Interference

Chapter 9

It was Sunday morning. The farmers whose crops had been destroyed two nights ago drove their families into town, in the hopes Reverend Alden could do more for their crushed spirits than they could do with their mangled crops.

Laura caught sight of a sullen Almanzo sitting next to Eliza Jane as she walked into church. Harv Miller sat in a chair alongside the chalkboard. Eliza Jane offered Laura a weak smile.

Almanzo had stopped by the Ingalls farm on Saturday morning after he went to see what was left of his young crop. He told Laura they would have to postpone the wedding for a year or two until he got back on his feet. This news on top of Charles' mutilated field brought sadness to the little house on the prairie.

Laura gazed over at Almanzo hoping to catch his eye, but he kept his head hung low. Laura had brought the picnic basket with her anyway. Maybe some time alone together would lighten his spirits.

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After services Laura waited by her Pa's wagon. She saw Almanzo walking down the church steps and went to meet him.

"Hi Manly," she said with a smile.

"Howdy Beth."

"Do you still want to picnic at the lake?"

"I'm not really in the mood."

"Aw c'mon Manly, it'll do you some good."

"I doubt it."

"Well let's give it a try. Should we ask Eliza Jane and Harv to join us?

"I guess."

The two couples drove out to the lake, Harv and Eliza Jane in one wagon, and Almanzo and Laura in the other. Almanzo was quiet the entire drive. Sometimes he reminded Laura of her Pa. For a moment she wondered if she could be a farmer's wife.

When they reached the lake, the men went out to gather firewood while the women set out the food.

"I'm sorry about the wedding Laura," said Eliza Jane. "I wish there were something I could do."

"Thanks Eliza Jane, but we'll just have to wait and see how long it takes for Almanzo to get back on his feet."

"What about that teaching position in Radner…is it still open?"

"I don't know. I never responded to their letter."

"Why don't you contact them and see if the job is still available. With both of you working you'll be able to get married a lot faster."

"Thanks Eliza Jane. I'll send them a wire in the morning." Laura paused before changing the subject. "How are things with Harv?"

"Okay, I suppose. We see one another almost every night, but things haven't progressed any." A nervous giggle escaped from her lips. "I don't want to say anything."

"That's probably the best thing to do. He knows how you feel."

"I am a little scared though."

"About what?"

"Harv's been thinking Almanzo might want his old job back at the Feed & Seed. He's talking about moving on."

"Maybe it's a good thing we came out here today," said Laura. "It will give them a chance to talk."

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After lunch, Harv asked Eliza Jane to go for a walk. Harv and Eliza Jane walked hand in hand along the trail. They spied an eagle soaring way above their heads.

"Don't you wish you could be an eagle sometimes?" asked Harv.

Eliza Jane chuckled. "Why would I wish that?"

"To be so free…free to fly and land wherever you see fit, without worryin about jobs, responsibilities and commitments."

She glanced over at him. The word "commitments" stuck in her mind. Was he trying to tell her something?

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Laura sat across from Almanzo on the tablecloth. Their heated discussion now at a standstill, they sat together in silence. A few days ago they were happily preparing for their wedding, but now the wedding and their happiness seemed to be a dream.

Almanzo broke the silence. "Beth, I've let you down and I've let your Pa down too. It just don't seem right you workin to make up for my loses."

"Almanzo, they're my loses too. What's wrong with me teaching in Radner and helping out the man I love?"

"I won't be much of a husband if I can't provide for us. This is my problem and I'll figure it out on my own."

"Manly, don't you know when you asked me to become your wife your problems became my problems. You can't shut me out just to save your pride."

Almanzo looked angry over her choice of words.

"My Pa has left home more than once to find work when he needed to."

"That's cuz he's the man of the house," Almanzo said defensively.

"And when Pa got hurt by that millstone, it was Ma who supported the family," Laura refuted. "I know Pa didn't like it, but he put his pride on the shelf and did what was best for the family."

Almanzo stood up and pointed down at her. "You are not going to take that teaching position Laura," he said with firm resolve.

Laura stood up and moved in close to him. "I'm going to see if the position is still available, and if it is, I'm going to Radner. I won't stand by and watch you struggle just to prove yourself to my Pa."

