Since I got roughly a year to play with before Johnse and Roseanna hookup at the 1880 election day festival I'm going to be writing fillers and tiny plots. Some good and some bad. There will be joy and heartbreak too.

Oh yea, Novella's extra cash will definitely come in handy after fall of 1882. Novella's odd acquaintanceship/friendship with Cap will prove handy too. I most likely will end this story shortly after the paw-paw tree incident aka McCoy boys' execution and then continue Novella's tale in the feud with a sequel.

Anyways enough rambling, enjoy this new chapter.

P.S. it's a about a 4-month time jump from the last chapter to this chapter.

Visits & Rabbit Stew

Novella POV:

It was now May and the seedlings were just sprouting in the ground from having been planted last month. Tolbert was workin' hard, both with his still and tendin' our crop plots. He even went over to his parents' farm to help out too. My husband was determined to make good cash, both from likker an' sellin' crops, cause come fall, 'round late October or early November, we were expectin' our first child. I was joyful 'bout it, but Tolbert was over the moon wit' excitement. He couldn't be happier.

Today I was happy cause I was havin' social interaction wit' somebody other then my husband. Nancy had come over to visit. As she sat at my kitchen table I poured us some tea. "How're ya feelin'?" Nancy asked, genuine concern on her face, as she took the teacup in front of her.

"Better then I've been." I smiled, picking up my own cup. Before taking a sip of tea I expanded with, "The mornin' sickness ain't bad anymore, it's almost passed."

"That's good. You know everyone in the family's happy for ya'll." Nancy told me, nodding her head with a slip of a smile on her pursed lips. After taking another sip of tea she placed her cup down while askin' me with a pointed look, "Oh, did ya hear that Jim and Lissa's enagagaed?"

Shaking my own head, I squeaked out, "No, didn't hear that."

"Yea, well they are."

"Did you hear when they're plannin' the weddin' for?" I asked since I was interested in the matter. I wanted to go to it, if Tolbert would allow it. I mean Jim and Lissa went to our weddin' roughly 5 months ago.

"Don't know yet, haven't said."

"Oh…" I sighed, my shoulders slumpin' a bit as my elbows rested on the table a bit unlady like after I set down my tea cup.

Nancy reached over and placed her hand atop mine. Her beady black eyes softened a bit as she asked, "Do you want to come visit Aunt Betty with me today? We can go now and be back in time for ya to fix up a meal for Tolbert."

"Sure, just let me leave a note for Tolbert and then we'll go." I answered with a smile before getting up from the table and rushin' into the livin'room to grab a paper and ink-pen.

Nancy remained seated as I returned to the kitchen table with my note making supplies. I quickly wrote down a note of: Nancy took me to visit Aunt Betty with her. Will be back in time to cook dinner. Love, Ella.

"Well, you wrote your letter to your husband. Let's go." Nancy announced, gettin' up from the table as soon as I placed my pen down.

I just nodded my head and got up too. Quickly we left the cabin and went to the wagon, departin' for Aunt Betty's.

As soon as Aunt Betty opened her front door she smiled, "Oh, Nancy, it's so good to see you. Oh, and you brought Novella with you, how nice."

"It's good to see you too, Aunt Betty." Nancy simply smiled, walkin' by our aunt and into the blue painted farmhouse.

"Hi, Aunt Betty." I smiled at the old woman, genuinely happy to see her. It's been too long, since my weddin' day, since I've spent any time with her.

"Oh, sugar, how're you farin' in your condition?" The woman with a wrinkled face and white hair pulled back in a tight bun asked me as she placed her hands on my shoulders.

"I'm farin' well. The sickness is almost gone." I informed her with a smile as she rubbed my shoulder.

Ushering me into the house she told me in a sweet, but raspy tone, "Give it a few more weeks an' your belly'll start swellin' up wit' that child."

"Really?" My brow rose a bit as Aunt Betty led me into the sittin' room, where Nancy was already seated on a sofa snackin' on a cookie she grabbed from a platter that was set on the coffee table.

"Yes, sugar, you won't be big, but you'll be roundin' all the same." I heard Aunt Betty tell me as I took a seat next to Nancy on the sofa while she took a seat on the chair adjacent to us. "Won't be big til July or August I reckon."

"You and Tolbert know what ya'll want to name the baby?" Nany asked me as she nibbled on a cook while I took a cookie from the platter for myself.

"Tolbert Junior." I quickly answered before taking a bite out of my sugary-molasses cookie.

Aunt Betty looked at me with a raised brow while Nancy rolled her eyes and scoffed, "He knows it might be a girl, right?"

