*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

Here's another filler. I decided to brush over a few months and hop right to July. The last half's sad, sorry in advance.

4th of July, 1880

Novella POV:

Praise be, Christmas dinner went over without a hitch. No fighting. New Year's Eve was full of the promise of things to come. My husband drank himself silly with his brothers and passed out as soon as he got home. New Year's Day was full of tendin' to a baby an' a hungover husband. Valentine's Day was just another day, 'cept Tolbert gave me a card he got from the general store. It had a heart with cupid on it and the inside had a pre-printed poem of 'May this bow of white, Which gives delight, And which I send you, A token be of Love devine, Oh wilt thou be my Valentine' in it. Spring didn't just bring 'bout Easter, but the news that I was expectin' 'gain. And last month, in June, Jim married Lissa in a lavish church ceremony. So many people attended that I lost count of how many people were there. Tolbert was a moody bastard durin' Jim's weddin'. Hell, he was fussin' more than our 8-month-old daughter Rihanna was.

But now it's currently July and I'm 'bout 5 months 'long in my second pregnancy. I pray it's a boy this time cause I would like a tiny break from childbearin'. Today was actually the big 4th of July celebration. Tolbert was sellin' his shine, with his brothers' help like always, but this time it seemed that he had less barrels then he did last year. I wasn't bringin' it up to him tho, mostly cause I didn't want to start a fight. Also, like last year Tolbert's whiskey wagon was parked across from Johnse's, 'cept this time Cap wasn't perched on top of a barrel and helpin' his brother out.

Nope, this year Cap Hatfield had a pretty raven-haired lady on his arm. Rumors had it her name was Nancy something, I forgot her surname and I really didn't care what it was to be honest, and they'd been seein' each other since April or May.

I had my 9-month-old perched on my hip, which was a small discomfort since my belly was startin' to swell and show, as I walked the festival lookin' for somebody to talk with or somethin' to eat. I'd be happy with whichever I found first. Unfortunately, I didn't find the booth sellin' pickles 'fore Cap and his girl Nancy ran into me.

"How're you and the young'in doin', Nova?" Cap asked me, a friendly look on his otherwise cold-featured face, as he towered over me.

"Just fine. Thanks for askin', Cap." I politely answered, slightly swayin' back an' forth to keep my baby girl from fussin'.

"Cap." He scoffed with the pop of his tongue. "Bullshit, ya can call me my name ya know." He informed me with a slight tilt of his head. The shadow made from his black Stetson loomed over me and my baby, castin' a shade over us.

Nancy craned her head up to look at Cap while askin' with a twisted up an' confused look, "But ain't Cap your name?"

"Oh, Cap's just joshin' me. Don't pay him any mind." I quickly told his special lady friend, wavin' at her and shakin' my head. I wore a tight smile on my face as I saved Cap's ass from gettin' into trouble with his Nancy.

Cap wasn't amused by me savin' him with a remark since he cut me a look. In an instant his gaze turned a bit soft and fell onto the baby girl perched on my hipbone. "How old's she and what's her name."

"She's 9 months. I named her Rihanna Elsbeth after my late mama." I informed Cap with a smile as I maneuvered my daughter on my hip, trying to balance her weight since her small form was taking a toll on my side and lower back since I was expectin'.

Cap nodded his head before simply sayin', "Good name." He wiggled his fingers in front of little Rihanna's face, causin' her to giggle and break out into a lone toothed smile, as he cooed, "You're a cutie, Anna, Yea, ya are." Anna. Of course, he'd give my daughter a nickname too.

Nancy looked 'tween me, Cap, and the baby with tight knitted brows. "All babies are cute, Cap. Don't make such a fuss." She scolded, shootin' him a narrow look while grabbin' his hand and yankin' it away from my baby girl.

I was gettin' the quick impression that she felt threatened by me an' my baby. Which was dumb since I was married with a family, causin' no threat to her whatsoever.

"Ya needa make good on that claim yet, Nova?" Cap asked, a look of wonder on his rugged face, 'fore addin' in, "Just askin' for Sawyer."

"No, me and Tolbert's doin' just fine. If I needa make good on it I will." Even if we weren't doin' good I don't think I'd be makin' a claim for that loggin' money.

