*Author's Note*

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Half Cup Of Coffee

Jessa POV:

Three days, three whole days had gone by before Tolbert showed up on my doorstep. I couldn't say that seeing him standing on my front porch shocked me when I answered my door, cause it didn't since he did claim he'd be back. No, what took me by surprise was that he was holding a bag of candy in his hand along with a small wooden toy. "I made Silas a toy, got the chil'ren candy too." Tolbert told me, holding his hand up for me to see, since I was too busy gawking at him and he probably wanted to confirm that he did indeed bring the things over for my kids.

Shaking my head slightly to bring me out of my shock, I tightly told Tolbert, "That's nice, but you need to leave."

I had every intention of slamming the door shut in his face, but my son ran up to the door, upon hearing the words toy and candy, with the loud excited cry of, "I got toy an' candy?!" Great…just great…now Tolbert'll never leave.

"Yea, Silas." Tolbert nodded, kneeling down to become level with my son. Offering him the items, he explained, "I made ya a toy piggie an' got'cha some cherry licorice ropes."

Silas quickly snatched up the bag of candy and the small wooden toy. "Thank you, mama's friend."

"Name's Tolbert, son." The redhead told my boy with a soft ghost of a smile lining his lips, making my chest tighten.

"Thank you, Tol'rt." Silas said, butcherin' the redhead's name since he was so young and still had trouble pronouncing long words.

Tolbert chuckled lightly before telling Silas, "Just call me, Tol. It'll be easier on ya."

"Okay, Tol." Silas nodded, a bright smile on his face.

What the hell was going on? Was Tolbert and my son bonding? How?... I just couldn't believe what I was seein'.

"Go 'long an' play. Share yer candy wit' yer sister too." Tolbert told my son with a gentleness in his velvet tone as he subtly motioned to the inside of the house with a flick of his head.

"Okay." Silas nodded before running off to where Lydia was at, playing with a doll in the middle of the living room floor.

"I'm surprised at how good you were with him." Fell out of my mouth before I could think any better of it while Tolbert stood up to his full height.

"I'm the second oldest, been 'round a lotta lil ones." Tolbert reminded me as a way to explain why he was (surpringly) good around kids.

"Oh…of course…" I trailed off, feeling a bit astonished at how at ease Tolbert was with my toddler. I mean he wasn't good with him as a baby, but now…well…it seemed that he knew how to deal with a small child. That was something that took me for a loop.

"Come on, ain't ya gonna let me inside? I apologized the other day so…" He smoothly said, givin' me a look that was both soft and hopeful at the same time. Soft and hopeful, two things I never really put with Tolbert by the way.

"It ain't that simple, Tolbert. An apology doesn't just wipe away what you did to me." I honestly told him since I still felt slighted by him causing my miscarriage. I honestly don't know how or when I'll ever be able to truly forgive him for that.

"What about ya, Jessa? Hmm?" Tolbert asked, slightly cocking his head at me. A firm and serious look crossed over his face as he told me, "Don't act all high an' mighty cause ya done me wrong too. 'Member, ya lied under oath 'bout Shaw bein' wit'cha when we both know he was burnin' my house down wit' me in it an' not home wit'cha."

Shit…he had a point. Me purging myself to help Shaw get acquitted was hurtful to him. Tolbert must've felt betrayed that I was lying to keep my baby daddy from going to the gallows. Especially since he always thought I was an honest woman. Damnit, he would throw that trial up into my face.

"What do you want, Tolbert?" I asked in an exasperated sigh, my shoulders sagging in slight defeat.

"To talk; mend things."

"There's nothing to mend." And there really wasn't, we both had our own separate lives now and I doubt they'll ever mingle. He was a McCoy and I had no dealings with his kind, not any more.

"I know ya were faithful t'me, darlin'. Ya only took Silas t'see his father t'keep him from seekin' me out an' startin' fights." Tolbert revealed in an unwavering tone, his stormy eyes boring into my indigo ones with such seriousness that it unsettled me.

I felt the breath fly out of my body as my indigo eyes turned into wide half-dollars. "What? Who told you that?"

"Don't worry 'bout who told me, just know that I know the truth."

"Hmm…" I hummed before bluntly telling Tolbert, "I don't trust you, not anymore."

"I know." He simply said, sounding a lot like Han Solo in a way. Gosh, and to think I'll never find out how the saga ends. I'm hoping that Reylo becomes cannon, but since I'm in the 1880s I'll never know. "We both could use a friend wit' ev'thin' we've been thru. Just give me a chance, like ya once did when we first met an' I was an unbearable grumpy bastard t'be 'round." He pleaded as the sound of birds chirping on the nearby trees filled up the spring air.

Damnit...His words along with his sad puppy dog eyed look was gnawing at me. So much so that despite knowing better I caved and stepped aside, clearing the doorway. "Come in, but only for a quick cup of coffee. I got chores that need done."

