*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

Got a Cap POV written in this chapter. Actually there's a few different POVs in here. The main one is Novella of course. I tried to follow the show with this chapter, with a few twists of course.

Anyways hope ya'll enjoy this chapter. It's a long one.

Cuttin' Boards

Novella POV:

After retrievin' Rihanna an' Moses from Louisa I took the whiskey wagon that belonged to Tolbert home. I'd estimate that we were at my house for a couple of hours 'fore Uncle Perry showed up demandin' that I needed to go to my in-laws' cabin, that actually all of us needed t'be there since he had news for Ole Rand'l an' Aunt Sally 'bout my husband an' his brothers. Moses just rolled his eyes at my uncle, clearly not wantin' to deal wit' the McCoys. Rihanna was quiet, whether it was due to shock or her hard hearin' I didn't know. Or maybe it was cause she was so young, who knows really.

So, Moses went wit' our uncle to the McCoys' house while I took Rihanna in our wagon. My wagon, not my husband's shine one. I made sure to switch them out on the horses. Anyways once I walked inside of the cabin I noticed that Ole Rand'l was pacin' the floors angrily while both Jim an' Calvin where at the table. Jim's wife wasn't there, she opted to stay home in town wit' their baby. Alifair an' Aunt Sally were both in the kitchen near the bedroom door, the smaller chil'ren all in front of them. Moses was sittin' at the table munchin' on an apple from the small fruit bowl that was in the middle of said table while Uncle Perry was standin' by the table next to my brother.

As soon as I shut the door behind me an' walked into the kitchen, holdin' Rihanna's hand as she was glued to my side, Uncle Perry pulled a paper out of the pocket linin' the inside of his suit jacket. Holdin' the paper up for ever'body to see he announced, "I've got right here the legal proclamation and writ to retrieve the boys back from West Virginia given and signed by Judge Tobias Wagner." Judge Tobias, dear lord that's the crooked man my uncle was gonna pay off to give Tolbert a divorce on grounds of me bein' an adulteress without a hearin'. He was the judge that would've tarnished me an' torn my daughter from me all on the word of my uncle. Of course, he got a writ to Uncle Perry in a couple of hours. Its election day, no normal judge is doin' writs an' cases since they're too worried bout if they got reelected, but clearly my uncle paid off Judge Tobias…

"The law, ain't worth a bucket of spit." Calvin spat, his knuckles goin' white as his hands curled over the edge of the table he was leanin' on.

"Why can't we just take 'em back ourselves?" Jim asked, standin' up from the table and pointin' towards the door, as I walked into the kitchen area with Rihanna.

"No." Uncle Perry shook his head as me and my daughter took a seat at the table. My uncle let out a long sigh 'fore goin' on to explain, "It'd be a bloodbath, the place has Hatfields swarmin' all over and they'd be waitin' for us."

Ole Rand'l stopped his pacin' and heaved out a sigh of, "Dear lord…"

"Oh, sweet baby Jesus, what have they done?" Aunt Sally breathlessly trembled, one of her hands hoverin' over her O-shaped open mouth in shock as her other hand held onto Trinnie's shoulder.

"Killed somebody." Moses bluntly answered Aunt Sally's hysterical an' rhetorical question 'fore takin' a bite out of his apple.

"Moses, don't you dare say that. I was a fight and done if self-defense."

"Whatever ya say, Uncle Perry, but I saw the shit go down so…" My brother trailed off as he continued to eat his apple.

"Moses, watch your foul mouth. You know better then to use such language." Uncle Perry reprimanded my brother, causin' him to just nod his head. Moses wouldn't listen to him tho. My brother wasn't like our uncle, he had no sense of propriety. I doubt he ever would. Moses had too much backwoodsmen blood in him to be a tamed man of town like Uncle Perry was. No matter how much my uncle worked on him I'm 'fraid my brother would end up a foul mouthed gun totin' mountain man. Not that I helped out much, I did teach him how to use a gun so…

"Jim, go wit' Perry to Pikeville an' deliver that paper from the judge t'Sheriff Maynard. Calvin, stay wit' yer mother an' the chil'ren. I'll be to Pikeville after I see Devil Anse 'bout the boys."

