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Jesse couldn't figure out why the temperature had increased so much in the last hour. He could feel the sweat beading on his face. It was just downright uncomfortable. It was then that he realized that he was running a fever. A very high fever.

"Great," Jesse muttered, "just great."

He had to figure a way to extricate himself from the situation, and quickly. If his health continued to go downhill he would soon reach a point where he could not escape without assistance. Considering how he had left things with Zee and not told Frank of his journey, he knew that no one would be coming for him.

Something had to be done.

Jesse jerked his hands that were still tied to the back of the chair. It was out of frustration, but ended up causing him more intense pain. Jesse could not hold back the groan as the pain in his side flared to an all-time high. He could tell that the bleeding had stopped, but it was obvious that infection was setting in. What was worse, though, was that the bullet was still in there.

Things were definitely going from bad to worse.

Just then, Jesse felt a flicker of his strength return. He fought to regain his composure. Then a bright, mischievous smile broke out across his face. As the boys used to say, that never was a good thing, at least not for the fellow on the receiving end.

Jesse rounded up all of his strength to attempt one more time to free himself. His captor has obviously not noticed the tiny piece of metal that was sticking out from the window frame. Apparently, the shack's construction had been done quickly and poorly. That poor construction might not bode well in a bad Tennessee storm, but it was exactly the thing that Jesse needed.

If only he could cut the ropes before his incarcerator returned.

Jesse worked feverishly, through his increasing fever, to move the chair over by the window. It was slow, tedious process to move himself and the chair simultaneously with little aid from his legs. His side was protesting any movement at all, and the pain was rapidly threatening to bring the darkness of unconsciousness upon him. If that happened, he'd never make it out alive.

Finally, after what seemed like hours to Jesse, he was in position next to the window. He moved his wrists just so that the metal could double as a knife in slicing through the ropes. Just as he sliced through the last rope, he heard the door open. He wanted to scream, but the situation required his calmness. He struggled, and the ropes around his wrists gave way. He immediately bent down to release his ankles. It was at that moment that the door to his "prison" opened.

His captor looked at where he should have been with a look of surprise. His eyes immediately found Jesse at the window.

Jesse took full advantage of the shock, and rushed his captor with all that he had left. This time, Jesse had the upper hand. Until Cody punched his left side with a force to knock over an elephant, that is.

Jesse staggered backwards until he fell onto the boarded floor. Jesse was overcome with the intensity of the pain. He could not help it when he let out a moan of agony.

Cody chuckled and said, "Well, well. Caught ya tryin' to escape, didn't I? That'll teach you Jesse James. You can't get away from me. I'm gonna hurt you so bad you'll remember everybody you ever hurt."

Cody's eyes clouded with pure hatred, just as Jesse looked at him.

Jesse finally had a clue as to why he might be in this situation. He said, "Did I hurt someone close to you.what's your name?"

Cody responded gruffly, "I ain't tellin' you my name! If you weren't smart enough to know my daddy's name, then I ain't tellin' you mine!"

With that, Cody approached Jesse and raised a fist. All Jesse felt was a quick blow to his temple and then blissful nothingness.

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That night, Zee and Frank were worried sick about Jesse. They could feel it in their bones that something was very, very wrong. Finally, their horses could go no further and they were forced to stop in a little town called Seven Hills.

Little did they know that Jesse was a mere three miles outside of town.

They went to the livery to board their horses for the night, when they were met with an incredible discovery.

There, in stall number five, was Jesse's horse. He was eating hay as though he hadn't a care in the world, while his owner was enduring a nightmare.