Mary Ingalls, who had taken a trip alone to Mankato, found herself returning to Walnut Grove with three men - the poet John Sanderson, the farmer Seth Barton, and the teacher Adam Kendall. On the return, Mary had fallen ill.
Mary Ingalls takes the road less travelled – Part Three.
Mister Barton and Isaiah Edwards resolved to send their respective sons back to Mankato in order to retrieve the Barton/Edwards horse and buckboard team they left behind.
Isaiah Edwards, working in Walnut Grove, turned to Jonathon Garvey.
"You know Jonathon; I just wish this was all over. This hassling of poor Mary – not good for the girl."
"I know what you mean, Edwards – Mary's got to be going through torment with those strutting young bucks both with her." Jonathon replied.
"They're not going to give up until Mary marries." Nels Oleson, who was sweeping his porch, told them. "Mary's just too good to leave alone.
"Maybe we should stop them bothering her – they've proposed once, and they've both been turned down already." Mr. Barton said.
"That's not going to be easy." Isaiah Edwards conceded.
"No, it won't." Mr. Barton sighed.
Charles Ingalls came over to join them. "Isaiah, you've been my best friend for many years, and I hope this will not have an effect on our friendship when I say – congratulations, Mr. Barton."
"Congratulations? What for, Mr. Ingalls?"
"Your son's impending marriage. You know, Mary's a smart girl. I'm sure that she would have come to the correct conclusion that Seth is the right man for her. Why I'll wager Caroline's dinner that she'll be riding along in Seth's buckboard, as happy as a horsefly on a…"
"Horse, Charles?" Nels asked.
"Horse." Charles finished.
Meanwhile, in the post office…
"Men…" Caroline Ingalls told Grace Edwards, who was sorting the mail. "It's not just farm work that is what a girl looks for in one. Your John is sweet and gentle and writes lovely flowing words." Caroline leaned in closer. "I think that he should use his writing skills to gain the edge over Seth Barton…Seth would never be able to write as well as John…"
Grace Edwards listened to Caroline without breaking the rhythm of her working.
"Well, we're nearly home." John told his passengers.
Mary was gently woken by Adam, whilst Seth watched from the front, growling under his breath.
A few minutes later, they arrived in Walnut Grove.
Charles, spotting Seth first, erupted in joyous whooping, declaring: "What did I tell you!"
Caroline, from the opposite side, saw John driving the buckboard. "Mary's made the right choice!" Caroline proclaimed, tears in her eyes.
The Ingalls parents charged towards the buckboard. When they arrived, Adam was helping Mary down, which made both Charles and Caroline freeze in their tracks as a long and difficult silence formed around them all.
"Talk about the dark knight." Carl said.
"It's dark horse, Carl." Andy corrected him.
Adam Kendall didn't know that everyone was staring at him as if he had been nothing they had ever expected.
"Come on Mary, got to see the Doc."
Mary guided Adam in the direction of Doctor Baker's office.
Doctor Baker allowed Adam and Mary inside.
"Seth, John, you'd better come in here." Doc Baker told them after a few minutes.
"Is Mary okay?" John asked.
"She has a fever. It's probably minor, but you should take it easy for the next few days, Mary." Mary nodded.
"Now boys, how do you feel?" Doctor Baker asked.
"I feel good." Seth said.
"Me too." John replied.
"Alright, you're free to go boys, but remember, if you start to feel bad, come to me straight away."
"We'll do that Doc, thanks."
Seth and John left. Mary and Adam stepped out after them.
"How's my baby? Are you okay sweetheart?" Caroline asked, pouncing on Mary, whilst Charles sneered at the suited slicker holding his precious daughter's hand.
"I'm okay Ma." Mary said, trying to fend Caroline off. "Just a temperature, that's all."
Harriet Oleson, watching the proceedings from the store, charged out like a hippopotamus.
"Mary, aren't you going to eh…"Mrs Oleson asked, trying to find out who Adam was.
"I'm Adam Kendall, Mrs Oleson." Adam said.
"But, Mr. Kendall…how do you know who I am."
"Some people are easier than others, Mrs Oleson." Adam told her, causing Laura and Mr Oleson to burst out laughing.
"Well, really!" Mrs Oleson replied.
For four days, Mary was at peace, as Seth and John travelled together to Mankato in order to retrieve their horses and buckboard. But with this peace came further pain, as Mary grew more ill.
The night before Seth and John were to return, Mary fell ill enough to warrant Charles going to wake Doctor Baker in the middle of the night.
"DOCTOR HIRAM BAKER!" Charles bellowed.
"Mister Ingalls, what's the matter." Adam called, poking his head out his window.
"It's Mary – she's really sick."
"The Doctor's gone to see Mister Hanson."
"Thanks Adam." Charles said, and then ran for the Doc. On his horse.
Caroline, who was expecting Charles to return, was stunned when she heard a knock on the door.
"Mister Kendall!" Caroline shrieked.
"Missus Ingalls. Could I see Mary, please?"
Caroline, still stunned that Adam had found his way to the Ingalls homestead, guided Adam up the ladder into the loft.
"Mary?" Adam asked when he sat at her bedside. "How're you feeling?"
"Rotten, Adam. Thanks for coming. You'd better sit away, I might be contagious."
Adam nodded, but didn't move away.
A few minutes later, the quiet was broken when Laura screamed her mother's name.
Adam leapt up. "Laura! What happened?"
"Ma collapsed." Laura called. Adam climbed down the ladder.
"She's got a terrible temperature, Laura. Help me get her into bed."
Just as Laura and Adam managed to haul Caroline over to her bed, Carrie and Grace awoke crying. Whilst Adam treated Caroline, Laura went over to check on her sisters.
"Carrie and Grace have both got it." Laura told Adam.
"Whatever it is…" Adam replied.