*Author's Note*

Thank you for all the follows, faves, and reviews.

This chapter's a bit long.

Jobs To Do

Jessa POV:

I was up and dressed by dawn. I thought it'd be hard to wake up so early, but it turns out the roosters really to crow early and work as natural alarm clocks. After hearing cock-a-doodle-doo a few times in a row you'll get up, whether you want to or not. Sally, Roseanna, and Alifair made breakfast while I was tasked to set the table and watch how they did things. Everyone crowded into the kitchen for breakfast looking half awake. The morning meal was started by Randall saying grace, just like he had done last night for dinner. Everyone was quiet during breakfast, the only one that said anything was Randall and that was only to remind everyone of what their jobs for the day were. My job was to help Tolbert look for the missing pig.

Thud, thud, thud echoed in the air as me and Tolbert walked in the vast woods that was on his family's land. He had a gun slung over his shoulder while I was holdin' a coil of rope in one of my hands. My feet hurt like a bitch and Tolbert's fast pace wasn't helpin' out any. "Do you think we can walk slower? My feet hurt."

"No, we ain't walkin' slower." He harshly snapped out, causing me to flinch at how low and rumbling his velvet voice sounded echoing out in the woods. His boots crunched on a twig as he remarked, "Sooner we find our pig the better."

"But my feet hurt." I told him, pain seeping out in my voice, while shuffling next to him. I'm afraid that soon I'll be limping, that's how sore my feet were feeling. Oh, and the fact that the old shoes Roseanna gave me to use were a good half size too small didn't help out either.

"They'll be fine. Just bite yer lip an' tough it out."

"That's a mean thing to say."

"No, it's truthful." He replied, rolling his eyes at me. I winced as I kept up with his fast pace even tho my feet felt like they were on fire or were being stabbed by knives. "Don't got no time t'dilly dally when there's a missin' pig on the loose. Fat hog'll feed a family all winter, we need that meat."

"Oh, I didn't know that a pig lasted that long."

"Reckon not since yer from the beach ov'r in Carolinas. Bet yer family just went to the market buyin' food day in day out." Tolbert spat out mockingly as he trudged forward, speeding up his pace.

"Yea, we did go to the market." I nodded, biting back a wince, as I quickened my pace to keep up with Tolbert.

"Mhm, thought so." He scoffed over the sound of boots crunching against the twig covered ground.

"How deep are we goin'? To your still?" I asked as a way to suggest that he head out there.

He just shook his head. "No, don't think the pig made it that far."

Looking up at him I suggested, "But maybe it did."

"Ya know how far a walk it is t'get to my still?" He rhetorically asked me in a smooth, but biting snap. "Yer bitchin' 'bout a short walk, the long one'll kill ya."

I raised my brow, staring at his hat covered head, while asking, "So, we're not going to look there is what you're saying?"

"Nope, we're not goin' to my still. Got no reason to check there when I was just up there yes'day."

"But maybe the pig's there." I protested, really hoping that he'd budge and take us to look by that still. I had a feeling the pig was there, it had to be since the neighbor Floyd Hatfield stole it. How else could he steal it if it wasn't by his land or crossed over onto it?

"It ain't Jessa so hush up and follow where I'm going." He barked before storming off slightly to the left near a large tree.

"But-" I tried to protest only to get cut off by Tolbert's biting sigh of, "We'll go to the still t'morraw after workin' the fields to check it out. Maybe we can search 'gain for the pig then." He pinched the bridge of his nose before pointing to the large tree trunk and sighing, "Sit and take a quick break. Ya ain't no good t'me crippled. Can't carry both ya an' a lost pig home."

I quickly took a seat on the ground, leaning my back against the tree. Tolbert took a seat next to me, but didn't say a word. His attitude was overwhelming. One minute he was nasty and the next he was nice, it was a lot to take in. Maybe he's bipolar? Hmm, would make a lot of sense.

