New Story: Rosie Posie's First Christmas: LHOP Inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Rosie Posie’s First Christmas

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. 

This story uses Rose Wilder’s actual birthdate of December 5th, instead of the summer months, which is when she appears to be born in the show. It also assumes that Almanzo’s stroke featured on the show never happened and that their house wasn’t destroyed by a tornado. In real life, Almanzo suffered from complications of diphtheria when Rose was a toddler, which he struggled with the rest of his life.

Laura and Almanzo sat in their rocking chairs on either side of the fireplace. Rose lay in her cradle between them. After only a couple of weeks, the little girl had gained weight, and her red cheeks were now a rosy pink.

The new parents were as nervous as any two new parents could be, worrying they were doing everything wrong. But Laura had to admit that it seemed like Rose had always been with them. They couldn’t imagine life without their precious baby.

A Christmas tree strung with popcorn and cranberries sat in front of the window in the parlor that looked out over the yard. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and the Wilders discussed the possibility of going into town for Christmas service. Reverend Alden was in Walnut Grove this year, and Laura hadn’t left the house since Rose was born. 

“Beth,” said Almanzo, calling her by the nickname he christened her with soon after they met, “Are you sure it’s safe to take Rose out so soon?”

Laura smiled. “The fresh air will do us both some good.”

“What if she catches a cold?”

“We will bundle her up in her sweater set and wrap her in blankets.”

Almanzo’s face tightened. “I don’t know.”

“How about we wait until tomorrow to decide?”

Laura leaned over and scooped Rose out of her cradle so that she could nurse her before going to bed. She existed in a perpetual state of exhaustion because Rose would wake up several times a night to be fed or changed. But despite that tired feeling, Laura’s heart swelled with love every time she laid eyes on her.

A crooked smile lifted the corner of Almanzo’s lips. “I guess it was lucky your ma had two babies after you were born. Taking care of our little one must come natural to you.”

“Actually,” said Laura, “she had three babies after me.” She pursed her lips. She realized she had never told Manly about the brother who died not long after he was born.

Almanzo’s face clouded over in confusion. Laura didn’t answer right away. Unsure if she had the mental energy to talk about Freddie right now, she sat back in her rocking chair and lifted Rose onto her shoulder.

“A few months after we had settled in Walnut Grove, Ma got pregnant. We were all so excited about a new baby coming, especially Pa.” Laura swallowed the lump in her throat. “They named him Charles Frederick Ingalls.” She shook her head to shoo away the bad memories. “I thought he was the son Pa always wanted.” Tears stung her eyes as she recalled Pa’s joy over the birth of Freddie.

“Ma and Pa fawned over everything Freddie did.” Laura laughed. “Just like we fawn over every new thing Rose does.”

Manly’s blue eyes twinkled. She knew he was thrilled to have a baby in the house. Sometimes, she wondered why she put it off for so long. Nothing fulfilled her as much as being a mother, even her teaching.

The pain of her actions all those years ago suddenly gnawed at her. Laura hadn’t thought much about those days and weeks after Freddie’s passing in a long time. It seemed every day was filled with a mountain of never-ending chores that didn’t leave a person with much time to let their thoughts ramble. Not that she forgot about her little brother. At night, when the house was quiet and still, she wondered who he would have grown up to be. Would he have been a doctor like her adopted brother Albert planned to become? Maybe he would have run a general store like Mr. and Mrs. Oleson. Perhaps he would have been a farmer like Pa and Almanzo.

“What happened to him?” Almanzo’s question broke into her thoughts.

“A few weeks after Freddie was born, Pa and Ma called Doctor Baker out to the house. The baby wasn’t gaining weight, and he was getting weaker by the day. He didn’t know what to do, so they took Freddie to Mankato to see if the doctors there could help him.” Laura sniffled back the tears. “Only Ma and Pa came back home.”

Almanzo got out of his chair and kneeled by the side of Laura’s rocker. Taking her hand in his, he kissed the top of her hand. “I’m so sorry, Beth. That must have been so hard on all of you.”

She nodded. “It was. And then I made it worse for Ma and Pa by running away a few weeks later.”

Almanzo seemed uneager to interrupt her story with his questions, so she continued. “I blamed myself for Freddie’s death. They had asked Mary and me to pray that he would get better, but I was too jealous of all the time they were spending with him. I thought they didn’t care about me, and I refused to pray for Freddie.” That lump returned to her throat, and she struggled to swallow it down. “I was sure I had killed my little brother.”

She sighed. “Pa and Mr. Edwards searched for me for a long time.”

Almanzo wrinkled his forehead. “Mr. Edwards?”

Laura laughed as a vision of Mr. Edwards in his plaid shirt and brown hat filled her thoughts. “We first met Mr. Edwards when we lived in Kansas. He and Pa became best friends. We lost track of him after settling in Walnut Grove, but one day Pa saw him in Mankato and brought him home to see all of us. He stayed in town for a few years until he moved to California.”

Rose squirmed in Laura’s arms. “I think your daughter is hungry. I’m going to head upstairs. Give me little bit and then you can join us.”

After she nursed Rose and changed her diaper, Laura swaddled the baby and placed her in the cradle beside the bed. She slipped into her nightgown and unrolled her hair. By the time Almanzo opened the bedroom door, she sat on the edge of the bed brushing out her long tresses.

Manly held out his hand. “I can do that for you.” She passed over the brush, and Almanzo sat next to her on the bed. “So, where did you run away to?”

“The mountains.” Laura smiled at the memory. “Reverend Alden had told me that God listens to those who are closer to him. So, I thought he meant closer as in distance, not as in a deeper relationship with God.” She shrugged. “How much closer can you get to God from down here than a mountain?”

Almanzo chuckled. “Charles must have been thrilled when he found you.”

