Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. All original characters and plot are the property of the author. No copyright infringement is intended.
"Ha! Go Ty! Hup!" Elise shouted as she pushed the backside of a boulder tethered to the shire. He leaned into the snug harness, his huge hooves digging into the muddied earth. The mud had worked its way almost to knee height on her skirt and her hands were covered also. Having learned her lesson, she had bought a wide, sturdy brimmed hat to keep from letting rain run down the back of her neck.
This was the last boulder to be moved so a wagon could make it to the house by the river. Willie Oleson had chopped down several trees and had his wagon team drag the dug up stumps into the woods. The trees had been cut up and she was supposed to be loading them up into the wagon but decided she could move the taunting rock by herself.
Visibly, it came up to her waist and now it finally started to slide as she pushed against it. As it slid, it's previously buried side dug into the ground but now that it was moving Titan pulled it easily.
"Go Ty go!" She started to laugh in triumph! She had to walk faster to keep up until it was well out of the way and she halted the horse and started to untie the ropes.
A whinny behind her told her Mr. Oleson was back. She went to move the stray hair from her face and coiled up the ropes and started back, Titan followed her of course.
Willie had brought the horses to the wagon and was looking at the deep groove the rock had left in the ground on its way to it's new resting place.
Without saying anything he grabbed a shovel and went over and started to fill in the trench.
"Oh, don't worry I can do that." She hurried over to him.
"You did the hard part." He said and looked at her over his shoulder. A rare half smile pushed up one of his cheeks and he looked back quickly to his work.
Elise raised an eyebrow at whatever he found amusing. "What?"
"Hmm?" Willie deflected and kept digging.
Deciding to let him have his withholding way she turned back and began to pick up the last few logs and put them in the wagon.
They had been working on the road for three days and mostly in silence. It didn't bother her any as she didn't have to worry about any awkward questions. It also gave her time to think. As soon as this cabin was finished she would hand it over to him and his family with a thousand dollar bank note and a request for the Spindletop deed. After that, she wasn't sure what she was going to do. The men who were after her, if they were still after her, seemed so desperate to get the deed. She wondered if she could sell it to a bank and have done with it, she would speak with Mr. Anderson when she returned to town.
All she wanted to know was what had become of her father. It physically took her breath away to think of what they had done with him. She felt like a coward for not going directly back to Saint Louis and telling the authorities. But after what McBride had said about tracking down her mother and the passive nature the state would have in her case, she had gone directly to where her father had told her. Now if she just left and got on a train to Salt Lake, then what would happen? Vahn would find them there? If she could get a hold of the deed and get rid of it for good maybe he would leave them alone.
She had acted out of survival instinct and fear. Even now thinking about it she just wanted to run away from it and block it from her memory forever.
Working just this long with Nels' son, she had decided he was a very quiet, melancholy person. He was polite enough which was interesting having met his mother. But she wondered if it was his nature or if something had happened to him to make him this way. She felt changed herself after her father's death and so it was a possibility.
She threw the last of the logs in the wagon and went to hook up the sorrel team. Finishing his own task, Willie came over and pulled out a worn handkerchief and handed it to her. She gave him a puzzled look.
Pointing to her cheek he said, "Oh you have...dirt there."
Her fingers went to inspect and indeed there was mud on her cheek, probably where she had pulled the hair aside earlier.
"Thank you. You know you should always let a lady know about something like that right away." She wiped at it. "Well, we're done?"
He looked around as he finished hooking up the harnesses.
"With the easy part. We've got a couple hours left until noon, do you want to go start on the house or head home?" He put the decision to her.
The more they got done the faster she could feel her duty to her father's memory fulfilled and she could move on. "Lets start the house I think. Do you mind if I ride in the wagon? I just dragged my mounting block into the woods."
Willie looked at her with surprise, "Miss O'Shea, you don't have to ask something like that. I thought you just always preferred to ride Ty."
"Oh I do." She reassured him and went to climb up in the wagon. He helped her up and crawled up after her. He urged the horses and turned them into the new road.
Hearing his name called, Titan trotted after them like a farm mutt.
"It didn't look bad." Willie said abruptly as the rough ride went.
"Pardon?"
"The mud." He looked like he realized his comment was strange. She noticed he would direct his eyes to the ground most of the time they spoke.
"Well it's a good thing I wear it regularly." She joked, trying to lighten his mood.
The low smile came back briefly and he continued driving without saying anything else.
Back at the cabin, it was more cleanup than anything, They tore down anything that wasn't a wall inside. He said the bones of the roof were pretty solid, only one or two beams should be replaced.
Elise pulled the old fold out bed away, remembering that it was there that she had found the picture, book and table. She had said nothing of them to Willie as she wanted to put them in the house as a present when they had finished. She would re-varnish the table and clean the other items nicely.