"Ya won't won't regret this, Jessa. I promise." Tolbert vowed before walking by me and into my house.

"Yea…right…whatever you say." I sighed, closing the door before leading Tolbert into my kitchen for coffee.

"You wanted to talk so talk." I told Tolbert, a bit harshly too might I add, while setting down some mugs on the kitchen table and taking a seat across from him.

"I still can't believe how big he's gotten." Tolbert mused, pointin' to Silas (who was happily playing with his new toy and eating his candy) while picking up his coffee cup.

Looking at my son, I smiled wistfully, "Yea, he's growing like a weed.", while picking up my coffee.

"He's got yer smile ya know." Tolbert informed me as we watched Silas push Chewie away from him since the furry put was tryin' to snatch a licorice rope out of the candy bag.

Snapping my head around to look at Tolbert, I furrowed by brows and let out a quick worded, "What?"

"Yep." Tolbert's tongue popped. Sipping on his coffe, he went on to explain, "He's got yer smile, tho not yer colorin'."

"Bet that bothers you, him not lookin' like me." I told him in a knowing tone as I looked between him and the little boy playing in the next room.

"Honestly, when he was a baby it did, but now that he's a toddler it don't much anymore."

"You're full of bullshit." I rolled my eyes, calling him out on his shit before taking another sip of my coffee.

"Maybe I am, maybe I ain't, but only way t'know's t'spend time wit' me." He countered with a shrug, smirking before bringing his mug up to his lips.

"Don't push it, you're lucky I'm even serving you coffee at my table this morning." I warned him with a pointed look as I placed my cup down, causing a small clink to echo into the air.

"Ain't ya a moody cuss these days." Tolbert mumbled under his breath, sipping on his coffee. Placing his mug down, he asked, "What happened t'ya, darlin'? Ya used t'be more cheerful then this."

"What happened?" I rhetorically parroted before scoffing, "Life happened, that's what."

"Yea, reckon life in these feudin' parts takes a hard toll on ya. I know some days feels like hell's been unleashed on me."

"If your going to start a pity party then you can just leave. I'm not in the mood to be having coffee with you, let alone listen to you whine about how your life's a living hell cause of the feud with the Hatfields."

"I'm not lookin' for pity from ya, Jessa. Nev'r was; in fact, the drunk was the one always doin' that."

Shaking my head and rubbing my temple, I sighed, "I'm none doing this. You need to leave."

"Well, least ya invited me in for coffee 'fore shooin' me off. I'd say that's progress." He smirked a bit awkwardly, trying to lighten up the heavy mood surrounding us.

"Tolbert…" I warned in a tone that portrayed that I wasn't in the mood for any of his remarks; that I just wanted to be left alone.

Standing up from the table, he declared, "I'll go, but I'll be back."

"I'm sure you will be." I dryly remarked, watching the redhead may his way across the kitchen and into the main room. Neither of us said a word as he reached the door.

Looking over his shoulder, he gave me a simple, "Bye, darlin'.", before walking out of my house.

Oh my god, if Extra Strength Tylenol was invented, I'd be popping a couple right now cause dealing with Tolbert's left me with a dull headache. Hell, I knew I should've just slammed the door shut in his face.

Allie POV:

I was kneading bread dough while watching my son play with some toys whenever a loud, but quick, knock sounded at my door. Quickly, I wiped my flour coated hands on my apron (which was stretched around my large baby belly) and made my way over to the door. "Hello." I answered the door, only to see my shrew of a sister-in-law Nancy standing in front of me with a hand perched on her hip.

She didn't say hello or ask to come in. Nope, she got right down to business by opening her mouth and shrieking like a banshee, "Abel come home yesterday wit' news that Devil Anse put him on half-day's work. Worse yet, he says your husband, Cap, told him ya ain't allowed t'see 'im nomores."

"Yes, and?" I asked, trying to get to the point of her being here? I mean was she here to rant or whine, I dunno.

"And I think it's horrible how you're lettin' your husband an' his family tear ya 'part from your own brother. As a sister ya should be stickin' up for Abel, not lettin' Cap Hatfield pull ya 'way from him an' get his hours cut in half."

Oh, so she came here to rant. Hell, I'm pregnant and don't need this bullshit right now. Nope, not when my due dates just around the corner. "Nancy, even tho Abel's my brother, Cap's my huband and I have to respect his wishes. He wants me to back away from Abel for a while and even tho I don't like it I'll respect it."

"Respect my ass." She snipped, juttin' her chin up at me in anger. Her black-eyes were burning with rage as she blasted me with, "You're lettin' that demon Hatfield ya married run your life. Hell, you talk 'bout Jessa bein' under that Vance Bastard's thumb, but seems t'me you're under your Hatfield husband's thumb."

