*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

Tolbert's a jerk, but he's Novella's jerk. She loves him, but it's not some big undying type of love. For the tragic storyline purpose, he loves her more even tho he's not always good at showing it due to his angry nature. I mean he does get executed (tied up to a paw-paw tree and shot) for murder so…Plus it's the 1800's and many people just grew to love each other back then cause matches were kinda arranged or overseen by families.

Revelations

Novella POV:

Christmas was a pleasant 'nough holiday considerin' Roseanna's absence from the large McCoy family dinner. Tolbert had surprised me by gettin' me the new book by Mark Twain. I was shocked to get it, he told me that the clerk at the general store suggested that I might like it since he remembered I had gotten the last book the author had wrote. When I mentioned to everyone at the large family dinner, which even included Jim and his wife, that I ran into Roseanna at the general store and she sends her love I was chewed out an' ordered to never speak of her or see her 'gain. That she was no longer apart of the family. Uncle Perry looked sad and disappointed by Ole Rand'l's remark but made no move to speak up 'gainst him.

New Years came and with it I missed my flow. Since it was still too early to be sure, only 3-weeks, I wanted to wait a bit longer 'fore tellin' Tolbert. I wanted to be sure that I was expectin' 'gain, I didn't want to be wrong in my suspicion.

I was now currently goin' on 4-weeks without my flow, makin' me believe that I indeed was expectin' 'gain. I pray that I was pregnant. Another baby'd be a blessin', it would mend me an' Tolbert. Tolbert had gotten a bit kinder within these last few weeks, which I was grateful for, but he still drank a bit too much then I cared for.

Talk bout my husband, Tolbert was off makin' his shine delievries up an' down the entire hill of Eastern Kentucky so I had the day to myself. It was the perfect opportunity to visit Roseanna over at the Hatfields, which is where I'm currently off to. I was actually almost there, I could see the large farmhouse with smoke billowing from the chimney in the distance. In a few more minutes I'd be at my destination. That fact made me nervous. I knew that Roseanna would be happy to see me, but I didn't know how well I'd be received by the other Hatfields.

My hands were literally shakin' whenever I pulled my wagon to a stop in front of the Hatfield house. Here goes nothin'. Quickly I got climbed down from the wagon, grabbed my daughter, and hitched the horse up. Taking a deep breath with my daughter perched on my hip I walked up the porch steps and over to the door, knocking twice on it.

The door swung open revealing Mrs. Hatfield in the doorway. She placed a hand on her hip, looking me up and down, before saying, "You're here to see Roseanna McCoy I reckon."

With a polite smile and a nod of my head I told her, "Yea, ma'am, that's why I'm here."

"Please, call me Levicy." The tall and slightly imposing woman told me with a slight uplift of her lips. "Roseannna's out back with the chickens." She told me, letting me know subtly that I wasn't setting foot inside her house. Pointing over to the left she said, "Cap's over there at the stump splittin' wood. He can show ya to Roseanna an' the chicken coop outback since it's way behind the house." Levicy quirked up her lips and told me, "It was nice meetin' you, dear." Yea, I bet it was.

"Likewise." I politely told the middle-aged woman with a tight smile on my face before turnin' and walkin' off the porch.

I turned left and walked a few paces before seeing the sight of Cap with his back towards me splittin' large cores of wood with an axe as easily as one slices butter with a knife. I didn't want to interrupt the giant blonde man as he cut firewood, but I knew I had too if I wanted directions to exactly where out back Roseanna and the chickens were at.

Hesitantly I called out, "Cap?"

After splittin' the wood he let his ax dangle by his side while turnin' his attention to me. With a raised brow he simply asked, "Yea?"

"Your ma said you'd show me to the chicken coop. I came to see Roseanna." I timidly told him, nervous to how his reaction to me interuptin' his work'd be. I mean Tolbert hated bein' interrupted while doin' chores an' work. He's curse an' grumble.

