*Author's Note*
Thank you for all the follows, favs, and reviews.
Collateral Damage
Tolbert POV:
My brothers were all on the porch, readyin' t'leave an' go tend poppy's fields, when I rode up. "Here t'help work the fields, Tolbert?" Jim asked as I dismounted Eldorado.
"No, I'm 'ere to ask for yer help." I answered my brother while hitchin' my horse up. "See, 'round Easter time I did the trick wit' Jessa an' turns out she's pregnant. Worse is that Shaw's sniffin' 'round, wantin' her to take him back." I explained as I walked up the porch an' came to a stop in front o'my brothers.
"Why'd she take him back for? She's havin' yer baby." Pharmer remarked while at the same time Jim asked, "Ain't he a useless drunk; had'a be locked 'way t'get sober?"
"That Vance Bastard's pushy; ain't gonna stop til he gets what he wants. Worse tho is if he learns the baby's mine, hell he might do somethin' bad t'Jessa."
A concerned look fell on Jim's face as he asked, "What'cha need us t'do, Tolbert?"
"Help me find 'im an' dispose o'him." I answered Jim.
Calvin's eyes widened slightly as he asked, "Y'wanna kill him?"
I nodded 'fore goin' on t'explain, "Way I see it I don't got much of a choice. If he's breathin' he's a threat t'Jessa an' mine's baby."
"We'll help ya, Tolbert." Jim assured me, causin' my younger brothers t'just nod their heads.
"Grab yer guns an' lets go." I told my brothers causin' them to rush into the house an' out armed in only a few seconds. "Come on." I told 'em 'fore walkin' down the porch an' over to my horse.
My brothers all ran down the porch an' over to the barn. It only took 'em a minute t'saddle their horses an' emerge from the barn ready t'go. Without a word, I nodded my head at them an' lead 'em 'way from the cabin. Silently, we rode til we merged onto the main road, where we were lucky 'nough t'run smack dab into Shaw. He had Johnse wit' him, which was unfortunate cause I couldn't let 'im go as a witness.
Shaw POV:
While me and Johnse were getting ready to pass the McCoy homestead the McCoy boys, led by Tolbert, turned onto the main road. They had hard looks on their faces, but the gleam in Tolbert's eyes was murderous. Hell, reckon me and my cousin's in for it now. Looking at Johnse, I whispered, "Let me handle them." Johns didn't say a word, just nodded as a reply of understanding.
Tolbert stopped his horse right in front of me, causing his brothers to stop behind him. He looked me over with a deadly hate in his eyes. "Yer not gettin' 'way from me."
"What's this about, Tolbert? Are you still upset that I avoided the gallows or is it more, like me getting the woman?" I asked Tolbert, bluntly, but albeit in a way that'd also get under his skin and embarrass him in front of his brothers. I hated that ginger fuck; wanted him to get flustered and look like a fool in front of his pack of bros.
"Ya shut the hell up!" Tolbert roared, puffin' his chest up in an attempt to scare me. Too bad it wasn't working tho.
"Truth hurts, don't it." I snickered, giving my enemy a shit eatin' grin.
Tolbert looked over his shoulder at his brother before looking back at. I raised a brow up, silently askin' what he was gonna do. He answered my silent question by grabbing his gun, standin' in his saddle, and pistol whippin' me 'cross the temple.
"What'd ya do that for, Tolbert?" Johnse cried as I fell out of my saddle and hit the ground with a loud oomph as a result of gettin' hit.
"Shut up, Johnse!" Tolbert loudly spat, jumping down from his horse as I pushed myself up off the ground.
"Since I'm your brother-in-law maybe we can talk this out, Tolbert." Johnse suggested to the hot-headed McCoy, dismountin' his horse and goin' up to him.
"Ya might be married t'my sister, but ya sure in hell ain't my brother." Tolbert sneered at Johnse while his brothers dismounted their horse and flanked us.
Ah shit…we fell right into a trap. I just shook my head incredulously as Johnse tried to reason with the ginger. "But Tolbert, we don't want no trouble. We're just on our way t'Floyds 'bout piglets."
Tolbert had a hard look flaring in his stormy eyes as he smacked Johnse upside the head, knocking him out cold. "Get 'im loaded up, I'll deal wit' the Vance Bastard." Tolbert ordered his brothers, pointin' between Johnse and a horse before smirkin' and cockin' his head towards me.
