*Author's Note*
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Lunch, Dinner, & Readin' Dickens
Cap POV:
I was one of the first to arrive at the lumber yard and was greeted by Alex Messer, who had stayed all night on watch duty since it was his assigned week to do so. We didn't talk much, just got to work settin' up a saw and startin' to cut boards out of some of the logs that were ready for cuttin'. I'd say we were sawin' logs for a couple hours 'fore pa pulled up in a wagon with Robert E. and Cotton Top. My cousin didn't do much work 'round the mill other than sweepin' up saw dust and pickin' up the sawed-up limbs from the trees that were considered scrap, but his simple job kept his mind off of losin' his daddy. Shortly after they arrived everyone else started to trickle in.
I worked countless hours til pa announced it was lunch time. I didn't bring anythin' for lunch considerin' the food supply's a bit scarce at my house right now, so I settled to sit on a log by the creek that was a few yards 'way from the loggin' yard. I was skippin' stones into the water, causin' ripples to form on the shallow water, whenever I heard the sound of boots crunchin' on the ground. I didn't look to see who it was comin' over, just continued to skip stones.
"Wanna half the chicken sandwich Vera made me?" I heard my best friend say as he took a seat next to me on the fallen log.
"Sure." I simply nodded, turnin' my head to watch Skunk Hair hand me a sliced half of his sandwich.
I took the sandwich from him and took a bite outta it while hearin' him ask, "There a reason why ya don't got a lunch this afternoon?"
While starin' at the creek in front of us I lengthily told Skunk Hair, "I had'a move into my house last night cause ma's expectin' 'gain and me bein' in the home'll crowd it up. I also moved Nova an' Anna into my place yesterday cause if I didn't Perry Cline would've sold her off to his rich senator friend as a high-class whore for a political scheme, rippin' her 'way from her girl." The air was still an' silent as I finished my explanation wit', "So, I didn't have nothin' t'bring for lunch cause food's scarce an' I left whatever was leftov'r in my breakfast skillet on the stove for Nova an' Anna."
"Damn…" Skunk Hair's voice trailed off. He took a bite outta his sandwich 'fore tellin' me, "Well, that explains why ya were gone most of the day yesterday."
"Yep." I popped my tongue 'fore takin' another bite outta my own sandwich.
Lookin' at me my best friend asked curiously, "So, are ya'll together 'gain or just roommates?"
"Roommates. I killed her husband, she ain't gonna see me like she did when we had our affair." I scoffed, shakin' my head at the man next to me for even askin' if me an' Nova were resumin' our affair that ended months earlier.
"Accordin' to Vera she hated Tolbert so I doubt she's that upset ya killed him."
"Skunk Hair, hate's a strong word. I know she wasn't in love with him, but I doubt she hated him."
"Vera told me that Nova told her the bastard ripped her baby boy outta her arms as he was burnin' an' dyin' up from the fever, locked her outta the room as he cried in pain an' died." Told me 'tween ettin' his chicken sandwich. Givin' me a pointed look he added, "Trust me, buddy, she hated the heartless prick."
My mismatched eyes widened, nearly bulgin' outta my head wit' shock. "He really did that? Hell, no wonder she was so distraught when her boy died."
"Vera told me a few things she learned from Nova 'bout her marriage, cause they bothered her, and let me tell ya that hell would've been nicer for that woman to live in then that cabin with Tolbert."
"Oh…" I trailed off, takin' a large bite outta my lunch.
Lookin' 'tween me an' the half et sandwich in his hand Skunk Hair nosily asked, "So, talk 'bout women, what's goin' on wit'cha and Ninnie?"
"Nothin', haven't had nothin' to do wit' her since a couple days 'fore Ellison got killed by McCoys." I honestly answered him as I finished up my sandwich.
"Does she know it's ov'r 'tween ya'll?" Skunk Hair asked 'fore quickly followin' up his question wit' the fact of, "Once word gets 'round that you're livin' wit' Nova an' her girl Ninnie's gonna insist ya two-timed on her or somethin'."
