Unlawfully Yours
Chapter IX
Cole watched Phoebe sleeping with the same unnerved feeling as before. "Have I gone completely insane?" he wondered now. "But she's so beautiful…" he mused again, as he caressed her side, and then rested his hand on her hips. She moved in her sleep, as if she'd felt his touch, while a vague smile formed on her lips. When she settled down, he reluctantly pulled the blanket over her and then quickly dressed. He was restless still, and decided to go out for a while. Maybe the morning air would clear his head. Outside, he found Paul already up and coming toward him with a metal bowl. In this, he had obviously collected some water as Cole saw a few drops escaping. Paul finally noticed Cole.
"For the horses," he simply said, indicating the bowl. However, instead of going in, he put it down near the cave's entrance and turned toward Cole questioningly.
"The little vixen's asleep?"
"Would you refrain from this?"
"From what…? The girl's not exactly a saint, Turner…"
Instead of the angry reply he half expected, his comment was met with an uneasy silence. Cole was frowning uncertainly and Paul figured that now was as good a time as ever to probe into his doubts.
"Let's take a walk," he told him then.
Cole hesitated, looking back inside the cave first. Then, he nodded yes and they walked slowly toward the edge of the small plateau.
"So…have fun?" Paul asked offhandedly.
Cole still didn't answer. Instead, he glanced back at the cave uncertainly while Paul continued:
"You know, she's got a way of making you believe stuff…She twisted me real good with all of her stories too … Hell, I almost pitied the sweet thing for a while."
Cole was biting his lips now, still wondering.
"Did she tell you about her daughter? How she'd do anything to get her back?" Paul questioned again.
Right then, he knew he had hit a cord, because Cole turned to him with obvious irritation.
"She told me you hated her…"
"Really, she did?" Paul replied mockingly. "That's not true, you know. Once you get to know Phoebe, and how to deal with her, she's quite the little woman. Although, a man has to always watch his back around her…among other things…"
"What about the baby," Cole asked, ignoring Paul's diatribe.
"Well, as far as I know, she did have a baby…I never saw it of course. That story about her cousins…hum, I don't even think that she's got family."
"Hum…" Cole muttered, peering over the edge.
"I was wondering," Paul started again after a few seconds, "I mean a guy like you, who seems reasonably intelligent…"
Cole grunted then, but let him continue.
"Well, I'm surprised you've fallen for her tricks so easily…"
Cole shrugged, and his lack of reaction actually puzzled Paul.
"Hey, I know that she's got a sedative effect on a man's brain, but really… haven't you heard a single word I said?"
"I heard every word," Cole said deliberately, while looking back at Paul with a very serious expression.
Phoebe woke up and looked around in surprise. Cole's display of possessiveness the preceding night made it seem strange that he would leave her alone now. Yet, he wasn't there. Phoebe realized that it had felt good to be so wanted. His absence actually made her feel empty and cold. She picked up her clothes and finished putting them on as she went toward the entrance of the cave. There, she stopped with a short intake of breath. She frowned at seeing the two men apparently deep in talk. "What if he betrays me," she thought… She didn't want to believe that, and yet seeing them together like this, she couldn't stop the doubts from creeping inside her.
Then, the doubts transformed into a burst of anger.
"If you do, lover," she growled, "I'll have your balls for breakfast…"
Cole seemed to sense her intense stare, because he turned toward her. After a short moment of hesitation, he gave her a smile that could have melted an iceberg. "Don't be foolish," Phoebe reflected, quickly calming down, "he'd never do that…"
Feeling more secure about things, she smiled back before returning to the cave to get water and some of the rations. She was famished and smiled impishly when she remembered why…
Paul followed Cole's gaze and watched Phoebe reentering the cave with renewed uneasiness.
"So, if you heard what I said," he continued as if there hadn't been any interruption, "can you tell me where you stand?"
Cole was still staring at the cave and the smile lingered on his lips. Paul waited this time, even though his unease deepened. He was certain that Phoebe had something planned. Even if he had sworn to her that he wouldn't try anything against her, Paul was convinced that it wouldn't have done any good. She wasn't one to trust that easily. In all honesty, he had to admit that considering the little value she had in his plans now, she was right not to trust him anyway. Paul still had a beef with her about the way she treated him. In fact, he had counted on Cole's empathy with his own desire for revenge. Now he wasn't certain of anything anymore. That is, until Cole spoke again.
"I went crazy last night…" He admitted suddenly.
"How's that," Paul asked warily.
"You won't believe what I agreed to do in a moment of pure insanity…"
Paul sensed that the tables had turned, but before he began cheering, he thought it better to play it smart.
"Hum, I guess a girl like her could make you do anything if she put her mind to it…"
"She asked me to help her ditch you," Cole simply said, as he turned toward Paul to take in his reaction.
Even if Phoebe's plan didn't surprise Paul, he was still a little stunned at Cole's spontaneous admission.
"Huh, well…am I to understand you don't…"
"I've got no intention of doing that, of course…"
"Good then," Paul approved, although some doubts lingered in his mind.
"But see, I don't want you to take it the wrong way…You two looked rather cozy last night. I've got trouble believing that it's all forgotten already…"
"I just told you. I went insane. It doesn't mean I forgot what she did to me. Hell, she even told me what she asked you to do…"
"What would that be?"
"Apparently, she tried to get you to ditch me as well…"
"Yeah true," Paul admitted, more astounded by the moment. He had believed that this would be rather tough, but now, he felt like the odds were in his favor.
"Still," Paul tried, but Cole interrupted him.
"The little bitch used me. All this crap was only so I'd do her bidding. How stupid am I…but I'll take care of her, you can bet your ass I will," Cole pursued, getting angrier by the moment.
"So, what exactly do you have in mind?"
"She's gotta know that she can't play me like this," Cole continued, apparently oblivious to Paul's question.
"I can think of a few ways to get back at her myself…"
This seemed to get Cole's attention.
"You're a lawman aren't you? Shouldn't you be arresting her?"
"Well, that is my intention eventually… but obviously I can't do that right now… and she still can be of use. Except that she's got to believe nothing's changed."
