"We'll be home in a week Ma." Cap assured Levicy.
"I know. You two be careful." She told Cap and Lydia.
"We will. Don't worry."
"Mother's always worry son."

Today they were heading to Charleston for Christmas. Cap was finishing loading the wagon.
"It's not too late to change your mind." Lydia told him.
"You can't get rid of me that easily Ms. Lydia."
"I just hate you're missing Christmas with you family."
"We are family remember?"
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah I know. And you should know I'm gonna ignore ya."
"I know."

Cap helped her into the wagon and then climbed in after her. He planned on bringing his own horse but Governor Wilson insisted he would not need it.
"I'll send 'em back in one piece Mrs. Hatfield." Emanuel promised her.
"I'd be much obliged Mr. Wilson."

The trip to Charleston was long but pleasant. Cap and Emanuel kept small talk while trying to get to know one another. Lydia knew her Father was excited to welcome Cap into the family. After losing his son he always hoped to gain another. Cap seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

"Now at this party there's gonna be a lot of high flutin' folks. Don't mind 'em none. Just be you son. No matter what they're gonna down ya just like they do me. If it wasn't for Willie I'm sure I'd already been impeached." Governor Wilson warned Cap.
"Lydia told me about it. I packed my Sunday best sir but I don't get any fancier than that."
"Good. I don't like a fancy man. Ain't much of a man then."
"There ain't much fancy 'bout me." Cap said.
"Speaking of fancy, the Senator is bringing his eldest son." Governor Wilson looked at his daughter.
"Oh Father you invited them." Lydia sighed.
"I had to. He's the Senator. Of course he'd bring his boy."
"What's wrong with them?" Cap asked.
"Senator Samuel Price has a boy named Kane. Kane went to a private school over in Massachusetts his whole life so we ain't ever met 'em. He's graduated now. 'Bout a month before Willie left for Logan county he wrote me a letter askin' for her hand! I'd never met the boy so I told 'em no and if he wanted a chance he'd have to come and meet us and let her decide. He said he'd be here for the Christmas party and woo her over." Governor Wilson explained.
"Sounds like I might have a friend there after all." Cap said.
"If ya gotta beat some sense into 'em some then I'll keep ya out of jail." The Governor told Cap.
"Pa!" Lydia exclaimed.
"He's right Lyddie. Guys like that think they own everything they see. He'll have ta learn he don't own you." Cap said.

"I hear you're a mighty good shot Cap."
"Father, Cap is the best shot I've ever seen." Lydia bragged. Cap almost blushed hearing her brag about him but he remembered he was in the Governor's company and held it back.
"I'm okay I reckon." Cap shrugged.
"When we get home you'll have ta show me! I've got plenty of guns ya can choose from!" Emanuel insisted.
"I'd like that." Cap nodded.
"While you're at it, teach this girl ta shoot. 'Bout time she learned ta protect herself." Cap almost busted out laughing when the Governor said this. If he only knew.
"I think you're right. Everyone should know how ta handle a weapon." Cap agreed with a smirk on his face.
"I don't need to learn to shoot." Lydia insisted.
"What if you're home alone, maybe with a baby or two. Cap's gotta work Sugar. He can't be home all the time. Ya gotta be able ta protect yourself and your family." Emanuel argued. That got Cap to thinking. He really will not be able to be by her side 24/7 like he wants to be. Anything could happen while he is gone.
"She'll learn." Cap said.
"It's settled then." Governor Wilson agreed.

About an hour later a plantation style house came into view. It was not huge like others but it was a really good size. The biggest house Cap has ever stayed in for sure. As they came into view they saw a woman standing on the front porch waving at them.
"My wife Henrietta. She's been dyin' ta meetcha."
Henrietta was in a beautiful dress with a wide smile on her face. Emanuel stopped the wagon in front of the house. Cap stepped down and then helped Lydia down.
"Why thank you kindly sir." Lydia smirked up at him.
"My pleasure my Lady."
"Oh my Lydia! You're finally home!" Henrietta hurried down the steps to her daughter.
"I missed you Momma." Lydia smiled and hugged her Mom, who returned it with an even tighter embrace.
"Mother, this is Cap." Lydia introduce them.
"Of course. It's nice to finally meet you. Lydia's mentioned you so much in her letters. I knew it was coming." Henrietta gushed. Lydia blushed madly. She did not plan on telling Cap that.
"It's a pleasure ma'am." Cap stuck out his hand but instead she pulled him into a hug. After she hugged him she rested her hands on his shoulders and studied him.
"Oh! Such a good strong boy. You'll do mighty fine for my Lydia."
"Ma." Lydia groaned.
"Come now. I got supper ready and hot. And then I have the cutest baby pictures to show you." Henrietta led Cap inside.
"Don't ruin the boy Darlin'!" Emanuel called after her.
"Oh hush up! I'll do what I want to my son-in-law." Henrietta ushered him in the house. Lydia followed close behind to make sure her Mother did not do anything too embarrassing.

