Disclaimer: I don't own American Outlaws or anything to do with the characters. I am just kidnapping them for my little adventure and will return them. Okay, maybe not all of them. I might keep Jesse and Cole but I will send Bella and Megan and Joey all in their place. J/K.
AN: I am so sorry it has taken so long to update. I have had writer's block but I hope it is gone now. I hope it doesn't come back either. Maybe you all could just go help me catch my muses. J. Anyways, thanks to all who gave feedback. I really appreciate it and hope you can give more this time.
Chapter Seven
By the time Jesse and Zee had left that night most of Joey's questions had been answered. Zee had told her everything she could about what happened in Liberty, Missouri. How Parker killed Ma James and burned down their farms. And how Jesse shot him.
Joey looked in her room and saw Bella sound asleep. She looked so peaceful and sweet there. It made Joey long to have children but that would probably never happen for her.
"I can move her if you like," Cole said quietly.
"No, let her sleep," she said walking over and sitting in her chair. "I probably won't sleep tonight anyway."
Cole sat in the other rocker, "I've been meaning to ask you something since this afternoon."
"What is that?"
"What is this about money?" he asked seriously.
"My father left me a lot of gold before he left. After the war, I had it converted to money. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," he said smiling.
Joey looked at him earnestly, "Don't even think about it Cole Younger, stick to your banks, okay?" She laughed and Cole smiled, "What?"
"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, I'd have the entire night sky in the palm of my hand," he said almost musically.
Joey blushed but you couldn't tell in the firelight. "You shouldn't say things like that, it isn't proper."
He got up and kneeled down in front of her. "Do you think I really give a shit what is proper?" he asked.
Joey's breath caught and she thought she might pass out. He was so close and smelled so good. She couldn't believe how good he felt this close to her. Like everything would always be okay.
"I don't think you do either," he said leaning in closer. She shivered as his face came within inches of her own. She could feel his breath. "I don't think you do at all." He leaned in, their lips barely touching.
"Looks like another storm is coming," Bob said coming in the house.
Joey stood up abruptly leading Cole to do the same. "I am going to sleep upstairs. Goodnight," she said climbing up the ladder.
"What did you do?" Bob asked pulling his boots off.
Cole climbed on his cot, "Not a thing. Just almost made the second biggest mistake of my life."
"Second?"
"Never mind," he said, "goodnight." Cole wasn't about to bring up old memories for Bob. Memories of Jimmy. The biggest mistake of his life was teaching Jimmy to rob banks and leading him to Hyperion. He couldn't believe he almost kissed Joey. How could he do that? He was taking advantage of her. She was very attractive but she infuriated him. She always called in question his judgment and that irked him.
No nothing could ever come between Josephine Montgomery and him. She was to strong headed and prideful. She definitely had a mind of her own and that temper of hers. She could really get out of control if she got upset, but when she got angry even he stayed out of her way for the time. He laughed as he realized Megan was becoming more like her everyday.
Joey smiled at Cole when she saw him. He looked as if he hadn't shaved in days and she didn't look much better. Her dress was ripped and dirty and her face was bruised and covered in mud as well. "Oh Cole," she limped to him, "I knew you would come. I just knew you would find us."
"Did he hurt you?" Cole asked brushing her hair out of her face.
"Nothing that won't heal." She smiled and hugged him tightly. "I knew you would come," she whispered.
He pulled away and held her at arms length, "Listen, there is something I need to tell you. The whole time you were gone I realized something."
"What?"
"Oh isn't that sweet," someone said from behind Cole.
Then she heard the noise and it radiated through her head. It was so loud and she couldn't hear anything. She looked at Cole and saw the look of surprise on his face as he started to fall to the ground.
"NOOOO!" Joey screamed sitting straight up in bed.