*Author's Note*

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

First Dinners

Alma POV:

I followed Levicy upstairs and to a room at the end of the hall. "This is our storage room. Got quite a few old dress trunks in here for ya to look thru."

"Thank you, Levicy. I really appreciate it." I told the woman as he pushed the door to the room we were standing in front of open, causing a small squeak from the hinges to sound out.

"Yes, well, we can't have you wearin' the same soaked an' dirty dress for weeks on end, now can we?" She rhetorically asked, instead of giving me a simple you're welcome, as we walked inside of the room. "Johnse's out fishin', but once that boy gets back, I'll send him up to bring your trunk downstairs to the girls' room." Levicy told me as I went over to where I saw some trunks stacked up against the wall. "Just pick a trunk to put your things in and slide it by the door in the hall." She instructed me before going on to say, "I gotta get downstairs to make some bread, just come down once you're done."

"Okay." I simply nodded, looking at the woman from over my shoulder as I stood by the old trunks.

I heard Levicy's footsteps clanking across the floor followed by the door opening then shutting. The silence that followed indicated that she left the room. Nice, I'm all alone now. Just me, a bunch of trunks and other crap, and my thoughts. Oh well…guess I got to rummaged thru these trunks now. With a huff I drug the top trunk down to the ground. It made a big thunk, nearly scarin' the shit out of me as it hit the floor. I let out a sigh before opening the trunk and starting to go thru it, looking for dresses.

I'm not sure how long I was in the storage room for whenever I finished filling up my trunk. I was supposed to push it out into the hall, but I sat on it instead as I began to think. I was thinking about how I was now all alone in a strange place and time. At least back home I had my best friend, grandparents (well actually they were step-grandparents, but whatever), even nice co-workers and school friends. Now it's just me. I know Sully here and have the Hatfields to help me, but it's not the same.

I was quickly torn out of my thoughts as the door opened accompanied by a deep wave-like voice asking me, "Ain't ya done yet? Ma said ya should've been done up here by now."

I turned my head to see who had spoken, assuming that I was going to meet Johnse, only to be shocked to be face to face with Will. I thought he was off with that preacher girl. I wasn't supposed to know who he was so I simply replied with, "I'm done, just lost track sitting and thinking." Quickly I played dumb and asked him, "So, you're Johnse?"

"No, I'm his lil brother Will. Johnse's out still with some whore."

"Oh…but your mother said she'd send him up to get my trunk when he came home from fishing."

"He's not gonna be home for a long while yet. 'Sides it's kinda hard t'fish without a fishin' pole."

Okay, so Will was a sarcastic shit. He was also a bit rugged looking with his sharply chiseled features, shaggy blonde hair, and intense icy-blue eyes. Hell, that eye injury's gonna make him look even rougher soon enough.

"So, that the trunk ya need moved?" He asked, pointing to the trunk I was sitting on.

"Yea." I nodded, quickly standing up. As he silently walked over to get the trunk I asked, "Why're you home? I thought you were out with the preacher girl."

"Her name's Leona and I was havin' brunch with her, but came home early cause somethin' came up." Will answered me, his tone a bit dry and snappy, as he lifted up the trunk and balanced it on his shoulders.

"Like what?" I asked as I followed him out the door.

"Are ya always so nosy, Allie?" He bluntly asked me, not even batting an eye, as he walked down the hall.

"Yes, and I see Levicy told you my name."

Will didn't say a word back to me, just shook his head. Okay, I'm getting the feeling that he doesn't like me. Great…just great… He walked down the stairs and I quietly followed behind him since that's all I could do. I could feel Devil Anse and Levicy's stares on us, burning a hole in our backs, as we made our way across the ground floor and to a room near the back of the house.

Will, with his free hand, swung the mauve drape acting as a door aside before stepping into the room that had a modest sized bed in it. As I followed him into the room, I took in how some porcelain dolls were sitting on the shelves and how the bedding was mauve and white floral stuff that looked store bought and not handmade. With a loud thud Will dropped the trunk on the floor near the door. Pointing to the large open spot above the trunk he told me, "That's where your pallet'll be."

"Okay. Thanks for bringing my trunk in here."

"Don't thank me, I didn't have a choice." Will scoffed before stalking out of the room with heavy footsteps.

Rude little shit.

