I thought I'd get the wagon ready while I waited for Mark to get home from school.  We were going to go over to the south acre to clear the field and get rid of that one stump there. I started to put the tools and the blasting powder into the wagon when I saw Mark ride in.  He wouldn't miss this for anything.  He wanted to help.  I told him he could watch, but from a safe distance.  I asked him if he'd run into the house and get the coil of fuses lying on the table.  While he went to get the fuses I finished loading the wagon.  I had moved the blasting powder to make room for the tools.  I didn't notice that some of the powder had leaked out of the barrel. I went back and got the tools.  Just as I was about to put them in the wagon Mark came running out of the house.  I didn't pay much attention to what I was doing and dropped them into the wagon.  With the friction from the tools and the loose gunpowder, it exploded in my face.  I fell to the ground.  The pain was excruciating.  Mark came running over to me.  He helped me in the wagon and rushed me into town to Doc Burrage's office.

The Doc put cream on my eyes and wrapped a bandage around my eyes.  The Doc said that I was in shock.  He said I would be alright as soon as the pain eased up. He didn't want me moved for two days, at least.  He wanted to be able to keep an eye on me, then maybe I would be able to go home.  He said the force of the explosion must have gone straight up. Had I not stared right into the flash I would have been alright.  "Dr. Burrage.....Please.....what are you trying to say?" Asked Millie.  The Doc walked over to Mark and put his hand on his shoulder.  "Mark.....you love your Pa.....don't you?"  "Yes sir," said Mark.  "And he loves you too."  "That's gonna matter a heap." Said Doc.  "Doc?" Asked Micah.  "I only know what I see Micah, and that ain't good."  "Of course, rest, care.....things might change." Said Doc.  He told us he had seen this before.  They really didn't know much about things like this.  "But you said he'd be alright," said Mark.  "He'll mend, that's what I said."  "As to the other.....well.....that's up to the almighty."  "You see boy.....your Pa is blind."  "Oh my God," cried Millie as she comforted Mark.  "Blind," said Micah.  "No human eye was made to look straight into a powder blast, it's just like the wind blowing out a candle." said Doc.  "No.....not Pa! Not my Pa!" Cried Mark as he rushed over to me laying his head on my chest crying.

It was finally time to go home.  I had no idea what all was in store for me but, with Mark by my side, I knew we could handle anything together.  I had to put on a good front for Mark.  I sure didn't want Mark to think I was vulnerable as I was.  Mark started to tell me he parked the wagon over at Millie's but I had to show him how sure I was of myself.  I told him I knew.  I could tell by the sound when he came in.  They had a scent all their own.  I started across the street.  I almost got run over by a team of horses.  I should have waited.  I realized this wasn't gonna be as easy as I figured.  Mark and Micah escorted me to our wagon.  I was getting ready to get into the wagon when Millie came out.  She had fixed some chicken and sandwiches for us.  She thought we'd be hungry when we got home.  "Mark's gonna take good care of you," said Millie.  "Well sure he is Millie.....sure he is."  She kissed me on the cheek, with such caring and concern for me.  I thanked her and went to step up in the wagon and stumbled.  I was embarrassed.  I just wanted to get out of there.  I told Mark we should be goin'.  "Oh Micah.....he's so.....so proud," said Millie.

That evening while Mark did up the dishes, I went out onto the porch.  I was curious whether or not I could see at all.  I lifted the bandage from my eyes and put my hand in front of my face.  I couldn't see a thing.  Just as I was putting the bandage back down I heard someone ride up. I called for Mark.  He told me it was Micah.  I asked him what brought him out here this time of night.  He told me things were quiet in town and he thought he'd ride out to see how I was gettin' along.  Mark went back to finishing up the dishes.  I knew Micah had to have a reason to have come out here.  He told me Jack Solby was in town.  He had heard about my accident.  The odds were in his favor.  Solby had just got out of Yuma.  We went way back. "Oh it could be he just wants to plague you Lucas." "After all.....no man in his right mind....." I interrupted Micah....."Would shoot a blind man, huh?"  Micah assured me that the town wouldn't stand for that.  They would lynch him.  I told Micah he wouldn't do it in town.  Micah said he'd stay out here or deputize a couple of men to stay out here.  Solby had nothin' but time.  They couldn't keep doin' that.  "Lucas.....those bandages will be coming off, in a week, things might be different then," said Micah. I told him to go watch Solby in town and I'd watch for him out here.  He told me he had deputies watching Solby around the clock.  I got upset.  I took it out on Micah.  He just thought I'd wanna know.  I thanked him for coming out.  I asked Mark to read to me before we went to bed.

After Mark had gone to bed  I thought I'd give a try at using my rifle.  When I flipped the rifle I hit the lantern and it broke.  The noise woke up Mark.  He came running out.  Mark wanted to know what I was doin'.  "Pa.....if that lantern had been lit!"  "Go to bed son."  "No Pa.....your the one who should go to bed!"   "What were you doing with this rifle?"  "Go to bed Mark!" "Yes sir," said Mark as he backed away.  I reached for him.  "Son.....Son.....Son.....come here Son."  "I didn't mean to speak to you that way."  "That's alright Pa.....just tell me what's the matter."   "Of course I should tell you what's the matter."  "Mark.....I'm gonna need your help."  "You know all you have to do is ask," said Mark.  I told him to take me into the bedroom, I'd tell him everything.

Mark & I worked at my skills with my rifle.  We worked until I got it right.  Mark even told me that my ears were gettin' better than a rabbit.  I joked with him and told him I hoped they weren't gettin' that big.  Just then I heard someone ridin' up.  I was ready for whoever it was.  Mark assured me it was Micah.  He wanted to talk to me.  I told him Mark knew everything.  He told us how Solby's been braggin' in the saloon what he was goin' to do to me.  He didn't take him serious until he slugged one of Micah's deputies and almost killed him.  Then he slipped out of town.  I thanked Micah.  He said he was staying around the ranch as much he could until I got my eyes back.  I told Mark to take Micah in and give him some of that hot soup on the stove.  I was going to wash up. 

While I was washing up I thought I heard someone approaching.  I could hear a crunching & a snapping noise.  I didn't know where he was just that he was there.  I realized my only chance was to pretend to keep washing but to be aware of my surroundings.  My rifle. When I thought he was close I said....."This is gonna make it real easy for you, isn't Solby?"  "I heard you was blind McCain.....how did you know it was me?"   "I can smell ya.....years haven't erased your stink."  He told me he'd been waiting a long time for this, six years.  He drew his gun and told me to finish my washing.  I went for the basin of water and it upset.  Solby started to laugh.  He was so busy laughing that he didn't see me go for my rifle.  I turned and shot at the sound of his laughter shot and killed him.  Micah and Mark came running out of the house.  Mark came running to me.  "Son.....do you have anything stronger in the house then soup?"

The next day we went into the Doc's.  It was time to take off my bandages and find out whether or not I can see.  It took a little while for me to be able to focus.  Mark was gettin impatience.  He was almost in tears.  "Can you see!"  He yelled.  "Yes Son, I can see."