*Author's Note*
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He Can't Stay Here
Nova POV:
I was sittin' at the table with my husband as our chil'ren were outside playin' with Josiah, Bridie, and some other chil'ren that lived in our mountainside settlement. I was snappin' peas while my husband cradled our newest baby in his arms, cooin' at him like a proud papa. Lookin' out the window, Cap told me, "Uncle Jim's headed this way."
"Hopefully he's got good news on Moses." I tossed freshly snapped peas into a bowl, only to grab some more to clean.
"Don't worry, he's fine. A few days restin' up and he'll be right as rain." Cap assured me while continuing to coo and make funny faces at our son.
"He can't stay a few days here, Will. He was bleedin' and a man like Bad Frank'll track the blood trail as far as it goes and then'll just keep goin'." I firmly retorted while tossing peas into the bowl.
"You sayin' ya wanna throw out your own brother?" Cap asked, his brows knitted, right as our front door banged open, causing Tommy to startle and cry.
"What's this I hear 'bout wantin' to throw out your brother?" Uncle Jim asked as he appeared in our course, he heard that. Sneaky bastard, hears everything you didn't want him to.
"Nova thinks if Moses stays here too long then Bad Frank'll track him down here; put us in danger." Cap explained, passin' Tommy over to me so that I could rock him back to sleep.
"Aw hell…" Uncle Jim let out in a low drawn-out groan. Takin' a seat at the table, he guffawed, "We'll show Bad Frank what we do t'skunk ass shit turds if he comes up 'round here."
I stood and swayed with my baby in my arms, all while tellin' Uncle Jim, "We can't afford that, Uncle Jim. We're already hidden away deep up in the hills cause we've got prices on our heads. Bad Frank and his men are deputized; Mo is Bad Frank's personal special deputy. They'd kill us all 'fore we even had a chance to load our guns."
Shaking his head, Uncle Jim let out a deep chuckle of, "Y'know you sound just like that brother of yours." Resting his elbow on the table, he went on to say, "When I went into my spare room t'check up on him he was tryin' to get outta bed while goin' on 'bout how he had'a leave."
"Good, at least he knows it ain't safe for anyone as long as he's here." Thank god Moses knew he had to go. As much as it pains me to turn my brother away, I don't see any other choice. I needed my faily safe and protected. Moses was apart of that family, but after spending so many years by Bad Frank's side as a special deputized Kentucky lawman, well, I knew none of us would be safe if he didn't return. Bad Frank was unhinged, no tellin' what he'd do to get his sidekick back.
Uncle Jim rolled his eyes at me. "I told him I'd tell ya he's up. Better go see him while I take Cap to tell Anse that your brother's gonna be back out spyin' for us real soon."
Not if I have anything to do with it, he ain't.
I asked Vera to keep an eye on the chil'ren playin' outside while I checked up on my brother. Of course, she agreed and shooed me off in the direction Uncle Jim's cabin was in. The cabin, like everyone who was hidin' out up in these hills, was small and sparsely furnished. A stove and a table with a bench took up the main floor, while the second floor has two bedrooms: Jim's and a spare. My brother was in the spare room, courtesy of Uncle Jim and his soft spot for Moses.
"Mo, Uncle Jim says you're awake." I told my brother, walking into the room, only to see him idly lying in bed.
"Yea; he tell you I'm leavin' tomorrow?" He asked, propping himself up to sit in bed.
I walked over to the chair by his bedside and took a seat. "No, but he told me that you want to get back to spyin' for us. I have to say I think you bein' our spy's too dangerous for you."
"So, what, you want me to stay up here? I can't do that, it's too dangerous."
"I know it's too dangerous for ya to stay here; that Bad Frank'll come lookin' for you since you're his special personal deputy. I also know it's too dangerous for you to keep spyin' on the McCoys for us too considerin' everything that happened with Billy."
"You just want me to go back; act like nothin' happened with Billy? Blame what I gone done to him on Hatfields?" Moses asked, his blue eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yes." I sadly nodded. I let out a heavy sigh, only to honestly tell my brother, "We're both in too deep on opposite sides of the Tug. I'd hate for you to get hurt 'cause of me and mine, Moses."
My brother's face hardened as he spat, "Betty told me that Mariah's pregnant."
"Jesus…" I let out in a long sigh. "Did Billy know?"
"He didn't tell me, but he was adamant on not wantin' to drink with me and wantin' to get home t'her so badly. I think he knew, but I dunno." Oh, if he was acting like that then he knew. He had've known.
"If the McCoys know she's pregnant, and I'm sure they do, then her bein' here with Robert E.'s not safe for anyone either."
