Chapter 1

Phoebe woke suddenly and sat straight up in bed. The sweat rolled off of her forehead and she felt her heart still racing from her dream. Her gown was soaked with sweat and clung to her clammy body. She threw her covers back and sat on the edge of the bed. Flashes of her night mare kept coming to her. She reached for her shawl to go out side. It had been three weeks since her husband Lucky left, but only two nights since the riders came looking for him. She could not get the dark haired rider out of her mind. He haunted her. He had led the gang of riders that came looking for Lucky.

She bolted through the screen door and took a deep breath as the screen door slammed behind her. She could hear the echoing sound of crickets in the dark. The wind howled through the trees and the sound of thunder rolled through the miles of mountain range that surrounded the cabin. A chill went through Phoebe's body and she shivered as she wrapped the shawl tighter around her shoulders. She could almost feel his presence around her as she tried to clear her head from the dream. Phoebe sat in the rocking chair on the porch and stared into the sky. It was beautiful and filled with stars. Phoebe closed her eyes and thought about the man that stole her mind.....

Phoebe was napping on her porch in a rocking chair one cold sunny afternoon. She hadn't slept much since Lucky left. She woke up as she heard the riders charging for the ranch house at a distance. She squinted in the blinding afternoon sun and slowly stood as they rode up to the house. The horses were pawing and snorting as they were pulled to a halt. Phoebe swallowed hard and pulled her blanket tighter around her body. It was too late to run for the shotgun, so she stood her ground and waited instead.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Phoebe shouted at the riders.

Phoebe couldn't see the rider's dirty faces very well, but the man who seemed to be the leader looked intensely at her. Phoebe noticed his black curls under his hat as she focused on him. He smirked mockingly at her and then looked at his men who chuckled at Phoebe's brave tone.

"So brave" He growled mocking Phoebe.

"What do you want?" Phoebe snapped coldly.

"Your warm body lady!" one of the riders said to another.

Phoebe heard him and she got chills. These men looked dangerous and they all looked hungry for her. The dark haired man just stared at Phoebe and then shot a look back at the men to quiet them.

"You must be the lady here?" He said.

"Yes….and you?" Phoebe asked sharply holding her stand.

"Step inside lady, I need to ask you some questions" He ordered.

Phoebe hesitated for a moment but she could see he was a big man and she didn't want to get hurt. She didn't know why he wanted to ask her in private but it made her nervous. It could only mean he would have his way with her. She would walk inside and get the gun before he came in.

Phoebe turned to walk in but he stopped her breaking her thoughts.

"Stop right there!" He shouted almost reading Phoebe's mind, then he turned to the riders, "Wait here" he said to them as he dismounted his horse and followed Phoebe in the house. Phoebe was terrified but didn't let on.

He walked closely behind her and the sound of his spurs rang behind her with each step on the wooden floor. He slipped his hand on the side of her neck where it met her shoulder, gripping down and stopping her from walking any farther. Phoebe jumped at his touch and it sent shivers down her spine and phoebe dropped her blanket. His hand was warm despite the cold out side, and Phoebe felt her insides tighten.

He kicked a chair from the table out into the room. "Sit down" He ordered in a stern voice.

Phoebe sat in a chair while he walked around her chair and studied her. It was like a wolf stocking his prey before a meal.

"You know why I am here don't you?" His accent echoed in her ears.

Phoebe said nothing. She clenched the sides of the wooden chair as he continued walking around her. She squeezed her lips together and continued to take short breaths through her nose. Her heart raced and her chest slowly moved up and down.

"You seem afraid of me? Why is that? Are you hiding something from me? Maybe you are hiding Lucky?" He asked as he sat on the table in front of her and folded his arms at his chest studying her.

"You want to know where my husband is but I can not help you" Phoebe said starring off to the side.

Her hair slid over her shoulder revealing her tan soft chest. Her breasts were full and they sat high in her corset. Her waist was small and her bare feet rested along the leg of the chair. He walked up to her and stood over her. He parted Phoebe's legs with his knee and stood between them. Phoebe closed her eyes but not in fear. It was an excitement that flushed over her making her whole body hot. She felt the pink of her cheeks come rushing up her face and over her breasts. She could feel his eyes on her as if it were his hands.