Calvin's eyes went wide as he gasped, "Poppy, ya can't really go ov'r there."

"Alone he'll do me no harm." Ole Rand'l told everyone 'fore walkin' out of the house.

Quickly everyone darted for the door wit' my uncle leadin' the way. From my seat at the kitchen table next to my brother I watched everyone crowd on the porch an' watch Ole Rand'l take off on his mission to talk to Anse, attempt to get his boys back. Moses leaned in next to me an' whispered, "He ain't gettin' them back. They gone done murder an' are bein' held by the victim's family. They dead or as good as it."

Lookin' at my brother I sighed, "Don't say that. Ellison's just badly injured, he could pull thru."

Moses tossed his apple core on the table, shakin' his head. "Take a damned miracle for that t'happen, sissy."

'Fore I could say anythin' to Moses our Uncle Perry popped his head into the open front doorway. Lookin' right at the kitchen table he said, "Moses, I want you to come with me and Jim to town. Be good for ya to learn more bout the law and legal matters."

"Okay, Uncle Perry." Moses tightly nodded his head, risin' from the table. I could tell by his body language that he didn't want to go. Can't say that I blame him.

"And Novella, I understand this is stressful for you and Rihanna, but don't fret I'll make sure your husband returns safe to you." Uncle Perry told me, his slick voice a bit soft, but confident, as Moses made the short walk over to the front door.

I just nodded my head, lettin' my uncle know that I understood. He nodded back at me 'fore usherin' my brother out onto the porch. The door shut and then I was left alone at the kitchen table wit' my daughter and my thoughts. Thoughts of how the hell can this be happenin', how couldn't I see that my husband had a violent nature just itchin' to come out?

Tolbert POV:

Me an' my brothers 've been sittin' in the large loft of Devil Anse's barn for hours now. My back was sore an achin' pressed up 'gainst the slated boards of the room, my legs fallin' 'sleep as they lay still on the floor. Pharmer was sittin' next t'me wit' his broken arm hangin' in a makeshift sling Johnse had made for him. Why the fool made my brother a sling I didn't know, couldn't tell ya the answer to that if I tried. Bud was sittin' 'cross from me, lookin' out one of the peek holes in the wood slats. He'd been lookin' for hours while Pharmer's been starin' up at the ceilin', holdin' his broken arm, as I just stared at the wall in front o'me.

"It's poppy!" Bud exclaimed, excitement in his voice, as he looked out the peep hole.

"Where?" I asked, quickly rushin' over to my lil brother's side in a mix 'tween a run an' a crawl.

"There." He answered, pointin' to his peep hole. Turnin' his head to look at Pharmer he added in, "Poppy's come t'get us."

Pharmer got off his fat ass and rushed over to where me and Bud were. All of us pressed our noses 'gainst the wooden slat wall, lookin' out the peep holes an' slivers in the loft. I saw Cap Hatfield, armed wit' a rifle, leadin' my poppy to the house. Poppy was on his horse an' 'lone. Why was he 'lone? Was he asked t'come 'lone for talkin'? Eh, silently we watched Cap an' poppy reach the house, which had a bunch of armed Hatfields on the porch. I could make out Jim Vance, Lias, Lark Varney, an' French Ellis. I also spotted Judge Wall, he had a man next to him that I think might've been his son-in-law. Rumor was his youngest daughter got married while back, but I never thought much on it. The son-in-law looked t'fit in well wit' the rest of the people on the porch wit' guns since he had a rifle lazily layin' in his arms an' wore a grim 'pression on his face. Mhm, that man married into the right family for him given his looks.

Silently we watched as Cap walked up his porch t'fetch Devil Anse as our poppy got off his horse. As he was hitchin' it to the post Devil Anse emerged from the doorway, followed by his demon wife an' scrawny one-eyed gorilla of a son. Poppy walked up to the porch steps, but stayed on the ground, an' then talk 'tween them for our freedom began.

