James Rocker, New guy in Walnut grove. Little house (Part eleven):
In Walnut grove today everyone was tending to a funeral set for Hector Webb. Everyone who was well enough came, including Charles Ingalls and some of his buddies, Caroline had gotten better so she was there, and the Olsen's were there too. James attended the funeral too, off into the trees out of the way of every one so they can have their time with the late departed. Albert was there getting mad all the time because his old girlfriend wasn't there at her own father's funeral. Albert was starting to think Sylvia didn't care any more about where she comes from, or even about him. He was also sad at the news that the search party for Sylvia turned up empty handed, and no one ever found a trace of her. They checked the old Webb farm and everything close to there but found nothing.
Ivan Hartwig was there too, and Iris hiding way way back in the forest so they couldn't be spotted. Ivan was showing (Sylvia ), Iris that her old world was done, she needed him and that no one in Walnut Grove really cared, when your considered an outcast of the town's people. Ivan turns to Sylvia (Iris) and says to her gently "See dear? Your old world is gone now, those town people don't care about us, and they consider us bad, they keep putting us down and shutting us out". "We need to band together with the warlords and take back what is ours, leave Walnut Grove in ruins!" Iris nods in agreement with Ivan Hartwig her new master. Sylvia's (Iris) long dark near black robe that she wears all the time now scuffs along the grass of the woods as she peeps over her father's funeral.
James done some peeping around in the woods too as soon as the town people departed from the Walnut Grove cemetery James looks over his left shoulder and sees two interesting shadows falling on some trees, he got the sixths sense that he wasn't the only one in the woods that day. After a while James decided to go join his new people in service of a wake and lunch, after he goes back to the woods once again.
After the funeral service there was a small wake for Hector Webb, and a small gathering of people who were better from a round of poisoning and illness that had plagued them several weeks ago. James the new doctor went there to get lunch and try to get to know some of the locals in Walnut grove. He did so but always kept a close eye on the woods behind the town because he knew there were some people hiding somewhere.
James went and mingled in the small crowd who had attended the service. Finally Doctor Baker did come out and join them, even the doctor was getting a little better which made Charles sigh a sigh of relief. Laura and Amlanzo couldn't come because they had worked to do on their farm to catch up on since they were gone for a while.
James got together and sat next to Doctor Baker to get caught up with the town's news. James was talking to Doctor Baker about finding himself a place to stay. Hiram Baker offered up the old Webb's place for James to shack up in while he's here helping out. Charles Ingalls came over to visit with them, and agreed that James should try to stay there to see how it goes. Then Albert came over who seemed somewhat sad today, and James asked him how he was James said "Hi Albert how is my young helper today?" Albert looks at James, and smiles gently then says "As well as to be expected I suppose". James looks concerned at Albert and says "Oh something didn't go right today?" Albert shrugs and says "No not really just was waiting to see someone but they never showed, I guess I don't mean anything to them anymore".
James smiles and says sadly "yeah that is too bad, hey, I've been thinking your Doctor is thinking of keeping me on for a while longer to make sure this epidemic is gone, and I get to stay at the Old Webb farm, would you like for me to help you learn to walk again?" Albert looks at James and says "Really? When do you move into the old Webb place?" James replies back "Late Tomorrow evening if you want you can come over the next day maybe I can get you started on some therapy?" Albert shrugs and says "Well….I….."
Charles Ingalls comes back over to James and Albert after he got a cup of coffee and says "What are we talking about?" James looks at Charles and smiles then says "We're talking about helping Albert in learning to walk again if that is okay with you folks". Charles smiles as he takes the cup of coffee to his mouth to take a swallow, and then says "Yeah that be great I think he should try". Caroline comes over to check on Albert and see if he wanted any more to eat. Charles tells Caroline "Dear, Doctor James here thinks he can help Albert walk again". Caroline's face really lit up at the proposition but then she remembers what Doctor Baker had originally said. Caroline says "How can it be?" Charles says "Maybe we ought to let the new doctor try his way?"
