*Author's Note*
Thanks for all of the follows, faves, and reviews.
Hope ya'll like this chapter, it's Thanksgiving themed. I don't have a face claim for Uncle Wall's common law wife Jane. She has dark hair and is middle-aged so just use whoever you want. She won't be written in much, just once and a while.
Nannie Hatfield's face claim is Kristen Bell and Betty Hatfield's face claim is Dakota Fanning.
Anyways…
First Hatfield Family Holiday
Novella POV:
Yesterday was a bust, Johnse wasn't able to see Roseanna and the baby so once he got back to Mate Creek he sought refuge in the tavern to drown his sorrows. Most likely he took up wit' the company of a warm body too, but that was none of my business. Turns out that Uncle Jim was a pretty good babysitter since all Anna did was gush about Unca Jim and talk 'bout stories that he told her. Uncle Jim also made sure that my apple pies didn't burn and he didn't even sneak a slice either. Man had a nice streak in him for bein' an unkempt grumpy mountain man that kept company with a huntin' mutt-hound.
Uncle Jim ended up staying for dinner and bunkin' out on the sofa. I didn't mind, he was close to Cap and Anna seemed to like the man too. I know that I heard time and time 'gain growin' up from Nancy McCoy that Jim Vance was an evil murderer, but in my own experience he seemed just fine to me. Yes, he was a bit crochety and rough 'round the edges, but he didn't seem to be cruel or murderous. Jim Vance just didn't put up with shit and had a blunt personality. I respected the man and in turn he respected me.
As I've done since my weddin' night, I fell asleep in Cap's arms after we made love. The light streamin' into our bedroom window markin' sunrise woke me up on this Thanksgivin' mornin'. A lazily smile appeared on my face as I looked up at my husband, who was sleepin' with a peaceful look on his rugged face as his arm was wrapped protectively 'round my back holdin' me close to him. I didn't want to stir him, and since we were goin' to the main house for holiday breakfast I didn't need to get out of bed, so I decided to lightly trace the spatterin' of golden hair on Cap's chest that was shinnin' in the mornin' sunlight.
"What're ya doin', sweetlin'?" Cap asked in a low mumble, his deep voice groggy and laced with sleepiness, while keepin' his eyes closed.
"Nothin'." I simply answered while continiun' to lightly trace my husband's chest.
"Nothin'." Cap parroted before addin', "Could've fooled me, seems like you're tryin' to wake me for a mornin' go."
"No, I just didn't want to get up an' stir ya." I honestly told him, pattin' his chest before restin' my head on it.
"Mhm…" My husband hummed, his voice deep in the back of his throat. His hand began to lazily stoke up and down my spine as he told me, "So, ya ready for your first Hatfield family holiday?"
"Yea, reckon I am. Can't be any worse then all the colorful holidays I survived in the past."
"Oh, so McCoy holidays ain't too good then?" Cap asked, a slight sarcastic chuckle in his deep tone.
"Nope, always some kind of problems gonna on." Lookin' up at Cap I revealed, "When I was 16-years-old I was told by Perry Cline that I had'a move in with Tolbert and the McCoys. I protested and then got into a spat wit' Tolbert. Threw a bowl of peas on him when he told me to shut up an' pass 'em."
"Damn, that sounds like it was some Thanksgivin' dinner." My husband whistled, shakin' his head. "Well, Nova, ya don't have t'worry bout nothin' like that happenin' today. Us Hatfields are loud, but we ain't crazy." My husband assured me, wantin' me to know that I didn't need to fear a blow-up wit' his family. Well, my family too since I married into it. Cap pushed some of my tangled copper hair away from my face while givin' me a gentle smile and sayin', "Darlin', you'll do just fine helpin' mama in the kitchen. Don't worry, you'll get on just fine."
"I'm not worried." And I wasn't. Nervous, yes, but not worried.
"Mhm…" My husband mumbled, a light smirk crossin' his rugged face.
Suddenly a loud knock sounded at the bedroom door accompanied by the deep boomin' voice of Uncle Jim sayin', "Stop screwin' 'round in there and get up. I wanna go to the main house an' et."
"We're up, Jim. Be ready in a few minutes." Cap loudly told his uncle resultin' in the sound of shufflin' bootsteps echoin' 'way from our bedroom door. "Looks like we ain't gettin' that mornin' go." Cap let out in a sigh as he sat up.
