*Author's Note*

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

Surprise Visits

Allie POV:

Having Granny Delize sitting at my table and watching me like a hawk as I prepared food, cared for my son, and did my household duties was a bit overwhelming. I never let my anxiety show, even tho I felt like I was drowning in a pool of water. I knew I was being mentally critiqued for my actions by the old woman, I cold tell my how her icy blue eyes followed my every action and held a stare on me that bunt a hole right thru me. She never once told me how to do something, just watched and made a mental checklist.

By time I was transferring dinner onto serving platters the front door opened and in walked Cap. His eyes widened to the size of saucers as he saw Granny Delize sitting at his spot at the table, sipping on coffee like she didn't have a care in the world. "Granny Delize, what a pleasant surprise seein' ya." Cap lied thru his teeth as he took his hat off and hung it up on the wall hook.

"Boy, stop grittin' and lyin' t'me. I know ya ain't pleasantly surprised to see me considerin' you've been avoidin' me since 'fore ya got married." Granny Delize bluntly told my husband as he took off his jacket and hung it up next to his hat. "Your wife made meatloaf and I'm eager t'see if it's dry as hell or not so get your ass in here and sit down." The crochety old woman told my husband as he hung up his gun belt on the gun rack by the door.

"You're in my spot, Granny Delize." Cap pointed out, crossing the main room and heading to the kitchen.

"It ain't your spot while I'm here. I'm older than you therefore I'm the head of the family over your snot nosed ass." Granny Delize told Cap in a snappy tone as I began to set platters on the table. "Hell, Shaw's not so attached to his seat; let's me sit at the head of the table." The old hag informed my husband in a passive aggressive way as he entered the kitchen.

"Of course, he let you take his seat, ya gave him money plus you're doin' his house chores and cookin'." Cap scoffed while taking a seat across from mine at the table.

"Don't act like that when it comes to your cousin. He's a good boy, just didn't have the luxury of bein' raised by stable minded parents like you." Granny Delize chastised Cap as he grabbed a mug and the pot from the middle of the table; pouring himself a cup before putting the pot back. "Poor thing got stuck in the lung by Tolbert, be nicer to him." She sternly sighed as I finally took my seat after placing the last serving dish onto the table.

"I heard; Jim told everybody at the loggin' camp today." Cap said, writing off his cousin's injury, as he grabbed himself a slice of meatloaf while I was scooping some mashed potatoes onto a plate for our son.

"You're colder than ya look, boy. Not carin' an ounce 'bout your cousin that could've been killed." The old woman shook her head at Cap, making her gray bun slightly sway high up on her head, while I handed him over the spoon for the potatoes.

"I ain't cold, Granny Delize, I'm just sick and tired of Shaw's bullshit is all." Cap honestly told his great-granny as he plopped a large spoonful of potatoes onto his plate.

"Shaw's misfortune's ain't bullshit, William. He can't help it that he keeps bein' delt a shitty hand t'play." Granny Delize defended Shaw as she made up her plate

Cap just rolled his eyes and shook his head while slicing himself a piece of bread. The tensions between great-granny and great-grandson were so thick that the bread knife could slice it in half. Finishing fixing up my son's plate, I placed it onto his high chair while breaking the tension with the simple remark of, "I think I'll go visit Jessa tomorrow." Both Cap and Granny Delize gave me pointed looks as I began to make up my own plate. Hmm, the woes of being a mother is you always tend to get your plate last since you've got to make your kid's up first. Looking between them, I expanded on my simple remark with one of, "With everything she's been thru, the miscarriage and now Shaw's injury, she's going to need a friend."

"Hold off on that visit for a couple more days. Let her get her barrings wit' Shaw. His wound his serious and she needs t'deal with that on her own for a bit."

"I agree with Granny Delize." Cap nodded his head. "Wait a while to see her." He added in before eating a piece of meatloaf.

Granny Delize POV:

"Oh, I didn't think of it that way. I suppose I can go over in a couple days; bring over a covered dish too so show support."