I can't bring home money, part Hatfield money too, without Tolbert noticin' or questionin' where it came from. He wouldn't like money he considered to be a free handout. Tolbert was very firm on the fact that he an' he 'lone was gonna support his family with whatever money he could we had to pinch pennies an' scrape by then so be it cause Tolbert didn't want any help. My part of the lumber business Sawyer gifted me would be considered, most likely, a handout by my temperamental husband.

"Cap, can we go now? I want some lemonade and a tart." Cap's raven-haired girl remarked, buttin' in and endin' any further talks 'tween me and him. He snapped his head down and over his shoulder, givin' her a foul look with his icy eye an' it's milky twin.

"I gotta get goin' myself. Got a hankerin' for them pickles 'gain." I informed the couple in front of me as I started to inch away from them. "Nice seein' ya'll." I politely smiled before quick takin' off to the pickle booth.

Oh, my lordy, bein' 'round Cap and Nancy, whatever the hell her name is, was awkward. She seemed to hate me an' he seemed to be more annoyed with his girl then starry-eyed with the tall raven-haired beauty. Cap was a lucky man to have her on his arm since Nancy Whatever was everythin' looks wise a man'd want and she was pickin' to court him. Sadly, Cap wasn't known in the Tug River Valley as a looker, unlike his older brother Johnse. I mean he wasn't horrible to look at, but he was rugged and only had one-eye, which most likely was a turn off for most young ladies of courtin' age. Bet Cap an' Nancy'll be married in a year or so. They were courtin' so there wasn't a reason not to think they'd get hitched eventually. Bet Devil Anse was itchin' for his favorite son to get married, 'specially since the oldest son was a horn dog philanderer that'd never settle down an' expand the family name.

As I arrived at the pickle booth I saw that Levicy Hatfield, the devil's wife and Cap's mama, was there buyin' a pickle. I remember from last July what Cap told me bout his ma and pickles and knew that the woman was expectin'. When she turned 'round and walked away from the booth, no doubt to find her husband or other chil'ren, I saw that she was very far along. Never would've known from her back since she was all belly, carryin' her pregnancy weight only in her middle instead of all over.

"Hi, I'd like a pickle." I politely told the woman vendor who had a bunch of large jars all over her booth.

"That'd be a nickel." She smiled at me 'fore grabbin' one from an open jar.

We exchanged money for food and then I took off to find my husband, pickle in hand and baby on my hip.

"How's the sales goin'?" I asked Tolbert, comin' up to his side, as I crunched on a pickle. He was standin' by the spicket of his whiskey barrel while his brothers and our cousins were all huddled 'round him and the whiskey wagon. Well, all except Pharmer since he was perched on top of the large barrel. That was his spot no matter what.

"Eh, goin' good as it can." Tolbert shrugged 'fore takin' Rihanna from my arms. "How's my girl t'day? Huh, bein' good for yer mama?" Tolbert asked our daughter, bouncin' her up and down on his hip.

"She's got yer personality, brother. She's grumpy." Pharmer pointed out, referin' to the sour look on Rihanna's face as Tolbert bounced her and talked t'her.

"Shut up." Tolbert snapped at Pharmer, givin' him a blood curdlin' glare, as he swayed a bit in an attempt to get our daughter to smile.

"Cuz, can I see her?" Jefferson asked out in a slight slur.

"No, she's a bit fussy right now." I bluntly blurted out as I quickly snatched my baby girl from Tolbert before he could pass her off to our drunken cousin.

"I got more shine t'sell. When it's gone we'll get her on home." Tolbert assured me as I bounced Rihanna on my hip, calmin' her fussiness down.

"Okay." I nodded, watchin' my husband lean against the large barrel he was standin' by.

"Look, the one-eyed gorilla's got a girl." Jefferson loudly announced, pointin' a finger towards Cap and Nancy, who were walkin' 'round nearby.

"Hell, how'd he'd get a lady that purty?" Squirrel asked, his face turned up curiously, before he grabbed a bottle off of the cart and took a swig from it. I hope he bought that bottle…

"Easy, she's doin' charity work." Tolbert chuckled loudly, causin' all the other men gathered 'round the cart to laugh too.

