The early morning light was barely rising when the whole clan was hitching up their wagons. Maria was laying in the wagon holding that once hated book Cap gave her.

hopefully the story will help later with keeping her mind off the idiot boys that killed her poppy. She hated herself for fancying one of them before.

Maria had her Election Day planned out. It consisted of two things. Staying in the wagon and drinking honest out of a profit just because.
Cap and Johnny walked out with their feet dragging too tired to even open your eyes fully. Johnsy going on about one of the tavern girls he hopes to see there. "Hope you know that Samantha has been asking about you."

"Them girls know not to bother me outside this bar.."

The side conversation ended there but echoed on the ride over inside her head. What a bittersweet started the day..

It was just an hour into the event but she sure did keep to the plan.
" Maria Staton you better not get too sloshed" Jim Vance jokes as the girl almost dropped back the 3 cup of moonshine since they parked and set shop up.

"You've met my Pa, I bet his iron gut was passed down to me" she jokes but didn't like thinking of Bill Staton. Maria was practically laying in the back of the Hatfield's wagon.

Her legs dangling down playfully jabbing at Cap with her boot. "maria stop kicking me with that dirty boot girl"

she laughed but knew not to press them too far or she'll be cut off.

"get me down i'll go socialize now." lifting her hands out blindly. Cap went for the tipsy girl instead of letting another the the treat, He swung Maria to the grass with a smile "don't go near those fools we'll keep watch,"
as maria walked away she hear them joking and a cup fall behind her.

She happened upon Cotton at the inventor displays

"It's mighty amazon what the world thinks of." she talked to the light headed boy. he just looked at her unresponsive making her feel odd.
"Now my boy its rude not to respond when a pretty lady speaks to you." Ellison walked up to the pair and grabbed Maria's hand kissing it.

" My deepest apologies hun" oh lord how he could make her feel faltered and uncomfortable at the same time. He started greeting her specially when he came about lately.

Please dance with me . She really didn't want but feeling of the warm alcohol made her agree. Ellison grabbed her by the waist and pull her onto the dance floor.

She was actually enjoying the dance being spun about,

Cap loved his uncle Ellison. He was a good man. What he didn't like catching him eyeing Maria up. His past spoke volumes on something lacking in his character.

Cotton-Top's ma was the same age as Maria now when he got her with child, but didn't own up to the responsibility until the girl passed.

Cap felt strongly about people avoiding their responsibilities. A child is innocent and the few women he laid with cap would make sure to pull out.

He was cautious when it can to letting Maria being near Ellison for to long alone. Looking out for the young girl.

Cap wouldn't let her leave his side after that dance, he cut in and took over the set after spotting his uncle hold her close, his hand starting to drift down her waist. Caps legs took over making him part the two.

"I'm sure you do not mind Uncle E." But the brazen move did not go over so well with ellison.

"go ahead boy, we'll talk later how to treat a lady proper."
She waited until the older man was out of sight to whisper to Cap
"mighty glad you came to save me."
"he tends to think every girl fancies him."
"well perhaps one day he'll leave me be, its odd how ellison keeps trying to talk to me."
"well when he starts touching , you best let me know."
Cap soon found words were hard to say as he looked into her smiling face. the first time in a while a Hatfield got too see the joy she had inside.

without realizing cap mutter
"you look so beautiful when smiling."

Maria's eyes went wide and checks red. Taking that moment to mind he decided to spin her. Hoping she was not uncomfortable by his unguarded confession

"let's go give johnsy's booze away for free."

" as long as i get to have a few cups" With arms linked they journey back to the wagon looking around to notice most his kin.

"where is that fool anyhow" cap wondered out aloud. "well i saw him running of into the woods with Rosanna mccoy"

"what a god awful idea on his part."

The family started to come together as time went on. Maria heard the unmistakable sound of strings being plucked. Memories of her pa and gran sitting by the fire tuning their fiddle came to mind.
By sundown she could hear the McCoy's yelling for their sister and she hadn't seen the oldest hatfield surface yet.

"i bet he got a lot of stories to tell by tomorrow." she said to Cap.
"fools can only enjoy such tales." his face showed how ashamed his brother he was.

" i can't wait to see him as a old man, lonely and poor." her words slurring as the day of non-stop drinking had added up.

"go rest your head in the back, won't be a fun fall off the wagon."

For some reason that made Maria laugh harder as the girl did as told.