*Meanwhile In Kentucky*

Jessa POV:

"Hi, I'm Roseanna." The petite heart-shape faced blonde softly smiled as she walked into the room that I was resting in. "Mama an' Poppy says you're Jessa; that you'll be stayin' for a bit." She told me with a smile as she walked over to the bed.

"As long as I do my part helping on the farm I can stay." I replied, a small smile ghosting on my lips.

"My folks said what happened; it's a miracle you're still alive." Roseanna told me, giving me a gentle hug after stopping by my bedside.

"Yea…but I lost my friend." I sadly remarked, breaking the hug the nice girl had given me.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Did she?..." Roseanna's bell-like voice fell as she took a seat on the bed, a sympathetic look suddenly taking over her face.

"I don't think so. She's a good swimmer, but I don't know if she made it to the riverbank or where she went if she did."

"I'm sure she found somebody nice to help her." The blonde assured me, attempting to ease my worried mind. "We can always ask Perry Cline when he comes over to ask the people in town."

I just nodded. "Okay."

"We'll have to go downstairs soon, but 'fore then we can talk and get to be friends." That's exactly what I needed right now, a new friend to lean on. I knew from reading a small bio snippet that Roseanna was a very sweet and soft-spoken girl. I think it's a shame that a girl as nice as her gets played by Johnse and then hurt by her cousin Nancy in a revenge plan. "Where are you from?" She asked before quickly adding in, "I've only known these woods here in Kentucky as my home."

"Myrtle Beach. It's in the Carolina Coast."

"Oh, I've never seen the ocean. Is it beautiful?"

"Yea, it is." I told her and I wasn't lying, the ocean at Myrtle Beach was beautiful and blue. The beach had pristine white sand too. My parents took me there for vacation once, that's when they told me that they lived there when I was a baby.

"We've got lots of rivers and streams here, lakes too." Roseanna informed me before giving me a smile and saying, "When you're better you should learn how t'swim. I can help teach ya, so can Alifair."

"Okay, as soon as my feet can get wet, we'll go swimming." I confirmed to my new friend, a bit happy that she wanted to help me and teach me a skill that I needed. "Where is the swimming place around here?" I curiously asked, wanting to know how long of a hike it was to a body of water deep enough for swimming and potential drowning.

"There's a stream not far. It's on the other side of the land before Tolbert's still."

"Oh, so it's on McCoy land."

"Yea." She confirmed with a slight nod. "Floyd Hatfield's our neighbor, his land back up into ours, but we're not allowed to talk to him or his family 'less ma or poppy's 'round to take part in the conversation." Okay, that's understandable considering how the families don't like each other. Sounds like Randall and Sally are just trying to keep their kids safe.

"Okay, then I'll make sure not to cross over into their property or talk to them." I assured my new friend, letting her know that I was going to follow the McCoy family rules and stay away from Floyd Hatfield and his family. Well, now that I know Floyd's the neighbor it's easy to believe that he stole the McCoy's pig. He should've given it back, but instead he kept it when it wandered off into his yard.

"They live on the other side of Tolbert's still. Just don't go past it and you'll find no trouble." Roseanna told me, causing me to just nod in a silent way of letting her know I wouldn't go beyond the still site. Actually, I had no intentions to even go out to the redhead's still. I didn't drink so I had no reason to be near where he made his moonshine.

Allie POV:

Yea, now more than ever I was glad that I took home-ec last year. At least I have a basic knowledge of sewing and cooking, even if it may not be that good, and can easily help Levicy out. Currently, I was doing that by helping her with dinner. I was placing some chopped carrots into a boiling pot of water whenever I heard the door open. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Johnse waltzing in, I also saw Will roll his eyes as he walked in right behind him. So, is that where he went? To go fetch his brother?

"We got'cha some fish, mama." Johnse proudly announced, hitching his thumb over his shoulder at Will who was holding a stick with a few fish hanging off it.

"Good. I was countin' on it for dinner." Okay, now that explains why Will actually went fishing. Whether Johnse did or not's still up in the air, but I bet his parents just assume he did. "Allie, why don't ya take the fish an' clean them outside."

"I'll help our guest." Johnse quickly volunteered, looking at me with a sparkle in his crystal blue eyes and a charming smile on his pretty face. I was getting the impression that he was checking me out. Eh, I thought Sully said Johnse wasn't going to be interested in me cause I was Will's age. Maybe, just maybe, Johnse was being nice and helpful…

"No, Johns, I'll help her. We got more talkin' to do leftover from this mornin'." Will bluntly told his brother, subtly cutting his eyes at him. Johnse just nodded at his little brother, his full head of golden hair swaying a bit. "Come on." Will told me, waving at me with his hand, before turning around and walking right out the door.

