*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

No LEMONS written for Cap and Novella yet, but they're implied. Since this story's essentially about Novella and Tolbert (good and bad times) and their part in the feud I've decided to hold off on Cap and Novella's LEMONS til the sequel.

Anyways here's the next chapter, please read and enjoy.

Ya Deserve Better

Novella POV:

It's been a few weeks since my encounter wit' Cap in my house. I hadn't seen him since he walked out the door. I wasn't bothered by it, not seein' him, since we both had our own busy lives. He worked for his pa's loggin' business while I was a housewife an' mother. 'Sides it weren't like what happened 'tween us meant anythin'. I was in a bad place, needed some kind of contact an' affection.

Things with me an' Tolbert were still rough, but we were tryin' to smooth them out. At least Tolbert actually came home at night now. He still drank too much tho. He spent most of his time out makin' or sellin' shine. If I'm to be honest he's most likely drinkin' half of what he sells since his daily profits are less then what they should be. Also, our conversations were curt an' tight, nowhere near how warm a lovin' couple's talks should be.

This mornin' I woke up clutchin' my pillow on my side, an arm's length seperatin' me an' my husband. Tolbert was sleepin' on his side, his arm danglin' off the side of the bed as he drooled open-mouthed on his pillow. The fool went to bed half-drunk last night. I didn't wake him up, just got out of bed an' dressed so that I'd be able to gather some fresh eggs from the coop and fetch bacon from the smokehouse for breakfast.

Currently I was at the stove scramblin' up some eggs whenever the bedroom door creaked open. I heard my husband's shuffled bootsteps as he entered the room. Lookin' over my shoulder I told him cheerfully, "Happy birthday, Tolbert."

"Thank ya." Tolbert simply let out, his tone gruffly-smooth, as he went over to the table where the coffee pot, platter of toast, and platter of bacon was at.

"What'd ya wanna do today to celebrate?" I asked as I went to grab the platter I had settin' on the nearby counter.

"Gonna go huntin', take the dog wit' me."

"Oh, no, Tolbert, I don't think ya should take him. He's too young an' hasn't been properly trained as a huntin' hound." I protested my husband's idea as I placed the eggs on the platter 'fore movin' the fryin' pan off to the side.

"Dog'll do just fine. He gotta learn how t'hunt sometime." Tolbert grumbled 'tween takin' sips of his coffee as I walked over to the table.

Placin' the egg platter onto the table next to the bacon one 'fore sittin' down I sighed, "But Rihanna loves that dog. She plays wit' him everyday an' him bein' gon this mornin'll make her sad." Tolbert didn't say a single word as we both grabbed some plates off the table an' fixed them up wit' food. Grabbin' the coffee pot, in order to top off my cup that I already had set on the table, I asked "Can't ya borrow one of your poppy or brother's dogs?"

"No, I'm takin' my dog. Rihanna'll be fine not seein' the 'im this mornin'." Tolbert snapped, his velvet timbre a bit hard, as he chewed on his eggs.

"If ya say so…" I sighed 'fore takin' a bite out of my buttered toast.

Tolbert didn't say a word, jus narrowed his stormy eyes at me while shovelin' eggs down his throat. My husband might be 7-years older then me, but he is moody an' immature. How much longer can he continue to be offish with me? It's been a good month since the Johnse kidnappin' incident, we should be pass this by now.

"Ya makin' me a cake?" He asked, not even botherin' to look at me, as he grabbed slice of bacon off his plate.

"Yea, I'll be makin' one after I do some mornin' chores." I confirmed, pickin' up my coffee cup

"Brown sugar an' molasses?" He asked 'fore tearin' a piece of bacon off with his teeth.

"Yea." I nodded, placin' my cup back on the table 'fore continuin' to eat my breakfast.

Dear lord talkin' to him felt like pullin' teeth. Nothin' seemed t'flow. How the hell were we ever goin' to fix things?

