( My stories are fic. I don't own any of these characters/ I only write about them in my stories.)
Chapter 4
Phoebe woke up suddenly to pounding at her front door. She sat up in bed and threw back the covers. She reached for her shawl on the end of her bed and lit her lantern as she ran down the loft stairs to the door.
"Who is it?" She asked in a frightened voice.
"It's me Phoebe, let me in!"
"Cole?" Phoebe said feeling relieved and scared at the same time, as she sat the lantern on the counter and unlocked the door.
Phoebe opened the door to find Cole standing on her porch. She looked so beautiful with her hair combed out and draped to one side of her shoulder and her shawl hanging around her night dress. He felt a rush of lust and desire rush through him like the wind on the open plains. He wanted to feel the warmth of her body around him.
Phoebe reached up to slap Cole across the face, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. Cole was towering over Phoebe as their eyes danced.
"I couldn't stay away" Cole said
"I am asking you" Phoebe whispered intensely.
"Say it again" He quickly mumbled.
"I am begging you!" Phoebe said breathlessly and pulled Cole's face down to hers dropping her shawl and kissing him.
Cole willingly wrapped his arms around Phoebe's waist and lifted her off her feet walking inside to the table. Cole sat Phoebe down gently and never took his lips from hers. His kisses became rapid and he moaned lustfully on her mouth. Phoebe panted as Cole parted her knees and pressed himself past her inner thighs. Phoebe could feel the hardness of him through her thin night dress. Phoebe's loins started to throb as he pressed himself harder against her and kissed down her neck to her breasts. Cole cupped her breasts in his hands as he worked his way back to her mouth and traced her lips with his tongue. He took off his coat then unbuckled his belt and took off his holster and pistol. He started to unbutton his pants but Phoebe stopped him.
"Wait, not here" Phoebe whispered softly.
Cole lifted her again, this time cradling her in his arms and walking to the ladder. He pressed her against it to kiss her again, then he turned her around to climb the ladder and followed her up to the loft.
**********
"Who's there!" Randy said as he cocked his rifle and pointed it at the nearby brush.
"It's me!" a voice whispered coming at him.
"Jason?" Randy asked
"Yeah" Jason said as he broke through the brush and rode up to Randy.
"What the hell are you doing here? You want to get us hanged?" Randy snapped angrily.
"No time for bull shit! Cole's in trouble!" Jason said dismounting his horse.
"What kind of trouble?"
"The sheriff just got the wanted posters this afternoon!"
"So?" Randy growled.
"Someone saw us!"
"What! That's bull shit!" Randy snapped
"It was a man and a woman"
"That crazy horse shit! Nobody could have." Randy said with a proud tone
"It's Cole's face on them posters!" Jason almost shouted.
Randy's tone changed. "Are you certain?"
"Yes!"
Randy mumbled and took his hat off scratching his head.
"There is one more thing." Jason trailed
"What now!"
"Patric is on his way to the ranch in the morning to tell Lucky's wife!"
"Son of a bitch, why didn't you say!" Randy shouted
"I just did!" Jason said
"Cole is there now!" Randy shouted
"What is he doing there?"
"Waiting for Lucky!" Randy shouted again.
Jason watched as Randy paced back and forth trying to think of what to do next.
"Ok, here's what we are going to do, you go back and try to stall the sheriff, and I'll head for the ranch. I think I can make it there before dawn if I leave now." Randy said
"You only have four hours until dawn" Jason said getting on his horse.
"Leave that to me, just do what I said!" Randy shouted back to him.
"I'll do what I can" Jason said and then whirled his horse around and disappeared back in the timber.
Randy walked to the fire. "Move out at first light, I have to make a trip to the ranch. You know where to meet me tomorrow. " He said as he walked passed them to his horse.
*********
Cole and Phoebe stood looking at each other in the dark loft with the sound of the rain on the windows and lightning flashing light beams through the windows on their naked bodies. Their hearts pounding against each others chests.