"Don't be too disappointed, you'll get your go later tonight." I told my husband, sittin' up an' flingin' the quilt off so that I could get outta bed, as he stood up and went over to our dresser.
Openin' up the top drawer an' takin' a pair of white longjohns out of the dresser my husband smirked, "Reckon I will." Pulling his undershirt over his head Cap advised, "We better dress quick unless we want Jim bangin' on our door 'gain."
I just nodded my head, stoppin' next to my husband at our dresser and grabbin' my shift from my drawer as he pulled on his longjohn pants 'fore grabbin' his socks an' shuttin' his top drawer. Silently and quickly we dressed, not wantin' to be bothered by Uncle Jim who was more impatient then our child was.
Breakfast at the main house was nice and a bit noisy. When I say noisy, I mean everyone was talkin' and conversin', even the chil'ren, so chatter was heavy in the air of the large kitchen. The chil'ren were very warm an' acceptin' to Anna, which was a breath of fresh air to me considerin' how much she was teased and picked on ov'r in Kentucky. Cottontop Mounts was over the moon to learn that I was married to Cap and that Anna was now Cap's daughter. He was happy to gain more family members, even remarked that he liked me wit' Cap cause I was nice.
Breakfast was almost over whenever Devil Anse, who was seated at the head of the table, shook his head and revealed in a heavy sigh, "Yesterday when I was out huntin' the turkey Parris an' Squirrel McCoy tried to shoot me."
"Oh hell, now those gun happy bastards are goin' deep into our huntin' grounds on our lands t'hunt us." Jim spat out in a boomin' scoff, tobacky spittle sprayin' into the air mixed in wit' the crumbs from the biscuit he was chewin' on.
"Times are gettin' dangerous, we gotta stick together to survive as a family." Levicy told us, her syrupy voice a bit firm, as she looked over everyone sittin' at the long table. Well, everyone 'cept for Johnse since he hadn't shown up at the house. Hell, even Judge Wall and his lover Jane along with Essie and my cousin Sawyer was present for breakfast, but not Johnse since he was most likely sleepin' off a hangov'r in bed wit' a whore at the tavern downtown.
"Lone wolf dies, but the pack survives." My husband remarked 'fore shovin' a spoonful of grits into his mouth.
Judge Wall cut his younger brother a look 'fore takin' a sip of his coffee and voicin' out a warnin' of, "Anse, you need to be careful. Ole McCoy and Peckerwood Cline have high prices out and people will do anythin' to cash in on that."
"I am bein' careful, don't go nowhere without my guns handy." Devil Anse declared 'tween chewin' on a biscuit.
"Uncle Anse, McCoys tried to kill ya yesterday on your huntin' grounds so maybe you should make it a habit to hunt in groups. Safety in numbers." Sawyer remarked while scarfin' down his grits.
Lookin' over at my father-in-law I made the remark of, "My brother, Moses, has been tellin' me stuff he overhears in Pikeville. The other day he said that Parris is desperate for money cause he just married one of the whores from the Pikeville whorehouse."
"What else did our lil spy find out?" Jim asked 'fore takin' a large slurpin' sip of his coffee.
"Squirrel's got a job part-time clerkin' at the general store, Adam's." I told Jim as I reached over and picked up my cup of coffee. "He put in an order for his brother for some kind of telescope."
"A gun telescope? Oh, so he plans on shootin' us all wit' it." Lias said, shakin' his head, as he munched on his bacon.
"Gonna take a while to get here by push-pull." Anse said knowingly, sippin' on his coffee. "Everybody, be careful." He said 'fore eyin' up Cap and Jim wit' the instruction of, "Ya'll are on daylight guard duty indefinitely." Lookin' at me Devil Anse ordered, "Keep gettin' regular updates from your brother. They're helpful to us an' our safety."
"What 'bout his safety?" Sawyer asked, a concerned look on his face. "He's a boy gettin' caught up in a dangerous spot."
"He knows if things get too hot, he's gotta come to our house. I told him that when he said he was gonna be our spy." Cap told Sawyer, answerin' my cousin's question 'bout Mo's safety.
