*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

About 2 months have gone by from last chapter to this one. Novella has the baby in this. Let's just say Tolbert doesn't get his way in this…

Baby McCoy's Here!

Novella POV:

I bit my lip, wincin' and holdin' back a moan, as another strong birthin' pain hit. I'd been in bed for hours on end, feelin' waves of teeth grittin' pain come and go, wit' only Aunt Sally and Doc for company. Tolbert was outside on the porch with Uncle Perry, Moses, and Ole Rand'l. No doubt they were tryin' to keep my husband sane since Doc said he wasn't allowed inside til I had the baby.

I had gone into labor hours ago. So many that I'm sure half the day's faded away. I had no idea how long it took to have a baby, but the time was draggin' on and on. I just wanted to give birth already, I just wanted the pain to stop.

"Your time's nearin'." Aunt Sally softly told me, comin' up to my side with a damp cloth to wipe my forehead with.

"Novella, 'bout time I check on you 'gain." Doc announced, stubbin' his cigar before rising from the chair in the corner. I just nodded, gruntin' in pain, as Doc walked over to the foot of the bed. He popped his head under my shift to see if I was ready to push the baby out yet or not. I hope I was, I wanted this over with. "You're ready to push." The doctor confirmed with a nod as he sat up, looking me in the eyes.

"Dear, try to be calm. It'll hurt, but the pain's worth it for your child." Aunt Sally told me in a wise motherly tone as she wiped my forehead with a cloth while helpin' me sit up slightly in the bed.

I just nodded, a whimperin' moan tumblin' from my mouth. Dear lord I was in so much pain.

"Novella, I need you to push." Doc told me form his spot at the bottom of the bed.

"Push, honey, push down hard." Aunt Sally encouranged me, a hand on my back, as I began to push.

After a few moments I let out a grunt and stopped pushin', feelin' a bit tired an' breathless. "Another push, Novella." The doctor told me, causin' me to do as he asked. After a few moments I stopped to catch my breath only to hear the Doc say, "I can see the head. Another push or so and baby'll be here."

"Oh, Novella, honey, you're almost done. The baby's nearly here." Aunt Sally eencouraged as she rubbed my back.

Determined to have my baby I sat up a bit more and pushed as hard as I possibly could. An ear shatterin' scream fell from my lips as I felt a burnin' pain below, felt my baby be born. With my chest heavin' I flopped my back down on the bed. I watched the Doc clean off my baby an' smack it's butt, drawin' out the baby's first cry, as Aunt Sally went to fetch a blanket, diaper, and clothin' from the small chest in the corner.

"How's my baby?" I asked as I watched Doc an' Aunt Sally fuss over my newborn.

"She's fine. Healthy cry, not too small." Doc told me, his voice both informative an' carin', as he watched Sally wrap the baby in a blanket as he packed his bag up.

"She? I have a baby girl?" I couldn't believe it. I had a girl. A felt happiness fill up my soul with the knowledge that I had a child that Tolbert wouldn't be able to mold. A child all for myself.

"Yes, honey, you've birthed a daughter." Aunt Sally confirmed as she came up to my side with a bundle in her arms.

"Give her to me, please." I greedily held my hands out, wantin' my girl in my arms.

"We'll let everyone outside know the baby's come." Doc told me as he watched Aunt Sally place my baby into my arms.

Aunt Sally just gave me a tight, but heartfelt smile 'fore leavin' the room with Doc. Leavin' me alone to bond wit' my child while they announced her birth to my husband, uncle, brother, an' father-in-law.

Tolbert POV:

I was more skittish then a cat waitin' on Ella t'birth our son. I was thrown outta my own house cause men ain't 'lowed round when baby's gettin' birthed. Perry, poppy, an' Moses weren't much c'pany for me on my porch either. All they did was sit 'round an' talk, yell at me for pacin' an' not sittin' still too. I knew that labor took time, shit my ma had 'nough chil'run for me t'know that, but it was diff'rent cause I weren't waitin' on a siblin' to get born, but on my own son this time. Waitin' on my wife t'have my son, our first child, was a long an' nerve wrackin' process.

