It is a cold, snowy day outside. I am sitting on the wagon with my Ma and sisters Carrie and Grace. We are heading towards town. Carrie asked where we were going and I said we are going to the Mercantile to get some cotton to make me a new Sunday dress. I had outgrown mine and needed a new one.
"Ma!" Carrie calls out from in the wagon.
"Yes, Carrie." Ma's patient voice replies to her. She's driving the wagon so she can't look back at Carrie. It is really icy on the roads and Ma is trying to keep the horses on the road. "What is it Carrie?" Ma asks again.
"I'm cold, I think Grace is too." Carrie states. I turn around and see Grace shivering next to Carrie.
"Carrie!" Ma hollers. "Didn't I tell you that you should put on a coat?"
"Yes ma'am." She replies looking down at her feet.
"And you didn't, did you?" She asks.
"No." Carrie responds quietly.
"Ma!" Grace squeals.
"Yes Grace." Ma says.
"I have to go." Grace replies.
"Grace, why didn't you go before we left?" Ma asks. Grace doesn't answer her.
"Ma, I can take Grace to the outhouse when we get to the Oleson's." I reply.
"Thanks Laura." Ma says. Ma stops the horses right in front of the Mercantile.
"Come on Grace." I say turning around and picking Grace up out of the wagon. I put her on the seat where I was sitting just a moment ago. "Come here Grace." I say holding my hands out and she walks over to me. "Are you coming with Grace and me, or are you staying in the wagon?" I ask looking towards her. Carrie stands up.
"I'm going to go with Ma into the Oleson's." She replies. She walks over to the end of the wagon and slips and falls.
"Carrie!" I scream. I put Grace down and run over to Carrie. I rush over and see that she slipped on a patch of ice that was on the wagon, and hit her head on the ground. Grace runs over to me and is crying. "Grace, stay with Carrie. Don't leave her side." I say sternly and then I run into the Mercantile.
"Ma!" I exclaim. She turns really quickly and looks at me.
"What is it Laura?" Ma asks. Mr. Oleson is behind the counter and has a worried look on his face.
"It's Carrie… She fell off the wagon." I say trying not to cry. Ma and Mr. Oleson both run outside to Carrie's side. Ma falls next to Carrie and rubs her face. "Laura, go get Doc Baker."
"But Ma, what about-" I start to ask.
"I said, go get Doc Baker!" Ma hollers. With that I grab Grace's hand and we run off to Doc Baker's office.