"I don't care what she thinks when she hears 'bout my livin' situation. It's none of her business an' I ain't gonna be seekin' her out just to tell her I don't want her clingy ass."
Givin' me a serious look my best friend asked, "Do ya know what ya want?"
I narrowed my icy eye an' it's milky white twin at my best friend while askin' him, "What'd ya mean by that, Skunk Hair?"
"I'm speakin' as both your best friend an' a married man wit' a family when I say this, I think ya need'a just admit to your feelin's for Nova and get wit' her already. You're not gettin' any younger, don't drag it out when what ya want's right infront of ya." Skunk Hair told me in a tone that seemed both stern an' lightly advisin' at the same time.
Shakin' my head I sighed, "I ain't a man t'settle down an' marry, ya know that, Skunk Hair."
"Cap, that's just an excuse ya got so ya don't have t'come clean wit' your feelin's. I too thought I wasn't the settlin' type, but then I met Vera, got hitched, an' had a baby."
"I'm tired of talkin' 'bout shit ya don't know nothin' bout. I'm gonna see if I can get back t'work early." I told my best friend, my deep voice a bit rough, as I got up from the log.
As I started to walk away from the creek side log, I heard Skunk Hair's drawl of a voice ask me, "Cap, mind if I bring Vera an' the baby over for supper t'night? I'd imagine Nova'd do good wit' a visit from her best friend."
"Do whatever ya want, I don't mind." I answered, lookin' at him quickly over my shoulder, 'fore continuin' on my trek back to the main part of the loggin' camp.
Novella POV:
When I woke up it was to a cold spot next to me in bed. Cap, true to his word, was already gone. I wonder how long he was gonna be workin' for. Tolbert never did have a time schedule for work, he just came home whenever he came home. Hell, towards the end of our marriage and his life half the time he was walkin' in the door whenever I was cleanin' up dinner. Reckon I'll find out more bout Cap's ways and work schedule as time goes on.
After gettin' out of bed and changin' into one of the dresses that Levicy had given me I went out into the kitchen to make breakfast. What I saw on the stove shocked me. A skillet with some cooked salted pork and potato chunks in it 'long wit' a coffee pot was restin' on the stove that was lowly burnin'. Holy hell, Cap left food for me an' Rihanna to et after makin' himself a quick breakfast. That action of his took me aback. I wasn't expectin' him to do that. Shit, I thought he'd just grab breakfast at his folks' place or somethin'. Quickly I made up two plates and placed them on the table. I also placed a cup of water and a cup of coffee on the table too before headin' upstairs to Rihanna's room to wake her up an' help her dress.
After our breakfast we went to down town Mate Creek, which wasn't too far down the mountainside road from the homestead. The town of Mate Creek was much smaller and quieter then Pikeville was, but I didn't mind that one bit. In fact, I was grateful for the slower pace, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Especially since back in Pikeville I always had whispers soundin' off 'bout me 'hind my back everywhere I went. I was hopin' that I wouldn't become a form of gossip here either, but time can only tell bout that.
After gettin' my supplies from the general store I went to the butcher's shop and got some salted pork. I got it cause it wouldn't go bad since the salt acted like a preserve. Chicken, beef, or plain pork like chops had to be eaten right 'way after butcherin' cause in a couple days it'd go rank. I couldn't afford to come to town every day to buy meat so that's why I bought a large chunk of the salted pork. Once payday came 'round an' Cap got us some livestock the meat situation'd be a bit better for us.
After exitin' the butcher's shop I started to make my way down the wooden sidewalks towards where my wagon was at, pullin' my daughter 'long with me as I held her hand. We were walkin' by the small diner whenever the door suddenly opened up and out walked a tall and slender dark-haired young lady carryin' a basket wit' a covered meal in it. I stopped as quick as I could and tried to pull Rihanna to a stop too, but I wasn't fast 'nough and my daughter accidently bumped into the woman causin' her to get startled and drop her basket. The food contents of said basket fell and crashed all over the sidewalk.
'Fore I could even apologize to her for my girl accidently bumpin' into her, the dark-haired woman narrowed her emerald eyes and shrieked at the top of her lungs, "Your clumsy insolent girl just made me spill my beau's lunch all over the floor! A $1.25 wasted!"