Cap POV:

As soon as I told my pa that Ole Rand'l McCoy was here to talk with him he stormed towards the door. Ma quickly behind him. I just held tight onto my rifle an' followed, knowin' that pa needed all the armed men outside with him he could get. McCoy might be tellin' the truth 'bout bein' alone or he might got his other sons an' kin hidin' in wait to ambush us and bust our prisoners outta the barn. With 'em ya never could tell.

As I stepped out of the doorway Pa was standin' near the porch steps while ma just stood a bit to his right. I decided to just stand 'gainst the wall by the front door, lettin' my presence be known while keepin' my eyes on Mr. McCoy.

"Anse, I've come for my boys." McCoy informed my pa. He didn't have to tho, it was easy t'figure out why he was here.

Pa pulled his pipe from his mouth and pointed it at the man below while tellin' him, "Your boys stabbed my brother over and over gained then shot him. They're stayin' here."

Ole Rand'l's face fell as he stood 'fore pa. "I'm sad to hear that. How is Ellison?"

Pa just told ya he got stabbed multiple times then shot, how'd ya think he's doin' ya dumbass McCoy. Uncle Ellison's just right as rain with his middle all torn up, lookin' like a gutted mangled with his blood mess seepin' and soakin' thru the linen bandages stickin' to his flesh. I swear all them McCoys must not have nothin' goin' on 'tween the ears.

Pa and Uncle Jim shared a look that said 'Ya gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me. He really just asked that?'.

Mr. McCoy looked right at pa while havin' the nerve to say, "I pray that he recovers."

"You still believe in prayin'?" Pa asked darkly, a hint of a scoff in his deep tone.

"Yes, I do." Of course, he does. Not that it does any good, sproutin' out prays to the sky that ain't ever gonna get answered. I agree wit' my pa's logic, man makes his own way an' works for what he wants. Nothin' is gonna just drop it outta the sky at your feet, but it seems Mr. McCoy don't think like that. If he did he'd stop complainin' 'bout not havin' nothin' an' do somethin' 'bout it, like actually work instead of bitchin' an' moanin'.

"Then we'll leave it in the hands of the almighty. My brother survives, I'll give ya your boys back, but if my brother dies…if he dies justice will be dealt out by my hand on your boys here in West Virginia."

"Is there anythin' I can say or do t'sway that?" Rand'l asked, clearly not feelin' up to leavin' his sons' fate in the hands of the almighty. I'm pretty certain he knows what the fate is gonna be, just like everyone else standin' on this porch does.

"No." Pa coldly spat out, givin' the father of our prisoner's a cold look.

"Can I see my sons?" The man asked, a bit hopeful, from his spot on the ground by the porch steps.

"No."

"Then can their mother and the one's wife see them?"

The breath nearly caught in my throat as I heard Ole Rand'l refer to Nova. Goddamnit, the reminder that she was married to the murder I'd have t'help put down was like gettin' a bucket of ice-cold water poured over my head. I kept my cold expression on my face as I stared at McCoy, not even flinchin' a little. I couldn't let it be known that I felt somethin' other than hate at this moment.

Pa looked over his shoulder at my ma, who just nodded her head at him while lettin' out a syrupy whispered, "Yes."

Pa snapped his head back 'round to look at McCoy and told him in a deep even tone, "Well send for her." Pa pointed his pipe towards the hitched-up horse, gesturin' for the man to get on it and leave.

Pa turned 'round and went over to ma, hooked his arm into hers, and made to go back inside the house. I too was prepared to go inside, but stayed firmly planted in my spot as soon as I heard Rand'l McCoy open his dumb mouth an' make the boomin' remark of, "Devil Anse Hatfield, I rue the day I saved yer life! May god damn yer eternal soul!"

Great, now he's gone an' pissed off pa more then he already is. Pa stopped right in the doorway an' spun 'round. Steam was comin' outta his ears and his eyes were black burnin' coals of hatred. Ma tried to pull him back into the house, but he yanked his arm outta her grasp. He walked a few steps 'fore stoppin' by my side. He swiftly yanked my Winchester from my hold, cocked it, and marched right to the edge of the porch. "If ya bring up god one more time ya won't be makin' the trip home." He promised, his voice deep an' threatenin', as he aimed my rifle at Ole Rand'l.

