*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

And now we have the set up for one of the miniseries events…

No Surprise

Novella POV:

The days followin' Tol's funeral were hard. I was grievin', but had to do it alone. My husband didn't want to be bothered wit' my despair. No, Tolbert was too busy drownin' his sorrows in whiskey. To deal wit' his grief he drank. Every single day he drank. Hell, I think he was drinkin' all or most of his whiskey profits 'way. The flood like rains didn't help out his moods or drinkin' any either.

So, while Tolbert drank himself into oblivion I went 'bout my chores, cookin' an' cleanin' like nothin' was wrong. I also spent a lot of my time an' attention on Rihanna. At least I had my daughter to keep me company, to love an' keep my mind off of my son I lost. Rihanna asked where Tol was in the beginnin', but after a few times of bein' yelled at my Tolbert she never asked 'gain. I would tell my daughter that he brother was in heaven, but even that answer would trigger my husband's anger.

It's been nearly a month and the rain has finally stopped. Tolbert was finally able to work the fields, which was a relief to me since we needed the fields planted an' I just wanted him outta my house durin' the day. Sad to say I couldn't handle his drunken stupors an' his hot temper anymore.

I was standin' at the stove, finishin' up the grits for breakfast, whenever the door to the bedroom I shared wit' my drunkard husband squeaked open. "That buttered grits I smell?" Tolbert asked, his boots stompin' loudly as he walked into the kitchen.

"Yes. I made biscuits an' gravy wit' sausage too." I pointed my wooden spoon at the platter that was on the table, next to the pot of coffee an' mugs, that he was headed over to.

"Rihanna sleepin'?" He asked, not even lookin' at me, while grabbin' the coffee pot an' a mug from the middle of the table as soon as he sat down.

"Yes, she's still sleepin'." I answered, pullin' the pot of grits off the hot burner.

While I poured the grits into the servin' bowl I had readied on the counter my husband old me, "Girl should be up. Yer spoilin' her too much, lettin' her sleep in late."

"Tolbert, she's not even 3-years-old yet, lettin' her sleep past dawn ain't spoilin' her." I told him, appalled at his remark, as I walked over to the table and placed the bowl onto it 'fore takin' my seat next to my husband.

"At her age I was up at dawn droppin' seed for my poppy in plowed rows." Tolbert explained in his velvet-gruff timbre while he started to serve himself some biscuits an' gravy on a plate he grabbed from the stack on the table.

"Don't even think 'bout draggin' her to do your plantin' in the fields. She's too young an' I won't let ya use her as free labor." I told me husband, grabbin' a plate an' makin' it up, while he scooped a heap of grits onto his plate 'fore settin' it down in front of himself.

I placed my plate down at my spot and then poured myself a cup of coffee all while my husband grumbled in snark laced rant of, "Course ya won't let me make the girl work, ya always got her 'round ya. Lettin' her play all the time, spoilin' her an' coddlin' her 'gain like 'fore."

I narrowed my cornflower eyes warnin'ly at him while pickin' up my spoon. "Don't go there, Tolbert. It's too early to be fightin' wit'cha."

"I ain't tryin' t'fight, just statin' facts, Ella." Tolbert told me, his velvety timbre a bit tight. "I'll be ov'r helpin' poppy wit' his plantin' this week."

"But what 'bout our plantin'? Did ya get it done yet?"

"Yea, I got it done. What kinda man ya think yer married t'darlin'? I ain't no lay 'bout fool." Tolbert barked a bit defensively, his smooth tone hitchin' up in irritation.

No, just an ill-tempered drunk. "I didn't mean to insult ya. I was just askin's all."

Tolbert just nodded his head 'fore stickin' a spoonful of grits into his mouth. I just bit my lip an' looked down at my plate, breakin' a piece of my gravy smoothed biscuit off with my fork.

The silence 'ween us at the breakfast table was so thick that a butter knife could easily slice it. Neither one of us knew what to say, seemed that anythin' we said was taken as fightin' words. Goddamnit, the shit that happened when Bert was stillborn's happenin' all over 'gain. Our grief's tearin' us 'part and I don't know what to do to fix it.