"I figured as much." Cap stuck his ax into the stump. "No other reason for ya bein' here since you're too stubborn to cash in that claim." He remarked as he started to walk off. I remained silent and just opted to follow him. "Coop's over yonder, inside that there fence." Cap told me, pointin' to a round gated fence circlin' a large square coop where a petite blonde was at collectin' eggs. "Ya know we already had a chicken die on the twit's watch. If 'nother goes ma'll be on coop duty herself." Cap informed me, his deep rollin'-wave of a voice holdin' a bit of contempt, as we trudged towards Roseanna and the coop.

"You should call her Roseanna not twit." I chastised Cap, causin' him to roll his mismatched eyes at me. "She ain't used to carin' for caged up birds, all the McCoys chickens are free range. Actually, all their animals are." I explained, comin' to my siter-in-law's defense for her lack of coop an' pen animal knowledge.

"Mhm, that'd be why they accused my kin of pig theivin' cause they're too stupid an' lazy t'pen it up and get pissy when it runs off." He ranted, his deep rollin' voice ricochetin' between us like a bullet hittin' solid metal.

"Hate to break it to ya, but that pig was stoled. I saw the ear myself when I had'a work the fields."

"Ya workin' as a field hand's hard t'believe." He told me, a bitin' chuckle laced in his deep wavin' voice.

I narrowed my cornflower blues at while asking, "Why, cause I was raised in the biggest house in Pikeville wit' my rich lawyer uncle?"

"Yep." Cap deeply popped out 'fore goin' on to say, "Figured Perry Cline'd teach ya law, pass on his trade."

"He did teach me and I worked as a clerk 'fore I married, but my brother Moses'll learn the law and become a lawyer." I admitted, the reason unknown to me, as we walked side by side with only my daughter perched on my hip as a barrier 'tween us.

He looked down at me with an enquirin' look in his lone icy eye. "That bother ya?"

"No." I quickly lied, trainin' my eyes on the coop up ahead.

"I find law interesitn'." Cap revealed, causin' me to look up at him wit' surprise written all over my face. He nodded, a gesture showin' the he was serious bout his revelation, 'fore tellin' me, "Got a lawbook for Christmas from my Uncle Wall that I've been readin' some."

"Oh, are you enjoyin' it?" I asked even tho I prolly shouldn't. It weren't as if we're friends or anythin' like that. We just seem to banter back an' forth whenever we're stuck wit' each other.

"Yep." Cap simply answered as we were a few feet 'way from the fence that surrounded the chicken coop. "Well, here's the coop. I'm gonna head back now, finish cuttin' that wood for mama."

I just nodded silently 'fore closin' the distance 'teewn me and the fence enclosin' the coop straight head. "Hi, Roseanna." I told my dear friend and sister-in-law as I leaned against the wooden fence rails after comin' to a stop by them.

Roseanna spun 'round on her heel, holdin' a basket of eggs, and gaped wit' an astonished look, "My lord, you really came t'see me." Poor thing had givin up hope that I would come, that was certain.

"Of course, I did. I said I would." I smiled at the blonde sweetheart on the opposite side of the fence. It took a while to evade my husband, but I came.

I was walking with Roseanna, Rihanna was toddling in front of us, towards the Hatfield house since she was done with her chicken coop chores. We were talking and I told her about my suspicion. She gave me a wide smile and squeezed my hand while telling me, "Oh, you need to tell my brother that you're expectin' 'gain. It'll make him so happy."

I nodded, knowing that she was right. "I know, but I wanna make sure 'fore I tell him. I don't wanna be mistook."

"You're 4 weeks late an' you've been pregnant 'fore. Ya ain't mistook, ya know you're expectin'."

I cracked a thinly lined smile while telling my dearest friend turned sister, "I suppose you're right 'bout that."

Roseanna had a dreamy look on her heart shaped face as we got closer to the main house. "I can't wait 'til I can marry Johnse and give him babies."