McCoy looked like he was gonna piss his pants outta fear. He just nodded his head an' went to the hitch post to get his horse. After untyin' his horse he got onto it and started to trot off 'way from the house. Uncle Jim let out a deep chuckle 'fore hoppin' off the porch. Followin' behind Rand'l he taunted him with, "I hope that all your kin an' babies come up here to try an' free those boys so we can kill 'em all at once. Don't wanna drag it out."

"Jim, sit down and shut up!" Pa ordered from his spot standin' at the edge of the porch.

As we watched Mr. McCoy ride off shouts emerged from the barn's loft where his sons were bein' kept. My best friend, Skunk Hair, was standin' under the loft in the empty stable part of the barn. He was smackin' the ceilin' above his head while shoutin' the order of, "Shut up!"

The McCoy boys didn't shut up tho. Pa went inside with ma to check on both Ellison and Cotton, who was by his dyin' father's side. I decided to go over to the barn to gather some boards t'cut. I knew there was a chance of Uncle Ellsion dyin', a high one, so I was gonna make sure he had a nice pine box to rest in.

Tolbert POV:

Poppy had gotten on his horse and was ridin' off from the Hatfield house. He weren't comin' over to the barn neither. "He's leavin', poppy's leavin'!" My panicked rough voice shot out to my brothers, who were on either side of me lookin' out the peep holes tremblin' wit' fear. Bangin' on the slated wooden walls of the loft I screamed, "Poppy, we're in here!" Hopin' he'd hear me and help us I continued screamin', "Poppy, we're in here!"

"Poppy! Poppy!" Pharmer screamed frantically, his cries minglin' wit' my own.

"Poppy, don't leave! Help us!" Bud cried out loudly, addin' to the shoutin' me an' Pharmer were doin'.

The floorboards beneath us started to shake, indicatin' a guard below was poundin' on them. "Shut up!" Ordered Skunk Hair as he kept hittin' the floor of the loft.

Poppy stopped his horse an' waved at us as we screamed, yelled, cried, an' begged for him to help us. Skunk Hair kept tellin' us to shut up too, but we didn't. As we watched our poppy ride off 'gain, leavin' us we begged him not to go.

"Poppy, please help us!" Bud cried, his voice hoarse from his loud screams.

Pharmer's bad slung up arm was pressed 'gainst the slat wood wall at his nose pressed into said wall as he shouted out of the peep hole, "Poppy! Poppy!"

"Poppy! Get us outta here!" I shouted 'fore angrily smackin' the wall.

After a few more smacks on the wall I knew it was useless an' we were stuck in here. The devil wasn't lettin' us go, he sent poppy home to prolly get our graves dug. Wit' a heavy feelin' chest I leaned 'gainst the wall. I let out a small sigh as I realized I might die wit'out ever seein' my wife an' daughter ever 'gain.

The two things I loved most in the world I was bein' torn from all cause of them no good demon Hatfields.

Moses POV:

Oh, the little meetin' in town 'tween Sheriff Maynard, Uncle Perry, Jim, and Ole Rand'l went like shit. The sheriff refused to get the McCoy boys back, usin' common sense since the boys were murderers if an' when Ellison died. No matter what they'd be sentenced to death, he viewed lettin' the Hatfields handle the execution as a cheaper option, money he didn't have to spend feedin' jailed criminals on a waitlist for trial. Unfortunately, my uncle and the McCoys didn't view it that way. Nope, they decided to gather up a posse. Uncle Perry even told the sheriff he made a lot of enemies, more or less threatenin' his job, 'fore we left the jail.

