*Author's Note*
Thank you for all the follows, favs, and reviews.
Oh snap, back to back updates! YAY! Yea, this more or less just wrote itself. LOL!
July 5th, 1881
Anse POV:
Yesterday me and my family had a nice time at the 4th of July festival. So much so that everyone was sittin' at the breakfast table half asleep since we got home a bit late last night. I was sippin' on my coffee while my wife placed oatmeal in everyone's bowls. The coffee helped ward off the early mornin' tiredness. Ellison and Cotton were ov'r for breakfast too and much like myself my brother was drinkin' coffee to give his tired ass a kick. Cotton looked like he was gonna fall asleep at any moment as he waited for his scoop of oatmeal.
"Cotton, sit up son." Ellison instructed his son with a gentle warmness in his chastising tone.
"Okay daddy." Cotton nodded, sitting up straight.
A loud knock sounded at the door, startlin' the chil'ren since they were all half-asleep. I figured to must've been Sully and Uncle Jim droppin' by for breakfast so I wasn't too bothered by the knock. Ellison didn't say a word, just continued to sip on his coffee. Levicy looked towards the door and announced, "I'll get it." I just nodded in approval and sipped on my coffee. Quickly, my wife placed the oatmeal pot on the counter and went over to answer the door. As soon as she opened it she greeted our breakfast guests with, "Johnse, Roseanna, come ov'r for breakfast this mornin'?"
Me and Ellison shared a curious look. We both knew that my daughter-in-law was perfectly capable of makin' breakfast for my son so them comin' over this mornin' was interestin'.
"No, mama, we came ov'r cause we need'a talk to daddy." Johnse told his mama, a hand loosely restin' on his wife's back.
"Well, come on in and sit down. While you're here might as well eat too." Levicy told our chil'ren as she ushered them into the house and over to the table.
"Mornin' Johnse, Roseanna, nice t'see ya." I greeted them as they took a seat by me.
"Daddy, we didn't want to trouble ya wit' this yesterday at the festival, but my darlin' Roseanna overheard somethin' said by her brother that ya need to know." Johnse told me with a troubled way to his usually light and chipper tone.
"What was said an' how'd ya hear it, Roseanna?" I asked, placin' my cup down so that I could give the girl my full attention.
Roseanna looked scared outta her wits as Johnse placed a supportive hand on her shoulder and softly told her, "Just tell daddy what'cha told me. It's a'ight, Rosie."
My meek daughter-in-law nodded 'fore lookin' at me and confessin' lengthily, "I was walkin' behind Tolbert's shine cart t'get back to Johnse after spendin' some time wit' his sisters when I heard my brother talkin' to our cousins an' other brothers 'bout Shaw. I heard Squirrel say he thought that Allie was gonna help 'im get Jessa back an' my brother's response that Allie was helpin'; that she told him to run off wit' Jessa. That the plan didn't work cause he decided t'go after Shaw an' kill him instead."
"Anse, that ain't good." Ellison sighed while givin' me a worried look. Hell, when my easy goin' brother was worried ya know you've got a problem on your hands.
"And you swear you heard this true, word for word, what ya just told me now?" I asked Roseanna, searchin' her face for any inticadtion that her words were false, but findin' no such indicator.
"Yes, Mr. Hatfield, I swear." Roseanna quickly nodded her head. Staring me right in the eyes, her blues on mine, she added in a firm and steady tone, "I swear to the lord above an' on my baby's life what I just told you's true."
Shit, I was afraid of this. I nodded, knowin' that I needed to skip out on breakfast an' have a talk with both my son and his sweet liar of a wife. Lookin' at my brother, I told him, "Ellison, if I ain't at work by startin' time you're incharge til I get there. Understood?"
"Understood, Anse." Ellison nodded as I rose from the table.
Without a word, I went over to the hooks by the door and grabbed my gun belt and hat. After puttin' them on, I walked out the door. Oh god, this mornin's gonna be a rough one.
Allie POV:
I'd just set the bacon platter down on the table whenever a loud frantic knock sounded at the door. "Wonder who that could be?" I remarked, causing Cap to just shrug before grabbing some bacon for him and our son (who was sitting next to him). "Just eat, I'll get the door." I told my husband, who was planning on sitting and eating anyways.
Quickly, I reached the door and answered it only to reveal my father-in-law. Devil Anse had a very hard and imposing look on his face. Before I could even open my mouth up to greet him, the man coldly told me, "You don't look like a liar, but looks can be decievin'.", as he walked right by me and into my house as if he own the damn thing. What the hell? Stoppin' a few feet from the entryway, he barked, "Cap, come 'ere!"
Cap's head popped up in a startled way since he wasn't expecting his dad to waltz on into our house and order him around like he was still a young child. "What's wrong, pa?" Cap asked as he stood up from the table.