"She'll be fine, Tolbert." Poppy assured me, starin' at me from the rocker he was sittin' on.

"Yes, Novella's a strong young lady. She'll have the baby in no time." Perry piped up, tryin' t'calm me an' assure me, as he rocked on his rocker.

I just nodded at them 'fore risin' to my feet. I'd started pacin' 'gain when'ver I heard blood curdlin' screams comin' from the house. "Ella!" I cried an' darted for the door.

"She's fine. Sit down, Tolbert." Poppy told me, snatchin' my arm as he sat near the door.

I ground my teeth, lockin' my jaw, 'fore noddin' my head and doin' as I was told. Poppy was right, Ella'd be fine an' I couldn't do much t'help her anyhow.

"I surmise by that scream any minute now the baby'll be here." Perry remarked in his know-it-all slick as wet stone voice.

"Shut up, Perry." I snapped, not wantin' to listen to that man's bullshit.

"Baby's here." Moses announced as the cry of a newborn echoed onto the porch from inside the house.

I gotta son. My son's just been born. I was watchin' the door, standin' close to it, an' waitin' for Doc to come out an' tell me 'bout my wife an' son. Poppy, Perry, an' Moses were just silently sittin' an' watchin' the front door too.

"How's my son? My wife?" I asked, rushin' up on the Doc as soon as my front door opened an' he walked out.

"Your wife's tired, but she'll be fine." Doc answered as my mama walked out of the door, closin' it wit' a grim look on her face.

"And my son?" I asked, wantin' t'know bout him. Was he healthy? Was he big an' strong?

"Tolbert, you got a daughter. The baby's a girl, healthy with a good cry to her lungs." Doc told me, pattin' me on the shoulder, as his voice was flat.

"A girl? But, Doc, I'm s'posed t'have a boy." I seethed, disbelief an' anger in my velvet voice. Horseshit, I wanted a son.

"Lord gives ya what he deems fit. Now if you'll excuse me I got to get back to town." The doc told me 'fore walkin' 'way.

'Fore I could reach the door knob to open my door an' go inside ma grabbed my arm and told me, "Tolbert, she's weak." I nodded my head. I knew she'd be weak, she was in labor all day. Does my own mama think me a fool? "I know that ya wanted a boy, she knows that too, but don't go in there yellin' an' actin' a fool."

I didn't say a word, just stormed by my ma an' into the house. I wasn't pleased that I had a girl, wasn't gonna pretend I was. All my plans were for a son not a daughter.

Novella POV:

I felt like I had been torn in half. I hurt so bad, but at least I had my baby in my arms. I knew it was gonna be mine an' mine alone cause it was a girl. Tolbert wanted a son, but I birthed a daughter. The lord had granted me a child for myself. In time I reckon I'll birth him his son that he wants so bad, but today wasn't that day.

I was left alone, both Doc and Sally had gone to tell the men on the porch the news 'bout me and the baby. I didn't mind bein' alone. I actually was enjoyin' the quiet time I was spendin' with my baby girl cradled in my arms. She was so beautiful with big blue eyes an' a soft tuft of peach fuzz on her head. She had a button nose and cupid's bow lips. Just lookin' at her warmed my heart. I had a fierce love for her an' she was only a few minutes old.

The loud bang of the bedroom door slammin' open startled me and made my sleepin' baby start to cry. As I rocked the her back and forth in my arms, tryin' to soothe her back to sleep, I looked up towards the door and only to see my husband stomp into the room. The hard frownin' expression on his face let me know that he was far from pleased, in fact he was pissed.

"Doc says it's a girl." Tolbert barked, his velvety gruff voice edgy, as he walked over to my bedside.