I know Cap was a Hatfield, and could be a bit pushy and cocky, but for some reason I didn't want to listen to the McCoy men make fun of him. "Be nice. There's somebody for everybody." I chastised the men, givin' them slightly pointed looks.

"Yer bein' too nice. Ain't nobody out there that wants t'be with a fog eye." Calvin told me before givin' his cup to Tolbert to refill.

"Last cup or yer gonna owe me too much money, lil brother." Tolbert grumbled, fillin' up the glass and handin' it over to Calvin. Tolbert looked at me as I finished my pickle. "I can hold Rihanna while ya go get 'notha pickle t'et."

"But you gotta sell your shine." I protested while Tolbert just rolled his eyes, grabbin' our daughter from me.

"Me an' Pharmer can sell the shine so ya'll can walk 'round as a family." Bud offered while Tolbert smirked at the baby perches on his side, ticklin' her as he tried to get her to smile.

Tolbert just nodded at Bud and Pharmer, silently agreein' to let them sell the likker for a while, before placin' his hand on the small of my back an' leadin' me 'way from the cart. Looks like we're spendin' a tiny piece of the day as a family.

After Tolbert finished sellin' his shine we spent some time conversin' wit' friends an' family 'fore decidin' to leave. Rihanna was a baby and needed rest, stayin' out all day an' night wouldn't be good for her. Plus, she was too young for fireworks anyways. Once we got home I fed Rihanna and put her to bed in her cradle, which was now in her room since she was old 'nough to be on her own now.

Tolbert was already stripped down to his long-johns and in bed whenever I entered our room. "Ya don't look as big as ya did when carryin' Rihanna. Ya doin' a'ight, Ella?" He asked me, leanin' against his pillow and the metal headboard, while watchin' me unbutton the back of my dress.

"I'm okay." I assured Tolbert, who was only actin' concerned cause he was convinced that this time the baby was a boy. As I undressed I explained to him, "Every pregnancy's different, or at least that's what Aunt Betty told me last time Nancy took me and the baby to visit her."

"Try an' et a bit more. I'd feel better if ya were bigger." Tolbert revealed as I walked over to the bed and got in it.

"Okay." I simply told my husband, noddin' my head, before fluffin' my pillow and layin' down on my side.

Silently Tolbert took his place layin' behind me. He kissed me on the temple and whispered in his velvet tone, "Love ya, Ella. G'Nite.", 'fore wrappin' an arm round my waist.

"Love you too, Tolbert. Nite." I replied to my husband, restin' a hand on top of his that was on my belly, as I shut my eyes.

Little did we know that tonight wouldn't be a good night.

A few hours after fallin' asleep I felt a cramp like pain, wakin' me. I quickly sat up, feelin' the sharp pain in my lower belly grow. I knew it wasn't normal, not this early on. It was pitch black in the room, the only light coming from the silver moonlight streamin' thru the open window. I gritted my teeth as I felt another wave of pain rush over me. "Tolbert! Tolbert, wake up! Somethin's wrong!" I shrieked, smackin' my husband's chest with one hand as I clenched my belly with the other.

"What? Ella, what's wrong?" Tolbert asked groggily as he sat up, blinkin' the sleep outta his eyes.

"Baby's comin' too early." I revealed, both pain an' worry lacin' my high pitched flowin' tone.

"I'll get mama t'come ov'r an' stay wit' ya while I get that drunk doc." Tolbert told me as he scrambled out of bed, grabbin' his pants and quickly pullin' them on. He pulled on his boots and turned on the lamp by my bedside. He kissed my forehead and vowed, "I won't be long.", 'fore rushin' off to get help in the middle of the night.

I don't know how long I was doubled over in pain an' sittin' up in bed for whenever Aunt Sally ran into the room, a grim expression on her round face. She was in her nightgown, a shawl slung over her shoulders, as she appeared by my side. "Tolbert's gone to Pikeville to fetch the doctor." She told me, gently rubbin' my back as I let out a tiny moan of pain.

"It's too soon, Aunt Sally. Baby's got 'nother 4 months." I told her as tears prickled my eyes. I knew what was happenin', I was losin' my baby.

