The Devil's Daughter in Law

Chapter One

Cordelia Barlowe's POV, 1878, 14 years old

I walked up to Mr. Hatfield with a basket of goodies and a smile, "Good morning, Mr. Hatfield. Momma had me bring by some goodies for you and your kin." Mr. Hatfield smiled, "Little Cordelia, is that you?" I smiled, "Sure is, Mr. Hatfield." Mr. Hatfield smiled, "I heard from Levicy that you and that son of mine were spending time together." I blushed and looked down, "With her permission of course, and never spend the night, Mr. Hatfield. I have too much respect for you and Mrs. Hatfield to do a thing like that." Mr. Hatfield winked, "That's why I'm rooting for you and William to come to me soon about courtship."

I blushed hard, "Mr. Hatfield. I don't even know if Will wants that." Johnse walked up and winked at me, "G'day, Miss Barlowe." I smiled politely, "Good mornin', Mr. Hatfield." Mr. Hatfield looked around, "Talk is they're gonna build a railroad right in through here. Then we'll send our timber in all directions. Round the whole country." Uncle Jim looked at him, "Not up North, I hope." Mr. Hatfield shook his head, "War's long over, Jim. There's no North, no South. Just people who got money and people who ain't. I mean to do business with them that has" Johnse smiled, "Always knew we was gonna be rich."

One of Mr. Hatfield's family yelled down to him, "Anse! It's your boy, William! Tree fell! Splinter caught his eye!" I gasped and covered my mouth, before trying to run up the hill but Uncle Jim stopped me, "I know you care for that boy, but please. I don't think he wants ya to see him in that condition." I teared up, "But-" Uncle Jim nodded, "I know, girly. I know. But it's better to be down here where you are not in the way." 

I stood there at the bottom of the hill, listening to how Will called out to his father that he couldn't see. I had tears in my eyes as Mr. Hatfield carried Will down the hill and to the wagon to get him to the doctor. I stood there off to the side and Will yelled to his father, "I want Delia to come with, please Pa." Mr. Hatfield looked at me and nodded, I hurried into the wagon with help from Uncle Jim, sitting beside Will, holding onto his hand to comfort him.

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All of us sat in the courtroom over two stolen pigs and I saw my pa and momma walk into the courthouse and sit behind Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield. I sat beside Will as Uncle Jim sat on his other side. Will's accident never withered our bond, it strengthened it. Will never wanted me to leave his side and I never thought that his eye was unsightly. Will never pushed me away or told me to leave. Uncle Jim leaned over to Will, "How's your eye doing?" Will sighed, "It's gone milky. Capped over." Uncle Jim nodded, "Uh-huh. Let me see." Will tried to get Uncle Jim to stop, "No, Jim-" Uncle Jim reached for the bandage, "Come on, let me see it." Will tried to shove his hand away, "Jim." Uncle Jim pulled the bandage up, "Let me see it." 

Will got irritated and pulled the bandage back down, slapping the boy in front of him, "Turn around." Uncle Jim held a bottle of whiskey, "I'm gonna call you Cap. Cap, Cap." I looked at Will with a funny look and he smiled softly at me, his fingers ghosting over mine. Uncle Jim continued, "Like your daddy. Shows you're an important fellow. Good name, Cap." I felt someone watching me and I looked above us to the balcony and wasn't comfortable when Johnse was staring down at me, smiling. 

Will nodded to his Uncle Jim, "Yeah, I like it." Will looked at me and I smiled, "I'd still like to call you, Will." Will smiled, "I'd like nothing more." The talking dialed down to whispers and I looked over to see Wall Hatfield walk into the courtroom. Cotton Top smiled, "Hi, Uncle Wall." His father, Ellison Hatfield, shooshed him. Everyone started mocking Cotton and I frowned, "How rude." Johnse whistled and I looked up, frowning when he winked at me and Will gritted his teeth, glaring at his brother.

Judge Wall banged his gavel, "Court is in session. Thanks to those of you on the jury for coming today and agreeing to serve. I know most of you all got crops and stock needs tending. So I ain't gonna keep you from your task any longer than necessary." The McCoy attorney stood up, "Judge Hatfield, members of the jury. It is useful to think of the law as a muscle. Like a muscle, it can be strengthened with proper use." Judge Wall interrupted, "Mr. Cline, the briefer you make your remarks, the better your case is gonna be received."

