*Author's Note*

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A Spy & A Murderer

Moses POV:

Thanksgivin' with the McCoys a few days ago was interestin', to say the very least. All everyone did was bitch an' moan 'bout the Hatfields, who of course were referred to as everythin' from heathens, to liars, to murderers. Murder, yea on that subject it seems that Sally McCoy's convinced I'm gonna murder Billy cause she saw somethin' durin' one of her crazy seer episodes. Yea, she's gone an' lost it. Oh, and if Sally's seer shit wasn't 'nough to make the day interestin' Parris brought his whore to dinner, well she was his wife but ev'body knows that ya can't make a whore into a housewife. Once a whore always a whore…

Talk bout marriage, today was Saturday and I was currently sittin' in church next to Uncle Perry in the front pew while my drunk idiot cousin Jefferson McCoy stood shakily on his feet next to Reverend Garret. Ole Rand'l sat on my other side an' he looked anythin', but pleased to be at his nephew's farce of a weddin'. Aunt Sally, well she looked worse for wear an' a bit haggard. She still wasn't copin' well wit' the death of her sons an' it was a miracle Ole Rand'l even managed to get her into a nice dress an' bonnet for their nephew's weddin'. Actually, I'm surprised that he got her to come at all. Calvin, well he was sittin' next to his mother wit' a sullen an' lost look on his face. It was as if he was focused somewhere else instead of in the here an' now. Somethin' was buggin' him, that's for sure. I'd figure it out eventually. Jim 'long wit' his wife an' baby were next to Calvin, bored expressions over there faces. I did see Jim whisper once or twice to Calvin, which only resulted in the younger brother shakin' his head at the older one. Hmm, wonder what was goin' on there.

Alifiar was sittin' wit' all her siblin's in the pew behind us, no doubt with her newly adopted sour look on her face. Seems that ever since her brothers died, she's gotten more bitter, like Nancy level bitter. Not good, not good at all if ya ask me. Actually, Alifair an' Nancy've become good friends ever since the funerals of the McCoy boys. And of course, both Aunt Betty an' Roseanna were absent, the excuse bein' the poor frail health of both Roseanna an' her newborn daughter Sarah Elizabeth. Uncle Perry sent Doc ov'r to Betty's the other day wit' medicine for Roseanna an' to check up on the baby, resultin' in my uncle recievin' a bill an' a report on the health of the mother an' child. Aparently my uncle was concerned for them, but wouldn't outright let anyone know cause he didn't want to deal wit' drunk Ole Rand'l bitchin' at him.

The mailman, Fred Wolford, was glarin' daggers at the drunk that his sister was stuck marryin' today. Sarah and Jefferson have been in an on-off relationship for years, but now their relationship had to be on for good since she was knocked up. Billy McCoy, my sorta best friend, was sittin' with Mariah, the younger sister of Fred and Sarah, on the pew the mailman was on. It was clear as day to anyone with the sense of a goat that Mariah didn't like Billy, that she was annoyed by him and felt pestered. I also knew that Mariah liked Robert E. Hatfield and that he liked her too, or at least they were overly friendly at all the events I ever saw them at. I talked to Robert E. the few times I've been to the saw mill and he seemed fine to me. I mean I'd like to think I'm a great judge in character since everyone I've deemed an asshole had been one.

Since the Wolfords were basically orphaned, wit' Fred workin' an' supportin' them, their side of the church was a bit sparse. Of course, they had a few neighbors sittin' wit' em, but it wasn't like the large turn out on the McCoys side of the church. Talk 'bout the McCoys side, I noticed a blonde pregnant woman sittin' way in the back. I didn't recognize her and had no idea who she was, but obviously she knew the McCoys since she was at Jefferson's wedding. I noticed out of the corner of my eye Calvin slightly turnin' in his seat an' blanchin' a bit when he noticed the pregnant blonde. Did he know her? Must since he paled an' quickly turned 'round in his seat after settin' eyes on her.

Suddenly the reverend's wife started to play music on the pipe organ, causin' everybody to turn 'round and look at the back of the church. Nutty Nancy, err I mean Nancy McCoy, was holdin' a small bouquet of mixed flowers as she made her way down the aisle. She was actin' as Sarah's maid of honor, most likely cause she was Jefferson's sister. Bet my weekly pay she made herself maid of honor, bitch was pushy like that.