Oh my god, how did my brother deal with this shrew? God, he must have an ulcer or something by now from how bitchy she is. Poor guy, he would get himself stuck with the shrew. Cutting my sapphire eyes at her, I curtly told her, "I'm not arguing with you today, not with my condition, so you need to get off my porch.", while wavin' my hand in a 'go away, scram' type of motion.

"I'll leave, but don't think you've seen the last o'me yet." She sweetly said, spinning on her heel and marching down the porch steps with an elegance that a back hills orphan shouldn't possess.

God, what did I do to deserve that woman as my sister-in-law? Out of all the women in the Tug Valley (whores included) my brother just had to get with that one. Shaking my head, I shut the door and made my way back to my kitchen table to finishing kneading the bread dough.

Tolbert POV:

I was ridin' back t'my cousin's place whenever I ran into her on the road. "What'cha doin' out in these parts, Nance?" I asked, knowin' that she didn't get out much unless it was t'go shoppin' in town. By town I mean Mate Creek, where I nev'r go cause it's crawlin' wit' too many Hatfields for my likin'.

"Givin' Allie a piece o'my mind." Nancy told me, lettin' me know that she'd just seen the blonde that was Cap's wife and Jessa's best friend.

Nancy was livid last nite when Abel come home talkin' 'bout how he can't see his sister no more cause Cap got wind that she was at the saloon wit' me, Parris, an' Squirrel. Of course, she denied it, but her husband still didn't want her 'round her brother or any McCoys for that matter. Also, his hours at the devil's sawmill got cut in half too cause o'the saloon incident. As it would go, Abel blamed me for ev'thin' while my cousin blamed the Hatfields. God, there was no peace in the house last nite. Not wit' how bitter an' upset Nancy was 'bout what happened t'Abel, who was givin' me the cold shoulder for gettin' his sister into hot water wit' her in-laws. That weren't my fault tho, she knew very well what she was doin' lookin' for me in a saloon. Girl's smart, even tho she married a Hatfield.

"Oh, how'd that go?" I asked since that's all I really could do.

"Well 'nough. I think I got my point 'cross 'fore bein' told t'leave." Oh, I can just imagine how she got her point 'cross. Prolly by rantin' an' ravin' on top o'her lungs. Givin' me a concerned look, she asked "How was your visit wit' Jessa?"

"Good. She let me give Silas some candy an' a toy; even invited me in for half cup of coffee 'fore tossin' me out." I smirked, feelin' a bit relieved that I'd gotten somewhere with Jessa that was more then her threatenin' to shoot me or t'sic her pup on me. By the way her pup was a cute furball. Wonder if it'll be able t'be trained as a huntin' dog?

"Well at least you're makin' progress wit' her." My cousin told me, a pursed lip smile on her face as she looked over her shoulder at me. "I don't see why you want her back, but ya do." Nancy muttered under her breath so softly that I barely caught what she said as she place her attention back on the dirt road we were travelin' on.

Christ, was she mockin' me? Dear lord, I think she was. I hated bein' mocked an' she knew that. "I want her back cause I love her, Nance. Cause we've got unresolved feelin's." I told my cousin, lettin' her know that my ears worked just fine an' I heard her muttered breath.

"I understand, cousin." She nodded, a kind look quickly appearin' on her face. "I didn't mean no harm, just didn't see why you'd want t'reconcile wit' a woman raisin' not one, but two Vance bastards." She honestly told me, lightly snappin' the reigns in her hands to keep her horses pullin' her wagon at a steady pace.

"Nancy, one of 'em is hers and the other one, well, I reckon she feels bad for since it don't got a mother." I pointed out, snappin' my own reigns t'make sure that Eldorado kept up with the pace of my cousin's wagon.

"Yes, Tolbert, one of 'em is hers; ya remember that cause Silas, who ya seem t'be gettin' a soft spot an' shinnin' for, has Vance blood in his veins meanin' he ain't worth a bucket o'spit." Nancy spat out in a bluntly cold way that sent a dagger piercin' right thru my heart.

I weren't 'xpectin' Nancy t'say such a thing 'bout a child. I know, Silas is half Vance, but still he's a toddler. If brought up right he wouldn't be a danger. How could she say such a thing 'bout Jessa's son, a boy that I promised t'raise as my own when I found out 'bout the pregnancy? Then, like a ton o'brick, it hit me why Jessa was leery of me an' my family, the McCoys. She knew the bad blood 'tween McCoys an' Hatfields (Vance's in extension) an' feared for her son's safety as he grew an' took on more Vance features. She was tryin' t'protect her son by havin' him wit' his real father an' his family. Goddamnit, why didn't it ever dawn on me 'fore that she feared for Silas' safety 'round McCoys?

"Don't worry 'bout the boy, Nancy." I ordered in a gritty snap. "I'll be takin' Jessa West come summer; ya won't be seein' 'im grow up, that I promise ya."

