*Author's Note*

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

It's The Lynch Mob

Shaw POV:

The days ran into each other the longer I was locked up. I'd estimate that I'd been in the Pikeville Jail for roughly a month now (give or take a few days) and it sucked balls. I hated being locked up and away from my family. God, I missed Jessa and the kids so much. Being away from them felt so wrong. All my life I always wanted a family of my own, truly of my own, and now that I finally have it, I'm rottin' in jail cause of Tolbert's crazy ass and bullshit charges he had that snake Perry put on me.

I don't know how much longer I can last in lock-up. The weight's fallin' off of me and I feel so drained emotionally. I want my freedom so bad that I can taste it.

I was spending another night in my cell laying on a hard-wooden bunk trying to get some sleep. I had my hat covering my face since the jail was lit up by an oil lamp since Sherriff Maynard was in the place keeping watch over me. His deputy was supposed to come a while back to relieve him, but that never happened. I was in a light sleep whenever the sound of the jail's door slamming accompanied by the deputy frantically telling the sherriff, "A lynch mob led by Tolbert McCoy's comin' right this way!", woke me up.

Oh, fuck no, that ginger fucker and his brothers (who'd follow him to hell) formed a lynch mob to hang me. Fuck! I don't wanna be swinging from a tree, I got too much to live for and an impending trial (whenever Judge Tobias stops dragging his feet and picks a damn date…).

I sat up and placed my hat on my head before rushing over to my cell bars. Holding onto the bars, I pleaded, "Sherriff, you can't let them take me. I got a woman and kids, a new baby on the way too. I need my day in court."

"I'll do what I can, but I ain't gettin' shot by Tolbert over ya." The sherriff told me as he sat at his desk.

Hell, that wasn't very helpful or assuring…

Suddenly the door opened, bouncin' against the wall, and in came Tolbert with his brothers and cousins right behind him. Damn, shit just got real now. I doubt I'm getting' out of this alive. Shit… I'm gonna be swinging from a tree soon…

"Sherriff, we're here for yer prisoner." Tolbert informed the sherriff as he went over to him. Holdin' his hand out, he said, "Give me cell keys."

"Tolbert, why don't ya calm down-" The sherriff began to tell the crazy ginger only to get cut off my Tolbert yelling, "I ain't gonna calm down, he tried t'kill me an' I want justice!" As all of the McCoy men crowded around my cage, givin' me sinister looks, Tolbert unholstered his gun and pointed it at the sherriff while ordering, "The keys, now!"

The deputy looked 'bout ready to shit his pants as he watched Tolbert aiming a gun at his boss' head. The sherriff looked a bit frightened too. Great, he's not any help to me, now is he? Fuckin' pussy. Sherriff Maynard, the chicken shit that he is, handed over the keys to save his own skin. What the hell, who does this guy even keep getting voted into his job? He's a horrible sherriff.

Tolbert's kin parted the seas and gave him access to my cell. Lucky me… A shark like grin spread across Tolbert's face as he unlocked my cage door. "Yer gonna be hanged t'nite, Vance Bastard." The crazy ginger told me, grabbin' my arm and draggin' me out of my cell.

"Tolbert, let me go. It ain't right, doin' this ain't right and you know it." I told Tolbert, using my free hand to try and knock him off of me.

Tolbert's brothers grabbed my arms and tied them up with rope while Tolbert told me, "It's right an' I'm doin' it. I'm gettin' my justice in seein' ya hang."

Brenton POV:

It was 'round midnight and I was sittin' in front of my fireplace, drinkin' a glass o'whiskey while reading a book. I couldn't sleep, but that was nothin' new for me. Since my time in the war I suffered random boughs of insomnia or gruesome night-terrors. Tonight, it was the latter. It's hard to sleep when you're transported back to Gettysburg every time you close your eyes. Yea, I was havin' a rough night.

I heard loud voices outside and I swore that one beggin' to be let go sounded as if it belonged t' Shaw. Curious, I put down my glass and book onto my side table and went to look out my front room window. Low and behold my eyes feel upon the sight of Tolbert 'long his brothers and cousin draggin' a tied-up Shaw down the street in the direction where a large tree stood just outside o'town. Damnit, Tolbert 'round up a lynch mob to extract justice on Shaw.

