A/N: I would like to thank LuvLittleJoe234 for her idea for this story. I dedicate it to her. I am so sorry that it took me a REALLY REALLY long time to write this and get it onto fanfiction, but I did write it for you; so I hope you feel a little better about it.
I just moved back to Walnut Grove, Minnesota a few years ago. I had known a man named Charles Ingalls, his wife Caroline, and their children Mary, Laura Carrie, and Grace. I've spent a lot of time with them over the years. The last few weeks have been no exception. Last week I went over to see them, and I heard Mrs. Ingalls tell Charles that her sister hadn't been doin' too good lately. She's in some kind of trouble, but I'm not much of the kind that snoops, so I don't know what kind of trouble. I do know they said they needed somebody to watch the young'uns. One day when I was over at the Ingalls place, Charles asked me the question that I think could have changed my life.
"Hey Edwards, Caroline and I are looking for somebody who can take care of the children. Do you think you could stay here and watch them?" Charles asked me from across their kitchen table. I saw Laura sittin' up at the railing of the loft looking down at me.
"Sure! I would love to watch them for you. How long do you think you're going to be gone?" I asked.
"Not very long. Caroline's sister is having some issues; we are going to take the next stage out if you will stay here." Charles responded.
"That's no problem at all Ingalls." I exclaimed. Mary walked down the ladder and over to Charles.
"Pa, I don't need somebody to watch us. I can make sure that Carrie and Laura get to school on time." Mary said. Charles smiled.
"I appreciate the thought darlin', but who would watch Grace while all you girls were in school?" Charles asked.
"I could stay home with her!" Laura hollered down the ladder. Charles looked up at the loft.
"Absolutely not half-pint. You have to go to school so you can learn." Charles replied. I looked over at Mary.
"I promise you Mary that it won't be that difficult puttin' up with me while your Ma and Pa are away." I said. Mary looked at me and smiled.
"I know that Mr. Edwards, I would just hate for you to have to stay here. It will be an inconvenience." Mary stated.
"No, what the inconvenience would be is if you couldn't go to school and learn. Miss Beadle is a fine teacher." Charles replied. Mary looked back over at him.
"I know Pa; I want to be just like her." Mary said with a smile. Charles touched her shoulder with his hand.
"That's why you need to go to school, so you can be like Miss Beadle." Charles responded.
"Oh alright." Mary said. She looked at me again. "Thank you Mr. Edwards; I didn't want you to think that I didn't want you here. It's just I didn't want you to be inconvenienced by us is all."
"It's not an inconvenience. I would be happy to watch Grace for you girls while you're out there studyin' to be smart." I exclaimed. That got a smile out of Mary. She took her glasses off and hugged Charles.
"Good night Pa. Good night Mr. Edwards." She said.
"Good night darlin'." Charles responded.
"Good night Mary, half pint." I stated.
"Good night Mr. Edwards! Good night Pa!" Laura hollered from in the loft. Charles laughed. A few minutes later Caroline came inside the house.
"Good news Caroline." Charles said as soon as she walked in the door. She was carrying a bucket of water.
"What Charles?" Caroline asked him. He put his hands on her shoulders.
"We can go see your sister. I got somebody to watch the girls." He said. A smile spread across Caroline's face.
"Really? We get to go see her? I haven't seen my sister since we left the Big Woods!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Well we can go. Get a good night's rest and we will be out on the first stage tomorrow morning." Charles said.
"Oh Charles, that's wonderful! Who did you get to watch the girls?" Caroline asked. I was careful about it, but I stood up and coughed. Caroline looked at me, back at Charles and then looked at me again.
"I know that I may not look like the best person to take care of your girls ma'am, but it's just for a few days." I said. Caroline nodded.
"Alright, this works out perfectly. Thank you for being willing to help Mr. Edwards." Caroline said and then walked into the kitchen with her bucket of water. So that's how I ended up watching those Ingalls girls. Just as he promised, the next morning Charles and Caroline were on the first stage ready to go off towards the Big Woods where Caroline's sister lived. It wasn't very difficult for me to wake up the next day. It was more difficult waking up Carrie and Laura. Mary got up without any trouble or much prodding from me. But eventually they were up and ad 'em which left the day for just me and Gracie. What could really go wrong there? She's not even six months old.