The still quietness of the air was broken by the soft creakin' sound of the door under the stairwell pushin' open. The lit pitter-patter of feet were heard trailin' 'cross the room an' comin' over to the kitchen. Tolbert didn't say a word, just looked into his bowl of grits like it held all the most interestin' things in the world. I looked over my shoulder an' smiled at Rihanna, who still looked a bit sleepy in her wrinkled nightgown. Silently Rihanna walked over to the kitchen table an' climbed up on the bench, takin' a seat next to me.

"Mornin', mama, poppy." She told us in a sleep laden smile as I grabbed an empty plate from the small stack on the table.

"Mornin' sweetie." I smiled, fixin' my daughter up a plate.

"Mornin', Rihanna. I 'xpect yer helpin' yer ma wit' chores today." My ginger-haired husband told our daughter 'fore bringin' his coffee mug to his lips, takin' a long sip of it.

Since Rihanna was sittin' next to me an' her bad ear, the deaf one, was closer to Tolbert she couldn't hear him that good. Afraid of gettin' yelled at she just nodded her head as I placed her plate in front of her. I poured her a glass of milk and gave that to her while she was scoopin' up some grits wit' her spoon.

Tolbert didn't say anythin' else to Rihanna, instead he just ate and cast me these unreadable looks every so often. Once he was done wit' his breakfast he took off to get his workday started at his parents' farm. Sad to say wit' him gone the tension was removed from the room an' I could eat finish my breakfast peacefully wit' my daughter.

I had just finished hangin' up the wash and was at the kitchen table mixin' up a large bowl of bread dough whenever a knock sounded at the door. I dropped my spoon into the bowl and walked 'way from the table. As I made my way outta the kitchen an' into the main room Rihanna, who was on sofa wit' her rag-doll, looked at me wit' a curious look. I doubt she heard the knock at the door since her bad ear was closest to said door. As the loud knockin' continued I went over to my daughter and knelt in front of her to say, "I'm gonna answer the door. Ya just stay on the sofa, play wit' your doll."

"Okay, mama." She smiled, playin' wit' her doll.

I stood up and walked a few yards over to the door. As my hand wrapped 'round the doorknob 'nother loud knock sounded out. Whoever was on the other side was impatient, must really wanna see me. I opened the door only to be met wit' the straight up an' down form of Cap Hatfield in his signature black Stetson. Quirkin' a thin auburn brow I bluntly asked, "What in Sam's hill ya doin' on my front porch for?"

A large smirk appeared on his face as his deep wavin' timbre sounded out with, "Well, hello to you too sweetlin'. Now, that ain't no way to greet a guest."

I cocked my head and countered flatly with, "You're not my guest, Cap."

"Ah-ah-ah." He waved his finger in the air. Pointin' the long thing at me he said, "It's Will wit'cha, not Cap. Ya know that."

"Whatever, now why're ya here?"

"Oh, I was in the neighborhood. Just dumped Roseanna off at her shithole of a hovel." Cap told me in the most nonchalant way he could manage as he leaned 'gainst my doorjamb.

"What?" I squeaked out, soundin' like a surprised mouse.

"You heard me, I just gave the blonde twit a ride home to the McCoy house." Cap told me with a seriousness to his deep voice. Movin' to stand up straight an' 'way from my doorjamb he told me in a scornful tone, "Actually, it's a shithole of a house. With all the sons Ole Rand'l has I'm surprise that place looks so run-down."

"So, what happened for her to leave?" I asked, curious to hear what happened to break up Roseanna and Johnse.

"Mama kicked her out after discoverin' that Roseanna hasn't had any rags that needed monthly cleanin'." Cap told me as he brushed his way pass me an' into my house.

"Roseann's knocked up?" I asked, a bit dumbfounded, 'fore quickly addin' in with a high-pitched snap, "Hey, you can't just invite yourself in."

"Yep." He popped his tongue, confirmin' that Roseanna was carryin' Johnse's bastard. "I need'a come in since I got somethin' else to tell ya. Somethin' best received while sittin' down." Cap told me wit' a seriousness in his deep wave-like tone, walkin' deeper into the main room.