"Baby could be his for all we know." My brother pointed out, causing me to shake my head in disgust. What the hell did Mariah get herself into? I know, I ain't one to talk, but at least I stuck it out with my husband in order to keep my honor intact and custody of my daughter. As a woman you become tied to your husband or common-law man once you become pregnant with his child. You must endure his bullshit for your child. Sadly, Mariah selfishly thought of her own wants (Robert E.) over the welfare of her child. Hell, it's just not her unborn baby's welfare she's not thinking of, but the welfare of the entire Hatfield clan.
"And it's most likely Billy's since she lived with him as common-law." I spat out as if the words were a red-hot pepper, I wanted to get off my tongue. "I'll talk to her; hopefully she'll go back with you tomorrow." After what I have to say, she's going back.
Moses's face shook with unchecked emotions. His tone was listless as he began to weep, "Billy was never cruel to her; was always faithful too. What we all gone done to him's wrong, sissy. It's just wrong an' shouldn't 've happened."
"I know, Moses, I know, but there's nothin' we can do 'bout it now. What's done's done." Goddamnit, I felt like smackin' Mariah upside the head. How could she be so stupid? Her stupidity got Billy killed and put my brother in a guilt-ridden depressive stupor. I hope Robert E. was worth it, cause it screwed up people's lives. Hell…the girl should've known that Billy would be up her ass considerin' her delicate condition.
"I should've listened more to Sally instead of runnin' 'way from her seein's. I should've asked more or headed the warnin's." Moses frantically wailed out of shame and remorse. Sometimes I feel the same way about Sally's seer gift and listenin' to her. What I could've done differently with the warnin's about my boys so they would've lived is mainly what runs thru my mind once in a while, but honestly, I know that I wouldn't 've been able to stop their fate. Bert and Tol weren't supposed to live and the marriage that produced them wasn't supposed too either.
"Mo," I grabbed his hand, causing him to look at me with mournful blue eyes. My heart truly ached for my brother. He didn't deserve any of the pain he was feeling. "You can't think like that; it ain't right. Sometimes we get warnin's 'bout things we just can't change."
Moses nodded and pulled his hand out of mine. Flopping back down on the bed, he tersely told me, "Tell Mariah I'm takin' her back wit' me; that whether we like it or not we both pledged to the McCoy family a long time 'go."
*Meanwhile At Devil Anse's Cabin…*
Cap POV:
Me, Pa, and Uncle Jim were the only ones in my folks' cabin. Mama and the girls were doin' chores while my younger brothers were off spendin' time wit' Cotton. I think they were near the creek, but I weren't too sure. Me and Jim were havin' a discussion with Pa about Moses; what he wanted to do and what we thought he should do. Uncle Jim was all for my brother-in-law runnin' back to Pikeville to be our eyes and ears, but I weren't. Nova almost lost her only loyal blood relation last night. I didn't want her goin' thru that again.
Pa took a long puff from his pipe 'fore sayin', "That boy'd be safer up in these hills, 'specially after how bad he was hurt when he showed up, but we do need his help down in Kentucky. His warnin's have saved many lives; kept plenty of ours out of jail too."
"Then it's settled, Anse? He'll leave tomorrow, like he wants?" Uncle Jim asked from his spot on pa's left.
"I don't think he should leave so soon, pa. Maybe give it a couple more days. I mean, him and Nova need some time to talk." I honestly spoke up from my spot on my pa's right. I was his right hand and most trusted lieutenant in this deadly feud, he'd have to listen to my thoughts on the situation with my own brother-in-law. I was his favorite son, surely, he'd agree with me about Moses.
"But if he wants to get back to spyin' we shouldn't stop him." My uncle undermined me as he chewed on his chaw.
"My wife hasn't seen her brother in years and the first time she does, he's bleedin' out on our kitchen table and she's calterizin' his wound. They need some time together 'fore he heads back."
Pa looked right at Uncle Jim and told him, "Jim, leave us. I need to have a word wit' my son, alone."
"Hell, I'm sure what ya gotta say to him can be said in my company."
"Uncle Jim…" Pa warned, cutting his frosty blue eyes at our crochety old uncle.
"Fine, I'll go. Hell, I'll go see his young'ins. They're always excited to visit wit' their Uncie Jim." My crochety old uncle grumbled, only to rise from the table and storm out of the cabin.
"Cap, son, I know your wife's hardship with her brother has gotten to your feelings, but you must harden your heart sometimes and this is one of those times. This family needs Moses out there in the thick of things to warn us 'bout Bad Frank Phillips' next move."