Once Nancy reached the alter the preacher's wife started to play the weddin' march, makin' everyone in the church stand up an' turn their attention to the bride. Poor Sarah wasn't able to get a weddin' dress since everythin' was so rushed. Instead she was just wearin' one of her nicer dresses, some mint thing wit' a matchin' bonnet. By the shaken look on her face the circumstances of her weddin' bothered her. Sarah quickly marched up the aisle, her eyes a bit dull, in order to hurry up an' marry Jefferson.

As soon as the music stopped everyone sat down in one swift motion while Reverend Garrett began the weddin' service wit' the announcement of, "People, we're gathered here in the house of the lord to unite in marriage Sarah Wolford and Jefferson McCoy." The reverend cleared his throat 'fore sayin', "Marriage is a sacred act, the bonding of two halves to make a whole in the sight of god." Lookin' at Sarah, who was 'bout to burst out in tears at any moment, the preacher said, "Please repeat after me." Reverend Garrett took a short puasin' breath 'fore beginin' the vows with, "I, Sarah Wolford, do take thee Jefferson McCoy as my husband."

"I, Sarah Wolford, do take thee Jefferson McCoy as my husband." Sarah repated, her voice heavy and shakin' as she held her soon-to-be husband's hands.

"In sickness and health, richer or poorer, til death parts us."

"In sickness and health, richer or poorer, til death part us." Sarah said, soundin' like she was at a funeral rather then her own weddin' wit' how solemn an' empty her tone was.

Lookin' at Jefferson the preacher said in a stern tone, "Repeat after me, I, Jefferson, do take thee Sarah Wolford as my wife."

Jefferson's head bobbled as he loudly said in a half-slur, "I do to all that stuff. Hell, everyone knows we gotta get married." He swayed a bit, lookin' uneasy on his drunken feet, as he barked, "Can we just put the rings on now, Reverend? I'm gettin' thirsty."

Reverend Garrett's eyes bulged out of his head and he looked like he was 'bout to swallow his teeth upon hearin' Jefferson's half-drunk remark. If anyone in the church was shocked by Jefferson, they didn' show it. Nope, nobody even batted an eyelash at his antics. I for one know that I can't wait to tell my sister 'bout this joke of a weddin' when I visit her come Monday.

Knowin' he needed to wrap up the ceremony the preacher looked over to the best man, who was Squirrel, and told him, "Please hand over the rings." Silently Squirrel quickly dug the rings out of his homemade squirrel fur jacket, which had tails hangin' all over it, and dropped them into the preacher's open an' awaitin' hand. "Take these rings and put them on each other as a symbol of your love and unity under the lord." Reverend Garrett instructed the couple, holdin' the rings out to them.

Silently, Sarah and Jefferson took the rings and slid them on each other's fingers. Jefferson was so hungover that he nearly missed Sarah's finger, took a couple tries 'fore he could slide the thin band onto her ring finger. Sarah's lip trembled an' tears threatened to fall as she shoved a gold band quickly onto her new husband's hand.

"With the power invested in me by our almighty god and the state I pronounce you man and wife." The preacher told the newlyweds before quickly closing the ceremony with the traditional words of, "You may now kiss the bride."

Jefferson kissed Sarah, a bit sloppily too might I add, sealin' her fate as his wife an' mother of his unborn child. Everyone rose and clapped, well I rose, but barely clapped. It was more of a pat-pat type I clap I did since I could care less 'bout this weddin'. Sarah helped Jefferson walk down the aisle since he was wobbly on his feet, all the while people continued to smile and clap.

Once the newlyweds were out of the church my uncle turned to me and said, "The reception is bein' held at the saloon, Parris and his wife Jenny arranged it, so we're not goin'. A saloon is no place for a young boy." Young boy my ass. I was goin' on 13-years-old, I wasn't some young boy. I had guns and could travel by myself, even had a job clerkin' after school for Perry. Hell, he just didn't want me goin' into a whorehouse cause it ain't proper. Yea, I knew what that saloon really was. "Not many people will be attendin', just ain't proper to have a reception in a saloon."

