*Author's Note*

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June Census & July 4th, 1860

Shaw POV:

I was sitting at my desk in my office, finishing up filling out the census papers I got in the mail the other day. I had put Olga down as Olga Becker my housekeeper. Yes, I know she's my baby mama, but I just couldn't put her down as anything other than my housekeeper since my feelings for her didn't go beyond caring. Actually, these days I didn't even care for her; I was actually beginning to hate her. I didn't want to, but the way she's been acting has given me no choice. Ever since our daughter was a few weeks old and her milk dried up (from malnutrition since she was so thin) she's gone into a state of maniac depression and never leaves the goddamn bedroom. If it wasn't for my siblings, my baby wouldn't get fed or changed when I was at work. Of course, I listed Todd and Mary as my siblings and Lydia as my daughter on the legal form. They were the only family that counted, other than Jessa and Silas, but I'm sure during the 1890 census I'll be adding them down onto my family's roster.

When I was done filling out my daughter's name on the paper, I held it and scanned it t for a final read.

Eldridge:

Shaw Hector 20

Olga Becker (housekeeper) 19

Thaddeus 'Todd' (brother) 11

Mary Ellen (sister) 7

Lydia Margaret (daughter) 2 months old

Cap POV:

Census came in the other day; it's mandatory to fill out since it's a government document or at least that what Uncle Wall says. Since I've been busy at my pa's saw mill, I haven't had the time to fill it out yet, but today I was doing that cause I had the day off. Filling out the paper wasn't too hard. All I had to do was write down the information about my family.

Hatfield:

William 'Cap' Anderson Jr. 18

Alma 'Allie' (wife) 17

William 'Captain W' Anderson III (son) 10 months old

Tolbert POV:

I had a lot o'deliveries to make today, all ov'r the area too. I'd already made a delivery to a nearby neighbor an' was on my way to town. I didn't have anythin' to bring to town other than the census paper I filled out the other day. The envelope in my pocket felt as if it was burnin' a hole into my jacket. What I wrote down in it, 'bout my son, was true, but would also disappoint Jessa if she knew. Even tho in town an' to my family an' friends I called Silas my son, I just couldn't write it down on a legal gov'ment doc'ment. I just couldn't have Shaw Eldridge's son, his namesake and spitting image, have my name of McCoy down on a legal paper.

McCoy:

Tolbert 24

Jessamine George (common law wife) 17

Silas Elliot George (step-son) 10 months

Jessa POV:

Tolbert's been acting a bit offish for the last couple of weeks, so I'm hoping that spending some time together today as a family with Silas at the 4th of July festival will make him feel better and bring him out of his funk. "I'll be sellin' shine most of the day, hope that don't bother ya none." Tolbert told me, breaking any unsaid plans of us spending the day together as a family, as he drove us to the venue site in West Virginia.

"But, Tolbert, you have to spend at least a little bit of time with me and Silas. It's his first 4th of July." I protested, feeling upset that Tolbert would rather spend the entire day selling booze then doing things with me as a family. Oh my god, he's been in a stupor ever since he had that big delivery that took him 'cross 3 or 4 different counties. Maybe shining all the time's getting to him? I hope it is cause I'm not sure why else he'd be offish for.

"It won't be his last, 'sides he's too lil to even enjoy it." Tolbert told me in a tone that was too gruff and hostile for my liking. I just shot him a disappointed look, shaking my head at him. My redheaded husband bit his lip before letting out a huff of, "I'll try to take some breaks so we can walk 'round some." Looking over at me he asked, "A'ight?"

"Yea, that sounds good." I smiled, grateful that he agreed to cut a small part of time out of his busy sales day to walk around the festival with me and Silas. "You think your cousins are going to steal some of your shine when you're not looking?" I asked, changing the subject and hopefully the mood to something a bit lighter.

"Of course, they will. Hell, bet one of my brother's will too." He laughed, his stormy eyes shining with mirth, as he snapped the reigns to make the horses speed up and pull the wagon faster down the road we were on.

Meanwhile In West Virginia….

