After the Storm
LHOP inspired fan fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos
Disclaimer: I do not own the Little House on the Prairie television series, book series, or any of the characters.
A few days after the storm, Laura joined her siblings in Pa’s sleigh, and they made their way into town. The horses stopped in front of the mill when Charles tugged on the reins. Laura, Albert, and Carrie climbed out.
“Have a good day,” he called to them as they walked towards the schoolhouse.
“We will,” they answered.
Laura spotted Almanzo tossing sacks of feed into Mr. Mayfield’s sleigh. She broke away from her siblings and walked to the platform, still damp from the snow piled into the corner. She waved to Mr. Mayfield as he drove off.
“Hi, Manly.”
“Morning, Beth.” He rubbed his gloved hands together. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Not very well,” she admitted.
“Me too.”
She was glad she wasn’t the only one. “We should probably talk about it some more.”
Almanzo’s eyes lit up. “Listen, Beth, I’m sorry I got mad. I hope ya know it’s only because I want to start planning our life together.”
If it were only so simple “Manly, I need you to understand, it took a lot for Pa to agree to let us get married next year. Once Pa gets something in his mind… well, let’s just say he’s very stubborn. I can’t run off after he’s made a sacrifice like that.”
His brow furrowed. “What about the sacrifice I made by knuckling under so your pa would be happy?”
She couldn’t believe her ears. Knuckling under is far from what happened. “What are you talking about?” She made a mental note to lower her voice. “You’re the one who said you didn’t care how long you had to wait.”
“I’ll wait,” said Almanzo, “but I ain’t happy about it.”
Laura’s hand went to her hip. “And you think I want to wait?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
The school bell interrupted their conversation.
“I have to go.”
Almanzo reached for her arm. She tensed under his grip and glared at him with eyes full of fire. “Beth, I just want us to be together.”
She sighed. How could she make him understand. “I want that too, Manly, but not at the risk of hurting my pa.” Laura felt trapped between the two men she loved most in the world. Why did she have to risk hurting one to make the other happy?
“Listen, I’m heading out to Sleepy Eye in an hour to pick up some supplies for Doc Baker. You want to have supper with me tomorrow night?”
“I’d like that.” She lifted up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “See you tomorrow, Manly.” She walked off but the hurt lingered. If he loved her, why couldn’t Almanzo just wait?
Later that night, snow fell in big white flakes. From inside the little house on Plum Creek, warm lights flickered in the front room. Laura peered out the window at the storm. Her thoughts were all about Almanzo. Was he safe and sheltered from the storm or was he out there — somewhere between Sleepy Eye and Walnut Grove — driving on the open prairie, fighting the elements, and hoping to make it home safely?
Caroline rubbed Laura’s shoulders. “He’ll be all right.”
Laura looked up at her with doubt-filled eyes. “I just wish I knew he was safe.”
“You must have faith, Laura.” Ma squeezed her arm. “Have faith that he’ll come home to you.”
Laura embraced her mother as tears fell down her cheeks. Caroline stroked her hair. “Let’s pray,” she said.
Laura nodded. She wiped away the tears. Holding tightly onto her mother’s hands, she admired her strength. Caroline smiled at her and the two women bowed their heads in prayer.
*
Almanzo squinted as snow pelted his face. The flame inside the lantern fought against the wind. Hopefully, it stayed lit. He was running out of matches.
“Whoa,” he shouted to his horses.
He pulled the muffler closer to his mouth and stepped out of the sleigh. The constant trips to remove ice from the horses’ noses made the journey home drag on even longer. He hoped he would find shelter soon. Once back under the covers, his mind wandered to Laura. What if he never got to hold her again?
*
Laura sat up in bed listening to the howling wind. Why hadn’t she agreed to run off and get married this weekend? Almanzo wouldn’t have been able to do that errand for Doc Baker if they had been away. If anything happened to him, it would be all her fault.
