Chapter 6

Phoebe was not sure about that, but she didn't have any idea what else to do, because Abe was mostly in control of the situation. But not completely, she thought to herself as they walked on. Her thoughts flowed through her mind as they walked through the hot sand. It was so muggy and there was no wind. Phoebe was grateful when the sun went down. The evening was a little cooler as a small breeze picked up.

They could see lights in the distance now. It looked like an electrical plant of some kind. There were towers that were lit up in the sky, and about five small shacks that had lights on them from what she could make out.

"It's not far now, are you ok? Do you want me to…?"

"No! Keep going, I'm fine." Phoebe cut him short.

Levi stopped. He threw down his pack that he had on his back. Phoebe kept walking without even a glance at him.

"Damn it Phoebe, I'm sorry! I didn't know what to do."

He was now almost yelling, because Phoebe was ahead of him a ways. He couldn't take the silence any longer. Phoebe stopped at this, and turned around fast, then marched towards him.

"You're sorry…? You didn't know what to do…? Do you think that helps…? All the pain and suffering you caused?" Phoebe was now in his face. " I can't believe you! I hate you! You say that you loved me, but you don't know the first thing about love. I could tell you about love! I had love, and now because of you, It's gone!

"It wasn't my fault…Abe."

"Don't even try to blame someone else Levi. I know what Abe did, but you helped him of your own free will. Nobody makes you do anything! I should know! I got away from him; because I was sick of that fat piece of shit ruling my life! Phoebe was beside herself, she was so mad.

Levi put his hands on his hips and dropped his head with a sigh of frustration. Phoebe felt her throat swelling. She just stood there glaring at him. She had held back, from letting Levi have it until now. She couldn't believe what Levi had done. She had somewhat felt sorry for Levi, because she knew how strong Abe's hold on people was, but when she thought of Cole, revenge flushed through her body.

"Can we go now? We have wasted enough time bull shitting as it is!" She said, as she waited for his reaction. "No! I will not help you, until you hear what I have to say! You say you are the only one that knows about love? Well sorry to burst your bubble missy, but you are wrong! I love you so much, and it hurt me so bad to do that to you! But you don't realize, I am the reason that your husband is still alive! If I wouldn't have come to you, Randolph would have found some other poor bastard to do the job, and he might not have helped you the way I am…So you see, you should be grateful for me instead of hating me!" Levi said as his voice changed from a plea to anger.

"The job? Is that what you call it? And how do I know you are helping me anyway?" Phoebe scolded as she tried to fight crying, but the tears ran down anyway, as they made lines down her dusty face. "For all I know…" She was sobbing now.

Levi grabbed her in his arms, and stopped her from finishing. "Phoebe don't!" he yelled in her face, "I am not going to betray you. Not now, not ever again. I promise I will see this through… even if it is the last thing I do. Please don't cry darlin'. He was pleading softly now.

She felt his arms holding her tight. He had been the one by her side for the last three years, and even though she knew why now, she still wanted his comfort. She collected herself from losing it completely, and fought in his arms.

He suddenly grabbed her arm and spun it around her back tightening his hold on her and over powering her struggle. Then he crushed his lips on hers kissing her forcefuly. Her face was still wet from tears. Levi started to breath loudly through his kiss, and Phoebe struggled on his lips to get free, but then she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back just as forceful.

"Phoebe, please…" He whispered, while pulling away slowly with everything he had. " I love you so much… lets leave now, I can protect you, we can be safe from Abe… It's not too late Phoebe, we can run, I could take care of…"

Phoebe stopped him by kissing him again. She let go of his lips and said with a smile, " Levi, if this was a different time and a different place, I would have loved you." There was a pause while they looked at each other.

"But?" Levi said, knowing what the answer was. "But my love is for Cole. It always has been… I belong to him, and he belongs to me… I want to thank you though, for coming this far with me. I couldn't have done this alone. I don't hate you Levi, and whatever the outcome, I will always be grateful to you for helping me.

Just then a loud noise came from the plant. They both looked towards the lights at the plant.

"That sounded like a gun shot!" Levi said, with confusion.

"Cole!" Phoebe said in a shaky voice, as she started to let go of Levi and run to the plant.

Levi grabbed her wrist, and the pack he had on the ground. " Wait Phoebe, we need to be cool about this."

"Cool! Levi! Cole is there and he could be shot!"

"Your husband is not going to be shot Phoebe, Randolph needs him to get you."

Phoebe trembled at this. She didn't realize how scared she was of Abe until now. She had been so set on saving Cole, she never thought of what Abe was going to do to her, once she got there. Levi took her hand and said,

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you. Give me the gun," he said sticking out his hand for it. "Trust me Phoebe!"

Phoebe hesitated for a moment and then took it from her belt and gave it to him. They started to walk to the plant. Phoebe was still worried, but followed Levi. It was all she had in her to face this monster of a man again after all this time. She had tried so hard to forget, but now it slapped her straight in the face.

At the plant, Abe was sitting at a table holding a smoking gun.

"Maybe you sons of bitches will think twice before you cheat again." Abe said boldly, as he sat back in his wooden chair, gazing at the man's bloody hand he shot.

The man held his hand in awful pain. The other three men at the poker table just sat there, as their cigars dropped from their mouths. They remained motionless.

"Get him out of here!" Abe said in a careless voice. Two more men entered the room to escort the wounded man out.

"Ok then, Who's in?" One of the men said, dealing cards around the table, as if nothing happened.

Cole heard the gun shot and became very nervous. He was left to choke on the words that Abe left him with earlier. He didn't know if Phoebe was there or not. Maybe this man was hurting her right now, or maybe she was there and she didn't know where he was. Cole was going crazy, and he had to do something. Cole could hear the two guards outside talking. He thought that it would be as good of a time as any to try another escape. He had tried so many times and failed.

"Guard! I need some water. Open the door."

Cole had nothing but his fists. The guard unlocked the door to open it. Cole suddenly kicked the door open, and the first guard flew backward on the ground. Cole went for the second guard. But he was ahead of Cole, and sprayed pepper spray in Cole's eyes. Cole grabbed his eyes and yelled. The first guard was now on his feet again and kicked Cole in the stomach, then jabbed Cole hard in the forehead with the butt of his gun. Cole went down unconscious. The guards drug him back inside the shack and kicked his limp body. Cole groaned at the sharp pain to his ribs.

Levi and Phoebe were now in plain view of the plant. They were hiding behind a large boulder.

"Ok Phoebe, are you ready for this?" Levi said as he put his hands on Phoebe's face. Phoebe took a deep breath and let it out. Levi could see the fear in her eyes.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess. What are you going to do?" Phoebe said trembling. She was like a small child afraid of the dark.

"I am going to bring you to Abe. He won't trust me, so I may have to get rough with you. Just follow along Phoebe and I won't lead you wrong. I mean it Phoebe, you must play this out with me, or Abe might kill us both." Levi said seriously, knowing that Phoebe always had a mind of her own, and didn't take people telling her what to do very well. Phoebe just nodded, too scared to buck. He took her arm and headed straight for the shack, where Abe and the men were playing the card game.