*Author's Note*

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

This chapter is super-duper long. It's the longest one I've written to date, but I don't think ya'll mind that tho. I would've had it done sooner but I wasn't feeling well (had a sinus infection). Oh, some of Sully's intentions are uncovered in this.

Abel Freeland (Allie's brother) face claim is Clive Standen.

Split Jury Trial

Sully POV:

I hadn't been back in the future since I took Allie and Jessa back to the past, but I returned to bring Allie's older brother, Abel, back to 1878. The young man was in the army so I knew he could handle a gun and be cool in tough situations. That boy was needed in order to help my family, add numbers to the Hatfields so that they could overcome the McCoys and the bounty hunters that'd come down the line. Especially that unhinged outlaw turned lawman, Bad Frank. My family needs all the help they can get when it comes to him.

I remembered Abel Freeland from when I taught him history years ago. The boy always sat in the back and barely talked, unless it was to answer a question. I also remember that he used to refer to the McCoys as the McCrazys in his notes. Let's just say that piqued my interest and when I confronted him about what I saw in the notes when passing out papers, he just shrugged and said that they were crazy for hunting down a family cause the dad was jealous and bitter of them. That young man would be an asset to the Hatfields and I'm pretty sure he'll go back to 1878 with me once I tell him his sister was there and due to be married to a Hatfield.

I had poofed myself to a storage locker I had so I could grab some things for Abel. Those things being a US Calvary uniform, a pistol, and a rifle. Oh and of course a canteen and pocket watch. I had some old dated money on me to give him, so that wasn't a problem. I placed all of the things into a duffel and slung it over my shoulder, ready to teleport to wherever Abel was. Since I had no idea where he was, I had to chant his name along with the date and time to be transported to where he was at.

A burst of light flared off and suddenly I was standing in the middle of a small dingy living room while Abel sat on an older modeled easy chair, looking at me with a dropped jaw. His mossy eyes were a bit wide as he let out a shocked sigh of, "Holy shit, Mr. Sullivan, you just portaled into my living room outta thin air."

I nodded, a smirk on my face, before lengthily telling the young man that was sitting wide-eyed and slack-jawed, "Yes, well, since you've seen me appear out of thin air with your own eyes, you'll believe me when I say that I'm a time traveler and due to an accident during a field trip in the Tug River Valley transported myself and your sister back to 1878."

"What?!" Abel shrieked, bolting up from his chair. Stridin' over to me and getting right up in my face he asked a bit roughly, "You took my sister back to the feud between the Hatfields and the McCrazys?!"

"Yes, but I assure you she's just fine." The shake of his head and arch of his brow at that remark proved that he wasn't so sure how truthful my words were. I gave him a thin line of a smile while saying, "Allie's actually due to marry Will Hatfield in a few months."

"Get married, but she's not even 16 yet." Abel snapped before groaning and letting out a sigh of, "Oh god, this Will dude didn't knock her up did he?"

"No, he didn't." At least as far as I know he didn't. "They just decided to get married after he heals and builds them a house cause they have deep feelings for each other." I assured my former student. Hopefully my words calm him down.

"Accident? Oh no, you're not telling me that my sister's hooked up with Cap now are ya?" Abel asked even tho I'm sure he already knew that the answer was yes, Allie was with Cap.

"Yes, in fact I am." I nodded, causing the man in front of me to just roll his eyes.

Shaking his head and backing up a few feet, Abel ranted, "Oh my god, how the hell did you let this happen? I mean I know you were always a bit odd, but didn't ya think that tossing a 15 ½ year old in with the Hatfields during feud time was a bit insane?"

"The Hatfields are my kin. Cousins in fact since we all share Jim Vance as an uncle."

Once again Abel's mossy eyes went wide, but this time it was with a revelation and not shock. "Holy shit, no wonder you know so much about that feud, you've lived it." Before I could open my mouth he pointed a finger at me and said with a raised brow, "Wait a minute, now I know why I always thought you were odd and familiar in a sense too. You're the guy that, when I was 5-years-old, brought us to Tulsa. My dad was a widower and you told him going forward into the west was the only way to save his family."

"Oh, so you remember that?" I didn't think he did. The boy was so young when I transported him, his baby sister, and dad to 21st century Tulsa.