Uncle Perry sent me to tell Aunt Sally and Novella what was goin' on, which is why I'm currently ridin' up to the McCoys' cabin. I quickly rode up to the porch, dismounted, an' hitched my horse up to the post by the porch. Quickly I walked up the steps and into the house. Only Aunt Sally and her chil'ren where inside, Novella had taken Rihanna home. Reckon after we all left to town. Not that I blamed her, I would've left too since all Aunt Sally's been doin' is draggin' 'round an' cryin', makin' Alifiar tend to the chil'ren. Hell, Jim's wife Lissa never even showed up at the house at all today so guess she didn't wanna deal wit' her emotional mother-in-law either. Calvin was keepin' a watchful eye over his mama, who was 'bout ready to snap and take a train ride to crazy town.

"Uncle Perry wanted me to tell ya'll that they're formin' a posse t'go get your brothers back." I told Calvin, walkin' up to the table he was sittin' at.

"What 'bout the sheriff?" He asked, sippin' on his coffee as he watched his mother sit in a corner rocker lookin' out the window.

"Him? Yea, he ain't goin' to get 'em. Reason why a posse's bein' formed." I explained, causin' Cal to just nod his head. "Did my sister go home? Our uncle wants me to tell her bout the posse." I remarked, causin' Calvin to turn his head to look at me.

"Yea, she left a lil while 'go." He confirmed my suspicions while Alifair flittered 'round he room 'cleanin' an' whatnot.

Looks like I'm goin' few miles up the road to my sister's. Dang, I'm gonna be starved by time I get there. Hopefully she's got somethin' to et in her kitchen. Just cause her nerves are shot and she ain't hungry don't mean me and my niece ain't.

"I'm gonna go to her." I told Calvin 'fore gettin' u from the table.

"Of course, wouldn't 'xpect anythin' less since she's the only kin ya like." Calvin seethed as I started to make my way to the front door.

God, that man was a dick. Wait, most of my male McCoy relations were. I just raised one of my hands and flipped him the bird 'fore continuin' on my way to the front door and outta the house.

Novella POV:

Hearin' the sheriff was refusin' to go retrieve my husband and his brothers since he didn't want to be bothered usin' money for a trial on guilty men was one thing, but hearin' that my uncle, father-in-law, and brother-in-law were in town roundin' up a posse to ride to the Hatfields was 'nother thing. I knew that Ole Rand'l must've found out where on the Hatfield property his boys were bein' held since he was gatherin' a posse, with the help of Uncle Perry and Jim. That posed a problem, a group of armed and angry men ridin' could prove deadly for Levicy and her chil'ren, even the grown men Hatfields an' theirs, once fightin' for a bust out started up.

I told my brother to watch my daughter cause I had'a go do somethin'. Moses was smart for a 12-year-old, he guessed that I was goin' to warn the Hatfields and he even gave me his blessin'. He also assured me that he'd keep good watch over Rihanna. I trusted him wit' my daughter more then my other family. I knew he'd take care of her, he's been highly protective of her ever since she was born and more so now since her left ear went bad.

I rode on horseback to Mate Creek, West Virginia. Makin' sure to take all the short cuts I knew to get there as quick as I could. The closer I got the more frantic I felt. I felt like there was a weight on my shoulders. I knew in a way what I was doin' was crazy, but it wasn't wrong. I just couldn't sit back and let the Hatfields get raided on, even if that posse raid would free my husband and his brothers. If I was sane I'd want them back, but after so many months of harshness from my husband I wasn't so sure if I wanted to continue on a life path wit' him.

Oh, granted I didn't want Tolbert dead, but I didn't really want to be married anymore. Hell, months 'go I wanted a divorce and only backed 'way from that option due to the threat made by my uncle that Judge Tobias would destroy me. Hell, everything's all messed up.

As I reached the edge of the road that'd take me to the large house in the distance I noticed that armed men were scattered all over the place. I spotted Alex Messer as I trotted by. He tipped his light brown hat at me and motioned for me to proceed to the main house. As I got closer to the house I noticed that out on the front porch was Lark Varney and Frenchie armed with guns. Lias was also there along with Jim Vance. The latter sittin' on a porch step cleanin' his pistol wit' his faithful dog Mr. Howls by his side. Leanin' on the porch posts was Judge Wall and my half-cousin, Sawyer. I noticed a few yards from the house at the barn that Skunk Hair was on prisoner watch, rifle slung over his shoulder. I didn't notice Cap anywhere, nor his father, so I assumed that they were inside wit' Ellison.