"Okay." I simply nodded as we left our seats, walkin' down the aisle behind all the other guest in order to get to the exit of the church.

"Excuse me, Mister Perry, I need to talk to you." The pregnant blonde woman that had been sittin' in the back told my uncle, approachin' us from her back corner hidin' spot much like a spider as we were walkin' towards the door.

"What about, Miss?" My uncle asked as he continued straight to the open door of the church.

"Tolbert McCoy. I'm carryin' his child an' have no more money, he took care of my rent and expenses." The blonde revealed my uncle, walkin' right next to him as he exited the church. "Now that he's dead…" She trailed off, implyin' that she had nobody to pay her way no more.

Holy shit! That no good redheaded cheatin' bastard knocked up a goddamn whore when married to my sister, was even bank rollin' the bitch too. Calvin, that shithead, knew bout it cause why else would he look like he'd seen a damn ghost when he spotted her.

"Oh dear…" Perry sighed as we walked down the church steps. "Best that you accompany me to my office where we can discuss the situation in a more private setting."

Now this shit I gotta hear. I know for a fact that my sister and the Hatfields are gonna wanna know 'bout Tolbert's bank rolled whore 'long with whatever Perry decides to do to help her.


Perry was sittin' at his desk wit' the knocked-up whore sittin' in a chair 'cross from him while I was sittin' on the leather sofa, a spot that Ole Rand'l usually took up most days when he was in the office. Uncle Perry cleared his throat 'fore askin' the golden-haired whore, "Well, Miss, before we discuss your dilemma what's your name?"

"Misty, Misty Wells." She answered as she rested her hand on her rounded belly. 'Fore my uncle could utter a word Misty revealed, "Tolbert was a longtime client of mine. When I came up pregnant, he moved me outta the saloon an' into an apartment 'cross the Tug. He paid my rent an' gave me an allowance to live on, assured me my baby'd be taken care of.

I narrowed my cerulean eyes at Misty, disgusted that Tolbert was supportin' this whore while he was married to my sister. I always knew my late brother-in-law was no good for Nova, but him havin' Misty on the side was low. Tolbert always was a selfish prick, it was all bout his drunken ass, but I never thought he'd two-time my sister. Hell, the fact that he was havin' a baby wit' his whore pissed me off to no end. Bastard was startin' up a second family when he couldn't love an' care for the first one he had. Good thing he was already dead cause if he weren't I'd be makin' him dead for the shit he pulled on my sister wit' his pretty blonde whore.

"And now that Tolbert's no longer among the living and rent is due soon you have no means of support." Perry concluded, leanin' back slightly in his chair. A sly look appeared on his face as he stated, "You need my help."

"Yes, I do. I can't afford my rent an' I gots nowhere to go. I know you're the McCoys' lawyer, thought you'd help me."

Uncle Perry rubbed his chin, a thoughtful look on his foxlike face, before tellin' Misty, "Well, I can arrange for you to stay with me as my housekeeper."

A grateful smile crossed over Misty's face. "Oh, thank you. Really, thank you so much, Mister Perry."

She better not be thankin' him too fast, he's got that connivin' sly look on his face he gets when he's 'bout ready to con somebody. It's his slimy lawyer face, least that's what I call it. I didn't say a word, just darted my eyes 'tween my uncle an' the pregnant whore sittin' on the other side of his desk as I waited for him to open his mouth an' burst her happy bubble.

"Misty, I'm afraid I can only have you workin' for me til the baby comes. Once you have the baby you must give it to Mr. and Mrs. McCoy to raise. The loss of Tolbert and his brothers has nearly driven Sally to a breaking point and I'm afraid only a grandchild can pull her out of her despair." He told her sternly an' slowly, as if he was talkin' to a small child rather then a pregnant young lady, while givin' a fake look of sympathy to the whore.

"But can't I stay in your employment and just bring the baby to visit Sally McCoy?" Misty asked, no doubt as a way to keep her baby in her custody once she had it in a couple months.