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Truly, I am." I apologized, a sympathetic look on my face. "If I give you the cost to replace the meal would it calm ya down?" I asked, hopin' the my offer would calm the woman down since she looked like she was 'bout ready to throw a fit.
"I s'pose." She snipped, slightly rollin' her eyes an' tiltin' her chin up at me. As I dug into my purse to grab her the money the dark-haired lady shook her head, her ringlet curls flutterin' 'round her egg-shaped face. "I can only hope that I can buy 'nother meal an' get it out to my beau before his lunch break ends. He's a logger an' doesn't get that long of a break."
"Oh, well I'm sure you'll be able to get somethin' an' get it to him quick." I told her as I handed her a buck and a quarter.
"I hope so. I haven't seen him since right before his uncle got killed." Dear lord baby Jesus, this girl's Ninnie. Oh my, Vera was right 'bout her bein' an annoyin' snob. Wait a minute, she hasn't seen Cap since 'fore Ellison died? Why wasn't she 'round, he died ov'r a week 'go. Were they even still t'gether? "Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy a lunch wit' my beau, no thanks to you." Ninnie snidely remark 'fore pivotin' on her heel an' goin' back into the diner to buy 'nother meal.
Rihanna tugged on my skirt, earnin' my attention, an' told me, "Mama, that lady's mean."
"I know, sweetie, but we won't be seein' her much. Don't pay her any mind." I told my daughter in a soft an' motherly tone as I started to walked us down the sidewalk once more towards out wagon.
"Okay, mama." My daughter simply said over the soft clunkin' of our shoes 'gainst the plank walkway as our wagon came into view.
Silently we went ov'r to our wagon that was in front of Shifflet's, got in it, and left town to go back home.
Cap POV:
The scent of fresh cut pine filled my nostrils as I walked 'round with Uncle Jim, doin' guard duty. I was glad to be put on patrol after lunch, I always enjoyed it. Walkin' 'round the grounds beats bendin' up an' down to pick up, carryin', an' drop off boards. That workload always caused an ache an' shootin' pain to make its way up my spine into my back. I always ignored it tho, just worked thru it an' toughed it out. Bein' a guard wit' Jim Vance tho gave me a chance to work the knots outta my back an' keep my spine straight for a while, avoidin' an' gettin' rid of any aches.
We were circlin' 'round the lumber yard for what seemed like the hundredth time whenever I spotted Ninnie, the girl I thought I got rid of by avoidin' like the goddamn plague, pull onto the property.
Tiltin' his head towards Ninnie's wagon my uncle asked in a long crochety snap, "What'd she doin' 'ere? Thought ya got rid o'her?"
"Thought I got rid of her too, but apparently she didn't get the hint." I scoffed, rollin' my eyes as I watched her direct her wagon to the area that was used for parkin' an' hitchin' up wagons an' horses.
Jim placed a heavy hand on my shoulder while givin' me a hard an' stern look. "Better tell her to skidadle or I will. Boy, ya know if I do it, it ain't gonna be pretty."
Shovin' his hand off my shoulder I sighed, "I'll deal wit' her."
"Just tell her ya shackin' up wit' Miss Nova now, that'll make her leave." Uncle Jim chuckled, his round belly jigglin' from how loud an' boomin' his deep sudden laughter was.
I just shook my head at my uncle and made my way over to where Ninnie was, a few feet 'way from her wagon holdin' a basket an' cranin' her neck to try an' look for me. I knew she spotted me walkin' towards her the moment a large smile cracked her face as she waved at me. I didn't wave back, didn't smile or nothin' neither, just kept walkin' towards her.
"Cap, I brought ya lunch." Ninnie told me in her snotty shrill voice, holdin' a basket out to me as I came to a stop right in front of her.
"I already et." I deadpanned, causin' her face to fall. "Ya shouldn't be here, Ninnie. I haven't been callin' on ya in a while, no reason for ya to be here."