I rode to the front of the house and guided the horse to the hitchin' post. "Cousin, what're ya doin' here? Come to see your husband?" Sawyer asked me as I got down from my house.

While hitchin' the horse I looked up at everyone on the porch while answerin' my cousin's inquiry wit', "No, come to tell Devil Anse that he needs to move his prisoners. Posse's bein' formed."

"We ain't scared of no posse. Let McCoy try it." Jim Vance bellowed confidently as he examined his freshly cleaned gun, placin' it in the holster on his hip.

"It ain't a regular posse, Jim." I told the large man sittin' on the porch. Lookin' right at Judge Wall I told him, "Judge Tobias Wagner signed a legal writ claimin' they got the right to cross over here into West Virginia to take Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud back to Kentucky."

"For a trial?" Judge Wall asked, his brow hitched up curiously.

"No, just back to Kentucky. Nothin' 'bout jailtime or trials, even tho Ole Rand'l an' Uncle Perry tried to give the writ to Sherrif Maynard, who refused to act on it. Posse's bein' formed right now as we speak, they raid this homestead it's to kill not just to free your prisoners from the barn." I lengthily explained, my flowin' voice a bit firm wit' my ominous warnin'.

Wall looked at Sawyer and told him, "Take her to Anse. He needs to hear this."

Sawyer just nodded and his father-in-law and then walked down the porch steps. "Come on." He told me as he walked right by me. "Anse is out back behind the barn talkin' to Cap. Eh, prolly yellin' at him's more like it." My cousin explained as I fell into step next to him.

"Why?"

"Cap's cuttin' boards, gettin' prepared for what we all know's comin' 'round the bend.

"Anse's still holdin' onto the thread that Ellison'll pull thru." I concluded, my voice sad and sympathetic, as we crossed the yellow-green fall grass on our way to see Devil Anse and Cap.

"Yea, he is, but Cap's already 'cepted the fact that his uncle's dyin'. I think he's havin' a harder time of acceptin' what comes after death." Sawyer told me, a bit lowly, as we got closer to the barn. The glowin' bright orange-gold sun castin' late afternoon shadows on the ground, indicatin' that dusk was fastly approachin'.

I just nodded my head. I didn't make a reply, but I understood what he ment. If Ellison died Cap would have to kill his murders, thus making me a widow. Somethin' he always remarked to Tolbert that he wouldn't be the cause of whenever they got into drunken spats at the Pikeville whorehouse, or at least that's what I heard by hearsay from Vera as she heard it from Skunk Hair.

I could see that right besides, but not quite behind, the barn Cap was standin' wit' his hands awkwardly fiddlin' wit' his suspenders and his pa flipped over the nearly finished coffin off the sawhorses. Devil Anse waggled his finger at his son while snappin', "Don't ya cut 'em boards. Don't ya cut no boards 'til I say."

"Yes, sir." Cap said, soundin' more like a berated little boy then a man as he hung his head down.

"Anse, my cousin says Judge Tobias gave Perry Cline a legal writ to cross the Tug and get the McCoy Boys. Ole Rand'l an' Perry's in town gatherin' up a posse." Sawyer spoke up as we were a few yards 'way from the Hatfield clan leader and his second oldest son.

Devil Anse and Cap both turned their eyes onto us as we continued on our way over to where they were at. Anse just nodded his head, seemin' to be grateful for the information, but Cap's mismatched eyes narrowed into hateful slits as he heard the name Judge Tobias float in the air since he knew how crooked of a man the judge was.

'Fore I could say a word to support what Sawyer had just said the loud sound of a door bangin' open was heard. Everyone turned their heads to the sound, lookin' to see what was goin' on. What I witnessed gutted me. Cotton ran from the house over into the middle of the yard right 'cross from the barn. His wails pierced the air as he flailed his hands in the air 'fore slappin' them 'gainst his knees. Tears stained his pink-red flushed face as he collapsed to the ground wit' grief.

