"...and I need you ta stay here with Ma and the children. No sneakin' out the window. Got it?" Cap just explained to Lydia their plans for New Years Eve.
"No. You can't do this. Father will send troops. Cap you have to wait." The panic in Lydia's eyes was evident.
"Lyddie, I know what your Pa's gonna do but we can't wait. Any longer and we'll all be dead. When we get McCoy here I'll try to convince Pa ta keep 'im here till the troops arrive and they can take 'im."
"It's not gonna go as plan. Something's gonna happen. Please stay. Stay with me." Lydia begged.
"I can't do that. I have to stick with my family. We have ta do this."
"I know." She sighed. "Promise me you'll come back to me."
"I can't promise ya that." Cap said.
"Why not?" Tears pooled in her eyes.
"I can't promise ya that because I don't know what's gonna happen. I'll never promise ya that because if I don't come home then the last thing I said to ya was a lie. But I can promise ya that I'll do everything I can ta come home to ya." After he said this Lydia embraced him. Cap held her tightly.
"If you don't come back I'll have every McCoy killed. Understand?" She whispered.
"Yes ma'am." Cap chuckled.
For the rest of the day Lydia was shakey. Her hands trembled and her heart raced. Fear had overtaken her. She had to know for a fact that Cap and Cotton would return to her alive. She went outside to find the man that could assure her.
Jim Vance was standing guard. Luckily, he was alone. Lydia went up to him. Without looking at one another, they carried on a conversation.
"Cap will come home alive." She said.
"Yup." He replied.
"And Cotton."
"Yup."
"You'll get Randall."
"Yup."
"Then you'll get paid."
"Yup." With that being understood, Lydia went back inside. Jim smirked and released a small chuckle. He could get use to working with Ms. Wilson.
After that, Lydia busied herself in the kitchen. She was making Cap's favorite; fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, and green beans. She wanted them to have a good supper before they left. Levicy tried to help but Lydia told her to worry about Anderson.
Cap walked in the house and saw Lydia slaving away in the kitchen.
"Well, well, well, what do we got here." Cap said while leaning against the doorway.
"Supper. It'll be ready soon."
"Hmm, let's see." Cap looked over her shoulder.
"I hope it all turned out okay."
"It looks just fine Darlin'." He assured her.
"Just fine?"
"It looks amazin' Darlin'."
"Go get the others." Lydia said with a smile. She turned around and kissed his cheek. Cap complied and fetched the others outside.
Lydia started setting the table as they piled in.
"Smells mighty good Ma." Johnse said.
"I didn't have nothin' ta do with it. It was all Lyddie."
"Really?" Johnse questioned shocked.
"Really." Lydia said and sat his plate infront of him.
Before anyone else could fix their plate, Jim was stuffing his face.
"Well Cap, I'm movin' in with ya when ya marry 'er." He declared.
"I might let ya come eat every now and then." Cap retorted.
"When ya gonna cook my favorite?" Johnse questioned.
"Don't you have a wife to do that for you?" Lydia asked.
"Aw hell. She can't cook like this."
"And she's probably poisonin' ya." Jim half joked. Chuckles filled the room as people tried to hold in their laughter.
"She wouldn't do that. She might hate the Hatfield's but she loves me and wouldn't turn against me." Johnse denied.
"We'll see. Maybe you need ta learn ta control your wife." Cap said.
"Like the way you controlled Lydia when she snuck on McCoy land." Johnse growled. Cap balled his fist and went to fire back but Anse intervened.
"Lydia was helping and she's not his wife. He has no control over her." He said between coughs.
"And she ain't runnin' ta Frank Phillips and spillin' our secrets." Cap argued.
"Nancy ain't doin' no such thing!"
"Nancy's doin' anything with a...." Cap started.
"That's enough. This isn't a time to be bickering with each other." Lydia stated.
"Girls right." Anse agreed.
" 'Course she is. Y'all worship the ground she walks on." Johnse mumbled while picking at his food. Cap dramatically stood up, sending his chair flying. Lydia grabbed his arm in an attempt to rein him in. If looks could kill, Johnse would be six feet under. And if it was not for the girl holding Cap, he would be jumping over the table at Johnse.
"Apologize." Cap growled.
"What?" Johnse asked.
"I said apologize ta 'er. Now."
"I ain't..." Johnse started.
"For the love of God son just do it before your brother gets a hold of ya." Anse groaned.
"Fine! I'm sorry you're so in love with my brother's dick that you can't get out of here." He spat. Cap lost it. He jerked away from Lydia and leaped for his brother. Cap tackled him down and immediately started punching him in the face. Robert E. and Jim hauled Cap off of Johnse. Fortunately for Johnse, he just has a bloody nose and some bruising.
"Enough of this. You two sit down and finish your supper and let your Pa tell ya the plan for tonight." Levicy barked.
"Yes Ma." Cap gave in and went back to his spot by Lydia. Everyone was silent and continued with their meal.