Allie POV:

Sleeping on a pallet, which was just a couple of folded up blankets on the floor, was a real pain in the back. Hell, last night was the worst sleep in my life. I hope the Hatfields get me a real bed and soon or else I'm going to be having lumbar problems. A couple of down blankets do nothing to cushion a hardwood floor. Eh, at least I had somewhere warm to sleep tho.

After waking up at the ass crack of dawn cause of a rooster crowing, I got dressed and helped Levicy with breakfast. I made the eggs and bacon while Levicy took care of making grits. We both made the biscuits as a team. Thank god my step-grandma showed me how to make homemade buttermilk biscuits when I was younger or I'd be so screwed this morning.

Currently I was helping Levicy put food on everyone's plates. She was divvying out the grits while I was doing the eggs. The platters of biscuits and bacon were in the middle of the table for everyone to freely grab at. Right as I was scooping some eggs onto Johnse's plate he gave me a smile while asking in a cheerful tone, "G'mornin', Allie. How're ya?"

"I'm good, how 'bout yourself?" I asked him, moving to the next open plate which belonged to Will.

"Doin' good." Was the cheerful reply I got from him, along with a charming smile.

Right as I was about to walk away from Will he tugged on my skirt, causing me to turn my head 'round and look at him with a raised brow. He didn't say a word, just smirked at me before grabbing his fork and taking a bite out of the scrabbled eggs I just placed on his plate.

"Did you get enough rest, Allie?" Devil Anse asked me as I scooped some eggs onto his children's plates.

"Yes, I did." I half-lied thru my teeth. Truth was my sleep was full of tossing and turning since I wasn't used to sleeping on the floor.

Right before Devil Anse could say anything back to me the front door slammed open with a loud boom followed by a crochety question of, "Got 'nough breakfast for us t'et?"

Oh god, Jim Vance and Sully were here. Of course, they were here.

"Course there's enough for ya'll." Levicy assured the men as they made their way to the table, quickly taking off to the counter to get them some plates. Looks like I'll be having another family meal with them after all.

"Ya make any o'this, girl?" Jim asked as he sat down in his spot. Sully just gave him a narrowed look, no doubt silently gesturing that he was being rude.

"Name's not girl and yea, I cooked the eggs and bacon." I flatly told Jim as Levicy rushed over to him and Sully with plates and forks in her hands. I noticed that the plates had the grits on them, smart of her since it meant one last thing she had to rush around the kitchen for.

"Hope it don't taste bad." Jim muttered, a bit loudly, as he grabbed a mug and coffee pot off the table to make up his drink.

"Jim be nice." Sully advised his uncle before shooting me an apologetic look.

"Taste fine t'me, Jim." Will spoke up in between chewing on a mouthful of food while I made my way over to the two men in order to serve them eggs.

Right as Levicy was at the counter making up some plates for us the door opened again, but this time it was Ellison Hatfield and his son Cotton that walked inside. I knew what they looked like from the pictures in my history book, but since they were in black and white, I wasn't expecting Ellison to be a copper-haired man or for his son to have light near white hair. Guess that's how he got the nickname of Cotton.

"Ellison, Cotton, that's Allie Freeland. She was in that wagon accident on the Tug yesterday, we've taken her in." Devil Anse told his brother and nephew, pointing to me with his fork as I placed eggs onto Jim and Sully's plates, in order to explain my appearance in the house.

"Nice meetin' you. I'm Ellison and this is my son, Cotton." Ellsion politely greeted me, grabbing a glass and pitcher of milk from the table, pouring some for his son.

"Hi, Miss Allie." Cotton waved at me, giving me a bashful smile, as Levicy rushed over to the table with some grit covered plates.

"Nice meeting you too." I told Ellison before turning to Cotton and smiling, "Hi, Cotton. That's a unique name you got, I like it."

"It's a nickname cause of my hair, but my first name's the same as my daddy's. Ellison." Cotton gushed, an excited smile on his face, as I scooped some eggs onto the plates that Levicy had just placed on the table.