Whenever I saw him stop near Rihanna I felt nervous. My younger in-laws seemed to poke fun at her or take offense when she didn't reply to them due to not catchin' what they said. Only my little brother seemed to be okay wit' her hard hearin'. I didn't want Cap to be offended if she couldn't hear him so I found myself openin' my mouth an' blurtin' out, "Rihanna might not be able to hear you if ya say somethin' near a left angle. She lost her hearin' on the left side from the Scarlett fever."

Cap just looked at me an' nodded, a thin line crossin' his face wit' a look that was a mix of sadness an' understandin'. Instead of walkin' off to a chair or to the kitchen table he went right in front of Rihanna. Kneelin' in front of her he said in a deep, but friendly tone, "Hi, Anna, I'm Will. Your mama said ya were sick. How're ya doin', better?"

"Yea, I better. Ya got one eye." My daughter told Cap, takin' me by surprise since she rarely made big sentences to anyone other than me. She hated talkin' to people.

With a smile on his stone-cold cut face he gave the answer of, "Yea, I had an accident few years 'go." Pointin' to her left ear Cap said, "Your mama says ya got one ear."

"Yep I do." Rihanna simply answered, noddin' her little head.

"Don't let anybody poke fun at ya for it. Havin' only the right ear'll make ya stronger, more observant. Our good ear'll get strong 'nough to do work for both of 'em, your hearin' won't be bad for long." Cap told Rihanna with so much strength and encouragement pourin' outta his deep rollin' timbre. Him bein' so kind and reassurin' to my daughter 'bout her hard hearin', her bad ear, was heart warmin'. Cap was doin' what Tolbert should be doin', but would never do.

Rihanna grinned and told him, "Okay."

"I'm gonna talk t'your mama for a minute. Just stay here, play wit' your dollie." Cap instructed Rihanna, earnin' him an enthusiastic nod, 'fore risin' up to his full towerin' height an' walkin' 'way from the sofa.

Cap walked over to the kitchen table and took a seat. I just followed after him. "Do ya want some coffee? There's some still in the pot." I offered, standin' 'tween the stove an' the table.

"Yea, I'll take a cup." He nodded, takin' his hat off an' layin' it on the table. "I heard 'bout your boy. I'm so sorry, Nova." He told me, his voice deep an' rough, as I fixed him a cup of coffee.

"Thank you." I tightly told him, tryin' to keep my emotions in check, as I placed the coffee in front of him. "So, what's this news ya gotta tell me?" I asked, takin' a seat on the bench next to him.

"Ya know some Friday nights after work I treat myself to a whore. A whore over in Pikeville at the saloon that's frontin' as cover for a whorehouse." I knew that Tolbert was hangin' 'round there wit' his brothers an' cousins lately. I was tryin' to mentally brace myself for what Cap was gonna say next. For what I knew he was gonna tell me. "Last few times I've been your husband's been there. Tolbert's spendin' his money on Old Crowe an' a new young gold haired whore named Misty." I should be surprised, but I'm not. Not after how he's been cold shoulderin' me, blamin' me for Tol's Scarlett fever death. I hoped he was just drinkin', but apparently that ain't the case. "I ain't tellin' ya this to hurt you. I'm tellin' ya cause you deserve to know what he's doin' wit' the family's money while you're at home rasin' a child an' mourin' on your own." Cap told me, a slight softness to his deep wavin' tone, 'tween takin' sips of his coffee.

"Thank you for tellin' me when ya didn't have to." I nodded, bitin' my lip to keep my nerves from bustin'.

"If ya ever get tired of Tolbert's bullshit ya got that claim paper to cash in. Since Sawyer's married to Essie I'm sure Uncle Wall'd write up a divorce or separation paper for ya too, ya know for adultery. I mean if he get a bastard on the young whore…and when I say young I mean the girl's barely 17…" Cap rambled on and on while holdin' his cup midair, wavin' it 'round like it was a prop.

