*Author's Note*

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Schooled & Splintered

Allie POV:

The end of summer had come and it was now harvest time. School was also due to start soon, which would empty the Hatfield house of a few children. Also, since it was getting close school to resume Sully was preparing the classroom and as my luck would have it Levicy had volunteered my cleaning services; committing me to help him get the one-room school house student ready. So, that's why I was holed up in the schoolhouse at the end of the main road cleaning like I was a Merry Maid today.

Sully was stacking some books on the bookshelf against the corner behind his desk and I was scrubbing a student's desk whenever the door to the schoolhouse opened with a thunk. Light streamed in as a man in a suit wearing a weather worn tan Stetson. "So, buddie, ya weren't joshin' me last month when you said you've moved back; taken up the Mate Creek teachin' job?" I man nearly chuckled as he kicked the door shut behind him and started to walk up the aisle that parted the seas of desks.

Pausing in his task of stacking books, Sully turned his back to the bookshelf and told his buddie, "Brenton Landon, I don't josh when it comes to my livelihood."

"Yes, cause you're a serious-minded teacher." Brenton rolled his eyes, sitting down on a desk that I'd just cleaned not that long ago. Turning to look at me the man asked, "Hey, you the girl that broke Tolbert's nose? One who's 'round Will Hatfield a lot?"

"Yea, why?" I asked with a raised brow before moving to the next desk that needed cleaned.

"Curious was all." Brenton shrugged as I started to scrub down the new desk I was at. Biting back a chuckle, but failing to hold back his smirk, he told me, "Saw the damage and might I say it couldn't 've happened to a better man."

"Don't let your boss hear ya say that." Sully advised causing me to curiously look between him and his friend.

Waving his friend off, Brenton let out an unconcerned sigh of, "Oh, hell, Perry knows I can't stand Tolbert's guts." With a lopsided smirk he added, "That's nothin' new."

"You work for Perry Cline?" Came tumbling out of my mouth faster then a falling house of cards.

"Yes, but worse then that he's my brother-in-law." Brenton answered my question, spitting out the last word of his sentence like it was a bitter lemon slice.

Brother-in-law? I didn't know that Perry Cline had family. The history book never listed them so I assumed they were all dead or something.

"Really? And you're friends with Sully?" I asked, finding their friendship a bit odd since they were on opposite sides of a large family feud that becomes the bloodiest one in American History.

Gesturing towards Sully, the tan Stetson wearing man told me, "I met Sully in the war and if it weren't for him, I don't know if I would've made it out alive." A sad look appeared in his eyes as he revealed, "My late wife was Perry's sister, Rihanna. She died in childbirth after the war." That's sad. Schooling his features, he went on to quickly end his trip down memory lane with, "I was a widower with a newborn daughter to fend for so I swallowed my pride and went to Pikeville to ask Perry for help; been his assistant ever since."

"Oh." I slowly nodded since I didn't really know how to respond.

Running his thumb and forefinger over his stubbled chin, Sully made the smooth inquiring remark of, "So, what's the real reason you're here? It can't be to just see if I'm really the teacher or not."

"Got me on that." Brenton smirked. Letting out a long sigh, Brenton folded his arms over his chest while revealing, "Nova and her husband's comin' to town since it's campaign season for election year and since they'll be stayin' with me tonight, before goin' off to the Blackberry Creek cabin tomorrow, I need to get a sleepin' draught from Doc." Yea, I don't think a dad really wants to hear his daughter getting it on under his roof. Poor guy…

"Nova's married? Since when?" By Sully's surprised tone paired with how he looked like he was about to swallow his teeth I was pretty sure that Nova had to be around my age. Kinda young to be married, but yet again this is 1878…

"March, she married Senator Billings Brooksdale." Brenton said a bit nonchalantly, his shoulder's rounding up a bit as he slightly leaned his hands on the edge of the desk he was sitting on.

Senator Billings Brooksdale, I remember reading about him in my history book. He didn't play a direct part in the feud, but took over both Perry Cline's law office and house after the man died a couple years after Anse declared he was ending his part in the feud. Guess I know why now, I mean the guy's Cline's nephew-in-law so… Funny how the history book never mentioned the man was related to Perry Cline by marriage. Actually the book never even mention the man was married, I assumed he was a rich old political bachelor turned lawyer, but looks like I was wrong.

One of Sully's brows quirked up as he hesitantly asked, "Perry Cline's law school buddy?"

Law school buddy, that means the senator's like-what-40 or something. Holy shit, older man with teen girl reminded me of a movie Sully made us watch in class when we were doing the Civil War units. Movie was called The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All and told the tale of a woman's life being married to an older man that had PTSD, was obsessed with guns, and couldn't let go of his time in the Civil War. She married him in 1900 when she was 14 and he was like 50. It was a good movie and was adapted from a book, but I never thought that there was actual truth in it when it came to the age differences in men and women. Well, now I know.