"But, Cap, I thought that you'd wanna see me now that things are calmin' down. That you just needed some time to yourself to deal with what happened to Ellison." Was she really that stupid? She couldn't figure out that I weren't comin' 'round for so long cause I didn't care, didn't wanna see her.
"No, it ain't that, I just don't wanna carry on wit'cha no more." I bluntly told her, my face stone still an' serious.
"But we were gettin' along so well." She protested, tryin' to find a tangible reason for me not wantin' to be wit' her. Glad she felt we were gettin' long cause I didn't. Ninnie's too constrictin' for my likin'. Hell she's more my brother's type since Johnse's a bit clingy himself sometimes even tho he does get bored easily an' jumps from woman to woman. Least he did til he met that McCoy twit, now he just pouts an' gets black out drunk ov'r not bein' able to be wit' her. Roseanna gone an' broke my brother…
I let out a long heavy sigh 'fore honestly sayin' in a deep an' frustrated tone, "Ninnie, look, my life's complicated right now. I got a woman an' kid t'care for right now an' can't be bothered wit' courtin' a pain in the ass spoilt brat."
"A woman an' kid to care for? Cap, what are you talkin' about?"
"I took on the role of helpin' Sawyer's widowed cousin. She don't got no place t'stay an' needs my help. All she's got is a quarter claim to this saw mill."
"Well, maybe when she's on her feet we can resume up again?" Ninnie suggested wit' hope radiatin' off her.
Shakin' my head I told her, "No, I ain't gonna want that."
"So, we're done courtin' then?" She asked, her lip slightly tremblin'.
"Yea." I nodded, shovin' one of my hands into my pocket.
"Hell, why couldn't you tell me this before like at my house?" Ninnie asked me 'fore her nostrils flared an' she went on to rant loudly an' shrilly, "You know the hell I went thru to buy your lunch? I went to town, bought you lunch, got trampled by some lil redhead girl when leavin' the diner and had to get repaid for the meal by the mother, then had to buy more food. I was in town buying food for over half an hour cause I ordered fried chicken."
Oh no, don't tell me that it was Nova an' Anna that bumped into her. She said they'd be in town today. "The girl's ma, was she wearin' either a green or blue dress? Maybe a white blouse an' dark red skirt?"
"Yes, the woman was in a green dress. It looked like somethin' your mother has. Oh, and the woman also had her red hair down instead of properly put up." Shit, it was Nova and Anna that Ninnie ran into. Nova never wore her hair up cause she never had a mama to show her how to make buns an' twist, she usually just pulled some hair 'way from her face an' tied it back with a ribbon. She usually fixed Anna's hair in the same way. "Do you know her?"
"Yea, she's Sawyer's cousin. Nova Landon." I informed Ninnie, resultin' in a surprised look to cross over her face. 'Fore she could utter a word I told her, "Just get outta here, Ninne. Don't bother me no more, find a man that wants ya."
Hurt flashed over her egg-shaped face while her emerald eyes turned dull. She quietly nodded her head 'fore turnin' her back to me an' goin' back to her wagon. I didn't bother to watch her leave, just turned 'round an' started walkin' off to find Jim.
Nova POV:
Rihanna was sittin' on the small sofa playin' wit' her new doll while I was in the kitchen finishin' up dinner whenever the door creaked open. I looked over my shoulder to see Cap walkin' over the threshold, takin' both his hat and jacket off and hangin' them onto the wall hooks after he hung his rifle up on the rack by the door. He had a stone-cold look on his face, so I had no idea if he'd seen that brat durin' lunch or not.
"Hey, Anna, have a nice day wit' mama?" I heard Cap ask my daughter in his deep rollin' tone as his heavy bootsteps echoed 'gainst the floor as he made his way over to the sofa.
"Yea. I got a new dollie. Her name's Daisy." Rihanna answered wit' a big smile plastered on her face.
"Daisy, that's a nice name for your dollie." Cap told Rihanna, praisin' her pick of a name for the only toy she had in our house. "Well, I'm gonna talk to mama in the kitchen for a lil bit."
"Okay." My daughter simply nodded, continuin' to play wit' her doll as Cap walked by her, makin' his way into the kitchen.