She got out of bed and opened the shutters. The snow fell faster than it had been earlier, and great gusts of winds swirled the mounds of snow into deep drifts. Sick with worry, she paced the floor. She had a vision of Almanzo traveling in his sleigh, struggling to find shelter on the vast prairie. Tears of remorse prickled her eyes.
Moments later, heavy footsteps climbed the ladder up to the loft she shared with her brother Albert. It used to be Mary and Laura in the loft, but after Mary went off to teach in Winoka, and the Ingalls family brought her stepbrother Albert to live with them, she was glad for his company upstairs. It made missing Mary easier to handle.
“All that worry won’t make him come home any faster,” Charles said.
Laura wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. “I can’t help it, Pa. What if he’s out in this?”
“Almanzo is a smart man.” Charles placed his hands on her shoulders. “If he was on his way home, I’m sure he’ll find shelter.”
“But what if he doesn’t?”
“Half-pint, do you believe Almanzo will do everything in his power to make it home to you?”
“Of course.” Deep in her heart she knew it was true.
“Then don’t doubt that he’ll do it.”
Laura smiled. Her pa had more faith in Almanzo than she did. “I love you, Pa,” she said as she embraced him.
“I love you, too. Now, try to get some sleep.”
*
“Dagburnit!” Almanzo cursed under his breath. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t budge his sleigh. Who knew how deep the drift was. He unhitched his Morgans and started walking. The lantern swayed in one hand as he tugged on the horses with the other. Almanzo shivered without the bear skins to keep him warm. He knew he had to find shelter soon.
*
It took Walnut Grove two days to dig out from the second storm in a week. Over three feet of snow had fallen, and people were just beginning to venture out of their homes to check on neighbors.
Charles and his family were huddled close in the sleigh. They weren’t sure if school would be open today, but they wanted to see how others had fared against the latest storm. They met Eliza Jane on the road.
“Miss Wilder,” said Charles, “Why isn’t Almanzo driving you into town this morning?”
The look of concern clear on her face, she glanced at Laura before answering. “He never made it back from Sleepy Eye. I suppose he stayed there instead of traveling during the storm.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” said Charles. “He probably wanted to wait until it was safe.” Charles glanced at Laura as she tightened her lips. “I wish I had room to offer you a ride,” he said to Eliza Jane.
“I’ll walk alongside you Pa,” said Albert.
She fluttered a gloved hand at him. “Oh, no, you can’t do that.”
“Really, Miss Wilder, I don’t mind.”
Albert crawled out, and the family made room for Eliza Jane to climb in.
“Thank you,” she said to Albert. “I was very cold.”
The Ingalls family and Miss Wilder headed into town. An anxious Laura gazed over at the Feed and Seed. She hoped Pa and Miss Wilder were right. The thought of losing Almanzo made her heart ache.
Another day passed without a sign of Almanzo. The men in town decided to form a search party. Doc Baker wanted to go along, but they convinced him to stay where he was needed the most — Walnut Grove. Laura had also begged to go, but her pa forbade it. Besides, Eliza Jane would need support, too. Laura planned to stay with her until the men came back. She knew nothing would convince her pa to let her go, so she packed a bag for the Wilder farm.
“Can I ride into town with you?” Laura asked Charles. “Miss Wilder and I will walk home together later.”
He nodded. “Sure, but you better hurry. I’m ready to go.”
Laura collected her books and a basket filled with food for her stay at the Wilders.
Caroline hugged Charles. “Be safe,” she whispered. “I hope you find him.”
Looking over at Laura, Charles nodded. “Me too.”
“If you need anything,” Caroline said to her daughter, “just stop by the restaurant.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
Laura waved at Caroline as the sleigh pulled onto the road — or at least where the road should be. They drove silently into town. Charles offered words of comfort and encouragement, but the only thing that would make her feel better was seeing Almanzo.
It felt strange standing in a group of men, hearing of how they would split up to look for Almanzo. It reminded her of when Mary and she were still in school. The teacher, Miss Beadle, had let the children out early for Christmas, but a swift moving blizzard blew through town and they, along with many of the other children, got lost on the way home. Thankfully, almost everyone made it back safely.
