A/N: This story takes place a few months after the episode, "Doctor's Lady." Hope you enjoy it! :)
Dr. Hiram Baker sat in his office, reading one of his medical books. He was just about to close up and head up to his room to rest a while. He heard a knock at the door.
"Door's open." He said while packing up his medical supplies.
The door opens and in walks young Laura Ingalls. "Hi Dr. Baker."
"Why, hello Laura. Can I do anything for you?"
"Yes sir, Jack got into some foxtails again! I can never keep him out of them!" Laura said making a face, her eyebrows scrunching together.
"Well, I'll be over in an hour, all right?"
"Ok, thanks Dr. Baker." Laura said and started for home.
He was about to head upstairs when he heard another knock on the door. He walked over and opened it and found Laura standing on the other side.
"I almost forgot! Ma wanted me to ask you if you wanted to have supper with us tomorrow night."
"Well, tell her I'll be there." He said, chuckling.
"Ok." Laura said and grinned. She turned to go but stood in the doorway instead. "Did you hear that Miss Thorwald is coming back to Walnut Grove for a visit?"
"No Laura, I didn't know that."
"Well, she is,...wouldn't it be somethin' if you two got back together?...I sure wish you and Katie had gotten married, ."
"Me too, Laura." He said, his lips sort of forming into a smile. "Me too."
"Are you all right, Dr. Baker?" She questions him. "You seem a bit down."
"I'll be all right." He says. "You run along, you mustn't keep your folks waiting." He said raising his eyebrows, laying his hand on her shoulder.
"Yes sir." Laura says and heads once again for home.
Dr. Baker heads upstairs to his bedroom. "You miss her, Baker. That's all." Hiram said to himself, running his hands through his honey-colored hair. He sighed and sat on the bed and was about to remove his black vest when he heard a knock at the door. "Be down in a minute!" He hollered and trudged down the stairs. "Who now?" He grumbled to himself and opened the door just to find out that it was none other than Harriet Oleson.
"Oh...Mrs. Oleson...What can I do you for?"
"My Willie has a terrible cough and I need some medicine for him!" Harriet said in her usual tone.
"All right." Hiram said grabbing a small bottle of cough medicine from one of the shelves. "Here you are."
"Thank you." Harriet said and turned to leave.
"Mrs. Oleson, I hear that Katie is coming back to town."
"Yes and while she is here I want you to keep your distance, Dr. Baker!" She snapped at him. "I am ever so glad that you hadn't married her!"
"Mrs. Oleson, I already know how you feel about Katie and I together and I don't wish to hear it again!" He says sternly, but Harriet ignores him.
"You are too old for her! She needs someone more her age, and she has found just the man. His name is Granville S. Voclain and he is just perfect for her! He is wealthy, handsome, and very sweet to her. He is wanting to be a famous writer someday and is studying in Chicago."
"Mrs. Oleson, I am not wanting to go further into this conversation for fear I might say something un-Christianlike. Please, leave my office at once!...Goodbye!" He says and shoves her out the door.
"Well I never!" She exclaimes bitterly and quickly walks back to the mercantile. Hiram walked back up to his room, took his nap and went over to the Ingalls place and helped Laura remove the foxtails from Jack's fur.