I was takin' my husband's birthday cake out of the oven whenever the door opened up. I looked over my shoulder only t'see Tolbert walkin' in with blood-soaked hands. "What happened? Are ya hurt?" I asked, quickly droppin' the cake pan onto the counter next to the stove.

"Ran into a wild hog while huntin'. Dog got torn up." Tolbert explained, takin' his hat off an' stickin' it on the wall hook, 'fore walkin' deeper intp the main room.

Lookin' at my husband I asked, "Torn up? So, it's hurt?"

"No, the dog's dead." He said heartlessly as he passed our daughter on his way to the kitchen.

"Skippy's dead?!" Rihanna cried out in a panicked shriek from her spot sittin' on the sofa. Oh, my poor baby, of course she heard that.

Stoppin' in his tracks he looked at the little copper haired girl on the sofa and said, "Yea, Rihanna, he's dead."

"NO! I want Skippy! I wanna play wit' Skippy!" Rihanna cried on the top of her lugs as she jumped off the sofa an' ran over to the front door. "I want Skippy!" She ran out the door, most likely hopin' if she went to the barn her dog would be there for her.

"Damn you, Tolbert." I spat as he reached the kitchen. Gettin' right up in his face, well as much as I could since he was a bit taller them me, I angrily told him, "I told ya not to take the dog huntin', that it weren't trained for it, but you wouldn't listen an' now our daughter's dog's dead an' she's crushed."

"Don't put it on me, Ella. Yer the one that let her get too 'tached to the damn dog." Tolbert spat at me, his velvety-gruff timbre shakin' irritably, as he pointed his finger in my face.

"You sonuva bitch." I scoffed under my breath, shakin' my head at him, 'fore walkin' out of the kitchen an' to the door.

Quickly I exited the cabin and went over to the barn, where my daughter was sittin' by. Quietly I knelt down next to her. I hugged her tightly, rubbin' my hand soothin'ly up an' down her little arm. Rihanna sniffled as she buried her head into my chest. "I miss Skippy, mama." She mumbled, cryin' into the bodice of my dress.

"I know, sugar. I know ya miss him, an' I'm sorry." I softly told her, rubbin' her arm gently as I let her get all her tears out. "He's in doggie heaven now." I assured her, even if I didn't know that was the case, since I wanted her to calm down.

She just nodded her head while snifflin' out, "Skippy…"

Seein' my daughter so heart broken kills me, breaks my heart. Damn my husband for doin' wha he did, gettin' her dog killed.

A couple of days had gone by since Tolbert's disaster of a birthday. It was mid-mornin' an' Rihanna was down for her nap while I was in the main room relaxin' an' readin' a book while waitin' for the bread dough I had made to rise whenever I heard a knock sound at the door. I put my book down on the sofa 'fore gettin' up an' goin' to see who was at the door.

Once I opened up the door I was meet with a sight I hadn't seen in a few weeks, Cap Hatfield in his signature black Stetson standin' on my front porch. "Um, what're ya doin' here?" I asked, one of my thin auburn brows arched.

"Figured I'd call on ya since I was in town at the store." Cap told me in his deep rollin' timbre, walkin' right by me an' into the house.

One thing I knew bout this man was that if he wanted inside the house there was no stoppin' him. Honestly, tho, after that random an' unexpected kiss I shared with him I don't know if I'd kick him out anyways. The kiss, crazy to say, linked us in a way. Made me feel connected and understood, somethin' a kiss with Tolbert had never done. Okay, so maybe I lied 'fore when I said it didn't mean anythin'.

"Oh, what were ya gettin' there?" I asked, followin' my surprise guest into the kitchen.

"Some fabrics so my ma can get started on a baby quilt for Skunk Hair an' Vera." Cap answered, takin' a seat at the table.

I still couldn't believe that Skunk Hair Tom Wallace had managed to find a girl to marry. Talk had it they married the first week of January. "How far 'long is she?" I asked, takin' my own seat next to him, as he took his hat off at set it down.