I was so angry that I wanted to shake. Ugg, the whore was the age I was when I had my daughter. She was in the prime stage of baby makin'. Dear God, Cap would tell me that my husband was beddin' a young pretty whore. Tolbert better be pullin' out, I don't want no whore's bastard turnin' up on my doorstep.

He set the mug down on the table 'fore placin' a hand on my an' sayin' a bit too gently in his deep-toned voice, "I'm sorry all this heartache's happenin' t'ya."

"So am I." I sighed a bit tightly. Pullin' my hand out from under his I blurted out, "I think it's time for you to go. I got bread dough I need'a finish makin'."

"Yea, reckon I better get back on 'cross the Tug." Cap picked up his hat, placin' it on top of his shaggy blonde hair 'fore risin' from the table. Instead of walkin' way he grabbed his money clip from his jacket. Takin' out a few bucks he said, "I know ya don't wanna cash in that claim, but ya need some money since Tolbert's squanderin' it in Pikeville." Placin' a few bucks on the table he told me in his deep rollin' timbre, "For you an' Anna, so ya'll can be a bit comfortable."

"Thank you, but why?" I remarked, a look of confusion on my face, as I looked 'tween him and the wad of cash on in front of me.

"Why? I'm a decent human bein', that's why." Cap simply told me, his voice deep an' edged wit' a bit of defensiveness, 'fore he walked 'way from the table, cross the room, and out the door.

I was left speechless. Never in a million years would I think that Cap would sit at my kitchen table to tell me 'bout Tolbert's infidelity wit' a whore and then give me some money 'fore leavin'.

I was cleanin' up from dinner, Rihanna sittin' at the table watchin' me, whenever Tolbert walked into the door. "I ate at ma an' poppy's." He announced, placin' his jacket an' hat on the hooks by the door.

I bet he did…After what Cap told me I had my doubts 'bout that.

Turnin' to Rihanna I sweetly told her, loud 'nough so she could hear, "Rihanna, mama needs to talk to poppy. Please so to your room for a minute an' play wit' your doll that's in there."

"Okay mama." Rihanna told me 'fore leavin' the table an' goin' to her room.

Tolbert, who'd taken a seat on his sittin' chair, just gave me a weird look. As soon as Rihanna entered her room, shuttin' the door behind her, I marched over to where my husband was at. Standin' right in front of him, a hurt an' cold look on my face, I bluntly told him in my flowin' tone, "Heard you've been consortin' wit' a whore in the Pikeville saloon."

Tolbert leaned back in his chair and tilted his head at me. With a raised brow he gruffly bellowed in his velvet-like tone, "What the hell? No, I have not. I just drink, Parris is the one wit' a whore."

"Not what I heard." I sneered, 'fore snappin' out in a piercin' accusation, "I heard you've been spendin' our money on a young whore 'long wit' high-end booze."

My husband's eyes widened to the size of half-dollars. "Ella, darlin', I'm not seein' a whore. I love ya, only want'cha, an' would never shame ya by consortin' wit' a whore."

"I wanna believe ya Tolbert, I really do, but I don't know if I can." I honestly told him, never breakin' the hard look that I had painted on my face.

"Why can't ya? I'm yer husband, made vows t'ya." He stated, his smooth gruff tone small, as he looked up at me from his place in his sittin' chair.

"Yea, vow you're breakin' for all I know." I scoffed sarcastically, shakin' my head in disbelief.

Tolbert stood up and placed both his hands on my shoulders. Lookin' right into my cornflower blue eyes he sincerely told me in his velvet tone, "I never broke my vows to ya, ever, Ella."

"Then why did you come home late? Why miss dinner?" I prodded, my chin jutted out, as I stared at him wit' a look I'm sure could break a brick wall.

"Cause I worked late plowin' poppy's cornfield an' et what ma cooked. I knew ya'd be done ettin' an' cleanin' up by time I returned." Tolbert explained, his face long wit' a pitiful look on it. "Where ya hear I've been two-timin' wit' a whore? Ya ain't got no friends."

"Gossip from some church women an' such when I'm in town once an' a while for supplies. I brought it up to ya cause you never came of for dinner." I half-lied thru my teeth.