Laura’s heart squeezed as she recalled their happy reunion. “We talked it out, hugged, and cried. Let me tell you, I was never so happy to see my own bed again after that outing.” She lifted a hand to her mouth to cover her yawn. 

“You can turn down the lamp.” He stood and pulled his shirt off. “I can get undressed in the dark.” He kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” Right before the flame went out, he said, “Oh, how did your Pa find you?”

“I’m sure Jonathan had something to do with that.”

“Jonathan Garvey?” he said as she slipped under the covers next to her. She shook her head. “No, my personal guardian angel.”

Almanzo lifted his eyebrows as his eyes widened. “What?”

She yawned again. “I need to sleep while Rose is napping. I’m sure she will be up in a couple of hours. We can talk again in the morning.” She kissed him, rolled over, and closed her eyes.

After nursing Rose for the second time that night, Laura found herself somewhere between tired and already thinking about all she had to do. She tucked Rose into the crook of her arm and let the baby snooze while she thought about the pies she would bake to bring to her parents’ house tomorrow, the new sweater for Rose she needed to finish, and the soup she would make to go with the bread she baked yesterday so they would have a nice lunch.

Almanzo turned over, opening one eye to glance at Laura and Rose. He groaned.

“I’m sorry if I woke you,” she said.

“You didn’t. I just wasn’t ready to open my eyes yet.” He sat up. “We both have a busy day.”

Even though the sun wouldn’t be up for a couple of hours, Laura knew a farmer’s day always started early. “If you would like to hold your daughter,” she said, “I can get dressed so you can have breakfast before starting your chores.”

“Gladly.”

Though the baby didn’t wake when Laura placed her in Almanzo’s arms, he still spoke to her. “Good morning, little Rosie Posie.”

Laura looked upon them as she dressed. What is it about fathers and nicknames, she thought.

“Are you going to tell me about this guardian angel of yours?” asked Almanzo.

“Well, I had run away to the mountains. I didn’t even bring a coat. Shows you how prepared I was to spend the nights outdoors. When I finally reached the mountaintop, I prayed, telling God I would wait right there for his answer. At some point, I fell asleep. When I woke the next morning, I was covered with a coat and a there was a man named Jonathan there. For the entire time I stayed on the mountain awaiting God’s answer, he took care of me.”

“I still don’t understand how he helped your Pa find you.”

Rolling up her hair and straightening her skirt, Laura crooked her head at Manly. “I was getting to that. Jonathan carved me a cross with my name on it. One day, while I was washing in the stream that led downriver, the cross slipped off my neck. I was so disappointed when I lost it, but Pa showed it to me when he found me, saying that was how he knew where to go. It had floated miles downstream.”

Laura strolled over to the bed and picked Rose out of Almanzo’s arms so he could dress. By now, the little one had stirred and was ready for a change herself. Laying a blanket out on their bed, she put a fresh diaper on the baby while Almanzo got ready.

Tucking his shirt into his pants, Almanzo asked, “What did your pa say when he met Jonathan?”

A quizzical look adorned her face. “That’s the thing, Jonathan disappeared as soon as Pa found me.” She sat down on the bed. “At first, I was sad that Pa found me. God hadn’t answered my prayers. I asked for him to take me and bring Freddie back to Pa. So, when I saw Pa and Mr. Edwards climbing the mountain, I tried to run. But Jonathan caught me.

“He told me that God had answered my prayers, and that God wanted me to stay with Pa and Freddie to stay with him. When I asked him how he knew what God wanted, he said ‘He told me.’

“I didn’t understand that at first, but I was so happy to see Pa that I ran right to him.” Laura nibbled her bottom lip for a moment. “When I turned around, Jonathan was gone. All that was left was the lean-to we had built to keep us dry. Even the dove we had cared for while I was with him had suddenly disappeared.”

Almanzo didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Laura knew it sounded unreal. She wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t lived through it. But she knew it was true, and in all the years she thought about what happened on that mountain, the answer that kept coming back to her was that Jonathan was sent by God to take care of her, an angel of protection who left as soon as his job was done.

Manly caressed the furry down on Rose’s head, as he leaned over and kissed Laura’s cheek. “Sounds like a miracle that you were kept safe all that time and that a tiny wooden cross led Charles to you.”

Laura sighed. “It was.” She stood, knowing they had to get on with their chores. “I best go downstairs and get your breakfast ready, or we won’t make it to Christmas Eve service on time tonight.”

By the time they left to head into town, Beth and Manly’s home smelled of baked pies and fresh evergreen boughs. Snuggled under the blankets, Laura shifted along the wagon seat to get closer to Almanzo. Rose’s pink face was the only visible part of the child. Her new sweater set had a matching hat, and she was nestled in between several of her crib blankets.

Their breath came out as white puffs into the cold air and flurries of snow floated down, quickly disappearing as soon as they touched anything warm. They arrived at church just as the bells finished ringing.

Almanzo and Laura slid onto a bench in front of her siblings, who sat in front of their parents. Their family had grown through the years. Though her older sister, Mary, now lived in New York with her husband, Laura felt blessed to have Ma and Pa, Carrie, Grace, Albert, Cassandra, and James in Walnut Grove with them.

After Reverend Alden concluded their Christmas Eve service with a prayer, the congregation sang, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,”

Once they were dismissed, everyone crowded around Laura and Rose.

“Such a healthy little girl,” said Doc Baker.

“I’ve never seen such a sweet baby, Laura,” said Mrs. Foster.

Even Mrs. Oleson cooed at the newest resident of Walnut Grove until her son Willie asked, “When do we eat? I’m starving!”

The room filled with laughter by the time Mrs. Oleson said, “Oh, Willie,” with a smile on her face.

As the crowd dwindled, Laura watched while Reverend Alden tucked his podium away and picked up Bibles so that the room would be ready for school at the beginning of the week.

“You ready to go, Beth?” asked Almanzo.

“In a minute.” Laura strolled up to the front of the room with Rose in her arms. “Reverend Alden?”