"I make you blush" He said towering over her. He wanted Phoebe to look at him.

Phoebe could almost hear the excitement in his voice and she could see it through his leather as he stood in front of her.

Phoebe looked up at him and she was almost dizzy with this feeling she had deep inside.

"I told you, I cannot help you" she said in a weak voice as if she was wearing down.

It was all he could do not to grab her in his arms, tear off her clothes and kiss her all over. The longing in her voice made him crazy. The way she arched her back to him and gave in to his touch on her shoulder. It was almost all he could stand. He could hear her voice in his head begging him to take her. He wanted her badly but he held back. If it was anyone else he would have his way with them, but this was different.

"Your husband has something I want" he said moving back away from her.

Phoebe blushed again unsure of what that something was.

"Please believe me, I know nothing. He just left."

"Did he take anything with him?"

Phoebe shook her head "Just his gun" she said quietly.

He sighed and there was a long moment of silence. "I will be back again, and don't be stupid and leave because I will find you" he said walking to the door.

"I have no where to go" Phoebe said sarcastically looking down at her feet.

He looked back at her and stared at Phoebe long and hard. Phoebe could feel his eyes burning into her. She finally looked up to stare into the enemy's eyes. They were ocean blue, deep and wild. His face was rough but very handsome. His dark brows made his eyes even more blue. Phoebe could only look for a moment before the intensity over came the stare and she had to look away.

"What are you looking at sir?" Phoebe snapped quietly.

"You" He said tipping the brim of his hat to her and then walking out leaving Phoebe alone in her cabin.

She could hear the ring of his spurs on her porch with each step and then the thunder of the horses' hooves trampling the ground under them as they rode off. Phoebe was shaking but she held her composure. She truly had no idea were Lucky went. Maybe that is why the rider left her alone, because he could see she was telling the truth about where Lucky was. Or maybe it was something else....

Phoebe snapped out of her thoughts. She had been reliving the encounter with the dark handsome rider again. Phoebe stood up and walked inside.

***********

"Hey boss, I found something" one of the riders said riding up to Cole.

Cole grabbed a small handkerchief from Randy's hand and studied it. It had embroidered flowers around the edges and something was written on the back. Cole turned it over and it read All my love Phoebe. Cole crumpled the cotton in his large hand and stuffed it inside his duster.

"Keep moving boys, I want to make it to Laredo before dark." He said spurring his horse and riding on.

The riders rode into town and rode up to the saloon. Cole dismounted and wrapped his reins around the hitching post.

"Live it up boys, we are leaving at dawn." He said as he reached in his gun scabbard and pulled out his double barrel.

"The first thing I am going to do is get me some sweet ass" one of the riders said to another as they dismounted.

"Hell, I need a drink first!" another one belted out.

Cole walked through the double doors to the saloon and walked in with the rest of the riders filing in around him, scanning out the atmosphere. It was crowded and loud.

The bar maids shuffled up to the men taking them by the arm and they followed willingly.

Some scooped the girls up immediately and ran up the stairs to the rooms and some of them went to the bar first to loosen up from the long ride.

Cole continued to scan the room after smirking at his riders' behavior. He saw some men playing cards at one table and scuffling over their losses. Another table was filled with older men drinking and grabbing at the bar maids. The other tables were the same. Cole tried to find something or someone that stood out to him, but nothing looked suspicious. He scowled and walked up to the bar.

"Give me a whisky" Cole said to the bartender laying his rifle on the bar.

The bartender looked at the long gun and then at Cole. Cole stared him in the eyes and didn't even blink. The bartender reached for the bottle and glass putting them in front of Cole.

"Help yourself partner" He said and walked down the bar. Cole grabbed the bottle and poured the whisky into the shot glass. He shot the drink down. He poured another and spun around to face the crowd. He leaned back on the bar and shot down another drink. Then he turned to face the bar again.

"What brings you boys to Bettles?" a voice said behind Cole.

"Business or pleasure?" another voice asked.

Cole turned around and saw the two men standing there. The one man pulled his coat to on side to show Cole he was the sheriff. The other one stood there looking at Cole.

"Who's asking?" Cole said annoyed as he downed his shot of whiskey.

"Patric Shaw, sheriff Patric Shaw" He boasted.

