I DO NOT OWN BILLY THE KID OR HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS. SHOUTOUT TO PHOWARD FOR LETTING ME BORROW A COUPLE OF THEIR OC'S.
FACE CLAIMS
MISTY HOLWAY- GABRIELLE WILDE
ADA ASHBY- JENNIFER MORRISON
McCoy Homestead. Pikeville, Kentucky. 2 days Later.
After working in the tobacco fields for 3 days, Billy Duff (The Kid), had managed to save up 9 dollars. He knew that working in Ol' Randall's tobacco fields for a measly 2 bits an hour wasn't gonna be enough to make a living on. He'd been sleeping on the McCoy's living room floor courtesy of a pallet, and had eaten all his meals at the house. That part he didn't really mind so much since Sally McCoy was a damn good cook. Still, now that his gun slinging days were behind him, Billy wanted to be able to make a life for himself.
His plan was to save up his money and buy a few acres of farmland. He could see himself growing crops; for selling and for personal consumption. At the risk of sounding sentimental, Billy even let himself have day dreams of having a family of his own. He imagined going to a barn dance with the McCoy boys, charming a nice girl, maybe taking her up for a roll in the hay. He could see himself going to her pa, declaring his intentions and holding his own under a father's interrogation.
Billy wanted a to be a family man, he wanted a wife and to raise children. But he feared he might never enjoy such a life; with the shadow of the Lincoln County War hanging over him. He was destined to live out the remainder of his days as Billy Duff: a no account Tobacco farm hand.
The Kid was pulled out of his daydreams by Sally announcing that dinner was ready. Billy and the McCoy boys gathered round the table as the front door opened to reveal a slick looking fellow who looked like he was a true city slicker. The man came in and took off his hat as Randall went over to greet him.
"It's nice to have ya over, Perry." The McCoy patriarch said as he shook hands wirh the man.
"I found myself hankering for Sally's coleslaw. I see you have a guest." He said as Randall motioned to his new farm hand.
"This here's Billy Duff, he's moved here from oht west and I hired him to lend is a hand in the tobacky fields." Mr. McCoy introduced.
"Well, it certainly is a pleasure to meet anyone aligned with the McCoy family." The man named Perry said as he offered his hand for a shake. "My name is Perry Cline; I'm a cousin of Randall's and I own a successful legal practice in town."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cline." Billy said as he returned the shake while a mite weary of the lawyer's fox like grin.
"I think you'll find Pikeville a good place to settle down, Mr. Duff; unlike the west, law and order exists here." Lawyer Cline said as everyone sar down for dinner so Randall could say grace.
"Dear Lord, we ask ya to bless this here food for our use and us to yer service. We also thank ya fer a strong harvest to put coin in our pockets n' food in our bellies, amen." Randall prayed as everyone bowed their heads and responded with amens. As the family ate, the subject ended up turing to the nocturnal activities of 1 Tolbert John McCoy.
"I assume that you gonna be going to the saloon again this evening." Randall said as he drank from his jar of moonshine.
"Yea I will Poppy, the harvest gonna start in earnest soon and I wont be able to go as much; so i gots to go while i can." Tolbert remarked as he ate.
"If you was just going to drink and play cards, I wouldn't give a damn, but when you spend all yer money on whores, i gotta say something." His father shot back.
"A man has needs, poppy, and whores is there to see them needs met." Tolbert reasoned.
"Almost everytime you go to the saloon, you get in a fight and I have to haggle with Sheriff Maynard to get you released." Perry Cline pointed out in annoyance as he chowed on the slaw.
"I git in fights when im provoked, now im going to the saloon n' that's final." Tolbert growled as he washed his meal down with a glass of moonshine.
"At least take Billy with ya, he can keep ya out of trouble." Randall demanded as this caught Billy by surprise. He didn't need to be Tolbert's baby sitter.
"I wasn't really plannin on going out tonight." Billy replied as he nibbled on his cornbread.
"It would be good for you Billy, to get out and meet people." Perry offered as it was clear that the lawyer didn't want Tolbert to cause him any head aches.
"I guess i could use a night out." Billy said with a small smile as he couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed a night at the saloon or had a pretty gal to warm his bed; not since Dulcinea del Tabosco. The thought of losing her still made his heart feel like it was being sliced in 2.