The minister of Walnut Grove flashed her the same wide smile she had seen since her family moved into town when she was just a little girl.

“Why, Laura, look at you. You’re beaming. And I bet this blessed little one has something to do with that.”

Laura felt the heat of a blush on her cheeks. “It is definitely a special Christmas this year. I was wondering if you might say a prayer of protection over Rose.”

Reverend Alden raised his eyebrows. Suddenly, this seemed like an odd request. Why should she be worried about something happening to Rose? Hadn’t Doc Baker just said she was a healthy child? But all this talk about her baby brother struck a nerve. She didn’t fear something awful would happen to Rose, but hadn’t Freddie seemed fine the first few weeks after his birth? What had changed? Why did it change? Could something like that occur again?

As if he could sense her concerns, Reverend Alden cupped Rose’s head in one of his hands and offered Laura a reassuring smile before he closed his eyes. “Dear Lord, we ask for your protection over baby Rose Wilder. We ask that she grow up to be healthy and strong, learning to live a righteous life that pleases you. And, Lord, we ask you to bless her parents, Laura and Almanzo, as they tend to her physical and spiritual wellbeing. Guide their decisions and bring them the peace of mind that only you can give. Amen.”

Laura whispered, “Amen,” and immediately felt a sense of comfort and peace wash over her. “Thank you so much, Reverend Alden.”

When Laura was once again seated in the wagon next to Almanzo, cozy underneath the blankets, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Are you tired?” asked Manly.

“A bit,” she said.

“Are you okay?”

She silently recited the prayer that Reverend Alden had spoke over Rose. “Yes. It’s just all this talk of Freddie reminded me how precious life is. I feel better knowing that Reverend Alden is praying for Rose.”

Almanzo lifted her chin with one of his gloved hands. “I’m sure your parents will understand if you want to stay home for Christmas.”

Laura shook her head. “It will be good to spend Rose’s first Christmas with our family. But after that, I would prefer to stick around the house until warmer weather arrives. My family can always come to our house to visit. I don’t mind cooking, and Ma is always a big help. And I’m really looking forward to us being a family of three this winter.”

“That sounds just fine by me.” Almanzo flashed her a crooked smile.

By the time Laura had changed Rose’s diaper and Almanzo and she had slipped into their nightclothes, the clock on her dresser read 11:55. No wonder she felt exhausted. Laura crawled under the covers with Almanzo, who cuddled Rose. She would need to nurse her one last time before putting her into her cradle, hopefully to sleep for the rest of the night.

After handing Rose to Laura, Almanzo grabbed his Bible off his nightstand. Laura nursed while he read the Christmas story again. What a blessed miracle, she thought. Christ come to earth; the promise of a Savior fulfilled.

Rose drifted off to sleep as she suckled. Almanzo turned down the lamp, leaving just enough light for Laura to see when it was time to put the baby into her cradle. And that’s when they saw it, a bright star through their bedroom window. How odd, thought Laura. The sky was cloudy earlier. And yet, there it was, one star shining brighter than all the others, reminding Laura of the star that led the Wise Men to find Jesus.

Laura and Almanzo glanced at each other and back to the star. “We are blessed,” she said.

The clock chimed the hour. A new day had begun.

“Merry Christmas, Manly.”

“Merry Christmas, Beth.” Laura glanced at the sleeping baby in her arms. “Merry Christmas, Rose.” 

Almanzo leaned over to kiss one of Rose’s tiny hands. “Merry Christmas, Rosie Posie.”

We are blessed, Laura said again to herself. What a wonderful year this will be!

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved

My Most Popular LHOP Fan Fiction Stories

 

A decades-long love of Little House on the Prairie has led to me writing more than 70 fan fiction stories based upon Laura's life and the show--mostly the latter. You can check out all of them on my Fanfiction.net page here. Please be sure to check story ratings first. 

Of the stories I have posted at Laura's Little Houses, these are some of the most popular:

"The Robe" - Laura returns  Manly's robe after she gets into a fight with Nellie - 1259 views

"The Aftermath of Annabelle" - Almanzo confronts Laura about her behavior at the circus - 899 views

"He's Not the Right Man" - Laura is angry when Miss Wilder suggests Perley Day is a more appropriate suitor for her than Almanzo - 806 views

"The Trials of Fatherhood" - Charles struggles with Laura and Almanzo's relationship - 581 views

"Feelings" - Almanzo is angry that Bart Slater's uncontrolled behavior leads to Eliza Jane and him leaving Walnut Grove - 458 views

Have you read any of these? Which of my fan fiction stories is your favorite? What or who would you like to see more of in my fan fiction stories? 

After the Storm: LHOP Inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

 

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. 

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved

It’s Hard for Me to Say I’m Sorry: LHOP inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

It’s Hard for Me to Say I’m Sorry

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. 

 

Laura felt ashamed.  All Manly tried to do was show enthusiasm over wanting children, and she had blasted him. Terse words flew from her mouth, reminding him she wanted to teach two more years before they started a family. 

 It bothered Laura all day long, but the intense guilt crippled her attempts at apologizing.  Almanzo had been busy anyway.  They were preparing for the arrival of Almanzo’s older brother Royal and his family who were stopping in Walnut Grove for a short visit before leaving on a holiday. 

“Honey, I’m home.”  She heard her husband’s voice through the house.

“Up here,” she shouted back.

Almanzo’s boots thumped up the stairs.  “Still cleaning?” he asked as he entered.

 "I’m almost done.  Did you get everything we need from the Mercantile?”

“Yeah.  We’re all set."

“Good.  I think I’ll make an extra apple pie and some biscuits tonight.”

 Laura’s feet left the floor as Almanzo scooped her up in his arms.  “I love your apple pie,” he said, kissing her tenderly.

"It’s not for you.  It’s for Royal and Millie.”