"Yea, apparently I do." He scoffed, his eyes slightly cutting into me. He let out a sigh before revealing, "My senior year when I had to do a family tree project, but couldn't cause my family roots never went past my father, is when that memory came back to me."

"Yes, well, all I did was a good deed. I saved your family from drowning in a wagon train accident crossing the Tug." Actually, that was a bit stretched, but he didn't need to know the real reason why I brought his family to the future from the past. I mean he was never in that accident, but his father and sister were. Eh, there's a reason why Allie has a doppelganger in the history book…but anyways I'm not going into all of the details of what I know right now.

"Oh…" Trailed out of his mouth, lingering heavily in the small living room we were in.

Tossing him the duffel, I ordered, "Now, get dressed so we can get back to your sister."

"What's in here?" Abel asked after catching the duffel in mid-air.

"Calvary uniform. Since Allie says you're in the army, you'll need to show up like it in that."

"Great…" He trailed off while giving me an unimpressed look.

"Also, when I bring you over to the Hatfields the cover story will be when I was leaving work for the day you were on the road heading to town and stopped me to ask how far town was." I told Abel while taking a seat on the couch as he walked out of the main room and down the hall to where his bedroom was. I could hear the bedroom door open and then slam shut a bit loudly as I carried on with, "We talked, you gave me your name, and when I asked if you had any kin named Allie you revealed that was your sister's name."

"Nice story, but why would I be walking down a road in West Virginia for?" I heard him ask, a bit muffled by his bedroom door, as he most likely began to change.

"You were dishonorably discharged from the military cause you refused to testify about an Indian raid that attacked your fort. Only you and a couple others survived." That fort attack was true, it really did happen. Sioux was all stirred up after the Custard shit that went down only a couple years earlier. "You got off the train at Charleston while the others carried on to Washington. You were gonna go straight down the mountains til ya hit Asheville, then cross over and make your way home to Wilmington."

"Sounds believable." Abel said, opening his door with a creek. Walking down the hall and into the main room he asked, "So, let me guess, once we go back in time we're never coming back? At least I'm not, am I?"

Rising to my feet, I told him, "No and neither am I." Walking over to him I explained, "I just came here to get you after Allie mentioned you the other night after dinner."

"Oh." Abel sighed, t his navy Stetson covered head.

"Well, it's time to go." I told him before clasping him on the shoulder and sending us back in time.

Allie POV:

Ever since Doc took Will off of bedrest, I've been able to get back to watchin' the children and helping Levicy with house chores. Also, since my fiancé didn't need that much help anymore, I was moved back to the girls' room. Yea, apparently the Hatfields weren't going to have a healthy unwed couple sharing a bedroom in their house. I didn't mind going back to my room with the girls considering me and Will haven't done anything intimate yet. Can't miss what you ain't doing.

Will was happier being housebound then strictly bedbound. He was able to freely roam the house and could read all the books he wanted for entertainment. The fact that his lost left eye had no effect or strain on how he used his right eye was wonderful. He could read without any problems, even the fine print in that Hugo book of his. Cap also played cards and checkers with various family members too in order to pass the time in the house, but he couldn't do any rough housing or anything like that yet. I knew that killed him since he always roughed house with Robert E.

Devil Anse had just come home for supper a few minutes ago. I helped Levicy set the table and I even ushered the lil ones to said table too. Currently I was helping Levicy plop side dishes on everyone's plates. I had just dumped a large scoop of mashed potatoes on my future father-in-law's dish whenever a knock sounded at the door. "I'll get it, Levicy." I told my future mother-in-law since I was closer to the door considering she was at the end of the table putting some corn onto Will's plate.

Levicy didn't say a word, just nodded her approval at me. I went over to the counter and set pot of potatoes on it before walking a few yards to the front door. I opened the door only to let out a shriek of, "Oh my god!" as I found myself face to face with my older brother. Sully was standing behind him, but just smiled at me and wiggled his way by me and into the house. "I thought you were in the army." I told my brother, my hidden meaning of my remark being I thought you were back in 2018's army.

Abel just pulled me into a hug while telling me, "Well, I ain't in the army anymore. I'm here now, sis."

"That's Allie's older brother Abel huggin' her in the doorway, by the way." I heard Sully tell everyone at the kitchen table as he sat down while I broke off my hug with my brother. "Found him wanderin' down the road headed to town after I left. Found out his name; figured I'd bring him here since he's her brother." Sully explained Abel's presence at the Hatfield house.