"I'll take that." Levicy said, grabbing the pot right out of my hand. Patting me on the back she ordered, "Go sit by Will, I'll bring ya your plate."

"Are you sure, Levicy? I don't mind going to the counter and fixing my own." I asked, not wanting her to feel obligated to bring me my food. I mean come on, I waited tables at the Rib Crib so I was fine with playing server and getting my own food.

"I'm sure. Now go on, take your seat." She told me in a motherly tone before walking by me and going to the kitchen counters.

Since I didn't have a choice I just went over to the open spot on Will's left and sat down. Instead of being by Johnse this time I was by Cotton, who was wearing a big smile and seemed happy that I was sitting next to him. Sully, who was sandwiched across from me by Ellison and Jim, just gave me a nod in approval. Seems that he was happy his slow-minded cousin liked me.

"So, Sully, when did you get back?" Ellison asked as Levicy showed up, placing a plate in front of me.

As I grabbed the coffee pot and a mug, which was next to a bacon platter, Sully paused in eating his jam covered biscuit to answer his cousin with, "Yesterday. Found Miss Allie lost and alone on my way here."

"I wasn't lost and alone, Sully. I nearly died in a wagon train accident trying to cross the Tug." I snapped, rolling my eyes at my teacher. Okay, he wasn't actually my teacher anymore, but whatever he was still a teacher tho.

Sully shot me a look that silently read 'you've got a big mouth' as he resumed eating his biscuit.

"Were there any other survivors?" Ellison asked, grabbing a piece of bacon of his plate and taking a bite out of it.

Shaking my head I sighed, "No, my best friend was with me, but she was dragged down river by the current."

"Don't be sad, Miss Allie. I'll be your friend now since ya don't got none no mores." Cotton told me with a smile, giving me a quick one armed side hug too.

"Thank you, Cotton. I'd like to be your friend too." I smiled, wrapping my arm around his back and giving him a pat.

Feeling the need to change the atmosphere in the room Sully announced between eating grits, "I'll be going to town today to inquire 'bout that open teachin' job. Hopin' I get hired."

"Mayor's a jackass, but I don't see no reason for you not to get hired. You've been teachin' for half your life." Devil Anse remarked before taking a long sip of his coffee.

"Cept for 'em years ya were in the army." Jim Vance spoke up through a mouthful of eggs.

"What army were you in?" I asked, curious to find out if he fought in the Civil War and if so, what side he was on.

"General Lee's unit of the Confederate Army." Sully simply told me. He was so nonchalant about it, as if he was giving out a homework assignment or something.

"Shame the north won tho." Jim spat, rolling his eyes as he grabbed a slice of bacon off his plate.

"Jim, stop it." Anse ordered before pointing his fork at his mountain man uncle and telling him in a deep, but stern tone, "No north or south no more just people that got an' ain't got."

Cotton, unaware to the tension that was bubbling, gave me a proud grin while announcing, "Since I just turned 14, I'm workin' with my daddy an' Uncle Anse fellin' trees now."

"Really? That sounds very important." I told Cotton with a big smile, using the overly sweet and excited voice that I reserved for little kids that I would wait on at the Rib Crib.

"It is. I gotta gather the tree trimmin's so nobody trip ov'r 'em." Cotton told me before shoveling a large forkful of eggs into his mouth.

"I bet you're the best at it; that nobody's tripped on your watch." I told him as I grabbed my biscuit from my plate.

Cotton enthusiastically nodded his head while proudly saying, "Yea."

"Miss Allie, you'll be helping Levicy 'round the house I take it?" Ellison asked, reaching over to grab some more bacon from the nearby platter.

"She's tasked t'watch the kids." Will answered his uncle, taking it upon himself to speak on my behalf as he gnawed on a slice of crisp bacon.