Cole leaned down and kissed Phoebe's forehead and then her cheeks and eyes. She had never felt such tenderness and passion. He trailed down her body with soft kisses. He knelt on his knees and softly kissed the slight curve of her belly. Phoebe ran her fingers through his hair caressing him and cuddling his head to her stomach. He couldn't help his heart, he was falling in love with her. He ran his hands along every curve of her body as if he were memorizing her.
She closed her eyes and embraced every touch and caress. Cole's hands on her body made her feel as if she were the only woman he had ever known or wanted. Neither one said a word, only uttered soft moans and whispers, sounds of passion and love.
Cole lifted Phoebe in his arms and carried her to the bed. He carefully laid her on the bed. Phoebe arched her back and pulled him down on her.
"You feel good under me Phoebe" Cole whispered short of breath.
Phoebe smiled and parted her legs for him. Cole slipped himself inside of her and closed his eyes as he rested his forehead on hers. They kissed and their kisses became harder as Cole moved inside of her.
"You are trembling" Phoebe whispered softly.
"I don't have much control over what you do to me" Cole admitted as he leaned in to kiss her again.
Phoebe tilted her head back and closed her eyes and moaned softly.
"Am I hurting you?" Cole whispered.
"No.don't stop Cole!" Phoebe said breathlessly as she felt her insides contracting with pleasure.
Phoebe's reaction to his touches and moves drove him wild with lust and he moved faster. Phoebe felt an intense pleasure as Cole groaned in her ear. Phoebe reached for his face and looked into his eyes. They were filled with passion and love for her.
He kissed her softly and then lay beside her. He pulled Phoebe close to him and held her in his arms.
"I will not leave with out you Phoebe.I won't be with out you again" Cole said they both caught their breath.
Phoebe was speechless as she ran her fingers along his chest. She was completely in love with him.
"Did I hurt you? You haven't said anything" Cole asked softly.
"No, no, I just.I am afraid of how things will go from here" Phoebe said rising up to look at him.
Cole smiled at he and touched her cheek.
"I don't care.as long as you are with me" Cole whispered.
Phoebe smiled and looked away. Cole turned her chin around to look at him again. Her expression worried him.
"I am afraid Cole" Phoebe said looking at him
"I will take care of you Phoebe.and your baby" Cole said.
"Cole.you are forgetting about Lucky.He is your brother and I am still his wife" Phoebe started to sound upset.
Those words were like knives through his chest. The thought of Phoebe belonging to another man was torture, but the fact that it was his brother, was even worse.
"I didn't forget" He said annoyed to hear Lucky's name.
There was a silence for a while and Cole and Phoebe just laid there in each other's arms, both afraid to move. Neither one wanted to be with out the other, and they wanted the moment to last.
"I wish we could stay here forever" Phoebe finally whispered leaning on her elbow facing Cole.
"Me too" Cole said kissing her forehead.
"Cole.It is just that things are so different now"
"I know" Cole said kissing her softly on the lips.
Phoebe suddenly rose up getting out of bed and walked to the chair for her night dress.
"Where are you going?" Cole asked raising up on his elbows.
"I will be back...I am going to put another log on the fire" Phoebe said giving him a half smile and walking out of the bedroom.
Cole smiled at her and then lied back down on his back. He took a deep breath and rolled over on his stomach and put his face in the pillow and took a deep breath. He could still smell her. The sheets smelled like sunshine and sweet flowers. He could taste her as he laid there thinking about her. Her every move and groan, the way her head moved and her hair draped over his face lightly sweeping his chest back and forth. He couldn't help the smile that spread over his lips at these thoughts.
He turned toward the window and his smile quickly faded as he saw a figure standing looking in at him. He felt a sinking burn flush over his body as he stared at the figure. The lightning flashed and Cole had clear vision of the figure.
"Oh! You scared me!" Phoebe said grabbing her chest turning around to Cole behind her. He had only his pants on and she put her hand on his chest.
"What are you doing, you are ice cold, go back to bed" She said snuggling up to him.
"Um, I forgot to throw my horse some feed in the barn, I'll be back"
"Cole?" Phoebe said grabbing his hand as he passed her. Cole froze and turned around to face her. He tried to hide his guilt but worried she would see right through him.
