Oh Lord, Oh Lord, what do I do?

I've fallen for someone who's nothing like you...

He's raised on the edge of the devil's backbone.

Oh I just wanna take him home- Oh I just wanna take him home...

-The Devil's Backbone

"Anna Rose!" My mother shouted, looking around for me. "Yes, mama?" I asked as I came down the stairs and was greeted with Levicy Hatfield. "Mrs. Hatfield was a wonderin' if you could'a given her some help back at her home."

"I'd love to." I smiled, quickly hugging Mrs. Hatfield as she thanked me. "Mama, may I take my horse?"

"Yes, child. Just be careful..." She warned, I jumped up and down in excitement. Mrs. Hatfield smiled gently at me as we walked outside, I ran to my a horse and quickly saddled him. I mounted him carefully and rode beside Mrs. Hatfield's wagon. I was just happy my mother actually let me take my horse instead of having to ride in the wagon. "What'ya need?" I asked as we arrived at her home. She moved the wagon and Devil Anse took the horses as a few men laughed and smoked on the porch.

"I need help with a few house chores... My boys can't do 'em right!" She laughed loudly, and speaking of her boys, they busted out of the door and sounded like a bunch of horses running across country. They were laughing and smacking each other before they set eyes on me and quieted down a bit. Johnse smiled at me and walked over to me, helping me off my horse as Cap leaned against the porch post with Robert E. next to him.

"Anna Rose..." He muttered, setting his hands on the left and right side of the saddle he was on. "Haven't seen you in fo'ever." He told me slowly, I stared down at him and nodded to him as he tilted his head. "How's J.J?"

"Good." I replied with a smile. Johnse offered to help me down and I shook my head, only to attempt to hop down gracefully and almost take my horse with me. Johnse laughed as he caught me, shaking his head at my clumsiness. "Still can't find your feet?" He teased. I rolled my eyes and scoffed, standing up straight as Levicy waved me inside.

"I can find my feet jus' fine, Johnse." I told him, walking up the steps as Cap watched me, not moving anything but his eyes. I walked inside with his eyes following me, as I found Levicy near a basket of clothes. "We'll take these down to the creek." She told me, walking out the back-door. I followed her, it took us about a half hour to scrub all of the clothes and wash them out of the soap before we went back up to her home. "Hey, ma?!" We heard Johnse shout.

"Hm?" She asked as we began hanging clothes on the line. Johnse watched us and spoke. "When is dinner? I gotta go ride into town to get some tools."

"Dinner will be ready soon, I reckon. I just gotta punch down the dough for the bread and stir the soup." Levicy answered, hanging up a pair of trousers that had dirt stains all over them before they were washed. "I could go do that, if you'd like?" I asked Mrs. Hatfield, tilting my head while holding a skirt in my hands. Levicy glanced towards me and nodded.

"Be sure to taste the soup, if it doesn't taste right add some salt... Or some flour to thicken it up, it needs to be thickened!" She told me as I nodded and walked into the house. Johnse followed after me and walked up the stairs as I moved the small towel off the rising dough. I punched it down quickly, before laying the towel back over it as I felt a presence.

"Don't spill the soup." I heard, I glanced behind me and saw Cap standing there. I rolled my eyes and stirred the creamy potato soup. "If I spill the soup it'll be to scold y'all for thinking all I ever am is clumsy."

"But that is all you is..." Cap laughed at me, shaking his head. I sighed and poured a bit of flour into the hot soup, stirring it quickly as a bit spilled out. I tasted it and smiled, only to have Cap walk over to me and mess with the bread dough, putting in on to bake. It wasn't long before the bread was done and so was the soup, I helped Levicy serve and then began to gather my bearings.

"I have to get back to Kentucky..." I said as Levicy glanced up from serving. "Stay for dinner?" She asked me and I shook my head. "Ma'am, I'm terribly sorry..."

"No, no... I understand, your mama would rather have you at home then be worrin' 'round all night." Levicy smiled and walked me to the door. Cap stood from dinner. "I'm done anyhow... I'll take her home." Cap offered, walking over to the door. Levicy stared at him and nodded.

"Be careful, Cap." Levicy warned, patting her son on the back. We both walked outside and mounted our horses. We rode slowly back to my home, listening to the gentle sound of crickets, and the evening wind blew my hair from side to side. "How is your sister, uh, Alice?"

"She's good."

"She keep that pretty blonde hair all tidy like she used to?" Cap asked me. I nodded. "Why do you ask?" I replied, tilting my head.

"No reason... Robert E. seems to like her."

"Really now?" I asked. "I reckon Alice wouldn't care... Florence likes Robert E. though." I told him, watching him from the corner of my eye. We came to my house and I went to the stable, unsaddling my horse and setting it up. I gave it some more food and walked out to Cap. "Thanks, Cap." I said smiling at the man barely able for my eyes to see in the dark. "Anytime." Cap said, nodding to me.

I walked up the steps before rushing back down them, tugging on Cap's arm to have him lean down. I kissed his cheek gently before pulling away, and he glanced down at me and watched me walk inside before I heard him gallop away.