For disclaimer, see Chapter 1. Thanks for the reviews - keep them coming!

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Just before dawn, Jesse awoke to an empty bed and a missing wife. He hated to leave without telling his beloved goodbye, but if that was the way she wanted things, then that's the way it would be. Before he walked out the door, however, Jesse scribbled a quick note that read, "Zee, I love you, and I'll miss you until we're together once more. I'm sorry for breaking your heart - again."

He quickly signed his name and bolted out the door to saddle up his horse.

Once he was well on his way, Jesse finally allowed himself to reflect on all that had happened. Too much had happened, he thought to himself. After finishing his service during the Civil War, Jesse had returned to Liberty, Missouri in the hopes of finally settling down. He didn't want to fight anymore, and neither did Frank, the Youngers, or the other friends who had accompanied him home.

After the railroad attempted to take their land, and subsequently failed, all those who owned farms in the vicinity were threatened and their houses or barns were blown up. It was the night of Cole Younger's return from hiding that Jesse's mother had been murdered. That was the night he was seeking to lay to rest, the night he sought to make peace with.

Jesse could see the horrible events play out in his mind. He and Frank had ridden hard, trying to reach their farm. They were each picturing the worst, but to their mutual relief, the homestead was untouched at their arrival. As they both let out the breath they didn't know they had been holding, their home was blown apart in a huge blast of heat and fire.

Jesse and Frank both jumped off their horses in complete disbelief.

Jesse sprinted forward and shouted, "Ma! Ma! Ma!"

To him, it seemed as if he had repeated the mantra for hours, though in reality only a few seconds passed from his initial shouts until the moment his mother stumbled from the house. She was in a bad way, Jesse knew that from first glance. As soon as he laid eyes on her, he knew that in a matter of moments he would lose his ma.

He gathered the once strong woman into his shaking arms and tried to help her hold onto the tenuous grip of life. She looked up at Jesse, imparting love and sadness in a single glance. She then stared at Frank, begging her two sons to take care of one another. Then, she saw nothing more of the world, as the Lord came to call her home.

Jesse began to sob, questioning why things always had to be this way. In that instant, he knew he had to seek revenge. His mother didn't deserve to die like that, and he swore to himself that he would not allow it to happen to any other ma, pa, or child. No one would suffer the way he and Frank had.

After the death of their mother, Frank, Jesse, the Younger brothers, and some other Liberty boys started their war against the railroad. They targeted their supply lines, they robbed trains and banks, and they sought to hurt Thaddeus Rains where it hurt the most.

In the end, Jim Younger had ended up dead and Jesse was not far from hanging at the end of a noose. That's when Pinkerton had given Jesse an out, and instructed him to move on to Tennessee. Now, it was time to divert from the solitary life he and Zee had been leading. It was time he left the "safe zone" behind.

Jesse shook his head at the memories, and tried to bring himself back to the present. He figured that one of these days his daytime nightmares would cause him some trouble. He chuckled at the thought. Imagine if the great Jesse James met his demise by someone sneaking up behind him. It was unimaginable to think of himself being caught with his back turned.

Jesse clicked to his horse to pick up the pace, while he thought again what a funny thing that would be indeed.