*Author's Note*
Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.
Another back to back update, yay!
I'm glad you guys liked the twists on the Election Day Festival in the last chapter. Oh yea the Novella's weird comradery with Cap will definitely come to play in the sequel. I got some shocking twists and turns in the works for the sequel when it comes to Novella's ties to both the Hatfields and the McCoys. Novella's will have a mama bear type relationship with her daughter Rihanna, so much so that she's going to be leery letting her be around certain people *cough drunk dumbass Jefferson cough*. Novella being so protective of her daughter's cause of the fact that she had a miscarriage and dealt with it by pouring her energy into raising her daughter since Tolbert was too busy grieving with his head in the bottom of whiskey bottles.
Well enough of my musings. Enjoy the new chapter.
Without Fail Failed
Novella POV:
It was dark and roughly 9 o'clock whenever I heard Tolbert's whiskey wagon roll up to the McCoy house. I was ecstatic that the rest of the family arrived since it meant that we could finally eat the food that's been set on the table for an hour now. Food's most likely cold by now too. I was sitting at the table with Alifair, watching the younger children play, whenever the front door opened. In walked Bud, Pharmer, and Tolbert. But one siblin' was missin', Roseanna wasn't with them. Oh no, this ain't good.
Ole Rand'l shot up from his chair an' marched right up to Tolbert while askin', "Where's yer sister at?"
"She ain't here?" Tolbert asked with his brows furrowed.
My husband said the wrong thing cause Ole Rand'l quickly yanked his belt off while shoutin', "Course she ain't here, you were s'posed to bring her home!"
As Ole Rand'l folded his belt in half Bud ran out the door, not wantin' to be beat. Pharmer quickly followed behind him. Tolbert tho told his poppy, "She weren't 'round t'bring home, poppy."
"Don't lie t'me bout yer sister, boy!" Ole Rand'l yelled so loud the walls were gonna start shakin'.
Wide-eyed Tolbert rushed out of the house to join Bud and Pharmer on the porch. Ole Rand'l was fired up so he ran after my husband, belt firmly gripped in his hand.
Tolbert POV:
Hell, Roseanna runnin' off somewhere an' not gettin' a ride home's got my ass in trouble. Poppy followed me out onto the porch. "I told you wit'out a fail!" Poppy shouted as he walked right up to me and whacked me in the face a few times with his belt.
"We thought she got a ride. How'd we 'posed t'know." I told poppy, defendin' me an' my brothers for not bringin' Roseanna home wit' us, as I hoped down from the porch.
Poor Bud was gettin' smacked now, I could hear his cries an' the sound of poppy's belt crackin'.
I started on my way to the barn, where I had my wagon parked by, when I heard Pharmer, who dumbly went up to poppy, say, "How'd we s'posed t'know. We called out an' she didn't answer."
Damn brat weren't at the festival when we left. We were one of the last t'leave too since we were lookin' all over for the lil bitch. Hell, I looked high 'n' low over that damn place. Roseanna would run off t'God knows where wit' God knows who. The valley 'round both side o'the Tug's is might big, gonna take hours t'find her boney ass.
I heard the crack of poppy's belt in the still nite air followed by him orderin' in a growl, "Go an' find her! Don't come back til y'do!"
I was almost to my horse an' wagon whenever I saw Bud an' Pharmer run into the barn t'get their horses. Whenever I was unhitchin' my horse I heard the front door open an' close. I had gone into the barn to grab an old saddle when I saw that Calvin was headin' towards the barn. Reckon poppy's makin' him help us look for Roseanna too.
"Poppy wants us t'go get Jim t'help us find Roseanna." Calvin told me, confirmin' my s'picions, as we passed each other as I was walkin' out an' he was walkin' into the barn.
"I hope we find her soon. I'm hungry." I heard Pharmer's fat ass remark. Only he'd be thinkin' bout food at a time like this.
Pharmer, Bud, and Calvin were sittin' on their horses in front of Jim's house while I stood on the front stoop knockin' on the door. After a few minutes the door opened t'reveal Jim, pants over his long-johns, with Lissa standin' behind him in her nightgown an' robe. A bit of light shinin' from the oil lamp mounted on the wall near the door made it so I was able to view my brother an' his wife clearly in the dark. "What're doin' here?" My older brother asked me, his face narrowed. Reckon he didn't like bein' rattled outta bed.
"Roseanna took off durin' the festival. Poppy wants us all t'go find her an' bring her home." I answered my brother, standin' wit' my arms 'crossed ov'r my broad chest.
"What? Ya sure she didn't take off wit' a friend like that McClintock girl she knows from church?" Jim asked, a skeptical look on his face.
"We're sure. She's lost wanderin' 'round somewheres." I answered him. "Now come on an' help us find her so I can go home." I grumbled, urgin' him to hurry up an' help us.
