Hank nodded. "You be careful." With that he took off quickly.

Joe swallowed hard, shaking his head as the water came nearer and nearer, struggling hard as he looked up at Jessie.

"Right," said Frank. "Let's go."

Hank sped along the road, but there was no sign of Joe.

Loraine nodded to him,"You too." and took off threw the brambles. She couldnt see or hear nothing down her way, she wondered if Hank found him.

Jesse climbed on his horse and followed Frank heading back out to the hotel. come rain, sleet,snow, or hail, they WERE going to rob that bank.

Joe took a deep a breath as he could as before he hit the water that Frank and Jesse had thrown him into, his coat dragging him quickly to the bottom of the lake as he struggled against his bonds, his lungs quickly starting to burn with lack of oxygen.

Hnk had ridden on for a long ways before convincing himself that Joe wasn't down there. Turning around he headed back to where Loraine had agreed to meet with him at the fork.

Joe hit the bottom of the lake bed, trying vainly to push up from the floor but with his bound feet and hands found it completly impossible as he started to lose conciousness.

Loraine rode on a little ways beofre convincing herself that Joe wasn't down this way, she rode on to the pond and stopped to let trigger get a drink beofre returning back to the crossroads.

When she stopped she could see bubbles arising to the surface, she knew it had only mean tone thing, Frank and Jesse brung him trying to drown him. Loraine screamed out as loud as she could,"HANK!!!!HANK!!!!!HANK!!!!! HES HERE HANK!!!!!HES DROWING!!!HANK!!!!!!!!"

Loraine could only hope that Hank would hear her.

Hank heard her, and took off towards her screams. The poor horse probably had never been ridden so fast in its life. Reaching the pond Hank jumped off, kicking off his boots and diving in to the water.

Joe felt the waters move around him, heard splashing...but found he just couldn't hold on as he fell unconcious.

The water was murkey,. Hank could barely make out the still form at the bottom. Lifting Joe into his arms he kicked his way to the top quickly running out of air fast.

Loraine watched as Hank arose from the top pulling Joe above as he swam to the edge Loraine ran over to help him out of the water.

Loraine looked around for Jesse and Frank.

Joe flopped limp onto the bank, not breathing with the gag still tied into his lax jaw.

Hank's heart was beating fast. Quickly he pulled the gag from his mouth. "He ain't breathin..." He tilted his head plugging his nose and gave him a couple of rescue breaths before compressing on his chest. "Come n Joe..." he pleaded. Despite how mad he had been, he loved Joe still and right now he was scared beyond belief.

Joe remained still and lifeless under his hands, water dripping from his long blonde hair that clung to his pale face.

Hank choked out his name between breathing air into his lungs and compressing his chest rhythmically, forgetting everything else in his effort to save Joe.

Eventually Joe spluttered hard and coughed up water, taking a deep intake of breath as he coughed hard.

"Joe!" cried Hank bringing his head to his lap to help him breathe better.

Loraine smiled and sighed seeing that joe was alright, what she wasnt going to like was this next part, Joe noticing her there,Joe'd probably been to the hotel and found the..... ohh no. Thats why Frank and Jesse tried to kill him.

Loraine got up backing away from the edge were the two dukes were.

Joe eventually opened his eyes, still coughing harshly as his chest tried to expel the remaining amount of water from his lungs.

Hank winced at the harshness of his cough, reaching a hand behind him and rubbing the middle of his back knowing from the sound of the cough it had to hurt.

Loraine walked over to Trigger's saddle bad an dpulled out the blanket she had in there. She walked over to Hank and handed him the blanket to wrap around Joe to warm him up. She then back away againa s she didnt want Joe to see her.

It was too late for that however as he caught a glimpse of her handing the blanket to Hank and struggled weakly to get away from Hank and her, trying to push himself to his feet even though he was still coughing.

Hank watched as Joe struggled to get away. "Joe...Joe it's ok...it's just me...and Loraine...we ain't gonna hurtcha...."

Joe gathered enough breath to rasp out.

"Get...away...from...me....both...of...ya..."