Like hell I'm gonna just stand 'round and let Tolbert kidnap my ass. Before he could grab me, I spun 'round and bolted. I didn't have any time to mount my horse, so I just booked it on foot. Hey, I played football in high school so I was a fast runner.
Tolbert POV:
"Bring 'im t'Uncle Harmon's ole place. I gotta go after Shaw." I ordered my brothers 'fore mountin' Eldorado an' quickly gallopin' off in the direction that Vance Bastard took off in.
I don't know how far he thought he was gonna get, but wit' me on horseback an' him on foot it wouldn't take long 'fore I caught 'im. As he got into view, I pulled my gun out an' started takin' shots at 'im. He was duckin' an' dodgin' my bullets while tryin' to outrun me. Oone o'my bullets grazed his arm, causin' him to falter an' grab it.
Aha, I finally had my chance. Comin' up t'him, I jumped off my horse an' slammed him into the ground. "Ya ain't gettin' 'way from me." I told him, grabbin' his head an' slammin' it into the ground. "Yer time's up, ya Vance Bastard." I darkly chuckled, slammin' his head 'gainst the ground til his body went limp an' his breathin' got shallow.
Well, now that he's knocked out cold, I reckon I better sling 'im ov'r my horse an' take him to Uncle Harmon's t'meet his maker.
Shaw POV:
I cam to tied to a chair with a splittin' headache. The bridge of my nose hurt like a bitch too. I could feel the tightness of dried blood 'round my nostrils and remembered the tackle and head bashing I received from Tolbert while trying to make a run for it. No doubt my mustache and beard's stained red with blood from my broken nose. I looked around and noticed that Johnse was knocked out and tied to a chair a few feet to my right. A few feet in front of me, perched on a chair like a lion stalkin' out his prey, was Tolbert. His brothers weren't in the room, so I guess he sent them off to collect wood or find food or something. Hell, he might've even sent them to gather more McCoys for all I know. From looking around the room I came to the conclusion that we were inside of a cabin. One that's been abandoned for a while since it was dusty and stuffy.
"What're you up to, Tolbert?" I asked my kidnapper, furrowing my brows at him.
"Ah, see Sleepin' Beauty's 'wake." The ginger fuck chuckled, leanin' one of his elbows on his knee.
Tilting my head, I cut my eyes at Tolbert and told him, "Don't patronize me, just tell me why I'm here."
A smirk appeared on his face as he simply told me, "Yer here cause I'm gonna kill ya."
"Of course, you are." I rolled my honey eyes at him before scoffing, "Wouldn't expect anythin' less from your stupid ass."
"Shut up or else I'll have t'knock ya out 'gain." He warned in a bark, holding up his gun to further his point.
I didn't shut up tho. "Is there a reason you're gonna kill me today? I mean if this is 'bout the time I got'cha kicked outta school or stole some of those coins you were hoarding in your money jar I'm sure we can get past it." Smirkin', I told him, "Hell, I'll give ya $50 right now t'let me go." I meant it too, if he'd untie me, I'd pay him. I'd also jack his gun from him too and shoot him in the head, but he didn't need to know that…
Leaning back in his chair, Tolbert revealed, "This ain't 'bout school or coins, Shaw. This is 'bout Jessa."
"Oh, I see, you're mad that I got the woman after all." I chuckled, finding his jealousy a bit pathetic. He needed to just move on with some whore and forget all about my girl.
"Nah, ya see that's where yer wrong. Ya don't got 'er. No, cause Jessa's pregnant wit' my child."
That lyin' fucker! "You're fuckin' lyin'. She told me 'bout the baby this mornin'; it's mine!" I shouted, feeling my blood boiling in my veins angrily.
"No, it's mine." Tolbert shook his head. "R'member, ya've been locked up for a month getting' sober."
"We were together before my uncle locked me up, you dumbass." I dryly remarked, fighting the urge to roll my eyes at the brainless trigger-happy ginger.
He had 'cat that just ate the canary' type look on his face as he told me, "'Cordin' t'Nancy who heard it right from Allie Hatfield, Jessa's pregnant wit' my child." Pointing to his chest he shouted, "Mine!"