"Your brother, Johnse, and his wife just paid me a visit. Told me that Roseanna overheard Tolbert loud an' clearly tellin' his kin that your wife, Allie, here was helpin' him plan a way t'run off with Jessa." Devil Anse told Cap in a calm and steely tone while the latter made his way over to the entryway.
"What?" My husband seethed, his voice low and cold, as he gave me a narrowed and chilling look with his mismatched eyes. Eyes that usually didn't bother me, til now since the look in them was so frightening it could rival Medussa's gaze.
"I did no such thing." I lied in a vain attempt to save my own ass. Oh my god, why was Tolbert always so stupid? Why did he have to talk about Jessa, me, and the failed get away in a public setting? Didn't he know how dangerous that was for me or did he not give a shit? Guess I misplaced my trust in that crazy ginger.
"Don't lie to me, Allie. Dishonesty's not very becomin' of a daughter-in-law of mine."
"I meant no harm to our family, Anse. I never talked to Tolbert, but one time when I went to visit my brother when he didn't show up for a luncheon we had planned." I lied, hoping that the quick story I spun would spare me any wrath from the imposing man staring me down with a deadly gaze firm in his icy cold blue eyes.
"I don't believe a word that comes outta your mouth." Devil Anse declared, his words crisp and clear. Turning to his son, he advised, "Cap, you shouldn't believe a word your liyin' wife has to say either. Not when it puts us in danger; weakens us to McCoys' attacks."
"I'm not lyin', Tolbert is. He's prolly mad that my brother got fired since he lives with him. Who knows why he's telling lies about me, but he is."
"As of now you're no longer allowed in my house, at least not til you've proven yourself loyal to my family and not to be a convivin' spy."
"What?" I gasped, not believing what I'd just heard.
Not missing a beat, my father-in-law ignored my gasp and went on to say, "Your chil'ren are allowed in my house 'long with my son." Looking between me and my husband, he said, "In fact, I must demand that my son comes home with his chil'ren til a time that I've deemed ya a fittin' wife an' mother; not a traitor."
"What?!" I exclaimed, wide-eyed, while my husband just nodded. What, Cap just nodded?
"Yes, pa." Cap nodded, his jaw clenched and tight, as his chest puffed up with tense anger.
"Bring the chil'ren by the main house 'fore goin' to work. Bring whatever you'll need, son." Devil Anse told my husband before giving me a hard look and sayin', "Don't look so grief stricken, Allie. You've done this to yourself.", before turning on his heel and walking out of my house.
"Cap, you're not really going to listen to him, are you?" I frantically asked my husband as he made a beeline towards our room.
"Yes, Alma, I am." I told me as he barged into our room.
"Why?" I pressed as he went over to our closet.
"Cause ya lied to not just me, but the entire family 'bout consortin' with McCoys. I can't even look at ya right now wit'out wantin' to run my fist into a wall." My husband spat out as he grabbed a bag and filled it with a few clothes from his part of our dresser.
"Cap, it's not as bad as it sounds. Tolbert's lyin-" I pleaded, only to be cut off by my husband's low and angry snap of, "Shut up Alma. I don't wanna hear it right now.", as he grabbed some of our daughter's things and stuffed them into the bag. "Johnse an' Roseanna are too sweet and stupid t'be makin' up what they heard." He told me, slinging his bag over his shoulder before storming out of our room. "I don't care what'cha say, their claims gonna out do your's right now. 'Specially since he's ma's fav'rite." My husband told me in a dark and tense tone while makin' his way t the stiars.
"But, Cap, you're gonna let your dad tear our family apart." I protested, tears trickling down my checks, as I rushed upstairs after my husband.
"You reap what you sow, darlin'. Shouldn't 've went 'hind my back an' consorted wit' McCoys if ya didn't want our family torn 'part." He told me without a pinch of sympathy in his deep timbre as he walked into our son's room. Stuffing some of our son's things into the bag, he told me, "Ya really want ur family whole then prove to me that ya can be trusted. Prove t'pa and everybody that ya ain't no liar, no traitor, an' I'm sure pa'll sanction our rekindlin'."
"But Cap-" I tried to protest, only for him to cut me off with the blunt words of, "Be lucky you're still alive, Allie. My family don't take well to traitor's; it's usually a death sentence." What? Was he serious? His family was really that quick at killing people? What the hell? With his bag once again slung over his shoulder, he told me, "I love ya, Allie. I've loved ya since we were young an' innocent; always will love ya too, but pa's right orderin' this. I can't live with a woman, a wife, that the family don't trust no mores.", before walkin' by me.
I was shellshocked. How could he be complying so easily? I mean carefree Johnse went against Devil Anse's wishes and married Roseanna when in the pervious timeline he caved, so why isn't Cap bucking against his dad, but just nodding his head and listening like a good boy? Not knowing what to say, I followed Cap downstairs, only to see him gather up our kids.
