*Author's Note*
Thank you for all the follows, faves, and reviews.
WARNING! LEMONS IN 2ND SCENE! NEWLYWED LEMONS I SAY! (Just saying incase that ain't your thing…)
Friends & Couples
Jessa POV:
I was in Tolbert's kitchen finishing up lunch whenever I heard the front door of the house open up with a tiny squeak. I looked over my shoulder, from my spot pulling biscuits out of the oven, only to see Tolbert walking thru the doorway. "Smells good, darlin'." He complimented my cooking while taking off his hat and jacket; hanging them on the hook by the door. "Sorry I missed ya yes'day." He told me, making his way over to the table, while I placed the pan of freshly baked biscuits on the counter.
"It's okay, you had work to do." I told him, turning my back to the counter and cabinets in order to give him a small smile as he took his seat at the head of his table.
"Yea…" His smooth gruff voice rang out into the air. "So, uh, ya wanna stay for lunch?" Tolbert asked, sounding a bit nervous for some unknown reason.
"Sure." I simply told him while opening the cabinet that the plates and glasses were stored in. The room was silent for a while as I quickly worked at the kitchen counter to make up plates and pour glasses of milk. I only broke the silence whenever I brought him over his lunch, setting it in front of him with a simple, "Here's your lunch."
"Thank ya, darlin'." Tolbert politely told me as I made my way over to the counter to grab my lunch.
"You're welcome." I replied, picking up my plate and glass from the countertop.
"This is good, Jessa." Tolbert told me between chewing a mouthful of fried chicken as I placed my lunch on the table and sat down next to him.
"Thanks, I'm glad you like it." I smiled at him, adjusting my skirt before scooting my chair closer to the table.
"So, how was yer dinner last nite wit' Shaw Eldridge?" Tolbert asked in a hard biting tone to his usually smooth gruff voice before taking a large crunchy bite out of his fried chicken.
"It was good. He talked with your poppy about his job and schooling." I told Tolbert before picking up my fried chicken wing and taking a bite out of it.
"And afterwards?" Tolbert's brow rose as he picked up his buttered biscuit.
"We went for a walk in the woods by the house." I honestly told him since I didn't have anything to hide.
Tolbert rolled his stormy eyes dramatically while scoffing, "Where he wooed ya an' got'cha into a courtship."
Shaking my head, I speared some green beans with my fork. "No, he didn't woo me." Tolbert just let out a silent huff before taking a large bite out of his biscuit. "Tolbert, we're just friends for now." I told him, trying to ease his jealous attitude.
He roughly tossed his half-eaten biscuit onto his plate while asking in a hard-gruff tone, "Yea, for now, but how long's it gonna take for that to change? Huh?"
Narrowing my indigo eyes and pointing my fork at him, I said in a level voice, "I don't know why you're acting so jealous right now for, Tolbert. You've made it crystal clear that you don't want a relationship."
"Well, maybe I've changed my mind."
"Cause of Shaw? Oh, that's rich. You're jealous so now you want me so nobody else can have me."
"No, it ain't like that, darlin'." Tolbert quickly protested, trying to back pedal and correct what he had already more or less confessed to with his body language and tone of voice.
"Really? Cause that's how it seems." I sarcastically remarked while grabbing my biscuit off my plate.
"Goddamnit, it ain't Tolbert bellowed, his voice on the verge of breaking out into a loud yell. He took a few huffing breaths, resembling a bull, before telling me in a tight, but gruffly smooth tone, "Look, Jessa, we care 'bout each other so I don't see why ya gotta give Shaw the time o'day."
"And I think you're just acting this way cause you're jealous, but if Shaw wasn't around you would still be ignoring me." I honestly told Tolbert before eating a forkful of green beans, causing him to give me a hard stare accompanied with a headshake. I let out a large sigh before telling him, "Look, you may want a relationship right now, but now it's my turn to just want a friendship." Tolbert opened his mouth to protest, but before any words could come spilling out, I rashly told him, "Right now both you and Shaw's only getting friendship from me. I need time to figure out who's the best one for me to court with."
Tolbert dropped his chicken onto his plate, staring at me with anger in his stormy blues. He shook his head before heatedly scoffing, "Oh, so now I gotta compete wit' that shifty bastard? Hell, ya lost yer ever lovin' mind? Yer soundin' plum ass crazy right now t'me."