Cole observed him carefully, apparently wondering where this was leading.
Paul gave a sly smile to his new friend, and then turned toward the cave.
"We might be able to fool Phoebe until I'm ready to bag her…Hell, you could still have some fun in the process. But of course," Paul added quickly, "that's if you think you can take it and not lose your head again."
"Don't worry," Cole replied with the same smile, "if I falter, I'll only have to remind myself of her treachery."
Paul was actually starting to relish this revenge, but then a thought struck him.
"Hum, if you know what I am, isn't that a problem for you? I mean, I gathered that you were in this for the money at first… and obviously, I won't let you take it…"
"I never cared too much about the money, to be honest. Although, I'll take the reward you were gonna give to her. That'll compensate somewhat for this fiasco."
"Fine with me…"
"Let me ask you something then," Cole questioned in turn, just as circumspectly. "Don't you want the reward for yourself? Or had you planned all along to keep it and bag Phoebe and me anyway?"
"No," Paul replied firmly, "hardly enough, I'm a man of my word and had she given me Reggie herself, I'd have let her get the money. The same as I'll make sure it goes to you instead…"
"Still," Cole began, but Paul continued talking, interrupting him.
"Money's not the only thing that matters…My outfit's reputation has taken quite a beating in the last year. There's this mining company who threatened to start their own transportation business…and some of the Wells Fargo's other customers are now leaning toward that as well…It's not good for me in the long run…I've got to get this gold back at all cost."
Cole watched him intently at this, as if trying to read his mind. Then, he seemed satisfied.
"I guess that makes sense…"
Paul thought of something else then, and he frowned uncertainly.
"Won't Phoebe wonder why you're not helping her?"
"Oh don't worry about that…She wanted to play it smart," Cole replied confidently, "wait until we found the hideout, and then…"
"I see," Paul replied with a wince. "Like I said before…this girl is way too bright. We really need to watch each other's backs."
"Count on me," Cole added intensely.
"Yeah," Paul thought then, "getting better and better…" Then, he gave another look in the direction of the gangsters' camp. "Now, if they could just buy my little trick," he reflected again. He saw that they were already following the tracks and crossed his fingers that they would be fooled. However, when Cole started back toward the cave, a little voice told him not to risk leaving him alone with Phoebe just yet. After all, she had sucked him in once and he wouldn't put it past her to do it again.
"Hey Cole…If you really think that she won't do anything against us now, I could use a hand here."
"In doing what," Cole asked with a frown.
"Oh, just to collect some of the water in a crevasse back there… and also we might need something tastier than jerky. Let me get this water to the horses first."
Cole wondered what the hell he intended for them to find. There was no way they could hunt as it would've alerted Reggie and his men. However, what bugged him the most was Paul's obvious attempt at keeping him away from Phoebe, and he let Paul know that he saw through him.
"Hey I told you, she won't get to me again…"
Paul decided that blunt honesty was the best approach.
"Alright, I'll admit, I still have a few suspicions about your sudden change of heart. But even if I was certain of your intentions, I'd still think it's better for you to keep your distance for a while…"
Cole nodded reluctantly and settled to wait for Paul's return to this one's relief.
Almost an hour later, Paul and Cole watched Reggie on his way back and obviously lifting camp afterward. When he saw them on their way back toward the mountain, Paul became very optimistic. He went down the path that had led him here in the first place and finally witnessed the gangsters leaving…
"Oh perfect; it worked," Paul said triumphantly to Cole, who he had insisted should accompany him.
"So, I'm guessing that we won't have time to eat this snake you caught," Cole uttered with obvious relief.
Paul ignored his companion's unease at the idea, while joyously saying:
"On the contrary… We can very much follow their tracks later. It's healthier to put some distance between them and us. Until then, we can finally eat a cooked meal and I intend to savour it before leaving. You should too. We've got no idea how long of a ride this is gonna be."
Cole grimaced dejectedly before following Paul back toward the top.
Once there, Paul prepared a small fire, clearly no longer worried about detection, while Phoebe observed both men with renewed suspicion.
"Why is he avoiding me," she couldn't help worrying. Phoebe was getting angry again, but Cole came to her and his soft voice immediately made her feel better.
"What is it, baby?"
"Oh nothing," she whispered, casting a suspicious glance toward Paul, nonetheless. This one however seemed indifferent to them at this point. Satisfied, she gazed back at Cole, who was smiling.
"What?" She questioned softly.
"Oh, I was just thinking about last night and how I'd like to be alone with you right now…"
Phoebe smiled contentedly before kissing him hungrily. She thought there was no mistaking the desire she felt in him and it reassured her some more.
"Same here," she whispered against his lips.
Cole wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him then.
"Maybe, when this is all over we can…"
"Yeah, maybe…"
Cole looked down in surprise. Until now, when he had spoken of the future, Phoebe had responded with reticence. Yet, she seemed to see something more now. He tightened his hold on her with a little thrill.
Paul frowned at the sight, but soon rejected the doubts. The length of time he had spent talking with Cole, while they were out getting food and water, had convinced him of his intentions. In fact, he was now certain that Cole was ready to give her a run for her money, so to speak. He seemed hell bent on revenge and Paul thought it was ironic that a city boy like him might actually outsmart that girl. He looked away before Phoebe could see the amused smirk on his lips.
Phoebe had to coax Cole into tasting the repulsive reptile, but after a few bites, and in spite of the fact that he still didn't think the taste was all that grand, he had to admit that it was better than the jerky.
After collecting some more water and packing the rest of their meagre belongings, they finally started on Reggie's tracks. Once in the desert, Cole and Phoebe had to share a horse, so Paul took the point, as they started on this new leg of their trek. They were still wary of a trap however, and threaded circumspectly the first few hours. Nevertheless, it soon became evident that there was a noticeable difference in their quarry's advance. They were no longer slowing to wait for their pursuers and Paul became increasingly convinced that the gangsters had no clue they were followed. That night, they stopped only when it became dark and once again found that they could see a campfire in the distance. They ate what was left of the fresh meat, but as they couldn't warm it up, Cole thought that cold snake was definitely not an improvement on warm snake. During their frugal supper, it was decided that once more, Paul would take the first watch.
