Chapter 63:

Jerry led Fire down the long dark hallway. They reach the end and Jerry unlocked the cellar door. He threw he in. Fire fell to the ground and refused to look up. Fire stared at the floor. It was cold. So cold Fire could feel it through the cloth. Fire herd Jerry's footsteps fade and stood up. Fire straightened her skirt.

"Even a lady in jail," Someone said from beside her. Fire looked over at the other cellar. "The name is Ginny, I stole food."

"Fire Ice Conlon. I murdered four men." Fire walked over to her cot and sat down. "So how long you in here?"

"Eh three months, I've been here for a month. You?" Ginny asked.

"A month then I will hang." Fire looked up at Ginny. Ginny had a frown on her face.

"You poor thing. You look way to young. How old are you?" Ginny moved over to her cot and sat down.

"Fifteen." Fire looked at the wall. "Who was here before me?"

"Jazzy. She's being hung as we speak," a raspy voice said from across the hall. "Jerry put all the ones he hate sin there. They usually get hung in two weeks. She was a real sweet gal. Innocent to. I can tell an innocent one from a guilty. Jerry hated her though. I don't remember why but he did. She was here two weeks found guilty of the Roberson murder and hung." The woman that was speaking was tough looking. She was dark with blonde hair, very short hair. And deep brown eyes that were almost black. So unlike Ginny who had a sweet smile and green eyes and pale with rosy cheeks and tight curly brown hair. "you innocent?"

"In a way of three and yes for one." Ginny and the woman looked at her oddly. "My first murder was to protect my friend and so was the second. The third was to protect myself and child. The forth I took the blame for it. I wouldn't let my friend take any blame."

"Your a brave girl. By the way my name is Mindy and this here is Sally. I am in here for stealing money and Sally is in here for killing her husband. She's been here for three months and still not hung. She wasn't brought in by Jerry though. I think he pays off the judge or something like that." Mindy coughed.

"I would say your innocent," Sally said. She was tall with long black hair with red streaks. He hair fell to her butt. And was pin straight. She has gray eyes with flecks of gold. She was an oatmeal color. She had thick bangs that covered her forehead. "You were protecting. Are you gonna put up a fight when you go on trial?"

"My husband wants me to. I don't find the point I am gonna be found guilty anyway. I just don't want my son growing up thinking all his mom did was murder people. Damn I know if I grew up knowing my mom killed four people and was hung for it. I would feel like she betrayed me ditched me. But hey I didn't really like my mom. But I know he will. He's a Conlon. I wont be no hero to him. Just some crazy slut that went and got herself hung." Fire sighed.

"No he wont. My mother was hung for murder. I didn't think that. She had a good reason for murder. Me dad was cheating on her. I didn't think she betrayed me and left me. I hated my dad and the people that hung her." Sally said. "don't worry your son wont grow up murdering people. He being raised by your husband."

"Mostly, with the help of my older brother, my best friend, three girls who are dating the three boy I sorta grew up with. Well not grew up with but who took care of me when I was little. Of course the boys are helping to. And my best friends boyfriend." The three women smiled. "Not what your thinking. Not one big happy family. Fights. My husband and I were forced to marry each other because he got me pregnant but my dad killed my baby but then right before my dad cam and took me back we let out feelings out and found out the other one loved like we did. Almost a happy family. Almost." Fire laid back. "Owe," Fie grabbed her stomach. Fire leaned her head over the bedside and started coughing. Blood came out of he mouth.

"Conway!" Mindy yelled. "get here quick!" A short bald man came running down the hall. Mindy pointed to Fire's cell.

"Oh shit! I got to get Buddy. He's the doctor." Conway ran away from the cell and five seconds later returned with Buddy a tall, lanky, big nosed man. Buddy unlocked the cell and rushed to Fire's side.

"Conway go get some water, a hot water bowl, a cloth, and two pain killers! Now! This girl is sick. Very sick." About five minutes later Conway had appeared carrying everything. Fire had stopped coughing up blood and was starting to fade away into her deep sleep. "I got her normal doctor's name out of her. Give me the water. No the cold water." Buddy sat Fire up a little. "Drink." Fire took a tiny sip. "No more." He made fire finish the cup. "Hot water." Buddy laid Fire back down. He damped the cloth and placed it on Fire's head. "Just relax.." Fire looked at him and closed her eyes. Within the next two minutes Fire was asleep. Buddy looked up at Conway. "I know her doctor and he has talked about her. She's dying. She doesn't take care of herself. Last time I talked to him which was a month ago, he said she had about three months to live. She's got a kid to. Her story is heartbreaking. Now this is where she is gonna spend the rest of her life."

"This is where she was gonna spend it anyway. I herd them saying Fire Ice will swing by the end of the month. Jerry was talking to the judge. I had no clue she was so young. She looks so innocent. Just like Jazzy. God bless her soul. This poor girl. She's just a baby. Look at her." Buddy stood up and patted Conway on the shoulder. "She reminds me of my granddaughter. That Irish face. I hope she gets visitors. Do any of you girls know if she has family?"

"A husband, a son, a big brother, four boys that took care of her when she was younger, her best friend, and three of the boys girlfriends," Ginny filled them in. "Send someone to tell them she's sick. The ought to know."

"I will. I will. Tomorrow. Poor girl. She's so sick and got no one to sit beside her." Conway and Buddy left the cell. "We'll be out there all night. If anything happens. Anything a all. Call for me." Buddy looked at the three woman. They all nodded.

*****

"Books I liked your speech," Spot laughed,

"Its not funny Spot. Your sister is gonna get hung. I am surprised you didn't go of on Dolly." Books sat down.

"I figure that this is what my sister wanted." Spot sat down next to Books.

"Yeah she wanted to be hung. She really did. Are you even gonna go to her hanging or are you gonna be to busy with leader business like you were to be a brother?" Books laid back on the bed.

"Where is all this anger coming from Books?" Spot laid down next to her.

"I want my child to know their aunt. I also wanted someone who knew what it was like to be unwed and pregnant to help me." Books looked at Spot.

"Your… your…" Books nodded. Spot kissed Books. "I'm gonna be a father."

"Yeah. For some reason I want your sister here to help me. She has been through this. Twice. I would have faced this pregnancy so much better with a Conlon who knew what going on." Books rolled over onto her side and kissed Spot. "She was starting to feel like a sister to me. I was so excited I was gonna be part of the Conlon family. Now I feel like I am replacing her sorta."

"How so?" Spot asked kissing Books again.

"I don't know. She will hang an then I will enter the family. It seems wrong. I mean I already took half of your attention away from her. I don't want to take all of it." Books sighed.

"Books there will always be a place in my heart for my sister. I will never forget my baby sister. But you're my fiancé and have my child inside of you. You need my attention." Spot kissed Books again.

"Promise me you will make peace and visit her every day." Spot nodded.

"I already promised myself that."