Quickly, I grabbed my Winchester from the rack I kept it on and rushed out the door. I had to stop the lunch mob or else how would my son-in-law get re-elected for his third senate term? It's bad for campaigning and votes to be representing a district whose residents can't wait for a trial; take things into their own hands. This lynch mob justice is bad for my daughter's social standin' in the capital as a senator's wife. I needed to protect Nova's lifestyle and Senator Billing's re-election bid and if that meant savin' Shaw then so be it.

"Let him go, Tolbert!" I ordered in a loud shout as I neared the lynch mob, which was headed by Tolbert (who was the one draggin' Shaw).

Everyone stopped and turned t'look at me. Shaw had a surprised look in his eyes while Tolbert turned his nose up at me. "We ain't lettin' 'im go, Brenton. I'm hangin' 'im from that tree an' gettin' my due owed justice." Tolbert told me, pointing to the tree just outside o'town.

"This ain't the way to do it. It'll put a black mark on the family, so just let him go." I told Tolbert in one of those tones lawyers (even tho I'm just a law clerk) used when trying to charm either a judge or jury.

"I ain't lettin' ''im go, so just go on home." Tolbert growled while his brothers and cousins stood 'hind him, hard and hateful looks painted on their faces. They wanted to kill Shaw tonight and that was the God's honest truth. Goddamnit, these McCoy boys are idiots.

"Do you want me to go wake up Perry; tell him what your lynch mob's up to? You know he won't approve of this, will even tell you to stop it." I threatened, hoping that it'd get the boys to end their lynch mob justice crusade. It was true, Perry Cline would disapprove and talk them out of it. He'd give out a more charming and lengthy speech tho. I was more of the type to just cut to the chase.

"Perry's movin' too slow on the trial. I need 'im hanged an' dead now." Tolbert told me with a loud and quick snap to his smooth voice.

"You son of a bitch!" Shaw yelled at Tolbert, giving him a narrowed stare with his honey eyes. "You just want me dead so you can go after my woman while she's grievin'."

Jammin' his finger hard in his chest (to accentuate a point), Tolbert roared at his golden-brown haired prisoner, "She's my woman, ya Vance Bastard! Mine! I took her in, she's s'posed t'be my wife!"

"Sorry to disappoint ya, Tolbert, but she ain't yours and never will be. I knew her long 'fore she ever came to this shithole called Kentucky."

"Yer a liar, she nev'r knew ya."

Yea, I should be puttin' an end to this back and forth arguing, but I wasn't since I was interested to hear what Shaw had to say. I mean if he truly did know Jessa first then it'd make sense why she went behind Tolbert's back to engage into an affair of sorts with Shaw. I decided that I'd grab him and deescalate the mob in a minute (after I heard his retort).

A smug smirk crossed over Shaw's face as he chuckled, "Oh, Tolbert, you're wrong 'bout that. I knew her when I was in school. See it was a co-ed school and we had a theatre class together. We were very attached, but couldn't court due to the backlash she was 'fraid she'd get from her ravin' mad mother that was one step 'way from bein' locked up in a nuthouse."

"Ya lyin' bastard!" Tolbert roared, punchin' Shaw so hard in the face that he spurted out blood an' fell to the ground.

I took that as my moment to grab Shaw. "I'm takin' him back to the jail." I told the mob of McCoys as I helped Shaw stand up. Aiming my rifle loosely at them, I ordered, "Go home, ya'll. I don't wanna shoot, but I'll do it if I have to in order t'protect the prisoner."

"Fine, but we'll be back soon t'hang 'im an' next time ya won't be wide 'wake t'help that bastard out." Tolbert declared 'fore tellin' his kin, "Let's go.", and leadin' then off to the whorehouse where a bunch of horses were hitched up.

"Come on, let's get you to Sherriff Maynard." I told Shaw before leading him over to the jail. "I'll pay Sully a visit once you're safe behind bars 'gain. Let him know what Tolbert and his kin tried to do." I told him as the jailhouse got into sight.

Shaw didn't say a word, just nodded his head. He knew just like I did that as long as he was in jail 'waitin' trial he was a sittin' duck for Tolbert and the McCoys. Sully needed to do something or else he was gonna be buryin' his son.

