Chapter 11

Phoebe and Michael laid on the hay. They had both been holding back and all their emotions and aggression was holding them from each other.

Phoebe rolled onto Michael's arm. "Michael …I "

"I'm sorry too Phoebe" He said kissing her forehead.

"Now what?" Phoebe said putting her arm across him.

"Well…I'm kind of hungry" Michael said

Phoebe elbowed him teasingly.

"Easy, easy" He said holding her arm.

"I'll make some lunch then." Phoebe said getting up.

Michael laced his hands around the back of his head, and stared up at Phoebe. Phoebe glanced down at him and smiled sweetly at him.

"I love you" He said winking at her.

"I know" Phoebe said and blew him a kiss.

Phoebe walked up to the house, she glance back to see Michael getting on the tractor. He gave her a wave and she waved back.

"Hey!" Phoebe shouted

Michael didn't hear her, over the tractor engine starting up.

"I love you too!" She shouted.

She shook her head and smiled, as he drove to the back of the field. Phoebe went inside.

Cole sat at the table with Ed and Grace and argued back and forth.

"I just think the girls need to be in a stable home…!" Ed demanded

"I don't really care what you think Ed! These are my girls and they are staying with me!" Cole snapped.

"That's why we want you to live here Cole…out in the guest house. You can fix it how ever you like it." Grace pleaded.

"Grace, I understand that you love the girls and you want the best for them. But you are saying I can't provide that, and you are wrong!" Cole tried to stay calm, but it was hard.

"Cole, your being bull headed!" Ed scowled.

"No Damn it! You're not hearing me!" Cole stood up and walked to the kitchen sink. He looked out he window and saw the girls playing with Cora on the tree swing.

"I am their father, I will decide what they need and what they don't."

"Cole, we just… this is all we have left of our Debbie." Grace said starting to cry.

"You know… I loved her too grace" Cole said and stormed out side.

Ed put his arm around grace and held her.

"There, there love" He whispered.

"I just want her back" Grace whispered.

"I know, me too" Ed said.

Phoebe was looking out her kitchen window at Michael grading the field. They were planting alphalfa hay for the horses for next year.

She walked to the fridge to put the sandwich stuff away, when she heard a blood curling scream. Phoebe ran to the window and saw the tractor riding off and Michael was nowhere in sight.

Phoebe ran to the back door and saw Michael trying to get up from the ground.

"Michael!" Phoebe screamed and took off running in a panic.

Phoebe saw Michael rise to his knees and fall back down. The sun was in her eyes as she ran as fast as she could to the back of the field where Michael was.

"Michael I'm coming!" Phoebe screamed again as she ran. Her heart raced, and she was on pure adrenalin.

She tripped on a mound of dirt and hit the ground hard. It knocked the wind out of her but the made it to her feet and kept running. Her arms were scratched up and her chin was cut. She didn't even wipe the dirt from her face, she just kept running.

Phoebe saw Michael laying in a heap as she got closer. The dry grass and dirt around him was bloody.

She finally reached him and fell where he laid.

"Michael…baby…Michael I'm here" Phoebe wept, as she molded her body around him.

Michael moaned in pain. It was hard to see his wounds from the blood and shredded clothes.

"Somebody help me!" Phoebe shouted as she wept, "Michael, stay with me…" Phoebe whispered in his ear.

Phoebe held him in her arms. Michael was breathing very shallow, and Phoebe watched his chest moving slowly up and down.

"I love you baby…don't leave me…don't leave" Phoebe pleased as the tears streamed from her face. "Somebody! Help us!" Phoebe cried again.

A neighbor heard her cries from the back of the property, and come running up to them.

"Oh…oh" The man stuttered at the sight of Michael.

"Get help!" Phoebe cried.

The man ran off and Phoebe was left holding Michael in her arms. She slowly rocked back and forth and pressed her cheek against his. His breathing became slower and the rattle in his chest became louder. His lungs were filling with blood, and it was just a matter of time.

"There now…" Phoebe consoled him, "That's good baby…help is coming …just breathe" Phoebe pleaded and sobbed.

Four days later………

Cole sat in the chair swing on the porch. Even though he hadn't been in love with Debbie for some time now, he still loved her. If nothing else, for the fact that she gave him two beautiful baby girls.

Cole felt at peace, even though he knew he was still in shock. He was relieved the funeral was over. He had dreaded it.

"Hey" Cora said opening the door, and walking out to the porch.

She held two drinks in her hand, and handed one to Cole.

"Hey, how did you know?" Cole said smiling at her.

"Well, you looked thirsty" She said sarcastically.

Cora sat down beside Cole, and they slowly swing back and forth. They were both silent for a minute. Cole swirled his drink and sighed.

"You ok?" Cora asked noticing his occupied expression.

"Yeah…Yeah…I'll be fine" Cole said taking a drink. "You? I know you guys were close" Cole said putting his arm around her and squeezing her shoulder.

Cora started to tear up. "I…it is all happening so fast for me" She said quietly.

Cole kissed her on the temple, and leaned his head against hers. "The only reason I am letting the girls stay for a while, is for you. I really appreciate your kindness towards me through the years. Especially when everyone else hated me." Cole said squeezing her shoulder again.

"Your welcome" Cora said, and wiped her eyes.

It was quiet between them for a minute or two, and then Cole spoke up.

"Cora, there is something I have to tell you. I just won't be able to live with myself if I don't." Cole said rubbing his eyebrows stressfully.

"What is it Cole?"

"I…well…me and Debbie were…not getting along…at all" Cole paused, he couldn't find the words to tell her about Phoebe, that he loved another woman.

"I know Cole" Cora said quietly, "Debra told me when she came to stay. She said you told her you wanted her to stay here, and she didn't really care." Cora finished.

"Well, there is more to it…"

"I know…Cole you don't have to tell me…I have been around a while…and I know in a marriage, it takes two people…"

Cole nodded.

"I loved Debra like my own, but I know she wasn't perfect…and neither are you" She said softly.

"It still doesn't excuse me from what I'm a fault for" Cole said

"You know something I was told when I got my divorce from Harry?" Cora stood up and walked to the porch railing,

"I was told, you can't look back, or you'll end up walking crooked all the time. So even though you are going to have regrets and be sorry for something or other…you have to look ahead and walk the path of life. It is chosen for us already. Don't worry about yesterday…live for tomorrow, because like everything…you never know if you'll have another chance."

Cole smiled at her. He knew what she was talking about. Maybe she even knew what Cole was trying to tell her. Either way, she was graceful enough to comfort him and scold him at the same time.

"Get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning" She said and walked inside.

Cole nodded knowing he would leave in the morning. He would go home and face it all.