Second Chance

LHOP inspired fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Part 4

The next morning, most of the Ingalls family sat down to breakfast. Pa sipped his coffee while Laura and Carrie poked at their hotcakes. Ma walked to the kitchen to put another pot of coffee on the stove.

"Pa! Pa!" Mary screamed from the loft. Charles knocked over his chair as he raced up the ladder.

"Help me Pa! I can't see! I…can't…see!" Charles hugged his daughter tight as he held back tears.

Mary continued to cry, afraid of the darkness around her. "I'm afraid Pa! I…I can't breath! Help me Pa!" Charles rocked her back as forth as he whispered in her ear that he was right there. He squeezed her harder. The tears now flowing down his cheeks.

Downstairs, Ma grabbed Laura's hand as they both fought off their tears. Carrie's eyes focused on the loft, frightened by the screams of her oldest sister. The nightmare had begun.

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John heard the sounds of Grace in the kitchen. He had slept later than he wanted to. After throwing on his shirt and pants, he walked into the kitchen.

"Good morning John," Grace said with a smile.

"Morning Ma. Is Pa around?"

"He's in the barn I expect."

"Thanks." John gave Grace a peck on the cheek before going outside. He found Alicia feeding the chickens.

"Hey Alicia, would you like to take a walk to the lake after breakfast?"

"Well, I promised Ma that I would help her with the mendin, but I'll see if she'll let me go."

"Is Pa in the barn?"

"Yes. He's doin the milkin and Carl's tendin the horses."

"Pa," John said as he walked into the barn. "I would have milked the cow."

"Now don't go talkin to me like I'm an old man. I can still milk a cow if my son sleeps the mornin away," Isaiah teased.

"I'm sorry. I meant to get up sooner."

"What fur? Me and Carl are used to doin it by ourselves."

"Well if I can't help with chores, at least let me pay you room and board."

"Nonsense, you're my boy. You ain't gotta pay to live here."

"I'm a man now Pa. I paid my way in Chicago and I'll pay my way here."

"Suit yurself. You work it out with Grace. I'm goin to git me some breakfast. You bout done Carl?"

"Yeah Pa. I'll be right in."

"Say Carl," John began. "Once chores are done, would you like to join Alicia and me at the lake?"

"Sure. Maybe I'll catch us some supper."

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The Edwards' children wasted away the afternoon. They played and laughed along the shores of the lake like they did when they were little. As they sat down to their picnic lunch of leftover fried chicken and corn bread, the conversation took a serious turn.

"John?"

"Yes, Carl."

"Where were you yesterday?"

"At the Ingalls place."

"Did you see Mary?" Alicia asked.

"Yes."

Carl and Alicia looked at one another and then back at John. "Why?" they asked in unison.

"Because I need to know if she still cares for me."

"But I thought Seth was her beau now," Alicia responded, confused.

"He is, but that doesn't mean she can't have feelings for me too."

"Is that why you came home?" Carl asked with a disappointed look on his face.

John smiled at his younger brother. "Mainly. I couldn't wait to see you two and Ma and Pa of course, but I wouldn't have left Chicago if it weren't for Mary."

Alicia was even more confused. "You left Chicago, your job and everythin, without knowin if Mary loves you?"

"Yes."

"What if she says no? What will you do then?" Carl asked.

"I'm not really sure."

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"I'll be back in a couple of days to check on her," Doc Baker said as he opened the door. He tipped his hat at Caroline.

"Thank you Doctor Baker," said Caroline as she shut the door behind him.

Charles came in from the barn a few minutes later. "What did he say?" Charles asked his wife.

"He gave Mary a sedative so she could sleep. He suggested moving her downstairs for a while, until she gets used to things. He'll be back in a couple of days."

"I'll bring the bed down from the soddy and set it up here in the kitchen. Has she said anything since I left? "

"No," said Caroline. She answered Doctor Baker's questions, but nothing else. He said she would sleep for a few hours."

"I'll go get that bed." Charles headed towards the door with his head hung low.

"Charles?" Caroline called after him. "I need a few things from the mercantile. Were you planning a trip into town today?"

"I didn't see much use with the mill closed."

"Never mind, I'll ask Laura then. She can bring the eggs in to Mrs. Oleson to trade for what I need."

"Sure," Charles nodded and made his way to the sod house.

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Laura walked slowly towards town. She didn't want to face Mrs. Olseon today. Laura knew the woman would ask about "poor Mary" and she wasn't sure she could control her own tongue right now. "That old busybody," she said to herself.

As Laura got to the bridge by the post office, she stopped. John Jr. was heading into the mercantile and Seth was coming her way.

"Hello Laura," Seth said when he saw her.

"Hi Seth. I haven't seen you around much lately," her voice full of hidden accusations.

"My Pa and me were in Sleepy Eye setting up a new livery. It took longer than expected."

"Have you been by to see Mary yet?"

"No. I'm going to head out there this afternoon."

"Seth, there's …a…something you need to know."

"What?" Seth asked, puzzled by Laura's hesitation.

"Well…a…she's been having a lot of trouble with her eyes lately."

"Didn't she go to the doctor? She was supposed to go right before I left."

"Yes she did…but…it didn't go too good."

"I'm sure once she's done studying for her teacher's exam her eyes will be fine."

"She's not fine Seth!" Laura yelled back. "And you would know that if you were here!" Laura didn't care that she was screaming in the middle of the street. Overcome with grief and anger she had to strike out at someone, anyone.

Seth was surprised by Laura's reaction. "Calm down Laura. I couldn't help it."

"Calm down. Calm down. My sister is blind and you want me to calm down!" As soon as the words tumbled out of her mouth, she wished she could take them back.

"Mary is…is b-l-i-n-d?" Seth said in disbelief.

They stood in silence. Laura was afraid to open her mouth again; afraid of what might come out next.

"I've got to go Laura." Seth ran towards his place with Laura calling after him.

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John Jr. had heard the commotion outside. After buying a couple of writing tablets from Mrs. Oleson, he headed out to see what was going on. He found a flustered Laura walking over the bridge towards him.

"Laura," he called as he walked over to her. "Is something wrong? I heard yelling."

"Oh John," Laura cried.

John put his hands on her shoulders. "What is it Laura? Is it Mary?"

Laura nodded. "Mary woke up this morning…and she couldn't see." Laura tried to calm herself.

"How is she?" John asked with concern.

"I don't know," Laura answered trying to slow her breathing. She wiped the tears from her face. "She won't talk to anybody. She just sits in bed, staring right out in front of her."

"I have to go see her."

"Doctor Baker gave her some medicine. She's going to be asleep for a while. Maybe you could come by later."

"I'll stop off at home and tell them what happened. Then I'll head out to your place."

"I'll let Ma and Pa know you're coming."