Shaw POV:

"Olga, are you coming to the 4th of July Festival or not?" I asked my whatever the fuck she is anymore as she laid in bed, looking drained with bags under her eyes, while I held our daughter in my arms. I honestly don't know why she's so tired since I'm the one that takes care of our daughter most of the time; all she does is lay around doin' nothing. I'm so over her bullshit. Our kid's almost 3 months old, she needs to snap the hell out of whatever she's in and start doin' her duties.

"No." She shook her head, her matted limp brown curls digging into the pillow she was resting against. "It's too hot outside." Olga added in, trying to make her no better by giving it a reason.

"Of course, it's hot, it's summer, Olga." I flatly told her, my honey eyes cutting her down. "So, what, you're just gonna lay 'round in bed like Queen of fucking Sheba all day like ya always do?" I sarcastically asked, earning me an eye roll. "Come on, you can't stay in bed forever."

"I don't feel good, Shaw." She whined, getting under my skin. Hell, she acts like she's the only woman that's ever had a hard time being a mother or whatever. Hell… I cut my eyes at her, causing Olga to tell me, "I'll get out o'bed soon, when I'm ready."

"Which'll be never cause you're too goddamn lazy and useless to clean the house and take care of the baby." I bluntly told her, not caring if I hurt her feelings or not. She needed to accept that she wasn't being helpful; needed to change that shit and get back to doin' the housework too.

"I ain't lazy, I just don't-" She began til I loudly and abruptly cut her off with, "You know right now I've just 'bout had it with your bullshit. I'm so fucking close to tossin' your useless ass out and sticking you on a train bound for San Francisco." Olga got a letter a month ago from the Vallons tellin' her they finally fulfilled Jenny's dream of moving to San Francisco. So, yea, that's where she'll be headed soon if she don't shape up.

Olga pushed herself up on her elbows, her brown doe eyes the size of saucers, as she protested, "Ya can't do that t'me. I'm the mother of yer child."

"Legally, you're just the goddamn lazy housekeeper since that's what I listed you as on the census paper I filled out a couple weeks back. According to that government document Lydia only has one legal parent, me."

"Ya blackhearted snake." Olga gasped; her face whiter than a sheet as her lips quivered. She shook her head slowly, incediously, as her dulcet tone rang out with, "Ya did that so you'd be able t'get rid o'me to try an' woo back that bitch that don't want ya no mores. The one with the McCoy man an' baby."

"You shut the hell up, Olga. You know nothing 'bout me and Jessa so don't act like you do."

She folded her arms over her chest while giving me a hard stare. "I know ya pine ov'r a woman that don't want ya no mores."

"Hell, not like you want me either since we haven't fucked since 'fore the baby was born." I threw up to her, rather harshly, since I was sexually frustrated. A man can only go so long without before he gets agitated

"Don't throw that in my face. Ya know we can't risk me gettin' wit' child."

"That's such bullshit, Olga." She knew it was bullshit too. Hell, she was from the Five Points so I know for a fact she knows about the pullout method. Hell, her fear of getting knocked up with a child she shouldn't have is not a good enough excuse to give me the cold shoulder when I try to make a move. "You just don't want to do anything, but lay in bed all day moping. Get your shit together and move on or your out." I told her how I was honestly feeling at the moment as I bore my honey eyes into her with a narrowed stare.

"Ya should take yer own advice, move on from that McCoy's wife since all yer doin's makin' yerself turn into a crazy fool longin' after 'nother's family."

"I swear if I wasn't holding Lydia right now, I'd knock you into next Sunday for sayin' that to me." I lowly hissed, feeling anger welling up inside of me.

"I heard 'bout yer step-da. How he was a drunk that beat ya; guess the apple don't fall far from the tree then." Olga spat, giving me a tilted look from her place nestled in bed propped up against a mountain of pillows.

"You fucking bitch, I'm nothin' like that man! I'm nothin' like Peter!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, causing Olga to flinch slight while Lydia got startled and began to cry. "Look at what you made me do." I spat at the brunette sprawled out in the bed, my eyes goin' between her and our daughter. "Sshh, it's okay, Lydia. Daddy didn't mean to make you cry, sweetheart." I softly told my daughter, gently bounding her up and down in my arms, while I quickly walked out of my bedroom.