"Yes, it was either arrange a match with him or let her court Tolbert a couple years back. I'd rather her join Barnum and Bailey's Circus then be saddled down with that cruel hothead."

"So, you married her off to a man 20-years her senior instead?" I heard Sully scoff dryly as I made my way to another dust covered desk to clean.

"Today's her 16th birthday and he's not even 36 til a couple more months. It could've been worse." Yea, Brenton you tell Sully, the dude could've been like 50 (like in that confederate widow movie). Personally 36 is a bit much for me, but hey it ain't my man so not my problem.

"Yes, I reckon so." I heard Sully agree with his friend as I cleaned.

"She could be married to Tolbert." I pointed out, knowing that's what the men meant by worse.

"Oh, I don't think I could handle him as my son-in-law or grandchild's daddy." Brenton honestly chuckled, his timbre vibrating in the air of the one-room schoolhouse.

Sully's brow rose up and his head slightly tilted to the side. "Grandchild? Nova's expectin'?"

"Yes, so that's 'nother reason why I need to see Doc. She'll be needin' some mint tea for the mornin' sickness since she's a couple months along."

"Well, congratulations then." Sully told his friend with a large grin on his face, seeming happy that the man was going to become a grandpa in 7-months.

"Thanks." Brenton genuinely smiled. "Anyways…" He sighed before standing up and saying, "I better head over to Doc's and then back 'cross the Tug."

"It was good seein' you, my friend." Sully told Brenton instead of just saying goodbye, like most people would simply say.

Tipping his battered tan Stetson at me, Brenton stood from the desk he was sitting on and said, "Nice meetin' ya, Miss Allie."

"Same." I told the man before he turned around and walked out of the school.

As soon as the door slammed shut Sully looked at me with a cunning look on his pointed face. "Looks like we'll be able to change more about the feud then we first thought."

"Um…?" I trailed off, giving Sully a confused look wile standing by the desk I just finished cleaning.

Grabbing some books out of a crate and placing them onto his bookshelf, my former teacher told me, "My best friend's daughter is married to a Kentucky senator and she just happens to be Roseanna's best friend."

"Oh no, you think we can get Nova to have her senator husband speak against the McCoys to that governor during the posse round-ups?" I asked, shaking my head, as I walked to another dirty desk. Damn, how many desks did these old ass school houses have? They seemed never ending.

"If gone about the right way, yes." Sully stated, as if he was reciting a fact to the classroom, as he continued filling up the large bookshelf.

"Yea, I'll let you deal with that." I told him since I thought his idea was a bit batshit.

Like, really, how is he going to get Perry's buddy to betray him? I doubt this Nova girl has that much sway over her hubby. I mean, she's so much younger then him so I surmise he's the one ruling the roost.

About 10-15 minutes later I was mopping the floor while Sully was cleaning the chalkboard whenever the door banged open followed by Brenton's voice shouting out from the doorway, "Jim Vance and Devil Anse just brought Will to Doc's. Tree fell, splinter caught in his eye."

A damn tree fell?! Hell, all my history book said was he was in a logging accident. Of course, I assumed a woodchip flew in his eye while sawing or something, but a falling tree's serious. Falling trees kill people.

Without thinking I dropped the mop and rushed out of the schoolhouse, nearly knocking over Brenton too. I ran down the street to the clinic with my skirt slightly hiked up and clenched tightly in my fists. My boots thumped loudly as I run up the porch steps of Doc's place and to the door. I flung it open and entered the clinic, looking around only to spot Jim Vance sitting in the lobby. Rushing over to him I asked, "How bad is it?"

"Ah, I figured ya'd come." Fell off the tip of Jim's tongue as he looked at me, a ghost of a lined smile appearing on his face. Nodding towards the door a few yards away behind a desk he explained, "Doc's takin' the splinter outta Will's eye. Anse's back there holdin' his boy's head still; makin' sure he don't move even tho he's out cold."

Wringing my hands, I frantically asked, "What happened? All I know is a tree fell."

"You know as much as me." I narrowed my eyes, not liking his vague answer. Jim let out a half-sigh and stretched out in his chair. Sratching the back of his neck, Jim explained, "I was down the hill talkin' wit' Anse and Johnse when Bill Staton called for Anse, told him 'bout the accident. When we ran up the hill he was 'gains't a tree holdin' his injured eye, felled tree nearby."

"Where's Johnse, why ain't he here?" I asked since I felt Johnse's adbsence during his brother's time of need was odd.

"He went home to tell his mama what happened."