 Almanzo’s lips brushed against hers. “Can't I have some now?”

She pushed him away.  “You’re impossible.  Now get out of here and let me get my work done.”

 He shuffled out of the room like a naughty child who had been scolded, his head hung low.  He glanced back at Laura with sad eyes. Great, now I feel even worse, she said to herself.

 Almanzo went to bed before her. Supper had been a silent affair and Laura’s pangs of guilt tugged at her heart. Why didn’t she just apologize and get it over with?

 She turned down the lamps in the parlor and wandered upstairs. Almanzo sat in bed reading the newspaper. He looked up for a moment, but said nothing. She unrolled her hair and brushed it out, looking through her mirror every few seconds to see if he was watching her. She snuck behind the screen to change into her nightgown and sighed before slipping under the sheets next to her husband.

 Thinking a book might calm her mind she picked one off the nightstand. After a few seconds she slammed it down on the quilt.  "Oh for goodness' sake!”

“What’s wrong?” asked Almanzo.

 “Me, that’s what’s wrong.”  A look of confusion clear on is face, Laura took his hand in hers. “I’m sorry about this morning. I never should have spoken to you that way. I know you want children, but I…”

 Almanzo put a finger up to her lips. “I’m the one who should be sorry.  I know how you feel about it.  I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

 Now she felt horrible--not only did he understand, he took the blame. “I appreciate that Manly, but I shouldn’t have gotten so angry.  It’s just that I worked really hard for my teaching certificate, and I want to get some use out of it.”

 “The extra money doesn’t hurt either.” 

Laura nodded. “There is one other thing. I know it’s silly and selfish, but I…I like it being just the two of us. Now that I’m married, I can’t imagine how Ma and Pa managed to get any privacy.  One of us was always running to them with our problems.”  A huge sigh escaped from her lips.  “I’m not sure I’m ready to share you yet.” 

Lowering her head, she feared what he might think of her.  Almanzo rolled onto his side and snuggled in close. Lifting her chin he gazed into her big brown eyes and smiled the crooked smile that always melted her heart.

“You know, that’s kind of how I feel about your teaching. It’s like I have to share you with a bunch of kids and their parents all the time. Each night you grade papers and plan lessons. Sometimes, I come home and just want to kiss you, but there’s a student at our kitchen table and I have to behave.”

 Laura’s eyes widened. “Really?” He nodded. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“Because, like you said, it's selfish. I want you all to myself once you're home.”

She never realized how it must be for him. Laura leaned over and peeked his cheek. "I want you all to myself, too," she teased.  

Almanzo grinned. "I'll always be yours."

She giggled. Now that the issue between them was settled, she would reschedule her tutoring for tomorrow so that she could spend more time with him tomorrow evening. Maybe they could have an early supper and go for a short ride by the lake. She snuggled into the sheets once he turned down the lamp.

The night flowed through to the next morning. Laura rolled over and saw Almanzo sleeping soundly.  She stared at him for a few moments, his wavy blond hair catching the first glints of sunlight peeking through the curtains. She knew one day their house would be filled with the laughter of children, but for now she was content with listening to his steady breathing and knowing he belonged only to her.

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

A Father's Heart: LHOP inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

 

A Father’s Heart

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.

 

            Charles peered through the front window, frost clinging to the edges of the window pane. Laura, Carrie, Albert, and Almanzo chased each other around the yard, scooping up handfuls of heavy, wet snow and hurling them at each other. 

            A vision of a young Half-pint, braids bouncing beneath her woolen cap as she ran around the front yard in the snow with her sisters flashed through Charles’s mind.  Where had the time gone? 

            Caroline’s gentle hand cupped his shoulder. “Seems like only yesterday Mary, Laura, and Carrie were having snowball fights of their own.” Her breath tickled his ear. 

            “Are you reading my mind again, Mrs. Ingalls?” 

            Caroline’s arms encircled his waist and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “No, just your face, Mr. Ingalls.” 

            Outside, Almanzo caught up with Laura, who had just nailed his shoulder with a large snowball that splattered across the back of his coat. He grabbed her around the middle and pulled her into him, her giggles filtering through the glass into the house. Almanzo nuzzled her neck and her arms wrapped around him as she turned sideways for a kiss. 

            Charles’s heart ached as he watched them. They reminded him of many years ago when he and Caroline had been a young couple in love. But, more than that, he realized at this time next year Laura would no longer live in the little house on Plum Creek. She would celebrate her first Christmas with her new husband in a little house of her own. He sighed. 

            Caroline’s arms squeezed around his middle. “It will be strange without her.” 

            Charles nodded. “We learned to do it with Mary, and we’ll get used to Half-pint being gone too.” Caroline lifted her head and gazed at his profile, one corner of her mouth pulling into a smirk. “Though it might take a bit longer this time.” 

            Charles turned to face his wife. “At least I still have my favorite lady.” His lips captured hers for a tender moment. 

            “Laura chose a wonderful man… just like I did.” 

            Charles couldn’t argue with that. It surprised him how much he warmed up to Almanzo since Laura’s engagement. After all the help Almanzo had given Mary and Adam with the blind school, risking his own life to help out a family he owed nothing to, Charles was certain there was no man in Walnut Grove he would rather have as Laura’s husband. 

            The front door flew open and four giggling, breathless people marched inside, the ruckus waking Grace from her nap.

           “Warm yourselves by the fire,” said Caroline before disappearing into the bedroom. 

            Charles watched Almanzo help Laura out of her winter coat before removing his own things. “There’s some coffee on the stove.” 

            “Thank ya, sir.” Almanzo strolled into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee for Laura and himself. 

            “Hey Laura,” Albert poked his sister’s side, “is Almanzo going to wait on you in your home too?” 

            “Don’t talk about Laura leaving,” Carrie whimpered from where she stood in front of the fireplace, rubbing warmth back into her hands. 