"Well Sheriff Patric Shaw, who is your tag along?" Cole mocked

"Oh, Australian ay?" Patric mocked Cole's accent.

"Jason Rhodes." The deputy spoke up

Cole looked at the deputy for a moment and smirked at him, then slammed his glass down on the bar.

"Well you have nothing to worry about boys, I will stay out of your way if you stay out of mine…Agreed?" Cole said filling up his glass.

"Listen hear mate, I am the law around these parts and I don't make deals with drifters, do I make my self clear?" Patric said sharply, disgusted by Cole's confidence.

Cole filled his glass again and smiled slyly.

"I hear ya, but let me make something clear to you, I am not your mate!" Cole scowled picking up his gun, and then he tipped his hat and walked away with his drink and the bottle.

Patric and Jason watched as Cole walked over to the table with the other riders and sat down with his whiskey.

"Those men are trouble, keep and eye on them, I'm going to check out the big Australian." Patric told Jason and he stormed out of the saloon.

Cole watched Patric walk out and then he looked back at Jason and eyed him sharply. Jason sat at the bar and turned his back to the men and watched them from the mirror behind the bar.

"Hey cowboy, why don't we go upstairs and I'll help you with those boots" a woman said sliding her hand along the inside of his thigh.

Cole looked over at the girl and saw her face. She had blue eyes and long black shinny hair. Her voice was deep and seductive. She had pale white skin and a small nose with thin red lips. Cole reached over and put this hand on the back of her head, pulling her to him and kissed her. She was surprised by his kiss but then parted her lips to his. She moved over him and straddled his lap. She arched her breasts on his chest as she felt his strong hands coming up her full dress. Before she knew it his hands were on her buttocks squeezing them, but suddenly he picked her up and sat her in a chair at a table.

"I can take off my own boots…thanks anyway sweetheart" he said giving her another kiss and walking away with his gun and bottle.

The girl sat there breathless in shock and watched him walk up the stairs to a room and slam the door with the heel of his boot.

Cole sat the bottle on the dresser. He took off his hat and sat it on the dresser as well then took off his bear fur duster throwing it on the chair by the bed. He saw the corner of the dirty white handkerchief in the inside of his hat. He plopped on the bed and unbuckled his spurs taking off his dusty worn boots. He reached for the handkerchief inside the lining and lied on the bed. He kept looking at the embroidered writing. He knew it had to belong to Lucky. It was from the sweet young thing he left at the cabin. He smiled as he thought of her sitting in the chair unable to look at him during his interrogation of her. She was so beautiful and she was so vulnerable. Cole cleared his throat frowning at the thought. But she was so beautiful he had to see her again. No woman had ever affected him this way. She left a imprint on his mind and he just couldn't shake it.

They would head back for the ranch in the morning. He would check to see if Lucky had been there since they had last been there one week ago. Or was there another reason why they were going back?

*********

Fall was almost over and snow clouds started moving in to steal the sky. The colorful leaves were dropping and the bareness of the trees were more apparent. The quaken-asp trees danced in the wind and reflected off the sunlight like small gold coins. The wild animals were moving their homes and storing up for winter. The caribou changed the color of their fur and the geese flew overhead to warmer climate. The wolf's coats became thick and the bear started to hunt for winter dens. Winter was just around the corner, and she had to prepare for it. There was wood to chop and shelter to secure. She hadn't heard from Lucky so she would have to winter the ranch without him.

Phoebe snapped out of her thoughts and finished her morning tea. She walked outside across the way past the woodshed to the barn. She let the horses out to the pasture and started to clean out the stall when she felt someone grab the pitchfork and held it still. She whirled around and started to cried out…

"Luck…!" And then she saw that it was not Lucky.

Phoebe's eyes became large and she became strangled for words. It was as if she had swallowed her tongue, and could not speak. She backed up against the stall and her chest became heavy.

"Not who you were expecting is it?" The dark rider mumbled trying not to laugh at Phoebe's terrified expression.

Phoebe scowled at him and became enraged by the smirk he had on his lips. She was embarrassed at the way he looked at her and the way it made her feel. And also because she hated to be startled. That always made her mad when Lucky would startle her just to get a laugh. Phoebe never knew if her infuriation was caused from the startle its self, or from the fact that she couldn't keep a straight face and she would end up laughing with Lucky.