Jesus did that stupid sentence just come outta her mouth? Oh yes, why yes it did. Seriously she's known him a couple months an' she already wants to marry him and have babies, is she nuts? She barely even knows the horn dog fool asshole.

"Maybe you'd be better off slowin' things down with Johnse an' maybe seein' if Aunt Betty'd take ya in for a while til ya get back in your poppy's good graces." I suggested in the softest tone my flowin' voice could manage.

"No, I'm stayin' here an' Johnse's gonna marry me. As soon as he gets Mr. Hatfield t'agree an' give his blessin' we'll have a union blessed by god." Roseanna told me as firmly as her sweet bell-like voice would allow.

If she says so, but I don't see it happenin' tho. I just put on a fake smile while tellin' her, "Oh, well I'm sure everythin'll work out."

A large smile crossed over her face as she gushed, "You know Johnse says that after we get married we're gonna have a honeymoon wit' a train ride out west to Oregon. Even see the big new Pacific Ocean he read bout in a book."

Errr, the Pacific Ocean's not new. Dear lord, Johnse's a dumb one if he thinks it's new cause he just read bout it. And good luck gettin' a train ride out to Oregon, gotta go to the large depot in New York City to catch the Transcontinental. Shit, no wonder they're together. They both ain't too bright. I mean I love Roseanna as a sister, but she's too sweet and naïve. Too gullible. Eh, reckon I was too til I married Tolbert an' lived the last couple years with him. Poor Cap, bet Johnse drives him nuts. I mean Cap seems to be the cold level-headed brother while Johnse's the fool-hearted skirt chaser.

"Oh, that sounds nice." I said, a tight smile spreading across my face. What I really anted to say was that Johnse's blowin' smoke up your ass an' it ain't never gonna happen, but I knew she wouldn't react well to that plus she was so head over heels for the jackass my opinion didn't matter anyways.

To my horror Rihanna ran right up to Cap, who was stackin' the firewood he chopped 'gainst the side of the house near the porch and started to climb on his log pile. Quickly I ran over to correct her, Roseanna hot on my heels, while Cap just chuckled an' bent down in front of Rihanna. Placin' a hand on her to balance her, makin' shure she wouldn't fall an' tumble down the wood pile, he said lightly in his deep rollin' wave of a voice, "You're a curious thin', ain't ya Anna?"

Rihanna smiled 'fore cockin' her head to the side curiously. Right as I reached them my daughter tried to poke his milky-white capped over eye out. "No, Rihanna, don't do that. It's not nice." I quickly scolded my daughter, kneelin' next to Cap, who had caught her tiny hand in his large one to keep her from inflictin' damage on his useless left eye.

Lookin' at me he simply said with a lightness in his deep rollin' timbre, "It's a'ight, Nova. No harm done. Not like she can hurt it, it's a dead eye."

My brows knitted as I sputtered out, "Dead?"

"Yep." Cap nodded before explainin', "Got no feelin' in it. The splinter went in deep, Doc Rutherford said it damaged nerves an' made it useless."

"Oh…"

"Novella, come on, I wanna go sit on the porch an' talk." Roseanna told me, nudging my shoulder with her hand as she stood next to me.

Breaking his eye contact with me Cap lifted his head up slightly to look at Roseanna and told her, "Actually ya need'a go inside an' help my mama make bread. I dunno how it is in the McCoys household, but here ya don't work ya don't et."

"Hmph, you're horrible." Roseanna snipped, a small pout on her face. "Just wait til Johnse gets back, he's gonna hear 'bout how you treat me."

"Yea, yea, yea, I hear ya." Cap rolled his eyes. Pointin' towards the house he ordered, "No go on, go do some work."

"I better get goin' anyhow, Roseanna. I can't spend all day visitin'." I told my sister-in-law, tryin' to defuse a situation 'fore it got sparked up.