Dear lord, how did this girl become part of my family? What did Cap see in her? Oh, wait, never mind, he saw a girl that'll follow his lead instead of buckin' heads with him. I hope she's got more of a backbone then what I've seen in her so far or else this feuds gonna destroy her soul. Hell, looks like both Cap and Johnse got with sweet blondes. Roseanna, Johnse's wife, seems meeker, but in the long run both her and Allie seems to be very kind hearted. They don't seem to have the inner strength it takes to survive the hardships mountain life throws at'cha, or at least that's my opinion. Only time will tell tho.

"Darlin', with the situation we've got with your brother's sudden marriage maybe you should just focus on reeling him back into the fold and puttin' some common sense into his brain instead of worryin' 'bout bringin' a casserole over to the Eldridge's."

"Jessa's my best friend; she can help me figure out what to do about Abel being married to Nancy McCoy." Allie pushed back at Cap, sparking my interest since I've never seen her act like this. I mean so far she seems like the type to avoid conflicts.

"Your brother married Harmon McCoy's daughter? Oh, he's a goddamned idiot." I scoffed, shaking my head incredulously before eating a piece of my dry meatloaf. Todd was right, Allie makes dry meatloaf. Too bad she didn't make chicken, boy said the chicken was good and so was stew.

"I happened the other day. Uncle Wall did it." Cap informed me before his wife could.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Wall married 'em? Dear lord, for bein' a judge and a former lawyer he's a goddamned idiot too." I scoffed, feeling infuriated that Wall had the stones to marry a Hatfield-in-law to a damn McCoy. Not just any McCoy, but Randall's very own niece; the daughter of the Yankee my son shot up in his Kentucky backwoods still.

"I told Wall he shouldn't have married them." Allie told me before taking a small bite of her meatloaf. Good, at least she's got the good sense that god gave a mule. Only a fool would've let Wall get by without calling him out on his careless action of marrying folks who don't need to be united in any way. "I don't approve of that shrew being with my brother. Jessa's my friend and knows Abel, she'll understand my problem just like I can help her with hers."

Cap gabbed his cup and brought it up to his lips. Taking a long sip, he told his wife, "If you want to talk to somebody about Abel then do it with Vera. She's been your best friend for nearly 3-years now."

"Of course, I'm going to talk to Vera about Abel, but I also want to talk to Jessa too."

"I don't think it's wise to do that, especially since ya and Jessa only struck up a friendship again when Shaw was locked up." Cap firmly told Allie, giving her a look that insisted that he was right and the subject needed to be dropped, as he placed his cup onto the table with a light thud.

Allie didn't saw a word, just bit her lip and nodded at her husband. Hell, I was expecting a lil more fight out of her since she seemed so adamant about seeing Jessa to check up on both her health and Shaw's. Seems Allie doesn't want to make waves with Cap, perhaps out of fear that he'd be mad at her or something. This girl's got the ability to push and fight, but just chooses not to. I hope Allie girl choses to use that small spark of fight in her sooner rather then later.

Allie Hatfield's gota long way to go, but for now I'll give her my stamp of approval. Only cause I see potential in her; a passion for her family an' friends. Next time I'm ever by for a visit I'll suggest she makes either chicken or stew, this meatloaf's dry as hell. Reckon I'll be tellin' Todd 'fore I depart in the mornin' that he was right 'bout Allie's meatloaf.

Nancy POV:

I decided to pay my cousin Roseanna a friendly visit this morning. Not cause I actually wanted t'see her, but cause she was so naïve an' sweet; would believe anything I said. I needed to use my cousin to get a meetin' with my sister-in-law; to be brought into the Hatfield fold since my idiot husband weren't gonna bring me in so soon. Hell, Abel wanted me t'avoid his sister for a while, but that wasn't in my plans. I needed Allie to trust me as her sister-in-law so that I could destroy that Hatfields from within, make them bicker and doubt each other to weaken their family.

