*Author's Note*
Thank you for all the follows, favs, and reviews.
Happy Thanksgiving a few days in advanced since I most likely won't be posting again before Thursday.
We're A Family
Jessa POV:
I was sitting on a chair in the main room while Granny Delize was in the kitchen cooking. Mary had put the kids down for some naps and decided to read a book in her room to pass the time. I think she just didn't want to be around the sofa yet, but I can't say that I blamed her. Todd was still at the livery, but I'm expecting him to be home in another hour or so since I've got a feeling that Doc's going to tell him about Shaw. I was crocheting a few starting links for a throw in an attempt to calm myself down and relax whenever my front door banged opened. Sully ran into my house towards the master bedroom like his ass was on fire while Uncle Jim just strode thru the door. "Doc said that shit turd Tolbert McCoy tried to kill my nephew and you patched him up; saved his life." Jim told me while kicking the door shut before taking his hat off and hanging it up on the wall hook.
"Yea, that's what happened." I nodded at him as he made his way into the main room.
"Oh, Jimmy, I told Jessa here that ya'd be comin' over." Granny Delize told her son while he and Mr. Howles (that dog went everywhere and I mean everywhere with him) headed towards the sitting area.
"Course I'd come, ma. I gotta check on my favorite nephew and his family after an attack on his life by a McCoy." Jim's rough drawl of a tone boomed out in the room as he took a seat in the open arm charm on the other side of the sofa.
"Not just any McCoy, but Tolbert." I dryly reminded Jim.
"Chaffin' lil shit needs t'be put down like a mad dog." Jim bluntly said, his timbre thick and full of resolve.
Looking over at the weather-worn and hard spirited mountain main, I honestly revealed, "Once I would've thought that you were being a bit much, but now after Tolbert caused my miscarriage and tried to kill Shaw on our property, I could care less what happens to him. I agree, Tolbert's a walking danger."
"Glad ya see things the right way." Jim nodded, sinking further into his chair and patting his dog
(who was by his side) lightly on his scruffy head.
As she finished up cooking the food, Granny Delize looked over her shoulder and asked her crochety son, "Jimmy, ya want somethin' t'et? I got some fried salt-pork and greens I'm finishin' up."
"Course I want some of your cookin' t'et, ma. I'd never pass up on a good meal." Was Uncle Jim's response to his mama as he craned his head to give her a quick look.
"Told ya my Jimmy'd be hungry when he got here." Granny Delize smirked knowingly as she grabbed a plate from the cabinet.
"Reckon that's why he's got a pot Belly, Granny Delize." I giggled at the old woman in the kitchen while I started to crochet the second row on my blanket.
"Ya look at your man and then at me real good cause in 30-years-or-so Shaw's gonna have a pot belly too. Boy resembles me somewhat when I was young." What? Jim's warning me about how Shaw's going to age. Wow, I never thought I'd hear that from him. A smirk appeared on his face as he chuckled, "Good looks, temper, and a taste for whiskey."
"Jimmy's right, Shaw takes after his uncle more so then his daddy." Granny Delize piped up as she brought Jim Vance over his plate of fried pork and greens. "Sully might have the Vance looks, but he took after his daddy's quieter ways."
"Hell, he's a wander just like Rhett was." Jim scoffed, taking his plate from his mother. Picking up his fork, he adding in as a quick afterthought, "That's what Sully got from that Floridian, restlessness."
"But Sully seemed to settle when he was out west and he's settled here right now." I pointed out while crocheting link upon link of my burgundy throw.
Jim and Granny Delize shared a look before he told me, "Sooner or later he'll be takin ' off. He always does." He took a large bite of his food before going on to tell me, "And that's why Shaw's planted deep roots in Mate Creek. He wants t'be nothin' like his pappy."
Oh great, Shaw's got some daddy issues. Issues he's never really shared with me. Hell, I thought he just had step-daddy and slight mommy issues. Looks like he has parental issues all along. Makes sense tho that he goes above and beyond to be a great father tho.
"Don't worry, Shaw'll do right by you and the chil'ren. In doin' so it'll make him better then Sully in his eyes." Granny Delize assured me before going back into the kitchen, no doubt to fix me up a plate.
