Lou and I decided to go for a ride.  We left Mark back at the ranch to do his chores.  Lou had forgot her hat and I wanted to go back and look for it but she said that she would be okay without it.  Suddenly we heard Mark yelling to us.  He was bringing Lou's hat to her.  Looks like Mark found a good excuse to postpone his chores.  We were watching him race towards us when his horse stepped in a hole and his cinch broke and  Mark when for a really bad tumble.  I rushed to his side.  He was laying face down in the ground.  I asked him if he was hurt.  He said he was alright.  I helped him get to his feet.  His legs suddenly gave way and Mark fell to ground.  "You are hurt son.....where?"  "No.....I'm not hurt Pa.....It's my legs.....I can't move 'em! Feel like I don't have any."  Mark was scared.  "Feels like I don't have any legs at
all!"   We took Mark back to the ranch.  Lou stayed with Mark while I rode hard to get the doctor. 

"Doc.....I just don't understand. If his backs not hurtin' and there's no other physical injury, why can't he move his leg?"  "Being thrown this morning put the nerve that controls his legs in kind of a spasm.  They're paralyzed until that nerve relaxes," said Doc Burrage.  He had no idea how long that would take.  I got upset and wanted an answer.  "I don't know.....there is no sure cure for this kind of an injury," said Doc.  He told us that mineral baths was the most effective treatment he had heard of.  Where was I going to find a mineral bath for Mark?  I happened to remember Missions Springs.  It was an old burned down Mission near the Mexican border.  They had hot mineral baths.  The Doc said he didn't know what to tell me and warned me about how dangerous that part of the country was.  "What do you mean you don't know? There's Mineral baths there.....will they or won't they help Mark?"  All he could tell me was that it might help Mark.  That was enough for me.  I asked Lou if she would help me get Mark ready for the trip.  She said she would and that she was going with us.  There never was any doubt in my mind, I knew she would have wanted to go along.  I headed out to get the buckboard ready. 

Before long we were on our way.  The closer we got to the mountains the colder it got.  I asked Mark if he was warm enough.  He said he was fine.  I asked him if he was tired.  He said he was, but not much.  I told him the roughest part of the trip was over and we should be there by tomorrow. 

We finally reached Mission Springs.  We put Marks legs in the springs.  It didn't seem to help.  I was discouraged.  Lou reminded me that this was only the first treatment.  She was right.  I guess I expected a miracle right away.

I went to cut some wood for the fire when I noticed some riders in the distant.  I went back to get my rifle.  Lou asked me if there was something wrong.  I told her I wasn't sure, but I thought I better play it safe.  I got my rifle and went part way down the mountain to get a closer look.  I spotted three armed convicts with a prison guard for a hostage.  I told Lou I thought they are escaped prisoners from Yuma.  Lou was puzzled why they would come here.  I told her they were probably after water.  I told her there wasn't much cover where we were at and that our best bet would be to head for the trees and stay out of sight until they leave.  I put out the camp fire and Lou gathered up our things and I carried Mark and put him in the buckboard.  I put the buckboard in among some bushes and trees.  I took my rifle and checked to see where the convicts were at.  They decided to camp for the night not too far from where we had originally camped. 

Night came, it was getting colder and colder.  We couldn't build a fire, we didn't want them to know we were there.  So we just waited it out.  They had built a fire, which helped me to keep my eye on them the best I could.  Rance, the leader of the gang was getting edgy.  He said the place gave him the creeps, it was like a church to him.  When they bedded down for the night I went back to check and see how Lou and Mark was doing.  Lou was worried about Mark.  She said he needed more than blankets, he needed a warm fire and warm food inside him.  She kept insisting Mark needed a fire.  I knew that, but my hands were tied, there wasn't a thing I could do about it.  We couldn't let them know we were here.  She said that maybe after they have eaten maybe they would leave.  I told her I didn't think they had any food.  She thought maybe we could offer them some, maybe make them a deal.  "Lou.....convicts don't leave witnesses to point their back trail."  She looked discouraged, but I had no words to offer her.  Right now we just had to go unnoticed as much as possible. 

The guard that the convicts had tied up, woke up and saw that the three convicts were sleeping.  He quietly snuck out of the campsite.  He didn't get very far when Rance woke up to see him sneaking out.  He went after him.  The other two convicts woke up and went to see what the commotion was.  There was Rance shoving the guards face in the dirt.  Getting even for some of the treatment that was put on him.  He noticed that there was ashes around the dirt and that they were warm.  He said that somebody had been camping there two or three hours ago.  As they looked around they saw fresh wagon tracks.  They knew someone was there and that we didn't want them to know it.  "There ain't many of them or they wouldn't be hidin'," said Smiley.  "Where there's a camp there's usually food," said Dove.  They decided to look for us.