"No, I'm afraid your presence might upset her or might even hinder the fight for justice that's being enacted for the McCoy boys." When his words only caused Misty to give him a blank an' confused look he sighed an' told her in his slick voice, "See, Tolbert's made out to be a good family man that was unjustly murdered, but if word got out that he got a whore with child then people might not believe in the cause of justice anymore."

"But what would happen to me? The baby'll be raised with McCoys, but where am I to go?"

"I know of a man in Texas with a large ranch that's in need of a wife. I can arrange to send you there."

Damn, he was good at his silver-tongued lies and bullshit. God, I hope she doesn't buy it. By the considerate look on Misty's face I could tell that she was debatin' on takin' Perry's deal tho. I don't think she should, but I bet my guns that she'd gonna take up the offer thinkin' it's the best she can get.

After a few moments of bitin' her lip an' mullin' over her situation Misty nodded at Uncle Perry while tellin', "Okay, I'll accept your help an' terms of it."

Perry smiled like the fox that'd snuck into the hen house while tellin' the desperate woman, "Go fetch your things at once and get to my house. You start immediately."

Great, just great, now I got an ex-whore doin' the house chores. There goes all the good food from the diner, Misty's gonna be cookin' now an' I doubt she can since she had no need to in her old profession.


Novella POV:

It was a chilly frosty mornin', slight ice an' slush was on the ground as I went to the barn to milk the cow. Whenever I opened the barn door an' walked in the cow, Bessie, mooed in protest of the chill bitten air enterin' her home. "Mornin' Bessie, time for your mornin' milkin'." I told the cow as I grabbed the stool an' bucket near the door I'd just walked into. She just mooed as I walked over to her. She was a nice cow, but a bit finnicky when it was cold. Of course, my husband would buy the moody cow. I just placed the stool next to her and put the bucket under her utters. With a sigh I sat down and went to milk her. Of course, Bessie mooed an' protested my cold hands touchin' her utters. As I said 'fore she was finnicky 'bout the cold weather. I had to rub my hands and blow on them to warm 'em up. "Okay, Bessie, my hands should be warmer now. Ya gotta let me milk ya."

"Hey, sissy, your cow givin' ya hell?" I heard my brother, Moses, ask from behind me.

Lookin' over my shoulder I smiled an' told him, "I wasn't expectin' you over this mornin'. Good seein' ya."

"Yea, I came by cause I got somethin' to tell ya." Moses told me as his boots crunched on the hay covered floor of the barn as he walked deeper into it.

"Okay, go on and tell me." I told him as I turned my attention back to my hands that were milkin' Bessie the cow.

My brother hopped up on the ledge rail of the stall I was in while tellin' me, "Well, Jefferson McCoy got married to Sarah Wolford on Saturday."

"What? But they weren't even engaged or nothin' like that."

A laugh escaped my brother's lips right 'fore he told me, "He knocked her up."

"Oh, well that's a reason for a quick weddin'."

"He was drunk at the weddin', the mailman looked like he wanted to strangle him too." Of course, Jefferson showed up drunk, he wouldn't be him if he didn't do that. Fred prolly wanted to strangle Jefferson not just cause he was drunk, but cause he's stuck housin' the unemployed drunk now. I doubt he's got a place for him an' Sarah to go to, unless they all live in Nancy's tiny apartment that's 'bove one of the Pikeville shops their mother used to clean 'fore she died years 'go. "Tolbert's knocked-up whore was at the weddin'. She came up to Uncle Perry when we were leavin' the ceremony." My brother spat in a bitter scoff, his voice deepenin' wit' hatred and disgust.

"What'd Misty want?"

"Oh, so y'know bout her?" My brother asked me, a slight amusin' chuckle laced in his voice. I didn't say a word, just looked at him from over my shoulder and nodded. "She ran outta rent money." Reckon so considerin' her cash cow's dead… "Perry set it up for her to be our housekeeper til she pops out her baby, then she's off to some ranch in Texas as a mail order bride while the baby goes to the McCoys to raise as their gran'baby. Ya know as a replacement for their precious Tolbert."

"When does she start?" I asked over the splashin sound the milk made as it filled up the metal bucket collectin' it.

"She already started. Moved in Saturday night. Cooks like shit." My brother answered in a tone flatter than a pancake.

"You don't like her do ya?"

