Chapter 2

After the unpacking was done Laura asked Eliza Jane if she wanted to come over for supper.

"Actually Laura, if you don't mind I'm going to eat downstairs and then go to bed."

"All right. You're coming to Ma and Pa's with us tomorrow, aren't you?"

"Oh yes. I'm just too tired for socializing tonight."

"I understand." Laura stood up and hugged her sister-in-law. She stepped back, smiling. "I'm so glad we're not angry at each other anymore."

"Me too," said Eliza Jane.

The two women went downstairs and then Almanzo and Laura headed for home. "See you in the morning," said Laura, waving to Eliza Jane before Almanzo prompted the horses into a trot.

On the way home Laura told her husband about the conversation with Eliza Jane. "If you ask me Harv is still interested in her."

"I guess it's a good thing no one's askin ya then." Almanzo glanced over at her and smiled.

Laura flashed him a set of angry eyes. "So why do you think Harv wrote to Eliza Jane about spending time with her in Walnut Grove?"

"I dunno. But I'm not sure I want Harv courtin Eliza Jane again. He's already hurt her more than once. That's not the kinda man I want marryin my sister, no matter how much I like him."

"I seem to remember a certain someone breaking up with me twice before we got married." She rubbed his arm to let him know she was only kidding.

Almanzo blushed. "Ya got me there Beth, but I still don't like it."

They rode the rest of the way home in silence. Almanzo didn't want to hear anymore about Harv and Eliza Jane. Laura sat plotting how she could find out what Harv was up to.

Eliza Jane couldn't sleep. She had tried several times, but she always ended up pacing the floor.

'What if Laura is right?' she thought. Could she ever open up her heart to love again? Would she be able to trust Harv had true feelings for her without a proposal of marriage? And if he professed his love for her, could she believe it? Harv was a good man, but he liked to be able to pack up and go whenever he saw fit. Could she learn to be happy with the thought of never being settled again, of being told it was time to move on solely because the man she married had itchy feet?

Eliza Jane pondered these questions until the early morning hours and still had not come up with any answers.

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Thanksgiving had been especially nice this year. Mary and Adam had traveled in from Sleepy Eye to join the family, and with Eliza Jane there too it felt like everyone was home again. Laura sat down in Ma's rocking chair and shared stories from her childhood, making everyone laugh and smile as she reminisced about a time that had long since passed away.

Everyone settled back into their old routines once the holiday was over. Mary and Adam returned to teaching at the blind school. Eliza Jane was thrilled at seeing her former students while she took over for Laura at the school in Walnut Grove, and even though some of the memories of living there were painful, she enjoyed seeing the townsfolk of Walnut Grove again. Laura and Almanzo waited for their first child to be born. Almanzo stayed close to home these days. He didn't want to leave Laura alone.

It was the beginning of December and a cold front was moving through Minnesota, making the temperatures fall into the low teens. Almanzo took over doing most of Laura's outside chores, it infuriated her, but she knew there was no arguing with him. The past couple of days she hadn't felt well anyway. The extra weight she was carrying around became a burden and the frequent pre-labor contractions she had every day began to interfere with her ability to concentrate on working. She had plopped herself into the rocking chair in front of the fireplace today and hoped she could catch up on some sewing.

Laura heard the sound of a wagon in the front yard. She hauled herself out of the rocking chair and waddled over to the window. She saw Almanzo helping Eliza Jane down from the wagon. Laura was relieved to see another woman.

When Eliza Jane opened the front door she saw Laura by the window. She became concerned when she saw how pale Laura was. "Are you all right?" she asked.

Laura closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes, but I would appreciate it if you could stay the night."

"Do you mean….?"

"I don't know. I would just feel more comfortable with another woman in the house."

"Certainly," said Eliza Jane. "I actually stopped by to see if you were up to talking about what we are doing at school, but I think maybe you should go lay down."

"No, I'll be fine. I'm just tired, and big, and sore." Laura smiled, rubbing her round belly. "I'll go make some tea."

"Nonsense, I'll find the tea. Why don't you sit down in front of the fireplace. Can I get you anything to eat?"

"No thanks. I don't think I could keep it down."

Eliza Jane busied herself in the kitchen making tea and looking around for what she could whip up for supper. She brought the tea into the front room and found Laura asleep in the rocking chair. Eliza Jane took a blanket down from the bedroom closet and put it over her, and then began to tackle the mending waiting at Laura's feet.

When Laura awoke an hour later she felt different. The contractions became stronger and more frequent. She got nervous when she didn't see anyone in the house. "Manly! Eliza Jane!" she cried.

They came running in. "What's wrong Beth?" Almanzo asked bending down next to the chair.

Laura shook her head. "Nothing, I just didn't see anyone here. Manly, can you help me get upstairs to the bedroom?"

"Sure sweetheart."

"Then I think it would be a good idea if you went and got Doc Baker."

"I thought ya said you were okay."

"I am," she nodded. "I just don't feel like having this baby all by myself."

"The baby…" he said in disbelief. "Ya mean now, the baby's comin now."

"Well not this minute, but hopefully soon."

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Almanzo and his wagon dashed into town. Excitement or fear, he wasn't sure which feeling was stronger. He yanked the reins hard and commanded the horses to stop. Almanzo jumped off the wagon and raced over to Doc Baker's office. He knocked on the door before entering. When Doc Baker saw the expectant father's face he knew why he was there. "Let me get my bag," he said.

Charles Ingalls had been over at the Mercantile when Almanzo came into town. He ran over towards the doctor's office too. Almanzo and Doc Baker were coming out the door when he got there.

"Is it time?" he asked. A nervous Almanzo nodded. "I'll race home and bring Caroline over as soon as I can."

"Eliza Jane is there now, but I'm sure Laura would rather have Caroline with her," Almanzo replied.

Almanzo and Doc Baker raced out to the Wilder farm while Charles chirruped his horses into a gallop to make it home quickly. He was as excited as if it were one of his own children being born. How wonderful it would feel to be a grandfather again. It hardly seemed possible that his little Half-pint would be a mother soon. He smiled as he pictured her tiny face looking out of the wagon on their trip from Kansas to Minnesota. Her braids blowing in the wind, her bonnet down behind her head. Laura's freckled face full of anticipation as they journeyed to a new place. Charles and Laura had always been so much alike, so close. And now they would be able to share the joys of being a parent too. Charles couldn't be happier. He said a quick prayer as he turned into the front yard of his farm, hoping for an easy and safe delivery.

As Charles jumped down from the wagon and raced towards the door he yelled towards the house. "Caroline! Caroline! It's time!"