"Say bye bye to mama cause it's gon'be a long time til ya see her 'gain." Cap told our son as they walked by me as I stood stock still and shocked by the bottom of the staircase.
"Bye bye, mama." Captain W. innocently waved at me before Cap, who was holding Levicy against his chest, ushered him out the door.
As soon as the door closed shut my legs gave out and I crumpled to the floor in a heap of cries and hysterical screams.
Jessa POV:
I was outside tending to the garden while Mary was outside playing tag with the kids. My sister-in-law was a good aunt. She was a good kid even tho she knew way too much for a normal 10-year-old. I mean she cooked, cleaned, and knew all about a deadly bloodfeud while most girls her age were still playing with dolls and having pretend tea parties. In a way it was sad how fast she was growing up. I didn't want my daughter growing up too fast. As I watched Lydia running around with a huge smile on her face as her brother chased after her, I swore that I'd do everything in my power to make sure that she didn't age before her time; could remain a girl until her teen years hit.
"Kids look like they're havin' fun." Sully's even and calming tone rung out in the air, breaking me out of my mental musings.
Looking into the direction I heard his voice carrying from, I saw him making his way over to my garden. With a smile I told my father-in-law, "Good afternoon, Sully. As you know those kids always have fun when it's a nice day outside."
"Least it's not too hot out today. Usually July and August are brutal months with the heat in these hills." Sully told me while stopping by my side and kneeling down next to me.
"Yea, I know." I nodded. Picking out a very large weed, I added in, "I'm thankful it's pleasant out instead of so humid since the heat usually bothers me while pregnant."
"How's things been with you and my son?"
"Things've been good, Sully."
"Good, that's good." He nodded, a small line of a smile sneaking up on his face. "You know my son's very excited about this baby. He feels very blessed, especially after the miscarriage that happened a few months ago."
"I feel the same way." I assured him with a smile. It was true, I really did feel excited and blessed to be pregnant again despite that iffy question of paternity.
"As you should." Sully told me with a soft smile. Within an instant his smile disappeared and a serious look overtook him. Looking me right in the eye, my father-in-law firmly said, "My son, despite his few issues, is a good man. Just don't be so quick to toss him aside the next time ya'll have some waves in the waters."
"I don't plan on divorcing him, Sully. Don't worry, I'll press him to talk about whatever's bothering him instead of giving him the boot." I honestly replied as I pulled weeds out of my garden.
Sully nodded, seeming to accept my answer. "Well, since you're busy weedin', I'll go see my step-daughter and grandchildren." He told me while standing up, shadowing me with his full height.
"Go ahead; they'll be pleased to see you." I smiled at Sully, causing him to nod and walk off towards where the kids were playing.
I'm glad that Sully's trying to be a good grandfather since it's been implied by both Shaw and Uncle Jim that he wasn't a very good dad. Maybe, just maybe, he can make up for his shortcomings as a father by being a good grandfather; a good step-father too.
Meanwhile At The Hatfield Lumber Mill Miles Away…
Shaw POV:
I was sittin' on the back on a wagon eatin' lunch with Uncle Jim. The entire mill was buzzing with the latest gossip, which was about Allie's betrayal to the Hatfields. Seems that Roseanna overheard Tolbert runnin' his mouth to his brothers and cousins at his shine wagon while she was on her way to see Johnse at his wagon. Of course, being the sweet and honest woman, she is, Roseanna told Johnse what she heard and he had dragged her ass to his parents' house this morning in order for her to relay the damning words to Devil Anse himself. So, lumber mill gossip had it that Devil Anse paid Cap and Allie a visit this mornin' to cut the lyin' bitch out of the family fold. Also, he ordered his son to take his kids and split. Yep, Anse told Cap to leave Allie and in turn the one-eyed favorite son of the devil did just that.
Cap, for the most part, was torn up and sulkin' over what happened. He wasn't eatin', but was just sittin' on a log by the creek staring off into space. Skunk Hair was next to him, givin' him silent sympathetic looks. Seems Skunk Hair didn't know how to console his best friend, so he just wallowed with him.
"After all his defendin' of her, Cap's been turned out t'be made a fool of." Uncle Jim told me, his lips loudly smackin' as he chewed his food, while pointin' his sandwich towards the area my cousin was broodin' at.
Looking between my cousin in the distance and my uncle, I declared, "I warned him, Uncle Jim, but he refused to listen. If he would've listened and handled it quietly in his own house, well, he wouldn't be the family fool right now."
"I have t'say that I liked Miss Allie at first when I meet her cause she didn't take no lip, but once she said I do an' b'came Mrs. Cap Hatfield she turned too reserved an' complicite for my likin'. She'd let Cap get ov'r on her, prolly why she went 'hind his back schemin' cause she couldn't face him face t'face like."