I didn't say a word, just went over to the door and walked right outside. Will was walking at a fast pace to the loft-barn that was some odd yards away. "Hey, wait up." I called out, causing him to stop right in his tracks and turn around, as I tried to catch up to him. He just gave me a flat and bored look as I came up to him. "Why did you volunteer to help me clean the fish? You couldn't stand being around me this morning."

"I'm savin' ya from gettin' pestered by Johnse and his charm." Was the answer I got from Will as we started to make our way towards the loft-barn, side by side.

"Thanks, but I can handle myself. I don't need to be saved from a charmer." I bluntly blurted out, earning me an eyeroll and a scoff from him, as we got closer to our destination.

"If ya don't wanna get knocked up then yea, ya need savin' from him." Will sighed, as we reached the barn and walked underneath the open awning part of it.

"What? Are you implying that I'm just gonna give it up to that pretty boy brother of yours?" Flew out of my mouth, as my sapphire eyes widened in shock, as Will placed the bunch of fish onto a workbench.

He shook his shaggy blonde head and let out a long huff as he went over to a corner where a metal bucket was at. He grabbed the bucket and made his way back to the workbench, where I was standing by the way, while telling me in a deep, but flat timbre, "No, just meant that since you're livin' here now an' ain't a relation he's gonna be tryin' mighty hard t'get up your skirt." Will set the bucket down on the ground near one of the bench's legs as he added to his explanation with, "You're an easy target for him cause you'll always be 'round."

"Okay, well, that's nice to know." I began to take the fish off of the long stick they were threaded on as Will unsheathed a hunting knife from his boot. Holy shit, is that normal? Having a knife in a boot and all?

"You're welcome." Will shrugged, grabbing a fish that I had just placed on the wooden table.

"So, did Johnse really help catch these or did you do it all?" I asked, my eyes scanning over all of the fish that I had laid out on the table.

"What'cha think?" He sarcastically spat at me as he put his hand into the fish's belly. Pulling the guts out and tossing them into the bucket he tilted his head to the left while remarking a bit haughtily, "There's still only one fishin' pole hangin' up on the wall ov'r there."

"I was just asking, no reason to be a dick about it." I called out his sarcasm, tilting my head at him while crossing my arms over my chest.

"Are you always this-" Will began to ask only to get cut out off by me countering with my own quick and edgy question of, "This what?"

"Sassy." Was his one-word answer as he filleted the fish with more force then what was necessary.

"Yep, so you better just get used to it." I answered, resulting in him just shaking his head at me. "Since you're the only one with a knife gutting these fish why am I even out here?" I asked seriously, pointing to the knife gripped firmly in his fist.

"Do ya even know how to clean fish?" He asked, arching a brow at me. Before I even got the chance to answer him, he opened his mouth only to say, "I'd say by the looks of ya the answer's no."

How dare he prejudge me. That dick. I furrowed my brows; then gave him a piece of my mind. "You back hills piece of shit. You're gonna stand here and judge me when you don't even know me." Will paused what he was doing and looked at me as I continued my rant with, "I can do shit like fish and cook and what-not. Just cause I don't look like some dumb bitch that lives in the woods doesn't mean I'm useless."

"Ya wanna clean fish, then be my guest and clean 'em." Will told me, a slight edge to his deep rolling tone, as he held his knife out for me to take.

Silently, I took the knife from him and then grabbed a fish from the table. As I cut down its belly, Will left the table and went over to a wall were different tools were hanging at. Underneath the tools was a small table that had some things on it, one being a box. As I pulled the slimy and smelly guts out of my fish he grabbed a knife from the box. Aha, so it was a tackle box then.

"So, are you always such a dick?" I asked Will whenever he got back to the work bench, giving him a question similar to the one he asked me earlier.

"Yea." Will smirked at me, his icy-blue eyes twinkling. Finishing up with his fish he seriously told me, "But it could be worse, ya could be stuck with 'em McCoys."

Aha, so finally those people got brought up. Yea, I don't think I'd want to be around them. From what I read they seemed to be a bit hypocritic and self-righteous. Oh, a lot of them were alcoholics or at least that's what the history book hinted at. Since I wasn't supposed to know who they were I made sure to give Will a confused look while asking, "Who're they?"

