*************Chapter five

The next morning in the Jail, Cole woke up to voices talking over him.

"I don't think it's a good Idea for you to go in there! He is a outlaw! I won't have it!"

"I don't care! Let me in Patric! I need to see him! Get out of my way!"

Cole recognized the voices and lifted his head. The keys were jingling as Cole was standing to his feet. Phoebe and Cole's eyes met as Patric opened the door to the jail room.

"Phoebe" Cole said walking to the bars.

"Cole!" She said running to him.

Cole reached for her as their lips meet through the cold steel. They passionately kissed through the bars and they were grabbing at each other with desperate emotions.

Patric slammed the door behind Phoebe, resenting the emotional reunion.

They were thirsty for one another, and kissed with unquenched desire. They couldn't get enough of each other.

"Oh Cole, your hurt!" Phoebe whispered breathlessly breaking their kiss.

"It's nothing, are you alright? I blacked out in the snow!" He whispered on her mouth.

"Yes, I am fine! I am sorry it took me so long to get here! Oh, It is all my fault! I can't stand the thought…." Phoebe started to cry as she franticly rambled.

"Listen to me, I was the one who came to you!" Cole said wiping her tears.

"We have to get you a pardon some how, I won't let you die for me!" Phoebe pleaded.

Cole kissed her wet salty face and then Phoebe met his lips with hers.

"Don't worry, everything will be ok, I will not leave you Phoebe" he said on her mouth again.

They slid down the bars and sat as close as they could to one another and held each other through the bars. Cole had his arms wrapped around her and Phoebe caressed his arm in her lap.

"Cole we have to get you out of this mess some how!" Phoebe said after a heavy sigh.

"Don't worry about me, I told you everything will be fine" Cole calmly said stroking her hair.

"Cole, you don't seem worried that they want to hang you tomorrow!" Phoebe snapped

"This isn't my first time in jail sweetheart, I'm a bank robber remember?" Cole said giving her a toothy grin.

"Cole! This isn't a joke! This is your life, and if you think…." Phoebe rambled

"Phoebe, look at me, no one will ever come between us" He assured her.

*************

"Jason, I need you to take these transfer papers to the station for me, and I will need you to pick up Lucky's papers there." Patric said as he finished filling out Cole's forms.

"When is this Lucky going to arrive?" Jason asked adjusting himself in his chair.

"Tomorrow, we have to be there at noon. The hanging is set for three." Patric said and closed the desk drawer.

************

That evening Patric and Jason walked down the dirt streets and as they walked by the saloon, they heard shouting. Suddenly a gun went off and a man flew through the swinging doors.

"What the hell?" Patric shouted and he and Jason ran to the man laying on the ground.

"He's dead boss" Jason said touching his neck.

"I can see that!" Patric snapped

The two men walked into the saloon and Patric bolted his gun as they walked through the doors.

"Hold it! Every one show you hands!" Patric shouted

Jason was coming in the back door. He scanned the room and Randy was among the crowd. Jason nodded to him and Randy slowly slipped out of the back door while Patric was questioning the crowd of me in front of him.

"Who fired the gun!" Patric demanded.

One of the men standing there chuckled and mumbled something to himself.

Patric walked over to him and before the man knew it, he was on the ground spitting blood.

The sting from the butt of the gun made the mans ears ring.

"I said who fired the gun you sorry sons of bitches!" Patric shouted more angrily.

"He's gone damit!" The guy shouted standing to his feet.

**********

Randy busted through the jail door. Cole and Phoebe looked up at him in surprise.

"It's about time man!" Cole said helping Phoebe to her feet through the bars.

"Sorry, I had to wait for that jack ass to get to the saloon" Randy said as he scanned the room for something to break the door with.

"There, the bench!" Cole said pointing to the long bench out side the cell.

"Stand back!" Cole said pushing Phoebe aside.

Randy picked up the heavy bench and through it against the cell door. The bars rung but it did nothing to the cell door.

"Shit!" Randy shouted

"Try to shoot the inside of the lock!" Cole said.

Suddenly Patric cocked the rifle behind Randy's ear. Everyone was so busy, they didn't notice Patric come in.

"Hold it right there!" Patric said nudging the cold barrel against his head, "Get over there! Phoebe! Get behind…." He couldn't finish because Jason hit him over the head with his gun.

"Sorry Cole, I couldn't get him out of the Jail, Randy finally had to make some commotion at the saloon." Jason said with a smirk.

"Jason?" Phoebe asked clutching Cole's shirt through the bars

"It's ok Phoebe, he's with us" Cole said

"He is the third man, the third bank…" Phoebe said looking at Cole with a blank stare. "Jason…I…never thought you…."

"Have you found him yet?" Cole interrupted abruptly as Randy snagged the keys from Patric's belt.

"Who Cole?" Phoebe said confused as Cole grabbed her arm and they walk out of the cell behind Jason and Randy.