"Boy's near 13, can handle a gun good, an' has a sarcastic attitude, so he'll be fine. Anybody that try an' stop him from spyin's gonna be in danger." Jim Vance told everyone, earnin' nods and hums from the men 'round the table while us women just remained completely silent.
I was in the kitchen with Levicy, Jane, Essie, Vera, Nannie, and Betty. Nannie was Cap's 15-year-old little sister while Betty was the 10-year-old little sister. Of course, there were other little sisters, but Nannie and Betty were the only ones allowed in the kitchen. Mary Jane, who was nearly 12-years old, was outside watchin' an' playin' wit' all the children. Robert E. and Cotton were also outside with her.
Betty was a sweet girl with golden blonde hair who had taken an instant likin' to me once she met me. She was actin' as my helper as I peeled potatoes. Levicy and Jane were kneadin' dough while Essie and Nannie were peelin' carrots. Vera was just sittin' at the table, rockin' her baby, while keepin' us ladies company. I knew that today was hard on her, bein' newly widowed an' all durin' a holiday that celebrated thankfulness an' family. Her just showin' up was good, meant she wasn't divin' into a depression or somethin'.
While grabbin' a carrot to peel from a bowl full of the orange vegetables Nannie looked at Levicy pitifully while askin' the innocent question of, "Mama, why wouldn't you and pa let Brandon come over for dinner? He's nice and likes me."
Levicy punched down her dough, kneadin' it, while shakin' her head an' tellin' her daughter in a stern laced tone, "Brandon's a neighbor to the McCoys, we don't allow those close to them people inside our home. " Tiltin' her head at her daughter with a narrowed look she added, "Ya know that, Nannie."
"Brandon McClintock's on the fast track to becomin' a drunk like his father, Ben. Stay 'way from that boy." I bluntly advised the young girl who'd just come of courtin' age. I knew how Brandon was gonna turn out, was married to a drunk once myself, so I felt the need to warn Nannie. She was too nice an' pretty of a girl to settle for the first jackass to come knockin'.
Lookin' up from her baby, but never stoppin' her light rockin' of Bridie, Vera told my sister-in-law, "Listen to her, Nan, she knows what she's talkin' 'bout."
The light blonde teen paused in her actions of peelin' a carrot only to whine, "But if Brandon gets turned 'way I might become an old maid. Nobody else's approached me for courtin'." Wit' her bright crystal blue eyes an' long pin straight blonde hair she wouldn't have any problems gettin' a suitor, she just had to wait for one that didn't want her entire family maimed, dead, or jailed is all.
"Nannie, I was like you once and was so worried 'bout becomin' an old maid that I made a brash decision outta fear. Once that I kind'a regret. If I would've waited, I could've had it easier." I honestly told the girl as I grabbed a potato from the bowl and started to quickly peel it. Givin' Nannie a soft smile I advised, "Just give it some time, when you least expect it the right man'll come 'round."
"Don't be in such a hurry to grow up, Nannie. Take Nova's advice, wait til the right man comes 'long." Jane told her niece, her chestnut eyes slanted slightly as she kneaded dough wit' her flour covered hands.
Nannie just let out a defeated sighed and nodded her head, knowin' that she couldn't do anythin' other then take the advice she was just given.
Meanwhile Outside On The Porch
Cap POV:
All of us men were gathered outside on the porch while the women prepared the holiday meal inside. The younger kids were playin' outside, laughin' an' gigglin'. My siblin's were gettin' 'long real good wit' my daughter, which I knew they would. My family was large an' loud, nobody got left behind an' everybody got 'long pretty good. If ya were family ya were welcomed no matter if you were different or not. I knew that my family's outlook, our way, was good for both Anna and Nova after the hell they went thru 'cross the Tug at the hands of the McCoys and Cline. I knew that Anna was often snubbed an' picked on for her ear by those bastards; that it broke Nova's heart to witness too. Seein' my daughter happily playin' with other chil'ren, her kin, brought a smile to my face. Kids should be happy when growin' up, I know I was and just think that's the way it ought'a be.
"You seem t'be adjstin' well to fatherhood, son." Pa told me from his spot on his rocker, his pipe danglin' in the corner of his mouth.
Lookin' 'tween my pa an' all the kids playin' in the yard from my spot leanin' 'gainst the porch post I nodded an' said, "Reckon I am. She's a good kid."