After they were done, Cole watched Paul walking away and waited only a little while longer before taking his clothes off and slipping under the blanket with Phoebe, who had already done so as soon as their companion had left. She jumped slightly at his touch but soon sighed happily when he began caressing her. His hand wandered toward her loins where he found that she was ready for him at the first touch.
"Cole…" she whispered hoarsely. He was impatient this time and without wait, he spread her legs and entered her immediately, although keeping his movements slow afterward as he leaned heavily on her.
"Baby," he said huskily, before kissing her passionately. "I thought he'd never leave," he said as his lips trailed slowly toward her cheeks. Through ragged breaths, she questioned.
"Did he buy it?"
Cole laughed softly as he came back toward her mouth.
"Hook, line and sinker…he's not suspecting a thing anymore…He's actually convinced that I wanna take my revenge on you… and good…"
Cole sensed her tensing at this, and then she grabbed his face and forced him to look her in the eyes. The darkness made it hard for her to read his face however, and she couldn't keep the slight worry out of her mind.
"You're still with me on this, aren't you?"
He kissed her softly, and then she thought she felt him smile against her lips.
"You know," he whispered, "you're even more desirable when you're vulnerable."
Phoebe reacted.
"Hey, I have some reasons to…" Before she could finish the sentence, Cole was pushing harder and she had to take a deep breath, already feeling the aura of ecstasy in spite of her slight insecurity, "or maybe," she thought, "because of it". However, she also reflected that, barring this slight doubt, she had never felt safer than in his arms. Forgetting everything but him, she began caressing his taut muscles, revelling in the rippling she felt in them as he moved faster, deeper, until the explosion of pleasure obscured every other thought. She had to bite back a scream at this and then she simply enjoyed the feel of his warm breath against her neck as he began relaxing.
However, what almost stopped her heart was when he spoke at last.
"I love you, Phoebe; I could never betray you."
She knew that she should've been scared, but in that instant, she didn't want to think of all that made this wrong. She closed her eyes and instead, let her heart warm up at the idea of his love. There would be time to worry about the future later…
Cole feared that he had spoken too soon. Nevertheless, she didn't protest or say anything afterward. Instead, her arms tightened slightly around him, and it gave him the assurance that he had not spoiled it all. After they had held each other in silence, he had to leave her side and did so reluctantly. He kissed her lengthily before putting his clothes on and tried to get some sleep a little ways from her; this, in prevision of his own watch to come… From where he was, he tried to see what she was doing but the darkness prevented it. He imagined that as he was looking her way, she did the same… and the thought warmed him as he drifted into dreamland.
The calls of coyotes woke him up into the deep of night. Cole's heart raced with the memory of what had happened that first night. However, he soon realized that those calls were not the only thing that had awakened him.
"Hey, sleepy head," Paul was calling from beside him. It was so dark that Cole could barely see him.
"Right," Cole answered in a slurry voice.
Paul chuckled.
"You know, if you hadn't spent half that time atop the little tramp, you wouldn't be so tired."
"I thought I asked you to refrain from that language," Cole replied in a firmer voice, hiding his discomfort at Paul's awareness of his actions.
"Hey, you're not bailing on me," Paul whispered suspiciously while giving a useless look in Phoebe's direction. The darkness enveloped her as well and there was no way for him to know if she was awake.
"I may want my revenge, but that doesn't mean that I like men disrespecting women," Cole said in the same low voice. "Particularly not the ones I bed… On that point, I think it's very much my business where I spent the night…"
"Just make sure that it's only your dick that's involved in this," Paul replied curtly.
Cole had a movement of anger at this comment but he decided that it wasn't worth it.
"At any rate, it worked perfectly into our plan," Cole surprised Paul instead. "Trust me on this; she won't be a problem at all…"
"How's that?"
"Suffice for you to know that she's tamed…" Cole replied before walking away.
Paul watched him for as long as he could until Cole disappeared in the night and then the doubts invaded him again. The more he dealt with this man, the less certain he was of his allegiance. If only he had not needed the backup, he reflected as he lied down to sleep with a disturbing apprehension.
The next morning, Phoebe was strangely quiet until she announced that she would get some water from cactuses that lay a little ways from their camp. Paul recommended caution but Phoebe only shrugged. She pulled a knife from the pack and then walked away without deigning an answer. Cole watched her just as curiously and he began to get the sinking feeling that she might be pulling away from him again. What if she rejected him completely now? "Where would I be then?" He was there in his worries when Paul's voice startled him.
"Hey, she doesn't seem all that tamed to me!"
Cole grunted at this. He didn't feel like listening to McKail's sarcasm.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. You said we wouldn't have to worry about her anymore…"
"I'll take care of it, alright? You lead us and I'll take care of Phoebe," Cole reaffirmed.
"And while you "take care" of Phoebe, who's watching my back," Paul continued, just as cynically.
"Maybe you should worry more about who's gonna stab you in the back if I don't."
"I don't have to worry about that. If you can't control her, I'll make sure she's no danger to me. As a matter of fact, that could be fun…"
Cole glanced back at Paul and he didn't like the look on his face.
"You're not gonna do anything to her. I agreed to have her delivered to the authorities. That's it. There's not gonna be any mistreatment of her until then…"
"You mean besides you screwing her every chance you get, while you're plotting behind her back?"
"That's the language she understands…besides, that's also a part of my revenge. I think I deserve a little pick me up…"
"Just as long as you don't forget which side you're on."
Cole gave him a dirty look but stayed silent.
Even when she got onto the horse in front of him, she stayed silent and did so for the next few hours. She rode stoically, and if at first, he kept quiet as well, eventually Cole couldn't take the silent treatment anymore.
"Phoebe…"
Phoebe went on looking ahead without even a hint that she'd heard him. And this even though she was only mere inches from him… "If you got something to reproach me, I'd like to know…"
This time, she shrugged but still didn't say anything.
Cole became even more upset and he slowed the horse, in doing so, allowing Paul to distance them.
That got a reaction out of Phoebe.
"Hey, why in the hell are we falling behind?"
