"Well I'm just gonna pretend I didn't see that." Lias Hatfield said as he entered the boys room. Robert E. fell asleep in bed with Lydia. They were all tangled up together.
"Uncle Lias! I swear it ain't what it looks like!" Robert E. jumped out of bed when he heard his Uncle's voice.
"Uh huh. Levicy has breakfast ready. You two better get in there." Lias said and shut the door.
"Oh Lyddie I'm sorry. I didn't mean ta fall asleep." 
"It's okay. I'm sure they all know we didn't do anything." Lydia sat up and stretched her arms.
"I'm gonna go on out there and see what they say. You better go ta your room and get dressed." He said and went to the kitchen.

When Lydia walked into the kitchen, her eyes were puffy from crying all night. Levicy glared at her.
"Leave 'er alone Ma." Robert E. groaned.
"Nothing happened Levicy. Robert E. heard me crying and came to comfort me as a brother would do." Lydia explained.
"I'm sure he comforted ya." Levicy scoffed.
"You know better than that Levy. Robert E. is too scared of Cap ta touch 'er." Anse said.
"Exactly!" Robert E. exclaimed.
"Thank you Anse." Lydia said.
"Come sit by your Pa and let's forget all this. If you say nothin' happened then nothin' happened. You love Cap and that's that." Emanuel said. 

"John left last night ya know. He has a meeting with Perry Cline at noon. I told 'im not ta hold back and scare the devil out of 'im." Emanuel told them.
"I'm sure he'll do just that." Lydia nodded. 

The small talk continued until someone started shouting and whistling outside.
"It's Cap, he's hurt!" The lookout yelled. Lydia's stomach dropped. She felt like she was going to be sick. She jumped up and ran outside. 
"Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Hatfield. Mr. Hatfield! Cap got shot!" At those words, Lydia thought the worse and almost dropped to her knees.

"Jesus, what happened? Get away from him." Levicy barked.

"Posse got Uncle Jim." Cap breathed out.

"Alright." Levicy said as she tore his shirt back.
"Bad Frank shot 'im in an ambush." Cap tried to explain but grunted in pain. The sound sent a pang through Lydia's heart. She wanted to be near him but she knew Levicy could do more for him then she could so she stayed by her Father's side.
"Killed his dog, shot me. There ain't no lead in there, Mama."
"Alright, alright." Levicy soothed.
"I'm alright. Where's Lyddie?" He asked. His eyes scanned the crowd to find her.
"I'm right here Cap." She went to walk towards him but Levicy stopped her.
"Keep away from him, you two timin' hussy." She spat.
"Two timin'? Lyddie?" He looked at her hurt. Hearing those words hurt him more than the bullet did.
"No, Cap I didn't I swear." She pleaded.
"Then what's she talkin' 'bout?" He asked.
"Enough. She didn't do nothin' wrong. You can talk about it later. You say they got Jim, where is he?" Anse interrupted. Cap looked up at him with sorrow. He knows Anse will be disappointed and ashamed of him.
"Where is he Cap?" Anse asked again.
"I'm sorry, they, he's dead Pa. They took his body." He buried his face in his Mother's shoulder and cried.
"Alright, alright, alright." Levicy comforted him.
"Sorry, I'm sorry." Cap cried.
"Uncle Jim." Anse whispered.
"Where's Johnse at? He at his cabin? Bad Frank is gonna probably hit him next." Cap asked, concerned for his older brothers life.
"I'll get some boys ta ride by Johnse, make sure he's alright." Billy ran off.
"Take him to the stream ta wash off that blood and dirt. I'll get some tincture and bandages." Levicy ordered and ran inside. Lias and his friend helped him up. Cap bit his lip and grunted in pain.

"Lyddie. Lyddie come with me." He reached for her.
"Alright." She said and walked beside the men. Cap grabbed onto her shoulder and gripped her dress. Two timing him or not, he needed to be by her right now.

"How'd he know where we was Pa? Huh?" Cap questioned. Lydia shared a knowing look with Anse and he nodded at her. He didn't want her involved but somebody had to take out Nancy McCoy. Lydia just might have to be the person to do it.