Jim looked up from his plate, his cold blue eyes meeting my indigo ones, and told me, "You saved Shaw's life today; whatever else ya'll come 'cross will be child's play. Ya'll be fine, even up 'gainst the McCoys."
Shaw POV:
"Jesus, you got a chest tube." My dad sighed, shaking his head. "Dear god, I knew you and Tolbert's rift was dangerous, but never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd stab you bad enough to the point you'd need a chest tube to breathe with." He told me in an elongated and worked up tone as he came up to my side.
"Calm down dad. Fuck, this shouldn't be a shock to ya since the ginger's been trying to kill me since I was 12-years-old." I told my dad as a way to remind him that my shit with Tolbert's old news. Hell, we never liked each other and never will. I don't see why him shanking me's such a shock to my dad. Sully was a high school history teacher, hell he knows Tolbert has a thing for shanking people.
"Don't tell me to calm down, Shaw Hector." Sully ordered me in one of those 'don't test me' type of tones as he cut his blue eyes at me. He shook his head before asking in a groan, "Damnit, why were you even fighting with him for anyways?"
"He had the balls to come onto my land insultin' me and wantin' to see my woman." I simply shrugged as I leaned against all the pillows Jessa had propped behind my back for me.
"That doesn't give you the right to fight with the crazy son of a bitch, son. You should've just walked away and barred yourself in the house."
"Like a pussy?" I scoffed rhetorically. "Yea…that's never gonna happen dad. I'm not you, I don't run from conflicts. I face them head on instead."
"Son, this has nothing to do with being a 'pussy' or not. This has to do with your safety and your family's safety." My dad lectured while giving me an enduring look. He let out a sigh before suggesting, "Shaw, maybe you should take your family and move somewhere away from this fued."
"Like where, back to modern Tulsa or some other 21st century city?" I rhetorically asked, tilting my head at my dad.
"Yes." Sully nodded before quickly adding in, "It'd be safer for your family."
"I'm not running form my problems. My family's staying here where I've set up a good life and business for them."
"Goddamnit, Shaw Hector, why are you being so stupid for? Do you want to get yourself killed or worse have something happen to your woman and the kids?" My dad rhetorically asked in a snap, his jaw twitching angry at my stubbornness. He took a deep breath and gave me a pleading look. "Move so they'll have a chance at a normal life away from all the fighting and bloodshed."
"I ain't doin' that, dad. Drop it." I firmly answered thru gritted teeth.
My dad such shook his head incredulously before storming out of my room. A couple minutes later my door opened and Uncle Jim walked inside. "Why'd your pappy storm out?" He asked right away instead of asking how I was doing, but that was Uncle Jim for ya. If he wanted to know something, he'd bluntly ask instead of having manner and politely working it into a conversation.
"He's mad that I won't move my family to the middle of nowhere; run away from my problems with Tolbert." I answered my uncle as he made his way closer to my bedside.
"Ah…" Jim nodded his head. "Well, looks like Jessa did a fine job patchin' ya up."
"Yea, she did. She actually saved my life." I smiled, my heart fluttering at the thought that Jessa truly loved me enough to make sure I survived a bad stab wound.
"Course she did. You're her man; she wants ya breathin' instead of in a pine box." Damn, my uncle sure did have a way with words. Blunt, but honest and to the point. "I told Jessa I'd bring over one of the pups Mr. Howles sired on some farmer's bitch later, so ya'll can have a guard dog for the house."
"Uncle Jim, I don't need a dog."
"Sure, ya do. 'Sides, Jessa was more then happy to agree to the dog and since you're laid up in bed, I'm gonna listen to her and bring the pup over."
Of course, Jessa agreed to the damn dog. I don't need the dog. Hell… Shaking my head, I told Jim, "This isn't a good time for a pup. I'm in bed with a lung wound; I can't train the thing."
"You don't need to train it. Hell, I'm sure Jessa or your brother can manage the trainin'." Jim told me as a way to confirm that he was bringing the dog by even tho I gave him a reason not to. "Pup might be good for your yungin's too. They'd have it t'play with." Jim added in as a way to get me to soften about the damn dog.
Damnit, his remark was working too. "Fine, I'll accept the dog, but only for my kids." I relented with a long sigh.
"I knew you'd accept the dog, but only cause your woman already agreed to the pup." Jim chuckled before walking a few steps over to the door. "Most likely she'll be namin' it too." My uncle smirked before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.
