When Laura got up the next morning, she hurried to do her chores. She hadn't slept very well, but she was too excited to feel tired. Soon Almanzo would pick her up for a buggy ride, and she couldn't wait to see him again. After helping her mother in the kitchen, Laura went upstairs to the loft. She sat down on her bed and sighed. It was time to dress up, but she wasn't sure what to wear. At the moment Laura was wearing her red dress, but she was afraid Almanzo could remember she had worn it that day she had fought with Nellie in the mud. The whole incident had happened more than a year ago, but she still felt embarrassed. She had acted like a little girl back then, and she hoped imploringly that Almanzo had forgotten her immature behavior.
Laura stood up and looked at the new dress which she had bought for her teaching job. It was beautiful, and she really loved it, but it was probably too fancy for a buggy ride across the prairie. She hesitated for a moment, but then she put on her turquoise flowered dress. When she looked into the mirror, she noticed that she was still wearing pigtails. "Oh no," Laura murmured to herself. She had braided her hair for so many years that she had done it this morning automatically. She hurried to unfasten her braids and started brushing her wavy hair which was shimmering in the sunlight. All she wanted was looking pretty for Almanzo, but time was running, and so she brushed her hair one last time and used some lemon verbena. When she climbed downstairs and stepped into the kitchen, Caroline was busy with baking bread.
"Ma," Laura asked insecurely, "how do I look?"
"You look beautiful," Caroline smiled at Laura. She could feel that her daughter was nervous.
"I hope so," Laura replied silently.
"Laura, don't worry so much," Caroline put her arm around Laura's shoulders. "I'm sure you and Almanzo will have a nice time."
"I'm so nervous," Laura confessed. "It feels as if I have entered a whole new world."
"Oh Laura, you have entered a whole new world," Caroline smiled at her daughter. "It's wonderful to be in love with each other, but it also takes some time to get used to it."
"I know you're right, Ma. It's just... I'm afraid I might say something wrong. It was easy to talk to Almanzo as long as we were friends, but something has changed. I don't know how to explain, but it's kinda difficult now," Laura stared to the ground.
"I understand," Caroline said softly.
"I wished I could tell Almanzo, but I can't," Laura sighed deeply.
"Why can't you tell him?" Caroline asked. "Probably he feels the same way."
"I don't think so," Laura said silently.
"Laura, being in love doesn't mean that you always have a nice time together," Caroline started to explain. "It's also important that you talk about your feelings. I think you should give it a try."
"I don't know, Ma. Maybe I will," Laura replied and forced herself to smile.
While Caroline continued baking bread, Laura looked out of the window nervously. Her mother's advice had helped her to calm down a bit, but she was still feeling insecure. She had waited so long to get Almanzo's attention. It seemed like an eternity. The thought of doing something wrong and losing him was almost unbearable for Laura. She had to show him that she was a grown up woman now. She had to convince him that she was a successful teacher now, being able to take care of children. She would never act like a tomboy again. From now on she would be a lady. Beautiful, calm, and well-mannered. She would prove Almanzo that she was old and mature enough to be the woman by his side.
At the same time a nervous Almanzo was hitching up Barnum to the buggy. He had worried a lot about his upcoming date with Laura, but he had also remembered why he loved her. She had always been special to him, because she was different from all the other girls. Laura was feisty and she could stand up for others. She could make him laugh because she had always something funny to tell. She was probably the only girl who was interested in farming and horses, and she enjoyed going fishing. That's what he loved about her.
Almanzo patted Barnum and smiled. He knew that Laura liked his horse with all her heart. She had helped to train him, and a few weeks ago, when Barnum was injured, they had both taken care of him. Of course, Laura would remember this, and so they had a topic to talk about. Besides that Almanzo had prepared two fishing rods and a can of worms. They would drive to the lake and go fishing. Almanzo knew that his plan wasn't very romantic. He knew that most girls would rather run away than spending an afternoon like this, but not his Beth. He was sure she would enjoy the day.
Realizing that it was almost time to go, Almanzo went back into the house and ran to his bedroom. He combed his hair and grabbed his blue shirt which he usually wore for special occasions. He pulled it over as fast as he could and hurried downstairs again. On his way outside he noticed his sister Eliza Jane sitting in the rocking chair and reading a book.
"It's almost two o'clock, Eliza. I have to go now," Almanzo said eagerly.
"Have a nice time, Mannie," Eliza Jane answered.
"Do I look alright?" he asked her nervously.
"Certainly," Eliza Jane stopped reading and looked over her younger brother. "It's just a buggy ride across the prairie."
Almanzo didn't like this kind of answer, but he had no time to worry anymore. "Goodbye," he said and left the house.
"Goodbye," Eliza Jane replied.
Being outside, Almanzo checked the horse and the buggy one last time, because he wanted to make sure it would be a safe ride for Laura. He jumped into the buggy and started to put Barnum into a trot. The way to the Ingalls' place wasn't very long, but he hurried to arrive on time. Almanzo had missed Laura and couldn't wait to see her again, but he still wasn't sure what to expect. Sometimes he wished he could ask his father or his older brother Royal for some advice, but they were both living too far away. Of course, Almanzo had met some other men around his age since he had moved to Walnut Grove, but most of them were already married. He was afraid to ask them for advice. He was almost 26 years old now and still totally inexperienced with girls. They would probably laugh at him. His sister Eliza Jane wasn't very helpful either. She tried her best to give advice, but she spent most of the time with her books, and she was inexperienced, too.
The nearer Almanzo came to the Ingalls' farm, the more he was getting nervous. The moment he started driving towards the little house, he realized that his hands were trembling. He took a deep breath and tried to reassure himself that everything would be alright. He was going to meet Laura, and they would hopefully have a nice day.
Laura was still looking out of the window. When she caught sight of Almanzo's buggy, she turned around to say good bye to her mother. "He's here. Time to go, Ma," she smiled.
"Have a nice day," Caroline said while Laura was leaving.
Almanzo stopped the buggy in front of the house. As he jumped out, he could see Laura walking in his direction.
"Hi Beth," he said with a smile on his face.
"Hi Manly," she answered happily.
Almanzo looked at Laura, then he looked around to reassure himself that nobody of her family was outside, especially not her father. As he was sure that they were alone, he pulled Laura into his arms and kissed her gently.
"I've missed you," he said.
"I've missed you, too," she replied.
Laura and Almanzo were both smiling at each other.
"Ready to go?" he asked her.
"Yes," she replied.
Almanzo took Laura's hand and helped her into the buggy. Then he jumped in and started the ride.