My nostrils flared and my indigo eyes hardened as I defended myself with the clipped remark of, "I'm not sounding plum ass crazy. I'm making a logical and fair point, but you just don't want to hear or accept it."
"Yer really serious 'bout havin' me an' Shaw as friends t'see who ya like as more than a friend?" Tolbert rhetorically asked me before quickly grumbling, "Goddamn, that's the stupidest shit I've ever heard, Jessa."
"It's not stupid. I want to make sure that I make the right choice with the right man. Keeping you both as friends only to decide later on who I'd like to court is a good option for me."
"Yer life, yer choice, but I think yer makin' a mistake by even givin' Shaw Eldridge the time o'day." Tolbert told me, his smooth tone harder then stone, before he went back to eating his lunch.
"Your jealous attitude's not going to win me over, Tolbert. Try honing your temper and just being the nice guy, I know you can be if you want to show me that you're serious about being more then friends."
Tolbert didn't say a word, just nodded his head and kept on eating his lunch. Hopefully he accepts my terms and advice; if not then I guess I have to go with plan B…
Allie POV:
Dusk had fallen whenever we said our goodbyes to everyone at the main house. As we walked to our horse as newlyweds everyone threw rice on us as good luck. It was so surreal how I was now Mrs. Allie Hatfield instead of being Miss Allie Freeland; a month before my 16th birthday too. The ride to our house, which wasn't that far away, was peacefully silent. I rested my chin on my husband's shoulder and had my arms loosely wrapped around his waist. As we got closer and closer to our house my heart hammered in my chest. Oh boy, the wedding night was going to be happening. I was both nervous and ready for it. I mean I was nervous since it'd be the first time, I'd ever slept with somebody, but obviously I was ready to since I loved Cap. Oh god, there it is, I was actually in love with my husband.
I could see over modest cabin in the distance. It was nice and well built, something that I knew Cap must've been proud of. Deciding it was now or never, I whispered into my husband's ear, "I love you, Cap."
Looking over his shoulder with a softhearted smirk on his face, he told me, "And I love ya, Allie. Reason why I married ya for."
Smiling from ear to ear I hugged my husband's waist tighter while telling him, "Ditto."
Cap let out a booming chuckle, shaking his black Stetson covered head, as he trotted down the pathway to our cabin. "I do believe our marriage is gonna be good one, 'specially with a love declaration such as ours."
"It's more of a random blurt out, not a declaration." I teased him as he guided our horse to the hitching post near the front porch.
"I know, darlin', but love declaration sounds a bit better then random blurt out of lovey dovey feelin's." My husband told me, a slight chuckle hidden deep in his throat, as he stopped at the hitching post and dismounted our horse, Badger. Quickly, he tethered Badger to the post before grabbing my waist with his hands and hoisting me off the horse. With a smirk, he picked me up bridal style and said, "Looks like it's time I officially make ya my wife."
Not really knowing what to say, I just wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled at him. He took that smile as a positive sign; quickly going up the porch stairs and making his way to the front door. After opening the door, he carried me over the threshold into our house. The house that'd be our home for an infinite amount of time. Instead of placing me down, he kicked the door shut and quickly carried me to our bedroom. Yep, seems like he was eager for the wedding night to start.
After shutting our bedroom door with his foot, Cap set me down. As I stood in front of him, feeling a bit nervous, he ran a hand thru my hair and smiled. "Don't be nervous, everything'll be fine."
"I'm not nervous." I quickly denied, earning me a slightly raised brow from my husband. Drifting my sapphire eyes off of his face and onto a random spot on the floorboards, I admitted in a long sigh, "It's just this is my first time…"
"Well, I got my eye poked out by a splitter 'fore I could swing by the whorehouse so…" Cap told me as a way to assure me that, like me, he wasn't very experienced. Giving me a warm smile, he said, "Don't worry, we'll be fine."
"I'm not worried." I told him as he took off his hat and tossed it onto the nearby bedside table.
"Good." Cap simply told me before pulling me into his chest and kissing me suddenly on the lips.