"Because I figured that you had suddenly become hard of hearing… and since I intended to scream if necessary, I didn't think he needed to participate in our conversation." All of this had been uttered sarcastically but she sensed that he was also worried.
She didn't feel like reassuring him in the least.
"What? I'm not tamed enough yet? Or didn't you think I heard? The coyotes woke me up at the perfect moment for me to know what you really think."
Cole sighed heavily behind her.
"Phoebe, you know what that was!"
"No I don't… You sounded almost like you enjoyed saying it. You sounded just as sincere as…"
"As what, Phoebe?"
Phoebe couldn't bring herself to speak of his declaration of the night before, and at the moment, it didn't seem so real anymore. However, even if she wasn't certain how she felt about it, she still would've liked to know that he hadn't been lying. But how?
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"What?" Cole was flabbergasted. "You're telling me that you can't trust ME? After all you've put me through…?"
"I don't know anything anymore…"
"Phoebe, you asked me to do this…" Cole insisted angrily.
Phoebe didn't know what the matter with her was. Why on earth would she have believed that she could trust him in the first place? She had never trusted anyone. Yet, she wanted to… badly.
"I fear that you've betrayed me already…" she finally admitted.
Cole sighed as he encircled her waist with his left arm.
"Phoebe, I told you I could never do that."
"Yeah…and you told McKail that I wouldn't be a problem anymore. Which is real, Cole?"
Cole sighed again and tightened his hold on her.
"You wanna know what's real," he uttered intently while leaning toward her. His face was now almost touching her neck and she heard him breathing in deeply.
"What's real, Phoebe," he continued hoarsely, "is that I can't stop thinking about you. There isn't a second of every minute that passes where I don't imagine a different way to take you. I'm crazy about you, Phoebe…"
He stopped for a moment as his lips began grazing on her neck. No matter how worried she was about his motivation, this simple touch thrilled her. Her loins were already warming just thinking of what he might do next.
"Don't you know the power you have over me, baby?"
His hand wandered toward her breast and he soon began kneading it almost forcefully, making her feel once more the want he had of her. Much more than this, she realized that he now had power over her, but at the moment, it didn't seem to matter.
'I…" she said, then stopped to try and catch her breath. "I just wish I could be certain," she managed before he dropped the reins in her lap and grabbed her loins. Her mind became clouded then and she couldn't even remember what she was actually worried about.
"Phoebe," Cole whispered in her ear, "I want you…"
"Now…?" she whispered between ragged breaths. "McKail…"
"Is very far by now…besides he knows what we're doing…"
"What!" Phoebe exclaimed in slight confusion. But before she could protest further, his hold on her groin tightened and he pulled her up to cradle her sideways on his lap. Meanwhile, Phoebe was vaguely aware that the horse continued on his own, most probably following the scent of Paul's horse. By then, however, her perceptions were seriously impaired by the swelling excitement, even as she tried again to question Cole.
"What…" Phoebe started breathlessly but she had to stop again when he hurriedly opened her pants and slipped his hand in.
"Cole…" She almost screamed as his stroking caused the warmth to become a blazing fire running from her loins to her belly. At that point, all she could think about was to have him inside of her. Her hand searched for his belt, and soon freed him of the clothing, gratified to feel his already hard arousal.
Phoebe began stroking him then, and he groaned softly while pushing her pants down to her knees when she arched her hips instinctively. "I can't get enough of you, baby," he whispered again while trailing his fingers up her inner thigh.
She felt like he was teasing her, and her hips moved forward, instinctively trying to force him back up to her pulsing cunt. His mouth brushed on her parted lips, and again she thought that he was taunting her.
"Please," she begged, reaching behind his head and trying to pull him closer.
"Impatient, are we," Cole whispered with a slight chuckle. He grabbed her loins again suddenly, massaging it hard while he muffled her scream by crushing her lips with his.
Phoebe vaguely realized that she was slipping down with him but didn't react, so caught up in his touch she was. However, when Cole let go of her loins to push her pants all the way off, she finally became aware of the hot sand against her back. Before she knew it, he had pushed her thighs apart and was moving back up, impatiently, almost furiously entering her, while he kissed her again, probing her mouth hungrily, to which she responded with the same passion. If her arousal had been dizzying, the release almost had her fainting as wave after wave came forth from her quivering loins. Deep down, as the sensation slowly subsided, she knew that it had been much more than physical release. For every moment, she wanted him more, not less. Phoebe knew that she should have been wary of this growing dependency, but it seemed impossible to resist…
Paul had noticed the other two falling back, and slightly slowed his mount but didn't turn back, convinced that they'd find their way to him sooner or later. Paul knew that Cole was making his move as he had assured him, yet he couldn't chase the malaise that accompanied this knowledge. He understood too well the power Phoebe exerted on men. Even the strongest of them, like Reggie, had showed weakness toward her. However, the strangest thing was the way she seemed taken with this city boy, and that, as far as Paul knew, was a first. He wondered whether it was good or bad in this situation, but couldn't quite make up his mind about it.
Instead of dwelling on this, Paul returned his attention to the tracks, as they were disappearing behind a large dune. For a while already, he had noticed a radical change in the gangster's heading. Whereas they had seemed to be going toward Mexico before, they were now obviously heading for Texas. This only confirmed to him that they must be closing in on their true hideout. Cautiously, he dismounted and went to look over the edge of the sand mound. He soon congratulated himself for his caution when he found that the tracks led all the way to a ranch like habitation, lying only a few hundred feet ahead. To his estimate, they must have been closing in on the town of Tombstone by now, and it made some sense for Reggie to wanna stick around this town full of outlaws. The fact that they seemed to protect each other from the authorities might've been a strong incentive for The Slick. As he observed, he thought that he saw one of Reggie's men coming out of the house, although Paul was too far away for him to be certain. They would have to get closer at night and survey the place discreetly until Paul was confident of his facts, and then he would get his own team. He could already taste his victory while getting on his horse and heading back towards Phoebe and Cole…The thought of Phoebe brought a vicious smile to his lips at this point. "Soon," he thought, "I'll also get my revenge on that little slut and this'll only sweeten the deal…"
Chapter IX
Cole watched Phoebe sleeping with the same unnerved feeling as before. "Have I gone completely insane?" he wondered now. "But she's so beautiful…" he mused again, as he caressed her side, and then rested his hand on her hips. She moved in her sleep, as if she'd felt his touch, while a vague smile formed on her lips. When she settled down, he reluctantly pulled the blanket over her and then quickly dressed. He was restless still, and decided to go out for a while. Maybe the morning air would clear his head. Outside, he found Paul already up and coming toward him with a metal bowl. In this, he had obviously collected some water as Cole saw a few drops escaping. Paul finally noticed Cole.