They took measurements for the windows so as to order them ahead of time to get them before winter weather slowed the shipping times.
At last they headed back to town. They were just turning onto the main road when a light buggy came over the hill and towards them. Elise was now on Ty and she pulled in front of the wagon so the buggy could pass. But as it approached them, she could see it was Albert Ingalls and he waved at her, pulling up his grey-white mare.
"Elise!" He smiled boyishly at her, then took in the state of her clothing. "Has there been a landslide?" His eyes fell back onto Willie who had just stopped behind her patiently.
Surely she had gotten all the mud off her face this time she assured herself.
"I'm, we're fixing a cabin up Sun Canyon. Mr. Oleson is helping me as I'm sure it would fall over if it were left to me." She explained. She wasn't sure what Willie was doing behind her but it earned a scowl from the doctor.
Albert then turned back to her, "That's interesting! Sounds permanent. I would like to see it sometime, when you're not busy working on it." His smile was back.
"Of course doctor…" She promised.
"Please call me Albert. Are you coming to the game tomorrow? We need a big cheering section."
"Because the dozen or so people in the Red Falls cheering section might over power our whole town?" Willie mumbled facetiously from the wagon.
Of course not many supporters traveled the long distance.
Frowning Albert looked back at Willie, "If we're holding you up Mr. Oleson you can go on ahead."
An immediate encouraging slap of the reins sounded and the wagon passed by Elise and Albert. Willie's face was calm and unbothered. She watched him go for a moment before Albert spoke again.
"Great craftsman, but lousy company I'll bet." Albert chuckled.
"I thought you two were friends?" She asked with interest.
He shrugged, "Oh yeah. Of course, since childhood. But I've broken his nose twice too for being a pain. He's broken Andy's. We're all still friends. I find honesty a vital part of friendship and honestly, Willie Oleson is lousy company."
Elise looked from him to the disappearing wagon going over the hill. "I'm not paying him for his company."
Albert laughed again, "Well I've got to get going, I'm headed to my parent's house. You should come out to say hi?"
"Oh I'd love to, but I'm expected at the restaurant and I have to stop here at the Carters to put an announcement in the Walnut Grove Gazette. Thank you though Mr...Albert."
"What announcement?" He asked curiously.
"I'm directing the children's choir this year for the Christmas pageant. I wanted to make sure as many people knew about it as possible. I'll put practice times and everything for the parents."
Albert smiled, "I heard you have a lovely voice. I hope to hear it soon, and I hope you come tomorrow."
"I appreciate that. Perhaps I will come." Elise returned his smile and kicked her horse towards the house just a little way off.
Albert watched after her for a moment then snapped his buggy whip over his horse's rump.
Not many girls her age would be found covered in mud that was for sure. From the little he had learned about her, she was quite different than any girls he had known and she fascinated him.
It didn't take long to get to his parent's house and he was greeted by Grace who, by now, was very lonely without Cassandra around.
His mother served him a fresh piece of rhubarb pie on the porch and sat down to ask him how everything was.
"Oh great," He said around a generous bite. "Keeping busy that's for sure."
"How's Victoria Terhune?" Caroline dabbed at her forehead with the end of her apron.
"She's great, the leg is healing up nicely and not a bit of infection. Hester Sue said it's been a chore keeping her off of it." Reported Albert.
"You know we're so proud of you Albert. I've never seen your father so content in his life." His mother mused. "It's as if all his work and sacrifice is finally paying off, seeing you children growing up and coming into your own."
The fork clinked against the porcelain plate as Albert finished his pie. "Well, I seem to remember doing some of the studying to graduate from medical school myself." He teased her.
"Albert, you know what I mean. Oh Grace! Could you bring in the wash? I've left it all morning." Grace obediently hopped up and started down the stairs and around the house.
Then her face peeked in through the slats of the porch railing. "Albert, would you have time to help me with my arithmetic before you go?"
"If there's time Gracey." He smiled at her.
After the girl had grinned back she left. Albert took out his pocket watch. "So Pa's just talking to Rev. Alden? Is there a mayoratorial position opening in heaven?"
With a shocked gasp Caroline flicked at him lightly, "That's irreverent Albert!"
He couldn't help but laugh and on cue the door opened letting the elderly minister out followed by Charles.
The reverend's face was troubled but he forced a smile, "Thank you Charles I appreciate your opinion. I'll think on it further." He turned to see Caroline and Albert, "Albert! Nice to see you. Caroline, thank you for the wonderful pie, it gets better every time as impossible as that is."
She thanked him graciously and he put on his hat and went to his buggy which was parked next to Albert's. They watched him pull out and down the tree lined lane.
Charles waved then turned to them, "One appointment done with. Andy not here yet?"