"Skunk Hair an' Vera's comin' over wit' the baby for dinner. They'll be here soon." Cap informed me as he came to a stop right next to me.
"You invited them over tonight? I didn't know ya were gonna do that." I remarked, flippin' over the skillet friend potatoes to ensure that they were done.
"I didn't invite them, he invited them himself. Thought ya seein' Vera'd do ya good." Cap explained, causin' me to just nod my head as I moved the skillet ov'r to the counter so that the potatoes wouldn't burn since they were done. Cap pulled somethin' outta his pocket 'fore joinin' me at the country. "Here's your money back." He told me, holdin' his hand out to me.
"Oh, so Ninnie did manage to get your lunch to ya." I concluded, takin' the money from Cap an' shovin' it into my apron pocket.
"No, she came by after I took my lunch. I'm givin' ya the money back cause I don't think ya should've given it to her in the first place."
"Rihanna accidently bumped into your lady friend, I just repaid her the cost of the meal since she seemed distraught."
Cap's mismatched eyes bore into my cornflower blue ones as he revealed, "Nova, she ain't my lady friend. That's been over since a couple days 'fore election day. She's just clingy, didn't wanna admit it was over." Before I could say anything back to him a knock sounded at the door. Aha so Skunk Hair, Vera, an' baby Bridie were here. "I'll get the door." Cap announced 'fore leavin' my side.
"I'll start makin' up the plates." I told Cap, grabbin' the few plates we had in the house while he went to open the door.
"Hey, Skunk Hair, Vera, come on in." I heard Cap tell our guests after openin' up the door for them.
"Place still needs some touches done on it, but I'm sure Nova'll get that sorted out." Vera told Cap, a light jest in her voice, a she walked into the house. "I brought over a pie, hun." My friend smiled as she made her way into the kitchen, holding a large covered dish.
"And I brought the baby." Skunk Hair announced, newborn held tightly in his arms, as he walked into the house. Seein' Skunk Hair holdin' his newborn an' dotin' on her was heart warmin'. Too bad Tolbert was the complete opposite wit' Rihanna when she was born, he seemed to loathe her for bein' born a girl. Bridie was lucky that Skunk Hair was adaptin' well to fatherhood.
Honestly 4-years ago, I never would've said a kind word 'bout Skunk Hair or even considered that he had a nice side to him, but today I knew that he was a good man and considered him an acquaintance. Skunk Hair was after all married to Vera, my best friend since this summer, and she had always spoken very highly of him. Skunk Hair was also Cap's best friend and I knew from person experience that Cap was a man with a cold exterior, but a warm interior and had a good sense of judgement. I knew that he wouldn't be friends with somebody that had a bad personality.
"I wanna see the baby!" Rihanna exclaimed as she stood up from the sofa and rushed over to Skunk Hair while Cap was shuttin' the door.
"Sure, ya can see her when we're sittin'." Skunk Hair told Rihanna, givin' her a nod, 'fore gesturin' at the kitchen table his wife was already sittin' at.
Rihanna didn't say a word, just rushed over to the table. While I was placin' the fixed-up plates on the table I heard Cap ask Skunk Hair as they made their way into the kitchen, "She always this good?"
"Yep, so far she is." Skunk Hair answered as they reached the table.
"Bridie loves to sleep, barely cries either." Vera bragged as I placed the coffee pot an' some mugs on the table while Cap took his spot at the head of the table while Skunk Hair sat next to his wife.
"She's tiny." Rihanna remarked innocently in her small bell-like voice as she looked at the small dark-haired baby 'cross the table from her in Skunk Hair's arms.
"All babie's are tiny, sweetheart. Takes years for 'em to grow." I told my daughter in a sweet motherly tone as I placed a glass of milk in front of her 'fore goin' on to take my seat next to her an' 'cross from Vera. "So, how was work at the saw mill?" I asked, changin' the subject off of babies since it was a bitter-sweet topic for me considerin' how I'd prolly nev'r have anymore of my own.
While passin' me the coffee pot, after pourin' himself a cup, Cap simply answered wit', "So-so, could've been better, could've been worse."
