[BrianR]

My wife has two interesting stories about her progenitors. Names are witheld.

Male relative was a senior officer in the Mexican army, in charge of the payroll. His group was attacked, he was injured on his head, causing amnesia. He still managed to retain the money, and was nursed to health and eventual memory recovery by some women, who did not take the money. When he remembered what happened, he knew he couldn't go back or he'd be shot on sight, so he changed his name and fled to the US, thus establishing the family here.

Another came to Mexico with Maximilian. One day he saw a lovely Indian woman. He fell in love and simply rode up and grabbed her and took off with her.

Some of Mary's distant relatives lived through the Pancho Villa days. Those stories are still told. I''m told that sometimes women are still taken and gotten pregnant in lieu of marriage.

Interesting stuff, it's better when the loved one tells it.