Chapter one: Secret Love

Once upon a time in a little shack lived the Ingalls family. Laura waited patiently by the door while Ma made dinner. A gust of dirt blew by and a tall man stepped off his buckboard. Laura's eyes brightened with excitement. She ran out and gave Almanzo a big kiss. "I've been waiting for you all day!" she said. "Ma said dinner is almost ready!"

"I can't wait! I've been looking forward to this all week!" (Almanzo had to visit his sister, Eliza Jane, for a week and left Laura with her parents.)

As they walked in the house, Amlanzo's heart skipped a beat; he was nervous. "Dinner's ready!" Ma called to everyone and all the Ingalls sat down. Almanzo's face grew red. He kept pushing down his feelings, but he couldn't contain himself. His heart fell into his stomach and his foot kept shaking.

"What's wrong Manly?" Laura asked.

"I just need some air," and Almanzo leaped outside. He fast walked all the way to his buckboard. "What am I doing?!" Almanzo asked himself. "I love Laura! How can I be in love with her Pa!?" He hit his head against a fence nearby." Oh Mr. Ingalls I wish I could tell you how I feel! But you're married and I'm with your daughter! But I can't contain myself when I'm around you. I'm in such a pickle!"

"Right you are." Almanzo jumped and turned sharply. He then realized how idiotic it was to talk to himself out loud. Pa stood there in the moonlight with a smug look. Almanzo knew he had heard everything. "You certainly are in a pickle."

"Sir, I can explain-"but Almanzo was cut short by a wave of Pa's hand.

"I've seen the way you look at me Monzo. You can't even look me in the eyes without doing some nervous tick" Almanzo nervously looked away. "See you did it again!"

"So you already knew?" Almanzo asked. Pa nodded his head. Almanzo turned around afraid of what Pa would say next.

"To be honest I've thought about it a lot. I mean you couldn't hide this forever. "Almanzo's head rose up. "I knew it would come and I would have to have a reaction. But the question is how do I feel about YOU?" Almanzo turned his head slightly.

"And?" He asked.

"And turn and face me boy. "Almanzo turned around sheepishly. His arms tightly by his sides and his head down afraid to meet Pa's. "Look Manly I have a family. You're dating my daughter! What would they say to you right now? I have responsibilities to obtain." Almanzo looked away as if everything he was saying was a knife in the heart. "I can't just drop everything and fulfill your fantasies…" Almanzo, on the verge of tears, felt Pa's hands on his shoulders. With a great force Pa and Almanzo were suddenly lip to lip, kissing in the moonlight. Almanzo, realizing what was happening, relaxed and kissed Pa back. Pa released and whispered in Almanzo's ear "That doesn't mean I won't fulfill mine." And Almanzo, for the first time, looked into Pa's eyes and gave a great big smile.

"Oh sir-"

"Please, call me Charles"

"Oh Charles! What about your wife and children?" Almanzo grew sadden "and poor Laura!" Almanzo turned and looked at the happy family eating supper. "What have I done?"

"No Almanzo. I wanted to kiss you and I want to be with you." Almanzo grew hopeful and looked up at him. Their eyes met and they knew they could not hide their feelings toward each other.

"We are terrible people," Almanzo said.

"No we are secret lovers who happen to be in a relationship with people from the same family." Almanzo giggled and realized how long they have been gone.

"We should go back"

"Yes we can plan the future later."

They both awkwardly walked into the tiny home. "Boy! You guys were gone a long time." Ma looked into Pa's eyes but his mind was somewhere else. "Anyway, did you get everything sorted out? Whatever was wrong?"

"Umm…Man…stuff," Almanzo said clumsily. Everyone at the table looked away to avoid Almanzo's embarrassment.

"Ah-em! Welp! How was Eliza Jane?" Laura made an obvious attempt to change the subject.

"She's fine. She tells me she's seeing someone."

"Really!? Who?" Almanzo felt Pa's foot under the table. He grew red and sweaty.

"Uh…Uh…" Pa's foot made its way further and further up his leg until…BANG! Almanzo jumped and hit the table. Everyone stopped and stared at him. Tension in the room was very high. For Almonzo connected if Pa pieced together his obvious love for him then Laura and the rest could too. Almanzo could not play it cool like Pa could. Manly, all sweaty and nervous, blurted out the first name that popped into his head to move the conversation along. "Pearly Day!" Everyone dropped their forks (even Pa) and looked at him. Together they all exclaimed:

"HER BROTHER?!" Almanzo, realizing his error, felt more sweat roll off of him. But, looking around he could tell he diverted the attention away from Pa and Almanzo's obvious love affair. He realized if he didn't want to face Laura's family with the awkward conversation that might eventually happen, he would have to distract them until the end of dinner.

"Uh…yes!" That's why I didn't want to tell you." I'm a bad bad person, Almanzo thought. Everyone was in udder shock. It's working, he thought. "It's totally gross and I had no idea how to react." While everyone was looking at each other Almanzo gave a big wink to Pa and Pa gave a big smile back.

"What are you going to do?" Asked Laura. Almanzo took a deep breath and said:

"I don't know." While looking straight at pa he said "I just don't know."

The evening went by fast and hectic. Lots of questions and stolen glances. At the end Pa and Almanzo were standing by Manly's buckboard.

"You know I didn't like you when we first met," said Pa, "but now I can't get away from you. I know what we have to do. Come back here early morning before sunrise." Almanzo nodded just as Laura came out.

"Bye manly!" She kissed him but his eyes were directed at Pa. "I'll see you tomorrow for the big day! I simply can't wait!" She smiled, but all Almanzo could manage was a simple nod. He had forgotten all about how he and Laura were to get married tomorrow. The whole evening revolved around the lie Almanzo told. He felt even more ashamed of himself.

"Bye Beth!" and with that he rode off.

The next morning Pa and Manly met and discussed until…

"You ready?" Asked Pa.

"Ready." Said Monzo. Pa got his things and kissed his sleeping wife for the last time. He left a note by her side and was out in a flash.

"Let's go!" Pa and Almanzo got in Manly's buckboard and rode off into the sunrise hand in hand.

When Ma awoke to find her husband missing she saw the not. Already knowing what it said she picked it up and read:

Dear beloved family,

I'm sorry to leave you like this but I have to. For Almanzo and I are in love. Ma has a stable job and will be the best mother. Treat her well. I'm sorry Caroline and Laura. I know you knew this was coming. Dinner was…well something. Just so you know Almanzo made up that stuff about Pearly Day and Eliza Jane. He's such a goof. Just now we love you and wouldn't have done this if we didn't have to. But we don't want to cheat on Ma or Laura so we must leave. I will send money to help support you, but just know we cannot come back. We have traveled o a place we will not be judged.

With love,

Almanzo Wilder and Charles Ingalls