*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

There's a time jump in this. The last chapter was August and this chapter is October. Also since 4 years have gone by from when Novella married Tolbert to now her brother Moses had been recasted. Now at 12 Moses Quincey has a new face claim of Brendan Myer.

And here's another update!

Fall Fully Upon Us

Novella POV:

Fall, my favorite season, was fully upon us. All of the leaves were colorful tones of yellows, reds, oranges, and rusts and some trees didn't even have there leaves anymore. I know it seemed that the leaves were continuously fallin' off the trees that framed the land my cabin was on. Tolbert never raked the, instead I did as one of my mid-mornin' cleanin' chores. Rihanna would jump an' play in the leave piles, laughin' and gigglin'.

The past couple of months have been hard on me. I've been forcin' myself to put up with Tolbert. I even swallowed my own pride and apologized to him with a bullshit speech 'bout how I was sorry for breakin' his trust and hurtin' him, that I wanted us to fix things. Most of what I told him were lies, but it had'a be said and done since I'm stuck with him forever. Tolbert accepted my apology and warmed up a tad bit, but he was still a grumpy bastard.

I had seen Roseanna a couple of times too and the poor thing's doin' horrible. She's come down wit' an early cause of the influenza due to the fall weather. I don't know what made me feel bad for her, the poor health she was in or the fact that she was still mopin' over Johnse, but ever the same I felt sorrow for my sister-in-law and her predicament.

I was stuck for the last couple of months entertainin' Nancy least twice a week since she'd always find an excuse to stop by. I knew she was lyin' bout goin' to Aunt Betty Blankenship's all the time, no way in hell was she seein' Roseanna so often. I knew that Nancy was comin' 'round cause Uncle Perry was sendin' her out, makin' sure that Cap wasn't hangin' 'round.

Talk 'bout Cap, I hadn't seen him since the day we ended our affair. He never stepped foot into Kentucky anymore. Talk had it that he even quit usin' the services of the Pikeville saloon/whorehouse. He also always made sure to never go to the Wallace house on Mondays, which were the days I'd go to visit Vera.

Talk bout Monday, today was one and I was indeed in Mate Creek visitin' with my dear friend Vera. We were inside, sittin' at the table sharin' a pot of coffee. Rihanna was sittin' on the sofa playin' wit' her new dollie she got a few days 'go for her birthday while ettin' a pastry that Vera had given her.

"Y'know that Cap's been tryin' to court a girl, name's Ninny, but it ain't workin' out so well." Vera told me in a nonchalant tone as she sipped on her coffee.

"Why not?" I asked, bringin' my cup up to my lips.

With a sly upturn of her lips Vera told me, "Truth be told, she ain't you."

One of my brows rose up to my hairline as I scoffed, "What, ya joshin' me?"

"No, I'm serious." Vera answered, confirmin' that she wasn't makin' a jest. She let out a small sigh 'fore revealin', "He's a bit torn up on ya. Won't admit it, but he cares more then what he let on for ya and your little girl."

"Oh…" I trailed off in a long sigh. "Well, I care 'bout him too. Miss his comradery, his banter." I admitted, my voice soundin' a bit crestfallen, as I stared at the coffee cup in my hand.

"He's been hidin' his feelin's since he's a cold man, but he's crushed cause ya got under his skin. You made him happier an' smile more, now he's an unbearable son of a bitch."

"Oh, is he snappy wit' Ninny?" I asked, gettin' the feelin' that's what Vera meant by her remark of Cap bein' unbearable.

"Yea, but he's snappy with everybody." My friend explained 'fore quickly addin' in, "His problem wit' Ninny is, as I said 'fore, she's not you." I just arched a curious brow while takin' a sip of my coffee. Vera let out a tiny sigh 'fore she went on to tell me in lengthy detail, "He's tryin' to push whatever feelin's he was developin' for ya on her, but it's not workin' out too well. She irritates him cause she always asks how he's feelin' and stuff like that, but he's not somebody that shares his feelin's very well. Oh, and she'll randomly drop by at the mill to bring him lunch and try to be nice, but it irks him. He don't like to be bothered at work or when he's out wit' his friends. He's the type that comes 'round when he wants."

