Laura, Almonzo, Carrie, Grace, Albert, James, Cassandra and Rose were sitting at the table with Charles and Caroline.
"Pa, do you really have to go?" Carrie asks. Charles takes a drink of his coffee.
"Carrie, I'm afraid so. Farming just hasn't been much lately. Your Ma and I need the money." Charles replies. Caroline stands up and walks outside.
"Pa, we need to be going home. I have to get Rose hom and into her bed. Almonzo has to go to work in the fields pretty early in the morning." Laura says.
"Okay Laura." Charles says hugging her. "Bye Half pint, Almonzo. Don't work too hard." Charles smiles.
"Pa?" Laura asks stopping herself from moving.
"Yes Laura?" Charles responds.
"Be careful Pa." Laura replies. Laura opens the door and walks over to the wagon. Almonzo follows closely behind her. Almonzo gets in the wagon and starts to take Rose so Laura can get in. Laura hears Caroline holler loudly inside the barn.
"Manly." Laura says as she looks at him.
"Give me Rose and you go talk to her." Almonzo says. Laura hands Rose to Almonzo and walks over to the barn. She opens the door and sees Caroline standing there. Caroline doesn't see her so Laura walks over and puts her hand on her shoulder.
"Ma?" Laura asks. Caroline turns and looks at Laura. "What's wrong Ma?"
"Oh Laura!" Caroline exclaims as she hugs Laura and cries.
"He'll be okay Ma. He's done these kinds of jobs before, right here in Minnesota." Laura states.
"I know. It's just too dangerous for him to be out there." Caroline says. There is a noise toward the door. Caroline and Laura both looks to see Charles standing there in the doorway.
"Half pint, if you wait any longer I'm afraid that Almonzo will fall asleep out there." Charles says.
"Yes Pa. Good bye." Laura walks out of the barn and Charles walks over to Caroline.
"Why do you have to go?" Caroline asks.
"Caroline, you know that ever since the crop failed we have needed money." Charles states.
"Charles, it's so dangerous. I would rather have you than the money." Caroline responds.
"It's only for a little while. Edwards and Garvey are going too." Charles says.
"It's just too far away, Charles. Denver, Colorado is a long way from here. It's further than Mary and Adam!" Caroline states.
"Colorado is not further away than New York. I will only be a train ride away. I will be home within a month." Charles pauses. "Caroline, I'm not doing this for me. I'm doing it for those children inside that house that need a roof over their heads, clothes on their back and something in their stomachs to eat." Charles says.
"Promise me you won't stay any longer than you have to." Caroline says looking at Charles. "Not a day longer than what's absolutely necessary."
"I won't Caroline." Charles replies.
{
In Colorado Springs, Michaela and Andrew are getting ready to leave for the medical convention in Denver the next week.
"Ma, can I go with you? I'm going to study medicine in the fall." Colleen says.
"Colleen, I need you to stay here and watch Brian, Katie, and the clinic." Michaela replies. "With Andrew and I going to Denver who knows how long the clinic will need tending to."
"Yes Ma." Colleen responds.
"Maybe next time we have some kind of medical convention you will be able to come." Michaela replies with a smile.
"I doubt it." Colleen says.
"Mama! Mama!" Two year old Katie runs over and pulls on Michaela's dress. Michaela laughs and picks her up. "Do you want to come too Katie?" Katie nods which makes Michaela laugh again.
"You can't go Katie, then we can't have fun." Brian says walking in from behind Colleen.
"How'd I know you wouldn't be far behind Katie?" Colleen asks crossing her arms.
"Because I love being with my Ma and two adorable sisters." Brian responds with a smile.
"I will just be gone for a few days Colleen. It would be that serious. We aren't actually treating patients. We're learning about new medicines and procedures that other doctors are using that have helped them treat problems that we may not have necessarily known about before." Michaela says.
"That's why I want to go with you! I want to learn about some of these things so I can be of use to you and the clinic. Then hopefully someday my own medical practice!" Colleen exclaims. Sully walks in from behind Colleen.
"Colleen, I believe your Ma said you weren't going. I don't think anything is going to change her mind." Sully says.
"Certainly not. She's as stubborn and stuck in her ways as anybody!" Colleen exasperates. She walks out the front door. Michaela hands Katie to Sully and follows after Colleen.
"Colleen, what's wrong?" Michaela asks.
"I know Brian and I call you Ma, but we had a ma before you. She was the one who wanted Brian or Matthew to become a doctor. Brian was took young when she died, but when you came to Colorado Springs, I thought that meant maybe I could be a doctor and make her proud. I'm not going to medical school for several months and since I don't know anything, I'm not much help in the clinic." Colleen starts saying.
"That's not true Colleen. You have been very helpful to me for all the years that you've been with me. You may not have a license to practice medicine, but you have still been incredibly helpful. Andrew and I are going to this conference because it is specifically for doctors. Maybe the next one we attend you will have your license." Michaela replies.
"Maybe, so that's the only reason I can't go with you?" Colleen asks.
"That and, who would I leave the clinic to? You are the only person that I think can really handle medical responsibilities in Colorado Springs after Matthew and I." Michaela says.
"Okay, then I'll stay." Colleen responds.