"I suppose before we eat Lydia can show you to your room. It's the guest bedroom right across from yours Lydia."
"Yes Momma." Lydia grabbed Cap's hand and drug him up the stairs, away from her Mother.
"Father will have his hired hand bring up our stuff. This is your room. The bed is real comfortable." Lydia opened the door. The room was about the size of his living room back home. Cap eyes wandered over the room. A four-poster bed was in the middle with the head board against the wall. A white dresser was on the wall beside the bed. And a small table and chair was by the window.
"I hope it suits you fine. If not we'll find you another one."
"This is just fine Lyddie." Cap sat on the bed and sighed.
"What's wrong?" She asked and sat by him.
"I didn't realize how much you gave up to come help us."
"I'd do it again."
"Lydia I can't give you this. I can't give you anything close to this. Maybe you're better off with a Senator's boy. He can give you what you deserve."
"Cap I don't want this. I don't want a huge house that's empty. You don't understand how lonely it gets. It was alright when Evan was here but when he left I realized this house is just a bunch of walls. I promise you I'd choose your home over this any day. This is nice and all but it's not what I want."
"You say that now but later on you'll realize this is for you. This life."
"We can always come back and visit some. I just want to be with you." She put her hand on his.
"Bein' with me ain't all you think it is."
"Cap."
"Yeah?"
"Stop being stubborn." She leaned closer to him and pressed her lips to his. He put his hand in the middle of her back and pulled her closer. Just when the kiss was growing with passion Lydia pulled away.
"I'd give up all this just to kiss you one more time. Imagine what I'd give to spend the rest of my life with you." She said to him honestly.
"I love you Lyddie."
"I love you too. Before I met you I decided I would never find love. I didn't want it. It just hurts. But now I can't imagine being without you. I tried to fight it. I tried so hard to push my feelings to the side and focus on the task at hand but I couldn't. You kept coming back." She admitted.
"I promised Pa I'd wait till the feud ended but I can't. Lydia, will you be my girl?"
"Yes. Of course!" She smiled.
"I told ya it'd happen today!" Governor Wilson's voice boomed outside the door.
"Emanuel hush! You're gonna blow our cover!" Henrietta shouted.
"I'm sorry. Please don't pay attention to them." Lydia told Cap.
"They're great." Cap smiled and stood up and went to the door. He opened it to find Henrietta and Emanuel having a heated argument.
"Howdy Cap. Surprise seein' you here. We were just passin' through." Emanuel tried to play it off.
"Of course sir. Me and Lyddie were just headin' downstairs."
"Why don't you two come with me and I'll give ya the grand tour. My new son's gotta know his way around." Emanuel put an arm on Cap's shoulders and led him out the door and down the hall.
"Lydia will join you two shortly. She needs to get dressed proper." Henrietta called after them. Lydia groaned. She knew what was coming. She'd gotten use to her simple gowns. Now her Mother was going to get a hold of her.

Henrietta tugged at her daughter's hair.
"Ouch Momma! Can't you just put it in a bun or something?"
"No. Don't you wanna look nice for your beau?"
"Fine." Lydia gave in.

After her hair was done Henrietta made her slip into a simple dress, well it was simple for Henrietta's standards. It had a white top that was short-sleeved. At the waist it slightly flared out and was a dark maroon.
"You're beautiful." Henrietta gushed. Her hair was in ringlets and half way pinned up.
"Thank you Mother."
"Let's go find your Father and Cap."

"Emanuel!" Henrietta yelled.
"We're in my study dear!" He yelled back. The girls made their way to his study. Henrietta entered first and Lydia followed. Cap looked up and his eyes instantly grew when he saw her.
"You look beautiful Lyddie." He complimented.
"Thank you." She looked down and blushed.
"I was just showin' Cap a map of the West Virginia and Kentucky border. Tryin' to decide where all ta send troops." Emanuel explained.
"I say we send them right to Mr. McCoy's front door. The audacity of them to try and harm our dear Cap and his family." Henrietta piped in. Now Cap knew where Lydia got her fireball spirit.
"Unfortunately we can't do that. That'll start another Civil War." Emanuel sighed.
"Maybe we'll win this time." Henrietta shrugged.
"And I reckon you'll be the next General Lee?"
"Of course. Who would be more qualified?" Henrietta smirked. Emanuel shook his head and returned to the map.
"Have you ever been harmed by them Cap?" Henrietta asked.
"No ma'am. I've been shot at sure but they've never met their mark. Recently though they've killed my best friend and many of my kin." Cap explained.
"Well your kin is our kin now. My husband will do everything he can." She promised him.
"We all appreciate you both ma'am. Especially your daughter. She's done a lot for us."
"Good to hear. Now Emanuel hurry up. It's my turn to steal him." Henrietta said.
"Not just yet it's not!" Emanuel told her.

And that's how the day went. Lydia's parents fighting over Cap. Cap was glad they approved of him. Honestly he was scared her Mother would not approve and be more for Kane. After supper Lydia pulled Cap to the side. Finally alone.

"They like you. A lot." She told him.
"Good. How about you ma'am? Still figurin' on keepin' me around?" He teased.
"I have to. If I left you now my parents would take you in over me." She joked.
"Looks like your stuck with me Ms. Lydia."
"Shame. But at least I get to kiss you whenever I want."
"Do you now?" He asked.
"Why of course. You won't tell me no."
"I might." He said. She tiptoed and laid a gentle kiss on his lips and then pulled away.
"Are you sure about that Mr. Hatfield?"
"You can kiss me whenever you want Ms. Wilson."