A Dark meeting! Albert and Ivan Hartwig! Story (Chapter twenty six):

Albert was mad as heck, because Sylvia was talking a lot to Arthur now and not to him. She still claims that she does not remember anything that has been going on or any time that she spent with Ivan Hartwig.

Harriet Olsen has been doing her part in keeping her nose in the news to keep Lars Jr, informed of the gossip since she knows that is the way that he had wanted it.

Charles and James were working out their own scheme of affairs though too in trying to get some separate time for Albert and Sylvia. At the dinner in town James and Charles were talking about the plans to send Albert on a ship for the summer to learn some working skills, and maybe find a new way of life that he never thought possible.

James makes the comment, "Well, it's all settled on my end Charles I got Ed to say its okay for him to come and be with them for the summer". Charles smiles to say "Yeah just think that way back before you came here James that boy foolishly took a fall for that girl in the Atkins place, several months back, and now she doesn't seem to remember a darn thing, wonder what caused that?"

James leans over the table and gets a closer hold of his mug to reply "Yeah I am thinking she has been drugged so many times over its not funny". Charles is taken a back, "You think Hartwig done it? Sounds reasonable though".

James nods in agreement "Yeah when we solve this case it will be big news at least for this little town that after we discover who the criminals really are". Charles says "Yeah and we don't want this Albert and Sylvia love feast messing up the works making it more confusing!" James laughs to say "won't be the first time life gets a little complicated Charles".

Charles says "Yeah and some of my visions I been having sure been confusing a lot lately". "I am glad though that if worse comes to worse we can still get Albert out of the way so he won't get tangled up in this mess". "Do you have a plan to destroy the mine once and for all?" Charles had asked James before they saw Doctor Baker walking up to the dinner.

Dr. Baker comes into the Dinner where Charles and James were sitting he joins them in company. Hiram says "Man this town is a buzz now about the Webb girl being in jail and all; I can't go see my people without them asking me questions on the goings on in town!" The waitress comes by to give Hiram Baker a cup of coffee and a menu while the men talk more about the welfare of their town.

James says "Well, as long as they're not too personal!" Hiram says "Some of the Indians I go and doctor even want to know everything what is up with that?" "Also I even get questions from Lars Jr, Hanson talk about nosy!

He asks the most questions!" James looks up at Doc to say "Wonder why he's so concerned for, I mean every time I go over there he's always asking me or bullying me but I just shrug it off". Hiram looks at James with Concern to say "Nothing to serious that you can't handle there James?"

James shakes his head no and then replies "If it gets too rough I can always call in reinforcements". Doctor Baker smiles as he sips his coffee, to say "Glad I don't have to come running to bail you out too!"

Charles laughs "That will be my job!" Charles says as Alamanzo Wilder comes into the dinner with a look of surprise on his face, Alamanzo walks up to James to say "You better come to the jail; there has been a jail break! No one is there!"

James stands up to say "How did that happen!?" Alamanzo says "I think this one was an inside job you need to come see!" James, Charles, and Doctor Baker all forgot about their meals and went over to the jail to see what Alamanzo was talking about. After a quick walk they were at the Jail checking things out.

Alamanzo was first to point out, "See the keys to the cell thrown across the floor behind James's chair here so they be hard to get on purpose! Also I found a note that must have got knocked down off the desk when I opened the door to the Jail, here it is". Alamanzo hands the note over to James, so he can read it.

James reads the note:

To whom ever it may concern:

Sorry I had to make things more complicated this way but I had to. Everyone was suffocating me to a meltdown point. I had to get out the jail was too suffocating. Please I still love everyone and don't condemn me for my actions.

Love all.

Charles says in shocking voice, "What no one put their name down to sing it?" James replies back to Charles "I guess not, but we still might be able to pinpoint who wrote the note and help our guest get away!" Charles says in deep seriousness "I got a few people in mind to ask questions, I'll go now and see them, you guys take care of the place".

Charles leaves to go home to see if Albert was there, after all in Charles's way of thinking having a light crew at the jail could of made it easy for Albert to bust out Sylvia and them two high tailing it out of here would make sense. Charles got his horse tacked up and was getting ready to ride back home while his thoughts trailed off thinking about how he was going to approach Albert if he saw him.

….

Back in the woods far in the deep, Arthur and Sylvia had made a nice little place to rest for themselves, as it was getting about dusk. Arthur takes care of the horses, and checks up on the resting Sylvia Webb, who was using Arthur's bedroll to rest on instead of being completely on the ground.

Arthur knew that his pa James was not going to be too happy with what had just happened but it had to be done. Now Arthur maybe as guilty as Sylvia but he'll worry about that part of his life later. Now Arthur had to just nestle down by Sylvia the one he only cares about in the world.

…..

Back at the Ingalls farm Charles rides in the barn yard he stops his horse cold turkey in its tracks because he saw Albert was actually home doing chores and not where Charles thought he would have been.

Charles hops off his horse ties him to the fence of the corral and walks over to Albert. Charles stops Albert from doing his chores and looks at him with great concern. Charles asks him, "Son have you been here all day, and did you go to school today?"

Albert stands back away from Charles for a bit, and then says "Yes Pa I have and I just got the eggs for Ma once again why?" Albert request as he scratches his uncombed hair. Charles sighs and says "Something awful has happened in town today is why I am asking". "Have you been over to the jail at all?" Albert gets out of his Pa's grasp and says "No I have not been most of the week why?"

Charles replies "Well, son someone helped your girlfriend get out of jail sometime today". Albert stops what he is doing and then looks at his pa questionably. Albert then quickly catches on, "What you think I did it?"