Great…just great…now my family's getting a dog. Guess I just gotta roll with it. I hope Jessa can handle the kids, me, and a puppy since she's just getting back on her feet. Hell, I would be stuck in bed with a tube in my chest. I was wounded and helpless; couldn't heal fast enough either.
Tolbert POV:
I knew that I'd be havin' a herd o'Hatfields on my ass for what I'd done t'Shaw (stickin' 'im in the lung) so I decided t'go t'Nancy and Abel's instead o'back home. I reckon that Abel could hold off the Hatfields if they came lookin' for me, plus Nancy did invite me ov'r t'et anytime I wanted.
"Oh, Tolbert, good t'see ya took me up on my offer so soon." Nancy greeted me as soon as she opened her cabin's door. "Come on in, cousin, an' take a seat wit' Abel at the table." She told me with a lined smile while usherin' me into her too small home.
I saw Abel sittin' at the table suckin' on a bottle o'whiskey when I walked into the cabin. He gave me a sideways look while askin', "What brings ya by, Tolbert?"
"Abel, he's here t'et an' pay us a family visit." Nancy gritted thru her teeth at her new husband while fixin' me up a plate. "Ain't that right, Tolbert?" My cousin asked me as she brought me ov'r some food.
"I s'pose." I shrugged as Nancy put my plate in front o'me. I took a bite o'my food 'fore tellin' my cousin an' her new husband, "I was in the area so…"
"Why were you in the ar-oh no, don't tell me you were at the Eldridge's causin' problems." Abel groaned, his shoulder's slumpin' a bit.
"I weren't causin' no problems. I went there t'see Jessa, but that Vance Bastard started t'fight me an' I had'a stick 'im." I defended myself since I didn't go t'Jessa's wit' bad intentions. I wanted t'see her, make sure she knew I didn't mean her no harm. That damn Vance Bastard ruined that tho by fightin' wit' me; makin' me stick 'im.
"You stabbed Shaw on his own land!" Abel exclaimed wide-eyed. "Oh my god, do you have a death wish? Once word gets out my sister's in-laws are gonna be huntin' ya down or specifically Jim Vance'll be." He rambled, soundin' a bit nervous 'fore he finally et a forkful o'his food.
"We won't let any Hatfields, Vance or not, get'cha Tolbert. Your safe here with us til ya feel need t'go work your still an' sell your shine." Nancy firmly told me from her seat on the edge o'her bed. Eh, she lived in a one-room cabin so other then the two-seattable only other place t'sit at was the bed. Why Abel didn't build a bigger cabin's beyond me.
"Thanks, Nancy." I nodded wit' a mouth full o'food.
Runnin' a hand thru his brown hair, Abel sighed, "Looks like I'm pinned between in-laws at the moment…"
"Ya should've found out more 'bout the people yer sister married into, would've saved ya a lot o'headaches." I told my cousin-in-law 'fore ettin' a forkful o'food.
Droppin' his fork on his plate, Abel countered me wit' a rough toned, "And you should've filled out the census differently, but it seems we both made some bonehead decisions."
"You two, no quips." Nancy ordered us wit' a pointed finger. "We're family an' we need'a act like it in order t'survive any ill-will the Hatfields might try t'bring down on us." Nancy reminded us o'why we needed t'get along. Why we needed each other as a family. Truth is that she's right, if we're fightin' 'mongst each other we'll crumble t'whatever hell the Hatfields bring down on us. Like it or not, Abel Freeland's family now. He married into the McCoy even tho his sister dumbly married into the Hatfields. Lines are bein' drawn an' I know as so does Nance that Abel's a McCoy now.
Allie POV:
I was still reeling from the shocking news I received yesterday about my brother marrying the resident shrew of the Tug Valley. I just couldn't believe it, also I couldn't believe how Abel stormed out of Anse and Levicy's yesterday cause he didn't like being put on the spot for making Nancy his wife. Oh god, my skin crawled at the thought of that bitter bitch being my sister-in-law.
Cap was down at the lumbermill working security today so I was home alone with our son. Captain W. was growing up too fast. Oh my god, it felt like just yesterday he was born. I still can't believe that about 3 more months or so I'll be having my second child and then a few months after that celebrating my firstborn's second birthday. I guess this is just a part of motherhood, watching your babies grow and wonder where the time's going.