"Go take a seat." Levicy told my brother as she came to a stop next to us. "You too, sweetheart." She smiled at me in a soft and motherly way.

I just went over to my spot next to Will at the table while my brother took off his hat and gave it to Levicy for her to hang up. "Thank you, ma'am for lettin' me stay for supper."

"You're welcome, but please call me Levicy. Consider yourself family here." Levicy told Abel as she hung his hat on the hooks by the door before going over to the counter to make up some plates for us.

"You been discharged from the army, son, or ya just up and left due to all 'em Indian fights?" Devil Anse bluntly asked my brother as he took a seat next to Sully and across from me.

"Dishonorable discharge. Only me and a couple others survived an Indian attack on the fort, but I refused to testify bout it to the military council." Abel answered Anse as Levicy came over to us with our plates.

"Ya gotta do what's best for yourself and the hell with others." Anse nodded approvingly at Abel while Levicy set our plates down before going over to the counter to grab one for herself. "I did what was best for my family when I came home from the army year 'fore the war ended." I heard the Hatfield patriarch say as I grabbed a mug and the pot of coffee from the pile it was at on the table.

"Yep." Abel popped out as I filled up my coffee mug.

"I'm Anse, Anse Hatfield, and your sister's been in good hands with us the last few months." My future father-in-lawassured my brother as I passed him over the coffee pot. As Abel took a cup from the table and poured himself some coffee Anse told him, "She's a part of our family and has taken our name."

My brother just nodded his head at Anse. Looking at Will he asked, "So is it you that's the reason my sister's a Hatfield now or is it the pretty boy?" Of course, Abel had to point at Johnse, who was eating a piece of fried chicken with a lost look on his face, whenever he uttered the words pretty boy.

"I'm Allie's man." Will spoke up, staring at my older brother with his one good eye. Before biting into his fried chicken, he clarified our relationship with the remark of, "We've taken up with each other not that long ago."

"Aha…" Abel trailed off, nodding his head slightly and making his short golden-brown hair rustle a bit.

"You're welcomed to stay here as long as needed since you're Allie's brother." Devil Anse told Abel, causing my brother to nod while stuffing a spoonful of potatoes into his mouth. "There's a spare bed in Will's room, you'll stay there."

"Um…thanks…" My brother mumbled out, his brow arched a bit. I bet he was a bit leery of sharing a room with Will cause he thought it was our room. Haha, nope.

As if Anse could read my brother's mind, he told him, "Will's got his own room upstairs and Allie's downstairs in a shared room with my daughters since they ain't married yet." Giving him a slight smirk, he added, "You'll do fine sharin' a room with my son."

"Oh, okay." Abel said, sounding more relieved then he needed to be.

"Johnse, you don't mind borrowin' Abel some clothes d'ya? Ya'll seem to be 'bout the same size." Levicy asked her favorite son with a sweet smile.

"Fine by me, ma." Johnse shrugged before eating some corn.

"Well, seems like my good deed of the day's done. I reunited a brother and sister, found 'nother member for our ever growin' family too." Sully spoke up in between eating his fried chicken. I didn't know why he brought my brother here, but I ain't complaining. I haven't seen him or heard from him in so long that it's nice to be reunited with Abel. Plus, it's good to have somebody I know on my side considering Jessa turned her back on me for Tolbert.

"Yea, just pat yourself on the back, Sully." Anse scoffed, rolling his cold blue eyes at his cousin. Looking at Abel, he pointed his finger at him and said, "If ya want a job at my loggin' camp it's yours, but work won't start up til Tuesday."

"Thanks, I'll take the job." My brother gratefully told my future father-in-law. With furrowed brows he asked, "Tuesday, why not Monday?"

Loking over his shoulder at Abel, Sully told him, "Family's goin' to town for Floyd's pig trial against Randall McCoy cause he's suing him." Before turning his attention back to his plate, he added, "It's only fitting that we support our kin."

"McCrazy's serious 'bout this pig sue huh?" Abel asked incredulously as he scooped up some mashed potatoes. Before eating them, he shook his head and scoffed, "Stupidest shit I've ever heard of."