Caroline smiles and says "Okay as long as it doesn't hurt him". Albert tries to get a word in edge wise against his ma's wishes. Albert says "Ma….! I ….don't ….need help!" Caroline looks at Albert and says gently "Yes son you do, I think your planning on being in that chair forever". Albert says gruffly "Well, my plans for life fell through! What do you expect?" Caroline tries to gently correct Albert, she states plainly, "Not in front of the nice doctor do we complain about our misfortunes!"
Albert scoffs and says "I don't have any misfortunes Ma! Just unforgiving circumstances!" Caroline sighs and says gently "Albert you know I am talking about you and Sylvia, it wasn't meant to be son". Albert looks scornfully at Ma and she dropped the subject.
James says "Sorry if I caused any old feeling to stir up". Caroline shakes her head as she sat down, and explains "No James you didn't stir up anything bad, it's just my son here thought he was in love with the neighbor girl is all". James sighs and says "Ah first love lad?" Albert looks at James then he blushes and says "yes sir my first serious love that is". Caroline glares at Albert, and then James says "Well, son hang in there". Albert nods. Finally the lunch was done Doctor Baker came over to get James so he could show him where all of the patience live around Walnut Grove. The Ingalls family went back home, so did the Olsen's, all of the other locals went back to their daily routines.
Everyone left the funeral service and cemetery except for the two people hiding in the woods keeping their profile on the down low. Ivan Hartwig and Iris were watching the last of the people leaving and going on about their day. Ivan in his softest voice says to his new girlfriend "See dear even your old boyfriend leaves without shedding a tear!" Iris watches from a clump of trees. She holds back her true feelings and tells Ivan in her quietest voice, "I don't care about those people anymore all I care about is you and our happiness together". She says as she walks over and puts her arms around his neck just to hang on to him. Then Sylvia (Iris) and Hartwig share a kiss in the woods as the sun was slowly setting down into the night sky.
…..
Finally James was able to call it a day, but not really he got to his new place of residence called the Webb farm, James got some of his stuff moved into the Webb farm after he was done with meeting everyone, and Doctor Baker giving him the run down on everyone in town. Then James remembered about an arranged meeting, that he had planned for later that evening, so he went into the woods.
He did so since no one was around but him. He had a special place to be and a reason. He was waiting on someone to show up.
James found him a nice little cleared spot in the woods and got a mirror out that was really reflective, and shined it in the sunlight to convey a message to someone he was waiting on. James was hoping the receiver of his encoded message didn't miss it.
Way up on the other side Arthur and Jack had seen a funny flash of light from the other side of their hill. Arthur turns to Jack taps him on the shoulder for his attention, he points to the flash of sunlight he's seeing. Arthur says to Jack, "That's Pa he's letting us know we need to get his horse to him now". Jack nods and says "Sure thing been waiting out here all dang day! About time! I'll go get her saddled and ready". Jack gets up dusts himself off for he was just like his Pa, a fancy dresser and not wanting to get dirty.
Jack walks over to a big stout wide barreled Thoroughbred looking horse, and starts to put the saddle on it. Jack leads the fancy bred horse tacked up with fancy western saddle and bridle, to his horse and climbs on his horse and Arthur get on top of his horse too. Arthur and Jack make tracks up to the other hill side where their Pa James had been waiting on them. After a forty five minute ride Arthur was the first to meet his Pa, and Jack followed behind.
Arthur says "Here Pa here is your pride and joy, your favorite horse for all eternity. James smiles at his son and says "Just glad you was looking out and got my message!" James says as he pats his horse affectionately and checks over his tack to make sure everything is nice and snug. Jack his younger son hands over a doctor's looking bag full of medical equipment and Jack asks his Pa, "Pa how long are we going keep doing this?" James laughs and says "Until we get the job done son!
Arthur says, "Can you stop this guy by yourself Pa?" James says "I can and I got you two here for a reason son! Not time yet to cause excitement!" Jack says "Arthur is just getting ancy! How evil is Hartwig? Pa?
James says solemnly "I hope none of you ever run into a guy like him! In life!" After James says that he mounts his special horse, and gives his sons some more instructions on what to do next. Then After a few hours of the meeting James turns his horse and trots nice and smooth over the rough terrain heading back to the Webb farm. ( To Be Continued).