"I had no problems with her til she started takin' Olga's word over mine; started to question my feelings for Jessa too." I honestly told my uncle. It's true, I didn't have a problem with the blonde til she had one with me. Crazy bitch…
"Yep." Uncle Jim popped his tongue. Taking a large bite out of his sandwich, he told me, "She was bamboozled by that no-good Yankee whore actin' like some victim ev'n tho she was nuttier than a goddamn bedbug." Pointing his sandwich at me before eating some more of it, he went on to say, "Hell, if ya said ya knew Jessa 'fore comin' here an' always cared for her then Allie should've believed you, not her own crazy notion that ya'd mistreat her or somethin' cause you an' that Northern bitch went at it like cats an' dogs."
"Jessa feels so betrayed and backstabbed by Allie that it's not even funny. She hates her almost as much as I do and that's sayin' something, Jim." I revealed in between eating my own sandwich.
"Your Jessa's a good girl. She's strong, tough as nails, an' can hold her own no matter what. I must say, I nev'r thought I'd like her so much, but I do. Girl reminds me so much of my Mary."
"Family tale has to that Mary was promised to another man, you stole her 'way, and ya'll ran here to Mate Creek grovelin' to Ephraim for a place to stay."
"Pretty much true. But me an' Mary's story's similar to you an' Jessa's."
"How so?" I asked before taking a bite out of my cheese sandwich.
A silent moment passed before Uncle Jim lengthy explained his situation with his late wife. "Mary lived with a neighbor after her folks died. The farmer wanted to keep her on as a field hand, but knew it'd be hard since she was of age; arranged a match with her and his jackass son. We liked each other so one day I went to that farmhouse with a loaded gun, pointed the barrel at her intended and stole her." He shook his head and smirked, "We ran here and got some land from Anse's pap. We were happy and had a son til 'em no good Northern Yankee blue bellies came an' ruined it all."
"Shit…that eerily similar." I sighed out.
"Yep." My uncle popped his tongue. Givin' me a rare smile, he informed me, "You know Lil Jimmy would've been same age as you. I often think ya'll would've been friends."
Now I truly understand why Uncle Jim always had my back. In a way I filled the hole in his heart that his late son had left. I nodded and smiled, "I'm sure we'd be raisin' hell on those bastard McCoys."
"Yes, ya'll sure would." Uncle Jim loudly chuckled before taking a sip of his flask.
"Dinner smells good, babe." I told my wife, hanging up my hat and gun belt as soon as I stepped into the house and shut the door behind me.
"I made fried chicken with all the fixings." Jessa announced from the kitchen while she placed a platter on the table while my sister finishing setting it.
"Sounds good." I simply told her while making my way over to our kids.
"Sully came over today." My wife informed me as she continued placing food on the table while my sister began to pour drinks.
Picking up my daughter and grabbing my son's hand, I simply asked Jessa, "He come by to see the kids?"
"Yea, he spent some time with them while I was gardening." She answered me, making up a plate for our daughter while I brought our kids into the kitchen.
Todd, seeing me go into the kitchen, quietly got up from the couch and made his way to the table for dinner. Hell, that boy was still moody about his fight with Billy McCoy being broken up. He needed to get over it, he wasn't going to win every fight he was in. He wasn't no Conor McGregor, that's for sure.
I let Silas' hand go so that he could climb up into his chair before placin' my daughter in her highchair. "Well, something big happened today; had the entire mill talkin' too." I told my wife, takin' my seat while she started to fix up a plate for our son.
"What happened?" Jessa asked while me and my silblings started to fix our plates up.
"Roseanna overheard Tolbert telling his brothers and cousins yesterday that Allie was helping him scheme up a way to run off with ya while she was on her way to Johnse's wagon. After telling Jonse, he brought her to the main house to tell Devil Anse what she heard." I explained in length, finishing up making up my plate while my wife handed our son his before starting on her own.
"Oh my god, so Allie's outed as a liar?" She asked, her indigo eyes slightly wide, as she placed a scoop of corn onto her plate.
"Yea, but the kicker is that Devil Anse has hereby cut her out of the family and made Cap leave her; take the kids too and go back home to the main house." I told my wife between eating my piece of fried chicken.
"Holy shit…" Jessa trailed out as she finished making up her plate.
"Yea, karma's a bitch ain't it?" I rhetorically asked with a smirk. Hey, bitch only got what she had comin'. Never and I mean never fuck with the Hatfields cause the aftermath ain't pretty.
AN:
Yikes, the angst just got turned up a notch. Do you guys think that Cap and Allie'll ever get back together or are they over for good? So far Shaw and Jessa are happily married, but how long will that last?