"For the horses," he simply said, indicating the bowl. However, instead of going in, he put it down near the cave's entrance and turned toward Cole questioningly.
"The little vixen's asleep?"
"Would you refrain from this?"
"From what…? The girl's not exactly a saint, Turner…"
Instead of the angry reply he half expected, his comment was met with an uneasy silence. Cole was frowning uncertainly and Paul figured that now was as good a time as ever to probe into his doubts.
"Let's take a walk," he told him then.
Cole hesitated, looking back inside the cave first. Then, he nodded yes and they walked slowly toward the edge of the small plateau.
"So…have fun?" Paul asked offhandedly.
Cole still didn't answer. Instead, he glanced back at the cave uncertainly while Paul continued:
"You know, she's got a way of making you believe stuff…She twisted me real good with all of her stories too … Hell, I almost pitied the sweet thing for a while."
Cole was biting his lips now, still wondering.
"Did she tell you about her daughter? How she'd do anything to get her back?" Paul questioned again.
Right then, he knew he had hit a cord, because Cole turned to him with obvious irritation.
"She told me you hated her…"
"Really, she did?" Paul replied mockingly. "That's not true, you know. Once you get to know Phoebe, and how to deal with her, she's quite the little woman. Although, a man has to always watch his back around her…among other things…"
"What about the baby," Cole asked, ignoring Paul's diatribe.
"Well, as far as I know, she did have a baby…I never saw it of course. That story about her cousins…hum, I don't even think that she's got family."
"Hum…" Cole muttered, peering over the edge.
"I was wondering," Paul started again after a few seconds, "I mean a guy like you, who seems reasonably intelligent…"
Cole grunted then, but let him continue.
"Well, I'm surprised you've fallen for her tricks so easily…"
Cole shrugged, and his lack of reaction actually puzzled Paul.
"Hey, I know that she's got a sedative effect on a man's brain, but really… haven't you heard a single word I said?"
"I heard every word," Cole said deliberately, while looking back at Paul with a very serious expression.
Phoebe woke up and looked around in surprise. Cole's display of possessiveness the preceding night made it seem strange that he would leave her alone now. Yet, he wasn't there. Phoebe realized that it had felt good to be so wanted. His absence actually made her feel empty and cold. She picked up her clothes and finished putting them on as she went toward the entrance of the cave. There, she stopped with a short intake of breath. She frowned at seeing the two men apparently deep in talk. "What if he betrays me," she thought… She didn't want to believe that, and yet seeing them together like this, she couldn't stop the doubts from creeping inside her.
Then, the doubts transformed into a burst of anger.
"If you do, lover," she growled, "I'll have your balls for breakfast…"
Cole seemed to sense her intense stare, because he turned toward her. After a short moment of hesitation, he gave her a smile that could have melted an iceberg. "Don't be foolish," Phoebe reflected, quickly calming down, "he'd never do that…"
Feeling more secure about things, she smiled back before returning to the cave to get water and some of the rations. She was famished and smiled impishly when she remembered why…
Paul followed Cole's gaze and watched Phoebe reentering the cave with renewed uneasiness.
"So, if you heard what I said," he continued as if there hadn't been any interruption, "can you tell me where you stand?"
Cole was still staring at the cave and the smile lingered on his lips. Paul waited this time, even though his unease deepened. He was certain that Phoebe had something planned. Even if he had sworn to her that he wouldn't try anything against her, Paul was convinced that it wouldn't have done any good. She wasn't one to trust that easily. In all honesty, he had to admit that considering the little value she had in his plans now, she was right not to trust him anyway. Paul still had a beef with her about the way she treated him. In fact, he had counted on Cole's empathy with his own desire for revenge. Now he wasn't certain of anything anymore. That is, until Cole spoke again.
"I went crazy last night…" He admitted suddenly.
"How's that," Paul asked warily.
"You won't believe what I agreed to do in a moment of pure insanity…"
Paul sensed that the tables had turned, but before he began cheering, he thought it better to play it smart.
"Hum, I guess a girl like her could make you do anything if she put her mind to it…"
"She asked me to help her ditch you," Cole simply said, as he turned toward Paul to take in his reaction.
Even if Phoebe's plan didn't surprise Paul, he was still a little stunned at Cole's spontaneous admission.
"Huh, well…am I to understand you don't…"
"I've got no intention of doing that, of course…"
"Good then," Paul approved, although some doubts lingered in his mind.
"But see, I don't want you to take it the wrong way…You two looked rather cozy last night. I've got trouble believing that it's all forgotten already…"
"I just told you. I went insane. It doesn't mean I forgot what she did to me. Hell, she even told me what she asked you to do…"
"What would that be?"
"Apparently, she tried to get you to ditch me as well…"
"Yeah true," Paul admitted, more astounded by the moment. He had believed that this would be rather tough, but now, he felt like the odds were in his favor.
"Still," Paul tried, but Cole interrupted him.
"The little bitch used me. All this crap was only so I'd do her bidding. How stupid am I…but I'll take care of her, you can bet your ass I will," Cole pursued, getting angrier by the moment.
"So, what exactly do you have in mind?"
"She's gotta know that she can't play me like this," Cole continued, apparently oblivious to Paul's question.
"I can think of a few ways to get back at her myself…"
This seemed to get Cole's attention.
"You're a lawman aren't you? Shouldn't you be arresting her?"
"Well, that is my intention eventually… but obviously I can't do that right now… and she still can be of use. Except that she's got to believe nothing's changed."