"Lissa, grab my boots an' shirt." Jim ordered his wife 'fore grabbin' his hat from the hook by the door and shovin' it on his head while Lissa rushed to get him a shirt an' boots.
A minute later she came rushin' over t'him wit' a shirt an' his boots in hand. "Here." Lissa shoved the stuff at my brother. "Don't be out too late. Ya got work guardin' my pap's store 'morrow." She told Jim as he put his boots an' shirt on.
Damn, Lissa was such a whiny town bitch. Who gives a shit 'bout Jim workin' at her poppy's dumb antique shop full of useless ov'r priced décor shit. If somebody wants t'steal a fancy lamp or vase let 'em. Findin' Roseanna's more 'portant then guardin' that stuff.
"Don't worry, I'll be back in time for work." Jim assured his bitch wife, kissin' her on the cheek, 'fore grabbin' his rifle off the rack next to the door by the hooks.
"Lets go." I told Jim 'fore steppin' down from the front stoop an' goin' over to the hitchin' post by the edge of the yard where my horse Eldorado was next to Jim's horse Baxter.
T'nite's gonna be a long one. Hopefully we find her soon cause I don't wanna be up for ov'r 24-hours straight.
The sunrise had just happened an' we had just arrived at the hill path clearin' overlookin' the Tug Fork River. We were plannin' on crossin' over into West Virginia after ridin' all ov'r the Kentucky hills all nite. I felt red hot rage course thru my blood as I spotted my sister on the West Virginia side o'the river kissin' the horn dog Hatfield."
"There's Roseanna an' that's Johnse Hatfield kissin' on her." Pharmer remarked loudly, pointin' to the scene below.
That's it, I'm shootin' that lil prick for touchin' my sister. "Ah hell no!" I grabbed my rifle an' jumped down from my horse. Quickly I ran over to a bush an' crouched down b'hind it. I aimed my gun an' took my shot. A loud pow sounded in the air as bullet pierced Johnse's side.
I ran back to Eldorado an' quickly mounted him while hearin' Roseanna shout to Johnse, "Johnse, it's my brothers! Go!"
"Let's go!" I told my brothers 'fore takin' off down the path.
"I love you, Roseanna." Johnse lied t'my sister 'fore takin' off on horseback down the road.
"Please, don't hurt him!" She begged as me an' our brothers raced our horses ov'r the river, chasin' after Johnse.
As we chased in thru the woods we were shootin' at him. Goddamnit, I wanted t'kill him. How dare he touch my sister. He tried to touch my wife once when we were courtin', now he's after my sister. Can't he leave McCoy women 'lone? The dumb pretty boy smacked his head on a low hangin' branch an' got knocked off his horse. We all surrounded him as he laid on the ground, hand pressed up on his bloodied side.
Lookin' 'tween me an' his wound Johnse asked in a shout, "Goddamnit, Tolbert, what're ya so hot for?" I just furrowed my brows an' aimed my rifle at him. He weren't that dumb, he knew why I as hot-headed. "All I did was take Roseanna home, feed her dinner, an' keep her safe from harm." Johnse told use, his charmin' voice goin' up high in fear. Yea, but he kept her safe from harm. Bastard could've dropped her off at the clearin' or at the edge o'the family land, but no he took her back to Hatfield lands.
"You have yer way wit' her?" Jim asked, the level of his gun falterin'.
"No sir." Liar. He messed wit' Roseann fo'sure. Man don't get a rep'tation as a horn dog for nothin'. "Ya think she'd be kissin' on me if I violated her in anyway?" Johnse asked us, tryin' to futher his claim of innocence.
I didn't buy his bullshit, but from the looks on my brothers faces they were mullin' over his words. Ah hell no, this lil shit ain't getting' 'way wit' preyin' on my sister. Readyin' my gun I told my brothers, "I say we shoot him an' toss him in the river. That way nobody knows."
"Your sister'll know. She loves me."
"That's a load of bull manure." Pharmer snapped, aimin' his gun at the lyin' sack of shit grovelin' on the ground. Always knew Pharmer was my fav'rite brother for a reason. He, like me, saw right thru Johnse's lies.
"Since I gotta prove it to ya'll, here's my gun." Johnse said while takin' his gun outta his belt an' tossin' it over on the ground near us.
Jim put down his gun. Tiltin' his head he asked, "How bad you's shot, Johns?"
"Oh, not too bad. Think the bullet tore straight thru me." Too bad it missed his gut or liver. Damn, I ant that fucker dead.
"Tolbert." Jim said, levelin' his eyes at me with a look silently tellin' me 'let's go an' leave him be'. I just cut my eyes at my brother as he motioned for our brothers to follow him 'fore turnin' his horse 'round an' trottin' off. I just stared at Johnse, my stormy eye in narrow slits, 'fore spittin' at him an' ridin' 'way.
