Charles felt the sprinkle of rain and stood, "You best look for some saplings, we're in for some rain. I'll get the tarp over my kit," he continued to his horse.

"Come on, Nels, shake a leg!" the doctor said as he walked by Nels into the woods.

"Yeah, sure," he muttered as he stood. "I'll be glad when this is over," he further grumbled.

Baker looked over his shoulder, "You aren't the only one, you know?"

"I know. It's just..." Nels hesitated.

"Look Nels, we know you somehow miss Harriet, and rightfully so. But you have to think on the bright side. She wasn't at the bottom of Ugly Gulch. She's somewhere over there with the Reverend..." Baker paused and turned, "the poor man..."

"Come on you two! The rain is getting heavier!" Charles called from his horse as he untied the canvas roll and walked back to the fire.

Ingalls had secured one edge on a tree by the time the doctor and Nels Oleson returned, "It sure is dark out there!" Nels exclaimed.

"Well, Nels, that does happen at night, you know..." Baker joked.

"Funny, Doc. Really funny," Nels said and frowned at the doctor.

Charles heard and decided to interrupt, "Look, if you two don't shake a leg, we're gonna be very wet and very soon!"

Baker waved over to Ingalls, he understood. "Come on Nels, lets find some twigs," the doctor said.

"I thought Charles wanted saplings," Nels stalled.

"They're pretty much the same thing if they keep that tarp up," Baker winked and Nels smiled as they foraged for suitable twigs, or saplings.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harriet Oleson placed another log on the fire and stood back. Her eyes travelled slowly over to the Reverend Alden who was still sitting next to the large fire place and totally asleep. Harriet looked around the room and spotted the old day bed under the window. Harriet walked toward it and examined the piece of furniture - certainly it was nothing to write home about, however, it was better that the Reverend lay on it rather then burn up next to the fire.

Harriet tugged and pulled the old chair closer to the fire and then went on a search for blankets.

Alden was disturbed by the commotion and coughed. His eyes opened and he looked around, "Where am I?"

Harriet walked back to the main room, "Reverend?"

Alden looked over to Harriet, "Mrs. Oleson, where am I?" his voice was more scratchy than before.

"Don't worry Reverend Alden. We're safe now..." Harriet bit nervously on her finger nails. "We're out of the cool night and in a warm place. In fact I believe that you said it was Jeremy Tyler's," she tried to smiled

"Safe from what? Jeremy? How is he?" Alden asked and looked more confused.

Harriet didn't know what to say so she quickly changed the subject, "Now Reverend, I have just made this bed up for you. Wait a few more minutes and I'll get a sheet on it and you can sleep..."

Alden blinked as he tried to focus his eyes. He had no idea what Harriet was doing because his fever clouded his mind, "Certainly Mrs. Oleson. But how is Jeremy?"

Harriet was at a loss for words, "I'll tell you once I get you settled into this bed, okay?"

Alden nodded and coughed some more. Slowly the Reverend drew his right hand down over his face to wipe away the sweat. With a deep breath he closed his eyes and rested again against the stone hearth.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Caroline sat next to the fire in the little house. Her eyes cast around the room as she heard the rain falling on the roof. She wondered where her husband was, how Harriet Oleson was and also she thought of the Reverend Alden. What a horrible thing they both must have endured - and she hoped and prayed they both survived.

Caroline bit her lip, "I should try harder to like her..." she said of Harriet Oleson. "And I should have the Reverend out for dinner more..." her eyes filled with tears. "God speed..." she said as he clutched her handkerchief.

Laura heard her mother weeping and pushed herself up from her bed in the loft. Quietly she climbed down the ladder and stood next to her mother, "Ma?"

"Oh. Laura. What are you doing up at this hour?" Caroline asked and tried to hide her tears.

"I heard what you said..." Laura smiled.

"Oh?" Caroline tried to look innocent.

"Mrs. Oleson will be all right. I know it. She's too tough to die. I'm more worried about the Reverend Alden. I just can't imagine being with Mrs. Oleson for that long..."

Caroline caught herself laughing, "Oh, that isn't nice, Laura..."

"Sorry, Ma." Laura looked down.

"I didn't say it wasn't true, however," Caroline lifted her daughter's chin and looked her daughter in the eye and they both started to giggle. "Let's go to bed. Your Pa is more than capable to look after all of them." Caroline stood and walked to the ladder with Laura, "Good night Laura."

Laura smiled broadly, "Good night Ma!" she hugged her mother before climbing back up the ladder and into her warm bed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Well Charles, I think we just go that done in time!" Baker said as he ducked in under the tarpaulin out of the rain. Nels was busy with the fire, "Sure wish we had something to eat," Nels grumbled.

"Nels, I don't remember ever when you have been so down in the mouth!" Doc Baker said flat out.

"Is it any wonder?!" Nels shot a look over to the doctor.

Baker looked down to the ground, "No, I suppose not. But, Nels...we're all in this together," he looked up at the mercantile owner.

Nels sighed, "Yes, you're right. Sorry. I really don't know what I would have done without both of you . . . "

Charles smiled and tossed Nels a can of beans, "Here you can open that," he then tossed a can opener.

Nels caught both, and smiled, "Dinner will be served in a few minutes, gentlemen," he chuckled.