Cole observed him carefully, apparently wondering where this was leading.
Paul gave a sly smile to his new friend, and then turned toward the cave.
"We might be able to fool Phoebe until I'm ready to bag her…Hell, you could still have some fun in the process. But of course," Paul added quickly, "that's if you think you can take it and not lose your head again."
"Don't worry," Cole replied with the same smile, "if I falter, I'll only have to remind myself of her treachery."
Paul was actually starting to relish this revenge, but then a thought struck him.
"Hum, if you know what I am, isn't that a problem for you? I mean, I gathered that you were in this for the money at first… and obviously, I won't let you take it…"
"I never cared too much about the money, to be honest. Although, I'll take the reward you were gonna give to her. That'll compensate somewhat for this fiasco."
"Fine with me…"
"Let me ask you something then," Cole questioned in turn, just as circumspectly. "Don't you want the reward for yourself? Or had you planned all along to keep it and bag Phoebe and me anyway?"
"No," Paul replied firmly, "hardly enough, I'm a man of my word and had she given me Reggie herself, I'd have let her get the money. The same as I'll make sure it goes to you instead…"
"Still," Cole began, but Paul continued talking, interrupting him.
"Money's not the only thing that matters…My outfit's reputation has taken quite a beating in the last year. There's this mining company who threatened to start their own transportation business…and some of the Wells Fargo's other customers are now leaning toward that as well…It's not good for me in the long run…I've got to get this gold back at all cost."
Cole watched him intently at this, as if trying to read his mind. Then, he seemed satisfied.
"I guess that makes sense…"
Paul thought of something else then, and he frowned uncertainly.
"Won't Phoebe wonder why you're not helping her?"
"Oh don't worry about that…She wanted to play it smart," Cole replied confidently, "wait until we found the hideout, and then…"
"I see," Paul replied with a wince. "Like I said before…this girl is way too bright. We really need to watch each other's backs."
"Count on me," Cole added intensely.
"Yeah," Paul thought then, "getting better and better…" Then, he gave another look in the direction of the gangsters' camp. "Now, if they could just buy my little trick," he reflected again. He saw that they were already following the tracks and crossed his fingers that they would be fooled. However, when Cole started back toward the cave, a little voice told him not to risk leaving him alone with Phoebe just yet. After all, she had sucked him in once and he wouldn't put it past her to do it again.
"Hey Cole…If you really think that she won't do anything against us now, I could use a hand here."
"In doing what," Cole asked with a frown.
"Oh, just to collect some of the water in a crevasse back there… and also we might need something tastier than jerky. Let me get this water to the horses first."
Cole wondered what the hell he intended for them to find. There was no way they could hunt as it would've alerted Reggie and his men. However, what bugged him the most was Paul's obvious attempt at keeping him away from Phoebe, and he let Paul know that he saw through him.
"Hey I told you, she won't get to me again…"
Paul decided that blunt honesty was the best approach.
"Alright, I'll admit, I still have a few suspicions about your sudden change of heart. But even if I was certain of your intentions, I'd still think it's better for you to keep your distance for a while…"
Cole nodded reluctantly and settled to wait for Paul's return to this one's relief.
Almost an hour later, Paul and Cole watched Reggie on his way back and obviously lifting camp afterward. When he saw them on their way back toward the mountain, Paul became very optimistic. He went down the path that had led him here in the first place and finally witnessed the gangsters leaving…
"Oh perfect; it worked," Paul said triumphantly to Cole, who he had insisted should accompany him.
"So, I'm guessing that we won't have time to eat this snake you caught," Cole uttered with obvious relief.
Paul ignored his companion's unease at the idea, while joyously saying:
"On the contrary… We can very much follow their tracks later. It's healthier to put some distance between them and us. Until then, we can finally eat a cooked meal and I intend to savour it before leaving. You should too. We've got no idea how long of a ride this is gonna be."
Cole grimaced dejectedly before following Paul back toward the top.
Once there, Paul prepared a small fire, clearly no longer worried about detection, while Phoebe observed both men with renewed suspicion.
"Why is he avoiding me," she couldn't help worrying. Phoebe was getting angry again, but Cole came to her and his soft voice immediately made her feel better.
"What is it, baby?"
"Oh nothing," she whispered, casting a suspicious glance toward Paul, nonetheless. This one however seemed indifferent to them at this point. Satisfied, she gazed back at Cole, who was smiling.
"What?" She questioned softly.
"Oh, I was just thinking about last night and how I'd like to be alone with you right now…"
Phoebe smiled contentedly before kissing him hungrily. She thought there was no mistaking the desire she felt in him and it reassured her some more.
"Same here," she whispered against his lips.
Cole wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him then.
"Maybe, when this is all over we can…"
"Yeah, maybe…"
Cole looked down in surprise. Until now, when he had spoken of the future, Phoebe had responded with reticence. Yet, she seemed to see something more now. He tightened his hold on her with a little thrill.
Paul frowned at the sight, but soon rejected the doubts. The length of time he had spent talking with Cole, while they were out getting food and water, had convinced him of his intentions. In fact, he was now certain that Cole was ready to give her a run for her money, so to speak. He seemed hell bent on revenge and Paul thought it was ironic that a city boy like him might actually outsmart that girl. He looked away before Phoebe could see the amused smirk on his lips.
Phoebe had to coax Cole into tasting the repulsive reptile, but after a few bites, and in spite of the fact that he still didn't think the taste was all that grand, he had to admit that it was better than the jerky.
After collecting some more water and packing the rest of their meagre belongings, they finally started on Reggie's tracks. Once in the desert, Cole and Phoebe had to share a horse, so Paul took the point, as they started on this new leg of their trek. They were still wary of a trap however, and threaded circumspectly the first few hours. Nevertheless, it soon became evident that there was a noticeable difference in their quarry's advance. They were no longer slowing to wait for their pursuers and Paul became increasingly convinced that the gangsters had no clue they were followed. That night, they stopped only when it became dark and once again found that they could see a campfire in the distance. They ate what was left of the fresh meat, but as they couldn't warm it up, Cole thought that cold snake was definitely not an improvement on warm snake. During their frugal supper, it was decided that once more, Paul would take the first watch.