Novella POV:
I was up all night long. We all were. Nobody was allowed to go to bed til Roseanna got home, per Ole Rand'l's orders. The only one that was able to sleep was little Rihanna since she was so little. As we sat an' waited for Roseanna to get brought home by the boys everyone's stomach grumbled an' growled. The younger chil'rens eyes drooped an' sagged as they dozed off now an' then.
Ole Rand'l had a crazed look in his eye as he paced 'round the room. His folded belt was held in a vice grip so tight I'm shocked his hand wasn't crampin' up. He only sa for a few moments at a time 'fore his pacin' would start up.
Once dawn hit I was prayin' that Roseanna would be found an' returned home safe. Mostly cause I was starvin', exhausted, and wanted to go home. After sunrise the smaller children started to go outside t'sit on the porch in order to get 'way from their poppy's crazy antics. I too retreated to the porch wit' my daughter.
I was sittin' on a rocker, Rihanna on my lap, whenever Bud rode up with Roseanna sittin' behind him. My brow rose up questionin'ly, wonderin' were the others were, as Roseanna got off the horse while Bud quickly hitched it. As Roseanna tucked in her blouse an' straighten out her skirt Bud ran into the house while announcin' loudly, "We found her, poppy! We found Roseanna!"
Quicker then a hot minute Bud emerged from the house wit' Ole Rand'l, Aunt Sally, an' the rest of the McCoy brood hot on his trail. He rushed off the porch, his hat off and clutched in infront of his chest, an' stood by Roseanna, who was standin' infront of the porch steps wringin' her hands nervously. Lettin' out a silent an' tired sigh I got up from my rocker an' went to stand by Alifair, who was next to her mama.
"You stayed the night under a Hatfield roof?" Ole Rand'l asked Roseanna accusin'ly, givin' her a crazed an' soul cuttin' look.
"Yes." Roseanna nodded 'fore goin' on to future explained, "Wit' Johnse's sisters. Mr. Hatfield kindly gave permission." Instead of just endin' it their Roseanna opened up her mouth, a large smile on her face, an' said, "Johnse loves me, poppy. He wants t'marry me, ask ya proper."
What the hell? She just met the man a day 'go an' suddenly she's in love. Yea, right…maybe in lust, but I doubt love. And of all men, Johnse Horn Dog Hatfield. I know for a fact he only wants one thin' from a girl. Shit, his own brother Cap told me Johns charms whores into freebies.
Aunt Sally shot Roseanna a dissaprovin' look while Ole Rand'l had a lost an' spaced out look on his face as he asked, "He touch you, Roseanna?"
"No." Roseanna stuttered, quickly shakin' her head.
That's a lie. He touched her, I bet my brand spankin' new pressure cooker on it. Roseanna had that I've just been deflowered glow to her, plus the man we're talkin' 'bouts Johnse Hatfield an' there's no way in hell he had her under his roof an' didn't do the trick wit' her. By the hard look on Aunt Sally's face she didn't believe her daughter either.
"If you like the Hatfields so much then go stay wit' em forever. Yer not my daughter anymore." Ole Rand'l told Roseanna, his voice soundin' lost an' listless, 'fore he turned his back on her an' stalked into the house.
Aunt Sally gave Roseanna a pitiful look 'fore followin' her husband inside the house. Alifiar silently gathered up the chil'ren an' ushered them back inside. Bud looked mortified as he walked over to his hitched-up horse in order to unhitch it an' take Roseanna to be dropped off at the tug.
I felt bad for Roseanna. I understood her hurt an' pain from bein' suddenly tossed outta the house. I mean my situation was different, but still it took me by surprise an' hurt whenever Uncle Perry made me move in wit' the McCoys a month 'fore my marriage. With Rihanna perched on my hip I walked down the porch steps and went over to Roseanna. Silently I gave her a hug. She sniffled int my shoulder 'fore liftin' her head up.
"I'll try an' visit you when I can." I promised Roseanna as I rubbed her shoulder, givin' her a small, but sad smile.
Roseanna's heart shaped face fell slightly as she told me, "But why? Tolbert hates Hatfield an' so should you."
"I don't hate Hatfields. I doubt that I can really." I told Roseanna, earnin' me a curious look. "This stays 'tween us, our secret, but on my late poppy's side I gotta half-cousin that's fiance's Judge Wall's youngest daughter. See, kinda can't hate them…"
"Oh…" Roseanna let out in a whisper.
"I'll see ya soon." I assured her 'fore breakin' our hug.
Roseanna just nodded her head 'fore goin' over to Bud an' his horse, that was near us, an' climbin' on behind him. I just stood an' watched her ride 'way outta the woods wit' Bud, knowin' that most likely she wouldn't be back on this side of the tug for a long time.
AN:
Since Roseanna was living with Johnse and the Hatfields for roughly a year and a half I'm going to be doing filler chapters during that time before Roseanna gets kicked out by Mama Hatfield and the McCoy boys kidnap Johnse and try to kill him in 1882.