Wait a minute, wait a goddamn minute! Allie's hanging out with McCoys behind Cap's back and makin' up lies about Jessa. What kind of bitch is she? I know her brother Abel's married to Nancy and she hates me, but I never thought she'd stoop so low to destroy my life. Hell, she's not a very good friend to Jessa either with her backstabbing and lies.
"Allie hates my guts, I wouldn't believe nothin' that comes out of that bitch's mouth."
"Well, considerin' she seems honest when I've talked to her, I'll take her word ov'r yers any day." What the hell? He's friends with that lyin' bitch? Oh hell no.
I shook my head before seething lowly, "You no good ginger fuck. I swear if I wasn't tied up, I'd snap your neck and kill you."
"But yer tied up an' can't do shit t'me." Tolbert sneered, gettin' up from his chair and walkin' over to me. He stopped right in front of me and leaned in so that our faces were inches apart. A twisted look appeared on his face before he spit right in my face, causing me to jerk back in a disgusted reaction. I shook my face and struggled against the rope bindin' me to my chair since I wanted so badly to wipe his spit off of my face. "Yer tied up right now, can't do nothin', but thrash 'round trapped animal." That ginger fucker taunted me with an evil smirk plastered on his face.
He stepped back a few paces and sniggered causing me to strain against my restraints and promise in a dark and deep tone, "I swear, Tolbert, once I get loose, I'm gonna kill ya.
Shaking his head, he taunted me with, "No, I'm the one that's gonna kill ya instead."
Staring him down, I seriously told him, "You won't kill me, Tolbert, cause I'm gonna shoot ya dead first." And I meant it. I was gonna find a way to kill his fuckin' dumbass.
"I'm back wit' a rabbi-oh, he's 'wake." Pharmer remarked as he walked into the cabin and noticed me wide awake; giving his brother hateful look.
Turning to his fat ass brother, Tolbert asked, "Where's ev'one else? Still huntin' an' gatherin'?"
"Bud an' Jim's pickin' roots an' Calvin's finishin' gatherin' up some wood." Pharmer answered Tolbert while looking over me and Johnse. From the look in his eye, I knew he felt bad for my cousin and also noticed the wad of spit on the bridge of my broken nose.
Tolbert just nodded, seeming to accept his brother's answer. Pointing to me, he ordered,"Watch 'im.", before going over to his brother. Snatching the rabbit from Pharmer, he told him, "I'll skin the rabbit for stew.", before storming out of the cabin.
Great, now I'm stuck with fat ass Pharmer as company.
Jessa POV:
"Shaw on his way?" I asked Todd as he walked thru the door, looking like a drowned rat, while made my way to the kitchen table with a large meat platter.
"I guess he is. I didn't see him all day." Todd told me, hanging up his hat before walking into the main room of the house.
"What?" I asked, placing the platter on the table. Placing a hand on my hip, I told Todd, "I thought he was handling Floyd's piglets and helping with the livery today."
"Me too, but he never came in." Todd told me while going over to the stairs.
That's odd. Shaw always did what he said he'd do when it came to work. The livery was his pride and joy, the business he built from the ground up. "Something had to have happened, that's the only reason I can think of for why he never showed up at the livery."
"Yea, he got some shine from Johnse and drank himself drunk." The teen deadpanned, leaning an elbow against the railing of the stairs.
Waving off Todd's remark, I sighed, "Something just doesn't feel right. I just got this nagging feeling that something's wrong with Shaw."
"What's wrong is he's drunk somewhere and shirked his responsibilities." Todd said in a smartass tone before tellin' me, "I'm gonna change 'fore I catch pneumonia.", and starting up the stairs.
"We'll be waiting at the table for you." I assured him before going to grab a platter of green beans. "Mary, can you bring the kids to the table?" I asked the blonde that was currently playing with Silas and Lydia as I brought the veggie plater to the table.
"Yes, Jessa." Mary simply told me before doing as she was told while I finished setting the table.
I had this feeling deep in my gut that something was wrong. No way in hell would Shaw blow off both work at his beloved livery and dinner with me and the kids. No, something happened to him, but I just don't know what. Dear lord, I hope he didn't fall off the bandwagon like Todd suggested. It'd be a tragic waste considering all the trouble Uncle Jim went thru to get Shaw sober. God, if Shaw's in some kind of trouble I hope and pray he can find a way out of it. I truly do since I have a feeling that he's in trouble. A feeling I can't prove, but a feeling none the less.