Everyone started laughing and someone called out, "Sit down!" Judge Wall sighed, "Do you mean to call witnesses?" Mr. Cline gestured, "Mr. Randall McCoy and his wife, Sally, both saw the McCoy marking on the ear of the hog in question." 

Judge Wall looked at him, "I don't think we need to call them to the stand just to say so. So to put it in plain, the McCoys say it is their pig and their ear notch and Floyd says that ain't so, is that clear?" The jury nodded and Judge Wall sighed, "Is the pig in court today?" Floyd looked at Judge Wall, "No, it ain't." Judge Wall frowned, "Why not?"

Floyd sighed, "Well, um, it's done been et." Everyone started laughing and I could see my parent's not really reacting. Judge Wall looked at him, "All right, Floyd. You got any witness saw it before you butchered the swine to say it is your notch?" Floyd shook his head, "I didn't know I needed one. You give me a couple hours, I might come up with somebody." The man behind my pa stood up, "I seen it. The hog in question. I seen Floyd actually cut that shoat's ear. Oh, do I need to say I seen it on the Bible?"

Judge Wall stared at him, "I'd advise you not to." The man continued, "That pig had black spots on its hams as I recollect. Floyd's hand slipped when he notched. He pretty near cut his thumb off. Why would Floyd show Randall that swine if he stole it? It don't make no sense." Judge Wall nodded, "That's enough, Bill. I trust y'all give Bill Staton's testimony the respect it deserves." Bill looked at him, "No, no. I ain't quite done, you see-" 

Judge Wall banged his gavel, "You sit down." Everyone started laughing and Judge Wall looked done, "Members of the jury, who thinks the hog belonged to Floyd Hatfield?" All the members on Wall's right raised their hands and Judge Wall looked to his left, "All right, who believes the hog was Randall McCoy's?" All but one on Randall's side raised their hands and everyone looked at him. 

Judge Wall called him out, "Selkirk McCoy? You didn't vote one way or t'other." Another McCoy spoke up, "Well, he votes Uncle Randall." Parris punched Selkirk and Judge Wall glared at him, "He has to be the one that says so, Parris." Selkirk thought about it, "Well, I'm trying to do the right thing here. You see, I am of the McCoy family, but...Well, the truth is, deep down, I do believe that pig was one of Floyd Hatfield's razorbacks." 

Parris growled, "You lowdown..." Another McCoy glared at Selkirk, "You do not deserve the name McCoy." Selkirk pointed at Bill, "Bill swears on earth that he seen Floyd cut that notch." Randall stood up, "You are lying spawn of hell that voted his Hatfield wife's apron strings!" Mr. Hatfield spoke up, "Oh, Randall, just leave her on out of this. Gonna give yourself apoplexy. All this to-do over a pig." Randall glared at him, "This is about honor. About lying and stealing and murdering." Judge Wall smacked his desk, "That is not pertinent to the case. Clara and Samuel Barlowe have offered to sit in as outsiders to see what all the fuse is about as an outsider to the case." 

Randall ignored him, "It's about sin, Devil Anse. What's Christian right and damnation wrong!" Everyone stood up and started yelling at each other as Judge Wall tried to get everything under control. Judge Wall yelled, "This case is dismissed! Everyone get the hell out of here!" No one listened and Judge Wall shot off his pistol, "By God, I will gut-shoot the next agitator who further disrespects my courtroom. McCoy or Hatfield." 

Randall scoffed, "I reckon this is what I should have expect from a Hatfield court." Judge Wall pointed his gun at Randall, "One more word out of you, McCoy, I'll hold you in contempt." Mr. Hatfield sneered, "You best watch your high and might ass, Preacher McCoy." Randall looked at Mr. Hatfield, "Here's scripture for you. Blood toucheth blood." Everyone left and I looked at Will, "I'll see you tomorrow, Will. Momma wants me home for supper." Will smiled, "I'll see ya, Delia."