"Cassandra, what are you getting all primped up for?" Joshua asked.

"I'm getting 'primped up' for the election day festivities. Is that so bad?" I retorted.

"It's not bad at all, it's just kind of funny. I think you may have a liking for a certain someone is all."

I began laughing and had him tighten my corset for me. Since mother died, my brother has been the one to tighten my corsets for me. Somebody had to do it. I looked pretty good, if I had to boast. I didn't like to, but sometimes I did. I couldn't wait to see Cap. I was so excited. We soon left for the election day grounds. I felt so giddy inside, I was ready to see Cap and have fun for the first time since I've been here. My dad and Joshua kept looking at me like I belonged in the loony bin. Maybe I did, but oh well, I felt happy.

When we arrived I immediately started scanning the crowd for Cap. I didn't see him anywhere. I began getting disappointed and started climbing down from the wagon when I felt a pair of hands wrap around my waist and pull me down.

"Hey beautiful." I looked up to see Cap. I instantly felt a grin spread across my face.

"You scared me, Cap. I looked for you and couldn't find you, then all of a sudden you're behind me pulling me down from my wagon." I laughed.

"You're hard to miss in that bright blue dress ya got on."

"Oh yes, I guess it is hard to miss. It's one of my favorites."

"You're gonna go and make all the other girls jealous." He said with a smirk.

"I'm not trying to make anyone jealous, It's just all that I have are dresses from New York."

"I don't see how ya breath in em to be honest."

"I don't." I said and we both began laughing. We walked around and he showed me everything there was to see. He introduced me to a few people and they all asked if he was courting me. To which he simply answered "Not yet." And would smile. He was so sweet, he bought me a caramel apple.

"So, you wanna watch me in the shooting contest?" He asked.

"Sure that sounds fun." I replied. He went up to the line and was getting ready to shoot when we started hearing cat calls. There were men standing all around that I'd not seen before. They were whistling at me, making me feel uncomfortable.

"Shut the hell up, ya assholes! She ain't none of yours!" Cap yelled. "God damn McCoys."

"Oh yeah like you gotta lot of room to talk ya one eyed ape! Ya ain't gotta chance with that girl!" I heard a boy with short red hair and a beard say. That made me so mad that he would say something like that to Cap.

"Hey! That's not true, he damn well has a better chance than any of you filthy drunks!" I yelled.

"Listen here ya little snooty bitch! Ya ain't-" The red head had his hand up to slap me. I waited for the blow, but he was suddenly cut short by the butt of Caps gun.

"Come on, Cassie, let's go." He put his arm around me and led me away. I felt safe with him.

"Why did you just let them call you that? It's not right."

"Well, I wasn't about to get into a gun fight with that idiot McCoy, unless it was to protect you. I don't know you that well yet, Cassandra, but I care about ya. You're different and you're sweet." He was just so sweet to me. I couldn't help but stop and just look up into his eyes. They were so wonderful looking.

"Hey, Cassie, what do ya say we get out of here and I show you a place I like to go and think? It's a secret spot."

"Well, it's not a secret if you show me." I laughed.

"It can be our secret then." He smiled.

We walked for at least a half an hour through the woods when finally we came upon a small clearing with a huge lake. It was so beautiful, I couldn't believe it.

"Wow, Will, it's just beautiful! I've never seen anything like it!"

"Well I plan on building a small cabin right here in this little clearing, so it's facing the lake. One day i'll have to get married and I want this to be where our home is."

"That sounds beautiful. I bet she'll be a lucky woman to have you for a man." Why was it that i had this awful disappointing feeling inside. The thought of him being with another woman somehow upset and angered me at the same time. I couldn't understand it. Was it love at first sight? Had I some how fallen in love with him? I know I fell in love with his mismatched eyes the first time I saw him.

"Yeah, I guess."

"What do you mean you guess?" I questioned. "Any woman would be lucky to have you for a man. I have told you this before."

"I love it when you get mad, it's cute."

"You're awful." I laughed.

"C'mon, it's gettin dark. Your pa and brother will wonder where you're at then have my head."

As we were walking back, we were just talking and laughing then all of a sudden Will told me to be quiet.

"Why what's wrong?" I asked and he pulled his pistol out.

"I hear something, come here." He then pulled me close to his side and I held onto him.

"Well, well, well. What have we got here, boys? Looks like ol one eye an' his fancy whore." We then saw the red head man from earlier and a few other men come out of the dark.

"What do ya want Tolbert?" Will asked with venom in his words.

"We was just passin through, but looks like we come across some trash, needs to be got rid of." Tolbert said amused.

"You ain't gettin rid of shit. You touch one hair on this girls head and I'll kill ya." Cap threatened.

"Bullshit. That girl just pity's ya. Why don't ya come an be with a real man that's got 'imself two good eyes."

"You're disgusting." I spat and William hushed me.

"Bitch, you're just as good as a Hatfield." After he said this a man came from behind and grabbed me by my hair and I screamed out for Will. I looked up to see a group of men overpowering Will.