Jessa POV:

This morning at around 2-2:30 I was woken up by Sully frantically pounding at my door. The news he had for me was unsettling to say the least. He told me that Brenton had just paid him a visit and told him that he saved Shaw from a lynch mob led by Tolbert McCoy. Sully asked, well told, me to go to Charleston to plead with John B. about getting Shaw's trial date set with Judge Wagner ASAP. Sully said that he couldn't take the day off from teaching, that it had to be me to go see the lawyer.

So, that's why I was currently pulling up to Mr. Floyd's office with Todd. I had him with me since I didn't want to ride all the way to Charleston by myself. He didn't mind coming with me, actually after I told him about what happened to Shaw, he was more than willing to come to the law office with me. Todd wanted his brother free and safe; I did too.

"I don't want you saying anything. I'll do the talking, okay." I told Todd as we climbed down from the wagon.

"Okay, but the lawyer better listen and get Shaw outta jail." Todd replied as we walked up the block sidewalk and down the path leading to the front door of the brownstone.

"Todd, please be on your best behavior. I don't need you acting out."

"I ain't gonna act out." Todd sighed, slightly rolling his eyes at me, as we reached John B's door.

"Good." I simply said before opening door. I gestured for Todd to enter the building by slightly waving at the door. He didn't say a word, just walked on inside. His head was going back and forth faster than a ping-pong ball as he took in the décor of the foyer as I walked thru the door right behind him. "Mr. Floyd? Mr. Floyd, it's Miss Jessa Eldridge." I called out, hoping that the lawyer would come into the foyer so I wouldn't have to wander all over the first floor of his office/house looking for him.

A nearby door creaked open and out walked John B. "Oh, hello Miss Jessa. I thought your name was George, but I suppose making yourself Shaw's common-law wife'll help his case." He told me while making his way over to me.

"I'm not using his name for that, John B. I'm using it cause I miss him, plus we have a business and children together." I informed the lawyer while Todd was giving him an appraising look. "Anyways, I'm here to see you cause last night Shaw was taken and almost killed by a lynch mob led by Tolbert McCoy."

"Almost?" The lawyer asked, wondering how my fiancé was saved.

"Brenton Landon shooed away the lynch mob; he also told Sully about the incident." I explained to him, causing the lawyer to nod his head in an 'oh' type gesture.

After nodding, John B. put the pieces together and came to the conclusion of, "And therefore, Sully told you which is why you're here."

I nodded before telling John B., "You need to get the trial date set and soon. Shaw can't stay locked up in Pikeville much longer, it's not safe."

"Once you leave, I'll write up a petition for a quick and speed fast trial and will file it." The lawyer assured me, trying to pacify my worried mind.

Shaking my head, I let out a heavy and uneasy sigh of, "That's not good enough, John B. You need to tell Judge Wagner to set a date right away."

"I can't just go see the judge and demand a trial date. That's not how the law works." John B. told me with a long look on his face.

"Bullshit! You can do it, but just don't want to." Todd blurted out, not caring that he was being blunt and rude to the lawyer, as he gave John B. a hard stare.

Snapping my head towards my brother-in-law, I furrowed my brows and hissed, "Todd, I told you to stay quiet."

"Lawyer ain't listenin' to us."

"Dear god, you remind me too much of your brother…" I muttered under my breath while shaking my head. "I'm sorry for his outburst." I apologized to John B., trying to save some face since the man was good friend with Devil Anse (was on Shaw's case pro bono too).

"I understand, he's just emotional that his brother's case is taking so long." John B. told me, trying to wave off Todd's rudeness as a result of dealing with Shaw being in jail. I knew different tho. "But as I said before I'll draw up the petition and file it right away."

"Thank you, John B. We'll be on our way then." I politely told the lawyer before walking to the door with Todd right behind me.

As soon as we walked out the door, I looked at Todd and told him, "You were rude in there. I told you to let me handle the lawyer, Todd."

"But he was just talkin' in circles 'round us; actin' like we're dumbass hillbillies and not hearin' what we want done." Todd defended himself as we walked over to our wagon.

"He knows what we need done, Todd."

"Well, he don't act like it." Todd grumbled as we climbed up into our wagon. As I grabbed hold of the reigns, he suggested, "Maybe we oughtta fire him and find a lawyer that'll listen."

