Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Tylan--Thank you for your review. I am glad you enjoy the story. And yes Cole is hottt!
Krys--Thank you thank you thank you!!! You are my ultimate reviewer! Your opinion means the world to me.
Chapter Three
"That is something we need to talk about," Joey said moving out of the way to let them in. "Let's eat first and talk later."
As they sat at the table, Bella chatted about everything. "I can't wait for you to see Midnight, my mustang. Joey gave him to me when we arrived. Oh, and she ahs a beautiful palomino." She took a breath and a drink then started talking again. "Joey, do you think I can feed the horses with Cole's help so he can see the horses."
Joey smiled, "Sure, but be careful. Remember what happened last time."
"Yes, ma'am," Bella said smiling big. She looked at Cole, "You will love the horses." She went back to eating happily.
Joey looked at Megan, who had stayed quiet since Cole and Bob arrived. She realized Megan was playing with her food instead of eating it. "Are you okay Megan?"
Megan smiled sweetly, "Just don't feel well. May I be excused?"
"Yes," Joey said.
"Thank you, ma'am," Megan said getting up and climbing the ladder to their room.
Joey sighed. Something was wrong, she knew it. "Did Jimmy stop by earlier, Bella?"
"Yes, ma'am," Bella said softly eying Cole, whose head had perked up.
"Who is Jimmy?" Bob asked.
"A caller of Megan's," Joey said. "I hope you will be meeting him at Christmas Eve supper."
"Isn't Megan a little young to be having callers," Cole said.
Joey got up grabbing empty bowls, "She will be sixteen in a couple of months. She is almost old enough to marry."
"The hell she is," Cole said loudly.
"Bella, I think it is time for bed," Joey said filling the tub with water for dishes.
"Yes, ma'am," Bella said. She walked over and gave Bob and Cole a hug before heading up the ladder.
"I don't think it is right for you to be cursing around Bella or Megan," Joey said sternly. "They are both so young."
Cole didn't say anything but realized how young she looked as well.
"So what is the story about your husband?" Bob said laughing.
Joey could tell he knew she wasn't married. "That was Zee's idea."
"So you just decided to lie to us," Cole said sitting in a rocker in front of the fireplace.
"For your information, I didn't know until after I got the girls. Zee told me and I wrote you a letter. She was supposed to have sent it to you," Joey said finishing the dishes up.
"So you live up here by yourself?" Bob asked trying to keep the conversation between Cole and Joey short. He could tell they already didn't like each other.
"Yeah for about five years now," Joey smiled as she stood in front of Cole. "That is my seat by the way."
"How old are you?" Cole asked, not moving.
"Nineteen," Joey said softly. Zee had tried to convince her to lie about her age but she didn't want to.
"You have been on your own since you were fourteen?" Bob said.
"Where are you parents?" Cole asked bluntly.
She felt stung by the way he had said it. "My mom died when I was five."
"And your father?"
Joey tensed. She didn't know what to say. She never talked about him.
"Joey," Bob said. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she said softly. "My father got killed by a confederate rebel in the war."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Bob said.
"I'm going to bed," Joey said grabbing her book by Cole. When she brushed his arm on accident, she felt shivers run through her. She didn't notice Nathan's letter fall out. She walked to her bedroom door and turned, "Your cots are in the corner and extra blankets are over there." She opened her door, "Goodnight." She shut the door.
Bob was smiling.
"What?" Cole asked grabbing a blanket.
"You got on her bad side."
Cole didn't mean to, but he was upset that Zee had lied to him and still didn't tell him when they were there. They definitely didn't agree about Megan. Was she sixteen already? He remembered when she was born, only a couple years after Jimmy.
Jimmy.
Why did he have to lead them to die that day in Hyperion? It was his fault Loni died. And Jimmy. Now Megan was courting someone named Jimmy. Who was this Jimmy? How old was he? Did he have the means to take care of Megan?
And what about Joey? How was she taking care of herself and the girls? "Goodnight, Bob," Cole said reading down to pick up a piece of paper. He read it over. "What the hell?" Then he heard the crying. What was she crying about?
Joey laid in bed sobs racking her body. She didn't want to think about her dad. What did he have to bring that up? Cole Younger brought a lot of things up in her that she didn't want. Her body tingled when she was close to him. She didn't understand it.
It felt like everything was falling apart. She didn't know why everything seemed endless, hopeless. Nathan Jackson wasn't helping much either; threatening the girls, pressuring her. Would he come up while Cole and Bob were there? She prayed he wouldn't.
And that note. How could anyone write something so cruel? Telling her that he would make sure no one in town would want her or talk to her so that she had no choice but to marry him. What had he said to the townsfolk so far? Had he tarnished her reputation like he said the girls would? Like he swore he would?
How dare he talk to the girls that way? A man had no right to mention reputation to a thirteen year old girl. Joey had only talked with Bella around three months ago. Bella was very sensitive about the subject of womanhood. She still hadn't come around to talk with Joey since then.
Joey wished their mother was still around. She remembered her father taking her to the minister's wife. Mrs. McFarlon had been sweet about it and told her the facts of life but it wasn't the same. She knew it wasn't the same for Bella either.
Joey was glad it was her and not one of Bella's brothers though. Megan had told Joey of her first talk with Ma James. Cole and Bob were gone and she didn't know what had happened. She talked about how she missed her ma and pa a lot.
Megan. Joey wished she knew what was wrong with her. She was never silent like this before.
