The next morning, Annabella woke up alone in the bed. Where was Wanda? She went downstairs and saw both of her parents.
"Goodmorning, Annabella."
"Mornin'. Have you two seen Wanda? She wasn't in bed."
"No."
Willie went outside to look for her while Annabella went back into the bedroom to see if Wanda left any sort of clue if she went far.
Annabella almost screamed after she read the note. She brought it downstairs and showed Wanda's parents.
Tears filled Rachel's eyes and Willie's widened.
"I'm going to get Albert and get him to help me find her. Annabella, you go on home." With that, Willie climbed onto his horse and rode toward Albert's house.
When Annabella got home, her father and Willie had already left. She was greeted by her mother.
"Oh, Annie! When you didn't come home with Willie I thought you went with her," cried Sylvia.
"No, ma, I didn't."
Albert and Willie stopped to give the horses a rest. When Willie hopped off and walked a few steps, he fell to his knees, crouched over, hugged himself, and cried.
Albert felt sorry for his long-time friend. He walked over and knelt down. "We'll find her. Don't worry, we will." Willie didn't listen. He got up, and walked away.
After an hour, the two men started their search again.
Surprisingly, they found Wanda crying behind a tree in a meadow, far away from home.
Willie ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He reached her and knelt down in front of her.
"Wanda?" he said breathlessly and crying. The girl looked up.
"Papa?" He nodded.
"Papa!" She jumped into her father's arms.
"I'm sorry! I'll never run away again! Please forgive me!" she cried.
"Shh, shh, it's alright. I'm here now. I've got you, you're safe," Willie said as he tried to calm her and himself down. They parted from eachother.
"Wanda, your mother and I read your note. I know that you were listening to our conversation last night. You didn't hear me finish my sentence. I said: I don't want to spend time with you because when I come home, I'm always in a bad mood because I'm tired, and I don't wann hurt your feelings. Now I see that I always was. Please forgive me and your mama."
"I do, Papa." the two hugged again. Willie and Wanda let their tears flow. Willie picked up his crying daughter and walked over to the horses.
That night, Wanda slept with her parents. While her mother slept, she and her father talked in a whisper.
Wanda didn't know that her father could be so funny. He had taken the rest of the month off, as did his wife, so that they could spend time as a real family. Her mother was watching her husband and daughter play hide and seek. Willie was hiding from Wanda. He was behind a tree. He crept out quietly behind Wanda and tickled her from behind.
The girl screamed, startled, as she and her father both fell to the ground.
An hour later, the three were playing chase. Rachel and Willie were running from Wanda. The two adults were wore out and they both fell to the ground. Wanda fell on top of them. All three were out of breath.
"Oh, that's it, we can't run another step."
"Me neither. I love you Mama and Papa."
Willie stroked his daughter's hair, "We love you too, pumpkin."
Wanda laid her head down on her father's chest.
Suddenly, a strong wind almost carried Wanda away. Somehow, all three of the family members got knocked out.
Wanda opened her eyes to see her father's head resting on the bed she was laying on.
She shook his shoulder and he jerked awake.
He sighed in relief when he saw his daughter awake.
"Oh, Wanda. You're alright." He was smiling and his eyes showed the relief and happiness he felt. That was the first time Wanda ever saw that with her father.
Wanda looked over and saw the Ingalls family waiting for their daughter to wake up.
"How did the Ingalls get here? Where are we, Papa?"
"Well, Wandy, from what I saw outside, we're in the past when Albert and I were younger."
Wanda's eyes widened. Then, she yawned.
"You go back to sleep. I'll wake you when Annabella wakes up.
Wanda nodded and instantly floated into dreamland.
An hour later, Annabella had woken up.