Instantly, I held onto my husband's shoulders while melding my lips into his. I was running on pure instincts as I pushed his jacket off his shoulders, all the while never breaking the kiss we were sharing. Cap just let the jacket fall off his arms and onto the floor while gliding his lips effortlessly across mine. Our lips nipped and tugged on against each other's as I began to unbutton his vest. Right as I got his vest undone, he broke our kiss and slightly pulled away from me. Our chests were heaving slightly as we stared at each other.
Instead of saying something romantic, Cap asked me, "Uh, does your dress have buttons or does it just yet pulled off over your head?"
I let out a little giggle, not believing he just asked that instead of trying to be all romantic with some kind of sweet words or something. "It pulls off over my head." I answered him, holding back another giggle.
"Okay, well, I'm glad ya find this funny."
"Cap, honey, you got to admit that asking if I can pull my dress off over my head or not isn't very romantic." I told my husband as I pushed his black vest off his shoulders, causing it to fall to the floor and land on top of his black jacket.
Smirking, Cap took the hem on my dress loosely in his hands. "Reckon we ain't that romantic of a couple." He chuckled, pulling my dress off of me and leaving me only in my shift.
"No, reckon not." I smiled, watching Cap bunch up and toss my wedding dress (that his mother hand sewed for me) somewhere over his shoulder. I started to unbutton my husband's shirt while telling him, "I guess that's why we get along tho."
Cap didn't say a word, just nodded his head and let a chuckle escape his lips. My hands slightly began to shake as I undid the last of the buttons on his striped shirt. When I opened his shirt and pushed it down his shoulders I was met with, much to my surprise, his bare chest that was lightly dusted with fair golden hair. It seems he decided not to wear a long-john shirt in anticipation of our wedding night.
"Like what ya see?" My husband asked me with a playful smirk.
"Well, yea, I mean you're well-built even tho you're tall and thin." I rambled, feeling a slight blush creep over my cheeks.
"Well, thank you." Cap said, a slightly teasing tone to his deep timbre, as he toed out of his boots.
Following his lead, I slipped out of the white wedding low pump heels I was wearing. Eh, I preferred my boots over the fancy shoes, but both Levicy and Vera insisted that the shoes were a must for a bride so I wore them instead. Hell, I wasn't much of a high heels' person here or in the future so I'm glad my wedding's the only time the things were needed.
Gesturing to our bed with the wave of his hand, Cap told me, "Um, you can sit down for a bit while I finish undressin'."
"Okay." I simply nodded before doing as I was told. Yea, the mood has just hit slightly awkward once again. While sitting on the edge of the bed I silently watched Cap take off his pants before sitting down on the bed and pulling off his socks. Without a word he stood up and took off his long-john pants.
My oh my…yep that's the only thing I can think of while staring at my husband's naked body. He had toned muscles from doing farm chores and falling trees. He also had that V-cut near his hips and a slight treasure trail of hair leading to his member. Oh my, I can't believe my first time's going to be as a married woman with my husband; that he's going to be the only guy I'm ever with too. I mean this is kinda unheard of in the 21st century, but it's common in the 19th century.
Well, I love Will so bring it on.
"Well, now it's your turn to finish undressin'." My husband smirked at me, taking my hand in his and pulling me to stand up on my feet.
"Yea." I squeaked out as Cap grabbed the hem on the shift. In one shift movement he was pulling it off and over my head.
As I stood bare in front of my husband, I started to feel self-conscious. I mean I was only a month away from being 16 and I wasn't like some blonde bombshell, I was slender and still developing since my bra size wasn't very large. I wonder what he thinks about me.
As I subconsciously went to cover my chest by folding my arms, Will stopped me by placing his hands on my arms and pulling them down by my side. "Don't hide from me, Allie. We're man and wife now." I just nodded my head a bit shyly while my husband gently pulled the lace headpiece out of my hair along with the few pins holding my hair in place. He placed them on the bedside table next to his hat before running his fingers loosely thru my light blonde hair and telling me in a deep, but whisper-like tone, "You're beautiful, darlin'."
Feeling more comfortable and bolder now, I smiled at Cap and told him a bit soft, but sultry, while wrapping my arms around his neck, "And you, Will, are very ruggedly handsome."