Olga POV:

I felt lower than low as I watched Shaw walk out the room, cooin' t'our daughter after just yellin' at me. I just believe he's actin' like this. I know he wants me to act like I'm fine, but I'm not. I can't nurse an' I can't have no more babies so I don't feel like a good ma right now. He won't let me talk an' tell 'im, he just yells, gets nasty, threatens me, or makes fun o'me. Why can't he be s'portive? Why's he so head over heels for that McCoy's wife? Why can't he let her go? He said he'd try t'forget an' make a life wit' me, but he's gone back on that an' broken his word.

As I looked out the window, watchin' Shaw pull 'way in the wagon wit' his siblin's an' our daughter up front wit' him, I couldn't help, but wonder if he'd be actin' nasty wit' Jessa or if he'd be kind wit' her. I couldn't help, but wonder, if he was capable of love or if he was only a cold blackheart that hoodwinked people into thinkin' he had the ability t'love.

Allie POV:

The festival venue in West Virginia was decorated with all kinds of patriotic ribbons and banners for the 4th of July celebration. Booths for refreshments, food, pickled goods, crafts, and games filled up the place. Of course, like at every event in the Tug River Valley, Johnse's shine cart marked off the Hatfield side of the sitting area while Tolbert's marked off the McCoy's side. I was sitting with Cap, Vera, and Skunk Hair on one of the blanket's laid out on the grass not that far from Johnse's cart. Our boys were on the blanket, playing together with some wooden toys, as we talked. I noticed Abel walking off past Tolbert's wagon. I noticed that Jefferson said something to him and my brother just nodded. What the hell?

My attention was taken away from watching what my brother was doing whenever Vera's voice rang out with the question of, "Are ya'll plannin' his party for next month yet?"

"No, Levicy's doing that." I answered my friend while our boys continued to play together. Captain W and TW were the best of friends already. Those two are going to be just like their dads as they grow up, I can just see it now.

"Oh, bet she's gonna invite the whole family plus everyone at the loggin' camp and the neighbors." Skunk Hair chuckled, hitting the nail of the head about the guest list my mother-in-law was making for my son's first birthday party next month.

"You're right 'bout that. Ma's invitin' everybody." Cap chuckled while I noticed that Johnse, who was leanin' against his shine cart, craned his neck to look at something. My eyes followed were his head was turning only to see that he was checking out Roseanna, who just happened to be walking with Jessa, who had Silas balanced on her hip. Oh my god, Silas looked just like Shaw that it was uncanny and eye popping. How the McCoys missed that was beyond me. Then it suddenly it me, did they really miss that detail or were they just ignoring it for Tolbert's sake? For the sake of wanting more numbers to their clan.

Jessa POV:

The 4th of July festival was very crowded as I walked around with Roseanna. I was at Tolbert's shine wagon, keeping him, Pharmer, and Bud company, but when my blonde sister-in-law appeared and asked if I wanted to go grab some lemonade I said yes. As we walked by Johnse's wagon, in order to go to where the lemonade was being sold, I felt as if eyes were locked onto us. I adjusted Silas on my hip so that his weight wouldn't bother my back while subtly looking around to see if anyone was watching us. My indigo eyes widened slightly when I caught Johnse checking out Roseanna. Oh no, looks like I need to hang out with her today so she can't get into any trouble with Johnse. I know he's not supposed to sweet talk her until Election Day, but I don't trust that charming Hatfield as far as I can throw him.

"Do you think he can have a sip or two of lemonade?" Roseanna asked, oblivious to Johnse staring at her, as we got closer to the lemonade booth.

After about half a minute of pondering, I told Roseanna, "Um, I don't think so since it'll be sugary, but tart. It might make his tummy sour."

"Oh, I didn't think about that." She innocently smiled, as we spotted the lemonade booth nearby.

"It's okay, I'll just buy him a glass of milk after we get our drinks." I assured my sister-in-law, not wanting her to feel bad that her suggestion wasn't a good one.

