Thanks go out to all who have reviewed, those who have added me as a
favorite author or added this story as one of their favorite stories. You
guys are great!
Also - I have a beta! Kelly, thank you for jumping in there and for all your support and encouragement. I really appreciate you and all your efforts. This chapter goes out to you.
Now, on to chapter 9. Hopefully, just one more chapter to go and this story will be complete!
----------------- Frank opened the door to find Jesse lying on the floor in terrible shape. Frank gasped and Zee let out a cry of anguish. Frank got to Jesse first and quickly cut the ropes from his wrists and ankles.
"Get me some blankets . . . and some hot water," Frank shouted.
Zee turned to Julie and she hurried away to prepare the water. A few moments later, Julie announced the water was warming and handed Zee some blankets. Zee stood before her husband in shock. This was not the way their life was supposed to be. She and Jesse had dreamt of a life that was peaceful, healthy and warm. However, Jesse was none of those things right now.
Frank cradled Jesse in his arms, whispering to him, trying to get him to calm down. However, nothing seemed to work and Jesse continued to thrash, cry out and whimper in intense pain and anguish. Frank turned his eyes toward Zee, begging her to come closer. As she did, Julie finally brought the water and cloths to clean Jesse's wounds.
"I'm not sure this is enough. I think we need to take him to town for the doctor. Jesse and Cody both," Julie said.
"How . . ." Frank began.
"There's a wagon out back. We can transport them both," Julie responded.
Zee gently brushed Jesse's damp hair back from his forehead. He was burning up with fever. She took his hand and silently pleaded for him to come back to her. Frank gently told Zee that Jesse's wounds needed to be treated by a doctor, and they would have to move him into town. She nodded in silent agreement and backed away from her ailing husband.
Frank scooped Jesse into his arms effortlessly, as if it was natural to be carrying a grown man. Jesse moaned softly, and then quieted, finally realizing that he was being cared for. And he was indeed.
----------------- Jesse struggled throughout the ride to town. Cody remained unconscious, while Julie and Zee tended to them both as Frank drove the wagon. Finally, they arrived in front of the doctor's office.
"Hey Doc!" Julie shouted. The doctor came rushing out and took one look at the occupants of the wagon before yelling to Frank to get them into his clinic. Frank took Jesse in first and came back for Cody. The doctor came out and asked Julie to come assist him. Zee volunteered, wanting to care for her husband, but the doctor said that it might be too upsetting for her.
So Zee and Frank waited. And waited. And waited.
Finally, the doctor emerged to find Zee and Frank crazy with anticipation. Before they could say a word, he motioned for them to sit down and listen.
"He's still got quite a fever, and he will have a long road ahead of him. I bandaged his bullet wound, and treated it for infection I also treated his rope burns and the cuts on his head from the injury sustained there. There is a good chance Jesse will recover if we can get his fever down. If you'd like to come in now, you are welcome to. If Jesse wakes up, its imperative that you help him remain calm. Don't worry, Cody is in a different room, so he won't disturb you."
-----------------
Zee and Frank entered the room quietly, not wanting to wake Jesse. Zee picked up the washcloth next to the bed and gently washed Jesse's face.
"Jess," Frank began, "what have you gotten yourself into?"
"Too much, Frank, too much." Zee answered.
"It's going to be a long night, Zee. We might as well get comfortable."
-----------------
As the sun shone into the room the next morning, Zee and Frank watched Jesse sleeping. His fever had finally broken around 4 a.m., and it looked like he would be fine. Now, he was finally resting, and was no longer thrashing about. They agreed to take turns watching him, and Zee got up to leave when she noticed a man at the door. It was Cody, and he was staring at Jesse with a haunted look in his eyes.
Also - I have a beta! Kelly, thank you for jumping in there and for all your support and encouragement. I really appreciate you and all your efforts. This chapter goes out to you.
Now, on to chapter 9. Hopefully, just one more chapter to go and this story will be complete!
----------------- Frank opened the door to find Jesse lying on the floor in terrible shape. Frank gasped and Zee let out a cry of anguish. Frank got to Jesse first and quickly cut the ropes from his wrists and ankles.
"Get me some blankets . . . and some hot water," Frank shouted.
Zee turned to Julie and she hurried away to prepare the water. A few moments later, Julie announced the water was warming and handed Zee some blankets. Zee stood before her husband in shock. This was not the way their life was supposed to be. She and Jesse had dreamt of a life that was peaceful, healthy and warm. However, Jesse was none of those things right now.
Frank cradled Jesse in his arms, whispering to him, trying to get him to calm down. However, nothing seemed to work and Jesse continued to thrash, cry out and whimper in intense pain and anguish. Frank turned his eyes toward Zee, begging her to come closer. As she did, Julie finally brought the water and cloths to clean Jesse's wounds.
"I'm not sure this is enough. I think we need to take him to town for the doctor. Jesse and Cody both," Julie said.
"How . . ." Frank began.
"There's a wagon out back. We can transport them both," Julie responded.
Zee gently brushed Jesse's damp hair back from his forehead. He was burning up with fever. She took his hand and silently pleaded for him to come back to her. Frank gently told Zee that Jesse's wounds needed to be treated by a doctor, and they would have to move him into town. She nodded in silent agreement and backed away from her ailing husband.
Frank scooped Jesse into his arms effortlessly, as if it was natural to be carrying a grown man. Jesse moaned softly, and then quieted, finally realizing that he was being cared for. And he was indeed.
----------------- Jesse struggled throughout the ride to town. Cody remained unconscious, while Julie and Zee tended to them both as Frank drove the wagon. Finally, they arrived in front of the doctor's office.
"Hey Doc!" Julie shouted. The doctor came rushing out and took one look at the occupants of the wagon before yelling to Frank to get them into his clinic. Frank took Jesse in first and came back for Cody. The doctor came out and asked Julie to come assist him. Zee volunteered, wanting to care for her husband, but the doctor said that it might be too upsetting for her.
So Zee and Frank waited. And waited. And waited.
Finally, the doctor emerged to find Zee and Frank crazy with anticipation. Before they could say a word, he motioned for them to sit down and listen.
"He's still got quite a fever, and he will have a long road ahead of him. I bandaged his bullet wound, and treated it for infection I also treated his rope burns and the cuts on his head from the injury sustained there. There is a good chance Jesse will recover if we can get his fever down. If you'd like to come in now, you are welcome to. If Jesse wakes up, its imperative that you help him remain calm. Don't worry, Cody is in a different room, so he won't disturb you."
-----------------
Zee and Frank entered the room quietly, not wanting to wake Jesse. Zee picked up the washcloth next to the bed and gently washed Jesse's face.
"Jess," Frank began, "what have you gotten yourself into?"
"Too much, Frank, too much." Zee answered.
"It's going to be a long night, Zee. We might as well get comfortable."
-----------------
As the sun shone into the room the next morning, Zee and Frank watched Jesse sleeping. His fever had finally broken around 4 a.m., and it looked like he would be fine. Now, he was finally resting, and was no longer thrashing about. They agreed to take turns watching him, and Zee got up to leave when she noticed a man at the door. It was Cody, and he was staring at Jesse with a haunted look in his eyes.
