Three years later……

***********

Phoebe started her life again with her baby girl. She moved in with Paige and her family. Jessica was a big help with baby Catharine, and Paige and Phoebe had time to bond with each other again.

Phoebe had a lot of healing to do over the three years, but she felt she was ready to be on her own again. She had been through so much in her life, but her daughter gave her a new reason to live.

"You know, you could stay and raise Catharine here" Paige said helping load Phoebe's carriage.

"I know sweetie, but I just need independence in my life again. You and Johnny have been so good to me, but I need this. I need to face my fears, and go back home." Phoebe said loading her trunk.

Phoebe looked at Catharine playing with Jessie and Jessica in the field and smiled.

"You know, there isn't a day that goes by, where I don't think about him sis" Phoebe said as she swallowed around the lump in her throat.

"I know honey, I see it in your eyes. I see it when you look at Catharine too" Paige said putting her arm around Phoebe's shoulder.

"I can't help but wonder, If I would have just went with him…when he asked me to"

"Phoebe, you said you wouldn't do that anymore. You couldn't have. You were pregnant!"

"You know Paige, But I feel like he is alive out there somewhere and he needs me!"

"Well honey, it has been three years, and if he were coming back for you, he probably would have already!"

"But…"

"Phoebe!"

"Ok, ok!" Phoebe said smiling at Paige.

*********

Phoebe and Catharine said their good-byes and got in the carriage.

Phoebe started to cry, and she didn't stop for a long time. Her tears were a long time coming.

She hadn't cried since the day she was left standing in the rain. Not even when her daughter was born. She hadn't shed one tear for Lucky either since he was hung. She never loved Lucky, and she didn't know that until she met Cole.

Her heart belonged to Cole. Catharine was a constant reminder. Her hair was jet black, and her eyes were the same as Cole's, as blue as the Alaskan sky.

They road for a while and then they stopped for lunch on the grassy hill by a lake. Phoebe spread out the blanket for her and Catharine.

"Momma, we get to have a picnic?"

"Yes baby! Are you starving? Mommy is!" Phoebe said lifting Catharine from the carriage.

Catharine ran and jumped on the blanket with a sweet giggle.

Phoebe ran over and jumped playfully beside her. They rolled around on the blanket giggling and tickling each other. Phoebe chased Catharine in the wild flowers and grass.

They played for hours and watched the geese land on the lake. Phoebe sang to Catharine and told her stories. She felt like her life was coming together for the first time. She felt sad for Lucky, she once thought that he wasted her life, but now she knew it was not a waste at all. It was a miracle in fact. She thought that every time she looked at her daughter.

Phoebe didn't stay around for Lucky's hanging. She didn't want to see it. It made her too sad, and besides she went into labor that same day, and Paige brought her to their place to have the baby.

After Lucky was hung, they never heard of anymore banks being robbed and the hunt for Cole and Randy and Jason kind of faded away. Patric moved to Texas, and settled in there, and Phoebe never heard from him again.

Phoebe thought about Cole and the love they shared, every single day. The time they spent in the cabin, were the best times of her life. There is only on love that finds you in your life time, and it's true love. It found her, and she will never forget.

**********

Phoebe thought as she whipped the horse and headed down to the ranch. It was almost dark and she could hear the wolves howling in the distance. She cleared the hills and she took a deep breath and smiled. It smelled like home. The air smelt how she remembered and the sound of the leaves jingling on the trees like gold coins.

She could smell something else in the air. It was smoke. She rounded the corner and there is was, her cabin. It brought tears to her eyes to see the cabin again. It held so many memories in it, and it took her breath away.

There was smoke coming from the chimney.

"What is going on?" Phoebe said out loud.

"What momma?" Catharine said rubbing her sleepy eyes and raising from Phoebe's lap.

"Nothing baby, lay down in the back of the carriage and cover up, we will be there soon." Phoebe told her.

Catharine crawled in the back and did as Phoebe said. She fell back to sleep in no time. Phoebe saw someone outside chopping wood. Hear heart skipped a beat and she didn't have to look very hard to see who it was. She couldn't mistake that man for anyone else.

"Cole" She whispered as they road up the road.

Cole put down the axe and looked her direction. He had on suspenders and a white long sleeved shirt. It was unbuttoned half way down his chest and the sweat left a wet spot in the middle of his chest.

He took out a red hanky and wiped his forehead. He leaned his elbow on the axe and waited for Phoebe to come up to the cabin.

Phoebe's stomach was in knots and her heart was racing. She wanted to jump out of her skin and run to him.

The horse came to a halt when she reached the cabin. Cole was smiling at her and she smiled back. Phoebe just sat there in the carriage for a moment. She fought back the tears as they looked at each other. Finally Cole broke the silence.

"Hello" He said

Phoebe didn't say anything she stood up and stated to crawl down from her carriage, and Cole went to help her.

He meet her half was down and she through herself in his arms. He pulled her away from the carriage and held her as they passionately kissed, as they laughed with joy.

"I knew you were alive" Phoebe said breathlessly on his mouth.

"You kept me alive Phoebe" He whispered between their kiss.

Cole's arms felt so good around her and Phoebe didn't want him to let go. It had been too long since they were around her.

Cole had waited for Phoebe to come back to him for so long, and he wasn't going to lose her again.

"I wanted to die at first, but then I had the baby, and she kept me alive."

"Phoebe, I wish I could have been there for you when your baby was born, I have missed so much…" Cole hugged her tighter.

"You don't have to miss anymore Cole" Phoebe said stroking his hair, "I want you to see something" Phoebe said taking him by the hand.

They walked to the carriage and Phoebe pulled back the blanket. Cole wrapped his arms around Phoebe's waist from behind, and kissed her neck as they looked in on Catharine.

"She is beautiful like her mother, what is her name?" Cole asked

"Catharine, I think she looks like you" Phoebe said kissing Cole's cheek.

"How long have you been here, and how did you know I would come back here?" Phoebe asked

"I thought…maybe she's just lost her way home, and she will want a warm fire when she finds her way back. Randy and Jason bought some land in Montana, and they started their own ranch down there. I though you might need help with yours. I have been here for a few days."

"Our Ranch Cole, you and me" Phoebe said smiling.

Cole turned Phoebe to him and kissed her again. He brushed her hair from her face and smiled at her.

He leaned in the carriage and scooped Catharine in his arms. She nestled down in his neck and cuddled to him. She was so small in his arms and he already loved her so much. She felt like his very own. He put his arm around Phoebe and they walked inside.

They had found each other once again. Two lonely hearts brought together and joined into one. They loved and lost, and learned from their mistakes. They were now of one body and soul, and their love grew stronger every day Under The Alaskan Sky.