Mark was upset. There was a saddle that he wanted at the General Store. Hattie had it on order for Mark since he saw it in the catalog last winter. I told him before we just couldn't afford it right now. It took every cent that we had
to buy the bull that we were going to pick up. I did notice that Mark had been acting sorry for himself the past couple of days and I didn't see any reason for it. I asked him if there was something bothering him? "You wouldn't understand," said Mark. He then took the tub of wash water and dumped it on the marigolds that I had planted along the porch. "Mark! Look what you've done to your mother's flowers," I scolded. "Just hurrying, beside there not hers any how, you planted them." "I did, but you remember she liked marigolds along the porch." "What's the sense of remembering somebody that's left ya'?" Asked Mark. "Now hold on son. Your mother didn't leave you, she died God rest her. Your not letting yourself forget that are you?" "I know she died, but that's not what I mean. It's just that.....sometimes it's as tho I never had a mother. That made me angry. I went into the house and brought out the picture of Margaret. "Here, the year you died, you were six. How can you forget?" "It's just a picture. I told you, you wouldn't understand." How could he forget about the mother he talked about and loved all his life. Then he started in on this trip. He didn't wanna go. He knew I couldn't leave him here alone. "Well I sure
wish I didn't have to go!" "The way your acting, so do I."
We rode out to meet the wagon train. I was to meet Andrew, the seller of the bull there. We camped for the night. I told Mark to stay close. He seemed pre-occupied. "Do you hear me?" He said he did. I wasn't to sure of how much he was really paying attention. I went to look for Andrew.
Mark could hear some singing in the background. He went to investigate. He came across a wagon with a lady singing by the name of Hazel and a bunch of cowboys hanging around her. As she was singing she noticed Mark standing there listening. She asked him his name and if he liked her singing. "I sure do!" She then asked him what he thought of her. "Well ma'am, I think your real pretty." The cowboys made fun. She pulled him up onto the wagon and gave him a sandwich. She started to tell him about a little.....b.....brother that would be about the age he was now. She told Mark that she would sing a song for him and her brother.. She chose to sing, 'oh, that we two were maying.' I was surprised to find Mark there. I went and got him off the wagon. That was no place for my boy. "Don't be such a bear pop, I didn't harm the boy." "That's not the point," I said. "He's a sweet friendly boy. I wish I could say the same for his Daddy." I took Mark and we went back to the camp. I told him I never wanted to see him in that kind of company again. "Pa, she was nice to me." I grabbed him by the arm, "I told you to stay here." "What's the matter with you Pa?" "I'm sorry, I guess it wa
s me I was hollering at." I told him it was time to turn in. "If you wake up thirsty, hold off until we leave camp. No tellin' if that water over there in that barrel is safe to drink or not. It could be polluted, ya' hear?" "Mark answered disgustingly, "sure." I didn't know that Mark woke up in the middle of the night and drank some water. But I would later find out.
Nils had stop by to take a look at our new bull. I had invited him and Pedro to stay for supper. I'd been busy with our company and I didn't notice Mark wasn't feeling well. We were at the dinner table when Mark reacted strangely to Nils putting more food on his plate. I grabbed him by the arm, he was burning up. I asked him if he had been out in the sun again with his shirt off. He told me his head hurt. I picked him up and took him to bed. He was burning up with the fever. He was delirious. I grabbed Nils, I wanted him to take a look at Mark. He felt he wasn't qualified. I was desperate. Doc Burrage was back east. When he refused I picked up my rifle. "I said do your best, I'll be responsible." "This won't not help your boy any," he said. He told me I should send for Dr. Hennkin. He said that he was the best medical man in the territory. I had planned on going for the doctor myself until Mark called out, "Pa, I'm cold." I then sent Pedro, Nils friend, for Dr, Hennkin. I told him not to show up in North Fork without the doctor. Again Mark called out, "Watch out, Pa. A big white runaway horse knocked you in the canyon. My insides hurt something awful, Pa."
By this time Hattie and Micah was here. Then the doctor came. He told me that nearly every major disease has it's own characteristic order. He told me my son had Typhoid fever. "Do you know anything about nursing?" The doctor asked Hattie. "No, but I'm a woman." She then took him in to Mark. Dr. Hennkin said he needed ice, tons of it, day & night. W
e had no ice, cold compresses would have to do. They weren't helping. They weren't staying cold enough to do any good. Micah remembered reading that the Romans sent runners to the mountains for ice to keep their beer cold. So he and Pedro headed for the mountains to get ice for Mark.
"Pa, the box canyon," yelled Mark. "Now you listen to me Mark. It's your father speaking. You have to quit this. You can't keep on this way, you hear me? Please don't die son, Please don't die," I wept. I couldn't take anymore, I broke down. I couldn't bear the thought of loosing him.
While Mark was out of it, he had this vision. He saw himself in a ravine. He is near a brook, surrounded by trees and marigolds. In his vision he met his mother. He wants to stay there with her. She insists he must go back with his father. Mark has to make the decision whether he wants to live or die.
"Ice, he needs more ice. Hennkin, bring something to wipe off this sweat. He's melting like a wax doll." I said. Hennkin came rushing in. "Sweat, blessed sweat. It dropith as the gentle ran from heaven," he said. He then left us alone. Just as he walked out into the other room Micah and Pedro came in with more ice. He chased them out. 
He yelled to them to bring his horse around. He had other customers to attend. Hattie was so relieved to find out that Mark was going to be ok that she cried. As he left he said to her, "The next time someone asks you if your a nurse tell them ya, tell 'em your a nurse."
I was by my boys side when he came to. "Well, hello Pa. I guess I've been a lot of trouble to you, huh?" "No son, no trouble." "Loose your razor?" "Well son, you see....." I couldn't talk anymore. I was filled with joy, my son was gonna be alright! All I wanted to do was hug my boy! I knew Margaret sent him back to me. She knew I needed him here with me.