Charles nods and sadly says "Son you are the one who got involved you are the main suspect, and besides the jail was light staff today easy to get her out when no one is hardly, there". Albert gets mad so mad he almost drops his egg basket but instead he sits it down on the wood pile box in front of the house.

He exclaims "Pa I did no such thing! I know better than that she's a jail bird and forever will be!" Charles says 'Son! I know how you feel about her better than that why don't you just tell the truth!" Albert gets mad he's almost fuming at the mouth.

He says "PA! I am! You're not listening! You believe those crazy people in town before you believe anything I say!" Charles sighs to say only "You're not making it easy for anyone are you? Where do you have her hid out?" James wants to ask her some questions?"

Albert screams at Pa, for the first time ever, "PA! I didn't bust Sylvia out of Jail! Someone else had done it!" Caroline then comes out with the mixing bowl in hand and exclaims "What are you two fighting about? Don't you know we got little ones in the house not polite to yell when they're here?"

Charles says in a matter of fact tone of voice "Okay son, if you're going to play it that way this is how it's going to be! I am sending you away this summer arrangements have been made, and you will be working on a boat far away from here you won't get to come back until September some time maybe late August!"

Albert is mad he kicks the dirt and exclaims to Pa "Why am I the one being punished! What did I do! I didn't help Sylvia or what's her face get out of jail!"

Caroline says in a motherly practical way "Son we just want what is best for you!" "We are at our wits ends one minute you're back in love with her and then the next you hate her guts make your mind! So we don't have this drama going on all the time!"

Now Charles is almost yelling at Albert to say "Yes you did! You're hiding her out somewhere! And when I find out where I will tan your hide so bad you won't sit down for a week!"

Albert looks at Ma for help but she really just says "Dear, we care for you!" Albert shrugs her off and runs away from his folks to the woods;

Caroline asks Charles "Aren't you going to go after him talk some sense into him?" Charles shrugs to say "What's the use dear? He's already made up his mind besides maybe he'll go up to the woods to cool off his hot temper and come to reason, well, I guess I can get an early start on chores no reason to go back to the mill now, it's sort of too close to quitting time".

Caroline says "When you get chores done supper will almost be ready and I got some bread done today too". Charles nods in agreement and goes to work taking care of the farm animals.

…..

Albert climbed his way back into the woods again. He found a spot in the shade that has been left alone and decided to stay there for a while, he was still mad at pa for the argument that just happened. Albert heard some noises in the brush he turned to see who was coming his way; it was none other than Ivan hartwig.

Ivan didn't look too happy today so Albert didn't quite know what to say. Albert watches Ivan and when Ivan sits down on the rock then Albert speaks. "Have a bad time?" Ivan then looks at Albert to reply "Yeah I guess you can say that". Albert turns more to Ivan even moves closer to him to sit next to him.

Albert starts complaining about his day. "Yeah Ma and Pa both hate me now they want to send me away this summer!" Ivan looks at Albert and extends his hand for a hand shake "Well, son welcome to the club of the outcast of Walnut Grove!" Albert shakes his hands. Ivan asks "What are your parents mad at you about?"

Albert folds his arms over his chest to pout like a little boy, then says "They think I helped Sylvia get out jail!" Ivan looks at Albert again as he sits there and pouts about his own misgivings Ivan replies "What? You mean she's out already?"

Albert looks up at Ivan to say "Yeah she's been sprung loose today sometime I guess so my Pa says only to blame me for it!" Ivan says "really? She's out of jail now?" Albert shrugs to say "Yeah didn't you hear me?" Ivan says "Dang it! She's double crossed me!" Albert laughs to say "Ha! She betrayed me twice!" Albert and Ivan then began to exchange strange glances and then Ivan asks "When do you have to leave?"

Albert says coolly, "OH sometime in the summer my Pa thinks I need to work on ship to get some working skills and be away from everything going on here". Ivan then pulls up a stem of grass and places it in his mouth to chew on while he thinks. Albert sits now on the grass where it's a little cooler. Ivan says "Well, if your pa doesn't get ancy about sending you off right away, since we're now going into the fall season, it still might work".

Albert looks back up at Ivan then says "What will work?" Ivan says "Maybe my new plan". Albert then replies "Oh.." "Do I have a part in it?" Ivan smiles once again and then says "Yeah son you might already be doing your part I might have to talk with Harriet again". Albert says "Who?" Ivan then quickly replies "Never mind, you just keep your parents worried and confused". Ivan says "Just need to chat with someone important this week". Albert and then Ivan locked their eyes together with some thoughts being said without using words.

Ivan says "Hey, I just thought of something!" Albert looks confused and then replies "What are you thinking about?" Ivan replies "Well how bout just you and me team up so we can work together?" Albert says "Huh?" Ivan tries to explain it to Albert, "I know you're just a kid but listen we can get more of what we want if we work together I know you would like to get back at your old girlfriend right?" Albert nods "yes" and then Ivan continues "Well if we just work together for ourselves then we get more out of the deal, so are you with me?"

Albert sighs to say "I don't know if I want to can I think about it?" Ivan says "Okay I know you're a little jumpy now feel like everyone has betrayed you, I'll go easy on you but think of it like this if we band together we can ward off the common enemy and possibly get even with that Sylvia girl all at the same time!" Albert shrugs to say "I will think about have my answer the next time we meet, is that okay?" Ivan says quickly "yeah sure Ingalls, I'll see you later now I have to go tend to Olivia". Albert says "Okay I am good with that I got to get back". After a hearty hand shake both men went their separate ways. (To be continued).