"I truly hope you're able to go west wit' her, but only cause it'll destroy that Vance Bastard an' therefore knock down the Hatfields a peg or two." Nancy told me in a direct an' honest tone. Givin' me a sugary smile, she suggested, "We should pay dear Roseanna a visit since it's on our way back home."

"I haven't see Roseanna since poppy throwed her out." I admitted, feelin' a bit ashamed that I'd turned my back on her. Yes, I was disgusted that she was wit' Johnse, but she was still my sister. I dunno, maybe I shouldn't 've taken my anger out on her for so long by disownin' her cause poppy said so. Hell, I'm sure poppy'll disown me too once I take Jessa an' her chil'ren West t'Oklahoma.

"I see her from time to time." Nancy admitted as we rode further down the road. "She's expectin' now." She told me, soundin' like she was sharin' some kinda secret.

"What? My sister's havin' a baby?"

"Yea, she's 'bout a month or so 'long." Nancy confirmed. "I'm sure the baby'll be a harmless idiot considerin' who it's pap is. Hell, Johnse's so stupid he wouldn't hurt a horsefly." Nancy snickered, causin' me to just shake my head. "Let's go see Roseanna. It'll do both you an' her some good."

I felt uncomfortable sittin' at my sister's kitchen table, but that was mostly cause she shared the house wit' Johnse an' it weren't normal for a McCoy t'be in a Hatfield's house. I was sippin' on my coffee, quietly observin' Nancy an' Roseanna as they talked 'bout mundane things. God, why did I tag 'long 'gain?

"Tolbert, are ya still livin' wit' Nancy an' Abel?" Roseanna asked me, sippin' her tea.

"Yea." I nodded, holdin' my coffee cup close t'my lips.

Nancy paused in drinkin' her tea only t'blurt out in a solid, but sugary tone, "He won't be for long. He plans on goin' west come summer."

"What? Yo-you're plannin' on leavin' the Tug Valley?" My sister asked, shock thick in her bell-like voice, as she shakily placed her teacup on the table.

"Yep." I popped my tongue.

"Oh, poppy won't like that." Roseanna told me in a matter-of-fact tone, causin' me to roll my eyes at her.

"Poppy don't got much of a say an' neither do ya considerin'…" I shrugged, sippin' on my coffee while archin' a brow at her. My sister don't got room to talk when it comes t'what poppy won't like considerin' she took up wit' a Hatfield a day after meetin' 'im. Hell, still can't believe she did that. At least Jessa knew the men (me and later Shaw) she took up wit' longer then a goddamn day.

"You're still mad at me 'bout Johnse, ain't ya?" My sister sniffed, lookin' down at her teacup that was restin' on the table.

Swiftly placin' her cup down an' rubbin' my sister's back, Nancy played peacekeeper with the sweet remark of, "Oh, Roseanna, don't think like that. Ya know he's still inlove wit' Jessa; it would be hypocritical of him to damn ya for lovin' Johnse."

Lookin' at me with a wisdom in her blue eyes, Roseanna told me, "Jessa's been thru a lot due to both you an' Shaw. She needs her space, Tolbert."

"I know." I simply remarked, sipping on my coffee that was in a fine china cup, might I add. Hell, how much shine did Johnse sell t'afford the bone china? I didn't know his business was that good.

Reachin' for her teacup, my sister suggested the one thing that I didn't want to hear. The one thing I never wanted her to say came barrelin' out of her mouth in a sweet, but considerately suggestive way. "Maybe ya oughtta forget Jessa. She does love Shaw despite then bein' broken up cause o'his bad drinkin'."

"And maybe ya should've come when me an' Pharmer were callin' ya durin' the last election day festival instead of gallavantin' off wit' Johnse." I snapped, feeling red-hot anger an' irritation in my blood. My sister don't got no right tellin' me what t'do in my love life when she ran off wit' Johnse 'Horn Dog' Hatfield.

"Let's not get testy, now." Nancy scolded me, causing me to just roll my eyes at her.

Placin' my cup on the table, I announced, "I'm gonna go, ya'll enjoy the rest o'yer tea."

"Bye, Tolbert. It was good t'see ya." Roseanna told me wit' a thin, slightly sad, smile as I stood up.

"Good seein' ya too, Rosie." I nodded, forcin' a smile of my own, before leavin' the table an' makin' my way to leave.

Looks like I'm makin' stew t'nite for dinner since only God knows when Nancy'll be home. I reckon she'll be visitin' Roseanna for a few hours since they're friends after all.

AN:

Oh no, Tolbert's trying to get to Jessa thru the kids (well really Silas). Do you think he really does have a soft spot for Silas or is he just really good at faking it? Nancy, she's something else tho isn't she?

Easter Sunday's up next along with Devil Anse telling Bad Frank to hit the road.