After they were done, Cole watched Paul walking away and waited only a little while longer before taking his clothes off and slipping under the blanket with Phoebe, who had already done so as soon as their companion had left. She jumped slightly at his touch but soon sighed happily when he began caressing her. His hand wandered toward her loins where he found that she was ready for him at the first touch.
"Cole…" she whispered hoarsely. He was impatient this time and without wait, he spread her legs and entered her immediately, although keeping his movements slow afterward as he leaned heavily on her.
"Baby," he said huskily, before kissing her passionately. "I thought he'd never leave," he said as his lips trailed slowly toward her cheeks. Through ragged breaths, she questioned.
"Did he buy it?"
Cole laughed softly as he came back toward her mouth.
"Hook, line and sinker…he's not suspecting a thing anymore…He's actually convinced that I wanna take my revenge on you… and good…"
Cole sensed her tensing at this, and then she grabbed his face and forced him to look her in the eyes. The darkness made it hard for her to read his face however, and she couldn't keep the slight worry out of her mind.
"You're still with me on this, aren't you?"
He kissed her softly, and then she thought she felt him smile against her lips.
"You know," he whispered, "you're even more desirable when you're vulnerable."
Phoebe reacted.
"Hey, I have some reasons to…" Before she could finish the sentence, Cole was pushing harder and she had to take a deep breath, already feeling the aura of ecstasy in spite of her slight insecurity, "or maybe," she thought, "because of it". However, she also reflected that, barring this slight doubt, she had never felt safer than in his arms. Forgetting everything but him, she began caressing his taut muscles, revelling in the rippling she felt in them as he moved faster, deeper, until the explosion of pleasure obscured every other thought. She had to bite back a scream at this and then she simply enjoyed the feel of his warm breath against her neck as he began relaxing.
However, what almost stopped her heart was when he spoke at last.
"I love you, Phoebe; I could never betray you."
She knew that she should've been scared, but in that instant, she didn't want to think of all that made this wrong. She closed her eyes and instead, let her heart warm up at the idea of his love. There would be time to worry about the future later…
Cole feared that he had spoken too soon. Nevertheless, she didn't protest or say anything afterward. Instead, her arms tightened slightly around him, and it gave him the assurance that he had not spoiled it all. After they had held each other in silence, he had to leave her side and did so reluctantly. He kissed her lengthily before putting his clothes on and tried to get some sleep a little ways from her; this, in prevision of his own watch to come… From where he was, he tried to see what she was doing but the darkness prevented it. He imagined that as he was looking her way, she did the same… and the thought warmed him as he drifted into dreamland.
The calls of coyotes woke him up into the deep of night. Cole's heart raced with the memory of what had happened that first night. However, he soon realized that those calls were not the only thing that had awakened him.
"Hey, sleepy head," Paul was calling from beside him. It was so dark that Cole could barely see him.
"Right," Cole answered in a slurry voice.
Paul chuckled.
"You know, if you hadn't spent half that time atop the little tramp, you wouldn't be so tired."
"I thought I asked you to refrain from that language," Cole replied in a firmer voice, hiding his discomfort at Paul's awareness of his actions.
"Hey, you're not bailing on me," Paul whispered suspiciously while giving a useless look in Phoebe's direction. The darkness enveloped her as well and there was no way for him to know if she was awake.
"I may want my revenge, but that doesn't mean that I like men disrespecting women," Cole said in the same low voice. "Particularly not the ones I bed… On that point, I think it's very much my business where I spent the night…"
"Just make sure that it's only your dick that's involved in this," Paul replied curtly.
Cole had a movement of anger at this comment but he decided that it wasn't worth it.
"At any rate, it worked perfectly into our plan," Cole surprised Paul instead. "Trust me on this; she won't be a problem at all…"
"How's that?"
"Suffice for you to know that she's tamed…" Cole replied before walking away.
Paul watched him for as long as he could until Cole disappeared in the night and then the doubts invaded him again. The more he dealt with this man, the less certain he was of his allegiance. If only he had not needed the backup, he reflected as he lied down to sleep with a disturbing apprehension.
The next morning, Phoebe was strangely quiet until she announced that she would get some water from cactuses that lay a little ways from their camp. Paul recommended caution but Phoebe only shrugged. She pulled a knife from the pack and then walked away without deigning an answer. Cole watched her just as curiously and he began to get the sinking feeling that she might be pulling away from him again. What if she rejected him completely now? "Where would I be then?" He was there in his worries when Paul's voice startled him.
"Hey, she doesn't seem all that tamed to me!"
Cole grunted at this. He didn't feel like listening to McKail's sarcasm.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. You said we wouldn't have to worry about her anymore…"
"I'll take care of it, alright? You lead us and I'll take care of Phoebe," Cole reaffirmed.
"And while you "take care" of Phoebe, who's watching my back," Paul continued, just as cynically.
"Maybe you should worry more about who's gonna stab you in the back if I don't."
"I don't have to worry about that. If you can't control her, I'll make sure she's no danger to me. As a matter of fact, that could be fun…"
Cole glanced back at Paul and he didn't like the look on his face.
"You're not gonna do anything to her. I agreed to have her delivered to the authorities. That's it. There's not gonna be any mistreatment of her until then…"
"You mean besides you screwing her every chance you get, while you're plotting behind her back?"
"That's the language she understands…besides, that's also a part of my revenge. I think I deserve a little pick me up…"
"Just as long as you don't forget which side you're on."
Cole gave him a dirty look but stayed silent.
Even when she got onto the horse in front of him, she stayed silent and did so for the next few hours. She rode stoically, and if at first, he kept quiet as well, eventually Cole couldn't take the silent treatment anymore.
"Phoebe…"
Phoebe went on looking ahead without even a hint that she'd heard him. And this even though she was only mere inches from him… "If you got something to reproach me, I'd like to know…"
This time, she shrugged but still didn't say anything.
Cole became even more upset and he slowed the horse, in doing so, allowing Paul to distance them.
That got a reaction out of Phoebe.
"Hey, why in the hell are we falling behind?"
