I DO NOT OWN BILLY THE KID OR HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS.
McCoy Homestead. Pikeville, Kentucky. Later that day.
Calvin let Billy ride on the back of his horse as they rode out to the McCoy homestead; which was about a 10 minutes ride away from Pikeville. While they rode, Calvin explained to Billy how the McCoy family had several fields of Tabacco and sometimes rented themselves out to work other fields for more money.
"Poppy thinks that with another hand, we can harvest the fields faster; bring in more money." Calvin told Billy as the McCoy house came into view. It was a 1 story house that wasn't very tall, but it looked like it had more than 1 room inside it.
"I just hope I'll be able to help, make an honest wage." Billy replied as they dismounted the horse and Calvin tied it to a post. As they went inside, Billy saw that the McCoy house was just as not big on the inside as it was out. The kitchen and living room were one and the same and there were only 2 rooms on the main level. There was a flight of stairs, but it most likely led to an attic. In the kitchen, a middle aged woman was making a loaf of bread while a young girl was cutting up vegetables. Some younger children were on the floor playing with their toys.
"Hey mama, this fella answered Poppy's ad to help us in the 'bacco fields. This here's my mama: Sally McCoy." Calvin said as his mother turned to see the stranger walking into her house.
"Name's Billy Duff." The kid said as he removed his hat. "You got a nice house here, Mrs. McCoy."
"Thank you Billy, I assume you're new to Pikeville; I've never seen you before in my life." Mrs. McCoy said as she kept rolling the bread.
"Yes ma'mm, I was born in New York, but I've lived all over." Billy replied.
"Why would ya leave New York and come out here?" The younger girl inquired.
"Alifair, be polite to our guest." The McCoy matriarch chastised.
"It's fine ma'mm." Billy said with a smirk as he directed his attention towards Alifair. "My Ma and Da moved us out west; thought there might be better opportunities. Never really found 'em."
"Billy, could you perhaps fetch some firewood for the stove so I can bake the bread; the log pile's 'round the house?" Sally asked kindly.
"No problem, ma'mm." Billy said as he went round and fetched a few logs and began tending the fire as Mrs. McCoy placed the bread into bake.
"When'll Poppy and the others be back from the fields?" Calvin inquired as the door opened and several men walked into the modest farm house. The eldest man, who must have been Mr. McCoy, was a strong looking man with brown beard and piercing brown eyes. The other men were varying ages, one was a harsh looking fellow who seemed like he was ready to raise Hell, another looked like he'd eaten more than his fair share of chow, and the youngest looked like he's barely broke free of his ma's tit.
"We're here now and who might you be?" The patriarch asked as he walked up to Billy.
"This here's Billy Duff, he just rode into Pikeville and saw your ad." Calvin said as everyone laid eyes on the stranger. "Billy, this here's my poppy: Randall McCoy."
"An pleasure to meet you, Mr. McCoy." Billy said as he offered his hand, which Randall shook.
"These here is my boys: Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud." Mr. McCoy introduced as the McCoy boys all tipped their hats to him before taking them off as Billy nodded in respect.
"You wanna help work my tobacky fields, Mr. Duff?" Randall asked.
"Call me Billy, and to answer your question, If you're paying...yes sir. Pikeville seems like a nice quiet town; was thinking maybe I could put down roots, make a life for myself." The Kid answered.
"You a God fearing man, Billy?" Ol' Randall inquired. Billy hadn't courted God in a long time, but his ma had brought him up Catholic; so if he said yes, it wasn't technically a lie.
"My Ma raised me to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ." Billy replied truthfully as Randall gave him a shoulder pat of approval.
"That's good ta hear, poppy ain't gonna employ no heathen." Tolbert remarked with a look of disdain as he eyed the stranger.
"Yer welcome to stay for supper." Pharmer said as his mouth watered at the smell of freshly baked bread.
"Thank you." Billy said as Sally and Alifair began to set the table and bring out the food; which was the fresh load of bread and a vegetable stew. Before the family ate, Randall called everyone to join hands and say Grace.
"Dear Lord, we thank ye for the food before us; May it nourish our bodies." Randall prayed over the meal. "We also thank ye for Billy Duff, who will be earning a wage by helping this family in the tobacky fields, amen."
"Amen." Everyone said as Sally began to put food on everyone's plates.
"So, I'm hired?" Billy asked as he took a slice of bread and put butter on it.
"I'll take ya on a trial basis, give it bout a week. If ya do good, I'll keep ya on." Randall explained as he dug into his stew. "I'll pay ya 25 cents an hour to start."
"Seems fair to me." Billy replied as he at the delicious bread and the hearty stew. It was by far the best meal he'd had in weeks.
"Roseanna used to cut the veggies neater." Bud griped before getting cuffed in the head by Tolbert while Alifair gave him a shit glare.
"Shut yer trap, Bud." Tolbert hissed.
"Who's Roseanna?" Billy asked innocently as everyone grew dark at that name's mention.
"I once had a daughter named Roseanna who is now dead to me." Randall said with a stone face. Naturally, Billy was curious. The look on Ol' Randall's face however, told him that the subject was not up for discussion. So Billy bit his tongue and continued the meal, leaving his curiosity unsatisfied.
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