"Abel, you'll get on just fine in this family." Sully assured my older bother with a smirk before eating his fried chicken.

Okay, now I know why Sully brought Abel here. He knows my brother's not a big fan of the McCoys. I mean Sully was his teacher a while back so knew that Abel thought the McCoys were McCrazys. Yep, Sully brought another ally to our side. I wonder if he's going to lasso Abel into his plan of changing history too?

Jessa POV:

Today was the trial date. Since the McCoys only had one wagon (well Tolbert had one too, but that was for his shine business and to buy bulk supplies with) and there were so many members of the family I opted to ride into town with Tolbert. Well, he did offer me the ride, claiming I'd be too cramped in the wagon with all of his siblings, and I was more then willing to accept said offer.

We rode into town and up to one of the many hitching posts near the courthouse. Tolbert had just tied up Eldorado (yes, his horse was named after the lost mystical ancient city of gold) and was helping me down whenever I spotted Abel Freeland leaning against the wall of the courthouse smoking and talking with Johnse Hatfield, causing my breath to hitch.

Arching his brow, Tolbert asked with concern laced in his smoothly gruff voice, "What's wrong, darlin'?"

My feet touched the ground as I pointed over his shoulder while gasping out in shock, "That man with Johnse's Abel Freeland, Allie's older brother. He's been in the army and never contacted his family, I can't believe he's here." Well, I knew how he got here (obviously Mr. Sullivan brought him here), but I didn't know why he was here. His presence unnerved me, worried me even.

"Eh, she prolly wrote 'im 'bout becomin' the new Miss Hatfield 'round the Tug." Tolbert told me, shrugging off the shock I was feeling and portraying.

"No, I don't think she did. Nobody in her family knew where he went after joining the army, he never wrote home or anything."

"Well, by that hat he's sportin' I'd say he was Calvary; fightin' off injuns out west somewheres."

I just nodded, warily looking at the soldier that was misplaced out of time. Tolbert started to led us over to the courthouse and I noticed Abel giving me a weird look, as if he couldn't believe his eyes that I was there right before him. Looking up at the redhead by my side, I sighed tightly, "I think he just recognized me."

"Don't worry 'bout it, we'll just walk by 'em and into the courtroom." Tolbert told me, his gaze set straight ahead, in an attempt to assure me that nothing was going to happen between us and the men leaning by the courthouse doors.

Right as we passed by Johnse and Abel, the latter tossed his smoke off to the side, and approached me while saying, "Damn, never thought you'd ditch my sister for McCrazy here."

"I didn't ditch Allie for Tolbert, Abel." I informed the man, wearing a navy and gold tasseled Calvary Steton, that I hadn't seen since I was like 11 or 12-years old.

Narrowing his eyes at me, Tolbert gruffly and lowly ordered, "Jessa, hush. No need to talk to the newest Hatfield trash."

"Tolbert McCrazy, you're 'bout as nice as I thought you'd be." Abel chuckled sarcastically. "You're making a big mistake hooking up with him." Abel told me before turning his head over his shoulder to look at Johnse and suggest, "Hey, man, let's head on inside."

Tolbert's face went into a hard scowl as he stormed by Abel, dragging me into the courthouse with him before Johnse could even respond the the golden-brown haired man's suggestion.

Allie POV:

I was sitting in the back of the courthouse in the aisle seat. Will was next to me and next to him was Jim Vance, who had Sully sitting on his other side. The courtroom was quiet as people entered and shuffled around, finding their seat. Since all of the seats on the Hatfield's side on the first floor was taken, the people associated with my new family had to go upstairs to the balcony.

The sound of the doors banging opened startled me and made me look to see who had barged in. Will turned to see who it was too, well I think all of us on the last row did. Low and behold, Tolbert stormed in, dragging Jessa right behind him. A moment or so later Abel and Johnse walked in and went upstairs. Hmm, I wonder if they had any words with the McCoys that came in before them?

"How's the eye doin'?" Uncle Jim asked Will, looking at him with a semi-curious look.

"It's gone milky; capped over." Will dryly said, sounding a bit bummed bout his eye being damaged.

"Let me see it." Jim ordered Will, an interest look on his face while Sully just rolled his eyes at the rugged mountain man.

Will shook his bandage wrapped head. "No, Jim."