As I pulled up t'Roseanna an' Johnse's small cabin I had to admit that it was nicely built. Looked nicer than the shack Abel built. Seems that Johnse built it with a wife an' babies in mind, somethin' Abel wasn't thinkin' 'bout when he built his cabin. Hell, if I didn't push Abel into marriage, he would've never done it. Bet he'll shit his pants when we have chil'ren one day too. My husband ain't the kind'a man t'settle down on his own but needs pushed into it.

After climbin' down from my wagon, I went over t'Roseanna's door and knocked on it. It only took a few moments 'fore the door opened an' Roseanna appeared in the doorway. "Nancy, oh my, what're ya doin' here?" She asked with a surprised smile on her face.

"I've come by to tell ya that I married Abel the other day." I told Roseanna with a smile even tho my reason for being at her house was more then announcin' my marriage.

"Oh, Nancy, I'm happy for you." She smiled, pulling me into a hug. "Oh, come in and we can talk like old times." Roseanna suggested as she pulled away from our hug.

"Of course, cousin. That's why I stopped by." I gave my cousin a fake smile 'fore walkin' into her cabin.

It was nice inside too. Hmm, seems like Roseanna decorated her home t'make it feel all cozy. That ain't somethin' I'm ever gonna do in my house. It's fine the way it is, don't need t'feel cozy wit' curtains an' cross-stitched canvases all ov'r the place.

"Please, have a seat an' I'll get us some coffee." Roseanna told me 'fore shuttin' the door an' scurryin' off to the kitchen.

"Johnse made ya'll a nice place here." I said in order t'break the ice 'tween us while sittin' at the table. I had to make Roseanna think that I really cared 'bout her an' Johnse even tho I didn't.

"Yes, he did." Roseanna nodded as she poured us some cups o'coffee. "He had it built 'fore we got together, but added on an' fixed it up better after we met." She explained, comin' over to the table an' settin' down our cups. "Shaw helped him install the stove an' do some repairs." Roseanna added in as she sat down at the table.

Of course, Shaw helped Johnse wit' the cabin. I wouldn't expect anythin' else from that Vance demon. Takin' a sip of my coffee, I asked wit' fake concern, "How's Jessa been fairin'?" Honestly, after what she did t'my cousin not t'mention my family I didn't care 'bout that bitch. I needed Roseanna to think that I cared tho since she was close t'Jessa.

Pickin' her cup up, she answered, "Oh, she's back on her feet now, but Shaw's been hurt."

Yea, I already knew that, but I was just actin' dumb so that Roseanna'd feel special for tellin' me some news she might view as important to the family. "Oh no, what happened?" I asked wit' the best shocked look I could pull outta thin air.

"Tolbert went to their house an' stuck Shaw in the yard. Nearly killed him, but Jessa patched him up." Roseanna told me in a scandalized tone. Reckon she's shocked by what her brother did, but frankly I ain't. He did right in stickin' him in the lung an' almost killin' that Vance Bastard demon if ya ask me.

"Oh, poor Jessa. She's been thru so much. Perhaps I should pay her a visit." I said in a friendly and concerned tone, that I was fakin', as I sipped on my coffee.

"I don't know, Nancy. She might not want to see you with everythin' that's happened over the past year." My cousin sighed, chewing on her cheek as she dropped her eyes to her coffee cup that she held in her hands.

"I s'pose you're right." She wasn't, but in time I'll make her comfortable 'nough t'bing me by Jessa's for a visit. "Oh, perhaps we could pay Allie a visit. After all she's my sister-in-law now too; I'm sure she wouldn't mind us stoppin' by." I told Roseanna since that was my entire reasoning for having coffee wit' her in the first place. I need her to introduce me t'Allie and convince her that I'll a lovely person to have as a friend; kin too.

