Chapter 2:
It's Monday morning the Ingalls family is up early for Charles and Caroline are on their way to Mankato to see about their inheritance from Caroline's Aunt Peg. The Ingalls are finishing up their breakfast as Caroline says, "Laura and Albert you are both in charge. Carrie and Grace you listen to your brother and sister while we are gone and do everything you can to help."
Carrie answers, "Yes Ma," and Grace nods her head and smiles.
Charles says, "We need to get going, children hop in the wagon we will take you into Town for school and drop Grace off at the Garvey's."
They arrive at the Garvey's and drop Grace off as Caroline says to Mrs. Garvey, "Thank you for watching Grace as Laura, Albert and Carrie are at school."
Grace is smiling as Caroline says to her, "You be a good girl for the Garveys."
Baby Grace continues to smile, "I will Ma."
"You're welcome," Mrs. Garvey replies, Have a safe trip."
Laura then says, "We will be by after school to pick her up." Laura looks at her Ma and Pa and says, Albert, Carrie and I can walk the rest of the way to school with Andrew."
All the Ingalls children give their Ma and Pa a hug as they say, "We will miss you," then they head off to school.
Charles and Caroline head out of Town toward Mankato.
Meanwhile in Mankato the 3 robbers that escaped the jail had been holding up at an old shack and the three of them are saying to each other, "We need to get out of Town so the Sheriff won't find us but we don't have any horses. The stagecoach leaves in a hour."
The three crooks are now at the Stage depot buying tickets as the driver says, "All set and ready to go," and they all get in the Stage. The driver doesn't realize that they are crooks.
At first the 3 robbers don't know where they are going as one asks his two friends, "So where are we heading?"
Another answers after bobbing his friend on the head, "What? you don't know where we are going? Didn't you look at the tickets when you bought them?"
The third answers, bopping them both on the head, "You dummies I bought the tickets," then he looks at the tickets and says, "Walnut Grove any of you heard of that place?''
The others shake their heads and say, "Nope but at least we are getting out of here."
The driver takes the tickets and they head off to Walnut Grove and arrive at Nellie's Restaurant and Hotel about 12:30pm. The children at school are at recess and lunch. The 3 robbers get off the stagecoach and head to the Restaurant and Nels Olsen greets them, "Hi, how may I help you?"
They answer, We are just passing through and we need a meal and a room."
Nels takes them to a open table and takes their order for lunch and says, "After you all eat I will have my daughter Nellie show you your room."
While the three are eating Nellie and Mrs. Olsen are a few feet behind them talking about the Ingalls trip to Mankato and how they came into an inheritance. The robbers overhear them and say to each other, "We sure could use that!"
Another says, "They said their name was Ingalls and I overheard before we came in some kids at the playground call out to someone named Albert Ingalls. We will follow him after school."
After they finished eating Nellie comes up to them and says, "My father, Nells says you need a room. Rght this way and I will show you your room." Than Nellie asks them, "What is your names?"
They answer, "Harry, Barry and Bo."
Nellie chuckles a little bit to herself about their names but they don't notice.
They are settled in their rooms and about 3pm. they go outside as they hear the children being dismissed from school. Berry says to Bo, "That's him the one I heard was called Albert Ingalls. Those two girls with him must be his sisters. Let's follow them."
Albert, Carrie and Laura head toward the Gravey's with Andrew to pick up Grace. Harry Barry and Bo follow them but far enough back to where they are not noticed.
An hour pasted and the Ingalls children are now at home. Harry, Barry and Bo are a few feet from the house as Barry says, "Their parents are not home they are in Mankato maybe we can kidnap them and hold them for ransom."
Bo says, "Yeah but we need horses to get to a hiding place."
Harry answers, "I saw a stable in Town with a couple of horses we can steal. Let's go back into Town and come back for those brats later."
They all agree.
Will the crooks be successful in the mission to kidnap the Ingalls children?
To Be Continued