"Oh." Yes, now that made sense. Guess somebody'd have to tell Levicy about her son's accident, the best person to do that would be her eldest.

"You ought'a head to the house." The large gruff mountain man, who I'd come to think of as a big grumpy teddy bear of a pseudo-uncle, suggested. His voice lowered slightly as he added in, "Levicy'll need help."

"Yes, Levicy needs you at the house." Rung out Sully's voice from behind me. I was so wrapped up in talking to Jim that I didn't even hear the teacher walk into the doctor's office. Giving me a knowing look, Sully added, "There's a lot to be done to prepare for Will's arrival home after surgery."

I just nodded, feeling a heavy and anxious weight well up in my chest, and walked away from the Vance men. Taking some deep breaths to calm myself, I walked out of the clinic. Since I needed to hold myself together in order to get my horse from the school and ride back to the main Hatfield house, so I squared my shoulders and pushed my fear down deep inside.

Even tho I knew, without a doubt, that Will survives his accident with a blinded left eye I was still upset that he was hurt. Maybe it was because I was so close to him or maybe it was because I didn't want to see him suffering. Whatever the reason, my logical mind wasn't working too good and my frightened emotions were raging rampant.

As I rode my horse onto the Hatfield property, inching closer towards the house, I spotted Johnse outside splitting wood. He saw me, giving me a grim look and a wave for a greeting before grabbing another core of wood and splitting it. I just waved back and continued to the house, only stopping once I reached the hitch post by the front porch.

After dismounting my horse, I hitched it up to the post and ran into the house. "Levicy? Levicy, you here?" I called out since I didn't see her anywhere. I only saw the children sitting at the tables, patiently waiting for their mother's return.

"I'm upstairs in the room we've cleaned out for Johns and Will." Echoed Levicy's syrupy voice from upstairs.

Since Johnse and Will were the oldest boys, well actually considered men in this time period, Levicy and Anse decided it was time for them to move out of the boys' room and into one of their own. Anse and some of his brothers moved the stuff from the spare room into the barn loft while I cleaned up the room. Once it was clean Anse got some beds into it, which just happened a couple of days ago. The room hadn't been revealed to Johnse and Will yet, but I guess it doesn't really matter now. It's going to be Will's homemade hospital room, not a bedroom.

Quickly, I went upstairs and joined Levicy in the room only to see her making up the second bed. The first one was already pristinely done. Looking up at me, she told me, "I'm makin' up Johnse's bed for ya."

"Me, why me?" I squeaked out, my blue eyes widening to the size of quarters.

"I'm too far along in my pregnancy to be nursin' Will 'round the clock while also doin' the house duties. He'll need his bandages changed regularly and his wound cleaned, so you'll be doin' that." Levicy told me, smoothing out any wrinkles in the blanket she just placed on the bed before standing up and turning herself around to face me.

"Okay, but why do I have to share a room with him tho?" I asked, a bit confused since I thought unmarried people sharing a room in the 1800s was scandalous and taboo. I mean wasn't this the time of chivalry and all that jazz, or was chivalry always dead?

"Despite whatever operation Doc's doin', I doubt he'll save my boy's eye." Levicy's words rang true, I knew from my history book that Cap's left eye would go milky white and he'd be blind. How she knew tho is a mystery. Maybe she just figured a splinter eye's damaged too much by dirty sappy wood to be successfully saved by Doc. "He's gonna need you to read to him, help him get stuff, and what not til he heals; can get by on one eye 'lone. Not to mention at first he's gonna be flat on his back sufferin' in pain." Now I feel a bit stupid for not even thinking about that.

"Oh…okay."

"I've already grabbed some tick from my sewin' basket for bandages." Levicy informed me, pointing to the basket that was on the small table between the beds. "If you don't mind, could ya fold 'em up nicely and set them on the dresser?"

"Yea, I don't mind." I quickly replied, rushing over to grab the basket and taking them over to the dresser.

My hands shook slightly with nerves as I did my task of folding the bandages. I was so worried about Will even tho I knew the outcome. Only reason why I was so worked up was cause I cared for him. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Levicy staring at me with a soft look and understanding eyes before she walked by me and out of the room.

Will had been sleeping for hours now, ever since Anse brought him home. An oil lap lit up the room with a soft yellow glow as I sat on my bed, across from Will's, Indian style with an open book in my lap. I'd been reading in between playing nurse. Every so often my eyes would drift to the clock on the table, checking the time to figure out when I needed to tend to Will's wound.

When Anse came home it wasn't just with his son, but with a list of instructions from Doc on how to tend to the eye so it wouldn't get infected. Seems like Levicy was right, taking care of Will was a round the clock job. Every 3-hours I had to change the bandage and check the eye, making sure it wasn't weeping any blood, but just light-colored drainage. I also had to wipe his eyelid and cheek off with a luke-warm damp cloth before rebandaging it.