            Laura ran to her sister and hugged her tightly. “Oh, Carrie, it will be all right.” Laura rocked her sister back and forth. 

            Almanzo’s boots clomped across the floor. “Laura’s right.” Carrie’s tear-streaked face glanced up at him. “We’ll be living right outside town, and we’ll probably be here all the time.” 

            “Oh great! Just when I thought I would be getting some peace and quiet up in the loft.” Albert smiled at his sister, but Charles saw the sadness hiding in his eyes. 

            Albert and Laura had been nearly inseparable since the Ingalls family moved back to Walnut Grove. Having left town when times were tough and settling in Winoka, in Dakota Territory, the Ingalls family had stumbled upon Albert, an orphan living on the streets. The boy had instantly won their hearts. When the Ingalls family packed up to return home, they asked Albert to come with them. 

            Adopting Albert had legally secured his place in the Ingalls family, but even without the adoption, he was like their flesh and blood. Laura and he couldn’t have been closer if they truly were brother and sister. 

            Laura planted a hand on one hip. “You best remember who grades your papers little brother.” 

            “How can you call him your little brother when he’s taller than you?” asked Carrie. 

            The room erupted with laughter as Caroline entered the room with Grace leaning against her hip. 

            Caroline placed Grace in her highchair while the others pulled out chairs to sit down at the table. “Dinner is almost ready.” She strolled to the stove and lifted the cover of the pot. Breathing in deeply, she smiled and then stirred the contents with a spoon. 

            Carrie sat down opposite Laura, her eyes still blinking back the tears that swam in her eyes. Laura reached across the table. Carrie’s outstretched arms met her halfway and Laura squeezed her sister’s hands. 

            “Once we’re settled in the new place,” said Laura, “you can come over as often as you like.” 

            “Really?” 

            “Sure. You can even sleep over… as long as it’s okay with Ma and Pa.” 

            Carrie’s eyes widened and her smile revealed a mouth with a few missing teeth. “I’d like that.” 

            Charles rapped his knuckles on the table. “If you ladies are done talking about leaving, I’m starving.” 

            They giggled.  “Sorry, Pa.” 

            His eyes twinkled and he cast a wink in Laura’s direction, but shifted in his seat, the pain of Laura’s imminent departure still tugging at his heart. 

            Caroline placed the last plate of food on the table and sat down. The chatter stopped and everyone bowed their heads. As Charles began to thank the Lord for the bounty of food, he risked a glance at his beloved daughter and her betrothed. They had such dreams and plans that he couldn’t help but be taken in by all the excitement, but he knew it would be hard to let her go, even to a man who had earned his admiration and respect. 

            Before ending his prayer, Charles paused for a moment to silently ask the Lord to give him strength as Laura graduated from daughter to wife; just as he prayed for the courage to leave Mary behind in Winoka, where he would no longer be able to protect her. Caroline and he had prepared their daughters well, but that did not ease his desire to keep Laura from all the heartbreaks he knew would come to her as a farmer’s wife. 

            Caroline’s gentle smile met his face, as if, again, she knew his thoughts. “They’ll be fine,” her eyes seem to say. 

            Charles swallowed away the lump that had formed in his throat. “Amen.” 

            The conversation immediately picked up where it had left off and plates passed around the table. Charles’s heart swelled with pride when his eyes took in his family and Almanzo, who sat between him and Laura. He had gotten used to seeing Almanzo around the dinner table, and the nights the young man wasn’t with them, Charles felt something wasn’t quite right, as if the family could no longer be complete without him. 

            Charles said one more silent prayer before digging into his plate of food. Thank you, Lord, for blessing Laura with such a special man. Amen.

 

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

A Sister's Advice: LHOP inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

 

A Sister’s Advice

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.

 

            Almanzo’s packed belongings sat at the edge of his bed. One bag and one knapsack to carry with him to his new life in Sleepy Eye. He would stop by Laura’s house this morning before school to talk to her.

            Eliza Jane had been quiet at supper last night. They grew up together. They had never lived apart. When she left home to accept the teaching position in Walnut Grove, he offered to go with her. As hard as it was to leave his parents all alone in Spring Valley, as the second oldest son, he had a responsibility to make sure she stayed safe. Royal married years ago, and with Perley Day’s whereabouts unknown, Almanzo filled his wagon with household items and provisions, and made the drive to his new home with Eliza Jane.

            Part of him struggled with his need for independence versus his need to care for his sister, but seeing Mr. Ingalls in town every day and sitting across the aisle from him at church on Sunday mornings, pretending he agreed with Mr. Ingalls’s decision that Laura and he must wait two years to marry, pushed him forward. He made plans for Ned Turner to help with the farm while he was away, so at least Eliza Jane wouldn’t have to worry about managing all the chores by herself.

            Almanzo’s boots thudded on the stairs as he marched down to the kitchen for breakfast. He doubted his sister would allow him to go without a lecture, but he had made up his mind. He wanted a future with Laura, and her overprotective father stood in the way of their happiness.

            “Good morning, Sis.” He caught how she glanced out of the corner of her eye at him as she stirred scrambled eggs in a cast iron pan.

            Eliza Jane poured him a cup of coffee and handed it to him. “Good morning, Mannie. Sleep well.”

            What is she up to? He knew his sister well enough to know that the temporary shock of last night’s announcement had worn off. She would have plenty to say.

            He shrugged. “Not really, but I have a lot on my mind.”

            “I’m sure you do.” Eliza Jane slid a plate of ham and eggs in front of his seat at the table and sat down at her seat opposite him. She looked over the rim of her glasses. “Are you still planning on leaving this morning?”

            He nodded. “Yes. I’ll head over to Laura’s place after I drop you off in town. Shouldn’t take her long to pack up. Then we’ll head out to Sleepy Eye.” He shoveled a large forkful of food into his mouth, which he washed down with a swig of coffee.