"Yea…" I nodded, my voice trailin' off in a soft flow. I knew that first hand, Cap came 'round when he wanted. It never bothered me, reckon I just wanted some kind of attention and didn't mind his random visits.

"Mhm…" Vera lightly sighed. Takin' a sip of her coffee she went on to ask, "So, how's things with you and Tolbert?"

"Tense and slow, I'm walkin' on eggshells with him to make him happy and not piss him off." I honestly told her, tryin' my best to keep any bitterness out of my flowin' tone.

"Oh, still bad then."

"Mhm."

Decidin' she heard 'nough bout my husband she went on to ask, "How's Roseanna? Johnse's been tryin' to ask 'round bout her, but nobody'll tell him anythin'."

Knowin' that Vera would most like tell Cap, who'd in turn tell Johnse, I decided to be truthful and answer her question wit', "She's in poor health. Been sick most of the pregnancy. She's started to come down with a cough as of late."

"Oh, poor thing. Is her poor health stemmed from gettin' soaked by the rain the night ya'll helped save Johnse?"

"Yea, she's been sick ever since." I confirmed, a sadness to my voice. "The baby's gonna come either weak or stillborn when the time comes."

"That's sad." Vera remarked, sympathy in her sweet tinted voice. "Oh, me an' my Tom finally picked out names." She said, switchin' the tone of our conversation to somethin' light an' joyful.

"Really? Please tell, what are they?" I asked, curious to know the names since they've been tryin' to settle on somethin' for months now.

"For a girl we're goin' wit' Brigid Sabrina and a boy Timothy Willis." Timothy Willis, no doubt a nod at the father an' pseudo uncle of the baby. It was a good name, would suit the Wallace baby if it came a boy. If it came a girl Brigid Sabrina would flow off the tongue good, be a real pretty name.

"Oh, those are wonderful names. I really like them." I honestly told my brunette friend as we drank our coffee.

"Thank you." Vera beamed, her smile splittin' her face in half. "Oh, Tom finished the cradle the other day. We got it all set up since it's just a matter of weeks now."

"Oh, I bet you're so excited. I know I was."

"Yes, I am. We both are actually." Vera admitted, smilin' as she brought her cup up to her lips. She took a sip of coffee and placed the cup down on the table. Her smile faded and was replaced wit' a thin line. "Are ya gonna be okay on Wednesday? I know it's Tol's birthday…if you need to ya can come ov'r, I'll just make sure that Tom's out wit' Cap if they're not workin' at the mill."

"Thanks, but I'll be fine, Vera. I need'a stay home, spend the day wit' my husband." Actually, I didn't need to say home, I had to. If I took off he might get mad and I didn't need that. I'm finally at a spot where he's not so suspicious and questionin' of me.

Pattin' my hand my friend told me softly, "If that proves too hard ya can always come over. I don't mind tryin' to cheer ya up, be a good friend."

Vera's kind-hearted offer proved to my that she was a good friend, somebody that I could count on in hard times. Unfortunately, I had to decline her offer of keepin' my company and my mind off of any lingerin' sadness.

"So, did Levicy finish that baby quilt she was makin' for ya?" I asked, shiftin' the subject once 'gain.

Vera beamed 'fore goin' on to tell me in length bout the beautiful quilt she received from the Hatfield matriarch.

The hardest day of my life hit, the first birthday of my late son, October 10th. Rihanna had no idea what today was and I was thankful for that. She was so young, she didn't need to be burdened wit' the sadness and heart ache of knowin' that her baby brother would never see his first birthday which was today. Actually, since Rihanna was so young she more or less forgot 'bout Tol all together.

