Interference

Chapter 4

Harv and Almanzo stopped their rigs next to a grove of trees. They tied up the horses and helped the women down from their seats. Eliza Jane grabbed the picnic basket from the back of Harv's wagon and Laura and she went to find a soft, shady spot by the lake to set out the food. The men walked off in search of firewood, because as Harv joked, "If I don't get my coffee, I won't be able to drive back home."

The women laid everything out in silence. Laura was never quite sure what to say to her future sister-in-law, so she waited impatiently for Eliza Jane to strike up a conversation. But Eliza Jane seemed distracted and preoccupied.

Once they were finished, the women sat down and waited for Harv and Almanzo to return. Laura pretended to be interested in the cloudless, blue sky; but she was really praying for the men to come back soon. Eliza Jane still seemed to be mulling over something, but with sudden determination she looked over at Laura and broke the silence.

"Laura, may I ask you a question?" Eliza Jane asked politely.

Stunned by her pleasant tone all Laura uttered was, "Sure."

"How did you…I mean…what made…oh for goodness sakes!"

"Is something wrong Miss Wilder?"

"Oh no, no, no…I just," she began again. "How did you get my brother to notice you?" Eliza Jane blurted out.

Laura smiled. "I don't really know. But if I did, I would have done it a lot sooner."

Both women laughed.

"Why do you ask?"

Eliza Jane wrung her hands and could no longer keep eye contact with Laura. She felt so uncomfortable talking to her about it. Laura reached over and placed a hand on Eliza Jane's.

"What is it?" Laura asked with concern.

"It's Harv," Eliza Jane admitted, looking into Laura's young face. "We've driven home together several times now and he's always so nice and friendly and…and I want to be more than just nice and friendly. What should I do?"

Laura was surprised. She couldn't understand why a woman of Eliza Jane's age would ask a young girl such a question.

"Well, how did you do it with your other beaux?"

Eliza Jane hesitated before answering. "I've never had a beau. I've never even been close to having a beau."

Laura hoped Eliza Jane didn't notice her wide-eyed expression.

"I don't know what to do. Can you help me?" Eliza Jane pleaded.

"I'll try." Laura thought a moment and then asked, "Did you tell Harv you liked him?"

"Gracious no! I could never be as bold as that," Eliza Jane blushed.

"I mean no disrespect Miss Wilder, but don't you think it was a very bold move to leave your family and come out west?"

Eliza Jane paused to think. "I guess you're right Laura. I never thought of it that way."

"The trip out west has broken more than one man Miss Wilder; but here you are still thriving a year and a half later."

"But how much longer will I survive out here? Once Almanzo's gone, I'll be all alone. What if I have to go crawling back to my family?"

"Is that what's been bothering you?" Laura asked in surprise.

"Yes," a somber Eliza Jane answered as she fiddled with the string on her handbag.

"Why would you be all alone? Almanzo and I are only going to live a few miles down the road."

"I know, but you'll be busy getting your home in order and he'll be preoccupied with taking care of the place."

Laura put a hand on Eliza Jane's shoulder. "But we'll never be too busy to make time for family. I can't believe you would even think such a thing."

The older woman blushed again. She was suddenly ashamed of the way she had treated her future sister-in-law. "Oh Laura, can you ever forgive me? I've been so awful to you."

"I have to admit I couldn't imagine what I did to make you dislike me so."

"I don't dislike you. I felt threatened. I saw your marriage to Almanzo as an end to my closeness with him."

"Miss Wilder, I couldn't possibly come between the two of you; nor would I want to."

They both smiled and Laura reached over to hug Eliza Jane.

"Now about Harv…" Laura began.

Almanzo and Harv were on their way back when they caught sight of the two women chatting with smiles on their faces.

"Well I guess they don't hate each other anymore," laughed Harv.

Almanzo just stared at them, too shocked to speak.

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Three weeks passed. Almanzo moved back home with Eliza Jane now that she patched things up with Laura. He enjoyed their evening chats, sitting by the fireplace and sipping tea.

On the way home from the picnic, Harv asked Eliza Jane if she would like to have supper the next evening. She eagerly agreed. They both enjoyed it so much that Harv and Eliza Jane had eaten supper together almost every evening since then. Eliza Jane hadn't taken all of Laura's advice. She decided to wait until Harv declared his feelings for her, before opening up about how she felt.

Her evenings had become so enjoyable that Eliza Jane couldn't imagine ever going back to how things were before. Most of all, she loved the wagon rides home. She sat tall and proud next to Harv as the dusk turned into night.

This evening had been particularly nice. They met at the restaurant around five o'clock and Harv told her all about his early days. He didn't seem to joke around as much as usual. Eliza Jane shared some stories about growing up on the farm in New York. But secretly she hoped that Harv's change in mood meant he was going to tell her he loved her.

They had talked so much during supper that they didn't leave the restaurant until after seven-thirty. Harv was quiet for most of the ride home; something Eliza Jane wasn't used to.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No, I was just thinkin."

"About what?"

He smiled and glanced over at her. "How much I enjoy our gettin together."

"So do I," Eliza Jane smiled and then turned away in embarrassment.

"I'm so glad Manzo suggested I ask ya to supper."

The smile left Eliza Jane's face. She put her hands over the reins and yanked hard, giving a firm, "Whoa!" to the team. As the wagon stopped, a puzzled Harv looked up into Eliza Jane's angry face.

"What did you say?"

"All I said was that I was glad Manzo suggested I ask ya out to supper."

"Oh, did he now?" Eliza Jane's eyes were scrunched into tiny, glaring beads. Her mouth was puckered into a scowl.

Harv was almost afraid to say anything else. "Well sure…he thought ya might like the company. I don't think he meant anythin bad by it."

Eliza Jane's face went from angry to sad. How could she have been so foolish to believe that Harv loved her?

"So…you never would have asked me without Almanzo putting the idea in your head?" she asked.

"I never did think much about it. But I'm glad Manzo did, because you've been great company."

Eliza Jane's ego was deflated. She felt silly, ugly and insignificant. She looked down into her lap and began to fiddle with the strings on her handbag.

"Could you drive me home please?" she asked without looking up.

"That's where we were headed before ya stopped the horses," Harv chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. When she didn't respond, Harv prompted the team and they drove the rest of the way in silence.

He stopped the horses when they reached the Wilder place. Harv jumped down so he could help Eliza Jane off the wagon seat. She accepted his hand without looking at him and turned to go inside the house.

"Eliza Jane?" Harv called after her.

She turned around to face him.

"Are we still on for tomorrow night?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tomorrow night. I have papers to grade," she replied in a soft monotone.

"Oh…well maybe the next night then."

"Maybe," she responded and headed up the stairs and into the house.

Without saying a word to Almanzo, who was sitting in the front room, Eliza Jane put her handbag down on the table and went into her bedroom, closing the door behind her.

A confused Harv stood outside for a few moments, staring at the front door. He walked to the wagon, shaking his head. He drove back to town, still not sure what he said wrong.

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The next morning at recess, Laura walked over to the Feed & Seed to talk to Harv.

"Good mornin Laura," he said when he saw her.

Laura smiled. "Good morning Harv. I was wondering if Eliza Jane was sick today."

"Not that I know of. Why do ya ask?"

"She didn't come to school?"

"Really?" Harv removed his hat and scratched his head. "I spoke to Manzo this mornin. He said he drove her into town."

"Then where could she be?" a concerned Laura asked.