Disclaimer: I do not have anything to do with Little House other than I read the books and watch the movies/tv show.
A/N: This is my first Little House story. For the purposes of this story, it is 1868 but Laura is 10 and Mary is 12. That isn't how it is in real life, but it worked for the story. I hope you like it. It will be multiple chapters. I probably won't have another chapter up for at least a week because I am going on vacation and won't be back until a week from now.
Times and Troubles Chapter 1: Uncertainty
It was a hot July Monday. The girls were at school. Caroline was doing the washing. Charles was tending the fields, as usual for a summer day. The fourth had recently passed, so everyone's lives had returned to normal.
Charles had been working for about an hour after dinner, so Caroline decided to bring him out a bucket of water and a drinking gourd.
"Many thanks, Caroline. I was just about to come to the house for a drink myself. You saved me the trouble." Charles filled the gourd, took a drink, and then swallowed. He repeated this until the gourd was empty and then repeated it one more time. When he was fully re-hydrated, Caroline started to go back to the house yard to continue with her washing. Charles stopped her.
"Caroline, I need to talk to you, and I've been waiting for a time when the girls aren't around. Our crops aren't doing well this season at all. It is July now, so I am starting to get a bit worried. If we don't get even a little bit of our crops, we won't survive here through the winter. Sorry to break it to you like that, but that is how it is."
"Oh, Charles, is it really so?"
"I'm afraid it is. Garvey's in the same position as I am, and other folks are too. Heck, the Olesons are suffering because planters like us aren't buying things in the store as often and paying off our credit!" Charles laughed.
"Be nice, Charles. You know they work as hard as we do, just doing different things. If the townspeople are suffering, they suffer. They can't help it."
"I try to be nice. I just can't help it. Well, I'd best be getting back to work."
Caroline left Charles to his work to go back and continue the washing.
Two months passed. By now Laura and Mary knew about their family's situation. They were very worried about what would happen to their family. It was getting closer to harvest time with every passing day, and the crops in the Ingalls fields were not putting forth much to harvest in a month.
Another month passed and nothing much had grown. The Ingalls family harvested what they had. It did not amount to much. The Ingalls family would have to be very resourceful to make it through the winter if they cared to survive.
One evening, after the girls were in bed and sound asleep, Charles woke Caroline up.
"I have something I need to tell you, but I didn't want to say it in front of the girls. Are you ready?"
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Charles."
"Caroline, I've been thinking, and I think we have to move. I was thinking to St. Louis. Maybe not permanently, but at least for the winter. My job at the mill just won't make enough to support us. You and I both could get a job."
"But what about the children? Doesn't somebody have to look after them?"
"You and I both know that Mary and Laura are capable of taking care of themselves. You just don't want to admit it."
"Oh, all right. But when would we move?"
"As soon as we tell the girls and can get things settled. I'm thinking a few weeks."
Caroline and Charles went back to sleep, eager for a new day to begin.
That morning, Charles and Caroline got up bright and early. Charles had all the chores done and Caroline breakfast ready before the girls even woke at their normal time. The girls, smelling breakfast and hearing their parents' voices, quickly dressed and clambered down the ladder.
"Ma, Pa, what's going on? Why are you up and ready so early?" Mary said.
"Girls, we have something we need to tell you. You know about our crop situation. Your ma and I have decided that it is in our best interest to move to St. Louis for the winter."
"But, Pa, what about school? What about the farm? What about our friends?"
"Oh, I'm sure you'll make new friends in St. Louis. You might be surprised. We'll get you in school. Our farm will be just fine. I'll arrange for someone to take good care of it. We are moving, and that's that."
The family ate their breakfast in peace, and then did the after breakfast chores. Pa took Mary and Laura to school in the wagon so that he could explain to the teacher that they would be leaving. He would then settle affairs in town and return to the farm.