Tolbert on the other hand didn't forget 'bout Tol. No, instead he shuffled numbly out of our bedroom, dressed a bit hapzardly, wit' a likker bottle in his hand as soon as he woke up. All mornin' he sat at the table an' drank, randomly pickin' at a plate of bacon and hash browns.

I just let him be an' went bout my mornin' chores. I made sure to keep my daughter by my side at all times. I didn't want Rihanna to anger Tolbert accidently, that's why I kept her close.

After gettin' my chores done I had retreated to the porch wit' a cup of coffee. Rihanna had come out wit' me. Currently I was rockin' in my rocker watchin' Rihanna laugh an' play in the pile of leaves a few feet 'way. Even tho today was hard, watchin' my daughter happily play put a small smile on my face. At least I still had her, my Rihanna Elsbeth.

My mental reverie was broken by the sound of the door creakin' open followed by the heavy boot falls of my husband. I waited on baited breath as Tolbert walked ov'r to the rocker next to me and took a seat. I just sipped on my coffee while Tolbert uncorked his new bottle of shine wit' his teeth, spittin' it out in the air 'cross the front yard. My husband tipped back his bottle, drainin' a sizable amount of it. He wiped his mouth wit' the back of his hand 'fore lookin' at me wit' hollow storm hued eyes. "How ya feelin', darlin'?"

"Today's my son's birthday, he should be a year, but he's in the ground rottin' 'way an' you've been drinkin' since dawn. How'd ya think I'm doin', Tolbert?" I sarcastically countered my husband, shakin' my head incredulously at him.

"Ella, I know yer hurt, I'm hurt too, but don't lash out. I was just askin' cause today's hard on us." My husband told me, his smooth-gruff timbre havin' a scoldin' tint to it, 'fore he brought his whiskey bottle up to his lips for 'nother drink.

"I can't lash out, but ya can drink all damn day t'numb your pain." I looked my husband up an' down, lockin' my gaze on the bottle in his hand. Wit' a mockin' tilt of my lips I sneered, "Nice to know."

"Ella, don't fault me for how I'm dealin' wit' today." Tolbert begged, his eyes pleadin', but not remorseful. To excuse his behavior he told me, "Ya know I'm a drinker, known it since we've married."

"No, Tolbert, actually I didn't." And that was the truth, he never showed any signs of turnin' into a drunkard when we were growin' up. Lookin' straight ahead at our daughter playin' in the pile of leaves I told Tolbert in my flowin' voice, that clearer then crystal water, "You kept it at bay, only turnin' to the bottle to deal wit' the emotional sorrow of Bert's stillbirth. Ya sobered up whenever I got pregnant wit' Tol, only to pick up the drinkin' 'gain after he was born."

"I know, darlin'." Tolbert sighed, his jaw locked, as he stared at the glass bottle in his hand. "Ya know I was so 'fraid that I was gonna lose ya this day last year. Tol's birth was bad an' long."

"Yea, well, ya didn't lose me." Not physically that is, but emotionally tho, well that's 'nother story.

"Thank god for that. I couldn't raise her on my own." Tolbert remarked, pointin' his bottle towards our daughter in the near distance.

I took a long sip of my coffee 'fore lookin' at my ginger-haired husband and askin', "Why not?" When the only answer I received was him tippin' back his shine bottle I sighed and went on to say, "There's nothin' much in raisin' a child, but showin' them love an' carin' for their welfare."

"She's dif'rent then other chil'ren, darlin'." Tolbert admitted, his velvet voice full of distress, 'fore he took 'nother swig from his half empty bottle.

"Cause's she's part deaf."

"Mhm. She can't hear half the time, it's frusteratin'."

"She can't help it, ain't her fault." I quickly told my husband, shootin' him a disapprovin' look. How could he be so inconsiderate 'bout his daughter, bein' upset that she couldn't hear, when she's suffered so much at such a young age? Rihanna's lucky to have just lost her left ear considerin' she could've lost her life, Tolbert's a drunk moody ass if he can't wrap his head 'round that.