"Only name we've got in mind's Tolbert Junior, Tol for short." I informed my kin between eating my cookie.

"I'm gonna piss my pants laughin' when the baby comes a girl." Shot out of Nancy's mouth in a small, but high-pitched cackle.

"Nancy, watch your mouth." Aunt Betty scolded, her button blue eyes narowin' at my cousin who had no shame bout her unlady like word for pee.

"Aunt Betty, I'm sorry, but you know I'm right. Be mighty interestin' to see how Tolbert reacts if that baby comes a girl this fall."

"Let's pray it's a boy." Our old maid aunt sighed, causin' me to nod my head in agreement with her.

I wasn't sure how Tolbert would react to havin' a baby girl come fall since he was so deadest on a boy. All he talked 'bout was what he'd do with a son, I doubt he ever considered havin' a daughter. Talkin' to Aunt Betty and Nancy 'bout this isn't easin' my worries, but at least their banterin's makin' me laugh.

I just pray that come fall my baby's healthy and's what Tolbert wants, makes him happy.

After climbin' down from Nancy's wagon and tellin' her goodbye I walked up the porch steps and went over to my front door. As soon as I entered the cabin I was met with the sight of Tolbert standin' in front of the stove, stirrin' what looked like a pot of stew. Upon hearin' me shut the fron door Tolbert turned his head and looked at me while sayin', "I'm makin' rabbit stew, darlin'."

"You didn't have to. I would've made somethin'." I told Tolbert, walkin' further into the house towards the kitchen where he was at.

"I know. I caught a rabbit an' after readin' yer note figured I'd just make stew." He explained, brushin' off the fact that he was doin' a duty that he usually deemed was mine to do. I was surprised that he actually knew how to cook to tell the truth. "How was visitin' Aunt Betty?" Tolbert asked as I walked into the kitchen, goin' over to the table.

"Good, it was nice seein' her." I admitted as I took a seat at the table. "Nancy told me that Jim and Lissa are engaged now." I told my husband as I watched him reach over and grab a glass from a cabinet.

Tolbert nodded his head and poured me a glass of buttermilk while sayin', "Yea, he said somethin' the other day while we were helpin' pa wit' some plantin'."

"He did?" Flew out of my mouth as Tolbert turned from the counter with the milk glass in his hand. As he brought me over my milk I quirked up my brow and told him, "But you didn't say anythin' bout it to me."

The glass was set down in front of my with a loud clunk while Tolbert's velvety timbre sounded out with, "Didn't think it important's all. Didn't mean nothin' by it."

"I know you don't approve of Lissa, but ya can't ignore Jim cause he's marryin' her." I told my husband as he went back to the stove, grabbin' the bowls on the counter next to the woodstove.

"I ain't 'norin' him. Just don't talk t'him a whole lot's all." Tolbert gruffly remarked as he plopped stew into the bowls.

"Maybe we should go to town an' visit him more often." I suggested as I watched Tolbert make his way over to the table with the bowls in his hands.

"Maybe." Tolbert paroted as he placed the bowls down. Sittin' down next to me he asked with interest, "So, what'd ya talk 'bout wit' Aunt Betty? The baby I reckon."

"Yea, we talked 'bout the baby. She says my belly should be swellin' soon." I happily told him, a smile on my face as I picked up my spoon and scooped up some stew.

"That's good. Told ya we'd have my son come fall." Tolbert remarked around a large mouthful of food.

The conversation I had with Nancy and Aunt Betty earlier echoed thru my head. "Tolbert, we won't know what it is til it come out months down the ways."

Tolbert's stormy eyes turned into slits as he stared at me. His voice vibrated smooth, but gruff and loudly in the air as he barked, "And I'm tellin' ya woman that it's a boy. Yer havin' my son."

"But what if it's a girl?" I asked, my flowin' voice soundin' a bit small and worried.

"Ain't gonna be a girl so don't worry none 'bout it." He ordered before grabbin' his tin cup of coffee and takin' a sip.

"But-" I began til he roughly cut me off with, "No buts, Ella, now eat yer stew."

I just nodded and conceded, eatin' my stew quietly. Oh sweet baby Jesus please make Tolbert happy with the baby come fall. I'm thankful that he's happy 'bout the pregnancy tho, even spoilin' me wit' makin' stew. Stew that's a bit too salty for my taste, but edible all the same. It's the thought that counts.

AN:

So, Novella and Tolbert's going to have a baby. How nice. She's roughly 3-3 ½ months along in this chapter by the way. Next chapter will be another small time jump.