"It is pouring down rain, and you could catch your death with out any clothes on. Here, I'll get your coat" She said and walked to the table.
Cole's heart was pounding and he tried to stay calm. Phoebe rounded the corner and helped Cole with his coat.
"I don't know what I ever did with out you darlin' " Cole said kissing her cheek and hurrying out the door.
Phoebe smiled curiously and headed for the ladder. She climbed up to the loft again and looked out the window. She saw Cole running toward the barn. She walked to the quilt stand and reached for the quilt to spread over the bed and she knocked Cole's hat on the floor. Phoebe reached down to pick it up and saw the small white hanky sticking out of the lining. It was dirty and Phoebe slowly pulled it out and looked closely. Then Phoebe saw the writing. All My Love Phoebe
Her eyes widened and her heart sank. She had made this for Lucky for a wedding gift and he told her he would never be with out it. Phoebe's heart sank.
"What have I done?" She whispered around the lump in her throat.
The warm tears burned her eyes as they filled up. Phoebe sat on the edge of the bed and clutched the hanky in her hand. She looked down and touched her stomach.
"Oh no.what have I done?" Phoebe whispered shamefully.
She slowly looked out the window and walked over to it. She wiped her eyes as she strained through the rain. Across the way she could see Cole, but he wasn't alone. Phoebe's heart started to pound and she saw another man with Cole. The other man was holding Cole by the collar and then Cole broke free and grabbed the man by the neck it seemed.
Phoebe started to panic but she didn't know what to do. She could tell right off it wasn't Lucky, but who was it? She paced the room trying to figure out what to do then she looked out side again and saw the man riding away.
Then she turned to the doorway and gasped as she saw Cole standing there dripping wet with an icy look on his face.
Phoebe backed away from the edge of the loft into the room and sat on the edge of the bed staring. She heard Cole climbing the ladder and she sank lower and lower.
Cole never took his eyes off her as he peered over the edge. He stood up and walked to the chair and sat down. He still stared with an icy deep look as if he was trying to read Phoebe's mind. Phoebe looked down at his right hand and saw his knuckles were bloody.
"You want to run? There's the door" Phoebe finally said in a cold tone.
"I told you, I'm not going anywhere" Cole said taking off his boots.
"Yeah?" Phoebe asked irritated.
"Yeah!" He replied with a quick glance at her.
"Who was that man Cole?" Phoebe snapped.
"A friend, he had to tell me something" Cole mumbled.
"Didn't look like a friend Cole!" Phoebe said standing up.
Cole stood up to and walked toward her and grabbed her shoulders.
"Don't worry Phoebe, I said I would protect you!"
"How can you tell me not to worry? I bedded my brother-in-law, I don't know where my husband is, and I have a baby on the way!"
"I said I would take care of you and your baby!" Cole said trying to get her to look at him.
Phoebe tried to break free, but Cole held her tighter.
"I would do anything for you Phoebe! Listen to me..I love you damnit! "
Phoebe's face turned blank.
"How can you say that? You don't even know me!" Phoebe argued with tears in her eyes.
Those words rang in her ears and she was so confused. She loved Cole too, but he was Lucky's brother, and she belonged to Lucky.
"Did you hear what I said? I said I love you.I love you!" Cole pleaded
"Stop it Cole!" Phoebe said breaking free of his grip, "I don't want you to love me! I am still a married woman!" Phoebe pleaded as she wiped the tears off her face.
Cole turned to the window with his hands on his hips. He was looking out side and the sky started to lighten and turn blue and pink from the dawn.
"I have fallen for you Phoebe..like it or not.I have!" he said looking back at her.
"Cole, I care for you too, but."
"But what Phoebe? Are you going to tell me you don't know me? That's bull shit Phoebe and you know it!" He said through his clenched teeth.
Phoebe bowed her head and walked over to him. She slipped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his bare chest. She laid her ear on his heart and it was beating so hard. Phoebe noticed he was trembling.