Will smirked before grasping my hip and planting a slow kiss on my lips. I returned the kiss, my lips effortlessly entering a rhythm with his. As we slowly kissed, our tongues dancing with each other's, we ran our hands all over each other; exploring each other's bodies with simple touches and grazes. Suddenly, Cap broke our kiss and gently nudged me to fall back onto the bed. With a smile I scooted further onto the bed, making room for my husband to join me. Wordlessly, he got into bed.
I knew what was going to happen next. Hell, we both did. Oh god, my heart was hammering in my chest and I'm pretty sure his was too.
In a swift motion Will was hovering over me, nestled between my legs, with his forehead lightly pressed against mine. "Ya ready for this?" He asked, his fingers lightly fluttering up and down the side of my ribcage.
Placing a hand softly on the juncture of his neck and shoulder, I nodded and softly told him, "Yea, I'm ready."
Will nodded before placing kisses under my jawline and down my neck and he drifted his hand down my side, up over my hip, and to my center. My nerves started to flare up again as his fingers lightly touched my core. I felt little shockwaves of pleasure shoot thru me as he worked his fingers on me. A small airy moan escaped my lips as he entered a finger inside of me, moving it lightly before adding another to help stretch me out in preparation for when we actually slept together in a few minutes.
Pausing in kissing the juncture of my neck, Cap asked me a bit softly in his deep timbre, "You okay? Does it feel good?"
"Yea." I simply muttered a bit airily while nodding my head against my pillow.
After a few moments, Will withdrew his hand and then lined his member up against me. I steadied myself my holding onto his shoulders, since I knew it'd hurt the first time, while Will braced himself by planting a hand besides me; into the mattress. He gave me a quick kiss before entering me.
Oh god, it burned as I got my cherry popped. Yikes, being stretched to fit his girth was a bit uncomfortable. I just bit my lip and toughed it out since I knew that it'd get better after the awkward first time. Once he bottomed out, I stopped biting my lip and left out a shaky breath. Looking at me with concern in his mismatched eyes, Will asked, "Are you okay? Do you wanna stop or…?"
"I'm okay, Will." I assured my husband with a soft smile. Yea, I felt a bit uncomfortable and burned a slightly down below, but other then that I was A-Okay. "Just start moving." I told him since I didn't really know what else to say to get this show on the road.
Will just nodded before slowly starting to move. At first his movements were hesitant since he was worried about me, but eventually we both relaxed and his movements fell into a more even tempo. Since it was our first time (ever not just with each other) we didn't experience earth shattering climaxes. I did feel a farm fuzzy tight feeling coil in my belly and let out a corresponding moan or two while Will of course spilled his seed inside of me.
It wasn't a drawn-out experience, but wasn't short either. All in all, my first time was enjoyable.
It was dark, the only light being the moonlight streaming in thru the sheer covered window, as I lay snuggled into my husband's side. Neither one of us were sleeping, just laying and resting after going a couple of rounds. I must say that the second time was less awkward and better then the first. The night silence was peaceful and calming.
Looking up at my husband, I asked, "So, what's next for us?"
"Uh, a week of bein' holed up in here honeymoonin'." Cap smirked at me, playfully waggling his brows. Oh yea, he was determined to perfect our intimacy during our honeymoon. Lazily running his hand up and down my spine he told me, "Then we'll just go on with our lives. Me workin' at the lumbermill and you tendin' to the house."
"Hmm, sounds a bit borin' for me." I honestly told me husband since the set up of me doing housework all day everyday didn't sound very appealing. I mean at his parents' house I had chores and helped watch his siblings, but I wasn't responsible for running the entire house and was able to have some free time here and there. I just hoped my mundane house chores didn't drive me crazy.
"You're not trapped in the house like a Grimms Brothers princess, you can go and visit ma or Vera anytime ya want." Cap pointed out as he gave me a tilted look. "Also, we'll be visitin' the main house for Sunday and holiday dinners."
"I know." I simply told him as I started to trace random patterns on his chest with my finger.
Cap's hand paused in its trail up my spine as he looked at me a bit seriously. "It's prolly a lil late to be askin' this now, but do ya want kids?"
Nodding my head, I answered softly, "Yea, I want kids."
"Good, cause so do I." He smiled a bit softly.
Well, I'm glad he wants kids too cause if not he'd be shit out of luck considering birth control didn't exist yet. I mean I'm sure men did the pull-out method during the 1800s, but let's be real how reliable is that anyways? I mean everyone knows one person that's the result of a bad pull-out game…
"Before we know it, we'll be having all these lil blonde haired baby Hatfields running around the house." I teased my husband as a large smile spread over my face.