Laura thought she was dreaming as the muffled voices swirled around her head. She wished someone would wake her up from the nightmare. The men piled onto their horses when the faint sound of sleigh bells jingled through the air.
The ringing of the bells pierced Laura’s ears. She missed hearing Almanzo’s sleigh approaching her house the past few days. She glanced in the direction of the noise and saw a black sleigh pulled by a familiar set of horses.
“It can’t be,” she said to herself. As the sleigh drew closer, she was sure his Morgans were pulling that sleigh. Laura jumped out of her pa’s sleigh and ran.
“Half-pint!” yelled Charles.
The Morgans galloped as Laura came into view. Almanzo tugged the reins hard and jumped down to catch Laura in his arms.
“Oh, Manly,” she cried, the tears stinging her cold cheeks. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“It’s okay, Beth. I’m home now.”
He rocked her back and forth, as they held each other close. He kissed the top of her head, her cheeks, her lips. Oh, thank, God! she thought. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
Eliza Jane stepped out of the restaurant. “Almanzo,” she screamed and ran to join them.
Laura
stepped aside so he could hug his sister. She felt the strong hand of her pa on
her shoulder. “I told you all you needed
was a little faith,” he said.
*
Charles, Eliza Jane, Laura, and Almanzo sat at a table inside Nellie’s. The men from the search party were at the tables around them, chatting about how hard a winter they were in for. For the first time, Laura realized what tomorrow was.
“In all the excitement I forgot tomorrow was Christmas Eve,” she told them.
Almanzo sighed. “It sure is, Beth, but I’m afraid I didn’t get you a present yet.”
She clutched his hand. “Having you home safely is all the present I need.”
Almanzo leaned over and kissed Laura. She placed her head on his shoulder. It felt so good to be close to him again.
“You got any special plans for Christmas?” Charles asked the Wilders.
“I haven’t even put up a tree yet,” said Eliza Jane. “Almanzo and I usually decorate it together, so I figured I would wait for him to get home.”
“How about coming over to our place?” asked Charles. “We’ll sit down for supper about six o’clock tomorrow night. You’re welcome to join us after service on Christmas Day, too.”
The Wilder siblings looked at each other. “Oh, I don’t want to be a bother Mr. Ingalls,” said Eliza Jane.
“It’s no bother at all. Caroline always cooks plenty of food, and the two of you are almost family. What do you say?”
“Well, alright then,” said Almanzo. “We’d be happy to join you, Mr. Ingalls.”
Caroline strolled out of the kitchen to fill coffee cups. She beamed at Almanzo. “Anyone ready for more coffee?” she asked the group.
Charles held his cup out to her. “Thank you, darlin.”
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you’re all right, Almanzo,” said Caroline.
“He’s more than all right,” said Charles. “He’s celebrating Christmas with us. Eliza Jane will be there, too.”
“The more the merrier,” said Caroline. “What a blessed Christmas this will be.” Caroline shot a glance over at Laura. “I told you he’d be back,” her eyes seemed to say.
*
On Christmas Eve the Ingalls family and the Wilders sat in the front room of the little house on Plum Creek eating apple pie.
“Everything was wonderful, Mrs. Ingalls,” said Almanzo rubbing his stomach.
“You’re welcome to have another piece of pie,” Caroline replied.
“No, thank you. I don’t think I could eat another bite.”
“How could you?” asked Charles. “You had three helpings of supper and two pieces of pie.” Everyone laughed.
“Almanzo has always had a big appetite,” said Eliza Jane. “Mother used to say it was because he was a growing boy.” She sipped her tea. “I don’t know what his excuse is now though.” They all laughed again.
“My excuse is that I got stuck in a blizzard, had to drag me and my horses to shelter, and then repair my sleigh to make it home in time for Christmas.”
“You never told us what happened,” said Laura.