Sully's eyes darted between me and his cousin. He had an odd look on his face, as if the wheels in his head were turning and he was thinking or scheming up something. Since I didn't feel like I needed Will talking for me I decided to make a remark of my own, but in a nice way. "Will's right, I'll be helping out with his siblings, but I can also manage to do housework."

Ellison just nodded his copper-haired head at me while giving me a tiny, but gentle smile. He seemed like a very gentle soul. It's such a shame that he gets brutally murdered by Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud. He doesn't deserve to suffer and die over the span of like 3-days.

Sully's eyes subtly darted between me and his gentle giant of a cousin as he ate his helping of grits. I looked at him and then subtly trailed my line of sight to Ellison, silently letting Sully know that other then saving Jim Vance we needed to hatch a plan to save Ellison Hatfield as well. A thin grin crossed over Sully's face, clearly approving of what I silently and mentally propositioned to him with my eyes. "Well, Allie, I truly hope you fit in well with the family, but I don't find any reason that ya wouldn't." He told me in his deep-vibrating tone before scooping up a forkful of eggs and eating them.

I just nodded at Sully while grabbing my coffee cup and taking a large sip of it. So, it seems I've met the entire Hatfield family, minus the Judge and the non-Hatfields that are friends and workers, and so far, I've gotten the stamp of approval. Hopefully I can manage to fit in and won't give these people any reason to be suspicious of me or kick me to the curb since, after all, I've been dubbed a new part of the family.

Jessa POV:

If I thought looking for a pig yesterday was tiring, well working in a tobacco field today's exhausting. All I knew about tobacco was that it's grown in rows, picked, and dried in order to be processed. I had no idea how grueling tending to a tobacco field is, well til now that is. To my horror the McCoy's tobacco field was huge, a good 50 acres, and I had to help Tolbert tend it all.

"How much longer is this gonna take?" I asked Tolbert after what felt like hours of picking ripe leaves off of plants, tossing them into the wheelbarrow he was pushing.

"As long as it takes, ya spoilt princess." He spat gruffly, rolling his eyes at me as he stopped rolling the wheel barrow. "Ya get them ov'r there; I'll get these here." Tolbert instructed, pointing out the plants we were going to work on before walking off to pick his tobacco leaves.

"Has your family always grown tobacco?" I asked while going over to my designated plant.

"Yep." Tolbert popped his tongue. Picking a large leaf off the plant with ease, he told me, "Ever since poppy come home from the army when I was a boy."

"Randall fought for the Confederacy, right?" I asked as a way to make conversation with him. I mean I couldn't talk about shows or music, now could I? Elaborating on something he mentioned was the only way to communicate with him.

"Yea an' poppy was rottin' in a Yankee jail too while Devil Anse Hatfield deserted an' made a profit fellin' trees." Tolbert spat gruffly, yanking a bit harshly on the leaf he was picking.

"Oh…" I didn't know that Randall was in that Union prison in Ohio and I didn't know that Devil Anse went AWOL either. It wasn't in the history book I read in class so…

"Jim Vance, the devil's uncle, murdered my Uncle Harmon after he got home from war." I knew about that, Allie told me the summary of what she read on the first page. Hmm, maybe I should've read it for myself. "That man 's a liar, denies and swear t'God that he nev'r killed my uncle even tho he did." Tolbert spat angrily, going over to another plant that needed picked.

"I'm sorry." I told him with a sympathetic look from my spot crouched next to a tobacco plant.

Snapping is head up; narrowing his stormy eyes at me, he gruffy asked, "For what?"

"For what happened to your family. It's sad and shouldn't have happened." I honestly told him as I picked the ripe leaves from my plant before rising to my feet and walking over to the next one.

Tolbert just replied to me with a silent nod before pulling some ready leaves off of a budding tobacco plant. I didn't know what else to say so I just bent down by my plant picked the tobacco leaves quietly.