"Five months, but she's big tho." Cap told me, causin' me to just smile politely an' nod. Pointin' at the cake pedestal near the coffee an' tea cannisters he asked, "What's wit' the cake on the counter only havin' a slice or two missin'?"

"Oh…that…Tolbert's birthday was a couple days 'go, but it didn't go too well. Only one ettin' the cake's been Rihanna."

"Mind if I have a piece an' a cup of coffee too?"

"No, I don't mind." I answered, standin' up so that I could grab the cake an' put on the coffee.

"So, what happened to make that crazy husband of yours not wanna et his cake?" He asked, a slight curiousness laced in his deep wavin' tone, while I cut him a slice of cake.

Placin' the plate of cake with a fork infront of him I answered with, "He took our daughter's dog out huntin' an' got it killed by a wild hog." Walkin' over to grab the coffee pot from the stove, in order to fill it with water an' a cheese cloth bundle of coffee grounds, I added in, "Rihanna cried most of the day cause Skippy died while me an' Tolbert kept snappin' at each other."

"Goddamn…" The shaggy blonde man let out under his breath. "Poor Anna lost her only friend, huh?" He asked, empathy evident in his deep rollin' tone.

"Mhm…" I sighed, noddin' my head, as I went placed the pot on the stove. 'Fore I could stop myself I opened my mouth and out poured, "Tolbert was so cold 'bout it. Like he didn't even care that our daughter was crushed. He's also been makin' nasty remarks an' slurs bout her bad ear too. And it's just not him that gives her a hard time 'bout it, his younger siblin's tease an' taunt Rihanna 'bout it too. Only friend she's got's my brother, but he's nearly 12 an' she don't see him that much due to his schoolin' an' clerk work."

I heard the sounds of heavy booted footsteps hit the wooden floorboards 'fore I felt arms bein' wrapped 'round me. Cap pulled me to his chest, pressin' a soft kiss on top my head while whisperin', "Don't cry ov'r that crazy man, his family neither. Ain't worth it."

"Easier said than done, Cap. Everythin' feels like it's fallin' 'part an' I don't know what to do." I confessed, my usually flowin' voice cracklin' an' shaky.

"Just let it fall an' when the dust settles move on." He advised, causin' me to just silently nod my head 'gainst his chest. "Ya know you married the wrong man." Cap's deep timbre echoed out in my kitchen.

"Then who would've been the right man, you?" I asked, a bit of sarcasm laced in my flowin' voice.

"I wouldn't be two-timin' ya wit' whores an' treatin' Anna like shit cause she got a bum ear, I know that."

I heard the coffee bubblin' on the stove, indicatin' that it was done. "I better get us those cups of coffee." I told Cap, pullin' out of the tight hold he had on me.

Cap just nodded an' went over to resume his spot at the table. After a few minutes I joined him wit' a steamin' hot mug of coffee for each of us. He nodded his thanks while eatin' a forkful of the cake. "You're a good cook." Cap complimented, his tone genuine, as he picked up his coffee in order to drink some to wash down his cake.

"Thanks. I mostly learnt by trial an' error." I told him 'fore goinin' on to explain in great length, "Aunt Sally taught me some, but most I picked up cause by time I was 13-14 Uncle Perry stopped payin' for diner food an' had me take up my place in the kitchen."

"Wit' cookin' like yours I don't see how Tolbert can be fuckin' 'round wit' that whore Misty." Cap spat, his deep wavin' tone heavy his disbelief. Quickly he realized his tongue slip an' added, "Pardon my French, uh messin' 'round."

"I've heard the word 'fore, Cap. Ya don't have to apologize for sayin' it." I told him, not wantin' him to feel odd or awkward for his slip up. "And yea, I'd like to know what he sees in her too." I admitted in a slight scoff, shakin' my head lightly.

Cap shrugged and shoved a forkful of cake into his mouth. "Dunno, maybe an escape from his problems. Drinkin' weren't 'nough, so he got himself a whore."