"We're not firing him." I told him, snapping the reigns and pulling the wagon away from the curb.

"Why not? He's-" Todd began only to get cut off by me snapping, "The lawyer's Devil Anse's friend and he's doing Shaw's case pro bono, for free, and we don't got the kind of money it costs to hire a new defense lawyer."

"Oh…" The dark-haired 12-year-old next to me trailed off in a defeated sigh.

A silence fell over us as we rode down the street, making our way out of the State Capitol.

Once I got back to Mate Creek, I dropped Todd off at the house (where Mary was or should be since school was most likely over) and went to Allie's to pick up Silas and Lydia. She knew about the lynch mob and my trip to Charleston since I told her about it when I dropped off the babies. Allie didn't seem shocked that Tolbert formed a lynch mob, but maybe that's cause we once read in history class that he and his brothers kidnapped and almost killed Johnse for knocking up Rosanna. Eh, at least that event won't happen anymore since Johnse and Roseanna were married. Guess Tolbert's posse focus was on Shaw now.

"What did the lawyer say?" Allie asked me as we sat at her kitchen table, having some tea before I had to gather up my babies and go home.

"Not much, just that he'll draw up a petition to get Shaw a speedy trial." I sighed before taking a sip off my tea.

"He's not going to go speak to the judge himself?" Allie asked, placing her cup on the table after taking a quick drink.

"No."

Allie tried to be positive, most likely for my sake, by remarking, "Well, I'm sure the judge'll accept the petition once he gets it."

"I doubt it, Allie." I shook my head. I placed my cup down while letting out a long sigh of, "Judge Wagner's friends with Perry Cline."

"Oh…"

"I'm just worried that if the trial's not soon then Tolbert and his lynch mob'll go back to the jail and hang Shaw." I admitted to my friend as I felt tears beginning to prick at the corners of my indigo eyes. As an attempted to calm myself, I picked up my cup and took a long sip of tea.

Allie POV:

Shaw getting hanged by a lynch mob would be bad. It'd make the feud blow up, that's for sure. Him hanging cause of a guilty verdict as a result of a trial was one thing, but being strung up on a tree by Tolbert and his lynch mob was another. Yes, I couldn't stand Shaw, but I didn't want him hurt by Tolbert's lynch mob either. Poor Jessa, she was so upset that her hand was shaking as she sipped on her tea. I felt so bad for my friend. She was in a bad place right now with her jackass fiancé in jail. I had no idea how hard things really were for her, but I did sympathize with Jessa.

Reaching across the table, I grabbed Jessa's hand and assured her, "No matter what happens me and Cap'll be here for you and the kids. We're best friends and in a way family, we'll support you thru these hard times you're experiencing with Shaw being locked up in Kentucky."

"Thank you, Allie." Jessa told me, emotion seeping from her voice, as she set her teacup down. Placing her hand ontop of mine (that was on hers) she told me in a long and grateful tone, "It means a lot knowing that you're here for me and the kids. Especially since we haven't been on good terms for a couple of years."

I smiled a soft and friendly smile at Jessa. "I already told you, Jessa, that's all water under the bridge. Our friendship's back on track and that's all that matters."

Jessa nodded and blinked back some tears the brimmed her eyes before telling me, "I need to take the babies home, but thanks for the tea and talking with me for a bit."

"Your welcome. Maybe one Saturday I'll come over to your house for tea and crumpets." I told Jessa as she stood up from the kitchen table.

"It'll be tea and cookies or cake, but okay." She told me before walking out of the kitchen and going into the living room to grab the babies. Once Jessa had Lydia slung on her hip and Silas' hand in hers, she told me goodbye and left.

For her sake I hope that Shaw makes it to his trial otherwise I think I'll be Jessa's main shoulder to lean on. Yes, Jessa's close with Roseanna, but since the blonde was still enjoying newlywedded bliss with Johnse I was the one that had the task of being there for Jessa all the time. I didn't mind tho, I was glad to help her since it was repairing our friendship. Vera and Skunk Hair shared the same opinion that Cap did, once things fell into place Jessa might not need me and my friendship so much anymore. I for one shook that thought, that possibility, off since I believed that our friendship would last (especially since we were once best friends).

AN:

Yea, Tolbert just tried to hand out his own justice. Yikes. Things are getting angsty, that's for sure.