*Author's Note*

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

Here's a quick update for ya'll. The muses were being loud, lol.

How Deep The Water Runs

Jessa POV:

I had just put a chicken and rice casserole into the oven whenever a knock sounded at the door. Inwardly I cringed at the noise, hoping that it wouldn't wake Shaw up since he'd just gone to sleep. He's been drifting in and out of sleep due to being in pain, so naturally I was worried the loud knocking would stir him. I think he'd be sleeping more if he took the laudanum instead of downing shots of whiskey for pain management, but he opted for the latter since the pain draught was a coke, morphine, opium, and licorice concoction that he was certain was highly addictive. So, out of fear of becoming a cokehead, Shaw just guzzled down whiskey whenever his side flared up with unbearable burning pain. Yea…I need to see Johnse about a buying a bottle of shine since the whiskey I had in the house was almost gone.

Quickly, I placed my oven mitts on the nearby countertop and rushed over to the front door. As soon as I opened it, I saw Allie standing on my front porch with her son clinging to her skirts. "So, Granny Delize told you about Shaw then." I stated, moving aside so that my friend and her boy could enter. I couldn't help, but notice her large baby bump and to feel a mixture of sadness and jealousy about it. I should've been showing off a bump soon too, but Tolbert made sure that wouldn't happen. Even tho my body was mostly healed my mind and my heart wasn't. Truthfully, I was heartsick at not being able to have my baby while others would be having theirs in a few short months. It was something I just had to work thru since my family needed me; I couldn't just sit around crying my eyes out about something I couldn't change.

"Yes, she told me during dinner last night." Allie confirmed my statement while she and Captain W. crossed over the threshold into my house.

"Well, she also told me about Abel and Nancy so…" I shrugged, shutting the door as Allie led her son into the main room.

Stopping in her tracks and looking at me, she asked, "Is Granny Delize here?"

"No, she left for Tazewell early this morning." I answered my friend, causing her to let out a small breath that she'd been holding.

Hmm, seems like Allie was intimidated by our great-granny-in-law. Granny Delize was one of a kind and didn't fit the housewife or womanly mold of the 19th century. She could be a bit much with her bold and brash ways, but I liked the woman. Hell, we bonded while she was here helping out during my miscarriage. If Allie's leery of the old woman it's cause she hasn't taken the time to get to know her or she tried too hard to pacify her and it backfired. One thing Granny Delize couldn't stand (and I picked up on it just by being around the woman and paying attention to her when she talked) was weakness. For some reason she views my best friend as weak and until she can prove otherwise Granny Delize is never going to be welcoming Allie with open arms. I mean Granny Delize did tell me that she felt Cap was walking all over Allie; that my friend seemed to give into him when things wasn't going her way. The old woman also told me that my friend had potential, but needed somebody strong to encourage her. Yep, Granny Delize told me all of this after returning from Cap and Allie's last night.

Walking by Allie and into the kitchen, I told her, "She did cook breakfast beforehand; there's some still left in the skillet if you'd care for some bacon and hash browns."

Following me, Allie shook her head and declined my offer. "No, I'm not hungry." Going over to the kitchen table and taking a seat, she politely told me, "I'd like a cup of tea tho, if that's not too inconvenient."

"Tea's fine." I smiled before standing up from the table. Motioning to Captain W, I kindly told Allie, "If you want, I can put him in the playpen to play with Silas and Lydia." Pointing to the playpen, I quickly added in, "We can see it from here and my kids are well behaved, they'll like playing with him."

"Okay." Allie nodded before handing her boy over to me. I just gave her a smile and took him. Captain W. was a bit heavy even tho he was thin and tall for his age (something he got from both his Hatfield and Vance genes) so I placed him on the floor and took his hand in mine. As I walked him over to the playpen in the main room to join my kids, Allie told me some disturbing news. "I planned on bringing you over something like a pie or casserole, but I wasn't able to make it cause Roseanna brought Nancy over to meet me."

"I hope you turned Nancy away and told Roseanna not to bring her around you anymore." I roughly told my friend as I lifted her son up and placed him into the playpen.

"No, I let them in and made tea." Allie revealed as I pivoted on my heel and headed back into the kitchen.

"What the fuck, Allie? No, don't have tea with the enemy." I scolded the blonde while making a beeline towards my tea kettle, which was resting on the counter near the sink.

"I only had tea with Nancy to feel her out; get a read on her schemes. Besides, she's married to my brother and Roseanna seems to trust her even tho she's a shrew." Allie defended herself while I grabbed my kettle and filled it up with some water.