Albert and Caroline shook their heads.
"So what did Rev. Alden need?" Caroline asked as she collected the dishes.
"Well he's going to be out of town next week and couldn't get Rev. Little to fill in for him so he asked if I could do the sermon." Charles explained.
"Oh well he looked bothered is all, is everything alright?" She inquired in her caring way.
"He mentioned he had reservations about Miss O'Shea leading the children's choir this year."
This brought both Caroline and Albert's heads up.
"Why ever not?" His wife asked in confusion.
"Well he said he wasn't sure of just what her intentions are for being here or her background." Charles told them.
Albert spoke up, "She's a friend of the Oleson family and is stopping through on request of her passed father. I don't know how questionable that could be."
"She speaks well and has good manners. She's wonderful with the children. I don't understand what the Reverend could be thinking of." Caroline shrugged.
Charles sighed, "Well he said there might be some connection to Nels and New Orleans. He said he has been unable to verify her story. To be honest, I don't know what's set him off in the first place."
"Yes it's unlike him to be suspicious of anyone." Caroline agreed.
Albert had been frowning and looking off into the distance, "I think he's just getting a little senile…"
For the second time his mother was left flabbergasted, "Albert!"
"We've taught you to respect your elders Albert now I'll have none of that." Lectured his father.
"If you haven't noticed Pa, I'm a grown man and I'm a doctor. Diagnosis is my business. I also think I have the right to an opinion." Stated Albert directly. "I'll also be asking Miss O'Shea to the dance and you can tell Rev. Alden I'll investigate for him to see if she's friend or foe."
Their son's declaration left them both quiet. Reverend Alden was one of the most accepting souls to walk the earth so his reservations about O'Shea were surprising.
His notion of her being connected to New Orleans was in reference to a little under two years ago when Nels made a trip to 'The Crescent City' to secure some money left to him by his well to do cousin. The Oleson family was in dire need of the funds with Willie in medical school in Chicago. Nels himself admitted he lost the money there gambling. Not long after he died, complaining of chest pains. If the Reverend was worried that Miss O'Shea had some connection to the gambling and questionable affairs that surround it, then he might be worried about her presence in the community. But surely it couldn't be the case and that was what Charles had tried to assure him of.
A lone horseman came up the drive at a trot and Charles remarked to his son, "Albert, there will be no reason to worry about Rev. Alden. I'm sure it will pass."
The young doctor barely heard him as he watched his friend Andrew Garvey ride up to the yard and dismount. His new mustache had come in darker than the hair on his head and set on his face very prominently.
"Hello Andrew!" Caroline called to him as he walked up to the house, spurs ringing. "Where's Rachel?"
Taking off his hat Andy said, "Not feeling well Ma'am. Just needs some sleep."
"We'll make it quick so you can get back to her." Charles shook his hand.
"Do you need me to come out?" Albert asked standing.
Andy shook his head, "Just tired she reckons."
"Would you care for some pie Andrew?" Caroline went to the door to fetch it.
"No thanks Ma'am, just ate."
Caroline nodded, "Then I'll go clean up and leave you men to it."
Charles motioned at another chair on the porch for Andy and sat in one himself. Albert remained standing but leaned against the side of the house beside his father.
He had planned to be here when Andy said Charles had wanted to meet with him about a few things. The plans to buy the Nocturne most likely to be one of them. Albert had it all worked out and just needed Andy to play his part to keep everything how it was. That was how Albert liked it.
The two civil servants spoke about a few other things, Albert throwing in his two cents when asked. Then finally Charles leaned back, lighting his pipe.
"So did you ever get to talk to Mr. Murdock about who to ask about buying out that saloon?" Charles asked easily.
Albert flinched, he hated it when people called it a common saloon. They had obviously not been inside. For sure his father had not.
Andy glanced at Albert briefly.
"Yes sir, he said it was a company and he didn't know any name in particular. But if you just wrote a letter of intent and offer, he'd more than happy to pass it on to an office address in Chicago for you."
Perfect. Andy had listened very closely and presented it just as Albert had coached him to.
Mr. Ingalls' eyebrows knitted together in disappointment.
"The man doesn't even know who he works for? Someone had to hire him." He said slowly. Albert could see the wheels in his mind turning.
"Sometimes these companies really don't have a single owner Pa. They have investors and boards and such. I'd try the letter first." Albert tried to direct the subject back onto a safe path.
"Yes fine fine. I will. Either way it sounds like it's going to be a while until we get that building." Sighed the Mayor and he puffed on his pipe for a while then moved onto other topics.
It had gone well enough for Albert. Now he just had to make sure the rest of his plan was set just in case his father decided to be stubborn about this.
Note: I love writing for Albert, he's just so interesting and human.