Roseanna was standing by my side as I waited in line to buy some milk. Apparently, every mother that had a baby needed milk and only one booth was selling it. Of course, there was only one milk booth. I think it was being run by a local dairy farmer since that's the only way having so much milk on hand to sell would make sense to me.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that my sister-in-law was looking at something over her shoulder as she sipped on her lemonade. Before I could even ask what had caught her attention, she told me in her bell like voice, "I'm gonna go find my sisters.", and left.

Suddenly A shadow loomed over me and the reason Roseanna left was revealed when a deep voice I only heard once a month let out the greeting of, "Hey, Jessa. Buyin' Silas some milk?"

"Yea, Shaw, I'm buyin' him some milk." I answered, not even bothering to turn my head to look at him, as the line slowly inched forward.

Shaw POV:

Damn, Jessa seems moody today. Wonder if she's on the rag. Oh, maybe she's having a dry spell too. Well, since I'm suffering from the worst case of blue ball I've ever had I need to work my charm on Jessa so it'll be easier to convince her to fuck around whenever she brings Silas by to visit me sometime this month. Aha, best way to win her over is to show her how great of a dad I am to Lydia while Olga's MIA. "That's what I'm doin' too. Buyin' some milk for Lydia's bottle." Oh yea, that got her attention. She turned around to see that I was holding Lydia to my chest and had a bottle in my hand.

"I didn't know you bottle feed her all the time. I just assumed that Olga was, well, you know, nursing now since it's been a few months."

"Olga's rejected her due to some real bad post-partum. It's up to me to care for her." I told Jessa, forcing myself to sound sad instead of angry, in an attempt to appeal to her softer side.

"What? How could she reject her?" Jessa asked as a look of pure shock appeared on her beautiful face. Her indigo eyes turned soft as they landed on the baby I was holding. "That baby's so precious."

"I don't know, but she did." I sighed before adding in, "She never gets out of bed anymore either."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Jessa told me, sounding very sympathetic. As we moved up in line, she told me the last thing I expected to her which was the soul baring confession of, "My mom would get into some bad stupors when she went off her bipolar meds. It was hard on my dad cause he worked long hours as a professor and then he had to come home and do all the house chores like cooking, cleaning, and laundry."

Ah, so what I'm telling her is hitting home. Good, I'll be able to win her back by making her feel sympathetic and bad for me. "I reckon you understand a little of what I'm going thru then?"

"Yea, I do." She nodded as the line started to move again.

"Last month she got a letter from the Vallons, they took her in after her mom died, and it said that they're in San Francisco now. I'm afraid she's gonna leave cause she's so depressed and I'll be all alone with 3 kids to take care of." Okay, I know I'm sugarcoating and stretching some things since I'd send Olga on the next train to San Francisco in a hot minute, but I needed to appeal to Jessa's bleeding heart.

"Oh…" She sighed, sympathy shining in her indigo eyes.

"Next!" The woman running the milk booth called causing Jessa walk up to the booth.

I quickly sauntered up to her side and told the sales lady, before Jessa could utter a word, "A glass of milk and can you please fill this bottle?"

"Of course, I'll get ya'll a milk glass and fill up that bottle." The woman smiled before taking the bottle I offered her.

"You didn't have to do that." Jessa told me as we watched the milk lady fill up a glass.

"I take care of my kids, honey. It's not a problem for me to buy them both milk." I told her, watching the woman behind the booth fill up the bottle and put the rubber nip onto it.

Jessa was stunned and speechless as she was looked at me. I'm sure her mind was reeling. Good, she needs to think about what I said, realize that I'll take care of Silas along with Lydia.

"That'll be 10 cents." The woman said, placing the glass and bottle onto the counter.

Jessa took her glass while I pulled some change out of my pocket. I handed the milk lady a dime, shoved my money back into my pocket, and then took the bottle. Jessa walked off one way and I went the other. I decided to let her go since I already planted a seed in her mind and heart that would allow her to be compassionate to me; open to comforting me.