"I'm not very close wit' her, but she's nice to me tho." My naïve blonde cousin admitted. Hmm, I wasn't expectin' that. Most people just naturally love Roseanna. I thought they'd be close, but reckon I was wrong. Settin' her cup down, Roseanna gave me a light smile and said, "I don't see any harm in visitin' her."

"Then that's settled, let's go pay Allie a friendly, sisterly, visit." I beamed, pattin' my cousin on the hand 'fore risin' from my seat. Without a word, she followed me an' together we walked out o'her kitchen an' then out of her house. "I'll drive us." I announced, subtly tiltin' my head at my wagon a few feet 'way from the porch steps. Roseanna just nodded, acceptin' that I was takin' us t'our sister-in-law's cabin.

Jessa POV:

I was outside hanging up laundry whenever I felt a presence behind me. It was odd since nobody was home except for me and the babies, who were inside in their playpen. I just shrugged off my lingering feeling as I continued to hang up the laundry. I was hanging a shirt on the line whenever I was startled by a voice behind me saying, "Hi, Jessa."

I turned around and looked at the redhead with wide eyes. What's he doing here? Hasn't he done enough to me and mine? "Tolbert, you shouldn't be here." I firmly told my ex, boring a hole in him with my indigo eyes.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, slightly shrugging his shoulders as his jaw trembled nervously. Tolbert's smooth drawl was tinted with tension as he remarked, "I know, but I wanted t'see ya. Make sure yer doin' a'ight."

"I'm fine, no thanks to you considering you caused my miscarriage." I spat at him, cutting him a look so deep that I'm sure it cut right to his hate filled heart.

"I didn't mean for that t'happen, Jessa. God's truth, I didn't even think that'd happen when I shoved ya 'way from me."

Holding my hand up, I firmly told him, "I don't want to hear it, Tolbert." Putting my hand down, I shook my head and snapped, "Damnit, you shouldn't even be here."

"Why not?" Tolbert asked, pulling his hands out of his pockets. Really, did he really just ask that? The nerve… Folding his arms over his chest, he hatefully scoffed, "The Vance Bastard's most likely on his death bed, don't see a reason for me not t'check up on ya."

"Shaw's nowhere near his death bed since I patched him up." I spat at Tolbert, causing his stormy blues to widen in shock. Yea, he didn't expect me to know how to patch up a chest/lung wound. "You need to leave, Tolbert." I honestly told him, causin' his stormy eyes to reflect hurt in them. "Go back to Blackberry Creek and focus on your shine business." I wanted to remind him that he still hasn't made a payment to Shaw yet, but didn't since now wasn't the time. I mean the bastard did just try to kill him a couple days ago.

Shaking his head, he gave me a pitiful look and asked, "Jesus Christ, Jessa, how can ya dismiss me so easily? Didn't ya ever love me or was I just a roof ov'r yer goddamned head?"

"Tolbert, any part of me that still loved or cared for you died when I had my miscarriage. I fucking hate you right now and I doubt that'll ever change. Just leave me alone."

Overstepping his boundaries, Tolbert placed his hand on my arm and softly told me, "I nev'r meant for things t'end up so badly 'tween us."

"Yea, well, they did." I yanked my arm out of his grasp, causing his face to fall. "So, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish hanging up the laundry." I curtly told him before turning my back on him and grabbing a piece of clothing out of the large wicker basket.

I froze in my spot as soon as I heard his smooth drawling accent ask me, "Why him, darlin'? Why're ya stayin' by his side when ya nev'r did that for me?"

Spinning on my heel, I bluntly told him, "Tolbert, you can only blame yourself for me leaving you. You pushed me away and back into Shaw's arms. Unlike you, Shaw actually gives a damn about his kids." Narrowing my eyes at him, I barked out the threat of "Now, go before I run into the house and sic my dog on you."

"You have a dog?" Tolbert asked warily, most likely cause he was afraid of getting chewed up. He had a hunting dog; he knew how dogs could be when they were following a sic command.