While me and Tolbert brought our leaves to the wheelbarrow, putting them inside, his stormy eyes met my indigo ones as he smoothly told me, "I'm sorry 'bout what ya went thru too. Near drownin', loosin' yer kin an' best friend."

"Thank you, Tolbert."

"So, um, did ya have a feller that ya lost too?" He asked, grabbing the handles of the wheelbarrow.

"No." I shook my head as Tolbert began rolling the tobacco filled barrow. Walking next to him I admitted in a soft voice, "I've never had a boyfriend."

"Really?" He turned his head around, looking at me. I felt his eyes boring into me as he made the remark of, "Girl as purty as ya never been courted or gotten an offer? That's hard t'believe."

"You think I'm pretty?" I asked, surprised that this man from the 1878 Kentucky hills showed a physical interest in me, especially since he was older then me by a few years.

"Yea, Jessa, I do." He confirmed, giving me a nod, as we walked down the dirt aisle surrounded by picked plants as we were heading towards the ones we needed to pick. "But I think ya'd make a lousy wife since ya don't know nothin' 'bout farmin' or housework." What? He just insulted me right after paying me a compliment? How could he do that?

"Oh…" I sighed out in a state of shock while Tolbert stopped the wheel barrow.

"Ya got a lot t'learn, darlin'." He told me in his smooth timbre before walking off to pick the tobacco leaves.

Knowing that he was married when he died in '82 I figured he must be seeing somebody. As I went over to my side of the field I innocently asked, "Are you getting ready to get married any time soon?"

"No, I'd have to be able to court a girl t'do that." What? He was single? I wasn't expecting to hear that. "I've seen a few girls, but it didn't work out cause their poppies didn't like me much." Tolbert confessed while picking some tobacco leaves. "Jim's seeing some girl from town tho. Oh, and Calvin's friendly with Reverend Garrett's daughter, Leona."

"Are they together, Calvin and Leona?" I asked, walking over to a tobacco plant and crouching down next to it.

"Heard she's courtin' somebody." Tolbert told me in a gruff rumble while marching over to a plant. Bending down and grabbing a leaf he went on to say, "Leona and Calvin already are friendly from us 'tendin' services every Sunday so I assume it's my brother she's seein'."

"I used to go to church with my parents." I honestly told him. Actually, I spent my time in the youth group, but it still counted as church.

"Good, cause if ya didn't we'd have a problem. Poppy wouldn't be happy housin' no heathen under his roof." Roughly yanking a leaf, he added in a gruff sigh, "And I wouldn't wanna be stuck with no heathen either."

My indigo eyes widened in shock as I asked in a slight high pitched tone, "Stuck? Is that what we are, stuck with each other?"

"Darlin', whether ya wanna believe it or not we're stuck t'gether since poppy made ya my responsibility." I heard him tell me in a hard-clipped sigh as I walked over to a large tobacco plant that needed a few leaves picked off.

"Are you sayin' we're going to end up together, like as a couple?" I asked in a slight tremble since that's the impression I got from his last remark.

"Whether or not that happen's up t'ya, not me." Tolbert told me over the sound of his boots thumping against the ground as he made his way over to the wheelbarrow. "No stop yer yappin', we got plenty more tobacky that needs pickin'." He gruffly ordered, dropping his armful of leaves into the barrow as he reached it.

I just nodded and continued working. I didn't feel like making him grumpy, plus I did want to get done in the field, so I stopped talking and focused all of my energy on picking the tobacco leaves.

Allie POV:

I was out on the front porch churning butter while the Hatfield children were running and playing in the warm June weather. Lucky kids, what I wouldn't give to be carefree. I didn't mind having to make homemade butter, even tho it was a pain in the ass, since I did agree to help out in order for free room and board.

Actually, these last couple of days I've been made to feel like a part of the family, which I was thankful for. Nannie and Betty, the young Hatfield daughters, were very nice and didn't mind sharing their room with me. They were actually happy to have an older girl in the house since all they had were big brothers. Hell, the Hatfields had a lot of sons. Hopefully Levicy's next baby's a girl.