"Let's just start with one and go from there." Cap chuckled before dipping his head down and giving me an unexpected kiss.
Looks like we're going to be having that kid sooner rather then later with how frisky Cap is. Eh, not like I'm complaining. We're newlyweds, we're supposed to bask in each other's love and spend every waking moment together.
Jessa POV:
"May the Lord or God be with you. I'll see ya'll next Sunday for services." Reverend Garrett concluded the church service, causing all of us to stand up in the pews. The reverend stepped down from the pulpit and walked down the aisle to the large double doors while everyone piled out of the pews and followed him. Like every Sunday I sat next to Tolbert, so he helped me out of our pew and walked with me to the door. Unlike every Sunday tho our arms were linked. I knew it was Tolbert's subtle way of trying to prove he cared in an effort to court me. I had to admit that it was kinda working. Sadly, Shaw was a no show at church. I didn't know if it was because he wasn't religious or because he had to help his mom prepare for the Sunday lunch rush, but I hoped it was the latter.
"Have a blessed day, Tolbert McCoy, Jessa George." Reverend Garrett told us, shaking our hands as soon as we walked out of the wide-open double doors.
"Same t'ya, Reverend." Tolbert politely nodded.
"Have a blessed day." I smiled at the salt and pepper haired pastor, who always preached a word full of fire and brimstone.
Tolbert led us down the few church steps while placing his brown hat onto of his redhead. "I brought my wagon if ya wanna ride t'poppy an' mama's wit' me." He informed me in his smoothly accented gruff voice while pointing his wagon parked a few yards away.
"Okay, I'll ride with you." I told Tolbert, earning me a silent nod from him.
Quietly, we walked over to his wagon. Once at the wagon, he helped me up into it before getting into it himself. Once we were both settled in the front seat, Tolbert snapped the reigns to make Eldorado trot forward and pull the wagon, making it move down the
street. Silently, we rode out of town and onto the main road that'd take us to Blackberry Creek.
After what seemed like endless moments of silence, Tolbert opened his mouth and gruffly asked, "Since ya do my cookin' an' housekeepin' for me, yaw anna go to the store with my t'morrow to pick up some supplies?"
I knew that Adam, the man that owned the general store, always closed shop on Sundays due to it being the lord's day so that's why we'd have to go tomorrow. Hmm, was this Tolbert's attempt at a date or did he just need me to pick up what I use around his house? Either way I didn't care, I was just thrilled to get a trip to the store. Going to town wasn't something that happened too often, plus Squirrel worked as a clerk at Adam's so I'd be able to visit with a friend too.
"Sure, I'll go with you." Was the quick answer I gave the redhead next to me.
"Okay, how 'bout we leave poppy an' mama's house after breakfast t'go to the store?"
"Sounds good to me."
Silence fell over us once again. It wasn't awkward or anything. Tolbert wasn't a very talkative person and I respected that. If he wanted to ride in silence to his parents' house that was fine with me. Him bring his wagon and offering me a ride's a nice enough gesture; I don't need endless chatter to know that he cares. If he didn't care he would've came to church on his horse and left alone on said horse.
Hmm, maybe Tolbert's going to make more of an effort now to show me that he really does care? I hope so since I'd rather end up with him then Shaw.
Shaw POV:
The late lunch rush at the diner had just dissipated and I was getting ready to leave in order to go see Jessa for an afternoon visit whenever I noticed that my leaning against the sink, holding a hand up to her head. She looked a bit flush and feverish to me, hopefully she was just running hot from rushing around the kitchen during the lunch service. Feeling concerned, I walked over to her and placed a hand on her back while asking, "Are you okay, mom?"
Pulling her hand down from her head and looking at me from over my shoulder, my mom gave me a weak smile paired with the answer of, "Oh, I'm fine, Shaw. Just a bit tired from the lunch rush. She looked tired and feverish, maybe like she was coming down with something. Upon seeing my skeptical look, she patted me on the cheek while assuring me, "I'll be fine. Go on and see that girl you're interested in."
"Okay, mom." I nodded as her hand slid down my cheek before falling back to her side.