"He denies seein' her. Bringin' it up just causes fights, then he storms off claimin' I need'a stop listenin' to idle gossip."

"Ain't idle gossip, but if he says so…" Cap trailed off, breakin' a piece of cake off with his fork.

"If I ask ya somethin' will ya tell me true?" I asked 'fore takin' a quick sip of my coffee.

He nodded, chewin' on his cake. "Yep, so ask 'way."

"Misty, the whore, she's young an' pretty ain't she?" I asked, a part of me needin' to know what I was up 'gainst when it came to my husband's affections.

"She's barely 17 an' yea she's pretty wit' curled gold hair." Cap truthfully answered, grabbin' his coffee cup an' takin' a sip of it.

"Great, I'm competin' for my husband's attention wit' a girl 3-years younger then me that's pretty an' a golden blonde." Why did she have to be so young? I can't compete wit' her youth. I'm not as pretty as I used to be, I've had three pregnancies which left stretch marks in their wake. Shakin' my head I sighed, "My life's horrible."

"She might be pretty, but Nova, she ain't half as beautiful as you are." Cap told me 'fore bringin' his cup to his lips.

"Ya mean that?" I asked since I wasn't sure whether I believed him or not.

"If I didn't I wouldn't 've said it." Cap said, settin' his coffee down.

"Oh…" I trailed off, a slight rosy blush spreadin' 'cross my cheeks.

With an unreadable expression on his face he reached out an' cupped my chin. "Ya deserve better then what ya got, Nova." He was right, I did deserve better. In a way I wanted better too. Perhaps the small gesture of attention an' carin' I received from Cap was my version of better, as crazy as it sounds.

"I know." I replied, lockin' my cornflower blues onto his lone icy eye an' it's milky white twin.

We just silently stared at each other, his calloused thumb gently swipin' 'long my jawline. It was as if we were in a trance, lost in each other's eyes. I'm not sure who started it, perhaps it was mutual like the attraction magnets have, but in the blink of an eye our lips were crashin' into each other's. It wasn't a slow kiss, it was more of a heated moment kind'a one. A kiss brought on by instinct, by the heavy attraction loomin' in the air.

Suddenly he had pulled me off of my seat an' positioned me to straddle his lap, all the while kissin' an' nippin' my lips. My hands were tightened fists in his shirt while one of his hands rested on the small of my back with the other threaded in my copper hair whenever he tugged at my bottom lip 'fore swipin' his tongue gently 'gainst it, askin' permission to depend the kiss. I responded by partin' my mouth for him, lettin' him deepen the kiss. As I felt his tongue glide over mine I felt somethin' I haven't felt in a long time, a wantin' need long wit' the feelin' of bein' wanted. I know this is entirely fueled by hormones, but I didn't care cause in this moment I felt desired.

Cap ended our kiss, pullin' 'way so that we could get some air. Pressin' his forehead to rest 'gainst mine he told me with lust mixed into his deep rollin' timbre, "I want ya, Nova."

I knew what he meant, since I was stradlin' his lap I could feel the hard bulge in his pants. Damnit, this was wrong, but it felt so right. I hadn't felt the touch of a man in so long, considerin' me an' my husband's been havin' problems for a couple of months in our marriage, an' feelin' a man wantin' me was intoxicatin'.

"Then have me, Will." I told him, my flowin' voice a bit sultry. I didn't even think bout callin' him his true name, it just rolled off my tongue.

He pulled his head back slightly to smirk at me, his mismatched eyes sparklin' lustfully. Cap's lips once more found mine. I wrapped my arms 'round his neck as he stood up from the table, one hand on my back while the other holdin' a thigh that was wrapped 'round his waist. Quickly he made his 'way 'cross the kitchen towards the bedroom door.

I was layin' next to Cap, he had one of his arms wrapped 'round me, starin' up at my ceilin'. Dear lord, I just stepped out on Tolbert wit' his sworn enemy. Some devoted wife I am. "Ya feelin' guilty, sweetlin'?" Cap asked me, his deep wavin' voice a bit gentle, as he looked at me while lazily runnin' his hand up an' down my arm.