"Hey, how 'bout I help you out with that and give ya a break?" I heard Johnse suggest as he walked up the porch steps. Wow, I must be really focused on churning butter and keeping an eye on his siblings cause I didn't even notice that he was home.

"When did you get off work?" I asked, turning my head to look at Johnse, as he made his way over to me. His boots lightly echoing on the wooden floorboards of the porch.

"Not that long ago. Pa let me off early cause Will had'a leave and go patch up the church's roof." Johnse told me with a smile as he came to a stop right next to me.

"Oh." I simply said as I stopped churning the butter. Standing I tilted my head to the churn and smiled, "It's all yours since you offered."

"I don't mind." He smiled, sitting down on the stool I had just stood from. As I sat down on a nearby rocker, he began to work the churn while telling me, "I use t'help ma some with churnin' 'fore I took t'loggin'."

"Is logging hard work?" I asked since all I know about lumber jacks was from that History Channel show Axe Men, but that was with modern chain saws, cranes, and flatbed trucks to do the work with. I can only imagine that lumber work in the 1800s had to be dangerous.

"Very much so, but pa and my uncles been doin' it all their lives. Friends have been too." I just nodded, letting the golden blonde who was the catch of the county know that I got what he was saying. With a smile, that I could only describe as charming, he told me, "It gets easier more ya do it. Been loggin' since I was 13 ya know." So, he had a good 5 years of logging under his belt then. I wonder how long Will's been in the family tree business for? As if he had Superman powers and could read my mind, Johnse told me in a cheerful tone, "My brother just started couple years back. He usually works wit' Skunk Hair or me."

"I used to wait tables for the dinner service at a diner." I told Johnse as I rocked back and forth on the porch. Little squeaks echoing in the air with every movement I made.

"Y'do that long?" He asked, looking at me from over his shoulder, while moving the churning stick up and down his ease. I bet he as some biceps on him.

"Not long, just a few months." I answered, stretching my arms over my head to try and get some feeling back into them since they were a bit numb and sore from working the churn.

"Your ma work there with ya or tend the house? Oh, and what 'bout your daddy?"

"My step-mother worked the breakfast and lunch shifts at the diner. My daddy's a roofer." I honestly answered Johnse. I didn't see any reason to lie about what my parents did for a living. Dad was a roofer for one of the roofing businesses in Tulsa while my step-mom worked doubles at the Waffle House. My family wasn't well off and rich like Jessa's was. Her daddy was a college professor and her mother was a house wife.

"What 'bout your brothers and sisters?" Johnse asked while pausing in his movements and taking a break from working the churn.

"My brother left home at 18 and joined the army. I haven't heard from him in like 3 or 4-years. My step-sister went to school." I told him, not giving too much away, but just enough to put his curiosity to rest.

"Bet ya miss 'em somethin' awful." He gave me a half smile before shaking his head and admitting, "I know if I lost my family, I'd be all torn up inside."

Nodding, I let out a sad sigh of, "Yea, I miss them. I miss my best friend, Jessa, too."

"I'm gonna see if ma has anythin' for me to do." Johnse told me, getting up from the stool he was at and moving away from the churn.

"Okay. Thanks for the break, Johnse." I told him, grateful that my arms got a short break from the hard laboring job of moving a churn up and down, as I stopped rocking in my chair.

"You're welcome, Allie." Johnse smiled at me before walking over to the front door and into the house, leaving me once again by myself with the wretched butter churn.