Ah, talk about changing bandages, it was time for me to do that. Dog-earing the page, I was on, I closed my book and placed it onto my bed before standing up and walking over to the dresser. Quickly I grabbed the cloth and tick bandages along with the rag from the basin and went over to Will's side. I placed everything down on the bedside table before gently unwrapping the bandage from his head and tossing it to the side. I had to slowly peel the tick off of his eye that was on like a patch, making sure that no dried drainage would rip off his skin. After tossing the tick patch into the dirty linen basket, where the dirty bandages were in, I took the damp rag and wiped Will's eye. It had a little bit of goopiness by the corner of his eye near the bridge of his nose. Other than that, his drainage wasn't that bad.

I had placed a new tick patch onto the injured eye and had just began to wrap a long cloth bandage around his head/eye whenever Will began to moan and tried to sit up. Gently pushing him back down on the bed and stroking his cheek to calm him down I softly told him, "Lay down, Will. I'm trying to change your bandage."

"M-my bandage?" Will stuttered, seeming a bit lost on why he had what I nicknamed a civil war bandage, as he stilled in his bed.

"You got a splinter in your eye; Doc had to take it out." I reminded him, going back to task of wrapping the bandage around his head/eye.

"Oh, yea, from the felled tree…" Will trailed off, his deep timbre echoing hoarsely in the room. I didn't say anything, just finished wrapping the bandage around his shaggy blonde hair and over his left eye. I went to move away from his side whenever his hand reached out and grabbed mine, stopping me. Looking at him I saw that his right eye was locked on me with a sad look in it. "I can't see." Will admitted, sounding like a frightened little boy instead of the confident young man I'd come to know over the spring and summer months.

"I know, but it's okay." I softly told him, squeezing his hand gently in comforting attempt.

Dropping his hold on my small hand and pointing to his bandaged eye he asked, "Won't I ever see 'gain?"

"Honestly?" I asked, wanting to make sure he wanted to hear the truth. I mean he wanted to know wasn't a light thing to say to somebody. At his nod I sighed out as gently as I could, "No, I don't think so, even tho Doc did pull the splinter out and stitched ya up."

"Oh…" Drifted heavily in the room as Will's shoulder's slummed in defeat.

"Are you thirsty? I can pour you a glass of water." I offered since he sounded hoarse, hinting that his throat was dry. Also, it was a good way to direct the attention off of his bad eye too.

"Yea, thank you." He replied, causing me to pick the pitcher up off the bedside table and pour some water into an empty glass.

After placing the pitcher back on the table, I put a hand on Will's shoulder while offering, "Let me help ya sit up." He just nodded, letting me help him sit up and lean against some pillows. "Here ya go." I handed him the water with a small smile.

"Thanks." Will told me, greedily taking a large gulp of his water. "How long was I out?" He asked, looking at me curiously as I sat on the edge of his bed.

"Since your pa brought you home this afternoon." Seeing Anse carrying Will into the house and upstairs to the bedroom earlier was hard. Will, who was tall with farm-boy built muscle, was like a ragdoll in his father's arms today and it took a toll on my emotions

"Hell…" Will sighed out, his deep waving voice heavy with disbelief and embarrassment, before taking another drink. I take it he didn't get sick or hurt that often and felt like a burden or a failure, at least that's the vibe I got by his sigh.

Watching him down half of his water, I thoughtfully offered, "Do you want me to get you some broth to eat? I bet you're hungry."

Placing his glass on the side table he told me, "Not right now, I just woke up. Maybe later."

"Okay. So, do you want me to read or something?" I asked, nodding to the small stack of books that was on the table.

Sliding his hand over mine, that was next to his on the bed, he answered, "If ya want, but just talkin' to me's good 'nough."

"Okay. What'd you wanna talk bout?"

"Hmm, tell me 'bout your day 'fore I came home like this." He requested, his thumb idly rubbing a lined pattern on my hand.

"Well, after breakfast I went to town to help Sully clean the school house." I began telling the start of my day while Will laid back in bed, his good icy-blue eye holding onto me with an anchoring look. For an unmeasured amount of time I talked, earning a few quips here and there from him. I only stopped whenever he dozed off, then I left him to sleep and went downstairs to get him a bowl of brother for when he woke up again.

AN:

Next chapter Nova and her husband Senator Billings are featured. Yay, I'm so excited for Jessa to meet them muhahaha! Yea, the muses are hard at work so the plot bunnies are hopping all over the place.

Oh, btw, how do ya'll think Nova and Senator Billing's will be together? I mean I know of course (writer and all) but I'm curious to know what you readers think.