Mark and I had been out on the trail for sometime.  We were several days from home.  We came across this prospector's shack.  I called to see if someone was in the shack, but no one answered. I walked in.  There laid a man, dead on the floor.  Before I knew it this man, Jax, had charged in and shot at me, grazing my head.  I was out of it for a while.  Andy and Jax went outside.  They had to decide what they were going to do with us.  Jax wanted us dead, he sent Andy into the shack to finish the job.  Mark was tending to me when Andy came in.  He slammed the door and drew his gun from his holster.  "NO!" Yelled Mark.  He and Mark struggled.  Andy was a big man; he got the best of Mark.  He then shot his gun once.....then twice, into the floor.  "It's alright son.....you be quiet," said Andy.  He then went out to join Jax.  Andy was in a hurry to get out of there.  Not Jax.....he felt it would be months before anyone would find us.  "This time we're gonna travel slow and easy.....like gentlemen."  "We don't want to be too tired when we cross the border to enjoy ourselves," laughed Jax.  "Muchas gracias, amigos.....adios," yelled Jax as they rode off with our horses, supplies and  my rifle.

Mark had bandaged my head.  He was concerned about getting me to a doctor. He wanted me to take it easy.....my head was still bleeding.  I asked him to see if he could get me some water.  He already had checked.....there wasn't any.  The nearest place I could think of was the Merar ranch.  We could make it there on foot.  "Pa.....if somebody asks you to do something wrong, and you don't do it, can you still be blamed for it?"  "What are you gettin' at son?"  "Well.....the older man was supposed to kill us and didn't. He even helped me fix your head."  "Mark.....just because a man does one good deed it doesn't excuse all the bad ones in the past."

We headed off on foot.  It was dark when we came across a campfire.  "Hey Pa.....there's a campfire down there."  "Look.....maybe we can get some help.....borrow some horses."  "Now wait a minute son.....we'll take it easy.....find out who it is first."  We edged closer and closer.  I decided to go on ahead by myself.  It was them.  I slowly crept quietly closer to them.  My rifle was lying between Jax and Andy.  When I grabbed my rifle Jax woke up.  "Toss your gun over there.....your friends too," I said.  Just then Andy woke up.   "What's going on?" Asked Andy.  "We've got company," said Jax.  "You bet you got company!" I said.  Just then Jax pulled out a knife and tried to stab Andy.  "You double cross....." I grabbed his arm and twisted it until he left go of the knife.  "Alright.....you try that again and I'll save the marshal the time holding your trial.....that goes for you too," I said. "Get over here!" "Get over here!" I yelled.  I cocked my rifle.  That made them move.  "From now on I'm gonna keep you two together like Siamese twins till we get to town.....you understand that?"  I then threw the rope to Andy and had him tie Jax hands. 

Jax had a plan.  He told Andy he got them in this mess, maybe he could get them out of it.  He wanted Andy to cottin' up to Mark.  He told Andy that Mark fancied him for savin' our hides.  He wanted Andy to make Mark feel sorry for him.  Jax called Mark and asked him for more coffee.  I told him it was ok but not to get too close.  "You sure make good coffee," said Andy.  "Pa taught me," said Mark.  "No Ma?" asked Andy.  "No," said Mark.  "I had a boy once," said Andy.  How old is he?" Asked Mark.  "Oh about the last time I seen him he was.....about your age, he's a full grown man now," said Andy.  "Where is he now?" Asked Mark.  "In the east."  "Aren't you ever gonna try and look him up or anything?" Asked Mark.  "Hmmmmm.....what would a big city doctor.....livin' in a fine stone home.....and a fancy carriage.....a couple of high steppin' horses want with a fellow like me son?"  He told Mark it was hard to drink coffee with his hands tied.  Mark started to go to untie his hand....."Mark!" "Any of that coffee left?" I asked.  "I told you not to get to close son."  "Sorry Pa."  It was time to break camp and head out.  I told Mark to get the horses ready. 