"Roseanna's hoodwinked by the heartless bitch cause she's sweet and tries to see the best in everyone, including her jacked up family that practically disowned her the moment she crossed the river after dawn the day after election day." I bluntly told my friend as I set the kettle on the counter, grabbed the cannister of tea along with a cheesecloth, and made up a teabag.

"I know." Allie sighed as I plopped the homemade teabag into the kettle.

"So, what did Nancy want?" I asked in a half-sigh while placing the kettle on the stove.

While returning to the table, I heard Allie's answer of, "Just to meet me cause I'm Abel's little sister. She also wants me to visit Abel more at their cabin too."

Giving my friend a pointed low, I warned, "Be careful around her." While sitting next to her at the table, I honestly added, "Nancy's got a way of pulling you in and making you think she's nice when she's anything but."

"Jessa, I know how Nancy is. I read the unit on the feud too, remember." Allie remarked rather defensively while drifting her eyes towards the kettle heating up on the stove.

"Allie, reading about it and living in it are too very different things." I sighed while pushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear. Giving her a wise look with my indigo eyes, I went on to say, "Trust me, there's more to these two feuding families then what Scholastic publishes in their volumes of American History books."

"It's not that complicated, Jessa. Nancy marries into the Hatfield family as a scheme. She did it in the original timeline and she did it again, just with my brother this time." God…Allie's not getting it. Nancy's just a small part of what I'm talking about. There's a lot of underlying issues that're omitted from the history books cause it'll paint a grey area on some things or will make some people look down right crazier then they already are. I mean both Sully and Shaw along with Granny Delize and her daughters (other than Devil Anse's mother) are kept out of history books. Their stories give more of a backstory about the feud, for example Shaw's beef with Tolbert that's been going on since they were boys. I just sighed and shook my head at my friend. She was either oblivious to my distaste or was ignoring it cause she just went on to defend her previous statement with one of, "I know once I get Abel alone and talk to him he'll keep an eye on Nancy, keep her at arm's length, or will get rid of her."

"Allie, I doubt that'll happen. That bitch has her claws in your brother; he's a goner. Just cut him off before he spills something that's vital to the Hatfield clan."

"I'm not cutting my brother off. Abel's just dealing with PTSD from his time in the army, but he's not to the point of being given up on."

"He cut you off when he joined the army. No phone calls, texts, emails, or letters. Nothing, Allie, he gave you nothing back then and it didn't phase him in the very least." I bluntly reminded my friend of the 5-year estrangement she had with Abel. Scoffing, I honestly added, "I wouldn't put it pass Abel to cut ties with you again and pick the McCoys cause Nancy told him too."

"Don't say that to me, Jessa. Me and Abel are fine and rebuilt our brother-sister bond once he got here. If anybody should cut somebody out of their life it's you." Allie barked back at me, her voice raised an octave or two in aggravation.

Taken aback, I asked in a squeak, "Me?"

The kettle came to a boiling whistle as Allie told me, "Yes, you." I stood up and went to take the kettle off of the stove while Allie continued her thought with, "You need to get rid of Shaw. He's a cold manipulative drunk and it's only going to get worse with time."

I grabbed a serving tray and placed the tea kettle on it along with some cups, a sugar bowl, and the creamer bowl. Carrying it over to the table, I assured my friend, "I'll keep that in mind. Don't worry, I won't let a drunk get over on me and my children."

Allie simply nodded as I set the tray on the table to let me know that she excepted my answer. "I was good friends with Olga; I appreciate you caring for Lydia as your own." She told me from left field as I poured us our cups of tea.

"As far as I'm concerned, she's mine. She was so little when I moved in with Shaw so in my eyes both Lydia and Silas are my babies." I honestly told my friend while we fixed our tea with cream and sugar.

"If you do end up breaking up with Shaw, I'll be by your side and help you with anything." She informed me before taking the first sip of her steaming hot tea.

Sipping on my tea, I simply told her, "Thank you."

Before either me or Allie could utter a word, Shaw's deep timbre echoed from the master bedroom with a moaning demand of, "Babe, bring me some more whiskey! My side's fuckin' killin' me!"

Placing her teacup down and rising from the table, Allie told me, "Well, since you need to tend to your man, I think I'm just going to grab Captain W. and go home."

"Are you sure?" I asked Allie, not wanting her to think that she had to leave cause Shaw woke up in pain and wanted some whiskey to numb that said pain.