Lydia rinsed the blood off Cap's shoulder. She avoided his eyes the whole time. When she ran her hand over his wound to clean it, he grimaced in pain.
"I'm sorry Cap." She apologized.
"For hurtin' my wound or breakin' my heart. 'Cause my heart hurts a hella lot worse than this bullet did."
"I didn't cheat on you Cap. You should know I wouldn't do that. Your Mother just took things the wrong way. Everyone else knows what happened."
"I don't. Why don't ya tell me what happened? At least tell me who the guy is."
"Last night Johnse told us that Nancy left him for Frank Phillips...." She started.
"Aw hell! You fucked my older brother! That's just great."
"Cap, stop it! I'm telling you, I didn't cheat! Just listen."
"Alright fine. Go ahead." He said.
"We know Nancy is the spy now. Your Pa only told me and Johnse where you and Jim went. I wanted to go after you. I tried but John stopped me. He had to hold me down for awhile. I felt like I was betraying you. I was leaving you out there to die." She explained.
"So you fucked my brother to make yourself feel better."
"No! Let me finish or I'm done." She growled.
"Go on."
"When I went to bed I couldn't sleep. I went to your room. I don't even remember doing it. I just had to be near you and that was as close as I could get. Robert E. heard me crying. He came over to the bed and laid down by me. We talked and he made me feel better. He held me while I cried and told me it was okay. He didn't touch me anywhere Cap. You know he's like a brother to me. He planned on going back to his bed but we both fell asleep. This morning, Lias walked in on us and thought we were together. Everyone knows nothing happened. They all know I love you too much to do that to you. Well, everyone knows that but you and your Mother." She finished explaining. Cap let out a sigh. He instantly regretted it as a sharp pain went through his shoulder.
"I'm sorry I doubted ya. But when ya come home shot and your Ma calls your girl a two timin' hussy, ya don't really think straight." He admitted.
"So you believe me?" She asked hopeful.
"Mmhmm. Plus, Robert E. knows I'd beat the shit out of 'im."
"That's what he said too." She grinned.
"But, I ain't leavin' ya no more. Look what happened, I got shot and you go ta bed with my baby brother." He smirked.
"You're lucky you're cute. Let's get ya home. My Pa's been worried sick about ya since he heard you were at Thacker Mountain." Lydia helped him up.
"Well I am his favorite."
"Yeah. You're my Mother's favorite too. I'm like the red headed step child now."
"What can I say Darlin', everyone wants their daughter ta marry someone like me."
"Too bad for them, you're all mine. And my Father won't let you leave now."
"He might like me but if I left ya, he'd shoot me down before I knew what happened."
"If my Mother doesn't beat him to it."
"Lordie, I know better than ta mess with her." He chuckled.

That night, everyone was settled in. It was just Lydia and Devil Anse awake.
"I'm leaving for Pikeville tonight." She said.
"Figured you would soon." He said.
"I'll find her and then I'll go find John B. and he can be my alibi."
"Good thinkin'. Here." He handed her his pistol.
"Thank you. I was gonna take Cap's."
"It's loaded. You can keep it. Be careful. And I'll keep Cap settled down for ya."
"Thanks and good luck with that."
"Stubborn child. He gets it from his Ma." Anse shook his head.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"You better. I wouldn't be able ta keep him settled down if ya don't come back."

Lydia kissed Cap's forehead as he slept. She went to slip out but he caught her hand.
"Where ya goin'?" He asked.
"To bed. I just had to make sure you're okay." She half way lied. He pulled her closer.
"Stay with me." He whispered.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I promised your parents we'd stay in separate rooms. Your Ma's already mad at me as it is."
"I don't care."
"Well I do."
"Fine." He moaned and pulled her down into a kiss. He held her there for awhile and kissed her deeply.
"Cap, you're gonna hurt yourself." She said against his lips.
"I don't care."
"I do. You're hurt enough already. I promise I'll spend the day with you tomorrow okay?"
"I'm gonna hold ya to that." He said.
"Okay. I love you." She kissed him again. She deepened it and he pulled her on top of him and pressed her against him. He put too much pressure on his shoulder and flinched.
"Damn shoulder." He groaned.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight." She kissed his cheek and got off the bed.
"Goodnight Darlin'." He yawned.

Lydia saddled and then mounted Cap's house. With a flick of the reins, she was on her way to Pikeville. She had one goal, make Nancy McCoy pay for what she did to Uncle Jim and Cap. Lydia was always good at revenge. She loved the way she felt afterwards and the adrenaline that flowed through her veins. She smiled wickedly as the wind whipped her hair around. She'll show that McCoy girl not to mess with a Hatfield.