I realized I said the Hatfields I named in the previous chapter were McCoys so I'll fix it later.
Charlotte had gone back to her home with Jim shortly after she found him, wanting to bathe almost immediately and Jim asked curiously.
"Why?"
"Because," She started, as she was untying her hair. "I feel dirty after dancing in a barn for a few hours, I smell like pipe smoke and whiskey."
Jim came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and lying his head on her shoulder. "I think you smell 'kay. Not like anythin' going to make ya smell worse. I reckon..."
She sighed and finished untying her hair. She eyed the tin wash tub and started taking off the rest of her clothes. Jim rubbed his eyes and took a hold of of one of her books.
Charlotte finished stripping and got in the wash tub. Grabbing the small remains of the bar of soap. Jim sat on her bed and read the book, by the time she finished washing he had read the whole thing.
Charlotte dressed into her nightgown and sat on her bed. Jim yawned and looked at her. "Tired?" She asked him.
He nodded. "I reckon the barn dance done it..."
Charlotte laid down in her bed and pulled the blankets over herself. Jim stripped off his clothes but left on his night pants. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek, drifting off into a sleep.
Charlotte's mind started racing.
Where were his arms at the barn dance?
Where was his protectiveness at the barn dance?
Where was he?
He said he was watching us.
He said he was keeping an eye on us.
He said he would look for me.
Where was he?
Where was this man next to me?
Why wasn't he watching us?
Where was he if he wasn't watching us?
Her mind raced with questions, keeping her up. She tried sleeping but that just turned more questions into her mind. She quietly sighed and closed her eyes. Dispersing the questions and slowly slipping into a dreamless sleep.
-Next Morning-
Charlotte got up out of bed and called for Jim.
No answer.
"Jim?" She yelled again.
No answer.
"James!" She shouted.
No answer.
"Jim McCoy!" She shouted as she wrapped a blanket around herself and walked to the porch.
No answer.
She turned her head and saw that his horse wasn't there. She growled angrily and turned around, seeing a small piece of parchment, nailed to one of the porch posts, and some smeared ink on it.
She stared at it and could only make out. "Roseanna's pregnant." Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh shit." She whispered. She raced inside and put on a black skirt with a blue shirt. She got her horse and got on it, riding into McCoy territory. She rode to their house and got off her horse, rushing to knock on the door. "Mr. McCoy!" She yelled as she pounded her fist on the door. His wife answered instead.
"Charlotte?"
"Ms. McCoy is Jim here?"
"I don't think you should be here Charlotte. Your pa-"
"Is. Jim. Here?" She asked firmly.
The woman in front of her shook her head. "No. Jim, Pharmer, Bud, Tolbert and all of 'em went out hunting... I admit it was a little strange but they haven't been together in a while so I didn't ask any questions."
"Did they say where?"
"I reckon in the woods out back but all I heard was shoutin'."
"Thank you Ms. McCoy!" Charlotte said as she ran back to her horse and got on it. She veered it towards the woods, she slowed down her horse and looked around.
Listening.
Watching.
Waiting.
She heard footsteps and a few whispers. She turned her head and out of the corner of her eye saw the barrel of a gun. She breathed in. "Jim." She said.
"Tolbert!" She called.
"Pharmer! Bud!"
"Calvin!?" She yelled. She saw the barrel go back and heard more whispers. She heard. "It's only Charlotte. Get back." "Don't 'er." "I reckon she done wanna get shot!" She heard.
She turned her horse. ''Calvin!" She made her horse trot to where she saw the barrel of the gun. She looked down and saw nothing.
She heard running and then a few horses passed her out of the blue. She saw flashes of blonde and brown hair. Then she saw a paticular color of brown. The trademark color of brown.
Jim.
She thought. She turned her horse, it reeling up on it's hind legs, she heard shouting. Her horse shot off to where Charlotte pushed it. Then she lost sight of them.
"God damnit!" She shouted. She looked around the woods for hours. Deciding to just go find Roseanna. She found her and they talked, soon night fell and it started raining.
