Chapter 6

"So," Almanzo said, as he took his seat at the head of the table while Rose helped Laura with serve dinner.

"Eliza and Mort are spending Christmas with Mort's family in Mountain Grove," Laura said, as she placed the leftover ham on the table. "I had no idea your parents were so close."

"Well," Mort said, "it's about an hour straight up the road, not that far. My brother in law's family is from Mansfield. My sister, Amy, moved here from Boston, where we grew up, and met my brother in law. They moved out to Mountain Grove when the town needed a doctor."

"Really?" Almanzo said.

"Yes, it's true. We're staying with them out there."

"We have separate rooms," Eliza chimed in. "They actually have a large house."

"I'm sure they do, Eliza Jane." Laura said, passing the mashed potatoes.

"So your brother is a doctor?" Rose asked, heaping some potatoes onto her plate and passing it to her father.

Mort laughed. "Well, Rose, he's married to my sister, so that makes him my brother by marriage. And yes, he's a doctor, a veterinarian, which means.."

"I know," Rose said, grabbing the ham plate from Laura, "he's an animal doctor."

"Very good," Mort said, looking at Laura.

"Do you know anything about medicine, Mr. Carstairs? Do you help out while you're visiting there because we have…"

"Rose," Almanzo scolded her. "That's enough."

"No," Mort said, looking at Almanzo. "It's alright." He looked at Rose. "Between teaching jobs I did help out for awhile. I did study some aspects of medicine while I was at Harvard, but…."

Without saying another word, Rose got up from the table and took Mort's hand. "I want to show you Magic," she said, but Laura stopped her. "After supper, Rose, not now. I'm sure the little fawn will be fine."

"Fawn?" Mort asked. "There's a fawn out there?"

Almanzo nodded. "In the barn. It has a fractured leg. I put a splint on it and it should be healed in the next few days. If you'd like, I'll take you out to the barn after supper."

"Yes," Mort said, "I would like that."

Laura beamed. "Then it's settled. Oh, how long can the two of you stay?"

"Just a little after supper. Eliza and I can come back tomorrow or the next day. We'll be there until New Year's Day It's not all that far and I don't mind driving."

"Well," Mort said, turning to Rose, "looks like we'll be coming back to visit you. Is that alright?"

"We have to see if Magic likes it," Rose said, grabbing the plate of string beans.

xxxxxx

Eliza Jane helped Laura with the dishes as Mort, Almanzo and Rose made their way to the barn. It wasn't quite dark, but Almanzo lit up one of the lanterns and handed it to him.

"There he is," Almanzo said, pointing to the pallet of hay.

Mort stared, dumbstruck. "He's pure white," he said, looking over at Almanzo. "I've heard that there were white deer, but…"

"Hello Magic," Rose said, running over to the fawn and sat down next to him. Manly and Mort followed.

"Why do you call him Magic?" Mort asked Rose when they reached him.

"Because he just appeared last night, on Christmas Eve, as if by magic."

Mort looked at Almanzo, who just smiled. "It's true. I was just lucky to have some splints and some wraps. Should heal up in the next few days. Rose and I are keeping an eye on him."

Mort bent down and felt the deer's leg. "Well, Almanzo, you seem to know what you're doing,"

Almanzo shook his head. "Horses, yes, deer, no. I'm assuming it's the same thing."

"I think that's all anyone can assume right now. I can bring my brother in law by here tomorrow," Mort said, as the men stood up.

Almanzo smiled. "Thanks. That would be a big help." He looked at Mort. "Beth's got the best coffee in town and some great apple pie."

Mort nodded. "Can't wait to try some. Almanzo, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Manly said, looking over at his daughter. "Rose, time for dessert. Comin' inside?"

"Be there in a minute, Papa." Rose said, "I want to say goodbye to Magic."

"Alright, but don't take too long." He turned to Mort. "What did you want to know?"

"Why do you call Laura 'Beth?'"

Almanzo smiled and shook his head. "Well, since you asked," he said. And he led Mort out of the barn back into the house, Rose tagging behind him.

xxxxx

Mort was as good as his word. He brought back his brother in law, Asa Johnson, to the Wilder farm to check on the little fawn.

"Looks like that deer healed pretty quickly, Mr. Wilder," Dr. Johnson said, standing up. "I've already taken the splint off. Just keep him in the barn for a few more days before you set him free."

Almanzo nodded. "I just don't want my daughter gettin' too attached to that deer. She's already given him a name."

The doctor nodded. "I understand," he said. "I'll tell you something else, Mr. Wilder…"

"Almanzo," Manly said, smiling.

"Almanzo," he corrected, smiling back. "That is a beautiful white deer. Does your daughter have something to take the pain away when you do set him free?"

Almanzo nodded. "I carved her a wooden figure of a deer. It's on my work table dryin' up. Seems somethin' was wrong with that deer's right leg as well, but he should be all mended by now."

"Listen, I can give you a little somethin' for stoppin' by."

Dr. Johnson shook his head. "No need for that. I can send my assistant around tomorrow if that's alright with you."

Almanzo shook his head. "We'll be fine, but thanks for the offer."

"We'd best be going," Mort said, climbing into the buggy.

"Well," Almanzo said, "You're always invited over the house, if you ever get out this way again."

"Thanks," Dr. Johnson answered. "We just might take you up on that."

Almanzo waved as they drove away and watched until the buggy disappeared down the road, and walked inside the house. For now everything was quiet, but it wouldn't stay that way for long.