Pikeville Saloon. Pikeville, Kentucky. Later that evening.
After dinner, Tolbert and Billy headed into town. Billy didn't have a horse, so Pharmer let Billy borrow his nag. As they walked inside the saloon/brothel, the sounds of piano playing and drunken slurring could be heard everywhere. The men held their hats in hand ad Tolbert scanned the room before pointing to a poker table with a few gents at it.
"My cousins is there, we can play a few hands with 'em." Tolbert said as he and Billy went up to the bar.
"Black Crowd Wiggins, for me and my co worker." The McCoy ordered as Wiggins poured shots for both men. Billy nodded his thanks to Tolbert as they both downed their shots of the sweet liquid before moseying on over to the table.
"Tolbert, I was hoping to take some more o' yer money." one of the men said while the other 2 laughed.
"Boys, this here's Billy Duff: he's working our tobacky fields with us." Tolbert said as he made the introductions. "These here are my cousins: Parris McCoy, Sam McCoy..."
"Call me Squirrel, everyone does." he said with a grin as Billy hook his and his brother's hand.
"I'm Jefferson McCoy..." a drunk looking fellow slurred as he barely got his hand in for a shake.
"Billy, what's the game?" The Kid inquired as he shook Jefferson's hand as he could smell the moonshine on his breath.
"Texas hold 'em." Squirrel said as he motioned to a couple of empty seats. "Come on boys, we'll deal ya in." Tolbert and Billy took their seats as the cards were dealt out and the game commenced. Billy always enjoyed a good card game, so after playing a few hands and winning most of them, he decided to be risky and placed 5 of the 9 dollars he had saved from working Randall McCoy's tobacco fields into the pot. As Billy played cards with Tolbert and his cousins, he was relieved that not only were they good company, but that they treated him like he'd always been at their table. The Kid learned that Parris farmed corn and soybeans for his mother's fields to sell for profit, whereas Squirrel worked at a general store and was being groomed to take over when the owner died. As for Jefferson, he hunted game at times and sold the pelts to bring in some coin, but he mostly just got drunk and relied his older sister Nancy to fund his alcoholism.
"Ya oughta see her Billy, she's mighty purdy." Jefferson said as he threw a nickel into the pot.
"Maybe i'll catch her around town sometime." Billy replied as he checked his current hand. He had a 5 of hearts, 4 of heart, 3 of hearts, 2 of hearts, and an ace of hearts: a steel wheel, one of the best hands you could get in the game.
"Call." Parris femanded as everyone laid down their hands and saw that Billy's was best by far.
"Damn Billy, either you're cheating us or you is one Hell of a poker player." Squirrel remarked as they pushed the pot over to the winner.
"I'm just card sharp." Billy shrugged with a shy smile as he had pocketed 7 dollars from playing poker with the McCoy boys.
"I dunno about you fellas, but i'm out." Tolbert replied as he stood up from the table. "I need to save some money for Misty." He then walked upstiars to where a beautiful blonde hair young woman in scantily clad dress was eyeing him lustfully. It was clear as day that she was a prostitute and from the way Tolbert mentioned her name, it seemed as thoigh he was her regular client.
As Billy excused himself to get a drink, he saw an older blonde walking over to him. Despite beinng in her late 30's, Billy theought she looked incredibly beautiful in her corset and skirt.
"I haven't see you round here before." She said in a flirtatious way.
"Just moved into town, ma'mm. Names Billy Duff." He said with a smirk.
"i'm Ada. You looking to just play cards or would you be interested in some company tonight?" She inquired as she ran her fingers up and down the backside of his hand.
"That depends, would you be providing me with this company?" Billy flirted back as he pressed a chaste kiss to Ada's hand.
"A gentleman, ain't ya? Most men don't have manners with whores." She admitted with respect.
"I ain't most men and I don't disrespect ladies bu calling them whores, even if they are." He explained.
"Then call me a soiled dove, it's a more pleasant names for us whores." Ada offered as an alternative.
"It's been too long since I laid eyes on the best kind of doves there be." Billy replied as the term just rolled off the tongue. "Let's get ya upstairs so I can take care of ya." Ada said with a blushing smile as she took the Kid by the hand and began leading him up to her room while Tolbert's cousins have Billy whistles of approval.
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