The next morning, Almanzo was up early, so he could do what he planned without the whole town to notice.
"Sis!" he cried up the staircase.
"Yes, Manny?" Eliza Jane asked confused, not being used to Almanzo being up that early.
"Is it alright if you'd walk to school today?" His sister now appeared at the end of the stairs, still in her nightgown.
"Certainly. Do you have to make a delivery this early?" she asked still puzzled.
Almanzo looked at his boots as he scratched the back of his head, caught off guard "Uh, no... I just thought I could stop by the office and ask Doc Baker how Laura is..."
"I see", Eliza Jane smirked. "Would you tell her to get well soon from me."
"Uh, well, I don't think I'll see her, Eliza. I really just wanted to ask if she's alright... Well, I'd best be going. See you after school, sis!" He sat his hat back and rushed through the door.
"Yes, bye Almanzo." Eliza Jane shook her head smilingly and disappeared in her bedroom.
The blond man stood in front of Doc Baker's office fiddling with the brim of his head. Maybe it wasn't such a bright idea after all. What if Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls were already there? He didn't want to get Laura's Pa the wrong impression about his intentions towards his daughter once again. "Aw, come on Wilder" he muttered to himself. What's more important; Beth who's hurt or her pa?
Just as he was about to knock, the door swung open and Doc Baker and Almanzo both looked startled at each other.
"Almanzo", Doc exhaled relieved, "you gave me quiet a scare", he chuckled.
"Sorry, Doc", Almanzo moved his fist down which had been still in the air – ready to knock.
"Had something happened to Miss Wilder?" Doc now asked alarmed, suddenly aware of how early it still was.
"Huh? No, she's just fine. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just not used to you coming that early to me. That's all."
Almanzo looked embarrassed to the ground. Why had he come anyway?
"So tell me, what can I do for you?"
"Uh...I just wanted to ask how Laura's doing. My sister told me yesterday that she had an accident, but she didn't know more about it."
"Oh", Doc Baker smiled and took his glasses off to clean them with his shirt "Yes, the horse hit her bad. It's hard to tell right now, but she was lucky. It shouldn't be anything the time won't heal", he sat the glasses back on his nose.
A smile came to Almanzo's face, relieved about the good news, "I'm glad to hear that, Doc. As Eliza told me that Beth had still been unconscious, I-"
"Oh, she still is", Doc interrupted the young man by putting his hand on Almanzo's arm.
"What?" he asked confused, "But you just said-"
"I said that it's hard to tell right now, because she's still unconscious and that might take a few days. From what I can say she isn't suffering on any internal injury, but I can't be sure until Laura is awake." He explained sympathetically.
Almanzo couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Why is Doc talking about it like it would be such a good thing, when Beth was still unconscious? What if she'll never wake up? What if...
Doc, who noticed the concern in Almanzo's face continued, "Almanzo, it's normal that a person who had an accident is unconscious for some time. It's a self-protection of the human body so it has the time to recover both from the shock and the injuries. Laura has some bad bruises, if she would be awake, she'd have to deal with the pain. This way she can rest until her body is ready. All we can do is wait and hope that it is the way it seems to be." He smiled at the young man in front of him.
Almanzo just nodded, still too confused about what he'd just heard "Are they... Are Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls with her right now?"
"No", Doc took his hand from Almanzo's arm, "I told them to rest for some hours. It will take some time until Laura awakes and then she'll need her family to be fit."
"I see... Could I...?"
"I don't see why not, Almanzo", Doc Baker stepped aside to show him that he could enter, "but remember; she's unconscious."
Almanzo nodded before crossing the front room and slipping hesitantly through the green curtains. As soon as he saw her, he stopped and forgot to breathe for one moment. The blanket wrapped tight around her, Laura slept on the cot. Slowly he stepped closer, as if being afraid to wake her.
Laura's face was pale, too pale with her dark auburn hair surrounding it. A bandage was visible on her shoulder under the nightgown she wore. Almanzo couldn't believe that this should be his Beth. That Beth, whose cheerful laugh he heard every day, standing on the platform of the Feed and Seed, while she was running with her siblings towards school.
To see her like that just felt so wrong. Almanzo somehow suddenly felt cold. He sat down in the chair next to her and tried to ignore that feeling. If he couldn't see how her ribcage was falling and rising, he'd think she wasn't alive, as there were no movements visible on her face.
The front-door snapped shut and Almanzo thought Doc must have left the office since he'd been about to go somewhere, when he'd been coming.
The small room was so silent. He wanted her to say something mischievous, he wanted her to make him smile, but all Almanzo could hear was her steady breathing.
"Beth?" he nearly whispered and felt so dumb to talk to someone who couldn't even hear him. But the silence was even worse. Almanzo put his hat on the end of the bed and touched Laura's hand carefully with his. As she didn't stir, he left his hand upon hers looking at them.
"Why do you get yourself always in trouble, Beth?" he shook his head with a small smile curling his lips. He suddenly remembered all the things that happened between them; her calling him "Manly" and how she'd put cayenne pepper instead of cinnamon on the chicken, how he'd had to pull her out of the mud and how she'd convinced the children to fight against Bart Slater.
He'll never know anyone who could compare to Beth.
"It's strange to talk to you without you answering..." Almanzo looked at her emotionless face, "I guess I just wanted to let you know that I would really appreciate it, if you would get better soon, Beth", he chuckled, "it's kinda boring without my favourite girl" he smiled sadly at her. "And I promise you something; I'll take you out on a buggy ride, once you're well enough. But just if you promise to not always bring yourself in these kinda situations. Deal?"
Almanzo shook his head. What was he doing? She couldn't even hear him and he was asking her questions! With one last look at their hands, Almanzo removed his to take the hat and slowly stood up.
He turned one more time on the curtain, wishing there'd be something he could do, before pulling it aside and stepping outside.
Just as he stood next to Doc Bakers desk, he heard chattering voices which came nearer and nearer and before Almanzo was even able to curse himself, the door swung open with Doc Baker holding it open so that Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls could step in.
Both looked with a hint of confusion questioningly at the blond man in front of them.
"Mrs. Ingalls, Mr. Ingalls", Almanzo greeted them politely.
"Morning Almanzo" Caroline smiled at him while Charles knitted his eyebrows
"Almanzo" he greeted him warily, "what brings you here so early?"
"Uh, I..." Almanzo looked at his hand which fiddled with his hat.
"Almanzo brought me some medical supplies I've ordered" Doc finished the sentence for him, "Thanks again, Almanzo" he smiled at the young man.
"Uh, no problem Doc" he answered puzzled, before hesitatingly putting his hat back on his head and leaving the office past Laura's parents.
All three looked after him as he made his way to the Feed and Seed.
"He didn't bring you any supplies, did he?" Charles now turned to his good friend.
"No", Doctor Baker shook his head smilingly, "he came to ask how Laura's doing."
"But then why was he-" Charles started with clenched teeth.
"Charles", Caroline put her hand calming on his upper arm, "they are good friends. You should be thankful that your daughter has a good friend like Almanzo who's concerned about her", she smiled.
"I suppose" Charles admitted reluctantly. It wasn't that he didn't like Almanzo Wilder - he just wished he knew for sure that friendship was all this man wanted from his daughter, who was in love with him since he moved to Walnut Grove half a year ago.
