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Independence, Missouri 1865

Cole let the memories of her sweep him away. He could taste her, smell her, and hear her again. He blocked out all outside sounds and only let himself remember her.

He was swept back 42 years. Back to that magical time. A time of youth. It was Independence, Missouri in the year 1865. The bloody War Between The States had just ended. It was wintertime. He could still feel the brisk wind and the wetness of the snow as it touched his cheeks.

His mind flew black in time. Back to her. It was his memories of her and their life together that had gotten him through 25 years at the Stillwater Penitentiary and it was those memories that still sustained him today in his old age.

If he sat back and closed his eyes he could still see the first time he had ever laid eyes on her. She had been bundled in what looked like rags against the freezing cold. She had nothing but an old grey dress that fit too snugly and an old shawl wrapped around her shoulders to shield her from the wind. She had her hair wrapped in a black scarf but from the edges her beautiful blonde hair peaked out in wild long strands that the wind caught and whipped behind her. She had been looking down. Watching her step on the frozen plank sidewalk. She was making her way towards the general store. She hadn't even seen the big hulking figure of Cole in his black duster and his black hat pulled low over his eyes. She ran into him and fell backwards. Cole caught her in his arms to steady her and he had looked down into the darkest blue eyes he had ever seen. In those eyes he saw startled surprise, then embarrassment, and finally fear. Intense fear as she pulled back with a gasp. He would never forget how those emotions had flirted across her face. He had wanted to wipe the fear from her eyes. He had wanted to comfort her. But he knew instinctively that the only comfort he could offer was to step back away from her and release her small body from his grasp. That was the only thing that would make that caged animal look leave her face. He swiftly steadied her and backed away. But suddenly he felt like he had lost something when he released her. He didn't understand it but every part of him wanted to reach out and pull her next to him again. He wanted to comfort her. He didn't know why he was having such a strong reaction. Yes, she was beautiful and young but Cole had been with beautiful women and none had such an effect on him.

He caught his breath and managed to mumble an apology. She

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