"I said let me see it." Jim reached over to pull off Will's bandage, causing my fiancé to lean into me as an attempt to get away.

"Jim…" Will groaned as his uncle's chubby caloused hand gabbed the hem of the cloth bandage and yanked it up, revealing the white as a cueball eye. Robert E., who was sitting infront of us, turned around to look at his older brother's eyes. Upon seeing his little brother staring at his eye, Will pulled the bandage back over the eye to cover it before barking, "Turn 'round.", at the boy.

Robert E. quickly spun in his seat, listening to his aggravated big brother. Patting Will's shoulder, I assured him, "It doesn't look that bad, Will. Don't be ashamed of it."

"Listen to her, she's right about the eye not looking that bad." Sully piped up from his spot next to Uncle Jim.

Will just nodded, clearly still a bit upset and embarrassed about his eye.

Jim pulled a flask out of his pocket and took a quick sip of it. Looking at my fiancé he said, "I'm gonna call you Cap, as in Captain. It shows you're a real important feller." Jim took a swig from his flask before leaning into Will's shoulder and telling him, "It's a good name, Cap."

"Yea, yea, a'ight." Cap nodded, his face much like a blank slate showing nothing to hint at how he was really feeling.

"I like the name. Cap suits you for some reason." I told him, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Really?" He asked, looking at me with a slightly arched brow.

"Yea." I nodded, a simple assuring smile on my face.

"Ya seein' Doc after this shit show?" Uncle Jim asked, changing the subject off of Will's new alias.

"Yep." Cap popped his tongue. "Hopin' he clears me to go back to work t'morrow."

Patting his shoulder supportively, I said, "He should, you've been resting and healing for weeks."

Before anyone could say another word, Judge Wall walked out of his chambers and over to the bench. As he took his seat Cotton, who was on the front row between Ellison and Levicy, while Anse sat in the aisle seat next to his wife, beamed with the outburst of, "Hi, Uncle Wall!"

Laughs and giggles broke out all over the courtroom cause of Cotton's loud, but innocent remark. Ellison just took his son's hat off and gave him a soft look. Judge Wall banged his bronze topped walking stick on the bench to gain everyone's attention. Leaning back in his seat, the judge made the speech of, "Now, I know many of ya'll got livestock and fields to tend to, so I'll try to make this as quick as possible to get ya'll out and back to your tasks." Pointing his walking stick at Perry he told the lawyer, "Make your case heard, Cline."

Perry, who was sitting next to Randall McCoy stood up from his seat at his table. I noticed that sitting next to Randall was his wife Sally and that she had a ratty looking bonnet on her head. The thing looked no better then a dish or dust rag, that's how old and shabby it looked.

Even tho I hadn't been with the Hatfield family that long, they made sure I had nice things to wear. I had a small hat with a burgundy ribbon around the base while Levicy had a similar hat, but it had a blue ribbon. Hers was a bit older styled and had a matching shoulder cap, but I didn't have a cape. I was fine without it tho. I did see out of the corner of my eye that Jessa didn't have a bonnet or hat on her head. Instead she had a ribbon in her hair as a makeshift headband. I'm not surprised that she didn't have a nice hat or bonnet considering Mrs. McCoy had on a ratty old rag of a bonnet.

I was shaken out of my thoughts whenever I heard Perry's voice slickly ring out with, "Judge Hatfield, Jury, and people of the court, I like to think of the law as a muscle." Perry made a fist and raised it, shaking it slightly as he paced around. "And like a muscle-" Perry began only to be bluntly cut off by Judge Wall's firm and loud voice remarking, "Mr. Cline, the quicker you state your case the better received it'll be."

"Shut up and sit down!" Bill Staton, a functioning drunk that was the one to find Cap hurt and holler to Anse for help, told Perry Cline.

I could see out of the corner of my eye that Tolbert was making a nasty face while Jessa looked a bit worried. She leaned over to tell Tolbert something, only for him to roll his eyes and shake his head. What she sees in him I'll never know.

Leaning back slightly in his chair, Judge Wall asked, "Do you need'a call any witnesses?"

"My clients, Randall and Sally McCoy, saw the McCoy markin' on the hog in question." Perry answered, pointing to the McCoys as they sat at the table his empty chair was at.