"Bad people that hate Hatfields, but we hate 'em right back." Will answered, grabbing another fish while I carefully filleted mine. "They're hateful people. 'Specially Randall's crazy hot-headed son Tolbert."

"Oh, well I'll make sure to steer clear of them then." And I meant it, I had no intentions of meeting the McCoys. Well, not willingly that is. I'm sure in time I'll get stuck crossing paths with them, like whenever the pig trial happens this fall.

"That won't be a problem since they live on the other side of the river in Kentucky." Will remarked as he tossed a bunch of fish guts into the bucket on the ground between us. "Ya know Tolbert McCoy's so crazy that no man on either side of the Tug'll let him court their daughter. He's almost 23-years old and has had 'bout 4-or-5 failed courtships."

"What happened?" I simply asked, gutting my fish, even tho I had a feeling the reason was his cruel personality.

"His crazy drunk temper." I didn't know he was a drunk, but I knew he was a crazy hottie from what I read in my history book. Reading about it and being told by somebody who knows are two very different things. Being told from the horse's mouth has a bigger impact. "Pa's don't like seein' suitors yell and mistreat their daughter ya know." Yea, that much hasn't changed over the years either.

"So, he's desperate to find a woman." I stated since that's the impression I was getting from the shaggy haired blonde helping me clean fish.

"Yea, which is why you're lucky Sully found ya. If 'em McCoys did I'm sure they'd be pawnin' ya on that idiot."

Suddenly a thought popped into my head and a shiver ran down my spine. "I hope my friend that got swept down river didn't get found by them. If so…"

"She's prolly dead, Allie. Them currents are rough durin' storms like this mornin's." Will bluntly told me, his timbre deep and sharp. What he didn't say, but implied, was that if Jessa was found by McCoys then she was better off dead in my life. That heavy unsaid fact hung in the air like a dark rain cloud ready to burst as we silently worked, finishing up cleaning and filleting the fresh fish.

Jessa POV:

When I went downstairs with Roseanna, I was bombarded by the hoard that was the McCoy family, plus Perry Cline. I knew the family was big, but it feels a bit overwhelming seeing all these people in a small house. And when I say the house is small, I'm not kidding either. The living room and kitchen were one in the same, nothing separated them other than the staircase up against the wall in the middle of the house. A couple of chairs and a hutch cabinet were in the right side of the room while the left side of the room had a couple of long kitchen table sets, a fire place with a rocker by it, some counters and cabinets, a pump sink, and a stove. I also noticed that a door was off the kitchen leading to a room while another door looked to be nestled under the stairs.

The small layout made me miss my house back home. Back in modern day Tulsa, Oklahoma my parents raised me in a large bright and cheerful house located in the Midtown neighborhood. My childhood home's living room was bigger than the entire first floor of the McCoy's house, had more windows and natural light too. The house I was in now was small, dark, and a bit stuffy. The complete opposite of what I had just come from.

"So, Randall, this must be the girl you're taking in." Perry Cline, who looked like a more dapper and sophisticated version of Rhett Butler, stated to his cousin and friend as I made my way over to the table with Roseanna.

"Yea, that's her." Randall nodded as Roseanna sat down near where Perry was at the end of the table.

There was a small open spot next to Roseanna, but it was also by Tolbert. I decided to squeeze into it and take a seat. As Tolbert was scooting over a bit, so I could sit, Perry Cline gave me a slight smile while politely saying, "Well, it certainly is a pleasure to meet anyone aligned with the McCoy family. I'm the family lawyer, Perry Cline."

"Jessa George." I simply gave him my name as Sally and Alifair finished placing platters and bowls on the table.

"Perry, she had a friend in the accident too, but they got separated." Roseanna told the man next to her before asking, "D'ya think you can ask people 'round town 'bout her?"

"Of course." The lawyer answered Roseanna with a thin smile. "Miss Jessa, what's your friends name? If she got found I'm sure I'll learn by whom." Perry asked me as Sally took a seat by her husband at the table.

"Alma Freeland, but she goes by Allie." I told Perry while taking in the small, but delicious, looking spread that was set up on the table.

"Let us pray." Randall suggested, clasping his hands and bowing his head. So just like that the subject of my missing friend was over cause grace had to be said. Everyone bowed their heads and clasped their hands, me included, which prompted Randall to say a blessing of, "Lord God, we thank ya and bless ya for the food we're 'bout to et. We also thank ya for our new addition to the family, Miss Jessa, as she'll be helpin' Tolbert in the fields. Lord, we pray this food fills our bodies and keeps us in good health. Amen."

