Jaimie, survives the drop, swims in the dark, to an island on the mighty stream and at daybreak, finds a log and floats down with the current and after many miles, to the western shore, he grasped firmly, gets entangled with lazy farmers, they need a slave, leaves secretly at night, and is picked up by vicious outlaws, becomes a captive along with another, an older, teenage girl, Jennie, witnesses murders, but both escape, he again.Reaching the bustling little town of Independence, Missouri, population 1,000, gateway to the West, the 'good doctor,' joyfully encounters his lost son, and regrettably the two bandits who abused Jaimie, they quickly skedaddle.

But the quest must go on, his wanderlust is too strong, the good doctor has his fantasies, they overpower his sense of duty, and common sense. The not short journey from the city to the Mississippi River, is uneventful, there the two take a paddle wheel boat to St.Louis, but the too curious Jaimie, never reaches it, falling overboard into the muddy, cold waters, his father searches on both sides of the wide river but no trace is found, presumed dead, he writes to his wife about the sad tragedy. The doctor is not only escaping unpaid bills, but a job he hates, tending to the sick, promising his wife, that he will soon come back a rich man, Melissa, is skeptical (they gather a small amount of money for the trip), she knows him too well. Sardius McPheeters, is a dreamer always chasing the elusive beautiful rainbow, but never quite fully grasping it in his hands, the gambler and imbiber of strong drinks, is a capable physician in Louisville, Kentucky, his family suffers though, but his creditors want their money.The time, during California's gold rush, the '49ers from all over the world are descending to the new territory, acquired by the recent war with Mexico, saying goodbye to practical wife Melissa, who very reluctantly gives permission, still the cholera epidemic here, encourages her to let him go, daughters Hannah, Mary stay and taking along their thirteen year old son Jaimie.

The travels of jaimie mcpheeters book