"Of course, I don't like her, she's the whore that Tolbert was payin' to two-time on ya wit'." Moses snapped, his voice hard an' full of hate. He shook his head, his half tied back hair slightly wavin' 'round, as he scoffed, "For bein' so much in love wit'cha he didn't act like it."

"I two-timed on him too, 'member wit' the husband I got now."

"That's different, sissy. Cap treats both you an' Anna good. He was there for ya when Tolbert wasn't and considerin' he was off wit' a whore I don't fault ya for seein' him."

"So, anythin' else interestin' goin' on in town?" I asked as a way to get the subject off of my failed first marriage. A marriage that I still would've been trapped in if not for the pawpaw tree incident.

"Perry's havin' a meetin' with some bounty hunters today. I think he's givin' them orders for 'morrow." Most likely, why else have a meetin' if not for that reason. "Overheard him tell Ole Rand'l at dinner yes'day that he thinks the road near the creek half-mile 'fore the saw mill'd be a good place to have the bounty hunters go look at."

"I'll let Cap know." I assured Mo while lookin' over my shoulder at him.

Moses just nodded his head, approvin' of my answer. Silence loomed over us as my brother started to sway his legs, kickin' the wood of the stall he was perched on. Suddenly he stilled his legs, just lettin' them dangle, as he asked me in a strangled tone, "Is Sally crazy or does she really see shit?"

"She really sees shit. Hell, even the Hatfields believe Sally McCoy's got the sight an' to heed anythin' she says." I said in a very serious tone 'fore askin', "Why?"

"On Thanksgivin' she told me somethin' an' it's a bit crazy." Moses admitted in a prolonged and weighted down tone. His heels were smackin' gainst the stall as he swayed his legs a bit quicker.

"What'd she say she saw?" I asked, hopin' 'gainst hope it was nothin' too bad. For my brother to be disturb whatever she said set a heavy burden on him, hopefully I could talk some ease into him.

A heavy lull overcame the atmosphere of the barn 'fore my brother answered my question wit' the weighted words of, "I murder my best friend, Billy McCoy."

Wow, now that was a shocker to hear. "She said that?"

"Yep." Moses popped his tongue 'fore lettin' out a sigh.

"When? Like what were ya doin' when her sight trigged off?" I asked, knowin' that him an' Billy had'a be doin' somethin' 'round Sally to cause her to fall into one of her seer stunts. Things trigger them off, or at least in my experience that's how it always worked with that woman.

"Arguin' wit' Billy near the fireplace. We were usin' hushed tones, but Sally's got sharp ears an' heard us from her spot in the rocker by the front corner window." Hmm, yea that definitely triggered her off. My brother stopped swayin' his legs as he continued on with, "Her eyes got glassy an' she beckoned me to go over to her. When I did, she hissed at me that I was horrible an' worse than my sister cause I was gonna murder my boyhood best friend, her son Billy McCoy."

I let out a heavy breath while shakin' my head. Lookin' my brother right in his eyes I honestly told him, "Hate to say this, Mo, but what she says most likely will come to pass." Moses just gave me a tilted look which prompted me to further explain my thoughts on Sally's sight bein' real with the explanation of, "She told me that none of my sons would bear Tolbert's name and my sons by him are dead. She also told me that I'd bear many sons, but they wouldn't be McCoys. I'm not expectin' yet, but I'm Mrs. Hatfield tho."

"Maybe she's just gone crazy. I mean sure Billy an' my friendship's been a bit rocky the last couple years, but I don't see my self killin' the dumb fool." If Sally says he's gonna kill the dumb fool then that's what's gonna happen. My poor brother, I hope that woman's wrong 'bout him an' her son. I really do hope her sight's wrong on this matter.

"Don't think too hard on it. Whatever happens down the road happens." I advised my brother as I finished up milkin' the cow. Standin' with both the milk bucket an' stool in my hands I suggested, "Let's go inside, I'm sure Anna's like to see her second favorite uncle."

"Second favorite, since when?" Moses asked, one of his brows quirked, as we went over to the spot I kept the stool at near the barn door

"Since Jim Vance became her Unca Jim." I told my brother, placin' the stool in it's spot 'fore walkin' out of the barn wit' him by my side.