Almanzo shared his story of how he had started for home when the storm blew up, and how the Morgans got stuck in a drift, forcing him to abandon the sleigh and seek shelter in an old barn until morning.
“I sure was happy to stumble across that farmer and his family. They shared some food with me, and he helped me dig out my sleigh and repair the runner so I could get back home. I sure was worried Doc Baker would need those supplies before I got them here.”
Laura reached for his hand. “Probably not as worried as we were about what happened to you.”
Almanzo nodded. “God sure was looking out for me.”
“Amen,” said Caroline.
“It’s getting late, Sis. We should be heading home.”
“You’re right,” said Eliza Jane. “We still have a tree to put up.”
“Let me get you one more cup of coffee before you head out,” said Caroline.
Almanzo stood and pulled on his winter coat and hat. “I’m going to hitch up the team.”
Laura stood and pushed her chair in. “I’ll help you.” She heard the whispers from the rest of the group as they headed out the door.
*
Almanzo scolded Laura. “You should have stayed inside where it’s warm.”
“I never got the chance to give you a proper hello,” she said with a smirk.
A crooked smile covered his face as he pulled her close to him. “What kind of hello are we talking about?”
Laura cupped his head in her hands and drew him closer. Within inches of his face, she noticed fear flashing in his eyes before he broke away. “Is there something wrong?”
Almanzo swallowed hard before responding. “Ever since I became a man, I haven’t worried much about taking risks. It’s part of bein a farmer; you buy things on credit and hope next year’s crops pay off your debts. And, since I was on my own, I wasn’t hurting anybody.” He caressed her cheek. “But I’m not alone anymore. I told Doc Baker I would get those supplies without even asking your opinion.” He shook his head. “I was scared, Beth, real scared. Scared I was going to die without you knowing how much I love you.”
With tears glistening in her eyes, she embraced him. “I know you love me.”
“But we were angry at each other when I left. I hated knowing that.”
“Me too,” she admitted. “I wished I had agreed to run off and get married because then you wouldn’t have been in Sleepy Eye in the first place. I knew if anything happened to you, it would be all my fault.”
His brow furrowed. “It wasn’t your fault. Mr. Crowley told me a storm was coming, but I thought I would beat it home, just like that weekend when your pa told me not to take ya on that sleigh ride. I guess I’m just too stubborn for my own good.”
Laura laughed loud enough to get a neigh out of the horses. “I never noticed that about you.”
Almanzo tossed her a pretend scowl. “Very funny. I best hitch up these horses.”
Laura watched him work, but he seemed distracted. When he finished, he paused to pet Barnum. Laura felt sure he had something on his mind. “All set?” she asked as they walked toward the barn door.
He reached for her arm and brought her closer. “Laura, I never should have asked you to run off with me. I know how much you love your pa. I shouldn’t ask you to choose between us. Can you forgive me?”
“Oh, Manly,” she cried, collapsing into his arms. “I was going to tell you that I decided we should get married right away. I do love my pa, but I want to be your wife more than anything in the world.”
Almanzo chuckled. “Well, this is mighty strange ain’t it? It’s not that I want to wait, Beth, it’s just I don’t want to do anything to upset you or your pa.” He smiled at her. “So… we wait until August?”
“We’ll wait until August,” she said.
“All right then, how’s about one last kiss before we go inside?” Almanzo pulled her close and kissed her tenderly. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you, too.”
They strolled back to the house with their arms around each other. Laura was glad they had settled the question of when they would marry. It would be hard to wait, but there were lots of plans to keep them busy.
“This will be our first Christmas together,” said Laura.
“The first of many,” Almanzo said.
Laura imagined what it would be like on their wedding day. She would look up into his blue eyes and say, “I do.” They would be joined forever from that day forward. She would belong to him, and he to her. They would love one another for the rest of their lives. As they entered the little house on Plum Creek, she saw the two of them in her mind—much older—sitting by the fireplace rocking together. Oh! What a life they would live. And it had only just begun.
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