Lookin' at him I answered his question softly wit', "I should, but I don't."

Wit' a smirk crossin' over his rugged face he remarked, "Good, cause I sure in hell don't."

"We should get up an' dressed 'fore Rihanna wakes up." I suggested, pattin' his light-haired spattered chest 'fore startin' to sit up.

"Yep, don't want Anna findin' us like this. She's too young for the talk I reckon." Cap remarked, sittin' up next to me.

"She's nearly 3, definitely too young." I agreed, risin' from the bed.

There was silence in the air as I went over to the small water pitcher an' wash basin set on the dresser 'cross the room. As I was cleanin' off all evidence of what occurred 'tween us in this room he walked up behind me, wrapped an' arm around my waist an' kissed my bare shoulder. The gesture, honestly, surprised me a bit. I turned 'round to look at him, only to have him take the cloth from my hands, smirk at me, and let go of my waist.

Quietly I gathered my clothes an' got dressed, so did he. Once we were dressed we left the bedroom. He grabbed his hat from the kitchen table while I made my way over to the front door. After stickin' his black Stetson on top of his shaggy blonde hair he walked over to where I was at.

"Are ya gonna be comin' 'round 'gain?" I asked Cap, openin' the front door for him an' showin' him out of the cabin.

"Yea, but reckon you'll see me at the 4th of July celebration ov'r in West Virginie 'fore hand tho." Cap said, walkin' right out the door with me followin'.

"So, it'll be weeks 'fore ya decide t'drop by's what you're tellin' me in so many words." I told him, walkin' cross the porch wit' him.

"Nova, I don't got much control over my free time. I work a lot loggin', when I ain't doin' that I'm huntin' or doin' odd jobs 'round the house. I'll be by when I'm able to." Cap explained in length as he walked down the porch steps and ov'r to the hitchin' post where his horse was at.

"That's fine. We're just acquaintances, stop by whenever." I told him, a thin lined smile on my face, as I leaned 'gainst the porch post by the stairs. My arms crossed over my chest, watchin' the shaggy blonde in the black Stetson quickly grab the reins off the hitch post.

"I think we're a lil more than that, sweetlin', but if ya say so…" Cap's deep rollin' timbre leveled off as he got onto his horse.

He tipped his hat, causin' me to wave at him from my spot on the porch, 'fore he trotted off leavin' me alone wit' my nappin' daughter once more.

Reckon I better go inside, strip an' wash the beddin' 'fore I finish up the bread.

I was finishin' up dinner whenever Tolbert entered the house. He looked shaken up as he placed his hat on the hook by the door. Somethin' happened today, that much was clear by his slumped shoulders. Rihanna was sittin' at the table sippin' on a glass of milk, watchin' her poppy make his way 'cross the main room an' into the kitchen, as I placed the fried chicken onto a platter.

"What's for dinner?" My husband gruffly asked, takin' a seat at the head of the table. The very same seat that Cap had sat at mere hours ago.

"Fried chicken wit' mashed taters an' gravy. Fresh baked bread too." I answered as I made my way ov'r to the table, that was set wit' the side dishes, holdin' the chicken platter.

"Oh. I'm not really wantin' fried chicken, but I'll et it." Tolbert told me, his smooth-gruff tone offish, as I placed the platter on the table.

That bastard, now he's gettin' picky 'bout what I make him for dinner. I just gave him a tight look, takin' my seat. Silently Tolbert grabbed the coffee pot an' a mug from the table while I grabbed a glass an' the tea pitcher. Rihanna was intensely watchin' us, her eyes dartin' 'tween us an' studyin' the buddin tension.

She was gonna be three come October, I didn't want her seein' an' feelin' the tension 'tween her mama an' poppy. She didn't deserve that, she didn't deserve to live the way I did when my mama married Fred when I was six. Fred was a horrible neglectful drunk that always fought wit' my mama, an' once she died birthin' Moses he tossed me onto Uncle Perry so fast it'd make one's head spin.