"Hell, she just likes him cause he gave her a puppy." Moses scoffed, a tiny smirk on his lips, as we closed the barn door an' headed towards the house.


Moses was on the floor playin' wit' Anna and the puppy near the roarin' fireplace while I was at the kitchen table kneadin' dough. He'd been over for hours now, mostly just watchin' my daughter while I did chores. Since it was so cold out with the first December frost (it was the second day of December; last week which was the end of November and Thanksgiving was cold, so I expected the harsh weather) I made Anna stay indoors while I went outside for the small farm chores. Thankfully I was done wit' goin' outside and was set on preparin' biscuits.

I looked over my shoulder an' smiled as I saw Spot lickin' Anna's face, makin' her giggle. Moses just smiled while pettin' the mutt-hound pup an' tellin' Anna, "He's your buddy. He's very attached to ya."

"Spot's a good puppy." Anna told her uncle 'tween giggles as the puppy continued to lick her face while waggin' his tail.

"Okay, buddy, you're over doin' it with the licks now." Moses told the pup, pullin' him 'way from Anna an' pettin' him a few times to calm him down. Rufflin' the puppy's head he told it, "Play nice wit' Anna, boy." Lookin' at my daughter Moses stood up while tellin' her, "I'm gonna go talk to your ma for a bit 'fore I gotta head out. Okay."

"Okay." I heard Anna reply in her sweet voice while I was grabbin' a rollin' pin from the hook it was hangin' on underneath one of the cabinets.

"Sissy, I gotta tell ya somethin' else 'fore I go." Moses told me as he walked over to the table, the same moment I was goin' over to it with a wooden rollin' pin in my hand. Settin' the pin on the table I nodded at him, silently givin' him permission to tell me whatever else he needed to get off his chest. After what he told me in the barn, I'm not sure there's anythin' left that'd give me a shock. I placed my hand in the flour cannister on the table, grabbed a handful, and dusted the biscuit dough wit' it while Mo sighed, "Uncle Perry and Ole Rand'l are tellin' everyone, 'specially the McCoys, that Anna's not Tolbert's."

"What in Sam's Hill?" Fell out of my mouth as my hand hovered over the rollin' pin that was on the table.

As I grabbed the rollin' pin an' started to roll out the dough Moses explained what was goin' on wit' a heavy sigh, "They're tellin' everyone that you an' Cap had an affair since ya said I do to Tolbert. That Anna's really Cap's an' that ya'll conspired t'kill your first husband to be able to play happy family."

"That's absurd." I scoffed, rollin' the pin a bit angrily. Lookin' up at my brother I asked, "How'd they come up wit' such a crazy story?"

"Perry says that Cap approached him t'court you after walkin' ya home once after Tolbert smacked ya. Spins it that ya'll snuck 'round since he turned 'im 'way."

Oh my god, oh my god! I was the girl that struck Cap's interest, the one that he was denied courtship of, the one he built a house for. Holy shit. I never thought…Wow, doesn't fate have a sense of humor. Me an' Cap ended up together anyways, just after I went thru hell an' heartbreak wit' Tolbert.

"So, everyone on the westside of the Tug hates me an' my daughter is what you're sayin'?" I asked, since that was the conclusion I was gettin', as I dusted the flour off my hands while goin' over to the area under the cabinet the biscuit cutter was hangin' on.

"Pretty much, but the McCoys act like ya'll don't exist. Everyone else views it as a horrible scandal." Mo told me as I grabbed the biscuit cutter. I moved a few paces an' grabbed the large round cast iron biscuit pan off the hook above the stove while my brother went on to say, "Uncle Perry an' Ole Rand'l paint Tolbert an' his brothers out to be saints. It's a scam to get people to back their cause of crossin' over here to try an' kill all the Hatfields." Of course, my backstabbin' shyster uncle's lyin' an' scammin' to get people to sign up as bounty hunters in hoards. I mean after what I did to me, I wouldn't expect anythin' less. Hell, I don't even think I know the man that raised me anymore. When I was younger, I'd say that my Uncle Perry was a good man, a man of the law, but now that I'm older I think Perry Cline's a piece of shit that twists the law to fit his own agenda. "Since you're now a tarnished woman it makes Tolbert's tale seem more tragic. More men are floodin' the area to sign up t'hunt Hatfields, hunt ya too since your face's on a wanted poster." Moses told me as I returned to the table, placin' the pan on it wit' a loud thunk.