Tolbert POV:

I had made a pretty good profit and decided to let my brothers Pharmer an' Bud sell my shine while I spent some time wit' Jessa an' Silas as a family. Most of the day Jessa was with Roseanna or she was sitting in the wagon with our boy, watching me work. She seemed a bit melancholy so I figured I needed to take a walk wit' her, maybe play a game an' win Silas a stuffed toy too, to cheer her up. I knew she wanted us to have family time today an' knew that her melancholy mood was cause I worked most of the day. Reckon family time ain't her an' the baby sittin' 'round while I sell moonshine.

"Think I can win somethin' for Silas on the ring toss?" I asked as the ring toss booth came into view.

"Maybe, but that's a tricky game." Jessa told me while my sister and my cousin went over to the booth.

"Come on, let's go play it an' win him somethin'." I grinned, nodding my head towards the game booth that Nancy and Fanny were at.

"Okay, but nobody ever wins that game."

"S'pose I'll just have t'win it." I smirked, guidin' Jessa over to the ring toss.

Once we reached the game booth Nancy and Fanny had just finished. Fanny was holding a small marble, the prize they gave for tryin' or just gettin' a ring on one o'the poles. "Tolbert, I won a green marble." Fanny smiled, holdin' the small ball out for me to see.

"Yea, I see." I nodded at my lil sister.

"I see ya'll are strollin' as a family." Nancy remarked in her sugary sweet tone, her lips turnin' up into a thin smile.

"And I see you're spending some time Fanny." Jessa countered, her tone a bit clipped an' cold. Ah hell, don't tell me she's buttin' heads wit' Nancy 'gain. I just don't get why my wife don't like my cousin for. They seemed just fine 'fore the baby came last year.

"Yes, she wanted help wit' the game." Nancy remarked before announcin', "I better get goin' an' return your sister back to Aunt Sally and Uncle Randall." My raven-haired cousin smiled at my sister while tellin' her, "Let's go find your parents. It'll be dark soon.", and leadin' her 'way from the game booth.

"Wanna play, Mister?" The large man runnin' the ring toss booth asked me, his hands holdin' onto three rings.

"Yea." I told him, takin' my wallet outta my pocket. "How much?"

"One greenback." The man said, holdin' his hand out.

Eh…that was a lot of money. Shit, I said I'd try to win Silas a toy and if I back out Jessa's gonna be mad. Hell, she's already edgy cause she had t'be 'round Nancy, I don't need her attitude gettin' any worse cause I didn't do somethin' I said I'd do. 'Sides, winnin' Silas a toy'll help take 'way all the guilt I've been feelin' for the way I listed him on the goddamn census.

With a shaky hand I took a greenback outta my wallet an' handed it ov'r to the man. He pocketed the money and handed me over the rings. I just gave Jessa a smirk 'fore tossin' my rings at the poles. I missed all of them, causin' my wife to just give me one of those 'I told ya so looks'.

Damn, I guess Silas ain't gettin' a prized stuff toy after all.

"Hell, that Vance Bastard's starin' at us." I spat, noticing shifty Shaw Eldridge watchin' my family wit' longin' as we were walkin' by on our way to my shine wagon. God, I wanted t'poke his eyes out. How dare he look at my family for. He didn't even want 'em til I took 'em in under my wing.

"No, he's not, he's just handing his baby over to Sully." Jessa said, pointing to the wagon the shifty Vances were at. Quickly, she added in, "I think they're getting ready to leave cause it'll be dark in a couple more hours."

"No, he's starin'." And he really was. God, those honey eyes of his were rakin' ov'r my wife. My nostrils flared like a bull's as I huffed, "He's got no reason to be lookin' at us as he's makin' ready t'leave."

"Tolbert, let it go." Jessa hissed, her indigo eyes narrowin' into slits, as I removed my hand from her lowerback.

But I weren't lettin' it go, not this time. That Vance Bastard had no right to be lookin' at my family. No, I wanted to punch that shady bastard in the head for what he did t'me in the saloon 6-months ago. I marched up to where Shaw was, while Jessa begged me t'come back, and told him, "I want a few words wit'cha."

Shaw turned 'round from his wagon, which he was gettin' ready t'climb into, while Sully ordered, "Get in this wagon, now, Shaw Hector."