"I was going to say, I just need some time, this is all so much for me to grasp!" She said softly.
Cole slowly wrapped his arms around her and put his hand firmly on the back of her head and held her close.
"It is not easy for me either!" He said staring out the window.
"Cole? Why are you trembling?" Phoebe said looking up at him.
"I can't help it.This is what you do to me" he said looking down at her.
"Oh Cole.what are we going to do?" Phoebe said helplessly.
"I don't know.I don't know?"
***********
That morning the sun was bright and it glistened off the snow that covered the ground. The new snow was icy from the rain storm the night before. Patric and Jason had a hard time making their way down to Phoebe's ranch. The pass was almost blocked and this would be their last visit to the ranch before winter.
"You still behind me?" Patric mocked holding up and looking back for Jason who lingered behind.
"Yeah.this damn horse is green, given me fits!" He answered.
"I can see the ranch below us, I'm going on and I'll see you down there" Patric said leading his horse down the steep trail to the ranch, "The game already broke through the snow down the trail to the pond.you shouldn't have much trouble bringing him down" Patric assured as he headed down.
Jason nodded to Patric and held up his horse. When he saw that Patric was committed to the trail, he steered his horse around behind the ranch.
**************
Cole was out in the barn and Phoebe was making breakfast. Cole turned the horses out to water and threw them some hay. He started around the corner and jumped back when he saw Patric dismount and walk up to the porch. Cole peered around again and saw Phoebe come to the door.
"What are you." Phoebe's giggle turned into ice when she saw Patric standing there.
"What were you going to say?" Patric said as he leaned closer to Phoebe.
Phoebe thought it was Cole. She looked behind Patric and looked for Cole, but he was no where. She quickly looked back to Patric who was waiting with a sly smirk.
"Oh, nothing I was just thinking out loud.What brings you out this way Patric?" Phoebe asked.
Patric raised his brow, "What?" He said confused.
"Why are you here Patric?" Phoebe asked again quickly. She looked again for Cole.
Patric looked behind him and then back at Phoebe.
"What are you looking at?" He asked confused.
"Nothing.Coffee?" Phoebe said trying to stay calm.
"Phoebe.what is with you? You act as if you don't know me?"
Phoebe moved aside and ignored Patric as he brushed by her coming in. Phoebe quickly shut the door behind him and walked to the stove. "Where are you Cole?" She thought to herself.
Cole snuck in the back window and crept around the corner trying to see what was going on in the front of the cabin. He saw Patric watching Phoebe at the stove and he tried to listen.
Patric was looking at Phoebe in a way that Cole didn't like. It was all he could do not to walk in and bust his face.
"Phoebe.Are you ok?" Patric asked finally
"Yes.I'm fine, are you?" Phoebe asked as casual as possible with her back still to him.
"No" He said walking up behind Phoebe and placing his hands on her sides and leaning against her, " I have been going crazy thinking about you!" He whispered in her ear.
Cole felt himself turn cold and then hot. He clenched his teeth and watched. The thought of another man touching her was unbearable.
"Patric stop! That was one time and it was a mistake! Now, sit down and I'll pour your coffee." Phoebe said pulling away.
Patric sat at the table and stared at Phoebe as she poured the coffee.
"I can't think of anything but you Phoebe! It is so hard trying to ignore what I feel!"
"Patric stop! It is over! It happened once, a long time ago. I am married and Lucky is coming home soon!" Phoebe said sitting nervously in front of him.
"Well I guess it is better someone will be with you!"
Phoebe stood to her feet. Cole watched her close.
"What do you mean?" Phoebe asked nervously. Her eyes moved around the room looking for Cole when Patric turned his head.
"Well, You know those riders I told you and Paige about a couple months ago? Well, turns out Cole Turner is one of them...He is on the wanted posters."
Phoebe's body turned to ice. She swallowed hard and looked away from Patric.
"How do you know this?" Phoebe asked in a cold tone.
"He is wanted in Mexico and Arizona too. He killed a soldier during a robbery and a man who tried to stop him."