"Amen." Everyone repeated, opening their eyes and lifting their heads up.

"So, I'm stuck showin' her how t'farm?" Tolbert bitterly asked his father while the food platters began to be passed around the table.

"Yes." Randall firmly told his son. Placing a spoonful of peas on his plate he stated, "Y'found her so she's your responsibility now."

Tolbert just nodded his head and grabbed the platter of chicken that his brother, Pharmer, was holding out to him. The redhead placed a piece of chicken on his plate and then passed me the platter. I didn't know what to make out of him. He seemed annoyed that he had to do farm work with me, but his eyes had a soft look in them as they met mine. Tolbert McCoy was a moody mystery to me.

"Perhaps, Randall, you should have Tolbert and Jessa look for the pig together." Perry suggested, taking the meat platter from Roseanna. Placing chicken on his plate before passing the platter he explained his idea with, "That way Jim can continue farming while the pig trail doesn't go completely cold." Taking a bowl from Roseanna he looked at me and Tolbert while asking, "Also, Tolbert and Jessa, wouldn't ya'll like to talk and get to know each other better before breaking backs in the fields?"

"I s'pose lookin' for the pig with her'll be fine." Tolbert sighed in a gruffly smooth tone as he placed a biscuit on his plate and then mine before passing the bread basket to his sister on the other side of me.

"Thank you." I politely told Tolbert, referring to him being nice enough to give me a biscuit.

"Yer welcome, darlin'." He replied before digging into his meal.

I noticed that Randall was looking at Perry for a few moments before his attention turned to me and his son. While cutting his chicken with his knife and fork he told us, "Look for the misssin' pig 'morrow, but the next day I want ya'll in the tobacky fields. Some leaves need pickin' an' set 'side for dryin'."

"Yes, Poppy." Tolbert told Randall, scooping some peas up with his fork, while I simply nodded as I ate my dinner.

Okay, so tomorrow I was spending the day with Tolbert tracking down a pig. I'm hoping we can find the pig before Floyd does. If not then they'll be going to trial over a stolen pig.

Allie POV:

Me and Levicy had just finished putting veggies on everyone's plates and were at the counter, fixing our own plates with sides, whenever the front door opened up with a loud bang. A mutt dog moseyed on in followed by Jim Vance, who looked a lot like a gruffy hillbilly version of Santa. "Sully said ya'll took in a girl." He loudly announced right as Sully entered the house, closing the door behind him.

Sully just shook his head and gave me a sympathetic look, that had a silent apology hidden in it, before quickly going over to the table. Jim Vance was standing very close to me, looking me up and down with a furrowed brow. "What?" I asked him, my own brow raised.

"So, you're the girl." He stated as I walked by him on my way to the table, plate in my hand. "Gotta name?" Jim asked, a bit mockingly, as he followed me.

I rolled my eyes and turned around to face the mountain man, who was very large and crotchety looking. "Of course, I got a name. Don't you?"

Jim just let out a deep chuckle, one so deep that it vibrated up from his round belly. Pointing at me he smirked, "I like you."

"Uncle Jim, shut up and leave her be." Devil Anse ordered in a cold tone, causing his uncle to just shake his head and walk over to the table.

Once at the table Jim sat down next to Sully, but he was also on Cap's right side since the boy sat directly across from his dad at the foot of the table. The only other open spot I noticed was between Johnse and his little sister Nannie since he was on Will's left side. As I approached the table, to take a seat, Will stretched out his arm and shoved Johnse down to create an open spot all while saying, "Allie's sittin' by me. I've talked to her few times, she needs a friendly face to talk to while ettin'."

Johnse had a disappointed look in his crystal blue eyes while nodding and accepting his brother's reasoning. Sully looked between the brothers, clearly picking up that the younger one was in a nice way telling the older one to stay away from me. Jim let out a huff and shook his head as I took my seat. While pointing between me and Will he let out a throaty scoff of, "You're seein' Preacher Garrett's daughter, but you're gettin' awfully protective of a girl ya just met." With a slight smirk he added, "Can't have your cake an' et it too. Either ya wanna be friendly with Allie 'ere or with the Garrett girl."

"Jim…" Will warned in a low and deep voice that was so even it was a bit eerie.