"Tell Sally I said hi." My mom instructed me before going on to say in a soft, but slightly regretful tone, "Oh, I haven't seen her in years. I hope she's doin' well."
"Eh, she's doin' as well as she can with a useless dunk as a husband." I shrugged, causing my mom's honey eyes to go wide.
"Shaw Hector Eldridge, don't go slanderin' and gossipin' on people." My mom lectured me while poking me in the chest."
"But, mom, it's the truth." I told my mom, backing up slightly so she couldn't poke me in the chest anymore. With a knowing look, I told her, "Randall McCoy and most of his sons have drinkin' problems."
Cutting her eyes at me, my mom gave me the sharp advice of, "Well, you better keep your opinion on that to yourself if you wanna court with the girl that's a ward in his house."
"Okay, mom." I nodded. "Oh, her name's Jessa George." I added in so she'd know that the brunette I was after did have a real name.
"Oh, isn't she the girl that's always 'round Tolbert?" She asked with one of her golden brows raised up curiously.
"Yea, but it ain't nothin' serious." I told her, earning me a slight scowl. "They're just friends and he looks after her since he found her in the woods wanderin' around after that wagon train accident." I explained while leaning my hand against the ledge of the sink.
Letting out a long sigh, she warned me, "Be careful, Shaw. Tolbert's got a might bad temper and I don't want to see you at the wrong end of it over a girl."
"Don't worry mom, I'll be fine and I know what I'm doing." I assured her since I didn't think she needed to be so concerned about me. I was going on 19 not 9, I was a man and knew how to take care of myself. Hell, I used to ride wild broncs in local rodeos 'round Tulsa so I think I can handle a potential spat with Tolbert. And if things with Tolbert got too edgy, I could just lasso the ginger and hogtie him.
My mom's honey hued eyes went a bit glassy as she sighed, "Oh god, you don't know how much you sound just like your father right now." An uneasy look crossed over her face as he looked up at me and added in, "He always thought he knew what he was doing, but actually he didn't have a damn clue."
"Mom, don't compare me to Sully. I'm nothin' like that selfish man." I snapped, insulted that she'd even compare me to him.
I got along with him, hell I lived with him for a good 5 or 6-years, but I didn't want to be anything like him. He always had an agenda or an angle to what he did. I think he only took me with him cause Peter was beatin' on me real bad. I mean if Peter actually treated me good, I doubt Sully would've wanted custody of me to whisk me off to the future. Hell, he was still store that I chose to come back to 19th century Appalachia instead of go to college in the 21st century. He wanted me to go to further my education and have a big career, but he didn't seem to care that I didn't want that and wanted to be with my family instead.
My mom shook her head, making her golden messy bun bounce a bit on to of her head, while letting out a slight huff of, "I'd beg to differ. You're like him in every way at this age."
"Mom…" I warned her in a cold drawl while narrowing my eyes at her. I didn't want to hear it, I was nothin' like that man. He wanted to play god with people's live and mess around with the infamous feud all cause he had a ring that gave him time traveling abilities. Hell, all I wanted to do was date a girl that I knew from my drama class last year when I was in Will Rodgers High in 2017 Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm nothin' like my dad, nothin' at all.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore on it." My mom conceded, holdin' her hands up in a mock surrender. "Mind your manners while your over there visitin' with Jessa and the McCoys." She ordered me, flicking the brim of the large black Stetson I had on my head.
"I will, mom." I told her before bending down to give her a hug and kiss goodbye.
After breaking the quick hug, I walked out of the kitchen's back door and headed over to where I had my horse hitched up at. My siblings were playing a game of marbles nearby and just waved at me as I mounted my horse. I waved back before trottin' off and away from the back alley of the diner.
As I trotted down the street I couldn't help, but have a naggin' feeling in the back of my head when it came to my mom's flushed state. I couldn't help, but think that she wasn't feelin' well, but was hiding it from me and putting on a front so that I could visit with Jessa this Sunday afternoon. I just shrugged off the naggin' feeling and continued to ride into the direction that's take me to the Tug River so I'd be able to cross over into Kentucky.
AN:
Hope ya'll liked this chapter. So, Peggy thinks that Sully and Shaw are two sides of the same coin. Do you agree or disagree with her? Anyways, next chapter should be a Thanksgiving themed one from many different POVs.