"Then I guess it's up to you Laura. Do you want to teach in Radner or do you want to marry me?"

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When Harv and Eliza Jane made their way back they knew something was wrong. Laura sat by herself on the tablecloth and Almanzo was leaning up against a distant tree.

"What happened?" Eliza Jane asked Laura.

"I don't want to talk about it," answered Laura. She looked over at Harv. "Do you mind dropping me off at home on your way back?"

"Course not," replied Harv.

"I'll ride with Mannie to make it easier," said Eliza Jane. "I'll see you tomorrow Harv. See you in school Laura."

Laura nodded. Harv tipped his hat and then turned to help Laura onto the wagon seat. They all headed back towards town in earth shattering silence.

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Almanzo hadn't spoken a word since they returned from the lake. When Eliza Jane and he sat down in front of the fireplace for tea he stared into the glowing embers.

"Mannie won't you please tell me what happened today?" Eliza Jane asked.

"Laura thinks I can't provide for her, that's what happened," Almanzo said in anger.

"Did she say that?" asked a suspicious Eliza Jane.

"No, but she wants to take a teachin position in Radner."

"I was the one who suggested she take that job, Almanzo. If you want to be angry with someone then be angry with me."

"You don't understand Sis. I created this mess. I ain't gonna have Laura fixin it for me."

"Does she see it that way?"

"Well, no but…."

Eliza interrupted him. "Then you shouldn't let your foolish pride get in the way of common sense. If she is willing to help then let her. Why push off the wedding when you don't have to?"

"I'll never have Laura's respect, or her pa's, if she takes that job in Radner."

"I can't speak for Charles, but I'm sure Laura would respect you even more if you let her help out."

"I told Laura that she had to choose between marryin me and teachin. I won't go back on that."

"Oh Almanzo, I wish you hadn't done that! I hope you know what you're doing."

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Laura sat up in her bed looking up at the roof. She couldn't sleep. The reality of marrying Almanzo seemed as impossible as it did the first day she met him. When she told him she would never be able to say obey in their wedding vows, she didn't think her first challenge would come up so quickly. For the first time since she knew Almanzo, she wondered if they were meant to be together. Laura cried herself to sleep as Caroline listened from her own room, hoping Almanzo would change his mind.

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The next morning dawned as gray as Laura's mood. She rode with her Pa into town. She stopped by the post office and asked Mrs. Foster to send a telegram to the school in Radner.

When Laura approached the school she could see Manly and Eliza Jane sitting in his wagon.

"Good morning Laura," said Eliza Jane.

"Miss Wilder."

Almanzo glanced down at her but said nothing. Laura walked into the school house without uttering a word to him.

At lunch time Laura asked Mrs. Foster if she had received any word from Radner. The school was still interested in having Laura teach there. She sent an immediate response of acceptance and walked back to the school house to tell Eliza Jane.

"Eliza Jane guess what…" Laura said as she entered the classroom.

"What are you so excited about?" asked Eliza Jane.

"The position in Radner is still open. I wired them to accept their offer. Isn't that wonderful!"

Eliza Jane withheld her excitement for the moment. "What are you going to tell Almanzo?"

"I'm going to tell him I got the job. Maybe he'll change his mind."

"I don't think so Laura. My brother can be pretty stubborn."

"Then so be it. I won't stay here and wait to get married when I can be teaching and helping the man I love."

A worried Eliza Jane uttered the same words she had imparted to Almanzo the night before. "I hope you know what you're doing."

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After school Laura rode out with Harv and Eliza Jane to the Wilder farm. She found Almanzo in the barn.

"Hello Manly." She smiled.

"Hi Beth."

"I have some great news for you."

"I could use some right about now."

"I got that teaching position in Radner."

"How is that good news?"

"Almanzo, I want to get married. If you and I work together we can get married faster than with you working alone."

"I already told ya Beth, you can't take that teachin position."

"And I told you I wouldn't sit back and watch you struggle when I can be helping out."

"I won't change my mind. Either you stay here and marry me or you take that teachin position."

A sullen Laura looked down at the ring finger of her left hand. She rubbed her engagement ring between her fingers before slipping it off. She extended her arm out to him and placed the ring in the palm of his hand.

"Goodbye Almanzo," she said walking out of the barn and heading towards home.