"Does she ever ask questions 'bout that redhead bastard?" Uncle Wall asked me 'fore takin' a long drag off his cigar.
"No." I simply answered with the shake of my head. Ever since me an' Nova said I do Anna's been callin' me pa wit'out any problems. With her bein' so young I reckon she'll view me an' only me as pa, which is fine wit' both me an' my wife.
"Girl views Cap 'ere as her pa. Hell, he more less is considerin' he's got the bond wit' her. Bad eye an' bad ear ya know." Uncle Jim told everyone loudly wit' his boomin' deep voice 'tween sippin' on his flask as he sat on one of the porch steps.
While givin' my gruff uncle a tilted look I asked him, "And why're ya so nice to her for, Jim?"
"She likes dogs an' she ain't no whiny girl." Jim listen off 'fore shruggin' an' addin' in a nonchalant tone, "'Sides she belongs to the woman you've been eyin' up for years."
"I haven't been eyin' up Nova for years." I denied 'fore quickly addin' in, "Just been friendly, lookin' out 'fore her's all."
"Didn't ya bull 'round after findin' out Nova was my cousin an' married to that ginger dickweed?" Sawyer asked from his spot next to Uncle Wall, pointin' his cigar at me.
I just narrowed my eyes at my cousin-in-law while Jim let out a loud scoff of, "Course he did since he built a house on land, I sold him, thinkin' he'd be able to get her to court him."
"Cline married her off cause Cap showed an interest." Pa said pointin' his pipe at me. "Can't say I knew much 'bout the girl other then hearin' she was bookish." He admitted wit' a shrug as he rocked in his rocker, stone faced an' watchin' the chil'ren over yonder run 'round an' play in the vast yard.
"Can we stop talkin' bout this? Shit, it's in the past." I sighed, grabbin' my cigarette case out of my front shirt pocket.
"Why, embarrassed, Cap?" Frenchie asked in a teasin' chuckle from his spot on the other side of the porch.
"No, I ain't embarrassed, just don't need'a be thinkin' too hard on past shit." I mumbled as I stuck a cigarette into my mouth and lit it.
"Everythin' worked out, ya got the girl." Alex Messer said from his spot leanin' on a porch post opposite me.
"Of course, he got the girl, they were havin' an affair." Jim chuckled, slappin' his knee wit' his hand that wasn't holdin' his flask.
"Jim…" I groaned out, shakin' my head, 'fore takin' a long an' calmin' drag off my smoke.
"What? It's the truth, son." Uncle Jim said, feignin' ignorance.
I just shook my head an' let some smoke out of my lungs while turnin' my attention back to watchin' the chil'ren playin' in the nearby distance.
Novella POV:
The sun was beginnin' to go down, castin' an orange-yellow glow and evenin' shadows on the frostbitten land, as everyone in the house crowded 'round the large tables in the kitchen. In the Hatfield house the only thing settin' on the table was the large turkey and the drink pitchers while us women went 'round ploppin' scoops of sides on everybody's plates. Since I was the new wife of Cap Hatfield I had to start at the end of the table, where he was seated, while Levicy started at the head of the table wit' Devil Anse since they were the patriarch and matriarch of the Hatfield clan.
I had just finished servin' sweet candied carrots at the chil'rens table and just taken my seat next to my husband whenever the door opened and in stumbled Johnse, a bit hungover wit' a wrinkled an' half-tucked in shirt on. Devil Anse, who was standin' wit' the meat carvin' fork an' knife by the turkey, gave his eldest a cuttin' look. "See ya made it in time to et wit' us, Johns."
"Oh, have a seat next to Nova, son, and I'll fix ya up a plate." Levicy told her favorite child as she quickly rose from the table and dashed over to the kitchen counters.
Levicy was fixin' Johnse a plate as Anse carved the turkey with very tense movements. Clearly, he wasn't too happy with his son showin' up only for dinner. I noticed over at the chil'rens table Nannie sittin' on the edge of her seat with a large meat platter in her hands, ready to go collect turkey meat at her father's command.
"So, what kept ya all day? Drownin' your sorrows in whiskey an' women." Jim ragged Johnse, a sarcastic chuckle rollin' off his tongue while a teasin' smirk crossed ov'r his rough face.