"Yes, Tolbert, she's a girl." I confirmed with a smile, lookin' 'tween my husband an' my daughter as I gently rocked her to sleep.

"Hmm…" Tolbert sighed, standin' by my side with his arms crossed over his chest. "Ya got a name for it cause I sure in hell don't."

"Rihanna, after my mama. Rihanna Elsbeth."

"Rihanna Elsbeth McCoy." Tolbert said, testin' out our daughter's name. The way it rolled off his tongue was as if he was spittin' a bitter outta his mouth. "Eh, I'll write it in the family bible for records."

"Tolbert, do ya wanna hold her?" I offered, slightly nudgin' my arms up to him.

"No. Maybe later." He quickly told me, causin' me to bring my sleepin' baby girl close to my chest. "I'll let ev'body on the porch know yer fine for seein'." Tolbert told me, a bit coldly in his gruffly smooth tone, before leaving my side and walkin' out the door.

"Novella, my dear, let me see my great-niece." Uncle Perry slicky smiled as he walked into the room and over to my bedside. Moses was silently trailing behind him along him Ole Rand'l.

"Did Tolbert tell ya'll her name?" I asked, lookin' at everyone with a small smile on my face.

Ole Rand'l shook his head as he stood behind my Uncle Perry, who was sittin' on the edge of my bed lookin' at the baby, while Moses stood next to our uncle. Uncle Perry simply told me, "No, he didn't."

"What'd ya name my gran'dau'ter?" Ole Rand'l asked, a tug of a smile crossin' his proud face.

"Rihanna Elsbeth." I announced as I passed the baby over to my uncle's awaitin' arms.

"After your mother. Oh, that's just lovely." Uncle Perry softly said, holdin' his great-niece in his arms an' cooin' at her. "Oh, my dear little Rihanna, I'm Uncle Perry." He introduced himself to the baby as she slept cradled in his hold.

Ole Rand'l nodded his head approivin'ly. "Fine name you've chosen."

"Hey, kid, I'm your Uncle Moses." My brother told the baby in Uncle Perry's arms as he came up to our uncle's side.

"Ole Rand'l." Uncle Perry told his best friend, motionin' for him to take the baby from his arms.

Ole Rand'l took the baby wit' ease. Swayin' from side to side on his feet, he rocked the baby. "She's a blessin' from God. My first gran'child." Ole Rand'l mused. Lookin' down at little Rihanna he told her, "I'm yer gran'pappy.

I looked up to the door when I heard the shufflin' of boots only to see my husband leanin' 'gainst the doorframe. "Time ya'll went home. Ella an' the girl need rest." Tolbert barked, starin' roughly at everyone fussin' over the baby.

It was clear to me that Tolbert was not goin' to be very thrilled 'bout people showerin' attention on the baby girl that he didn't want. Oh my…

"We'll leave ya t'bond wit' yer new baby." Ole Rand'l told Tolbert after he placed the baby back into my arms while Uncle Perry stood up and backed away from my bed, grabbin' Moses' shoulder.

"She's a beautiful girl, Tolbert." Uncle Perry told my husband as he guided Moses across the room and out of the door, brushin' past him.

Ole Rand'l just furrowed his brows at Tolbert 'fore walkin' by him an' out of the room, goin' to collect Aunt Sally so that they could go home and tell the rest of the family bout the new addition to the McCoy bloodline.

Tolbert just stared at me an' the baby, our little girl, before pivotin' on his heel an' walkin' off. Bet he was goin' to drink his weight in whiskey tonight. Drink his sorrows and shattered dreams away.

AN:

I know Tolbert was an ass, but he was so convinced he was gonna get his son and wanted a son so bad that having a daughter shocked him and he's not handling it too well. I was never going to give Tolbert Tol anyways so…Novella has her daughter so it's all good. Plus it's the 1800s, not like they're not gonna have another baby soonish LOL!