"They caught him boss! He should be here tomorrow" Jason informed.

"Perfect!" Cole shouted

"Who?" Phoebe asked confused

"Your husband missy" Randy snared.


"Lucky…..here….tomorrow?" Phoebe suddenly couldn't swallow. Her throat filled with acid and she thought she would vomit.

She was so confused and everything was happening all so fast.

"Common! We have to get out of here before the son of a bitch wakes up!" Randy snapped, "We'll be back tomorrow when the train arrives!"

Cole smiled and let out a shout of excitement. "Good work boys!" They ran out to the horses that were tied behind the jail. Cole reached for Phoebe, but she backed away.

"Phoebe, come on, we have to get out of here!" Cole said reaching for her again.

Phoebe just backed away again.

"I can't…this isn't right…I don't belong…" Phoebe said staring at Cole with teary eyes.

"You belong with me Phoebe, now lets go!" Cole said swallowing around the huge lump in his throat. Her distance from him made him nervous. He needed her support.

"Cole…I…can't go with you, Lucky is my husband" Phoebe whispered shaking her head slightly.

"Hurry! Lets move…now!" Randy said as he fought his horse back.

"We are running out of time!" Jason added also reining his horse in.

"I know dammit!" Cole snapped at them

He turned back to Phoebe with more hostility, "Get on the horse Phoebe! Please baby, I'm running out of time!"

"I'm sorry Cole…I can't!" Phoebe turned and ran.

"Phoebe!" Cole shouted and went to chase her, but Randy grabbed him.

"Forget her!" Randy snapped, "Get on your horse!"

Cole angrily mounted his horse as it spun around. He looked at Phoebe one last time. Then they rode off into the night.

Phoebe stood on the porch of the Jail and rested her hand on the beam. Tears streamed down her face as she heard the horses hooves fade away. She dropped to her knees and stared into the night.

Patric came staggering out on the porch and found Phoebe.

"Where did they go?!" He shouted.

Phoebe didn't even look at him, she just stared in the dark.

"They are gone Patric…they're gone" She said in a stone voice.

**********

The next morning Phoebe woke up and sat straight up in bed. The sweat rolling down her back as she leaped out of bed and ran to the window of the hotel room. Her baby was rolling in her belly making her feel nauseous. Just then a sharp stabbing pain jolted her and she fell to her knees. All the stress aggravated her condition.

She clenched her teeth and staggered back to her feet. She heard the whistle blowing from the train as it was rounding the bend to the station. She had fallen asleep, it was almost noon.

Against the doctors wishes, she quickly dressed herself and headed down the stairs.

"You don't look so good mam" The desk clerk said as Phoebe passed by.

Phoebe ignored him and worked her way towards the door. She reached the swinging doors and stepped out on the porch. She franticly scanned the streets for Cole, but he was nowhere.

Patric walked up to her, and doctor Lee.

"Phoebe, you should be in bed, your body has suffered an overload, this is not good for your baby" Doc Lee stressed.

"I should lock you in your room!" Patric snapped.

Phoebe shot a disgusted look his way.

"I have to be here when Lucky arrives doc" Phoebe replied.

"Your talking to stone doc" Patric said in sarcastic tone.

"What do you know Patric!" Phoebe snapped and headed for the station at the end of town.

Every step was painful, but Phoebe was determined to greet Lucky face to face, and keeping her eye out for Cole.

The train came steaming down the tracks and the whistle blew as it slowly came to a stop.

Through the smog and steam, she looked for Lucky to step off the train. Thoughts of her and Cole flashed in her head as she waited anxiously. She couldn't help but think of Cole, and Randy and what they might do to Lucky.

Patric walked up behind Phoebe, startling her.

"You scared me!" She said with out looking at him.

"I can't find Jason" Patric said as he reached for his pistol and cocked it. His voice was cold and it sent chills down her spine.

The suspense was killing her, and the baby was moving all over inside. Phoebe looked around again.

"What, or should I say….who are you looking for Phoebe?" Patric asked coldly.

Phoebe held her tongue. Maybe Cole was watching her, as she waited for Lucky, or maybe they changed their minds and got out?

Her heart jumped at the thought of Cole leaving her behind, even though she told him to, that is not what she wanted.

Suddenly breaking her thoughts, three men appeared through the fog. Phoebe franticly searched their faces.

Patric cleared his throat and walked up to them. Lucky was in the middle with an armed deputy on each side.

Phoebe was paralyzed. She couldn't move and she just stood there staring at Lucky. He looked like a stranger to her. Phoebe shifted her eyes left and right, looking for Cole.

Patric and the guards were talking about Cole's escape. Lucky glanced at Phoebe. He looked surprised to see her. Phoebe stared at him and then she slowly found her legs again and walked to them.

"Phoebe, I…" Lucky couldn't finish before Phoebe slapped him across the face.

"You son of a bitch! How dare you!" Phoebe shouted as Patric grabbed her and held her back.