Ellison Hatfield was gone.

Devil Anse took a deep breath to control his emotions as he pulled a hankie from his pocket. He pointed to Cap and then to the busted up pine box on the ground, givin' him silent permission to cut the boards. Cap just nodded his head and picked up the boards, placin' them back on the sawhorse. Anse just walked 'way from his son, nearly trippin' over his own feet. Stoppin' in front of us Devil Anse looked at Sawyer and pointed towards the house, indicatin' the he wanted him to go inside so that they could talk more 'bout the news I had brought. The stone-faced man then looked at me and pointed to where Cap was at finishin' up wit' cuttin' the boards, makin' Ellison's pine box.

I looked at Anse wit' eyes that silently said, 'Are ya sure I should go to Cap?' as I held tightly onto my skirts.

Anse nodded, givin' me a look that read, 'Go to him.' 'fore walkin' over to Cotton. I watched him bend down next to his nephew and place and arm 'round him while givin' him the hankie. Devil Anse helped the grievin' Cotton up, stayin' strong for the simple-minded boyish man, and led him back to the house.

I walked over to Cap, stoppin' right by his side. He was usin' a jigger-saw to cut the boards, workin' fast an' furiously. "Will…" Hesitantly fell from my lips as I looked at him, sorrow in my eyes. I'm not even sure why his true name slipped out, it just did. Without a word he paused in his sawin' and looked over at me. Pain and hatred shined in his mismatched eyes. "I'm so sorry. Really, I am."

"Ain't your fault, Nova." He told me, his rollin' deep timbre firm, as he went back to sawin' the board he was workin' on.

"Isn't it?" I rhetorically asked, watchin' his mechanical movements of movin' the saw back an' forth. I went on to say wit' guilt and sorrow in my flowin' voice, "It's my husband and his brothers that gone done murdered your uncle. Don't that make me at fault just a bit cause I couldn't control my husband, couldn't keep him in line? If he didn't start the fight his brothers never wouldn't got involved and you wouldn't be cuttin' boards right now."

Cap pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh, droppin' his saw on the bottom of the pine box he was constructin'. "This," He pointed to the boards, "ain't on ya." Pointin' over my shoulder up to the barn's loft he deeply rumbled, "It's on them." Cap's words made sense, but they still didn't make me feel any better. Carryin' the weight that not just your husband, but his brothers too are killers is very hard. Cap let out 'nother sigh as he looked 'tween me and the loft behind me. Suddenly out of nowhere he asked, "Do ya love Tolbert?"

"What?" I blanched, taken aback by the question I was just asked.

"Ya heard me, do ya love him?"

"He's my husband." I reminded the shaggy blonde man wit' mismatched eyes standin' next to me.

Cap looked at me with his mismatched eyes as if he was tryin' to peer into my soul. Not givin' up he countered, "But do ya love him? It's a simple question, sweetlin'."

I chewed on my bottom lip, debatin' on how to answer the question. It may be as Cap puts it a simple question, but it didn't have a simple answer. It was more complex then just a yes or a no. I loved him and in a way always would since he was Rihanna's father and my husband, but I wasn't in love with him. I don't think I've been in love wit' him since the day Tol died and he kept my ailin' boy from me in his last moments of life. I've never been able to forgive Tolbert for that, but that's not somethin' I talk bout. My love for my husband is not a simple topic, not somethin' I can easily talk to Cap 'bout. 'Specially now that he's gonna be one of the men to execute, er kill, him.

"I understand, I got my answer." He got his answer, but I didn't give him one. How could he possibly have it? "Go home, somebody'll fetch both ya and Mrs. McCoy by two days' time t'say your final goodbyes."

Cap didn't want to be bothered by me, didn't want to talk or share my company and I respected that. I didn't think he'd really want me 'round anyways. My husband's the reason why his uncle's dead, no way in hell he'd want to find solace an' comfort wit' me. Our affair and whatever sorts of feelin's that were emergin' from it had ended months 'go. Nothin' I could do or say could make Cap feel better.