"As a matter of fact, Uncle Jim, that's exactly what I was doin'." Johnse told Jim Vance before sinkin' slightly in his seat and sighin' sadly, "After bein' turned 'way from seein' Roseanna an' our baby by Aunt Betty yes'day I needed comfortin', had some drinks at the tavern an' talked a bit wit' Mira."
Yea, I bet he just talked with the whore Mira. Me, Cap, and Uncle Jim all shared a pointed an' knowin' look with each other while Devil Anse paused in his carvin' and snapped, "Forget that McCoy girl an' baby, her family wants ya dead. Stupid goin' ovr there, could've gotten yourself hurt."
"I didn't go over by myself, pa. Cap and Novella went with me." Johnse dumbly told Devil Anse as the man resumed his carvin' of the turkey.
Me, Cap, and Jim shared a look of utter disbelief. Yea, none of us could understand why Johnse had to open his big mouth for.
"What? Why'd you drag them with ya, boy?" Anse asked, his voice deep and hard, as he made a hand motion to Nannie for her to bring the chil'ren's table meat platter to him.
Nannie quickly walked over to her father's side, large platter in hand, while Levicy quickly appeared by Johnse's side to set a plate in front of him all the while Johnse was answerin' his pa's question with, "I needed guided safely over, she knows all 'em hidden trails from all the sneakin' 'round 'cross the Tug she used to do."
"And your brother didn't trust you to protect her." Devil Anse concluded, placin' piles of meat onto the platter Nannie was holdin'. "Parris an' Squirrel McCoy tried to kill me yesterday when I was out huntin' the turkey. Don't ya dare go deep into McCoy territory no more, boy."
"I won't, pa." Johnse told his pa, his eyes downcast like a scolded child, while his sister took the platter of meat back to the chil'ren's table.
"These are hard times for us all, we stick together as a family and we'll survive." Levicy spoke up in her syrupy voice, lightly pattin' her husband's arm as he carved the meat for us at the main table.
Devil Anse just nodded his head and carved the turkey, quietly tossin' the meat onto a large platter. When he was finished, he placed some meat onto his plate and sat down, indicatin' that the rest of us could dig in, grab our turkey, and get to ettin' our holiday dinner.
A few hours after the main meal everyone was gathered 'round the table once more, this time for coffee and dessert. So many different kinds of pies, cakes, an' bars took up the middle of the table. All the treats were placed on the long main table, most likely so that the chil'ren wouldn't get tempted to stick their fingers into somethin' an' steal a taste.
Me an' Levicy had taken it upon ourselves to dish out the deserts to the adults while Nannie an' Vera took care of the chil'ren. Jane an' Essie were also helpin' out by delievrin' the deserts, Essie with the chil'ren an' Jane wit' the adults. Once all the deserts were handed out us women got ourselves somethin' and then took our seats.
The Hatfield kitchen was full of joyous chatter and comradery as everyone ate their deserts. The atmosphere was light and happy, even tho the situation wit' the outside world was anythin', but that. The Hatfields had a way of forgettin' their troubles for the holiday in order to just spend that day bein' happy wit' friends an' kin. I for one quite enjoyed the closeness of the Hatfield clan, it made me feel apart of an actual functionin' family.
When desert was over the guests started to trickle out an' return to their homes. The last to leave were me, Cap, an' our daughter since I had opted to help Levicy clean up the dishes. Cap was carryin' Anna, she was sleepin' an' had her copper-haired head restin' 'gainst his shoulder, as we walked down the porch steps after sayin' our goodbyes to the family. We walked silently under the star filled sky to where our wagon was hitched up at, a sense of peace over us. I noticed out of the corner of my eye Cap lookin' up at a certain sparklin star an' I knew he was thinkin' of Skunk Hair. This was the first holiday without his best friend, I knew it was hard on him.
I didn't know what to say, so I just gently grabbed my husband's hand an' squeezed it in a gesture of emotional support. He looked at me with softness in his mismatched eyes as a lined smile appeared on his face. Cap ran his thumb over my knuckles as he led us over to the wagon. He only dropped my hand in order to help me up into the wagon an' to pass Anna over to me, gently as to not wake her. Once our daughter was on my lap, curled up an' still soundly sleepin', Cap 'rounded the wagon and climbed up into it. Silently Cap snapped the reigns, causin' the horses to pull us 'way from the main house.