"But Pa-" I began, only to get cut off by Pa's hard toned, "Cap, your wife knows how dangerous Phillips is; Jim said that she feels her brother needs to get back to spyin' for us. Seems that you just want Moses up here to ease your guilt in nearly bringin' your wife home a dead brother instead of a wounded one."
Bad Frank POV:
The ride back to Pikeville with Billy McCoy on the back of my horse was very long and solemn. Left me alone with too many of my thoughts. Usually on long rides I had Moses to keep me company. Boy was a fine deputy; took onto my mentorship quick, like a fish to water. I had to admit that boy was like a son to me. He would've been 'round the age of my own boy if he would've lived. I liked to think that me and Moses had a sort of father-son bond even tho we weren't related. Boy had no father, just a lawyer uncle that didn't understand him. I was the closest thing he had to a father, and goddamnit I was going to track him down and kill anyone who'd done him harm; kidnapped him too. I just pray that his sister's keepin' him safe and not lettin' anyone hurt him. I just pray that her bond for her brother is the same as the one my Nancy had with her brother, Jefferson, otherwise I might never find Moses alive.
Once I got back to town, I brought Billy McCoy to the undertaker before going to Lawyer Cline's office to give the news of what I'd discovered to both the lawyer and Mr. McCoy, the town drunk. The door chime loudly rang as I opened the door, announcing my presence. Lawyer Cline was nose deep in paperwork while Mr. McCoy was headfirst in a whiskey bottle.
"Have you found my nephew, Mr. Phillips?" Lawyer Cline asked, looking up from his paperwork, as I made my way over to the empty chair by his desk.
"No, but I know what happened to him and Billy McCoy last night." I answered, sittin' down in front of the lawyer's mahogany desk.
"Please, do go on." Perry gestured for me to continue with a nod of his head.
"Billy and Moses were headed to the Wolford cabin when the Hatfields got the jump on 'em. Billy was stabbed; left for dead while Moses and injured and kidnapped." I told the men, causing Lawyer Cline's eyes to go wide and his jaw to shake fearfully. Mr. McCoy just slurped down his flask faster. Leaning back in my chair, I explained my theory on the entire situation. "When I went to the cabin to bring back Billy's body, Mariah wasn't there. Her sister, Sarah, said she heard a noise last night; took a gun to go investigate it. She also said that Mariah's pregnant, so I think that when the Hatfields snagged up Mariah as bait that Billy disarmed himself outta fear for his woman and unborn child, but that Moses tried to fight to save both his friends."
"Yes." The slick lookin' lawyer nodded. "Moses was always close to Billy. They were like brothers, and I agree that he would've fought to protect him and Mariah while Billy would've been worried about Mariah and the unborn child."
Randall's hand hoovered in the air, tightly clenching his flask, as he asked in a mix between a slur and a gasp, "So now I got another son to put in an early grave?"
"Yes, you do, Randall. And I have a nephew that's missing and injured." Perry told his kin. The lawyer looked to be puttin' on a brave face, but I'm sure deep down he's worried about Moses. The man's fancy; ain't as hardened and tough gritted as his nephew, so I'm sure he'll be going into shock soon enough.
"I'm going to track the blood trail I believe belongs to Moses. I'll bring him back, Lawyer Cline. I'll also bring back Mariah and your unborn gran'baby, Mr. McCoy."
"If he's been taken by Hatfields…" Cline's slick as oil voice trailed off. He shook his head and let out a tight breath before saying, "Well, I pray his sister shows him mercy; keeps him safe."
"I had gran'chil'ren once, from her an' my boy Tolbert." Randall announced, taking a large swig from his flask. "They were good gran'babies." He smiled sadly, remembering grandbabies that'd been forgotten for years. "Think their loss what made her go mad; destroyed her an' Tolbert's marriage."
"You have Jim's kids and Calvin's son as grandchildren, Randall. You're not grandchild less." Perry reminded his cousin with a pointed look.
"You've never lost your sons or your gran'chil'ren, Perry. Never had a daughter-in-law go mad with grief and turn on yer family. Don't talk like an imbecile cause ya don't know how it feels." Mr. McCoy snarled before guzzlin' down his cheap whiskey.
"I don't know how it feels? Jesus Christ, Randall, Novella's my niece, not just Tolbert's widow. What transpired affected both of us considering that I raised her as my own." The lawyer hissed like a snake ready to strike.
"You never cared 'bout that girl. Reason why you pushed her on my son instead of finding her a fine gentle more of her standin' to get with." Randall harshly accused in a slur of drunken, angry words.
And this is when I leave to go find my missing deputy. I didn't even tell them I was goin', just stood up and left. Hell, I ain't sittin' around listening to Lawyer Cline and Mr. McCoy argue all goddamn day, not when I got my partner to go track down.