"I do not have answers for you!" Phoebe snapped

He stepped toward her and she stepped back farther into the stall. He threw the pitchfork off to the side and stepped closer to Phoebe. Phoebe took a few more steps back and she felt the end of the stall rail hit her in the back almost knocking the wind out of her but she held still and motionless against it as he stood in front of her staring down at her. Phoebe could feel his breath on her face and she closed her eyes as he trapped her in between his arms, one hand on each side of the rail pressing his body close to hers.

"I can't believe he would leave you." He said in a low rough voice.

Phoebe felt his breath on her cheeks as he spoke, and felt as if her heart were beating out of her chest. She could feel the warmth of his body pressed up against hers. She opened her eyes and all she could see was gray. She didn't dare look up into his eyes. She felt a chill run up her spine and she couldn't help the thrill he gave her the closer he got to her lips. She could feel the hardness under his belt against her belly and she felt herself spinning and her ears started to ring and then everything went black.

Cole caught Phoebe as she suddenly became limp and fell into his arms. He grabbed her before she fell to the ground and he scooped her into his arms. Her dress draped over his arms and her hair and neck brushed by his face. She smelled so clean and her skin was so soft against his and her breath smelled like mint tea. He wanted her to open her eyes and kiss him so he could feel the insides of her mouth. Just then one of the riders yelled to Cole from out side of the barn and came running around the corner to find him and Phoebe.

"Hey that was fast," Randy said with a smirk.

"It's not what you think!" Cole said in a defensive tone.

"What ever, there's a carriage coming up the road and it's not Lucky, we need to split now!" Randy alerted.

Cole whirled around to a mound of stacked hay bails and carefully laid Phoebe on the straw and looked at her face as she lie there. She was so beautiful and young and helpless and innocent and…

"Cole! Now! It's the law!" Randy shouted seeing the carriage closer now and breaking Cole's thoughts.

Cole rose up and backed away as Randy grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out of the barn. Cole suddenly snapped out of his trance and ran with Randy to the anxious impatient horses and the rest of the riders. Randy and Cole mounted their horses and rode away.

*********

"Phoebe…Phoebe dear, wake up now" The doc whispered to Phoebe as he traced a pepper oil sent back and forth under her nose.

Phoebe woke up suddenly and looked around to see the doctor and the sheriff and her sister Paige standing over her.

"Oh Phoebe, I was so worried!" Paige said in relief.

Phoebe sat up on her bed and put her hand to her forehead and looked up at Paige.

"I am so glad to see you Paige" Phoebe said smiling at her.

"I came as soon as Doc sent for me." Paige said sitting by Phoebe and wrapping her arm around Phoebe's small shoulders.

"I know this is a bad time Phoebe, but do you know who those men were?" Patric asked.

The memory suddenly came back to Phoebe and she remembered why she passed out. The memory of him. The dark stranger who now was apart of her life. She felt a lump of excitement in her throat and she swallowed hard rebuking her imagination. What was wrong with her? Why did she fantasize about him this way? She was a married woman, and more so, he was the enemy who wanted her husband dead, or so she thought. The rider never really said what he planned to do with him if he caught him?

"Phoebe?" Patric said breaking her thoughts.

Phoebe looked up at the three of them staring at her as if she confused them.

"I am sorry, but what are you all doing here?

"I was scanning the area for a gang of outlaws and When I got here you were on the floor" Patric said

"We had an appointment today Phoebe, remember?" The doctor said.

"Please if you could let me rest, I would greatly appreciate it, I will be better in the morning." Phoebe said confused.

"I think Phoebe is right, I think she needs her rest. Let us clear the room." Dr. Lee said to Patric, and the two men left the room.

Paige covered Phoebe as she lay down on her bed.

"What a nice surprise Paige, how are the children Paige?" Phoebe said smiling up at her.

"They are just fine. We are going to stay for a while so we can take care of you." Paige said brushing Phoebe's hair from her face.

"Take care of me? Why do you think I need taking care of?" Phoebe asked confused.

Paige looked at her funny. "You don't know?" She asked, "Phoebe, you are going to have a baby" Paige said.