We were on the road back to our place for only a few minutes 'fore my husband glanced ov'r at me an' asked, "Did ya have a nice Thanksgivin'?"
"Yea, the nicest I've had in years." I admitted with a small smile on my face.
"Good." Cap simply said in his deep wavin' timbre as he guided our wagon up the mountain road. Lookin' at me wit' a smirk he added, "Told ya you'd get on just fine wit' everybody."
"Yea, your little sister Betty was more or less my shadow in the kitchen. I think she's my new best friend."
"Betty's a sweet girl, gets 'long with just bout everyone." Cap told me before askin', "How did things go with my other sister, Nannie? She talk 'bout that fool she wants t'court?"
"She tried to, but me an' your ma nipped it in the bud." I told my husband, lettin' him know that there's nothin' to worry 'bout when it comes to his sister and the McClintock boy.
Cap's deep rollin' timbre was cold an' hateful as he spat out, "Ya know the feller she's sweet on's aligned wit' McCoys."
"Yea, his daddy was one of Tolbert's best customers." I sighed, a bitterness in my flowin' tone, 'fore goin' on to say, "The McClintocks are Ole Rand'l's closest neighbors, properties back into each other's."
"It ain't just Daddy McClintock that's a drunk." My husband said knowingly, a hard firmness set in his deep tone.
"I warned Nannie 'bout that. Also told her not to be in such a rush to court an' marry, that in time a good man'll come her way."
"You wish ya would've done that." Cap stated, not asked, as we got closer to our homestead with every inch the wagon moved forward.
"It would've saved me so much pain, but I was young an' naïve and scared to end up alone." I truthfully answered Cap as he guided our wagon down the road. "I know now that's there's worse things than bein' alone."
"All of us were young an' naïve once." Cap spoke up, shakin' his head an' lettin' a small chuckle escape the back of his throat. "I built a homestead thinkin' that'd get me permission to start up a courtship that I was denied. Didn't think that she'd be married off so quickly cause I showed an interest."
Before I could think better of it I looked at my husband and asked, "Did you love her? This girl you wanted to court, but couldn't."
Cap looked at me while honestly answerin' my question with, "No, I barely knew her, but she struck my interest and had a quick wit 'bout her."
"She didn't know that ya existed, did she?"
"No, she knew who I was, but just didn't know that I wanted to court her. I was 16-years-old an' fresh off my loggin' accident so charm was not my forte."
"Cap, charm still isn't your forte." I teased him, resultin' in him lettin' a loud chuckle escape his lips accompanied by a quick shake of his head. "So long story short you neglected to tell her your plans to build a homestead and then she married somebody else, leavin' ya shocked an' alone." I concluded, not needin' the extened details of what went wrong with Cap's intended.
"Pretty much." Cap answered before goin' on to say, "Then I ended up courtin' wit' some over clingy women, spendin' too much money on whores, an' fallin' into an affair wit'cha."
"Sounds lovely." I sarcastically said 'fore tellin' him, "I was ignored an' hated for half of my first marriage, so safe to say we both had a shitty few years."
"The years to come'll be fine, or at least as fine as they can be wit' prices on our heads." My husband declared as our home appeared in the distance. Cap looked at me while remarkin' in his deep timbre, "We're goin' thru a storm right now, but we'll get thru it. Hard times can't last forever, sweetlin'."
Cap was right, we wouldn't be lookin' over our shoulders forever. One day things would calm down. "I know." I simply told my husband, noddin' my head an' givin' him a slight smile, as we got closer to our home. Our simple home that I've come to enjoy and add a few homey womanly touches to in the short time that I've been there.
This Thanksgivin' I was thankful for havin' a home that wasn't full of tension and a family that was close knit. I was thankful for Cap, if not for him I honestly don't know where me an' my daughter would be right now. I was also thankful that my brother was helpin' me and the Hatfields, even tho Moses was takin' a risk doin' so. All in all this Thanksgivin' I was thankful an' grateful to be apart of a family, a real warm an' lovin' family, that cared for one 'nother an' didn't have any stipulations for their care an' affetions.
I was thankful to be Mrs. Nova Hatfield.
AN:
So, Novella survived her first holiday with the Hatfields lol. Went much better then her past holidays with the McCoys…