Roseanna all of a sudden came riding back to where she was. ''We gotta get to the Hatfield's."
Charlotte ran to her horse. 'Why?"
Roseanna took off. Charlotte caught up and shouted. "Why!?"
"My b-brothers..." She sputtered, crossing over to West Virginia. "They got Johnsee."
Charlotte nodded. They reached the Hatfield's, the rain beating down on them.
Roseanna got off her horse and so did Charlotte.
"Mr. Hatfield!" Roseanna yelled. Charlotte looked at Roseanna as she was about to yell again. Charlotte yelled. ''Will!" "Will get out here!"
Roseanna looked at her worryingly. Charlotte yelled again. "Cap Hatfield!" Roseanna yelled Mr. Hatfield as Charlotte yelled Cap. Soon they were outside.
'It'd be best, I reckon, if you get off-"
"M-My brothers.' Roseanna sputtered. "They got Johnsee!"
Cap looked to Charlotte for confirmation. Charlotte nodded slowly as if she didn't want it to be true. Devil Anse looked at Roseanna. "Where?"
Roseanna had the rain beating her down. "I-If you promise not to hurt my brothers!"
"Where are they!" Devil Anse asked firmly.
Roseanna cried slightly and told him. Soon most of the Hatfields were riding off to the destination. Charlotte and Roseanna following in suit. Charlotte made Roseanna go back to her house. Telling her she'd be there shortly.
Charlotte guided her horse over to a few trees, she had sights on all of the Hatfields and shelter from the rain. She eyed them as the McCoys walked out. Devil Anse pointed a gun at Jim and told him to kneel and pray for mercy. Charlotte stared, her lip quivering slightly. Jim spoke with tears in his eyes. "I kneel for no man, and I pray, only to God." Devil Anse lowered his gun and nodded.
Charlotte sighed with relief. She saw Cap eyeing Tolbert. Charlotte stared at them all. She heard Devil Anse talking to Cap as Roseanna's brothers stayed still. "Don't kill 'im Cap."
"What?" He asked quietly.
"You look like you want to kill 'im. Aside from Johnsee, I don't see why." Devil Anse said.
Cap glanced towards Charlotte. Keeping his eyes on her. "I reckon it's for a good reason." Then he turned away and walked back over to Roseanna's brothers. Devil Anse told Jim McCoy to walk out now. Jim shook his head then his eyes set on Charlotte. He swallowed and nodded.
He slowly walked over to his horse and eased it into a steady run. Charlotte did the same with her's, till they were at her cabin. Roseanna was on the porch and practically flew off it when she saw Jim. She hugged him then Charlotte smacked the back of his head. "You could've gotten yourself killed!" They both said in unison.
Jim nodded. Roseanna stared at them. "May I stay the night?" She asked Charlotte. Charlotte nodded. "You can use the guest room. It's nice and big and there are a few dresses and night clothes in the small wardrobe.
Roseanna nodded and thanked her. Charlotte waited till she was inside and heard the rustle of blankets to check on her. She saw her sound asleep. She smiled and walked back outside, it still it raining and grabbed Jim. Kissing him and hugging him till they were on the porch, Jim hovering over her.
She stared at him as he started kissing down her neck. She pushed herself up slightly and met his lips with hers.
They stood up and walked into the bedroom most away from Roseanna's location. They stripped and fell on the bed, kissing each other and Charlotte spoke quitely. "I'm glad you aren't dead." Jim nodded and kissed down her body, causing her to moan as he went lower and lower. He went back up to her neck, Charlotte brought her hips up to grind against his manhood.
He moaned and watched her.
-After-
Charlotte and him were holding each other, she kissed the side of his mouth and looked into your eyes. "I'm glad you aren't dead."
He nodded. ''I should be..."
Charlotte nodded and pulled the blankets over herself. Thanking the Lord he was alive.
I'm sorry I didn't warn you about the partial very small, beginning of sexy time but it kind of just... happened? I don't know but anyway, thank you for reading and I'm glad for any favourites and follows!