Patric threw the poster down on the table and it sent chills down her spine. It was as if the picture became clear in slow motion. Phoebe looked at the sketch and slowly picked it up. It made her weak to her knees and she sat down.
The picture was a rough sketch but the detail unmistakable. Phoebe closed her eyes and tossed the poster aside. Patric studied her odd reaction.
"Phoebe.you are white as a ghost. What is it? Have you seen this man?" Patric asked pulling up a chair beside her.
Cole's heart raced as he waited for her response. Not knowing if she would believe Patric and throw him to the wolves after all they had shared.
"No.I just am tired, it was a long night." Phoebe sighed.
Cole couldn't help his smile.
"Phoebe, this Cole Turner is a murderer, and I have heard some very hairy stories about him. Ones that I wouldn't even tell you! He is dangerous!" Patric said
Phoebe sat and stared across the room. She felt like she had known Cole her whole life, she couldn't figure out why she wasn't afraid of him if he was the monster Patirc said he was.
"Phoebe? Are you listening to me? I need you to be careful, I wish I could be here for you more, but I have an obligation to the town and the jail and."
"Patric.! I understand...You owe me nothing!" Phoebe interrupted agitated.
"I brought you some things from town.Phoebe.are you going to be alright here alone?" Patric asked turning Phoebe's chin to him.
Phoebe hesitated for a moment. All her thoughts were clouding her head and her better judgment. She should tell Patric about Cole and tell him the truth.but she loved Cole and her heart couldn't stand to be with out him.
"Yes, I will be fine, now please ,I want to be left alone, thank you for the supplies Patric" Phoebe said touching his hand softly.
Patric smiled and kissed her hand. Cole felt his stomach twist in to knots as he watched this sick display.
"Jason said he would meet me out side, and we have another stop before we head back to town, so I better go before the weather sets in."
Phoebe nodded and stood with him. "Patric wait.before you go I."
Cole waited in suspense. Did she have a change of heart? Did she get scared and decide to tell the truth.?"
Phoebe reached for the poster on the table and looked again. Phoebe felt her body turn flush.
"This scar on his brow?" She asked, "How do you know this is the same man that did those things?" Phoebe asked trying not to show the emotion through her voice.
"They all identified the same thing.a scar above his brow." Patric said and then gave her a wink and opened the door to leave.
Phoebe tried to rest her knees against each other to stop the shaking.
"Take care Phoebe" He said and walked out.
Phoebe sat on the chair and put her face in her hands. Cole walked in from around the corner. He walked up behind Phoebe and looked out the window to see Patric and Jason ride off. Then he looked back at Phoebe, she still had her face in her hands.
"Are they gone?" Phoebe asked with a sigh.
"Yeah, it's about time!"
"Where have you been?!" Phoebe looked up at him
"Around the corner, and I didn't miss the touching reunion!" Cole snapped.
"Cole, stop it! It was a long time ago when I was very alone. I needed a friend and...it was a mistake!" Phoebe said and stood to walk to the fire.
Cole grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
"You are right, I am sorry" Cole said
"Cole...the poster...I..."
"What is it? What did you see on that poster Phoebe?" Cole said.
"Someone who looked like you!" Phoebe jerked her arm free and stood by the fire.
"You could have turned me in, why didn't you?" Cole snapped.
"How dare you ask me that!" Phoebe snapped back.
Cole stared at her for a moment with angry eyes and then he turned away. Phoebe turned and watched him close.
"I think you are the one that should be explaining yourself Cole!" Phoebe said still angry.
Cole sighed angrily and sat down. Phoebe stood in front of him and said nothing. Phoebe felt her heart racing and she tried to collect her thoughts.
"Cole please.tell me what is going on, I deserve to know.I need the truth!" Phoebe pleaded as she knelt down and placed her hands on his knees.
Cole looked at her for a moment and then she saw his eyes soften. "I would do anything for this man" Phoebe thought to herself as she waited for an answer.
"It all started with me. Lucky always felt he had to watch over me since I was the youngest. Even though we were step brothers, he always treated me like blood. When his father left us, my mother was left to raise us alone," Cole looked at Phoebe and stared into her eyes, "You know how hard it is to be alone" Cole said to her.