My husband didn't say a word, just brought his whiskey bottle up to his lips.

I knew in my heart that stayin' wit' the man next to me was for the best, even tho I had a couple months ago tried to get divorce papers drawn. Tolbert couldn't care for Rihanna, he had just admitted that out of his own mouth mere moments ago. If not for me my daughter'd be lost, growin' up neglected an' unloved cause she's a bit different an' had limited hearin'.

My husband not bein' understandin' bout our daughter's hearin' loss hurt me. It hurt more that the one man that understood her I couldn't have nothin' to do wit'. Sadly, Cap treated Rihanna the way that Tolbert should, but wouldn't. Knowin' that my daughter didn't have a male figure to look up to was sad. Of course, Rihanna had my brother Moses to watch after her, but not that much since she only saw him durin' Sunday dinners or when we were able to get to town.

After a few prolonged moments of silence Tolbert's velvet timbre broke out into the crisp air wit', "I'll be workin' my still 'morra."

I hope so, since he's a shiner. "Okay." I simply told him, bringin' my coffee up to my lips.

A couple of weeks have gone by since Tol's birthday. Tolbert's been shovin' himself into work, shinin' an' makin' delieveries every day, but Sunday. He was never home other then when the sun went down. Hell, some nights he'd go to town to drink wit' his brothers and our cousins. I had a feelin' that he visited Misty ov'r in Mate Creek one those nights too. I couldn't confront him 'bout it tho, I had to just turn the cheek and take it. If he wanted to go out and do whatever, tell whatever lies an' excuses for it, then he could.

I just did my daily routine of house chores, cookin', cleanin', an' raisin' my daughter. At least today I had a tiny break from my routine since my brother decided to ditch school an' show up on my door step. Moses wanted to spend time wit' me, get some shootin' lessons, and since I lacked interaction I caved and allowed my brother to stay for a shootin' lesson. Rihanna was takin' her mid-mornin' nap, so spendin' some time teachin' my brother to use a gun won't be so bad.

"Ya gotta keep your wrist level an' straight wit' your arm as you take your shot." I instructed my brother, standin' next to him and movin' his arm the way it needed to be for his aim to be on target wit' the empty bottle, one of many, I had set up on the saw horses lined up behind the barn.

"Okay. Now can I shoot?" Moses asked, lookin' 'tween me an' the make shift shootin' range.

"If you feel ready, then yes. But pull the trigger lightly, squeezin' too tight might jam up the gun."

Moses just nodded his head and then pulled the trigger, sendin' a bullet whizzin' right by the bottle. "Shit, I missed."

"Mo, you're only 12, ya shouldn' be talkin' like that." I reprimanded my brother in a motherly voice. He just rolled his cerulean eyes at me, clearly not takin' my scoldin' seriously. "Ya didn't miss by much, 'nother half-inch an' ya would've hit the bottle."

Holdin' his gun out to me he suggested, "Ya shoot the bottle. Show me how it's done."

"Fine." I agreed to his idea, carefully takin' the pistol from him. I let out a tiny breath, took aim, cocked the colt and let out my shot. The bullet tore thru the air, piercin' the empty glass likker bottle with' a loud shatter.

"Wow, ya really can shoot." Moses gasped, his eyes wide, as I turned to him wit' his gun outstretched.

"Mhm, now keep practicin'." I ordered my brother wit' a slight smile as he took back his gun. "I'm goin' inside, gotta get some bread dough started. Check on Rihanna too."

"Okay." Moses simply told me. I was 'bout to turn 'round an' walk off whenever my brother asked, "Ya really don't mind that I played hooky from school t'ask ya for a shootin' lesson?"

"No, Moses, I don't." I honestly told the boy, well actually teen, who was a few inches taller than me. Yea, my brother had a recent growth spurt and grew tall. I could tell that he was gonna be a tree whenever he reached his full height in a few years. "Ya could use a break from Pikeville every now an' then."