Meanwhile Over At Harmon McCoy's Old Cabin In The Kentucky Woods…
Shaw POV:
I wasn't sure what time it was, but if I had to guess I'd say it's 'round dinner time. Johnse was finally awake, but wasn't doing much talkin'. My cousin was too busy watching Pharmer stir a stew pot that was in the fireplace. I was pretty sure I was sufferin' from a concussion since my head hurt, I felt dizzy, and I was nauseas. Hey, I had a couple in high school between football and bronc riding in rodeos so I knew the symptoms. I was forcin' myself to keep my eyes open cause I couldn't afford to fall asleep and never wake up. My family needed me now more than ever, so I was staying awake even tho I was in unbearable pain. Oh my god, my head felt like somebody was hittin' it over and over with a sledgehammer. The sound of heavy rain peltin' down onto the roof didn't help matters out any either. Of course, we'd be having a bad summer storm tonight. The sound of the rain and thunder was pure torture to my poundin' head.
Lookin' between me and the McCoy boys (minus Calvin since he was out collectin' more kindlin'), Johnse asked in a low whisper, "What do ya think they're gonna do t'us?"
"Earlier when you were out of it, Tolbert made it clear that he plans on killin' me. I dunno what they'll do to you tho." I answered Johnse in a whisper of my own as I subtly eyed our kidnappers.
"Maybe they'll let me go cause I'm their brother-in-law." Johnse suggested in a hope filled whisper, looking at life with a glass half full mentality.
"Maybe." I doubt it. They'll kill him too so that they won't have a witness to their crime. Hell, I know that's what I'd do if I was them.
A crack of thunder sounded out in the air as the front door opened with a squeak. Calvin walked inside, water drippin' from his hat and jacket, as he carried a small load of firewood underneath his jacket as a way to keep the kindlin' dry. Quietly, he brought the wood over to the fireplace and dropped it onto the floor by the hearth before removin' his soaked hat and jacket and taking a seat by the fire.
"Calvin, put 'nother log in the fire would ya." Jim told his younger brother, pointing to the flame that was under the cook pot, as he sat in the corner huddled under an old wool blanket.
"Just a small one, don't wanna grow the flame t'much an' burn Tolbert's stew." Pharmer warned Calvin as the younger one reached next to him and grabbed a piece of firewood.
Lookin' over his shoulder at his brothers, Tolbert swore, "I'll have yer heads if ya burn it."
Bud, who was perched on the stairs, just gave Calvin and Pharmer pitiful looks. Hmm, reckon he burnt Tolbert's stew once and caught hell for it.
"We ain't burnin' yer stew, Tolbert." Calvin assured his older brother while flingin' a stick of wood into the fireplace.
"Better not." The ginger grumbled under his breath before turnin' his attention back to watchin' me and Johnse. Goddamn, all Tolbert's been doin' for hours on end is sittin' and staring at us as if we're gonna sprout some fairy wings and fly out of here. Crazy bastard.
Well, looks like I'm gonna be late for dinner. God, Jessa's probably worried sick about me. Hell, last thing she needs right now is stress since she's pregnant.
It was pitch black right now, so I'm estimating that it had to be at least 8 at night. The stew was done and was just stayin' warm in the fireplace. Everyone, except for me and Johnse, had a bowl of stew. Tolbert was controllin' the rations; wanted to make sure that him and his brothers had their share before feeding us. Hell, Bud was sitting on the steps picking at his stew (hell must taste like shit if he's not eating it) while Pharmer's fat ass was getting himself another helping. Hell, he was placing scoop after scoop of stew into his bowl like a greedy bastard.
Johnse was staring at the cook pot with hunger in his eyes. Poor guy, bet he's not used to going this long without food. I hadn't done it in years, but when I was younger and Peter got into a bad drunken fit sometimes I'd go a day or so without food cause he'd just take it from me and tell me that I didn't need it since I was thin and didn't eat much anyways. Mom would try to reason with him, but that'd just result in a smack or him reminding her that he was the head of the house and if she didn't listen then she'd lose her happy home along with their kids since he'd never let her take them from him. So, yea, I could handle not eating or having food taunted in my face since I dealt with it 'til I was a teen. Johnse tho never knew a hungry day in his life so I knew being able to smell and look at that stew, but not eat it, was pure torture for him.