"Okay, well, no need to call them up just to say so." Judge Wall told Perry, as a way to let him know he could sit down, while cutting his eyes at him. As Perry went back to his table to sit next to Randall, Judge Wall told everyone, "To put it plain, the McCoys say it's their pig while Floyd Hatfield and his wife say it ain't so." Looking at Floyd and Jenny, the man's wife, he asked, "Is the pig in question in court today?"

Jenny just shook her head while Floyd answered with a simple, "No, it ain't."

"And why not?" I can't believe Wall just asked that. Really, really?

"Damn thing's been butchered." Cap told me under his breath as Uncle Jim just took a short sip of his flask.

"It's already been supper." Sully added in, supporting my fiance's remark.

Uncle Jim didn't say a word, the crotchety man just took a long drink from his flask.

"It's done been et." Floyd answered the judge, causing the entire Hatfield side of the room to break out in chuckles, giggles, and laughs.

"Well, is there any witness that saw the swin before you butchered it to say it was your mark?" Judge Wall asked, causing Floyd and Jenny to look at each other.

Looking at Wall, Floyd told him in a slight stutter, "I'm sure if ya give me a couple hours I'd come up with somebody."

"I've seen it!" Bill announced, shooting up out of his chair that was in front of Jim's. Holding onto the back of the chair in front of him for balance, the man clarified, "The hog in question, I've seen it." Holding his thumb up he said, "I'd seen that hog after Floyd notched it. His hand slipped, he nearly took his thumb off notchin' it." Putting his hand down he looked at the judge and asked, "Do I gotta say it on the bible?"

"I advise you not too." Judge Wall chuckled sarcastically, a slight smirk on his face.

"But I seen the pig and it's Floyd's. Anyone sayin' otherwise's mistook." Bill said while everyone in the room stared at him.

"Sit down, Bill." Wall advised, his voice a bit tight.

Instead of sitting down Bill continued his random testimony with, "I said I've seen Floyd's notch on that spotted shep pig."

Cutting his eyes at the functioning drunk, the judge snapped, "Bill, sit the hell down."

Lias, who was sitting next to Bill, grabbed the man's shoulder and pulled him down to sit in his seat. Robert E. who was on the other side of Bill, just looked at the drunk curiously. Jim and Cap both let out chuckles and clasped Bill on the back. Sully just let out a sigh before doing a face palm. Me, well I just gave Bill a friendly pat on the back. Hey, his outburst made this trial interesting. Too bad none of this was in the history book, the writer should've gone into detail about the pig trial instead of just telling the outcome of a split jury.

"Well, I'm sure you'll give Bill Staton's testimony the respect it deserves." Judg Wall told the jury, which was split on both sides of the room since it was a half Hatfield and half McCoy. Looking to the Hatfield side jurors, the judge asked, "Who here thinks it's Floyd Hatfield's pig?" Six hands went up into the air, causing the judge to nod. Looking at the McCoy jurors he asked, "And who thinks it's Randall McCoy's pig?" Five hands shout up in the air while one juror didn't vote. Selkirk McCoy, the man that worked logging for Anse and was married to his niece Louissa. "Ya didn't vote one way or 'nother, Selkirk." Judge Wall remarked to the man that was clutching his newspaper boy styled hat and scratching his chin.

"He votes Uncle Randall." Parris blurted out as his brother Squirrel smacked Selkirk in the chest.

"He has to be the one that says it, Parris." Wall told the man next to Selkirk, that looked like he hadn't had a bath in a good month.

"I know I'm of the McCoy blood, but I want to do the right thing here." Selkirk told the judge, lifting his chin up to look at him steadily. Pointing over to Floyd, he said, "But I do believe that hog's one of Floyd's."

Oh, okay, well that's how the jury decision is split.

"Ya dare mock the name McCoy?!" Parris hissed at his cousin.

Tolbert was staring daggers at who he no doubt deemed a traitor. Jessa looked stunned that Selkirk had voted in favor of Floyd Hatfield over Randall McCoy. Eh, I guess I should've told her the pig trial ended in a split jury. Oh well, maybe she should've read that part instead of having me paraphrase it for her.

"I believe it's Floyd's, plus Bill Staton gave his word that he saw the pig's notch." Selkirk said, defending his vote.

"Ya lyin' spawn of hell!" Randall shouted, shooting up out of his chair faster than a bullet. Looking at Selkirk he yelled the accusation of, "Voted on yer Hatfield wife's apron strings!"