Phoebe nodded and touched his hand to continue.
"Any way, we hated him for leaving us. People pointed and whispered at us and Lucky and I just looked the other way, but not my mother, not her." Cole's eyes turned dark.
"One morning I woke up and looked out of my window..my mother was in the field hanging from an oak tree."
Phoebe put her hand over her mouth and tears came to her eyes. She was speechless.
"After the burial, they took our home and our belongings and tried to send us to a reservation, but we ran. We have been running ever since."
Cole sat forward on his knees and put his head to Phoebe's. Phoebe put her hands on Cole's face and kissed him.
"Oh baby, you have been through so much.I."
"I'm not finished" He said grabbing her hands and putting space between them, "That man the sheriff told you about.the man who was murdered.that was Lucky's father. We set out to find him to avenge our mother, and all the pain he caused us. We caught up with him years later in Mexico. When Lucky saw him, he went crazy.and shot him in the street. A man ran up and tried to help him and grab the gun from Lucky, but the gun went off in the struggle and the man fell to the ground.It was an accident you see but the law don't see it that way."
"It's not right" Phoebe said looking at him.
"We met up with Randy and Jason later on. We knew Randy since we were kids and he introduced us to Jason.our gang just got bigger and so did the banks.We needed money and we were wanted, so we had to steal and run.I am tired of running Phoebe, do you know what I mean?"
Cole stood up and walked to the window again.
"But why is Lucky running from you?" Phoebe asked walking up behind him.
"I was going to leave Lucky and the riders and start my life with my share of the money. Lucky didn't take it so well, by then, his greed and hate robbed his soul, and one night he left with all of our money..We have been looking for him ever since..How's that for irony?" Cole smirked.
"This isn't funny Cole!" Phoebe said
"Believe me darling' I know" He said
"Is that why you came here? For the money?" Phoebe asked softly.
Cole turned around and looked intensely into he eyes.
"I thought so" Cole admitted touching her cheek.
"And now?" She asked looking into his eyes.
"Lucky talked about you before he went crazy.I fell in love with you before I met you I guess. I pictured you in my mind. You were just what I wanted. I knew Lucky was incapable of loving, he was too bitter. I didn't know if I was or not, but I had to find out."
"All this time I thought Lucky was working here and there, but he was with you" Phoebe said trying to make sense of it all.
Cole took Phoebe's hands and put them to his chest.
"Feel me Phoebe, my heart is what lead me to you. The heart doesn't lie. This is real.don't throw it away.I can't make you love me Phoebe.but."
"I do love you Cole" Phoebe said touching his lips.
It was so sweet to his ears. He loved her so deeply and he wanted her to love him back.
"Say it again" he said
"I love you Cole Turner" Phoebe said looking up at him.
He wrapped his arms tighter around her and kissed her. This time more deep, and her kiss was full of love and promise. Cole pulled away slightly, only enough for their lips to part.
"That wasn't me on the poster was it?"
"No...it was Lucky"
**************ch.5
Randy and the other riders rode to the edge of the mountains and met up with Jason.
"He's not coming!" Randy shouted over the wind.
"What?" Jason shouted back impatient
"I said he's not coming ride on!" Randy shouted and motioned the riders on.
"Wait!" Jason shouted
Randy stopped his horse and turned to Jason.
"Lucky has been caught! Montana!" Jason shouted
"Montana! That son of a bitch!" Randy shouted.
"They got him in jail. The express rider came today. They caught him robbing a gold mind, We are suppose to leave in the morning to pick him up." Jason shouted over the horses.
Randy was shocked and he knew he had to tell Cole.
"You go on in the morning with the sheriff, and I will tell Cole!" Randy shouted over the wind that was coming in fast through tundra.
Jason kicked his horse and rode away. Randy motioned for the riders to come around closer.