"Babe, whiskey, now!" Shaw shouted in a painful moan, causing Allie to shoot me a look that read 'I'm sure' before going over to the playpen.

"I'll be there in a minute!" I shouted back to Shaw before going over to the playpen, where Allie was at picking up her son.

"Hurry up!" He shouted back, causing me to just roll my eyes. Damn, he's such a man-child when he's hurt and bedridden.

"I'll walk you out." I told Allie, coming up to her side as she started to walk away from the playpen. Allie didn't say a word, just nodded her head and let me show her to the door. Once we reached it, I opened the door and gave her a smile. "See ya later, Allie." I told her while standing aside so that she'd be able to exit my house.

"Bye, Jessa. I'll come for another visit whenever I get the time." She told me right before walking out onto my porch with her son balanced (probably painfully since she he was heavy and she was very pregnant) on her hip.

I closed the door and rushed into the kitchen to grab the last bottle of whiskey that was in the liquor cabinet. With a sigh, I held the bottle in my hand and went over to my bedroom door. "Here's your whiskey." I announced to Shaw, who looked like shit, as I entered our bedroom.

Shaw perked up at the sight of the bottle in my hand. "Thank god. Hell, honey, what took ya so long?" He asked as I made my way to his bedside with his much-needed booze bottle.

Handing him over the shine, which he quickly corked and downed in a large guzzling gulp, I simply told him, "I was busy in the kitchen."

"Oh." He nodded, taking a quick break from drinking his whiskey to wipe off his mustache and beard framed lips. "Yea, I forget you're prolly gettin' supper together."

With a nod, I simply told him, "Yea, it's a casserole. It'll be ready in a few hours." Gingerly taking a seat on the bed, I asked him, "Other then the pain, how're you feeling?"

Taking another sip from his bottle, he told me, "Fine."

"I think I should take that with me when you're done. You've been drinking excessively since you've gotten hurt." I suggested in a nice, but blunt way that'd get my point across.

"I haven't been drinking excessively, Jessa. I hurt and need whiskey to numb the pain. Goddamnit, I'm not drinkin' to get drunk, I'm drinking to get better." Shaw ranted and raved, clutching his bottle in a vice grip and bringing it close to his chest in a protective type of gesture. God, he was acting like a child trying to play keep away with a friend or a sibling when it came to a toy or something.

"If you say so…" I trailed off in a tone that was a bit unconvinced.

"You don't believe me, babe?" Shaw asked with a raised brow.

"I've lived with a drunk before, so, no, maybe I don't believe you."

"Whatever. Believe whatever the fuck ya wanna believe, but I ain't a drunk." He snarled a bit defensively before bringing his bottle to his lips and taking a large gulp of shine.

"Okay." I simply said before standing up and walking out of the room. I wasn't fighting with Shaw today over his drinking while he's on the mend. I'll bring it up again after he heals if he's still drinking too much.

It's been a couple of weeks since Shaw's injury and all he's been doing's drinking while pissing and moaning in bed, something I didn't approve of. I also didn't like how he had a booze stash in the hayloft hidden away from me either. Yea, I only found out about that when I overheard him yelling at Todd to go get him some shine from the barn. When I confronted Todd, he told me the truth about Shaw's stash. It hit me hard that Shaw had been drinking behind my back for a while now (since my miscarriage or maybe even before).

Doc was supposed to be coming by soon to take out Shaw's makeshift chest tube and to give him instructions for the remainder of the healing process of his side. I'm hoping Doc tells him to stop drinking otherwise I'm going to have to be the heavy and demand that he cuts back on his whiskey habit. Talk about Shaw's whiskey habit, right as I started sweeping the kitchen he shouted, "Babe, bring me some shine! Please, I'm hurtin'!"

Bullshit, I doubt he's still hurting. It's been 2-weeks since his injury, he's getting his trocar removed today so his 'hurting' is a bullshit excuse to drink. Bastard… I left out a sigh before crossing the kitchen and going over to my room. I opened the door and popped my head in. "Doc should be here any minute, you don't need any shine right now."

"I don't give a shit 'bout Doc, I need a bottle. Look at me, I'm laid up in bed hurtin'."

"You're not that bad off, Shaw. You're getting the tube removed today, so your pain should be fading." I snapped at my fiancé with an aggravated edge to my voice. Holy shit, this man was driving me nuts. The sooner he was able to get back to work the better.

"Jessa, please." Shaw pouted and pleaded.