"You'll be back tho, won't ya?" Roseanna asked me, a long, but hopeful look on her heart shaped face.

"Sure, she will, now go inside an' work." Cap barked at Roseanna, lookin' at her with cuttin' mismatched eyes.

Roseanna glared at Cap, which shocked me cause I've never seen her shoot anyone a nasty look before in my life, before lettin' out a tisk and stalkin' off. She rushed inside of the large farmhouse, slammin' the door shut behind her.

Cap handed me over Rihanna while remarkin', "The sooner she leaves the better." Holdin' Rihanna I stood up, Cap standin' too as he vented, "Lil twit's a pain in the ass. Always hangin' 'round Johnse. It's sickenin'." I just nodded my head while startin' to make my way over to my wagon, which was hitched on the post by the front porch of the house. Cap walked along side me while complainin' in his deep tone, "They're always touchin' under the table an' Johnse sits next to me so I gotta put up wit' it. They act so innocent too, pa an' mama don't suspect a thing. Hell, even Uncle Jim says she's a wolf in sheep's skin an' gonna either betray us, bring hell down on us, or get us saddled wit' a bastard. Pa an' mama don't wanna hear it tho since Roseanna ain't taken our family name an' Johnse assures that they ain't doin' nothin'."

"I told her to slow it down with Johnse and to seek shelter with our Aunt Betty, but she won't listen to me. She truly believes that Johnse's gonna get your pa's blessin' an' marry her." I revealed, lettin' him know in my own way that he wasn't the only one that wanted their romance to end and quickly.

"And ya wonder why I call her a twit. We both know they ain't never gettin' hitched."

"I know."

Changin' the mood in the air he asked, "How's everythin' goin' wit'cha, Nova?"

My auburn brow shot up, archin' skeptically, as I told him, "Good, why're ya askin'?"

"Just bein' friendly I reckon." Cap shrugged. We walked a couple of steps before his deep rollin' voice piped up with, "Your cousin's marryin' my cousin in a few months, ya got a partnership claim in my family's loggin' business, don't see why I can't be friendly wit'cha."

"Cap, you know very well why we can't be friends. You're a Hatfield an' I'm a McCoy, that mixes like oil an' water."

"No, Nova, you're a Landon. Ya know McCoy ain't nothin' but a name on a piece of paper." He told me, nearly the exact same thing he did when he first found out I was married. Cap shook his head and let out a tiny low-throated chortle before tellin' me, "Ya ain't hateful, sleezy, lyin', an' heartless like the lotta 'em. Ya just got thrown in wit' them's all."

"Cap, they ain't as bad as ya think. They've always been good t'me." I told him softly as we were a few steps from our destination.

"For time bein', but mark my words one day they'll turn on ya. Want ya dead." He told me, his face stone serious and his voice deep and unwaverin', as we came to a stop by my wagon. He truly believed in what he was tellin' me, so much so that it sounded more like a warnin' to be heeded or a prophecy then his opinion.

"You're absurd." I scoffed as I placed my daughter onto the wagon's front bench seat.

"No I ain't, I'm bein' realistic." Cap told me, offerin' his hand to help me climb up into my wagon. I took up his offer and placed my small hand into his calloused one. As his long fingers circled my hand, holdin' it, as he helped me up while tellin' me, "Ole Rand'l an' my pa were bestfriends 'fore the war. My pa came home when the company was all but dead while McCoy got himself captured an' stuck in a Yankee prison." He dropped my hand, lettin' me settle myself in my seat, as he spoke on with deep words of, "McCoy's baby brother Harmon was a traitor; wore a Yankee blue jacket durin' the war an' had 'nough nerve t'brag an' wear it 'round the taverns an' saloons while his own brother was rottin' in his Yankee side's jail." I never knew that. Well, that certainly changes things. Wonder if Nancy knows or not? Leanin' his arm 'gainst my wagon Cap told me, "I know you've heard that my Uncle Jim done killed Harmon, he did an' he deserved it for bein' a traitor." Sad to say his words were true. Southerners still don't like Yankees to this day. Reckon if Jim Vance didn't kill Harmon then somebody else would've for him sidin' wit' the North over the South (the Confederacy) durin' the war. "Your own uncle tried t'swindle an' bamboozle land from my pa wit' forged documents. His written witness was dead 2-years 'fore the date on the forged document. That's why he lost his 5,000 acres of timber rights."