Tolbert stood up from his chair and strode over to me and Johnse while asking us, "S'pose yer wonderin' why I don't kill ya'll straight 'way?"
Great, now he's playin' mind games with us. I just narrowed my honey eyes hatefully at the ginger fuck. Oh god, how I hated him. Johnse on the other hand played right into Tolbert's game by remarkin', "Um, cause you know it ain't right."
"Horseshit!" Tolbert screamed, his face turning red with rage. Leanin' in close, he declared in an eerily even and menacing tone, "I'm gonna blow yer brains out, but first I'm gonna make ya'll squirm an' suffer all the torment an' hell ya Hatfields brung down on us."
A confused look appeared on Johnse's face. "But I respect your sister, Tolbert. Y'know that since we're married and she's carryin' my baby."
Turnin' to my cousin, I told him, "I'm the one he's after, Johns. You're just collateral damage."
"Oh, now ain't'cha a smart one." Tolbert sarcastically chuckled.
"Reckon so considerin' I'm the only one here that graduated the 12th grade." I deadpanned.
Pointin' his gun at me, he seethed, "I'm gonna shoot ya dead come dawn like they do in the army." Gettin' into my face he screamed, "An' I'm gonna let'cha know how much closer it is every hour we get closer!"
Lookin' at Tolbert, who was in my face, Johnse asked, "Um, can I have one last request?"
Snappin' his head to look at my cousin, the ginger asked, "What'd ya want?"
"To see Roseanna one last time. I wanna say goodbye t'her in a proper way." Johnse answered Tolbert, causing everyone, but Tolbert, to look at him with pity and sorrow. Johnse grew some balls and held his chin up while declaring, "I'll stand up tall when ya shoot me and when I get to heaven, I'll ask god to damn your souls; send ya'll fryin' t'hell for what you've done to me."
"No, yer the one goin' t'hell an' ya ain't askin' god for squat." Tolbert told Johnse while standin' with his gun slack to his side, lookin' like an idiot. Hmm, seems that maybe he's havin' regrets about having to kill his brother-in-law.
"Roseanna does love him. She'll hate us forever if we don't allow it." Pharmer spoke up, causing Tolbert to round on him with an angry look on his face.
"No, I said!" Tolbert roared before lazily pointin' his gun at my cousin and addin' in, "He gets a bowl of stew an' nothin' else. Mmm…"
"So, can I get a bowl of stew too considerin' I did miss out on dinner with my family?" I asked, mostly to get under Tolbert's skin.
"Hell no!" Tolbert spat at me.
"Too bad, ain't fittin' to deny a man his last meal." I sighed, causing Tolbert to just narrow his eyes hatefully at me.
Bud was playing with his stew, stirring his bowl with his spoon, as he looked between me, Johnse, and Tolbert. He placed his bowl next to him on the stairs before announcin', "Stew didn't set right wit' me." Really? He hardly even ate it. Wringin' his hands together, he asked, "Ya'll mind if I go home?"
"Sure, Bud." Jim told the youngest McCoy while standing up from his corner chair. "Ya shouldn't be here when we do the killin' anyways." He told Bud, walkin' over to him and helpin' him stand up from his perch on the lower steps.
"Yea, yer too young." Pharmer agreed while Tolbert went over to the fireplace, leanin' his arm against the mantle and staring into the flames dancing underneath the warmin' stew pot.
"I ain't too young, just don't feel too good. A'ight?" Bud protested, shovin' his hat on his head as Jim escorted him over to the door.
"Bye, Bud. Hell, I'll see ya on the other side." Johnse told his brother-in-law as the young man opened up the door.
Bud just gave us a quick look before scurryin' out the door and into the pouring rain. Reckon we won't be seein' him anymore.
AN:
So, Shaw and Johnse got kidnapped by the McCoy boys. Dun dun dun. Oh, what do you think Shaw's going to do with the revelation that Allie was working with Tolbert/told him Jessa was pregnant? Oh, and what do you think about Jessa's feeling about something being wrong with Shaw?
Next up is Bud going to Roseanna for help along with some other stuff that goes with the kidnapping plotline.