We rode our horses and I had them walk.  I couldn't take a chance with them being on a horse.  We came to a fork in the rode.  There was a sign ~ Cedar Road to the right and the Border Pass to the left.  Andy tried to talk me into letting them go the left, the Border Pass.  He said he'd make me rich.  Jax yelled at him to shut up.  He told Jax he wasn't gonna hang for any of his killings.  He said there was enough money in the saddle bags to send Mark to the best schools back east.  He'd give me his word they'd go across the border. Jax laughed.  Andy said he didn't kill the old man that Jax did and he wasn't gonna die for him.  "He's the one whose gonna die, not us!" (meaning me) said Jax.  "Look at him.....can't you see every mile is bringing him to the breaking point?" "Two more days of ridin'.....nights with no sleep."  "He's gonna make a slip," said Jax.  "That's what I'm waitin' for farmer!"  "Just one slip!"  "Nod.....blink and I promise you.....you won't live to see another day!"   "The right fork!" I said.  Jax laughed.        

   We camped for the night.  I had Mark cover them up.  He then came over and put a blanket around my shoulders.  "Your bruise is lookin' mighty ugly Pa."  He wanted to put another bandage on me but I told him I'd be alright.  I told Mark he better get some sleep.  "You're the one who needs it Pa!"  "I already took a nap during the day." "Please?"  I was feelin' really bad.  My head was throbbin'.  "Mark.....I'll make a deal with you son."  I told Mark to watch them for ten maybe fifteen minutes and then I'd take a turn. I told him if one of them budges he was to wake me.  He agreed.  Mark tried to keep his eyes open but he couldn't.  He kept dozin' off.  He fell asleep. Jax was keepin' an eye on Mark, just waiting for him to fall asleep.  Andy managed to untie Jax.  Jax then quietly snuck close to me and went for my rifle.  Just then Mark woke and yelled....."Pa!."  I kicked Jax and had my rifle on in no time.  "I'm sorry Pa....I didn't men to go to sleep," said Mark.  I told him it was alright and to go get some rest.  I then tied Jax back up. 

The next morning I was feeling worse.  I knew I couldn't go much farther.  I woke up Mark and told him it would be best for him to go on himself. He didn't want to leave me alone with them.  I told him I could handle them, not to worry.  I told him he could make the Merar Ranch by night and get some help and be back by dawn.  It would save a whole day.  He agreed.  I told him to ride hard.

Jax woke up Andy.  He told him that I had sent Mark on ahead.  He told him I knew I couldn't last that's why I sent Mark on ahead.  He knew I wasn't takin' any chances with my son's life.  I felt like I was going to collapse at any moment.

 Night came and it took all I could do to keep going.  Jax just kept hollering and pushing me.  He wanted me to break.  "Why don't you just lie down and die, farmer!"  "You ain't gonna make it farmer!" Why don't he just shut up! I got rid of their handguns that were in their saddle bags.  I then jammed the barrel of my rifle with dirt. It they ended up killing me and getting away they weren't going to have any weapons.  I made sure of that.  I kept my back to them so they wouldn't know what I was up to. 

Jax managed to work his ropes loose.  I couldn't even walk without stumbling.  I started back but couldn't make it.....I collapsed.  This was what Jax was waiting for.  He walked over to me.....picked up my rifle.  Laughing he said....."I told you Sodbuster.....(laughing) here.....here some dirt.....see if it will stop this."  He threw dirt on me.  He was just getting ready to shoot me when Andy called to him.  "Jax.....he can't do us any harm!"  "Come on over here and untie me and let's get out of here."  He laughed at Andy.  "You know what? You oughta wear your collar around the other way."  "Goin' around saving lives.....twice in two days too."  He untied Andy's feet.  He held the rifle on him.  "I don't need a gun shy partner to help me spend the loot packed in that saddle bag."   Jax told him that he didn't want to shoot sitting duck, that he should make a run for it. If he could make it he would be free.  Jax knew Andy didn't have a chance and so did Andy.   "Go Andy.....run!"  Andy took off.  Jax shot at him.  Mark was just riding in when he heard the shot and had assumed the worst.  He came running to me.  I was glad to see him.  Merar came over and looked at my head.  He said they would tend to it before we headed home.  He then checked out my rifle.  "Ya know.....I bet your friend.....if he had a second chance.....he'd check to see if that barrel was clear."  "Looks like it stopped up."  "It's your rifle.....how did that happen"  "Well.....um.....let's just say I got careless Merar."  The other cowboy who came with Mark and Merar rounded up Andy and brought him back.  "What will they do to him Pa?"  "I don't know son. That's still gonna be up to a judge and jury."