            Mark was falling asleep.  I was having trouble keeping him awake.  "You've got to keep your eyes open Mark! You've got to stay awake.....if you don't you'll freeze!"  He wasn't responding.  The only way I could get him to wake up was to slap him across the face.  I didn't want to, but this was my son's life, I had no choice.  "I'm sorry son.....but you've got to stay awake to stay alive!"  "Do you hear me Mark?  Force yourself son.....Force yourself!"  Mark helplessly said he would try.  I told Lou get some food into Mark.  She went to get some beans.  I stood there helpless, pleading with Mark to stay awake.  I finally got him to wake up and I told him to make sure he stayed awake.  He said he would.  When I left to see what our situation was, Lou was feeding Mark. 

I saw two of the men looking for us.  I kept trying to keep them from finding us.  I didn't know how long I could hold them off.  When I went to hide in another spot Rance saw me.  He wasn't sure if I was alone or not so he decide it would be best to come at me from three sides.  He had Dove circle around to the left and Smiley went the other way.  Rance was going to keep me busy from the front.  Rance shot at me and I fired back.  Rance kept me busy by firing at me while the others closed in.  Then Smiley started firing at me and then Dove.  I put up a pretty good fight.  I shot at Dove and my bullet ricochet off a rock and nicked him.  Smiley and Dove went back to where Rance was.  Their plan didn't work.  They hadn't figured on how good I was with my rifle.  They had to find another way to take me.  Rance decided they would wait for the temperature to drop knowing I couldn't light a fire. They would be able to see me with the full moon.  All they had to do was wait until I froze and then walk in.  Dove told the other two to get some sleep that he owed me something for wounding him.  Rance and Smiley went to get warm and to get some rest while Dove kept me busy.  It was getting colder and colder.  Things had quieted down some and I decided to check on Mark and Lou. 

She asked if they would be coming for us.  I told her that they were waiting on us to freeze to death.  "It'll be warmer soon and it won't be long until the sun comes up," said Lou.  "Lou.....Mark can't last 'till morning and my hands are getting so stiff that I can hardly fire a gun. No look.....I want you to take the buckboard and make a dash for it while I draw their fire."  "No.....NO!" Squealed Lou.  I grabbed her.  "I don't want Mark to hear this!" I told her as quietly as I could.  "I won't leave you!" Stated Lou.  "Lou.....there is no chance in the world for all three of us to get out of her alive." I pleaded with her.  "Then none of us will.....I won't go without you!" Said Lou.  "Listen to me.....I want life for my son. You've got to help me give it to him. You're the only one who can!"  "Lou.....please!"  "Please!"  She looked at me hurting, not wanting to leave me behind.....but she knew what Mark meant to me and how important what I was asking of her, was to me."  She nodded her head and walked away.

     Smiley went back to the camp and told Rance and Dove that there hadn't been a sound out there for over an hour.  The three of them went to check it out. 

Lou and Mark were ready to leave.  I told Lou that no matter what happens to keep going.  She nodded.  I then walked to the back of the wagon to get one last look at my son before they left. 

The three of them decided I was to froze to fight.   Rance slowly started toward my area.  He got a little ways and then motioned for the other two to come ahead.  I was waiting and watching for them.  They were out in the open.  They didn't expect what happened next.  First I shot Smiley, then Dove and Rance last.     

                   The next morning we soaked Mark's legs again.  I went to get some firewood while Lou was talking to Mark, trying to keep his sprits up but it wasn't workin.  He still couldn't walk.  I asked her how Mark was.  She said he was the same and that he was loosing all hope.  I went over to talk to him.  I stooped down next to him.  "You know son, they have missions like this all over California. The northern part of the state clear down to the Mexican border. Some day maybe you and I can....."  "Pa.....it's no good.....I can't walk.....I can't walk!" "No you stop that and you listen.....you are gonna walk! It may take a long time, but you are going to walk son! I know you're frightened.....but we're gonna see this through! All three of us! You just gotta have a little faith!"  I grabbed his legs and started to massage them.  "It doesn't matter how much I bathe you in these springs or how much I rub your legs with my hands, it's gonna be up to you in the long run! You've got to believe that and you've got to try!"  "You've got to keep believing and keep trying!"  Suddenly Mark looked different.  I asked him what was a matter.  "Pa.....I think I can move my toes.....but my legs.....they feel funny!"  "They hurt Pa!"  I stood up and put my hand out and told him to stand up.  He just set there looking at me.  "Mark stand up," I yelled as I grabbed him and helped him to his feet.  "Come.....come on son."  He slowly took a step and then another.  He made it to me and collapsed in my arms.  Mark.....Lou and I stood there embraced in one big hug.