"Pa, are we going on a really long road trip?" Laura asked.
"No, just to Mancato, we'll stay the night and then head back home. Check on your sister please Laura"
Laura crept to the back of the wagon to find Grace asleep. She crawled back through the front of the wagon to find Pa stopping the wagon.
"What is it Pa?" Then she noticed a girl lying on the ground. Pa jumped out of the wagon and turned the girl over, she looked very ragged, and was quietly stirring.
"What is your name?" Charles asked softly.
"Helena" the girl whispered.
"Are you far from home?" Charles asked.
"Don't have a home," Helena answered.
"We will take you to Silver Lake," Charles replied.
"Okay" Helena agreed.
As Helena climbed in the wagon Laura said hello but Helena ignored her and went to the back of the wagon and sat with Grace. She stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone.
Caroline was walking home with Mary and Carrie from school, it had been a long day; arguing with Mrs Oleson, selling eggs, arguing with Mrs Oleson, saying goodbye to Charles, Laura and Grace, arguing with Mrs Oleson and then doing chores.
"Run along please Mary and get some water from the creek"
Caroline didn't feel well, she was almost home, just had to get over the hill
"Ma are we having chicken for dinner tonight?" Carrie asked.
"Yes Carrie, can you go and get another bucket and go down to the creek and get more water please," Caroline asked her. Carrie ran up the hill to get a bucket and off to the creek for the water. Caroline steadied herself on a fence … ahh, there it was, the house, finally she could rest. She walked inside and put the oven on so it would be hot for dinner. She sat down on the rocking chair and closed her eyes.
Mary walked over the hill, carrying water was annoying in the hot weather because she couldn't splash it on herself because that would waste, torture! She turned around to go back to the house and she saw that not so far in the distance flames were licking at her house. She ran as fast as she could.
"MA, CARRIE"