Unintentionally I've turned into my mother, I'm married to an ill-tempered drunk that I've got to walk on eggshells 'round. I wonder if she was as conflicted as I am.

"What ya'll do t'day?" Tolbert asked, makin' up his plate while I got Rihanna's fixed up.

"Cookin' an' cleanin'." I simply replied, placin' our daughter's plate in front of her.

"I help mama wit' the wash." Rihanna proudly announced, a small smile on her face. She had woken up when I was scrubbin' the dirty sheets in the was basin an' asked if she could help. By helpin' all she did was hand me the dirty clothes from the pile so I could wash 'em, but it made her happy.

My husband arched a brow at me while remarkin', "Today's wash day? I didn't know that."

"It's not a scheduled one, but there were a lotta dirty things that needed washed up." Like the beddin'…Dear lord, I'm goin' to hell for that most likely, but right now I don't think I even care anymore.

"Hmm." Tolbert nodded his head 'fore takin' a large crunchy bite outta his fried chicken.

"How was the shine business today?" I asked, purposefully takin' the conversation 'way from the subject of laundry.

"Fine." Tolbert snapped, the way his velvet gruff timbre hung heavy in the air I knew he was lyin'. Somethin' happened today, somethin' he wasn't goin' to tell me either.

"Well, I was thinkin' 'bout goin' into town tomorrow t'buy some a few things. Maybe we can go together if you're not to busy."

"No, I'll be out so I'll just pick up what'cha need."

"Why can't I go into town tomorrow for, Tolbert?"

"Cause ya need'a stay here an' tend to the house hold chores. If ya wanna go to town so bad have t'be day after 'morra, that's when it won't be a busy day for me."

Somethin' was up, that's for certain. I think it had'a do wit' Misty the whore, but I wasn't too sure. Whatever, I didn't care anymore. I had my own affair goin' on now, I wasn't gonna drive myself crazy over Tolbert an' what he was doin' when outta the house anymore.

If we work things out, good, but if we don't an' things get worse I gotta feelin' I'll be fine. I gotta way to support me an' Rihanna wit' my loggin' claim. I also got a strange friendship of sorts goin' on wit' Cap, so I reckon when he comes 'round I wouldn't be too lonely.

Sweet baby Jesus, my life's a mess.

"Ran into Jefferson t'day. He says Nancy plans on visitin' ya real soon. Maybe take ya'll t'see Roseanna at Aunt Betty's too." Tolbert informed me 'tween eatin' mouthfuls of food.

Nancy, oh lord I was gettin' tired of her. Every single damn Tuesday an' Thurday, sometimes Friday too, she stopped by for coffee or tea. Don't get me wrong, I'm friends wit' my cousin, but I don't need'a see her all the time. It's a bit obvious that she's goin' outta her way to visit me. Why, I wasn't sure.

"Oh, that sounds nice." I lied, since I didn't feel like bein' bothered by Nancy 2-3 days a week every damn week anymore. Sheesh, when I tell her that she doesn't have to come back for a while yet she just smiles and says somethin' like oh of course I gotta visit wit'cha more often, after everythin' goin' on we gotta stick together. Blah, blah, blah…

My 2 ½ year old just gave me a look silently readin' 'I'm tired of Nancy, mama' as she drank her glass of milk. I just nodded my head at her, lettin' her know that she wasn't the only one tired of our black-eyed beauty of a cousin. Tolbert seemed oblivious to our silent communication. But what else was new, if it wasn't 'bout him it didn't seem to matter anymore.

AN:

So, things are still tense with Novella and Tolbert. Novella and Cap, yea something is going on…like friends with benefits lol. Yeah, Cap and Novella aren't exactly romantic yet and it's more bout her being lonely with him being around to fill the void. Definitely friends with benefits... Next up is 4th of July.