"Thanks for lettin' me hang 'round here, practice my shootin' an' stuff."

"You're welcome, Mo."

"Sissy, I found a file in Uncle Perry's cabinet wit' paperwork in it signed by Tolbert." Mo told me, keepin' me rooted in my spot. My eyes went wide which promped Mo to go on to say, "Your husband gave our uncle control over your house and money in the case of his death or illness where in he couldn't care for your welfare anymore."

Tolbert gave all rights to our property an' money to Uncle Perry?! Dear sweet baby Jesus, I knew his trust for me was shaky, but I never thought that he'd set up an execator for me an' Rihanna. I blinked 'way my sudden shock and asked, "What? Why're ya tellin' me this?"

"Cause you're my sister and I thought ya need t'know." Moses told me wit' a shrug. "I don't think I was s'posed to find the file, but I accidently did while puttin' somethin' in the cabinet for Uncle Perry."

"Thank you for tellin' me, but don't let anyone know that ya did." I instructed my brother, my tone both grateful an' stern, since I didn't want him getting' into any trouble for snoopin' into what he's not s'posed to be in.

"I won't." Moses confirmed, his voice solid and serious, 'fore he took aim at one of the bottle targets and let off a shot. This time he hit the bottle, makin' it break wit' a loud crashin' loud.

I just walked off and let my brother have at it wit' the makeshift shootin' range. I needed to get back to the house. The house that my uncle had control off in the event of my husband's death. Goddamnit, Tolbert must really hate me or distrust me to make Uncle Perry the legal executor and benefactor of the house and finances.

Halloween was in a couple of days so as I waited on the bread to bake in the oven I was finishin' up Rihanna's costume for the party that was gonna be held in the Pikeville Hotel. Yea, every year a party for the children of Pike County was held in Pikeville at the hotel where they were able to dress up an' collect sweet treats like little cakes and candies. The children even got apples too, which most could care less about.

Tolbert was out at his still barrelin' up his shine, preparin' for the election day festival that was less then a week 'way. My husband was determined to make double his profits at this year's festival. I had an inklin' why he needed more money, a 6-month 'long knocked u whore named Misty, but I was just ignorin' it. Nothin' I could do 'bout it anyways.

Rihanna was sittin' next to me on the sofa, playin' wit' her dollies and studyin' me as I stitched some lace on her princess themed dress. She was a very well behaved 3-year old, just sat still while I threaded the needle and made stitches repeatedly. I know that many toddlers would run 'round like crazy an' not listen, but not my daughter. No, she was a good girl that was rarely rowdy. Yet 'gain havin' a poppy wit' a quick temper's prolly plays a large role in why she's so well-behaved at such a young age.

I had just made a stitch whenever a knock sounded at my door. I let out a small sigh, put the costume side, an' told my daughter, "Stay here and don't touch the costume. It's not ready, has a sharp needle stuck in it."

"Okay, mama. I play wit' my dollies." Rihanna assured me wit' a nod and a smile.

I just smiled at her 'fore risin' from the sofa an' makin' my way over to the front door of the cabin. Once I reached the door I opened it only to reveal Nancy standin' on my porch wit' a forlorn look on her long face. "Nancy, it's a bit late in the afternoon for a visit. What's the matter?" I asked, taken back by my cousin's presence on my porch.

"I just paid Roseanna a visit at our Aunt Betty's. She's taken ill real bad, got the cough an' spittin' up blood. Doctor was there, said he thinks she might lose the baby." Nancy informed me, a sadness in her sweetly brittle voice, as she looked at me wit' her dark beady eyes.

"My god…" I gasped, my voice sighin' off into the air as I covered my mouth wit' one of my hands. Poor Roseanna, so much sickness an' pain.