            Eliza Jane crossed her arms and leaned them on the table’s edge. “What makes you think Laura will go with you?”

            Almanzo stopped his fork mid-air, his mouth remaining open. “What do you mean?”

            “She has a lot to consider, you know.” Eliza Jane slid her mostly full plate aside. “Without warning you’re going to ask her to pick up her life and move to Sleepy Eye? What about her teaching? What about her family?”

            His sister’s lecture quickly got annoying. Beth would go with him. Hadn’t she been in love with him forever? Didn’t she immediately say yes when he asked her to marry him?

            “Sis, we are only moving to Sleepy Eye, not Boston.” One corner of his mouth lifted, creating a crooked smile. “We can come visit once we get settled.”

            Eliza Jane pursed her lips as he spoke. She stood straighter in her seat, like she did when she made a point to a student. “Mannie, you know I want what’s best for you. I always have.” She lowered her gaze and smiled. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciated you coming with me to Walnut Grove when I accepted this job. I’m sure a single young man had other things in mind for his life, but you chose to live here.”

            She reached across the table and clutched his hand. “While I am thankful, I never would have asked you to pick up everything and move here with me.” Eliza Jane shook her head. “You’re not giving Laura any choice. She loves you, and if she wants to be with you, she must leave the place she has called home for years and leave behind her family. Are you sure you want to ask that of her?”

            Almanzo pushed his seat back and stood. The heat of his anger rose to create a ring of sweat around his shirt collar. “You don’t understand, Sis. How am I supposed to face Mr. Ingalls every day and pretend that we agree when we don’t? How is Beth supposed to feel about me as a husband if I can’t stand up and fight for what we want?”

            He stormed off to the kitchen and dropped his plate and cup in the sink. When he turned around, his red-headed sister stood in the kitchen doorway. Tall and slender, her eyeglasses made her appear older than she was. The red, black, and white plaid dress she often wore to school didn’t help. Growing up in Malone, she used to be so fashionable.

            Maybe if she ever had a beau, she would know what it’s like to be in love and to want to spend your life with a person so much it almost hurts to spend days apart. Painfully shy, Eliza Jane felt most comfortable around her students.

            “Almanzo, all I am saying is that if you fight for what you want, you should be sure Laura wants the same thing. This could go horribly wrong, and I don’t want to see you hurt.”

            Almanzo’s shoulders drooped. How could he stay angry with the sister he had looked up to all his life? He strolled over and hugged her. “It will work out, Eliza Jane.”

            The clock chimed seven times. “I best get Barnum and Skip hitched up. Can’t have the teacher being late for school.”

            Almanzo plunked his hat on his head and marched out to the barn. As he hitched up his Morgans, he thought more on what his sister said. Could she be right? Would Laura choose her pa over me? He shook those thoughts from his mind. Laura loved him and he loved her. His plan would work out fine.

          

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

Together Again: LHOP inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Together Again

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.


Laura strolled through the open door to the barn and found Pa pulling the harness off the wall.

“Thought you were heading over to Almanzo’s this morning, Half-pint.” Charles marched toward her, harness in hand. He smiled at Laura and motioned for her to follow him to the wagon. “I wish I could ride you over to Almanzo’s,” he said, adjusting the harness. “But I’m heading in the opposite direction.”

She shrugged, not feeling in any great hurry to get there. “That’s okay. I don’t mind walking.” She put down her books and dinner pail in the bed of the wagon.

Laura watched him work, staring as if she had never seen him hitch up the team before. Charles looked up at her a few times, but mostly his eyes focused on his work. When he came around to the other side of the wagon, he stopped and rested his hand against the front wheel.

“Something on your mind, Half-pint?”

Laura lowered her gaze to her fingers that nervously fumbled with the string of her bag. “I saw you talking to Almanzo last night.”

“U-huh.”

“Well…uh…” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “You seemed happy.”

Charles nodded. “I am. The boy just recovered from a serious illness.”

Laura’s hands traveled to her hips and she shifted all her weight onto her left leg. Doesn’t he remember what Almanzo did to me? Her mouth creased into a frown. “Aren’t you angry for what he did?”

Charles’s eyebrows rose and fell as he nodded. “Oh, that’s what this is all about.”

Laura’s eyes widened. “What?” She saw the smile coming before it appeared on his face.

“You think I should hold what he did against him.”

She titled her chin downward  “No,” she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper. Is it awful that I hoped Pa could understand?

Charles placed one hand on each of her shoulders and stared the kind of stare that only a father about to impart years of wisdom and life experience could give. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead and she was certain she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.

“Half-pint, Almanzo made a mistake. He let his anger get the best of him, and he allowed that anger to guide him in making a decision.” He shrugged. “He probably realized it almost as soon as he got to Sleepy Eye.”

Laura sighed. Why are men so difficult to understand? “Then why didn’t he come right home?”

Charles’s chuckle made Laura’s anger bubbled up inside her. There was nothing funny in all of this. How could he be so insensitive to her feelings?

“Why didn’t you go apologize to Almanzo after he ate that cinnamon chicken like your ma told you to?”

He just had to bring that up. As if apologizing to Almanzo wasn’t enough, it reminded her of how long it took her to convince Almanzo she wasn’t a little girl, and how he threw it right back in her face when she refused to run away with him.

Charles’s firm grip clasped both her arms. “Because you were embarrassed and not ready to admit your mistake. Right?”

His words pounded through her head as she tried to block them out. Almanzo had hurt her. Naturally, she felt angry. Laura nodded, but couldn’t meet her father’s gaze.

“Half-pint, I’m not saying I like what Almanzo did.” He lifted her chin so she was forced to look him in the eye. “I’m just saying that I understand why he did it.”

She nodded halfheartedly and then gazed out over the field behind the house. “I have to get over to Manly’s.” Her voice ragged from containing her emotions, she cleared her throat before picking her books and dinner pail.