The two men that had me started to rip away at my clothes with a knife. My naked body was then exposed. I scratched at one of the mens faces, he then punched me in the jaw in return. I screamed in agony and heard Will yell my name. The last thing that I remembered after that was being spat on and punched once more in the face and at last hearing a gun firing.

*~*Two days later*~*

When I awoke the next day, I was in a strange place, my body in agony. I didn't even want to open my eyes because of the bright sun shining through. I heard voices and the sound of a little girl yelling to somebody that the pretty lady was awake. I then heard footsteps, more than one person. I was afraid that it may very well be my attackers from the night before.

"Cassandra, are you awake?" It was an unfamiliar female voice. I opened my eyes to see a beautiful woman standing over me. She had dark hair and pretty eyes, tall and skinny, but had curves so you knew she'd had kids. She was older, so of course she did.

"Wh-where am I?" I asked.

"You're safe, it's ok. You're in West Virginia, Cassandra. You're with friends, don't be afraid." Said the woman.

"What happened? Where's William? Is he ok?" I had so many questions, but it hurt to talk.

"It's alright, Cassie, he's in the next room. He's been worried about you. You've been out for 2 whole days child." Two days! Oh no, my family is probably worried!

"I need to see him, please." I was now frantic. I was scared that he'd been shot.

"Alright, Cassandra, calm down now. I'll go and get him." She left the room and I heard another set of footsteps, heavier this time.

"Cassandra?" It was William.

"Oh my gosh, Will, you're alright! I was so worried! I thought you were dead!" I started bawling and tried to get to my feet, but he laid his hand on my shoulder as if telling me not to. I laid back down and he sat on the bed beside me.

"It's aright, it takes a lot more than a few McCoys to take me out. It was you that I was worried about. You got hit pretty hard. That was mamma that was just in here. She's been taking care of you. She cleaned you up and put a gown on ya. She sent for your family awhile ago."

"What happened, Will? The last thing that I can remember is being hit and then gunfire. That's why I thought you were dead."

"The gunfire you heard was my pa riding up with Johnse, Jim Vance, and the others. They heard you screaming and come runnin. I just got beat up on a little. Them two men tried to take advantage of you while the others make me watch." He explained.

"William, did they-"

"No. You're alright besides bein beat up. They rode up just in time, killed two of em. Rest got away. We brought you straight here to take care of ya. Your family has been in and out but everyone agreed it was best not to move you til you woke up."

"Oh William thank heaven!" I shot straight up and wrapped my arms around his neck. In all of my pain, I still found strength to do that. I wanted to thank him and his family to the ends of the earth for saving my life. I then felt his arms around me as well and then he kissed my wounded cheek lightly and I smiled.

"That tickles, stop!" I laughed. "Ouch, it hurts to laugh." I couldn't stop though because I was happy we were alive.

"Calm down killer before you hurt yourself more." He laughed. "I'm gonna go get ma so she can get ya dressed. Wouldn't want ya comin out here an lettin all my family seein ya half naked, Then they may try stealin ya from me, and I can't have that." He then left the room to get his mom. His words weighed heavily on me. Does he see me as his?

"Oh shit." I said to myself as I just realized he could see my body through this thin white gown. I couldn't stop from blushing even when his mother walked in with clothes in her arms.

"What's got you all red in the face child?" She smiled.

"Nothing, I just realized that the whole time William was in here with me, he could see me." I looked down to show her what I meant. She began laughing and came and sat next to me.

"Oh dear, I guess that would be a problem wouldn't it?" She asked, still smiling. "But I don't think any of that will matter too much longer."

"Why do you say that?"

"Call it a mother's tuition, but I think my boy more than just likes ya."

"You really think so?"

"I know so. The way he's beat himself up over what happened to ya the past two days...well it's somethin a man would act about a woman he loves. He wanted to chase down those men and kill em. He would have, too, but Anse wouldn't let him. Anse reminded him in his anger that you was beat up really bad and needed to be taken someplace safe to recover. When they brought ya to me, it was all I could do to keep him out of here while I cleaned you up. He blames himself for what happened."

"It's not his fault though. If I was't there he could have got away easier."

"He doesn't see it that way and none of us do either. We're just happy you're safe."

"Let me repay you. I need to do something to make it up to you."

"Just be good to my boy, alright?"

"I promise."

"Good girl, now let's get ya dressed, so you can help me make dinner."

"Umm...Mrs Hatfield?"

"Call me Levicy."

"Levicy, I don't really know how to cook. My mother passed away awhile back, and between her and the maid they done all of the cooking. I'm sorry."

"No need to feel sorry, dear. I'll teach you." She helped me to get dressed and we talked awhile longer about my family life. We laughed about Williams temper and other things. I really felt like I could trust this woman. She felt like a mother to me already. I knew I could be apart of this family if William and I ever did marry. I realized that it truly was love at first sight.

Woo! Long ass chapter! But well worth it to bring these two people together. Well almost.