Anse stood to his feet and pulled his pipe from his mouth while advising, "Oh, Randall, calm down. Don't wanna get aplasia over a damn pig."

Randall looked at Anse while snarling the rant of, "This is about truth, honor, justice, and murderin', Devil Anse."

"That ain't prudent to the case." Judge Wall snapped, whacking his walking stick on the bench.

Randall ignored my future uncle-in-law and continued his rant with, "What's Christian right and damnation wrong."

Banging his walking stick and pointing it towards the door, the judge ordered, "This case is over, everyone get the hell out of my court."

It happened so quick, in the mere blink of an eye, but all of a sudden everyone was fighting, screaming, and yelling. Billy McCoy lunged at Robert E., pinning him to the floor and trying to choke him. Robert E. managed to free himself and started to fight the McCoy boy back. I felt like a was in a bar brawl and not a court room. Suddenly everyone started pulling pistols out. Tolbert McCoy drew his gun, aiming it right at me and Cap while Jessa just stood by him with a white as a ghost look on her face. Cap drew his gun, pointing it at the crazy ginger, while quickly grabbing my arm and slinging me behind him. Uncle Jim had drawn his gun too, aiming it just over my shoulder. I don't know if Sully drew or not, but I'm guessing he prolly did.

Anse and Levicy rushed over to where Robert E. and Billy were fighting. Levicy pulled her son into her, ending the fight, while Randall, Perry, Sally, and Jim McCoy rushed over to stand across from Devil Anse and Levicy, no doubt to start talking shit. Randall seemed good for that and Perry was good for fueling the fire with his charisma. Sally and her son seemed to just feed into the bullshit too or at least that's the impression I was getting.

A loud shot rang out, causing everyone to look at the front of the courtroom. Wall was holding a smoking gun as she ordered in a deep seethe, "Next one t'disrepect my court gets gut shot." His brows narrowed as he added, "Hatfield or McCoy."

"What I'd expect from a Hatfield court." Randall mouth off, a hateful look on his bearded face.

"One more word from you McCoy and I'll put ya in contempt." Judge Wall warned the McCoy patriarch that was sporting some crazy eyes at the moment.

Sheesh, now I see where Tolbert gets his crazy from. He gets it from his daddy…

"Watch yourself, Preacher McCoy." Anse said a bit sarcastically at the scowling man standing a foot away from him.

"I got a scripture for you, Devil Anse. Blood touches blood." Randall eerily told my future father-in-law before storming by him and out the door.

Perry Cline quickly followed Randall, Sally and Jim hot on his heels. Devil Anse, Levicy, and Robert E. left next followed by the rest of us filing out of the door. Tolbert shot me and Will a dirt look; I swear there's a hint of jealousy in Jessa's indigo eyes as she looked at us too. Tolbert turned his nose up at us before dragging Jessa out of the door.

Cap was sitting on the examining table in Doc's office while I stood next to him supportively. Doc quickly unwrapped the cloth bandage and set it aside. Looking at the eye he nodded, "Eye's healed up nicely." He affirmed while backing away from his patient, "Looks good 'nough for ya to return to doin' daily work and chores."

"Thanks Doc." Will gratefully told the middle-aged man. I knew he was happier then a pig in shit at hearing the news he was allowed to get back to work. He wanted to make money for the lumber needed to build our house; with his clean bill of health he could do that now.

"So, we can go now?" I asked, making sure it was alright with the doctor that we took off. I mean I didn't want to seem rude by leaving before the appointment was officially over.

"Yea, ya'll can go." Doc told us with a nod.

Silently, Cap got down from the examining table. He placed a hand on the small of my back and led us over and out of the room. After stepping foot into the lobby of the clinic we made our way over to the door and left. Once outside Cap looked at me and asked, "Ya wanna go get somethin' t'et?"

Giving him a small smile, I simply nodded, "Sure."

Jessa POV:

After leaving the courthouse me and Tolbert went over to the diner for some coffee and to calm down. We didn't talk as we sat at a window side table together. We just silently sipped on our coffee, basking in each other's familiar presence for peace. I was looking out the window whenever I spotted Allie and Cap walk out of the doctor's office. He wasn't wearing his head wrap bandage anymore so I assume that Doc gave him a clean bill of health. I watched from the window as they walked across the dirt road and over to the diner, that I was in.