Charles caressed her hair and smiled before Laura turned around and headed down the road to the Wilder farm.

*

Laura collapsed onto her bed in an exhausted heap as soon as she slid her nightgown over her head. She couldn’t remember the last time she worked so hard.

After cleaning out the stables and feeding the stock at Almanzo’s, she taught classes during the afternoon while Miss Wilder graded papers. Then she walked back to the Wilder farm for afternoon chores followed by homework after supper. Every muscle ached. How will I get up tomorrow morning?

It seemed like only moments had passed when the sun snuck in through the cracks in the shutters and teased her eyelids open. Stretching and yawning, Laura dressed and fixed her hair. She heard the clattering of Ma’s pans at the cook stove and raced down the ladder so she could talk to her for a few minutes before her siblings awoke.

“Good morning, Laura.” Caroline’s radiant smile already beamed on her face. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

Laura shook her head. “I needed to get up anyway.” She grabbed her apron from the peg next to where her Ma’s apron hung when not in use. Tying it around her waist, she walked to the cupboard to remove the plates.

“Where’s Pa?” she asked, entering the kitchen with the stack of plates and putting them down on the table next to the stove.

Caroline cracked one egg after the other on the rim of a glass bowl before pulling apart the shells with one hand and stirring a pot of oats with the other. “In the barn.”

Laura wandered into the other room and pulled the cups out of the cupboard and placed one in front of each seat at the table. “Ma?” she called with a sense of timidity. A “yes” floated through the doorway between the kitchen and the front room. “How did you feel when Pa left the Big Woods and you didn’t know where he was?”

For a few seconds, all Laura heard was a flurry of activity in the kitchen. She strolled to the doorway and leaned against the jamb. Laura watched the precision with which her mother worked. Caroline would have everything on the table together, steaming hot, by the time Pa came back from the barn, just like every morning.

“Hurt and angry.” Caroline answered. “Sometimes more one than the other.” Caroline poured the beaten eggs into a heated pan and waited for the edge to form along the sides of the pan before scraping the eggs together.

Laura moved to stir the pot of bubbling oats. Caroline glanced at her with a raised eyebrow that seemed to tell Laura to move out of the way. Laura stepped back to the front room and brought down the container of molasses to sweeten the oatmeal. Placing it in the middle of the table, she searched for something else to do. Peeking into the kitchen, she saw that Caroline, as always, had everything under control. So, she decided staying out of the way was probably her best plan of action…especially if she wanted Ma’s advice.

“Did you forgive Pa right away?” Laura hoped she knew the correct answer to this question. It would be horrible if no one understood how she felt about Almanzo abandoning her.

“Yes, I forgave him.” Laura’s heart fell. “But it wasn’t easy to forget what he did.”

Finally! Laura straightened as her confidence grew. “What did you do?”

Caroline moved the frying pan full of eggs away from the heat and covered it to keep the food warm. Then she did the same with the pot of oatmeal. Wiping her hands off on her apron, she sat down at the table and motioned for Laura to join her.

“By the time your pa came back, I already knew I wanted to spend my life with him. You see, unlike you, I wasn’t so sure about getting married. I knew your pa wanted to move west, and that meant no schools and no churches.”

Caroline folded her arms in front of her and leaned them on the table. Laura always enjoyed hearing stories of Ma’s and Pa’s younger days before they were married. The stories helped Laura imagine Ma and Pa as children, and when Ma spoke of their courtship, it allowed Laura to see that maybe they went through some of the same things she and Almanzo did.

“It also meant more of a risk to our safety, and I wasn’t ready for that. That caused most of our arguments.”

Caroline smiled and gazed wistfully around her. “But as soon as I realized how much I loved your pa, none of that mattered. What did trouble me,” she pointed a finger on the table’s surface, “was that he had left me, and I never knew if he planned to return. I wasn’t sure if I could put that aside.”

Tears formed in the corners of Laura’s eyes. She knew exactly how Ma must have felt. Why do men do such things? “Ma, I love Almanzo.”

Caroline slid her hand across the table and laid it over Laura’s. “I know you do.”

“But it seemed like I didn’t even matter to him when he took off for Sleepy Eye. He tossed away the plans we had made just because he didn’t get his way. I know he hurt, too, but how do I know he’ll never leave again?”

“There aren’t any guarantees in life, Laura.”

Tears slid down Laura’s cheeks and Caroline leaned over the table to embrace her. She tucked a tendril of hair that had escaped her bun behind Laura’s ear.

“Almanzo made a hasty decision and, because of that, you got hurt; but I think the fact that he helped Mary and Adam with the blind school shows how important you are to him.”

Laura heard rustling upstairs and knew Albert would be down soon. Caroline stood up and Laura followed her into the kitchen.

Caroline scooped eggs onto a plate and plunked a piece of the corn bread she had made yesterday next to them. “Now you’re going to have to decide which is greater—your love for Almanzo or your fear of getting hurt.”

“Oh, Ma. What should I do?” Desperation clung to her words as she gazed with pleading eyes at her mother.

Caroline handed her a plate of food to carry to the table. “That’s a decision only you can make.”

*

The Wilder farm came into view and Laura slowed her pace. The barn door hung open, and as she entered the yard she could see a tall, lean figure raking out a stall. His joyful whistling blended into the animal noises surrounding him.

“Trying to teach the animals to sing?” Laura teased from the doorway.

His head spun around and he smiled. “You wanna give it a try?”

A laughed escaped her lips and she shook her head. “I think I’ll leave that for you.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What are you doing?”

He shrugged as if she had asked a ridiculous question. “Looked like you were running late, so I started without ya.”

“Almanzo Wilder.” Her tapping foot swirled dirt around her feet. “Your doctor ordered no farm work for a week, and I intend to see that you follow those orders.”

