Caroline Hands out Smack! Sylvia and hartwig story (Chapter twenty one):
Caroline had a rare day off from everyone in her family. Albert was over at James place helping him, after Albert and Charles had a discussion that it was okay to a certain point, before Charles went on his trip to see Running Hawk.
Carrie and Grace were over to Laura's and Alamazo's place spending some quality time with them. So Caroline basically had some time for herself now. So after she got her own breakfast done and over with, she did up her dishes put them on the drying rack.
She got everything done a lot quicker today than most days without every one being around. So after the morning chores were done she had extra time on her hands more than normal. It was such a nice day outside she thought of taking her basket which has been sitting idle for a while and to go find some wild flowers for the center of her kitchen table.
She went for her basket and put a white lien cloth to protect the bottom of the basket just in case some petals of the flowers would fall she would hopefully still catch them.
She packed herself a light lunch just in case she went walking in the woods for way too long to make it back before then. Once that was done she went to hike into the woods to see if she could find some berries or maybe even flowers.
Off to the woods Caroline went for the day, the sun was nice, and there was only a light breeze that came and went with the day. Caroline made it up to the hill top where the wild flowers grew every year, like clockwork, she bent over to smell the daises and peonies as well as some wild roses off to the far end of the hill.
There was someone else there doing something similar that same day. Caroline thought she saw a shadow moving along in the woods on the other side. Most of the time she didn't let it bother her but it distracted her from picking her flowers. She got interested in it and decided to go see what was making the shadow.
Caroline slowly and carefully walked through the woods, briers, weeds, along with brush to get to where she wanted to be. She followed the figure making the shadow deep into the forest without the other person knowing, for quite a while.
The figure turned and seen Caroline there standing still with her basket in hand. She had her red knitted shawl around her shoulders draping down past her waist with her white gray print dress on for the day. The figure was Iris Hartwig out in the woods collecting plants for teas and spells she was working on for Ivan and herself.
Iris turned to face Caroline and look her right in the eyes. Caroline didn't flinch or back away, she stared right back at Iris. Iris was in her black cloak with her lacy black dress and black hair short. Caroline quietly says "Hello". Iris says "Hello", to right back. Their talk didn't end there, it continued deeper into the forest as the two women walked together.
Iris says "What brings you out here in the woods?" Caroline says gently, "I always come out here to get a few nice flowers in the summer time, or even in the fall, you?"
Iris swallows and says "I am just looking for some fresh herbs and things like rose Mary and mustard plant that sort of stuff". Maybe even some lavender if I get lucky today". Caroline nods in agreement to say "yes dear nice day isn't it to be out and get some fresh air?" Iris nods and says "Yes Mama it is".
Caroline leans up against a tree to rest a bit, and then she bends down to pick up a tiny little wildflower next to her shoes. She sighs and plays a little with the flower, swallows and looks up at Iris. She says "Dear, what are your intentions with my boy Albert?" Iris swallows and tries to hide her surprised look, she says "What are you talking about Mrs. Ingalls?"
Caroline says as a matter of fact tone, "You heard me! What are your intentions with Albert?" Iris says calmly, "I don't think that topic is your concern Mama".
Caroline says with a smile "We all know you and Ivan are up to something! The whole town is on you! "I know you had a child with Ivan, so I know you don't really love Albert these days".
Iris says "Mrs. Ingalls that person is not me these days, please understand". Caroline laughs hard and sits down under the tree to look up at Iris better; she says "Dear, Albert doesn't need you in his plans! He is meant for greater things in life than you! Let him go!"
Iris swallows and says "He is free to choose whatever path he wants to chase". "I am doing nothing to influence him if that is what you mean".
Caroline smiles her I know what you're up to motherly smile to say "Dear, you're in such hot water with your family that it isn't funny, and having a child out of wet lock puts you way below everyone else! Whatever path you're going down, don't drag Albert with you! Please!"
Iris says "I am not doing anything wrong I am following my own path I have no family no more, Mrs. Ingalls, not like Albert has, I didn't have a life in Walnut grove, like Albert did, no one accepted me for who I was".
Caroline looks at Iris and says "Dear, it's never too late to start over! Go to a new town meet new people re-invent yourself". "Just leave Albert out of your plans!"
Iris says cheerfully Mrs. Ingalls with all due respect, thanks for the advice but I am already in my new life! I am Iris Hartwig!"
Caroline smiles again just to say "Dear, here is some free advice I would think twice about going along with Hartwig and his plan. You see he is using you to get power, through you the mine on your place, he also wants the minerals and some silly thing called revenge." "Except hartwig forgot something, usually revenge doesn't work!" "I know! "Been there!" "Dear it's time for you to leave here for good, not come back for a while". Caroline swallows and then continues "If you are thinking of using Albert to spy on James it's not going to work, or if you're thinking of brain washing Albert I'll make sure that he will be allowed to spend more time with James than you if I have to! You're not going to get Albert on your side!"
Iris says gently without losing her control, "Mrs. Ingalls let me assure you, I am not here to influence Albert in any way, if he comes to our side it's from his own choosing not mine, or anyone else's, and for the record no harm will ever come to Albert physically or mentally". Caroline says "Yeah you seem to forget the day at the Atkins place where he took a fall for you! For you! Dear, you forgot that! He's already been hurt because of you! It's all your fault!" Caroline says in agitation, "You need to grow up dear, become a real woman admit your faults here, and throw in the towel! You've lost here before the battle ever begun, and I will make sure that you won't drag Albert down with you do I make myself clear?" Iris nods her head yes even though she didn't really care about what Mrs. Ingalls was trying to tell her.
Caroline told her one last line that was sort of got to Iris she said finally what she has been forever holding in, Caroline stated this "I think that you're a hussy just wanting attention from somebody anyone and you'll go for the first person to lay eyes on you! Also dear, I think it should have been you to take that fall at the Atkins place that day not Albert! Not my son! My son fell defending your honor and what do you do? Run off with Hartwig not being very grown up here are we dearie?"
Iris nods, and then Caroline returns back to her normal happy nature, she says to Iris "Well I hope you give it some thought what I had said, and hopefully one day you will realize I was right, and make the right choice".
After that the girls never really said good bye but they went their separate ways and Caroline did feel like a heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders feeling good about what she said to Iris and getting to confront her face to face made her feel normal once again. So Caroline smiled her biggest happiest smile she has ever smiled in a long time she went to go find her wild flowers and went to picking them. (To Be continued).