I just nodded my head and began to cut out biscuits. Lookin' at my brother, who was leanin' 'gainst my table, I tossed some biscuits into the pan while tellin' him, "Thanks for tellin' me this, but make sure to be careful. If anyone found out who you're really aligned with…"

"I'm always careful, sissy. Don't worry, I'll be fine." Moses assured me, a calmin' tone in his voice. With a sigh he pushed himself 'way from the table. "I better get goin' if I wanna make it back t'Pikeville in time for my after-school job at the Cline law office."

"Be careful crossin' back over an' keep to the hidden trails." I told my brother as a form of goodbye.

Moses just nodded his head, lettin' me know that he would, 'fore goin' over to the fireplace an' crouchin' down next to my daughter, who was still playin' wit' her puppy. "Hey, I'm gonna go now, but I'll be back soon to see ya."

"Okay, Unca Mo. Bye-bye." Anna smiled, lookin' at her uncle wit' a bright look on her cherub-like face.

"Bye-bye, Anna." Moses told the little copper haired girl playin' tug-o-war wit' her puppy 'fore he stood up an' made his way over to the hooks by the door to grab his hat an' coat.

My brother placed his hat on, pulled his coat on, an' grabbed his guns from there spot on the rack 'fore walkin' out of the door to go back home ov'r the Tug to Pikeville. I knew he'd be back, he always came to visit wit' gossip and warnin's. The day he failed to come would be the day he when into trouble, which I hope never happens.


The sun was gettin' ready to set, causin' a reddish-yellow glow to shine thru my windows, as I was in the kitchen finishin' up dinner. I already had the platter of biscuits on the table and the mashed potatoes set aside in a pot 'long wit' some corn. I was at the stove fryin' up some chicken while Anna was on the sofa wit' her dolls whenever the door opened up accompanied my the heavy bootsteps of my husband enterin' the house. Lookin' over my shoulder I watched Cap remove his hat an' coat 'long wit' hangin' them on the hook by the door.

I turned my attention back to my task, fryin' up chicken, as I heard Anna great Cap gleefully wit', "Hi, pa. Unca Mo came ov'r to visit today."

"Oh, he did. Ya have fun visitin' wit' him?" Cap asked over the sound of his boots hittin' the floor. Most likely he was walkin' into the main room, makin' a stop by the sofa to see Anna too.

"Yea, he played wit' me an' Spot."

"Sounds like ya had a good day." Cap told our daughter, a smile evident in his deep voice, 'fore goin' on to say, "I'm gonna go in the kitchen, get a cup o'coffee an' see mama."

Anna didn't say anythin' so I assumed she just nodded her head at her pa 'fore the sound of his boots shufflin' 'gainst the floorboards echoed out. I was takin' a few pieces of chicken out of the fryin' pan, placin' them on a platter to drain the grease off, whenever I heard my husband's boots stop accompanied by his deep rollin' voice sayin', "Whatever you're cookin' smells good, sweetlin'."

"It's fried chicken." I informed Cap, lookin' over my shoulder only to see him grabbin' the coffee pot an' a mug from the table. "Moses came over today, had some news to share."

"Ah, what'd our lil spyin' brother have to say?" My husband asked while pourin' himself a cup.

"Jefferson McCoy got married to Sarah Wolford on Saturday." I told Cap, tossin' the last piece of chicken into the fryin' pan.

"Wolford…" My husband trailed off musingly. "That name sounds familiar." Cap admitted, pullin' his chair out with a screech and sittin' down on it at the head of the table.

"It should, Sarah's the mailman's sister. She's also Mariah's older sister."

"I didn't know Mariah's sister was wit' Jefferson. Last I knew she was single, least that's what Mariah said couple months back when Robert E. had her over to visit for Sunday supper." Cap admitted 'tween sippin' on his coffee.