Even tho Chewie was a pup, Tolbert didn't know that. I kept a level look on my face and nodded. "Yea, Jim Vance brought him over the day you tried to kill Shaw."

"Too bad he didn't die of a collapsed lung." Tolbert sneered. "I'm goin', but only cause I don't want no trouble wit' yer dog. It's prolly crazy since it came from Jim Vance." He assured me before turning his back on me and trudging off in stomping steps.

I just rolled my eyes and watched him fetch his horse, mount it, and ride off from my land. Oh god, seems like I need to have a talk with my in-laws and Shaw about Tolbert's visit. The redhead's too bold and reckless, no doubt he's either up to something or off his rocker.

Allie POV:

"Roseanna, you brought Nancy over?" I asked, taken aback, after opening my front door and seeing Roseanna standing on my porch with my new sister-in-law.

"I suggested that we pay ya a visit." The raven-haired shrew told me with a pearly smile that was too wide to be real.

"Well, that's nice, but I was just finishing up some chores and was planning on going out for a bit."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Allie. I didn't think you'd be goin' out t'day."

"Allie, I'm sure we can have some tea 'fore ya gotta go wherever you're needed. It's prudent that we sit down an' talk wit' you bein' Abel's sister an' me his wife an' all."

Roseanna's blue eyes held a naivety in them as they bounced between me and her cousin, waiting for what I'd say to the shrew she cared about. I let out a sigh before giving into my sister-in-law by moving aside and smiling (albeit fakely and forced). "Come in, I'll put on some tea."

Roseanna, having been inside of my house before, walked in first. The meek blonde was making a beeline towards the kitchen table as Nancy waltzed inside, her head flittering around as she took in the décor of the place. "Oh, your house is lovely. Did ya decorate it all yourself?" She inquired, slowly making her way to the kitchen, as I slammed the door shut.

"Somewhat. Ma and Vera Wallace helped a bit." I quickly answered my sister-in-law (cringe!) as I came up to her side.

"Oh, well I hope to meet them soon." The shrew told me as we entered the kitchen. Oh, I knew for a fact that my family and friends didn't want to meet her. I think Nancy's up to something, especially now that she said she wanted to meet the women of the Hatfield clan.

"All in good time." Was my response to Nancy as she took a seat next to Roseanna at the table while I made my way over to get the kettle from the stove. I knew that I needed to put feelers out to try and figure out the shrew's game. If I could get a read on her then maybe I could get a step up on whatever she's scheming and cooking up. "So, how's my brother adjusting to married life?" I asked, moving the subject onto Abel, as I grabbed the kettle and brought it over to the sink.

"Reckon just fine considerin' we've been livin' together. You'd know that if ya ever came 'round t'pay him a visit."

Hmm, she's a condescending little shrew, isn't she? WEll, two can play that game. Going over to the table and taking a seat, I told Nancy, "I'm busy keeping house, aising a toddler, and dealing with another pregnancy. I just haven't had time to visit Abel, but now that he's married I'm sure that I'll make some time."

"I'm sure that ya will. I'm also sue that all of us will be great friends. Also, we can even get Jessa to join our lil sisterhood since she's a friend to us all." Nancy said in the sweetest, but fakest tone I've ever heard in my entire life.

"Oh, it'd be nice if we all could be friends." Roseanna smiled, clearly fooled by her raven-haired cousin's charm and lies.

Hmm, looks like I figured out the scheme Nancy's cookin'. Fake ass friendship. Looks like I'll have a lot to rant about when I visit Jessa late on this afternoon. Yes, I know, I told Cap that I'd wait to see my best friend, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Just like with Johnse and Roseanna's wedding, he never found out that I went and everything was just fine.

AN:

Well, hope you guys like this chapter. Seems like drama's being stirred up again. How do you guys feel about Nancy's schemes? Oh and Tolbert, he's a bit much isn't he?... Cap's over Shaw's drama with Tolbert, but can't say that you can blame him.

Next chapter will have Allie and Jessa's visit along and a small time jump too.