I heard the door chime ring as they entered. Tolbert's back was to the door so he couldn't see who came in. I was thankful for that. I could tell by how he was staring into his mug as the steam floated off his hot coffee that he wasn't fully in his right mindset yet; that anything could set him off. I'm positive, after spending so much time with the redhead, that he was a bipolar. Sadly, there was nothing medically yet that could help him, so I opted to just try to keep him calm or try to talk to him about keeping himself in line. So far, he's been doing okay, but I'm afraid that after the showdown between the two rival families in court earlier that Tolbert's going to flip his shit.

Cap and Allie were walking by, heading to a table, whenever the one-eyed blonde looked at us and scoffed, "Damn, Tolbert's a cheap date. Only buys his lady a drink, but nothin' t'et."

Allie let out a small giggle at her man's remark. Oh my god, I still can't believe that she's with him. Not just with him, but using his last name and playing house with him. Hell, how'd she get him to commit so quickly? She's known him the same amount of time that I've known Tolbert and my moody redhead's leery about going past friendship. What'd she do, flash him in the barn or something?

Tolbert's nostrils flared, much like a raging bull's, and I knew that he was gonna flip his shit on them. HE stood up from the table and got right up into Cap's face, even tho the man was a few inches taller then him. "Least I'm payin' on my own dime an' not usin' my rich poppy's money." Was the retort Tolbert gave to Cap.

Cap let out a deep and chilling chuckle. "I work for my money too, Tolbert." Pointing at his white eye he scoffed, "How'd ya think I got this, ya dumbass?"

"At least he has a real job." Allie said, tilting her head at Tolbert. "I heard 'bout how ya sell your shine, most of it gets handed out for free or drunk up by you."

"Ya watch yer mouth, ya lil bitch." Tolbert spat out in a gruff warning, his stormy eyes hard as he looked at the petite blonde next to Cap.

Cap's face went cold and hard and his lone icy eye turned dark as he seethed, "Hey, don't talk to my woman like that less ya wanna fight me cause them be fightin' words you're spittin' out."

"I'll fight ya, Fog Eye. I'd win it too." Tolbert responded with a smirk. Oh great, he wants to fight. Not good.

"Tolbert, calm down." I pleaded, giving him a soft look with my indigo eyes.

Looking at me, the redhead ordered, "Jessa, don't bother yerself in man's affairs."

Really, he really just said that to me? Shaking my head, I told him, "Get into a fight in the middle of the diner. I don't care." Standing up I added, "I'll be outside and I won't help take you to Doc's when you get busted up either."

"Jessa…" Tolbert called after me as I walked down the aisle and towards the door.

As I walked out the door, I heard Cap chuckle, "Oh, McCoy, ya better go after your woman or you're gonna have a cold bed t'night."

I started to walk down the wooden sidewalk only to stop in front of one of the windows to peer into the diner. I just shook my head as I saw Tolbert and Cap fighting, punching each other and flinging each other into tables. Allie was just watching the fight go down as if she was watching WWE Smackdown on tv. Hell, I don't get how she can just stand by with her arms crossed over her chest watching her man and my friend beat each other up. I just shook my head and walked off.

I spotted Bill Staton chasing Squirrel and Parris out of the tavern, drunkenly waving a large knife and yelling, "Any McCoys come after me I'll cut 'em down!"

Oh boy, seems like everyone's ready for a fight today.

Devil Anse left his spot leaning against the porch post of the judge's office building and trudged over to the tavern while Mr. Sullivan stopped leaning against the wall of the building. He pivoted on his heel and started to walk up the sidewalk, to where I was at. Well, I didn't want to talk to my teacher, but maybe he's the best bet to ending the fight between Tolbert and Cap.

Taking a deep breath, I marched over to Mr. Sullivan and told him, "Tolbert and Cap are fighting in the diner. Can you stop it?"

"Miss George, buttin' into a Hatfield and McCoy fight is how people end up dead." He curtly told me before walking off, leaving me stunned that he was more concerned for his own safety then the safety of his own kin.

AN:

Well, this chapter was full of some drama wasn't it? Hope you guys liked it. And yea, Sully's a schemer ain't he?