I took my tongs and turned the cracklin' chicken over in the pan while explainin', "Her and Jefferson's been in an on-off relationship for years now. They married cause Sarah's knocked up." I took a quick breath, clenchin' onto the tongs in my hand, 'fore tellin' my husband in a bit of a tight tone, "Misty was at the weddin'. Snagged Perry Cline when him an' Moses were leavin' the church."

"She want money or somethin'." Cap stated, not asked, as he held his coffee mug slightly hovered ov'r the table. He was most likely debatin' on takin' 'nother sip off it or not.

"Yea. Her cash cow died and she needs supported." I spat out venomously, my teeth nearly grittin' as I thought bout how my late first husband supported that whore for months instead of bringin' that money home to me an' Anna.

"So, what'd that snake Cline tell her?"

While pullin' the chicken out of the pan an' placin' them onto the platter wit' the other finished ones I answered Cap's question with, "Made a deal with her. She's actin' as his housekeeper til she has the baby." Pickin' up the platter an' bringin' it over to the table I concluded my explanation with, "Then she'll go to Texas to stay on a ranch wit' an old client while the McCoys raise the baby as their own."

"Oh, that's quite a deal he cooked up. Is it s'pose to save Tolbert's good name in death, movin' his whore cross 'county?"

"Yep." I popped my tongue, takin' a seat on the bench next to my husband. Grabbin' my cup of coffee of the table I let out a heavy sighed remark of, "Moses also told me that Perry's been tellin' everyone that we conspired t'kill Tolbert cause Anna's yours an' we've been in an affair for years. Ole Rand'l is backin' up those stories."

"Goddamn, he lost his mind or is that an angle he's workin'?" Cap chuckled deeply, shakin' his head in disbelief.

"It's an angle to make Tolbert's life seem more tragic, to gather more support for bounty hunters an' deputies to hunt us down." I decided not to tell Cap that I knew he had wanted to court me when we were younger. I figured if he wanted me to know then he'd tell me. Reckon as time goes on and we grow closer he'll confess to it, we haven't even been married a month so we're not goin' to be sharin' deep hidden personal secrets just yet. "Perry had'a meetin' wit' some new men today. Mo says he overheard 'im tell Ole Rand'l he was gonna send the men to the road by the creek near the lumber mill 'morrow."

Wit' a brow raised he asked, his voice deep an' curt, "That all he had to say?"

"No, he told me 'bout a seer's vision Sally had durin' Thanksgivin' that rattled him."

"What she say?" Cap asked 'fore trailin' off a bit uneasily, "I know she told you 'bout your late boys so…"

With my cornflower blue eyes meetin' Cap's icy-blue one an' it's milky white twin I told him the heavy, but truthful answer of, "That Moses'll murder Billy McCoy."

"Oh…" Was all my husband had to say, his mismatched eyes poppin' out of his head.

"I think it's time I call Anna over an' we et dinner. There's nothin' else to talk 'bout." I told my shaggy blonde-haired man, my flowin' voice a bit tight, while pattin' him on the hand. Cap just slowly nodded, his lip a bit upturned an' causin' his mustache to slant, as I stood up from the table. "Anna, it's supper time." I called to my daughter, loudly so she could hear, as I went over to the counter to make up the plates with sides.

"Comin', mama." Anna called back to me 'fore jumpin' off the sofa an' pitter-patterin' into the kitchen.

I didn't need'a turn 'round to know that as I placed the sida on the plates Cap was pourin' Anna her milk while she sat next to him. It was our nightly dinner routine, he helped wit' our daughter's drink while I made plates. It was a routine I was glad 'fore, 'specially tonight since I needed take longer wit' dishin' up sides in order to compose myself. I didn't want Anna sensin' any trace of distress or despair on me. Unlike my husband I wasn't too good at puttin' on an ice-cold face an' talkin' 'bout my brother's future, what Sally saw, had my face stricken wit' worry.


AN:

I know this was long, but I wanted to show some events on the McCoys side thru Moses since the he's clearly tired of the McCoys and their ways. I also wanted to show how Moses disapproves of Perry Cline's antics since he too will become estranged from his uncle down the road. Errr Sally had a seer's vision 'bout Moses and her son Billy. How do ya'll think that's gonna go?

Next chapter will have some scenes from the show in it, yay.