Chapter 7

Three days later, the new minister, Reverend Robert Miller, arrived late in the afternoon. Rose and little Royal were coming out of the General Store when they saw the stage drive up. Albert had explained that Jenny would need all the rest she could get, so Laura and Rose were both helping with chores. Almanzo and Jeb were doing odd jobs around the farm. Almanzo had already been approached by some of the men to help out at the mill part time and he agreed.

Rose adjusted the stuffed paper bag with her left hand and held onto Royal's hand with her right. She watched him walk off the stage.

"That must be the new Reverend that Grandpa and Mr. Oleson were talking about," Rose said to her little charge as they walked down the stairs. She had her long dark hair in a braid down her back this morning so it wouldn't get in her way as she worked. She watched as the driver handed him his bag, then climbed back on the stage.

Rose stared at him. He certainly was young. Maybe somewhere in his early twenties, she supposed. He was tall and good looking with wavy brown hair. She couldn't see his eyes, as she was standing directly across the street from the church. She had to deliver a message from Mr. Oleson saying that he would be a little late showing him his new room.

"Come on, Roy, let's cross the street," she said, holding tighter onto his hand.

"Excuse me," she heard a voice call out. She turned quickly and found him looking into her wide brown eyes. He has brown eyes too, she thought and smiled. "May I help you?" she asked.

"Yes, you may," he answered, smiling down at her. "Can you direct me to the General Store? I'm supposed to meet a Mr. William Oleson here."

"He should be coming out any minute, he told me to let you know. I'm Rose Wilder," she told him, "and this is my little nephew, Royal Carter."

"Well," the Reverend said, "it's nice to meet you both" although he had eyes only for her.

"Well, there you are," another voice interrupted, but this one sounded like her father. She turned and found him staring down at her. He was with standing with Mr. Oleson.

"You must be the Reverend Miller," Almanzo said, extending his hand. "I'm Almanzo Wilder and this is William Oleson, proprietor of the General Store." He looked at Rose. "Your mother is probably wondering where you are, young lady," he said

"Nice to meet both of you," the Reverend smiled. He turned to Almanzo. "I guess that this your beautiful daughter?"

"I asked her to convey a message, Almanzo," Willie said, looking at him. He turned back to the Reverend Miller.

"I hear that you will need a room until you get settled," he said, changing the subject. "It's up on the third floor of the store. My wife is making up the room now."

As Willie started to lead him away, he turned. "It was nice to meet you, Rose Wilder," he called out. "Hope to see you in church on Sunday."

"Oh, you will," Almanzo called out, "along with the rest of my family." He turned to his daughter.

"And you should be gettin' on home. I'll be there soon, got a few more orders to fill."

Rose smiled. "Alright, Papa. I'll see you there." She looked down. "Come on, Roy. We got chores to finish up."

Almanzo watched her as she walked up the road leading out of town, then he turned to stare at the new Reverend and Willie Oleson who were just making their way up the stairs to the store.

"We saw the new Reverend in town today," Rose said to Laura as she handed over the bag of groceries. "He sure is young and really good looking."

Laura smiled as she began to unpack it. "I'm sure he is," Laura said, as she stored the supplies in the pantry. She took the flour and sugar and brought it over the table. "Can you help me knead the dough while I take out the other two loaves?" she asked. "Then we'll have our lessons."

"Yes, Mama," Rose said, turning it over and over in her hands. She spread it out flat and placed it on the bread tray.

"You were my age when you met Papa, weren't you?"

"Yes I was, but we had to wait two years until I was seventeen to get married." She took the bread over to the small cook stove and placed it in the oven. "I'm going to check on Jenny and then we'll have our lessons."

Rose nodded and grabbed her tablet from the other room.

She heard the rig drive up and before she could run to the window, the front door opened. It was her father.

"Beth," she heard him call out as he opened the door, almost forgetting that Jenny was still inside sleeping. He looked over towards Rose sitting at the table.

"Hello, Papa," she said.

Laura opened the door. "Quiet," she said, closing the door behind her. "Jenny's asleep and Rose and I are going to start on our lesson for today."

"I wanted to talk to you about somethin'," he said, looking at Rose, "but it'll keep 'til tonight, I guess. I'll go out and help Jeb."

"Manly, we're going to have dinner at my parent's house," Laura said. "They are having the new Reverend over. Ma came here to tell me. Jeb will be home with Jenny. Everything should be fine until we get back. Albert and Sara should be getting here soon."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Almanzo said, a little angrily.

"The Reverend?" Laura asked. "What on earth has he done?"

"Almanzo," Jeb called from the front. "I can use your help,"

"Comin'" Manly called to him and took a last look at Laura before closing the door.

She looked at Rose when she sat down. "Anything go on in town today that I should know about, Rose?"

She shrugged. "Mr. Oleson asked me to tell the new Reverend that he'd be a little late. I had Roy with me. Papa saw me talking to him and walked over. That's it."

Laura smiled a little. First she couldn't get over Rose calling Willie, "Mr. Oleson." She usually thought of Willie's father, Nels. The other thing was Almanzo being over protective of his daughter.

"All right," she said, opening up her notebooks. "Where did we leave off?"