"Because I figured that you had suddenly become hard of hearing… and since I intended to scream if necessary, I didn't think he needed to participate in our conversation." All of this had been uttered sarcastically but she sensed that he was also worried.
She didn't feel like reassuring him in the least.
"What? I'm not tamed enough yet? Or didn't you think I heard? The coyotes woke me up at the perfect moment for me to know what you really think."
Cole sighed heavily behind her.
"Phoebe, you know what that was!"
"No I don't… You sounded almost like you enjoyed saying it. You sounded just as sincere as…"
"As what, Phoebe?"
Phoebe couldn't bring herself to speak of his declaration of the night before, and at the moment, it didn't seem so real anymore. However, even if she wasn't certain how she felt about it, she still would've liked to know that he hadn't been lying. But how?
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"What?" Cole was flabbergasted. "You're telling me that you can't trust ME? After all you've put me through…?"
"I don't know anything anymore…"
"Phoebe, you asked me to do this…" Cole insisted angrily.
Phoebe didn't know what the matter with her was. Why on earth would she have believed that she could trust him in the first place? She had never trusted anyone. Yet, she wanted to… badly.
"I fear that you've betrayed me already…" she finally admitted.
Cole sighed as he encircled her waist with his left arm.
"Phoebe, I told you I could never do that."
"Yeah…and you told McKail that I wouldn't be a problem anymore. Which is real, Cole?"
Cole sighed again and tightened his hold on her.
"You wanna know what's real," he uttered intently while leaning toward her. His face was now almost touching her neck and she heard him breathing in deeply.
"What's real, Phoebe," he continued hoarsely, "is that I can't stop thinking about you. There isn't a second of every minute that passes where I don't imagine a different way to take you. I'm crazy about you, Phoebe…"
He stopped for a moment as his lips began grazing on her neck. No matter how worried she was about his motivation, this simple touch thrilled her. Her loins were already warming just thinking of what he might do next.
"Don't you know the power you have over me, baby?"
His hand wandered toward her breast and he soon began kneading it almost forcefully, making her feel once more the want he had of her. Much more than this, she realized that he now had power over her, but at the moment, it didn't seem to matter.
'I…" she said, then stopped to try and catch her breath. "I just wish I could be certain," she managed before he dropped the reins in her lap and grabbed her loins. Her mind became clouded then and she couldn't even remember what she was actually worried about.
"Phoebe," Cole whispered in her ear, "I want you…"
"Now…?" she whispered between ragged breaths. "McKail…"
"Is very far by now…besides he knows what we're doing…"
"What!" Phoebe exclaimed in slight confusion. But before she could protest further, his hold on her groin tightened and he pulled her up to cradle her sideways on his lap. Meanwhile, Phoebe was vaguely aware that the horse continued on his own, most probably following the scent of Paul's horse. By then, however, her perceptions were seriously impaired by the swelling excitement, even as she tried again to question Cole.
"What…" Phoebe started breathlessly but she had to stop again when he hurriedly opened her pants and slipped his hand in.
"Cole…" She almost screamed as his stroking caused the warmth to become a blazing fire running from her loins to her belly. At that point, all she could think about was to have him inside of her. Her hand searched for his belt, and soon freed him of the clothing, gratified to feel his already hard arousal.
Phoebe began stroking him then, and he groaned softly while pushing her pants down to her knees when she arched her hips instinctively. "I can't get enough of you, baby," he whispered again while trailing his fingers up her inner thigh.
She felt like he was teasing her, and her hips moved forward, instinctively trying to force him back up to her pulsing cunt. His mouth brushed on her parted lips, and again she thought that he was taunting her.
"Please," she begged, reaching behind his head and trying to pull him closer.
"Impatient, are we," Cole whispered with a slight chuckle. He grabbed her loins again suddenly, massaging it hard while he muffled her scream by crushing her lips with his.
Phoebe vaguely realized that she was slipping down with him but didn't react, so caught up in his touch she was. However, when Cole let go of her loins to push her pants all the way off, she finally became aware of the hot sand against her back. Before she knew it, he had pushed her thighs apart and was moving back up, impatiently, almost furiously entering her, while he kissed her again, probing her mouth hungrily, to which she responded with the same passion. If her arousal had been dizzying, the release almost had her fainting as wave after wave came forth from her quivering loins. Deep down, as the sensation slowly subsided, she knew that it had been much more than physical release. For every moment, she wanted him more, not less. Phoebe knew that she should have been wary of this growing dependency, but it seemed impossible to resist…
Paul had noticed the other two falling back, and slightly slowed his mount but didn't turn back, convinced that they'd find their way to him sooner or later. Paul knew that Cole was making his move as he had assured him, yet he couldn't chase the malaise that accompanied this knowledge. He understood too well the power Phoebe exerted on men. Even the strongest of them, like Reggie, had showed weakness toward her. However, the strangest thing was the way she seemed taken with this city boy, and that, as far as Paul knew, was a first. He wondered whether it was good or bad in this situation, but couldn't quite make up his mind about it.
Instead of dwelling on this, Paul returned his attention to the tracks, as they were disappearing behind a large dune. For a while already, he had noticed a radical change in the gangster's heading. Whereas they had seemed to be going toward Mexico before, they were now obviously heading for Texas. This only confirmed to him that they must be closing in on their true hideout. Cautiously, he dismounted and went to look over the edge of the sand mound. He soon congratulated himself for his caution when he found that the tracks led all the way to a ranch like habitation, lying only a few hundred feet ahead. To his estimate, they must have been closing in on the town of Tombstone by now, and it made some sense for Reggie to wanna stick around this town full of outlaws. The fact that they seemed to protect each other from the authorities might've been a strong incentive for The Slick. As he observed, he thought that he saw one of Reggie's men coming out of the house, although Paul was too far away for him to be certain. They would have to get closer at night and survey the place discreetly until Paul was confident of his facts, and then he would get his own team. He could already taste his victory while getting on his horse and heading back towards Phoebe and Cole…The thought of Phoebe brought a vicious smile to his lips at this point. "Soon," he thought, "I'll also get my revenge on that little slut and this'll only sweeten the deal…"