Shaw didn't pay his poppy no mind, just folded his arms ov'r his chest an' turned his nose up t'me. "I don't got nothin' to say to you, Tolbert. Me and my dad are bringing my baby girl home, so I ain't lookin' to get into it with ya this evening."

"I seen ya starin' at my wife an' son. I'm warnin' ya to stop it, ya no good bastard." I told the man I hated more than anythin' on the earth.

Oh, that got a reaction outta the bastard. He closed the few feet 'tween us and smugly told me in a deep bark, "Don't forget whose son Silas really is. He's mine and nothing's ever gonna change that." He let out a small dark chuckle. "Jessa will never forget me. We have a son and I was her first so I outrank you, Crazy McCoy."

He turned his back to me, meanin' to head ov'r to his wagon, but what he said sent me into a blind rage. 'Fore I knew what I was doin' I let out a scream an' punched Shaw in the back of the head, sendin' him flyin' straight to the ground. As soon as he let out an oof and tried to get up I jumped him. I was gettin' my revenge for New Year's Eve.

Shaw POV:

Fuck, I was fighting every instinct in my body since I wanted to push Tolbert off of me and beat him to death. I couldn't do that tho cause I promised Jessa that I wouldn't hurt her crazy McCoy as long as she let me see Silas once a month. I couldn't lose my visits with Silas, seeing him meant more to me then winning a fight with Tolbert. I was holding Tolbert back and wiggling my upper body around so that drunk would have a harder time finding my face to punch. He's already got a few shots in, but if I keep moving around and keeping him at arm's length then he should get tired of the fight and end it. Damnit, sucks to be on the wrong end of a fist.

"Shaw, what the hell are you doing? Hit him back, boy!" I heard Uncle Jim's voice bellow out. Great, a crowd must've formed around us cause he wasn't here before Tolbert sucker punched me in the back of the head.

"Shaw Hector, break his hold and get the hell outta dodge!" My dad ordered me, his usually calm and stoic voice full of anxiety and concern.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jessa running over with Roseanna hot on her heels. Ah, she must've gotten her to try and help her talk Tolbert out of starting a fight. Eh, too late honey. Tolbert managed to punch me twice in the face as Jessa screamed, "Tolbert, stop!" Of course, he ignored her. I was giving her a pleading look with my honey eyes, begging her to end my torment cause I didn't want our deal to break. Jesse nodded before handing Silas to Roseanna and running up to Tolbert. "I said stop it! Leave him alone!" She yelled, pulling on Tolbert's elbow as he was getting ready to haul back his arm to throw another punch.

That crazy McCoy froze and looked at Jessa. His chest was heaving as he told her, "Don't ever get in the middle of me fightin' 'gain." Letting me go and standing up, he told her, "Next time ya might get hurt."

Jessa nodded before dragging him over to Roseanna and telling him, "I think it's time you close up shop; take us home."

Watching Jessa take Silas from Roseanna while Tolbert stalked off to his whiskey wagon, I sat up and wiped the blood from my nose and mouth with the back of my hand. I could feel eyes boring into me, staring at me in shock. As I stood up, I noticed that Johnse was even amongst the crowd watching the fight, but instead of giving me a boring stare full of shock his eyes showed empathy as he subtly nodded his head at me. Ah, so the pretty boy that's destined to have a star-crossed lovers style love affair with Roseanna's figured out my plight. Johnse's figured out that I was throwing the fight, not punching Tolbert back, all for Jessa and Silas' sake.

AN:

Ya, I just had to put some drama and angst in here. So, how do you guys feel about how the men (Shaw, Cap, & Tolbert) filled out their census papers? Poor Olga, she's suffering and Shaw's too cold and into himself to care. Anyways, Shaw's a conniving thing, isn't he? Tolbert, well he's struggling with the fact that his son isn't really his and looks just like a Vance. It's something that'll come and go with him (the struggle) as he watches Silas grow. But, he did manage to make some family time and kick his rival's ass too, LOL! Yep, the feud is getting some fuel poured onto it huh… Cap and Allie are like the only normal couple lol. Sorry, but I just can't resist writing angst. Anyways, hope you guys liked this chapter.