Phoebe didn't know where that came from, and she was quite surprised in herself. It wasn't like her to make a scene. Maybe it was the hormones, or maybe it was for all the grief he put her through, it was just building for so long.

"Phoebe, get a hold of yourself!" Patric shouted pulling her away from the deputies and Lucky. He drug her into the station as the deputies lead Lucky to the Jail.

"Let go of me!" Phoebe shouted back.

"You are interfering!" He said tightening his grip on her arm.

Just then Phoebe looked over Patric's shoulder and out the window. She saw Randy club the deputy on the back of the head.

"No, oh no!" Phoebe said trying to break free, and make her way out of the station.

"Oh shit!" Patric mumbled as he looked and saw Cole, Randy and Jason , with their gun drawn.

"You trader!" Patric angrily shouted to Jason.

Jason whirled around and pointed the gun on Patric.

"Oh, how's the head?!" Jason said sarcastically.

Cole and Randy was at full draw with the two deputies, and they were shouting back and forth.

The towns people were peering out from inside the stores and the saloon, waiting to see what was going to happen.

In the confusion, Lucky grabbed Patric's gun from his hip and pointed it at Cole.

"No!" Phoebe screamed and ran into the street.

Cole looked towards Phoebe. Lucky snagged his chance and fired. Cole felt a burning sensation to his side.

"Cole!" Phoebe screamed again and ran to his side, he grabbed her as he fell to the ground. Patric grabbed the gun from Lucky, and hit him over the head.

Then the gun fire broke loose and everyone started shooting. Phoebe covered Cole with her body. Cole shifted and rolled over to cover her. He laid very still with his head in her neck.

She could see Lucky laying across the way from her. The smoke was thick from the gun fire and the shots rang in her ears.

"Cole, just lay still!" Phoebe whispered in his ear.

She wiped her tears, and tried to stop the bleeding from his side. Cole grunted in pain as she pulled out the white handkerchief from his coat, and held it on his side. He had carried it all this time.

"Hang on baby" Phoebe said kissing his face as she laid under him.

She loved him with all hear heart and soul, and she was not going to let him leave her now.

"I'm sorry…. Phoebe" He whispered in a pained voice.

"Don't be, my love" She whispered back in his ear.

Phoebe looked around for a way to get off the street. Somewhere she could get Cole to safety, but shots were flying everywhere. She held pressure on his side, and the wind was blowing the rain in her eyes. Phoebe couldn't see clearly.

They were covered in mud and soaking wet. Phoebe continued to franticly look around to find somewhere safe for him.

"Can you move?" Phoebe whispered.

Cole looked down at her with agony on his face.

"I can't feel my legs…" he groaned.

Phoebe buried her face in his neck. She loved his so much, and she needed him to stay alive.

Suddenly Phoebe looked up and Randy came sliding up to them. Jason was covering him, by shooting randomly in the direction of Patric and the deputies.

"We have to get him up!" Randy said as he watched around him.

"He is too weak!" Phoebe said wiping her tears and the mud on her face.

Without warning Randy grabbed Cole under his arms and jerked him up. Cole let out a painful grunt. Phoebe was covered in blood and muck from the street. She rolled over and crawled after them.

Randy drug Cole to where the horses where tied.

"Damn, I forgot how heavy he was!" Randy cracked.

Phoebe ignored the remark and noticed Cole had soaked his shirt and the hanky with blood.

"He has lost a lot of blood!" Phoebe began to panic.

"Now, listen! This isn't Cole's first bullet sweetheart, we are bank robbers remember?" Randy said trying to calm her, "I need you to help me and not panic!" He said.

"Ok" Phoebe said in a unsure voice.

Cole groaned again in pain as they lifted him on his horse. He slumped over and Randy quickly tied him in the saddle. Phoebe stood by helplessly, holding Cole's hand. Cole started to become delirious and he faded out of consciousness..

"Are you coming with us? " Randy asked nodding to the horse tied to the post.

Phoebe ran to the horse out of instanced and then stopped. She felt torn. Cole needed her and she needed him, but there was another person to consider. It would no longer be just her, she had to consider her child. She couldn't go, what kind of life was that for her baby?

"I…I can't" Phoebe painfully said walking back to Cole and touching his black shiny hair, "You have to get out of here, he needs a doctor!" Phoebe pleaded.

"If you don't, the boss is going to be a hell bitch when he comes to!" Randy smirked.

Just then Jason ran to them and jumped on his horse. "Lets go!" He shouted.

Randy looked at Phoebe one last time, and she looked at Cole in the saddle. Blood had ran down his arm and was dripping off his fingertips.

Phoebe handed Randy Cole's reins. She felt light headed from the blood and sick from her emotions.

"Just…go!" Phoebe said as tears welled up in her eyes again.

Randy kicked his horse and Cole's hand was ripped away from Phoebe's grasp, as they road away leaving her standing in the rain.

To be continued…….