Jessa POV:

It's been about a week since I've been with the McCoys and I've found myself in a routine. Every day after breakfast I helped Tolbert in the tobacco field and then helped him with his still. I mostly just cooked the mash down while he bottled up the moonshine or put the cooked mash into the part of the still it had to go into. Tolbert, despite being a bit moody at times, was actually nice company. He was growing on me and in a way, I counted him as one of my friends. His sister, Roseanna, was one of my friends now and I was grateful for that. She was so sweet and kind, even helped teach me how to braid hair since I had to help with the younger girls' hair at bed time. Why girls braided their hair for bed was a mystery to me, but it seemed to be a popular practice in the 1800s. Perhaps to keep the hair from knotting and snarling? The other McCoy siblings were nice and respectful to me, made me feel like part of their big family. Sally and Randall were very stern and protective parents, reminded me a lot of my own back in modern day Tulsa.

Tonight, Perry Cline had stopped by for dinner, which I was grateful for cause I was hoping that he had some answers for me about Allie's whereabouts. I was anxious to find out what happened to her. I was praying that she was alright. Talk about praying, the McCoys took us to church last Sunday and I didn't see Allie. I thought if somebody took her in then they would've brought her to church with them, so not seeing her there was depressing. I did meet the preacher's daughter, Leona, who Calvin had lunch with. They seemed friendly and looked like they were courting, but nobody confirmed it.

I was sitting between Roseanna and Tolbert, which was actually my usual spot. Randall had just said grace so we just starting to pass the platters around, taking scoops of what we wanted. Tolbert had just placed a spoonful of corn on his plate whenever Perry Cline cleared his throat and announced, "Miss Jessa, I asked around about your friend."

"And?" I asked, hope high in my voice, as I took a corn bowl from the redhead next to me.

While I scooped some corn onto my plate Perry's voice took on a sympathetic tone as he told me, "I don't know how to tell you this in a way that won't hurt, but I've found out that Allie Freeland has taken up residence with the Hatfields."

"Oh no…" Tumbled out of my mouth in a long trailing sigh full of shock and dread. I just couldn't believe it. While passing the bowl to Roseanna, nearly dropping the thing, I asked Perry, "How did she find them? They're a long way from the Tug?"

"Turns out Hector Sullivan's back in town." Perry said with a hard look on his well-groomed face. He took the bowl from Roseanna, scooped some corn onto his plate, and passed it on all while saying, "He found her on his way to Mate Creek, took her right to Devil Anse's since the man's his god-awful cousin."

Mr. Sullivan's Devil Anse's cousin?! Oh my god! That's not good. That man's obsessed with the feud and now he's here during it and dragged my best friend to his family, dumped her off with them too. "No, no, no."

"Jessa, I'm sorry, but yer friend's good as dead now." Tolbert told me as he plopped a piece of fried chicken onto my plate. Oh no, did I say no, no, no out loud? I must've for him to help me fix up my dinner plate along with bluntly telling me that my friendship with Allie was over.

"Jessa, one rule that must be obeyed in order for ya to remain in this house is that there'll be no consortin' with Hatfields. Is that understood?" Randall told me with a hard set look in his eyes, his tone dead serious, as he passed the bread basket over to Jim after taking a slice from it.

"Yes, Randall, I understand and I won't have nothin' to do with her or the Hatfields." I told the head of the McCoy family since I didn't want to lose my new home and be out on my own.

"Good." Was the only reply I got from the head of the McCoy family as he buttered his slice of bread.

I felt like a large rain cloud had just poured out over me. Hearing that Allie was alive and with the Hatfields along with Mr. Sullivan being their kin was both shocking and depressing. I had lost my best friend in the entire world all because she was on the wrong side of the river. I didn't have a choice, I had to obey Randall's one wish and end my friendship with her since I needed a place to stay. This wasn't modern times; women's rights were unheard of so it's not like I could get a job and support myself.

I hope that Allie realizes that the Hatfields aren't who she needs help from and gets away from them. She read the same book I did, she has to know that they're going to do horrible things to a family that doesn't deserve any tragedies.

AN:

So, the girls are adjusting pretty well to their new families. Oops, Perry dropped the bomb about Allie being with the Hatfields. Poor Jessa, feeling she has to choose the McCoys over her best friend...