"Sometimes these things happen. I've lost a few 'fore birthin' time an' after in infancy." She told me in an attempt to ease my mind while at the same time confirmin' my suspicion of goin' into early labor.

I just nodded my head and let out a pain filled shaky breath. The chances of me havin' a stillbirth tonight was high.

My hair was soaked with sweat and Aunt Sally was wipin' my forehead with a damp cloth whenever Doc rushed into the room with Tolbert hot on his heels. Doc looked at me with sympathy in his eyes 'fore turnin' to my husband and placin' a hand on his shoulder. "Better start cuttin' boards. Your wife's havin' a stillbirth." I heard Doc tell Tolbert.

Tolbert's face went pale and his jaw trembled. I knew he was in agony from Doc's words. I knew how much this pregnancy meant to him. Silently Tolbert trudged out of the room. He was off to go cut boards while I suffered premature labor.

"It's happenin' fast. It'll be comin' soon." Aunt Sally told the doc as he set his bag on the bedside table.

"Novella, how long's this been goin' on for?" Doc asked me, his voice both gentle and inquisitive at the same time, as he stood by my bedside lookin' down at my pain filled form.

"Maybe an hour or so. I'm not quite sure." I answered while Aunt Sally tried to comfort me by smoothin' back the sweaty hair stickin' to the sides of my face.

"Have any bleedin'? If not there's a chance the baby could be saved." Doc asked as Aunt Sally stood up and made to go get blankets and towels since she knew the answer I was about to give

With downcast eyes I answered low and shakily, "I believe there's blood on my thighs. Least it feels like it."

Doc pulled the blanket back only to reveal that, as I suspected, I was bleedin' an' sufferin' a stillbirth. My white shift was stained red, no doubt the white sheets underneath me were too. "I'm sorry, there's nothin' to be done to save the baby. Soon you'll be passin' it."

Tolbert POV:

I was in the barn with an oil lantern on, finishin' up cuttin' the boards, whenever I heard footsteps enter followed by an informin', "Novella birthed a stillborn baby boy." I didn't say a word, just angrily sawed the last of the board I needed done. "Tolbert, would you like to see the boy 'fore he gets his shroud an' put in a box?"

"No. Why'd I wanna do that. Boy's dead, no good in me seein' him."

"Your wife wanted to-" The drunken useless doc began to say 'fore I cut him off with a loud, "I hope ya didn't let her see him. No good in it, just get her all torn up."

"Boy's wrapped up an' in a basket, in the house."

"Ya can go." I ordered him, not even botherin' to look at his face, as I lined the board up wit' the others t'make up the tiny pine box.

Silently the man left my man an' rode off my land.

I finished my task 'fore enterin' my cabin. Ma was sittin' on a chair with a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry, son."

"Stay wit' Ella. I gotta make 'rangements wit' Rev'rend Garrett for my boy."

"Perhaps I can have poppy do that?" Mama asked 'fore sighin' an' softly tellin' me, "You should be wit' Novella right now. She needs ya."

"Ella'll be fine wit' ya til I get back. I need t'see the preacher, not poppy. My 'spon'bility t'take care of my family. Good or bad." I told ma, who just nodded at me, 'fore walkin' 'way from her an' towards the front door. I could hear my wife's broken-hearted cries echoin' in our cabin as I walked outside onto the porch.

My poor Ella. I didn't wanna leave my wife 'lone wit' ma right after she lost our son, but I had to. Had no choice since it was my duty as a husband an' father t'see the preacher an' set up a date an' time for a funeral. I don't know how we're gonna carry on. Losin' a child like this, it's hard. I feel like I've been shot in the chest, the pain's that bad. I need t'numb the pain. After mountin' my horse an' trottin' 'way from the house I pulled out my flask. I needed a drink. The likker'd keep my mind off the loss of my son. A dead son that wouldn't ever carry on my name.

AN:

Sorry, but mortality and pregnancy rates weren't too good back then in the 1800s. I read that childbirth was the leading cause of death for women back then. Also, stillbirths and miscarriages were common due to poor nutrition and the lack of medical attention, etc. Poor Novella and Tolbert. Next up should be the 1880 Election Day where Roseanna and Johnse run off together.