"Least it ain't your week for night watch." Skunk Hair pointed out to Cap as I quickly poured myself a cup of coffee. "I got watch duty next week." Skunk Hair revealed as I passed him the pot. Takin' the pot from me an' procedin' to pour coffee for both himself an' his wife he went on to say, "I'd rather spend my nights sleepless cause of a hungry baby cryin' then walkin' the grounds of the loggin' camp."
Turnin' to look at Cap, who was stuffin' his face full of fried potatoes, I simply asked, "When is your turn for night watch?"
"Dunno, whenever pa tells me to do it, I reckon." Cap answered before grabbin' some salt-pork and takin' a large bite outta it.
After dinner Cap an' Skunk Hair went out on the porch to smoke an' took the chil'ren wit' them, leavin' me an' Vera in the kitchen to do up the dishes. I was washin' while Vera was dryin'. It was very nice, made me nostalgic an' reminded me of my lost friendship and sisterhood wit' Roseanna. Once the dishes were done the Wallaces left, but not 'fore invitin' us to their place for dinner to return the favor, which would take place in a few days.
I was 'bout to get started on sewin' a new dress for Rihanna whenever Cap went over to the large sack of books he had on the floor 'tween the sofa an' a sittin' chair. Lookin' at Rihanna he waved her over while suggestin' in his deep rollin' tone, "Anna, come help me pick out a book t'read."
"You're gonna read t'us?" Rihanna asked, a tone of disbelief in her small voice, as she looked at Cap wit' questionin' blue eyes.
"Yep." Cap popped his tongue 'fore goin' on to asked, "Wanna pick somethin' out?"
"Okay." Rihanna jumped off the sofa, quickly rushin' ov'r to Cap's side. Lookin' at him she asked, "I can pick an'thing I want?"
"Yea, just look thru the bag an' find somethin'. I'll be sittin' in the chair, just give me your pick when you're ready." He told her, his deep timbre a bit soft, 'fore goin' ov'r to his chair to sit down.
It only took a couple of minutes 'fore Rihanna was runnin' over to Cap an' dumpin' a heavy book into his lap while sayin', "Here, read that."
"Rihanna, what do you say?" I sternly prompted as I looked up from my sewin' an' at her.
A sheepish look crossed over my daughter's face 'fore she corrected her rudeness and told Cap, "Please, read that."
"Okay." Cap nodded, his shaggy blonde hair swayin' a bit. Takin' the book in his hand he told Rihanna, "Go sit by mama an' I'll read it."
"Okay." Rihanna said excitedly 'fore rushin' ov'r to the sofa an' quickly sittin' down next to me.
Cap opened the book an' cleared his throat 'fore readin' the words of, "Chapter 1: Treats Of The Place Where Oliver Twist Was Born And Of The Circumstances Attending His Birth." Rihanna was huggin' her doll an' watchin' Cap intensely as he read out loud in his deep wavin' timbre, "Among other public buildings in a certain town, which for many reasons it will be prudent to refrain from mentioning, and to which I will assign no fictitious name, there is one anciently common to most towns, great or small: to wit, a workhouse; and in this workhouse was born; on a day and date which I need not trouble myself to repeat, inasmuch as it can be of no possible consequence to the reader, as in this stage of the business at all events; the item mortality whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter."
I noticed out of the corner of my eye how listening to Cap read seemed to make Rihanna happy. She never had her late poppy read to her, I did all of the readin', so this was somethin' excitin' an' new for her. I must admit that I didn't mind Cap readin' out loud, it was nice to listen to a story while I sewed instead of listenin' to my inner thoughts an' doubts.
AN:
Ooo, Skunk Hair's trying to be the voice of reason to Cap when it comes to feelings. Interesting huh? Cap's already proving himself to be good for Nova and Anna. I imagine with all of the siblings Cap had he'd be good with kids. Plus, in the show he was rough housing and playing with his brother at the 1880 election day fair, so safe to say I think he'd be good with Rihanna.
The reason why Cap and Novella marry quickly should be in the next chapter. Any guesses on what it is?