"Don't listen to those old lyin' gossipin' bitties. I ain't never done ya no wrong, darlin'. I love ya, Ella." My husband pleaded, his stormy eyes filled wit' desperation an' love, as his hands slid off of my shoulders.

"I need'a finish up the dishes." I told him as a way to end the subject. I really didn't want to listen to him plead and beg me to believe him. That was somethin' I needed to think hard an' long bout, do some soul searchin' 'fore I could truly believe him.

"I know I'm a drunk. I'm not stupid, know I drink too much t'ease my pain 'bout Tol, but I ain't no cheat." So, he finally admits he's turned into a drunkard. 'Bout time he did that.

I just nodded my head, a tightly lined look on my face, ' fore walkin' over to the sink. Tolbert didn't say a word. I surmise he just sat back down an' was watchin' me wash the dishes.

My husband's words sounded true an' sincere, but I couldn't trust that they were. I mean Cap had no reason to lie to me He barely knew me, 'cept for the fact our cousins were married an' I used to visit Roseanna at his house, so lyin' to me didn't gain him nothin'. Or at least I didn't think that Cap lyin' to me bout Tolbert would. I was all messed up in the head bout what to believe. For some reason tho it was easy to believe that my husband was havin' an affair with a whore, mostly cause he seemed to hate me an' blame me for our infant son's death.

I decided that if my husband wanted breakfast then he could eat it at his mama's house since he was goin' over there to work his poppy's fields. I was up in the air 'bout my feelin's for Tolbert an' decided that I needed to visit Aunt Betty, unload on her an' get her wise words of advice.

I left Tolbert a note on the kitchen table reading:

Tolbert,

I went to Aunt Betty's with Rihanna. I need somebody to talk to about everything going on. I plan on spending the day with her so don't worry about me. Just take your meals at your folks house.

Your Loving Wife,

Novella

He was still asleep when I dressed Rihanna, hitched up the wagon, and went to Aunt Betty's. The ride was a long one since the old woman lived on the other side of the county, but I knew that way like the back of my hand and didn't mind the long drive. Whenever I finally made it to my aunt's house I couldn't help thinkin' that Tolbert must be wakin' up to an empty house by now. Serves that drunken fool right for the shit he's pulled.

After pullin' the brake to the wagon I climbed down from it. Quickly I picked up my daughter an' walked up the porch steps. I knocked on the windowed front door an' placed Rihanna on the floor to stand by my side. Less then a minute after I knocked the door opened to reveal Aunt Betty wit' Roseanna in the background cleanin' dishes in the kitchen that was clearly viewable from the front entrance.

"Oh, Novella, come in sugar. Did your Uncle Perry tell ya that Roseanna's here?" She asked, movin' aside so that me an' my daughter could come into the house.

"No, I came over to talk cause I heard somethin' 'bout Tolbert." I told Betty, usherin' Rihanna into the house.

Roseanna, wipin' her wet hands off on a hand towel, walked outta the kitchen while askin', "What'd ya hear 'bout my brother?"

"That he's been seein' a whore when he goes to the saloon in Pikeville to drink." I bluntly answered my pregnant sister-in-law. Oh my, I still can't believe she's expectin' Johnse's baby. Bet that's why she's here with the old spinster, got kicked out of the McCoy house for shamin' the family wit' a Hatfield bastard in her belly.

"Oh my god." Aunt Betty gasped, placin' her hand over her heart in a startled action. Shakin' her head she told me, "That can't be true, sugar."

"My brother loves ya. I can't see him doin' that." Roseanna told me, a sympathetic look on her sweet heart shaped face.

"I came over here to talk and clear my head. Reckon we've got lots to talk 'bout." I told both women before usherin' my daughter over into the area the main room was at.

I had the feelin' that today was gonna be a long day at Aunt Betty's.

AN:

So, do you believe Cap's telling the truth when he told Novella that Tolbert's cheating with a whore or do you think he's playing at something? Is Tolbert lying or telling the truth bout being a faithful drunk? Muhahaha, I'm so nice ain't I? Well, Roseanna's back in Kentucky and pregnant. We all know what's gonna happen next…