I was inside the stables, going to Baron's keep as I noticed he wasn't standing up. When I opened his gate he was laying down, and I felt my lip begin to quiver as before I kneeled beside him. His eyes looked glossed over as I ran my fingers through his short coat. He blinked, watching me as he turned more to lay down fully, leaving his legs free of weight. I only felt tears come to my eyes as I stood and gently put a blanket over him, I didn't know why, I wanted to. I felt he needed it. I called to my mother, and she fed him one last time before he passed, Roy and Bucky moved him out of the stables slowly.

Alice suggested they save the meat, and my mother, Mary, almost complied before my father, John, told her to just have the horse buried since he was more than a horse to me, he was a beloved friend. Eventually, I left to go see the Hatfields, only to have Cap grab my arm and tell me to leave. Skunkhair had recently been killed and Cap didn't know if the killer or killers were out and about. Cap offered to give me a ride back, and when he did we found wanted posters nailed all over the trees and the posts coming up to my house. I breathed deeply as Cap stopped the horse, stepping down to lead it along. J.J was on a poster, most likely because he had some history with McCoys.

Bucky and Roy were too, so were my parents. I looked at Cap to see an angry expression wash over him as he pulled a wanted poster with my face on it down, staring at it. He glanced up at me on his horse and I watched him. "I dragged 'em into this." I observed.

"Only through me, I reckon."

"Don't go blamin' yoursel', Cap. It ain't your fault."

"I doubt it. So, you likely blame 'erself then?" Cap questioned, watching me as I leaned forward to tip his hat back a bit so I could see his eyes. "Likely." I replied, a grim tone to my voice as I looked around.

"My family ain't safe." I told him with a sigh. "They didn't do nothin', 'ey just have prices on their heads."

"You think mine is?" Cap asked me, shaking his head. He helped me down and saw Bucky and Roy burying Baron. "You boys seen 'ese posters?" Cap shouted to them, the two nodded.

"So 'as ma, pa and J.J." Roy told him, an arm over his shovel as he wiped some sweat off of himself. "Keep your guns near, a'ight?"

The twins nodded, watching Cap give them a nod back before he turned his back to them and moved me in front of him. "You know how'ta shoot, right?"

"Yes, William." I told him, a slight tone in my voice, less grim than before as I only managed to smile slightly. He nodded, leaning to kiss my cheek. "Good."

Roy caught the action and narrowed his eyes, watching Cap closely. "Hey, Anna - Don't be afraid to use that gun on anyone." Roy told me, leaning against the shovel he held as he dropped it to the ground. I glanced towards him as Cap did.

"Roy, what are you on about?" I laughed slightly, watching my brother eyeing my love.

"You know damn well what I'm on 'bout." Roy replied, turning around hastily to throw the shovel at Bucky and run inside the barn to tend to his horse. I furrowed my eyebrows as Cap got back onto his horse and straightened up on it, moving slightly as his horse moved around.

"The hell crawl'd up 'is hole?" Bucky asked aloud, glancing back to the barn before reaching down to pick up the shovel that was thrown at him. Cap cleared his throat and looked down at me. "I gotta skedaddle before some hard case jinxes shit." Cap halfway sneered, his mind held the thought of someone likely close to him messing up things and giving away all their positions.

"Be careful, Cap." I warned him, watching him nod respectively and to his hat to me. He gave me the same warning before starting off. I watched him go, keeping my eyes trained on his back before he cleared a few trees and I lost sight of him, except for some black of his clothing. I picked up my skirts and began towards the house rather than the barn, Roy was causing himself grief and I didn't want any part of it. I walked inside to see J.J making his way down the stairs, smiling at me, but only slightly.

"Hey, 'ere little sister." He greeted, walking with a hop in his step. He was better than before, at least. I got him some leftover soup from the pot and some bread too, smearing some butter on top of it before handing him it.

"You want milk?"

"Shine." He replied, spooning the potato soup into his mouth. I raised my eyebrows slightly before reaching into the cabinet and pouring him a small jar of moonshine, some of Johnse's brew, only to put the rest of the jar back and close the cabinet. He ate quickly, and drank, before putting on his coat with a slight wince. "I'm headin' out."

"To where, exac'ly?" I questioned, hand on my hip as he snorted a laugh.

"You sounded like mama."

That caused me to straighten up and clear my throat. "I need to know, there's wanted posters with your face on it, J.J..."

"Pa told me, I know, 'ey got my chin wrong, though." He stated, grasping at the body part he spoke of. "It's too wide on the poster."

I grinned, watching him leave as he told me where he was going.

"Going ta get myself some meds from the Doc, sister, I'll be back shortly, I reckon."

I nodded after him, telling him to watch himself. What I didn't know was that he was going to the tavern slash whore house as well, and he wouldn't be back shortly. His trip was not short at all. By the time nightfall rolled around, J.J still wasn't home. I was about to set out to find him when he came (practically) tumbling through the door.

"I went..." He was out of breath as he crashed against the table, my mother rushing into the kitchen just as it happened. "I went 'n' got my things an' they wer' - I been shot." J.J noticed, crying out as my father swore to the heavens above.

"Why is it whe' somethin' always happ'ns, it happ'ns to you?" My mother hissed, helping J.J up.

"I shot 'em... Jim Vance, he-"

"Jim Vance is a dog, J.J, you stay the hell away from 'im." My father ordered, shaking his head.

"He saved me, Pa." J.J defended, standing tall, he had a slight nervous tone to his voice. Our father stared at him uneasily, shaking his head.

"How bad you hurt?"

"Got shot in the same place, like they knew where ta get me." J.J replied, covering himself in the area he was shot. There seemed to be more blood than normal, than last time... The area also appeared larger as I shivered while seeing it... As my mother took care of J.J, I sat on the stairs to the the upper part of our home, staring at them. When would we get a break?

A/N: What's that, you say? I'm BACK!? OH GOD, THE WORLD IS ENDING I'VE COME BACK TO UPDATE! Anyway, I realized I haven't updated this story three months on the day, I've kind of been busy with other stories, but that's no excuse. Things will be winding down after the next couple chapters, and yes, this one is pretty short and I apologize but there will be more consecutively and shortly. If you have an comments, concerns or anything you'd like me to add or mention, feel free to contact me.