Chapter eleven

Healing

Carlos was in the hospital for several weeks but considering the extent of his injuries he healed very fast and very well.

Jake stayed in LaPaz and visited him everyday. Jake had taken Margarita and Maria back to the resort and had returned the Plane to the two Americans then returned to LaPaz by truck. The plane’s owner and his friend had been very easy to get along with. They had slapped Jake on the back and called him a hero. They didn’t even glance at the plane to check for damage they just kept asking if they could do anything more for Jake and his friends. When Jake assured them that all was well they quickly got in the plane and headed north.

Finally the day came when Jake and Carlos could come home. Carlos was still a bit shaky and week but insisted that he would get well faster at home. They had all day to make the trip so Jake figured to go real slow and easy. The slow part they had no choice about considering the road, the easy part was a whole different story.

They did make it back to Punta Tibaron just as the lights were being lit for the evening. Carlos was very tired and the strain of the trip marked his face but the sight of his children and his wife erased all signs of weariness from him. He did indeed heal better and faster in the company of his family.

Jake and Carlos spent many hours talking and watching the children while Carlos finished getting well. Jake had written to Old Horton and asked him to watch his boat and plane, he had arranged to have some of his clients taken on by other guides and others he had cancelled.

Jake spent another three months in Mexico, with help from Carlos’ father and oldest son he worked the boat as much as possible. There were many bills to pay and with Carlos and Enrique laid up there was no income from fishing or charter work. During the time that Jake spent helping out he and Margarita fell deeply in love. Jake was constantly amazed that such a thing had happened, he couldn’t believe that such a beautiful girl would see anything in him.

As for Margarita, she was amazed that she could feel love again. The death of her husband and child had left her sad and lost most of the time with no hope in her that these things could be different. Now with Jake she had a life and a future again.

Over the next twenty years Jake and Carlos raised their families together. They got to where they spent most of the summers in Alaska and most of the winters in Baja. They had many more adventures guiding hunts and big game fishing. Eventually their sons and daughters took over more of the business and the two old friends had more time to relax.

After many many happy years Jake quit going back to Alaska, the cold hurt his bones and he preferred to stay closer to Margarita’s family. Jake and Carlos made a habit of sitting on the veranda of the old cantina after dinner. There they would drink a beer, play cards and tell lies while they played with the children and watched the pretty girls walk by.