Mankato, Minnesota
April 1, 1891
The strange letter they had received less than a month ago left a dozen questions and more dancing around in Adam Kendall's head. What had happened, and how were he and Mary going to be able to help where her own parents couldn't seem to?
He could find only one answer to that question, and it plagued him endlessly as they walked to Jonathan's. Adam had wired ahead and asked Jonathan if he would be willing to take them the last leg of their journey. The old family friend had, of course, agreed.
As Adam led Mary up the walk towards Jonathan's livery, he hoped and prayed harder than he ever had before that he was wrong. Oh, he hoped he was wrong.
A jovial greeting from Jonathan and Andy lightened his mood a little, and Jonathan asked them if they wanted anything to eat, or maybe to rest.
"No thank you, Mr. Garvey." Mary spoke up. "I'd like to get back and see my sister, if you don't mind."
"Which sister?" Andy asked, looking concerned. "Is she okay?"
"I'll tell you what we know on the way." Adam promised.
"Can I come, Pa," Andy pled. "Please?"
Jonathan's red brow had knit together at the mention of trouble. "If you're going, you'd better get your things together quickly. We'll be staying overnight at Laura and Almonzo's."
Andy nodded and dashed off. Jonathan nodded toward a bench.
"Why don't you two sit a spell and I'll go get the team ready? You both look as though you haven't slept in days."
Mary sat down wearily and Adam took his place beside her. When Jonathan had disappeared, Mary leaned over and put her head on Adam's shoulder.
"I wish we knew what was really going on." Mary worried.
Adam could tell she was worried without looking at her, by the tone in her voice. Funny, he had never really learned to lean completely on his sight again. He knew, too, because he was worried also.
"Adam," Mary started hesitantly. "You don't think…" She trailed off, unable to finish her thought. Adam knew, though, that her thoughts were the same as his.
"I don't know." he answered. "And we won't know until we get there, so you might as well quit worrying over the maybes."
"But, Adam, they mentioned Hester Sue, not Doc Baker. Why would they do that?" She was on the verge of tears.
"We don't know yet, Mary. You have to calm down. Please. We'll be there soon. For all we know, Carrie's all ready up and back to running around the town."
"Or sitting in Ma's big rocking chair screaming at the unfairness of the world."
Adam sighed almost imperceptibly, and brushed away the tear from her cheek that had dared to fall from his wife's long lashes. "Everything is going to be all right."
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