Harvest of Friends

Grace Ingalls

It was Thanksgiving Day in 1895. The air outside was cold, but the feasts of turkey cooking inside each American home warmed the hearts of the country's citizens. However, this would be a special Thanksgiving for the Ingalls family. Their youngest daughter, Grace Ingalls was bringing a very special guest to dinner, a young man named Nathan.

"Looks like the turkey is just about done." Caroline announced after peering to the cast iron oven. Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Grace pacing around and constantly touching her bright blonde hair. "When did you say Nathan was coming over?"

Grace was so lost in thought that she did not hear what her mother had asked her.

"Grace?"

"Oh!" The eighteen year old girl spun around. "Yes, ma."

Caroline smirked. "I asked you when Nathan is coming. Dinner is almost ready."

"He should be here any minute." Grace started running her hands over her Sunday dress, making sure there were no wrinkles or bunched-up gatherings in the dark blue fabric.

Caroline shook her head. This was not the first time one of the Ingalls girls had brought home a young man to meet the family. "Don't be so nervous, Grace. If you keep fretting, then you won't be able to enjoy the night."

Grace sighed. Her ma always knew the right things to say when someone was feeling sad or anxious. And Grace was sure feeling anxious. "I know, ma. I just hope everything goes well tonight. I want pa to like Nathan. Makes me nervous that he apparently wants to talk to pa about the race happening in Chicago today. I know pa isn't a big fan of those motor vehicles."

Caroline started giggling. "No, he is not. What was Nathan's last name again?"

"Dow." Grace smiled softly at the name.

"That's funny." Carline quickly interjected.

"What is?" Grace walked up besides her mother.

"I don't think you'd remember this, but back when we lived in Walnut Grove, there was a Dow family that lived on the other side of town." The older woman thought back to the town she lived in with her family all those years ago, now blown out of existence. "If I remember correctly, they also had a little boy who was around your age. Can't remember his name though."

"Are you saying this might not be the first time pa has met Nathan and at one point we were all neighbors?"

Caroline shrugged her shoulders. "If that's the case, it's certainly a small world. Now, help me carry the rest of the food over, so we can get dinner started."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and Grace jumped on her heels. "He's here. I'll get the door!"

Grace sprinted to the front entryway of the home, not even realizing she passed her pa in the hallway, who was left amusingly shaking his head at his youngest daughter. "Don't trip!"

The girl stopped at the entrance, took a breath and opened the door to see her dinner guest standing tall with a bright smile. "Evening, Grace."

"Hello, Nathan. Come in. Dinner is just about ready." Grace led Nathan inside the home.

"I can't thank you enough for inviting me over for dinner." The young man said, not taking his eyes off of the beautiful girl standing in front of him.

"It was my pleasure and my family always loves having guests over." Grace was about to walk Nathan over to the dinner room, where she would have to introduce him to her parents, but instead she paused. "Nathan, can I ask you a silly question?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Have you ever heard of this small town in Minnesota called Walnut Grove?"

"Of course! My family had a farm out there when I was really little." Nathan answered. "I heard they blow up the place."

Grace was struck back in surprise. Turns out it was a small world after all and maybe this was not the first time her pa had met Nathan. "My family used to live there, too. I'm sure my pa would love to talk about the town instead of that race. Come on, let's go introduce you to them."

Nathan began to laugh as he slyly reached out his hand for Grace to take. "Anything for you, Gracie."