"Listen up boys, we don't have much longer and the winter will have us trapped. Here is the deal.Lucky's been caught..I don't know all the details, but he was caught robbing a bank. Our money has to be stashed somewhere, I'm sure of it! You will have lay low for now. We will get our money don't worry! Separate and stay out of sight, don't bring any attention to yourselves!"
"What about you?" One of the riders asked.
"I am going to get Cole.we will meet back at this spot in six months to the day, the snow should be almost gone.good luck men!" Randy tipped his hat to the men and they parted ways. The horses stomped and pranced and then bolted. The sounds of their hoofs in the snow slowly faded in the wind.
**************
Cole and Phoebe walked to the near by lake for more water.
"What is it that you see when you look at me?" Phoebe asked as she watched Cole.
Cole broke the ice from the stream and dipped the bucket in the icy water to fill it.
"I see a foolish man to leave a beautiful woman alone to fend for her self!" Cole finally said.
Phoebe smiled and looked away from his blue eyes. She felt like she was drowning in his stare. Far off there were wolves howling and the air felt as if it dropped thirty degrees since they had been away from the house.
"I want you to know that what ever happens Cole I will always love you" Phoebe said looking down at the bucket that was almost full.
Cole looked up at her and then back down at the bucket and pulled it from the stream. He put the large bucket on the sleigh and strapped it down. Then he rubbed his red cold hands together and tried to warm them.
"I will not let anything happen to you. We better get back now, it is going to get dark soon and twice as cold." He finally said.
They walked back to the cabin and they froze when they saw Patric and the law waiting for them.
"Cole.run!" Phoebe whispered motionless.
"No, I won't run" He said staring at the men.
Cole's first instinct was to reach for his gun, but when he grabbed his hip, there was nothing. His gun was in the cabin. Cole swallowed hard and clenched his fists.
The men were huddled on the porch and Patric walked down the steps and reached for his rifle on this horse.
"Please Cole, please go now!" Phoebe begged again and looked up at him.
"I'm not a coward Phoebe, don't ask me to be!" Cole snapped
He grabbed Phoebe and pulled her behind him and started for the cabin.
"Hold it right there!" Patric shouted aiming his gun at Cole.
Phoebe started to panic and she didn't know what to do. Cole stood there and glanced at Phoebe quickly before the men rushed up to Cole and threw him to the ground. Phoebe grabbed one of the men's arm and tried to pull him off of Cole.
"Stop this! Stop it now! Leave him be!" Phoebe shouted as Patric picked her up off the men.
Phoebe struggled against Patric and tried to help Cole. Cole resisted the men and they started to punch him in the sides to weaken him.
"Stop! You are hurting him!" Phoebe screamed
"Let go of her! She is pregnant!" Cole yelled as he spit blood on the white snow.
"Tie him and lets go!" Patric shouted impatiently.
The men finally got Cole's hands behind his back and bound him. Then the yanked him up and dragged him to the horses.
Phoebe screamed at the men as they went by her and Patric. Patric still had a hold on her. Phoebe was crying and Cole was too weak to fight back.
Patric gripped Phoebe's arm and walked her to the cabin as the riders rode away with Cole.
"Where are you taking him!" Phoebe shouted as the tears burned her cold red face.
"He's a wanted man Phoebe, he is going to hang!" Patric shouted back.
"No! Please, he is innocent! There has been a misunderstanding!" Phoebe begged.
"You are right Phoebe, there has been, you blew me off so you could sleep with him didn't you!" Patric shouted as he pushed Phoebe into the cabin and slammed the door behind him.
"What I do with my life is none of your concern Patric!" Phoebe shouted back.
"Well that is too bad Phoebe, because your lover is going to be hung in three days!" Patric shouted and walked to the door.
"Wait! Patric please.don't do this! This isn't about him, this is about you and me" Phoebe pleaded.
"Don't flatter yourself Phoebe.this is about reward money!" He said as he walked out and slammed the door.
Phoebe heard him ride away and she felt the tears of helplessness returning as they filled her eyes. She closed her eyes and fell into the chair. She laid her head in her folded arms and sobbed. She was helpless and beside herself. Cole had been ripped away from her and she couldn't help him.