I grabbed the reigns from Cap's hand as he offered them to me while lettin' out a trailin', "Oh…"

"Ya might think I'm lyin', but I ain't. I'm a man of my word, tho I ain't a good-hearted one."

"I believe ya, Cap." I told him in a whispered tone, slowly noddin' my head. "I best be goin'."

"Reckon so." Cap nodded 'fore walkin' off towards where the firewood that needed stackin' was at.

I just let out a sigh and snapped the reigns, makin' the horses move the wagon. I pulled away from the Hatfields' large house and rode down the dirt path road, leadin' the way back to Kentucky.

After arriving home from visiting Roseanna, I put Rihanna down for a nap and did a few chores. It was now gettin' close to dinner time. I noticed the sun's rays dim, a sign that sunset was near, thru the window while I was pourin' some cream into the potatoes I was mashin' up for dinner. Rihanna was on the floor in the main room, playin' wit' a stuffed toy she got for Christmas, whenever the door hinges squeaked as the door opened. Tolbert's boots clanked against the floor as he walked into the house. Silently he removed his hat and coat, hanging them up on the hook by the door.

"How's my girl t'day?" Tolbert asked our daughter as he walked over to her and scooped her up. "Huh? Did ya have a good day wit' mama?" He asked, a small spread across his face, as he slightly bounced Rihanna on his hip. "What'd ya'll do all day?" Tolbert asked me as he walked into the kitchen, still holdin' Rihanna.

"Chores." I simply answered, whipping the added cream into the potatoes to ensure no lumps would be in them.

"Ah. So, what're makin' that smells so good?" He asked, watchin' me finish my task.

Deemin' the potatoes done I pulled the pot off the burner and onto the counter. "Pork stew an' creamy mashed taters. Made some biscuits too."

"Sounds good." Tolbert nodded 'fore bouncin' our daughter in his arms an' tellin' me, "God, I think she hates me. Always got a pissy look on her face 'cept when she's with ya."

"She just takes after ya, Tolbert. Ya'll both got personalities that mirror each other." I explained to my husband while walkin' over to a cabinet to grab a servin' bowl from. "Hopefully our next baby'll have my persona and your looks."

"Yea…" Tolbert sighed solemnly. It took a few minutes, but as I was transferin' the potatoes into the serving bowl he snapped his head up while asking in his velvet-gruff timbre, "Yer expectin' 'gain?"

I smiled and told him in a blissful flowin' tone, "Yea, Tolbert, I'm pregnant."

Tolbert strode over to me with a grin on his face. He placed an arm 'round me and pulled me flush to him. "Ya've made me a happy man, Ella. This news is best I've had in a long time." He told me, joy laced in his smooth voice, before kissin' me on the forehead. Looking at Rihanna he smiled and told her, "Yer gonna be a big sissy." Rihanna just looked up at Tolbert with a blank look on her face, promptin' him to nod and say, "Yea, yer gonna be a big sissy come fall."

Seein' Tolbert overcome by the joy of havin' another child made my heart swell. We were gonna be okay, our marriage was gonna be okay, and our family was gonna be okay. My husband was gonna get what he wanted most, a son, or at least I hope he did. I wanted chil'ren, I had a natural motherin' instinct inside of me, so of course I was happy bout bein' pregnant 'gain.