Captain W. was sitting on the floor playing with some toys in the main room while I was dusting and cleaning as I waited for the bread dough to rise in the pan so that I could bake it off. I had just finished dusting the coffee table whenever a loud knock sounded at my door. My shoulders slummed as I dreaded the thought of having to let my brother's wife into my house. I mean who else would be visiting me other then Abel and Nancy as a way to clear the air over yesterday; to get me to bond with his shrew too. Clutching my cleaning rag a bit too tightly, I made my way over to the door. I took a deep breath before opening it. I was taken aback as I found myself face to face with Granny Delize. What's she doing here, shouldn't she be helping Jessa with the house as she continues to heal? As if she could read my mind, Granny Delize told me, "Told ya I'd drop by for dinner 'fore I went home."
"But it's not dinner time yet and Jessa-" I began to tell my great-granny-in-law only to be cut off by her saying, "Jessa's fine. She's back on her feet and tendin' to Shaw no that he's on his sick bed.", as she walked by me and into the house.
Shutting the door, I asked, "Oh, how sick is he?"
"He ain't sick, he's wounded. Got stuck in the lung by Tolbert yesterday when the shithead trespassed and caused a fight." Granny Delize told me as she made her way into my kitchen. She stopped at my table and looked at the pan setting there. "Hmm, see ya got bread in the pan risin'."
"Do you want some tea and cookies?" I asked her while coming up to the table.
"Do I look like the tea party type?" She spat at me in a quick scoff. "I'm here t'make sure you can cook a decent meal for supper, not to socialize." Hmm, seems this woman's even harder to impress then her son. Dear god, how am I going to win her over? "I don't make it a habit to et too many people's cookin'. Just mine, Levicy's, my daughters', and Jessa's. If ya don't poison me you'll be put on that list."
"I'm sure you'll like my cookin'. Your son, Jim, does." I assured her since I didn't really know what else to do. This mean old woman warmed up to my best friend, why isn't she warming up to me too?
"Well, reckon that means I won't die ettin' your food." Granny Delize sarcastically crooned as I went over to the sink to drop off my cleaning rag and to wash my hands since I needed to start snapping green beans for dinner. I had a guest and couldn't just make up something easy and quick like I was originally planning to do. "You can get me a cup of coffee since I'm gonna be here a while." She told me right as I finished washing my hands.
"Do you want any cream or sugar for it?" I asked, going over to the cabinet I kept the mugs in.
"No." Was Granny Delize's simple one-word answer as I grabbed a mug for her. "Hope you can make a proper pot of coffee; don't have it bein' too weak or bitter." I didn't say a word, just went over to the stove and grabbed the coffee pot from it (which was about half-full) and poured the old woman a cup. Silently, I gave it to her and then went over to grab some large bowls to use for snapping beans. "Hmm, not bad. Not bad at all." Granny Delize clicked her tongue appraisingly.
"I'm glad you approve, Granny Delize." I smiled before making my way over to the pantry, bowls in hand, to get some green beans to snap.
"Ya still haven't earned the right to call me Granny yet, Allie girl." The crochety old woman reminded me while sipping on her coffee.
"But Jessa has?" I asked, coming out of the pantry with a bowl full of beans, before I could think better of it.
"Yes. She's got what it takes to be a Vance. You married into the Hatfield family, sure, but to be accepted as a Vance takes more then a vow and a ring. It takes some deep seeded strength and grit, somethin' I ain't too sure ya got."
Oh…okay then…Looks like I've got a long way to go to impress this old hag since apparently, I haven't suffered enough yet to make me strong and gritty. Sheesh, shouldn't this lady be happy that me and Cap got together without any hitches, unlike Shaw and Jessa. Looks like I know how the favorite great-granddaughter is and it ain't me.
On another note, I should pay Jessa a visit to see how she's dealing with everything. I know this must be hard on her, having Tolbert trying to kill Shaw, and she's going to need my advice on things. Mainly, advice on what to do going forward to get the hell away from Shaw, Tolbert, and this feud before it blows up in her face.
AN:
I hope you guys liked this chapter. What did you think about all of the things like Sully wanting Shaw to take his family back to the future, Tolbert going to Nancy to lay low, etc? Anyways, have a great holiday on Thursday.