I just nodded my head and turned 'round. My back was to Cap now and I had just taken my first step 'way from him whenever I heard him let out a long shaky breath. He didn't utter a word; the air was silent once his sigh died off. The further 'way from him I walked I could hear the sound of his saw cuttin' the boards once more. As I walked by the barn I could hear Tolbert screamin' my name.

"Ella! Ella! Get me out! Ella!" Tolbert cried as I continued on my way further and further 'way from the barn he was bein' held in.

I didn't dare look up at the loft. I couldn't or else I'd break. Everythin' was just too much to handle right now. Quickly I rushed over to where my horse was and unhitched it. I got onto my horse and backed 'way from the Hatfield's porch. I just waved goodbye at the men that were on guard on the porch. French Ellis, Lark Varney, and Lias just nodded at me while Jim Vance waved.

Tolbert's cries still filled the air as I started to ride 'way, but now they were mingled wit' Skunk Hair's order of, "Shut up!" The lanky man hit the ceilin' of the loft above him, barkin' orders at my husband, while usin' his free and to wave at me.

I think he was acknowledgin' me cause I was friends wit' his wife. I simply waved back 'fore takin' off in a hard trot down the road. I had a long couple of days 'head of me an' had to mentally prepare myself for that fact that once I was fetched t'say my final goodbyes a funeral would shortly follow.

Tolbert POV:

When Bud told me that Judge Wall's son-in-law was bringin' Ella ov'r towards the barn I felt joy at the prospect of seein' my wife. I quickly rushed ov'r to my brother's side and peeked out the peep hole. I watched her disappear out of my line of sight, most likely gettin' taken to the stairway that lead up to this loft. I waited an' waited on baited breath for the door to open and my Ella to walk inside wit' her Hatfield escort, but it never happened.

"Cottontop just ran outside. Cryin' real bad." Bud announced from his spot lookin' out the small sliver sized crack in the wood slated wall.

S'pose Ellison's dead now. Reckon we're good as dead now too. Least I get to see my wife. I just leaned my back 'gainst the wall an' continued to wait on my wife to walk thru the door. Pharmer wasn't doin' much other then sittin' on the opposite side of the loft pickin' at the stale and hardened half loaf of bread that our captors were so nice 'nough t'give us.

"She's leavin'. They're sendin' Novella 'way." Bud informed me, pointin' towards the peep hole while givin' me a quick an' sad look over his shoulder.

"What?" I choked out, my face goin' slack wit' disbelief. Just cause Ellison died they won't let Ella see me? This ain't right. Quickly I scrambled over to the wall Bud was at and pressed my face 'gainst it. Lookin' out one of the peep holes I saw my wife walkin' back to the front o'the house. She looked distraught. Her shoulders were slumped, it was clear she was upset. My poor Ella, bein' turned 'way to see me has her near tears. "Ella!" I cried out, wantin' her to know I knew she tried an' see me. She didn't look up to the loft tho. Odd, she just kept walkin'. "Ella! Ella! Get me out!" I shouted out, tellin' her in my own way to help Uncle Perry free me. I knew she was well read in the law, there had'a be somethin' she could do t'help.

As I shouted my cries to my wife I watched her leave. I also had to listen to Skunk Hair yell at me to shut up while bangin' on the loft's floor too. I ignored Skunk Hair's orders, just screamed for my wife til my throat went scratchy an' I could let out 'nother word less it be in pain. Watchin' her leave tore my heart from my chest. I wanted t'be home wit' Ella and our daughter, not holed up an' guard in a makeshift barn prison like some crazy criminal.

AN:

Tolbert's well he's him so he's not gonna own up to his actions and the reactions they've caused. Yep… Novella warning the Hatfields bout the posse being formed was bout trying to keep innocents safe since the Hatfield house is full of Cap's younger siblings and Cotton. So, this chapter was pretty heavy and emotional huh? Next chapter is when Reverend Garrett collects Sally and now Novella and takes them to the abandoned school house to see the McCoy boys along with the pawpaw tree incident aka McCoy boys execution/unlawful murder eh whatever you wanna call it.