His crooked smile crept across his face. She always loved that smile. Sometimes it meant he was being mischievous and other times it hid his embarrassment. This time it definitely meant the former.

“And just how do you plan on doing that?”

The heat rose up her cheeks, turning them red. “I’m serious, Almanzo. I almost lost you. I won’t let that happen again.”

As she spoke, he slowly closed the gap between them. Pulling off his work gloves, he reached up and caressed her cheek. “That does sound serious.”

His sudden closeness left her senses reeling. Her chest tightened, breathing suddenly hard. She tried to moisten her lips, but her mouth was as dry as a shriveled plant left to burn in the sun.

Laura swallowed away the lump in her throat. “Manly, please.”

His blue eyes remained steady, staring deeply into hers. They seemed frozen there, standing in Almanzo’s barn, reading one another’s hearts. When at last he broke the silence, his voice sounded raspy and barely a whisper.

“Just for you.” He cupped her chin and leaned down to place a lingering kiss on her lips.

He leaned the rake against the barn wall and tossed his gloves down on the shelf. Without another word he walked out of the barn toward the house. Laura watched his long, thin body moving almost as smoothly as normal. If she hadn’t seen his left leg wobbling as he climbed the porch steps, she would have sworn he had never been sick. Is he being strong for me?

*

When Laura entered the dining room searching for Almanzo, she found a cup of steaming tea waiting for her on the table. Had he been watching from the window? Almanzo appeared in the doorway leading from the dining room into the kitchen.

“Why don’t you sit down and relax a minute before heading off to school?”

Laura pulled out the chair in front of the cup of tea and sat down.

“Mind if I join you?”

She motioned to the chair to her right as she sipped the hot liquid from the cup. She suddenly felt eyes behind her followed by the muffled sound of high-heeled boots across the carpeted parlor.

“Good morning, Laura,” Eliza Jane said as she entered.

Eliza Jane’s hands full of books, the bag she carried with her to school every day hung on her arm. “It’s such a lovely day,” she said. Her eyes focused on Laura’s face. “I think I’ll walk to school this morning.”

She placed a hand on Laura’s shoulder. “Now, don’t worry if you’re running a bit late. I’ve scheduled you to teach classes after lunch.”

Eliza Jane’s skirt twirled as she sashayed out of the room toward the front door. “Have a good day,” she sang before the door clicked shut.

Almanzo and Laura laughed.

“Well that was subtle,” he said. He reached across the table and grasped her hand in his. “Maybe it’s time we talk.”

Laura turned away, a feeling of dread filling her every thought. Her shoulders rose and fell. “I really don’t know what to say.”

The beginnings of a crooked smile appeared on his face. “Well, then, why don’t you let me give it a try.” He breathed deeply and leaned his elbows against the table. “I feel like something has changed between us.”

With her arms crossed and resting on the table’s surface, she nodded. “It has.”

Her words sounded harsh and she feared he might misunderstand her feelings.  Making a point to soften her tone, she blinked three or four times before being able to gaze up at him. “I still love you, and I still want to be your wife. I just don’t know if I can forget how much you hurt me.”

Almanzo straightened in his chair, defenses up. She placed a hand quickly over his.

“How much we hurt each other. How do we get by it, Manly?”

“One day at a time, like most folks.” His chair scrapped the floor as he moved closer. “Beth, I can’t promise I won’t ever hurt you again. I can’t make promises that are impossible to keep.” He lifted her chin and his eyes penetrated her with their sincerity. “All I can promise is that I’ll never try to hurt you.”

Laura remained silent for several seconds. Glancing around the room, she looked as if she might find the answer on the wall. “We’re still going to have to wait two years to get married. Are you all right with that?”

“Don’t have much of a choice, now, do I?”

A giggle escaped her lips. “No.”

His smile returned and he leaned closer. Laura felt the warmth of his breath on her face.

“I love you, Beth.”

Before she could respond, his lips captured hers with several soft, tender kisses. Their foreheads leaning against each other, Laura’s fears began to melt away.

“I love you, too, Manly.”

Her lips sought his. School, the farm, and the whole world momentarily forgotten as they lingered in their kiss.

“Almanzo?”

“U-huh?”

“I still can’t promise to obey.”

The laughter started deep inside him. She could hear him struggling to contain it, but it became louder and his face reddened until he finally inhaled deeply and the laughter filled the room until he had to grip his aching sides.

“I certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to expect you would.”

Laura’s arms folded over her chest. What does he mean by that?

“Aw, Beth,” he said. "Don’t you know by now that I love you just the way you are?" He smirked. "Houston says that you are plumb feisty.”

She could hear the harrumph in her voice. “Thanks a lot.”

Almanzo shrugged. “He’s right. Seems I’ve been on the receiving end of that myself a few times.” Laura’s face turned crimson. “All that means is that nothing is ever gonna keep you down, and you won't let anything stand in your way.”

He cupped her chin and leaned in closer. “Seems like good traits for a farmer’s wife.”

Laura laughed at herself. What’s wrong with being feisty anyway? It had certainly allowed her to keep up with Nellie Oleson all these years. A mischievous grin slid across her face. “What if I don’t want to be a farmer’s wife?”

“Well, then, you best be getting yourself a new man, because God made me to be a farmer.”

Her hand reached up and touched his cheek. “I guess I’m destined to be a farmer’s wife then, because there is no one in the whole world for me, but you, Manly.”

Their lips connected and sparks shot through her. Being this close to him always left her in a daze. It seemed like months since she felt that connection to him. Things will be just fine between us.

Laura stood up and planted a quick kiss on his cheek before refilling their tea cups. Then the conversation started—that easy kind of talk about anything and everything that had been missing since he went away. He told her about the plans he had for the farm before winter, and she shared the challenges of being a fellow student and a teacher to her classmates, many of whom she had known for years. Eventually they would have to drive into town but, for now, Laura settled in to spend time with Almanzo so that the healing could begin.


Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.