Everyone was gathered outside. Torches blazed through the night. Intensity cut like a knife. Cap was lost in thought. He looked at each person there, studying them. Anything could happen. Some of these people might not come back here. He might not come back here. With that thought, he wrapped his arm around Lydia's shoulders. She snuggled into him. In the other hand, Cap held his whiskey and he kept it close to his mouth. Sipping it lightly at first just to keep his whistle wet but with all these thoughts swimming in his head, he swigged it.
Anse made his way outside. All eyes were on the patriarch. Cap stood up to take his Father's gun for him. Everyone was on edge, waiting to hear what Anse had to say. What encouraging words he would give them. Lydia could tell Cotton was anxious so she motioned him over. He sat beside her and she held his hand to comfort him. He gave her a shy smile then turned his attention back to his Uncle.
"We're hunted by animals by hired trash. Family and friends kidnapped and murdered, the law stood by. Law's done nothing. Even so, if there was anything, anything I had that by giving it I could end this bloody struggle, I would give it gladly. I would end my life if it would end this."
"He would not." Jim Vance mumbled. Cap nudged him to shut him up.
"What I will not give, is one more drop of this family's blood." As Anse said this, Cap kept his eyes glued on Lydia. He had to do this for his family and for her.
"So tonight, this New Year's Eve, we end this forever." Anse declared. Chills went through Lydia's body at this statement. So much force was behind it. It was driven by passion and love. Love for his family and passion for the battle...or maybe the other way around.
"I's with you Mr. Hatfield!" Billy shouted. Lydia cringed thinking about the young boy involved in this.
"You ain't comin' Billy, you ain't ready." Lydia was relieved to hear this.
"Thank the stars, I ain't too late." Johnse strolled up with his carefree demeanor.
"Lots of time, Johnse. We all just waitin' on your Pa ta finish his coughin' fit." Jim said sarcastically. At that, Lydia motioned for Cap to nudge Jim again and Cap happily obliged. Anse ignored his Uncle and continued.
"We can be there by dawn, make our approach with the sun at our backs. Time of the mornin', the day it is, they won't expect nothin'. We harm no one we don't have to. Once Randall sees how it is, he'll surrender to protect the others from harm. We take him alive." Anse went over the plan again.
"Thought we was gettin' rid of 'im?" Cap questioned. Lydia glared at him. He told her they would bring him back alive.
"Once Randall McCoy is extradited as our prisoner-of-war, we-we execute him here, in West Virginia. The state where he committed his crimes." Anse struggled to get up and his breathing was getting worse.
"As is proper." He handed Elias his canteen and tried to walk but failed. Elias caught one arm and in a flash Cap had the other.
"I'm not dizzy. Stepped on a stone or somethin'." Anse tried to lie.
"Yeah, I know. We still gotta get you to the doc." Lias said.
"No, there's no time." Anse argued.
"You're too sick Pa. We can do this." Cap assured him.
"Okay. Damn." Anse gave in.
"Anse, it'd be a worthless trip if ya start coughin' like that and give us all away." Jim noted.
"No one but Randall taken and him not harmed. Him not harmed. Or you answer to me." He eyed Jim and then glared at Cap. Lydia noticed and knew something was going on and she planned to find out.
"Alright y'all, saddle up." Jim ordered.
Fear ran through Johnse. He knew with Jim and Cap leading the group that blood would be spilled. They both had hatred in their hearts and only spilling McCoy blood could settle it. Johnse knew if he was involved in killing, Nancy would never forgive him. He would loss another wife. But he could not turn on his family.
"Go ta bed Anse. We'll get Randall." Jim assured him. The men walked to their horses. Lydia grabbed Cap by his arm. He turned to face her.
"I'll be back soon." He told her. She hugged him tight.
"What are you planning William Hatfield?" She whispered.
"Nothin'."
"You're lying."
"He hurt you Lyddie. I ain't gonna let 'im get away with it."
"You told me you'd bring him back unharmed."
"If my bullet don't kill 'im then I will. Stay here and stay safe alright." He pulled away from her. She nodded and he mounted his horse. She looked at Jim and he nodded, confirming their earlier agreement. This made her feel slightly better. For some odd reason, she trusted the stubborn man.
Lydia stood by Anse and watched the men ride off. Her heart ached at the thought of Cap riding away for the last time.
"Here, let me help you inside." She offered to Anse.
"I got it." He said and tried to stand. He stumbled and Lydia quickly grabbed his arm. Billy ran over to help as well.
"I hope he doesn't do what I think he is." Anse sighed.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"If a man laid a hand on my wife I'd kill 'im....or worse." Anse started another coughing fit and Lydia ushered him inside. Levicy was relieved he stayed behind.
Anse's words clouded Lydia's mind. Cap was reckless, she knew that. He was fierce and loyal. He would never let someone hurt his family and get away with it. She was a fool to think other wise. Fear and worry consumed her. She did the only thing she knew to clear her thoughts. She dropped to her knees and prayed. Prayed that God would bring them all back unharmed and with Randall McCoy as their prisoner-of-war.