"I just thought you'd like to know how our dear cousin was doin'. Since you've lost chil'ren 'fore you'll be able to help Roseanna thru the pain."

Noddin' my head I quickly let out a winded soundin' declaration of, "Yes, of course I'd do that for her."

The forlorn look fded from my cousin's face, only to be replaced by a thin an' fake thin of a smile as she enquired, a bit boldly in my opinion, "Oh, talk 'bout chil'ren, are you an' Tolbert expecin' yet?"

I forced myself to be polite as I shook my head an' answered, "No, not yet." Frankly if was none of her business if me an' Tolbert wanted more chil'ren or not. I knew why she was askin', Uncle Perry put her up to it.

"Maybe that's for the best. Ya'll need t'build up more trust 'fore havin' more chil'ren." I was right, she's in cahoots wit' Uncle Perry, bein' his tool to let him know how my affair's goin' an' what not. Sorry to disappoint, but the affair's been over for a while and no baby's comin' for a long time.

I just nodded, narrowin' my eyes at the black-eyed beauty. "I think you need'a head back to town, I got a princess costume to finish sewin' up 'long wit' a pumpkin t'go pick for carvin'." I knew that if I didn't get the pumpkin then it wouldn't get done, Tolbert was too involved wit' his shinin' at the moment.

Nancy looked a bit started by the offish demeanor an' low flat tone I used wit' her. She just gave me a tight smile while tellin' me in a fake and sweet voice, "Of course, I don't wanna hold ya up wit' your tasks. I'll stop by later for a visit."

"Goodbye, Nancy. Have a blessed day." I told her, my tongue sharp like a double-edged sword, as I smiled tightly 'fore shuttin' the door in her face.

"Who was that, mama?" I heard Rihanna ask me, lookin' up from her dollies, as I turned my back to the door.

"Cousin Nancy, she was tellin' me 'bout Aunt Roseanna." I answered my daughter, makin' sure to make my voice loud 'nough for her to hear, as I walked over to the sofa.

"I don't like her." Rihanna admitted, lookin' at me 'fore quickly goin' back to playin' wit' her dolls. Dolls that were named Dollie an' Blue, the latter named for the color of her dress.

"Me neither." I chuckled, winkin' at me daughter as I took my seat next to her. Rihanna just smiled and nodded her head, happy to hear that she wasn't the only one that disliked Nancy. Silently I grabbed the costume and went back to sewin' the lace on the bodice.

I was determined to make my daughter's pink princess dress the most beautiful costume, she deserved it after all the bullshit she's been thru in her short life.

Moses POV:

Tomorrow was Halloween and the entire town was runnin' 'round like a chicken wit'out its head t'prepare for it. The fabric an' seamstress shop was sellin' fabric like it was hotcakes. The general store was also sellin' goods since ever'body needed supplies for bakin' an' candy makin'. The candy jars were nearly empty at the store too.

School had just let out an' I was randomly wanderin' up an' down the main street of downtown Pikeville since I didn't wanna go to my uncle's law office to work just yet. Blah, I hated bein' his legal file clerk. The job was so borin', I did nothin', but put papers in file cabinets in a small room off the main one. It was also surprisin' how many people needed wills an' land writs in the backwoods.

I was passin' by the city hall buildin', where local officials an' stuff work out of, when I noticed Cap Hatfield standin' on the porch of the buildin'. I saw that he was fillin' out the form mounted near the door for the shootin' competition that was gonna be takin' place in a few days at the election day festival. I decided to walk to the porch, sign up for the competition myself, an' check out the man that my uncle called the one-eyed demon.

I overheard Uncle Perry an' Nancy McCoy, a nut wit' a split personality if ya ask me, talkin' in his office 'bout how my sister Novella was havin' an affair wit' Cap Hatfield. They decided they didn't believe it was truly over, even tho he never set foot in Kentucky no more they believed that my sister was goin' outta her way to see him. They were so concerned 'bout how Tolbert would react, blah blah blah. I say the hell wit' Tolbert, my brother-in-law's a moody drunk. I don't like him much. I'm best friend's wit' his brother, Billy, or least I was til he started pickin' on my niece. I don't like anybody makin' fun of Rihanna so I only see my best friend when I have to.