The main room of our house was lit up by oil lamps since it was nighttime. I was sitting on the sofa, mendin' and stitchin' up one of Tolbert's shirts, while Tolbert sat on his chair with Rihanna on his lap. He had one of my books in his hand, readin' to out daughter. The sight warmed my heart, 'specially since Tolbert always insisted gruffly that he wouldn't read to Rihanna. Honestly, I don't even know how it happened other then Rihanna ran over to the bookshelf and Tolbert followed her. Without a word he grabbed a book and went over to sit down.

Noticin' the Rihanna's eyes were droopin' as she nuzzled her cheek against Tolbert's chest I told him, "Your readin's puttin' her to sleep."

He tore his gaze from the book and looked down to our daughter. With a smile he snapped the book shut and said, "Reckon so." Placin' the book on the end table he said, "I'll put her t'bed."

"Ya sure? I can pause in my mendin' and do it."

"Ah, Ella, I don't mind." Tolbert rose from his chair, Rihanna asleep against his chest as he held her. "I won't be long."

I can't believe that Tolbert was willin'ly puttin' our daughter down. He wasn't an attentive poppy, but now he was turnin' a new leaf. More so cause of the news that we'll be havin' a baby come fall. I just continued patchin' up his brown shirt, which had seen better days, while he settled our girl down.

The sound of the door beneath the stairs closing made me look up from my work. I just smiled at my husband as he made his way over to me. "I'm almost done wit' your shirt." I informed him as he took a seat next to me on the sofa.

"My fav'rite one." Tolbert pointed out, leanin' his back 'gainst the sofa. Pullin' his flask from his pocket he told me, "Pretty soon we'll be havin' a floor full of yun'ins playin' round our feet at nite for bed."

Watchin' my husband take a swig of his likker I smiled and told him, "I'm lookin' forward to that. I want more chil'ren."

"This pregnancy's a blessin'. I gotta feelin' we're gonna get our Tol." Tolbert smiled at me 'tween takin' swigs of his flask.

"I got that same feelin'." Actually, I was praying that I'd have a healthy boy cause I felt that'd repair my rocky marriage since Bert's stillbirth rattled it and cracked the foundation.

"We'll 'nounce it t'everybody durin' Sunday dinner. Family'll be so happy for us." He told me with excitement oozin' from his velvet timbre.

"Okay." I knew that our family would be happy. The loss of Bert tore a piece out of their hearts as well. A knew baby was going to bring everyone joy.

"Ya know I wanna cabin filled up wit' chil'ren. Want a family like I were raised up in." I knew that Tolbert wanted chil'ren, but I never knew he wanted endless amounts of them. Wanted a life like his mama an' poppy had. Hopefully minus the drinkin' an' child beltin'. Okay, minus the chil beltin' since my husband's obviously a drinker…

I folded up the mended shirt and placed it to the side 'fore lookin' at my husband an' softly assurin' him wit' a tender touch on his forearm. "Don't worry, we'll have that."

But I couldn't help this sick feelin' in my gut that made me second guess what I'd just said. Like deep down inside a part of me couldn't believe the words that I told my husband. I know, it's absurd cause in reality it's probable that I'll have a littler of youn'ins, but I just couldn't believe it all the way. Like somethin' was stoppin' me for some unknown reason. Anyhow, no matter what, I was gonna be a wife an' mama an' have chil'ren.

AN:

Oh boy lots happened in this huh?! Cap's very blunt with Novella, but some of the things he tells her is foreshadowing the future. Dun dun dun. Since Cap's always around Jim Vance and his best friend's Skunk Hair I imagine that he'd be a cocky no-nonsense type guy that just don't give a shit if he offends you or not, lol. Cap and Novella's banter is just to get a familiar foundation set for the sequel since essentially, he's going to be a big part of her survival along with that business claim. Anyways Tolbert and Novella are back on track, the news of a new baby's gotten them out of their rough patch. Sorry that sweet Roseanna seems a bit lazy or whatever, but I figured for the Hatfields to not really like her or care much for her even though they thought she was nice she had to not be pulling her weight around the farm or something.