Albert and Sylvia in a different world (Part one):
Albert did find Sylvia in the old Atkins barn hiding from her Pa. He told her they can still run away together if she wanted to. He already talked to Hartwig and he gave him some advanced pay so Albert can take Sylvia away from here to get married.
Albert went to his house to leave a note for Pa, and Mr. Webb who are still out looking for Sylvia. Albert found his bed roll and put his clothes in it and sort of raided Caroline's kitchen a bit for some quick food and sandwiches for him and Sylvia.
After Albert left the house he headed straight for where Sylvia was hiding out, the old Atkins place in a nearly fallen down barn. He made sure no one seen him traveling to ask questions about where Sylvia was. He made fast tracks to the place...But...
Not fast enough, Hartwig got to Sylvia first. He was trying to get her, but she was fighting him hard. She threw boards at him when she found a loose one around. She even tries to shove him but it does no good he keeps coming at her, she is crying and scared of him by this point.
Finally Albert got there he fought with Hartwig. That proved to be challenging. Sylvia ran out of the barn crying and crying . Albert and Hartwig had tousled around punched each other a few times. Hartwig smirked at Albert and said in a mean voice "Your just a stupid kid ! stay out of here!" Albert got even more angry and said "NO! You, Leave Sylvia alone!" "Leave her alone!" Albert is yelling now.
Hartwig got even angrier at Albert so angry he couldn't see straight and he lost sight of Sylvia his prize for the day. Sylvia hid around the other side of the barn crying her eyes out and too scared to come out. She hiding behind some old wood pile out behind the barn she crouched down low, almost touching the ground, she wanted to help Albert but she knew she wasn't strong enough to help. All she could do was cry and listen to the altercation going on in the barn.
Hartwig was back in a corner Albert thought the fight was soon going to turn his way, but then Hartwig saw the ladder at the back of the barn. He hurries up to climb it clear up to the top on the highest beam possible. Albert went right after him mad now beyond thinking through his next moves. He wasn't thinking now just solely reacting to Hartwig and his next moves.
All the rungs of the ladder had held Hartwig up. He made it to the top of the barn where a mow used to be. Albert should of known better to do what he did, but he wasn't thinking right. Hartwig was at the top and Albert thought he was going to get away! that was all that Albert was thinking about he was going to get away and not be punished for what he did! Albert was hell bound in not going to let that happen!
Albert climed the ladder with all the strength in him, he was determined to make Hartwig pay for bothering Sylvia like he was! Hartwig made it to the top of a heavy beam it was wide Hartwig could dance on it if he wanted to! Albert was gaining some ground though he was almost to the top. This ladder in the barn was nothing to laugh at its almost fifty to sixty feet in the air. Albert wasn't afraid of heights he wasn't really afraid of anything at this point, the only thing he wanted was revenge! Which he is determined to get.
... ...
Charles and Mr. Webb went to Charles's place to catch up with Albert, but once they got there they didn't find Albert. They just found his note. Charles read the note with Mr. Webb standing next to him, it said something like this:
Dear, Pa, and Mr. Webb.
Please don't hate me I am going to take Sylvia away from here soon. We are going far away to get married. We will be gone for quite some time don't come looking for us. I am thankful for what you had done for me.
Love Albert Ingalls.
Charles scoffs at the note. He looks at Mr. Webb and says "He's found her he lied to us! he knew where she was all the time!" Mr. Webb says "You think its the old Atkins place?" Charles says "Yes i do, lets get some fresh horses I got two Arabs in the barn haven't been ridden all day their hot!" Mr. Webb says sternly "Lets start making tracks! When i get my hands on them!" Charles exclaims in excitement "I get Albert first! he gets a whipping from me he won't sit down for a week!" So after Charles and Mr. Webb saddled the two horses they took off for the old Atkins place with a lot of speed, they meant business.
...
At the Atkins place things were getting way out of hand. Hartwig was up on the highest beam of the old barn dancing like an idiot at its finest. He was chanting crazily to Albert sort of like taunting him, saying "You can't get me! Ha! ha! You dumb kid! you can't touch me!" he even goes as far as tries to spit on Albert as Albert is feverishly making some head way up the ladder madder than ever that Hartwig is having such fun on the top of the barn.
Just then Sylvia got brave enough to come out from her hiding place and watches in horror what she sees next. Albert had made almost to where Hartwig was and that it was very high up now. Sylvia follows Albert's feet up the ladder with her eyes. She couldn't believe how high the ladder was. Albert was at the top but he still lacked a few feet of getting to Hartwig. Soon there were some creaking and cracking noises coming from the wrung that Albert was standing on.
Albert moved to try to reach the beam he was almost to the point of reaching it. He had to shake his coat out of the way, and shift his weight. That was when the wrung of the ladder let go. Albert fell backwards and screamed!
So did Sylvia she screamed when Albert fell.
Hartwig had a huge smile on his face when he seen Albert fall to the some how as luck would have it, Hartwig forgot what he had been standing on, he leaned back to far while laughing at Albert falling to the ground. He lost his balance on the beam and started to free fall himself. Hartwig wound up dead on the ground hitting it with such force it messed up his head and he died on impact hitting the ground.
Albert wound up on the ground out cold too, not moving not responding to anything. Sylvia was besides her self. Before she went to Albert Charles and Mr. Webb came and stopped their horses in front of the old barn.
Mr. Webb walks up to Sylvia who was standing there crying in her torn purple dress. He grabs her by the shoulders and says "What happened child! what happened?" Sylvia tries to calm down now she is in hysteria mode. She says "Albert and Hartwig were fighting and they went up the ladder! "
Charles walks over to Sylvia and says in a bitter tone "Where is Albert?" Sylvia was sobbing she points with her finger and says in between sobs he's in there on the ground". She frees her self from her Pa and she runs inside, she finds Albert's limp body and sits next to him crying.
Charles went over to Sylvia who was sad beyond words, she looks at Mr. Ingalls and then at Albert, Charles was speechless, Sylvia says solemnly , "this is...all...my..fault!" Mr. Webb goes around the barn and sees Hartwig's dead body laying on the outside of the barn, then he comes inside he says "Hartwig is dead".
Charles looks at Mr. Webb and says in the saddest voice any one has ever known "I'll go get the doctor we need him fast". Mr. Webb says "I'll stay here". Charles nods in agreement he gets to his horse to go for help.
Sylvia lays on the ground next to Albert, who is still motionless and stiff. Sylvia lies almost on top of Albert crying. Mr. Webb, comes over and tries to get Sylvia away from Albert but she refuses. Mr. Webb says "Dear its not good for you to sulk like this". Sylvia says "No Pa! i am not leaving him!" Mr. Webb says "Child please, enough has happened for one day!" Sylvia shouts "NO! I don't care no more! Leave me Alone!" Sylvia lays on Albert again crying and taking her hands and feels his jacket while she cries smothering out the wrinkles. Mr. Webb found an old crate to sit on that was still solid so he sits alone in the barn just watching Sylvia crumble into depression and shock over Albert.
(To Be Continued).