"So, you're Cap Hatfield the one-eyed demon?" I asked the tall man with blonde hair sticky out from under a black hat as I walked up the porch of the city buildin'.

Givin' me a quick once ov'r, his face as hard as stone, he asked in a deep voice, "Who're ya, boy?"

"Moses Quincey, Novella Landon-McCoy's little brother." I introduced myself. Wit' a smirk I added, "Ah, only brother actually."

"Yea, but why're ya buggin' me for?" He asked me, his deep wave of a voice a bit flat, as he furrowed his brows at me.

"Wanted to meet the man that Uncle Perry an' Nutty Nancy's been gossipin' 'bout havin' an affair wit' my sissy." I bluntly told the tall man, who was 'nother head taller then me, as I stood in front of him. I heard this man was somebody that nobody wanted to tangle wit', but he didn't seem so bad t'me. I mean he wasn't cursin' at me yet like Tolbert does an' he don't smell like a brewery, so…

"They're mistook, nothin' goin' on wit' me an' Nova." Cap quickly ground out, his jaw so tight that his teeth were ready t'crack. Pointin' at me he ordered, "Ya make sure that they know that, boy."

"I ain't tellin' them that." I told Cap 'fore addin' in, "Hell, I ain't even 'posed t'know. I overheard 'em talkin' while filin' papers."

"So, you're just talkin' to me for the hell of it?" He asked, his head curiously tilted at me.

"Pretty much, but I was gonna sign up for the shootin' contest." I told him, pointin' to the list posted on the wall behind him.

"Ya can shoot?"

"Mhm, Novella taught me for a couple days when I played hooky from school few weeks back."

His mismatched eyes went wide an' his brows hiked off his head as he asked in a shocked breath, "Nova can shoot?"

I nodded an' quickly answered wit' a solid soundin', "Both a Colt an' Winchester. She's a crack shot too."

"Bet her husband just loves that." Sarcastically came out under Cap's deep rollin' breath, his jaw slightly twitchin'.

Oh yea, this guy hates my brother-in-law. Get in line, bud, cause I'm in the front. Can't stand Tolbert one bit, but of course Uncle Perry just loves him. After findin' those papers a few weeks 'go I think that mu uncle just loves his money an' the control over it he can have when Tolbert dies. I say when cause it's comin' one o' these days wit' how he's quick t'fightin', plus he seems like the type that's gonna do somebody in one day cause he's not all wit' it. He's drunk too much an' drunks get crazy violent. I know, my daddy Fred's a drunk…

"I don't think he cares, Tolbert's a drunk pissed off asshole." I bluntly told Cap, causin' the one-eyed man to just chuckle. "Most likely you'll see my sister at the contest, her an' my nice hang wit' me 'lot." I told him, figurin' that he might like to know that he'd be runnin' into her.

I didn't know if their affair was true or not, I didn't really care, but by the way Cap's jaw somewhat budged, chippin' his cold-faced demeanor, I'm bankin' on it bein' true. Without a word he tipped his black hat at me an' stalked off the porch of the city hall buildin', leavin' me access to the signup list for the shootin' contest. I watched him mount his horse an' take off, most likely he was goin' back home to West Virginia, 'fore I went over to the contest list. So far, the only people signed up were a Mr. Shoshine, Squirrel, and Cap. I grabbed the pencil that was on a string attached to the wooden clipboard the list was on and quickly scrawled my name underneath Cap Hatfield's.

Boy oh boy, the shootin' contest next Tuesday's gonna be an interestin' one. Well, reckon it's time for me to face the music an' go to work at Uncle Perry's office.

AN:

Next up is dun dun dun Election Day! Yep…