"No, Shaw. You don't need it." I firmly told him, standing my ground on the subject of cutting him off from booze.

"Yes, I do! Damnit, I need some whiskey!" Shaw screamed like a wild animal as the veins in his neck twitched and bulged.

I didn't say a word, just slammed the door shut and went back to sweeping. I looked over at Silas and Lydia, who were playing in their playpen, and felt a pang of sorrow and sympathy for them since their father was slipping into alcoholism whether he knew it or not.

A knock on the door jostled me out of any thoughts that were being to float inside of my head. I set my broom against the counter and quickly made my way over to the door since I figured Doc was here. When I answered the door, I was right. "Come in, Doc." I politely let the man in with a small smile.

"How's Shaw doin', Miss Jessa?" Doc asked as he walked inside.

"He's been drinking excessively. He claims it's to numb his pain, but…" I honestly told the doctor as I shut the door behind him. I let the end of my last sentence hang in the air on purpose in order to make the Doc be the heavy; to call my fiancé an alcoholic.

"But you think it's something more." Doc finished my thought that I let hanging in the air. "I understand your concern; I'll talk to him about it." He told me in a professional tone, one I'm sure he used with countess others in the same boat that I'm in.

"Good luck with that, Doc." I told the middle-aged doctor since I doubted that anything he said to Shaw would make a difference. If I, his fiancé, couldn't get thru to him then what would make Doc's words give him an epiphany.

Doc just nodded, clearly choosing to ignore my sarcasm, and made his way over to the door of the master bedroom.

Shaw POV:

Jessa just slammed the door and never came back with my shine. Really, how can she be such a bitch to me right now? She knows I'm in a bad spot, need some whiskey for medicinal purposes. I don't like her excuse of Doc's coming to justify her not giving me a bottle. Hell, I paid Johnse good money for those bottles I keep in my hayloft; I should be able to drink them whenever I want too.

I was bored and staring at the ceiling whenever the door opened and in walked Doc. "Jessa says you're drinkin' quite a lotta whiskey lately."

"Yea, to manage my pain." I explained before quirking a brow and asking, "Why?"

"You might want to cut back since you're just 'bout healed." Doc told me while going over to my bedside table. Setting down his bag and pulling out some bandages, he added in, "After I remove the trocar, you'll just need to wear a bandage on the wound while it continues to heal on its own for a couple more weeks."

"Don't tell me how much to drink, Doc. Just do your job and get this damn tube out of me." I coldly told the man as I pulled my blanket down from my chest and lifted up my long-john shirt.

"Shaw, you've seen what excessive drinkin' can do to a family; I hope you've got more sense than to repeat a pattern you grew up with." He had the balls to tell me while giving me a stern look. Jackass…

"You can leave when you're done, Doc. I don't need to hear your bullshit 'bout how I'm like Peter cause I ain't. I ain't some sloshed violent drunk that beats the shit out of his family; I'm just usin' the whiskey cause I'm in pain." I spat at him, lying back so that he could have access to my chest tube.

"You just be careful, Shaw, cause that woman out in the kitchen ain't playin' 'round wit'cha." Doc warned me right as he yanked the metal tube out of my chest, making me hiss and groan in pain. I didn't say a word, just cut my eyes at him as he placed a bandage on my side.

Roseanna POV:

It was a lovely spring day and Johnse decided that with everything goin' on wit' our families that we needed to spend some much-needed alone time t'gether. He took us for a ride thru some backtrails that were on his family's (well my family too I susppose) land. He halted his horse to a stop right at a clearin' full of trees an' shrubs that had a dirt path leadin' to a small lake in the distance. Johnse dismounted an' lifted me off of our horse while tellin' me, "I used t'come here a lot as a boy. Wanted to show ya this swimmin' hole."

"Oh, Johns, it's so beautiful out here." I smiled wit' awe, doin' a slight spin as I took in the lush foilage an' sproutin' flowers at the head of the clearin'. Oh my, I've nev'r seen such beauty in a place 'fore in my entire life. I nev'r knew the hills an' backwoods held so much beauty in 'em since I've nev'r seen places like this back in Kentucky.

Grabbin' my hand, my husband told me wit' a large grin, "Come on, Roseanna, it only gets better at the docks." I smiled at my husband and let him led me in skips an' runs down the path and to a large wooden. "The water's the bluest you'll ever see. Shines in the sunlight just like crystal too." Johnse informed me as the lake came into view while we rushed down the wooden dock like a bunch of carefree kids.