"Uncle Jim, I think you're readin' too much into it." Levicy told the gruffy man, who smelt like a mix of tobacco and whiskey, as she walked over to the table with a plate in each hand. Placing the plates in front of both Jim and Sully she explained her train of thought with the remark of, "Will helped her with a dress trunk and then again cleanin' the fish for dinner." Coming up to stand behind her son she patted his shoulder while smiling, "I'm sure he just means he's the only one she's comfortable with, other than the chil'ren."

Jim Vance just rolled his eyes and grabbed some fish from one of the meat platters on the table while Levicy went back to the counter to grab her own plate. Sully's eyes subtly traveled between me and Will as he grabbed some glasses and one of the pitchers that was on the table with in his reach. He placed the glassed by him and his uncle and filled then up while announcing to the entire table, "I've decided to quit my Western travels; to come back home and put down roots."

"Great, looks like you'll be stayin' with me." Jim Vance grumbled, grabbing his fish and taking a snapping bite out of it.

"The old school was boarded up few years back, but a new one was built in recently in Mate Creek." Devil Anse chewed on some fish before going on to say, "There's an openin' for a teacher since the last marm took a higher paying position near Charleston."

With a slight nod of his head Sully smirked, "Good, then it seems I'm stuck here for good." Of course he was staying for good, he wanted to rewrite history and save his family during the feud.

"Sully, how far west did ya go? Ever been to Oregon? I read in a book they got all these trees to log out there." Johnse quickly rambled, excitement oozing out of his buttery smooth voice, as he stabbed from food off his plate with his fork.

"Johns, shut up 'bout Oregon." Will ordered in a deep snap, his icy eyes narrowed at his older brother. He pointed his fork at Johnse while sighing, "I swear if I gotta hear ya talk 'bout that shit hole one more time…"

"As far as I've been's to Oklahoma." Sully quickly blurted out, ending the budding argument that was about to transpire between the eldest Hatfield boys.

"Indian Territory?" Will asked with a raised brow while at the same time Jim Vance scoffed, "What the hells out there?"

"It's bein' developed by settlers, Boomers as they call themselves, in the non-Indian controlled lands. The territory's holdin' land runs and all kinds of promises to settlers such as cheap or free land." I just kept my mouth shut and acted like I didn't know a thing about Oklahoma. Well, I couldn't start talking about 2018 Tulsa, now could I? "Mostly cattle ranchers and farmers, but a few tradesmen are out there. The flat prairie land just goes for miles and miles. Very beautiful, but not like these hills."

"We're happy to have ya home, Sully." Levicy lightly smiled as before eating some carrots from her place.

Looking right at me as he sipped on his milk Devil Anse asked, "And where are you from, Allie?"

Not knowing what else to say I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "Wilmington, North Carolina."

"So, the wagon train was headin' West from the Carolinas?" Devil Anse asked, even though with his deep voice it sounded more like a statement.

"Yes" I nodded, stabbing a piece of fish with my fork. "Oklahoma to be exact." I answered before eating my forkful of fish, that I had helped batter and fry by the way.

Sully tilted his head at me while his eyes silently read a praise of, Good answer. Jim Vance just rolled his eyes while scarfing down his food. Johnse looked at me, smiled, and then went back to eating. Will tho was keeping a watchful eye on me as he crunched on his fish. I wasn't sure if he was leery about me or curious, but it felt a bit stifling to have his intense ice-blue eyes on me as I ate

"Well, sweetheart, you have a home here with us. As long as you'd like." Levicy kindly told me in her syrupy sweet voice, which caused her son to take his eyes off on me and to lock them onto the milk glass he was reaching for.

"Thank you, very much." I politely replied with a small smile of my own.

Suddenly the subject was changed to the logging business and that was what the men mostly talked about for the rest of dinner. Once the meal was over the men went off to drink, smoke, and talk on the front porch while the children took off to play. I helped Levicy clean up the kitchen and do the dishes. Her daughters Nannie and Betty helped dry the dishes, even showed me where to put them up at. All in all, my first meal with the Hatfields went off pretty good.

AN:

So, Will and Allie aren't smitten with each other yet. Don't worry, they'll like each other soon enough. Anyone have any guesses to why Will came home early from his brunch date with Leona Garret? Oh I had to write Jim Vance in there, gotta love that burly mountain man.

Oh, Perry agreed to ask around about Allie. That's not going to work out in Jessa's favor considering… Perry's scheming, suggesting that Tolbert and Jessa look for that pig together.