Once we reached the middle o'the dock, Johnse let go of my hand. He just smirked at me 'fore takin' his hat off an' pullin' his shirt ov'r his head. "What're ya doin'?" I asked as he toed outta his boots. He didn't answer me, just removed his socks 'long wit' his pants. "Are ya crazy?" I asked him as he pulled down his long-john pants. We're on his folks' land at their swimmin' hole, he can't just jump in naked.

My husband didn't pay me no mind, just ran to the edge o'the dock an' jumped into the water wit' a loud whoop. After poppin' his head outta the water, his pushed back his soaked blonde hair an' smiled at me. "Come on in, darlin'."

"Here, in the eyes o'god?" I asked him since I felt a bit uncomfortable 'bout bein' naked in nature. We've only been naked in the privacy of our home, nowhere else. I was unheard of an' unproper t'be nude where somebody might see ya.

"We're alone out here, 'sides god knows we're married." He countered me 'fore wavin' for me t'jump. "Come join me, Roseanna."

I chewed on my bottom limp for pullin' off my blouse. Johnse's lighthearted blue eyes were locked on me as I shimmed outta my tartan skirt. Quickly, I took off my boots, stockin's, an' shift 'fore jumpin' off of the dock an' into the crystal blue water. It was a bit cool, but also felt refreshin'. After breakin' to the surface, I pushed my hair 'way from my face an' wiped the water from my eyes.

Johnse just smirked at me 'fore splashin' me. I smiled an' splashed him back. For a couple minutes we played a game o'splashin' eachother back an' forth 'fore I swam ov'r to him. Playfully, I jumped on his back an' tried t'dunk him under the water. Johns just chuckled an' wiggled 'way from me. He had a playful look on his face as he grabbed my arm an' pulled me close t'his chest. I was expectin' him to dunk me under the water, but he took me by surprise by kissin' me instead.

"I love ya, Roseanna. Always have, always will, no matter what." My husband confessed wit' a tender look in his eyes after breakin' out kiss, but bein' nose t'nose wit' me.

Oh, how his words made my heart swell wit' warmth an' love. How is it possible t'be loved an' love so much? "I love ya too, Johnse. So much." I replied wit' a sweet smile.

"Reckon so or ya wouldn't have married me, Mrs. Hatfield." Johnse winked 'fore capturin' my lips in another kiss.

Our simple kiss soon turned heated as he nipped an' tugged at my bottom lip while his hands began t'roam to body. I parted my lips for him, givin' him access t'deepen our kiss while wrappin' an arm 'round his neck an' holdin' onto his shoulder wit' my other hand. As our kisses deepen an' our tongues danced t'gether, Johnse grabbed hold o'my hips an' holsted me up t'wrap my legs 'round him. After wrappin' my legs 'round his waist he entered me in one swift motion, causin' us t'both to stop kissin' to gasp an' let out some soft moans. Our lovemakin' movements matched that of the waves in the lake, gentle an' smooth.

After an unmeasured 'mount o'time we found our blissful releases. Untwinnin' ourselves from each other, our chests were heavin' as we tried t'calm down our breathin'. "That was somethin' special." I told Johnse as I felt a blush rise t'my cheeks.

"Every time wit'cha's special, my beautiful sweet darlin'." Johnse softly declared, gently caressin' my cheek. I just smiled an' nodded at him. Suddenly, Johnse's wits came back t'him an' he suggested, "We ought'a get goin' home."

"Yea, we should." I agreed wit' my husband as we floated in the water inches from each other.

Silently, we swam ov'r to the dock. Johnse holsted himself outta 'fore kneelin' on the dock's edge an' offerin' me his hand. Instinctively, I placed my hand in his an' let my husband help me outta the water an' onto the dock. Quickly, we dressed an' left the dock hand in hand wit' smiles on our faces.

This afternoon was a good one, but every lovin' moment spent wit' Johnse is good.

AN:

Well, a lot happened in this chapter huh? Wasn't the end so sweet and fluffy with Roseanna and Johnse? Eh, considering the tension going on between Shaw and Jessa I just had to put in the Roseanna and Johnse swimming hole scene. Anyways, do you think that Allie's going to be fooled by Nancy or not? Oh, and what about Shaw and Jessa, how do you see them faring with his drinking on the rise?

In the next chapter we'll see how Abel's dealing with married life and a cousin-in-law bummin' 'round his one-room shack/cabin along with some other storyline essentials.