Chapter 9

The town of Walnut Grove dug out from the Christmas Eve blizzard. Thankfully every friend and neighbor had been safe at home by the time the worst of the storm hit. Nearly a week later, life in the small town was back to normal.

No longer able to handle the pressure of staying in the same hotel as Mort and Harv, Eliza Jane spent the remainder of her visit at Almanzo and Laura's. On her last night in Walnut Grove Laura came downstairs and knocked on her bedroom door.

"Come in."

Laura sat down on the bed next to Eliza Jane who had been reading. "So, you're leaving tomorrow," she said.

"Yes. I want to thank you for letting me stay here."

"We've loved having you." Laura looked into her lap, afraid to bring up the subject which had made her come down. "What are you going to tell him?" she asked.

"That I haven't made up my mind yet."

"How long do you think he'll wait?"

"I don't know, but maybe if he gets tired of waiting he'll take back his proposal."

"You don't really mean that, do you?"

"No, I just don't like the thought of picking one over the other. They're both wonderful and either would make a good husband." Eliza Jane stopped for a moment. There had to be an easier way to decide. "Which would you choose Laura?"

"I can't answer that. You need to decide what's best for you."

Frustrated, Eliza Jane tossed back the covers and hopped out of the bed. She paced the room. "This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed. "I've never had a beau in all these years and now two men want to court me. How could this be happening?"

"I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Mary was the one with all the beaux. Boys swarmed around her like bees to honey. I was so jealous."

"It's nothing to be jealous of. If I chose Harv then Mort will be unhappy, and if I choose Mort then Harv will be unhappy; either way someone's going to get hurt. And what if I make the wrong choice?"

"You don't have to choose either of them. There is a third option."

"I don't want to be alone anymore Laura."

"Then I hope you're choosing for the right reasons. I remember after Almanzo asked me to marry him…" Eliza Jane stopped to listen. "He wanted to get married right away, but Pa said we had to wait two years. I was scared Almanzo would find someone else."

"I didn't know that," Eliza Jane said in amazement.

"Almanzo doesn't even know. I was upstairs crying in the loft. Ma came up and we talked. She told me you don't rush into marriage because you're afraid he might find someone else." Laura smiled. "I would think you shouldn't rush into marriage just because you don't want to be alone either."

"That's easy for you to say. You have a husband, a daughter, and a teaching job close to the ones you love."

"I'm not trying to sound smart Eliza Jane. I love you and I want you to be happy, that's all."

"I know. I just wish I knew how to make that happen."

"Whatever you decide, Almanzo and I will always be here for you." Laura walked over and embraced her.

"Thanks."

Laura took one last glance at Eliza Jane before leaving the room and heading up to bed.

By the time Laura came down with Rose the next morning Almanzo and Eliza Jane were already sitting down to breakfast. As she walked into the dining room she heard Eliza Jane ask, "Are you going into town this morning Mannie?"

Almanzo nodded as he swallowed his last sip of coffee. "Is there somethin ya need?"

"I was hoping you could load up my trunk and take me with you."

"Stage won't be leavin til this afternoon. Wouldn't ya rather stay around here?"

"I want to talk to Harv before I leave."

"Do ya need me to stay in town for a while?"

"No, I'll be fine. I don't want to leave Walnut Grove with this thing hanging over my head."

"I think that's a good idea Eliza Jane," interjected Laura. She looked at her husband. "Don't you Manly?"

"Why…uh…sure." Anxious to escape Almanzo stood up. "I'll go hitch up team."

Laura put Rose down in the cradle and poured herself a cup of coffee. She joined her sister-in-law at the table and picked up a slice of corn bread. "I take it you've come to a decision then."

"Yes, I have," said Eliza Jane with confidence.

"Do you mind if I ask what it is?"

"You look like you're brimming with curiosity," joked Eliza Jane.

"I am…so are you going to tell me or not?"

Almanzo dropped Eliza Jane's trunk on the ground in front of Nellie's. "Are ya sure ya don't need me to stay?" he asked again.

"I'm sure. Now why don't you head back home to your wife and baby." Eliza Jane hugged her brother. "I'm going to miss all of you terribly," she said.

"We'll miss you too. Maybe you can visit over the summer?"

"I'd like that." They hugged one last time.

"Good-bye Sis."

"Good-bye Mannie." Eliza Jane watched as her brother drove out of town.

The bell on the door rang when she entered Nellie's. She scanned the dining room for Harv, but didn't see him.

Percival came out of the kitchen. "Can I help you Miss Wilder?"

"I was looking for Harv Miller. Is he here?"

"I think he just went up to his room."

"Thank you Percival. Say good-bye to Nellie for me."

"I will. Have a safe trip home."

Eliza Jane picked up her skirt and jaunted up the stairs to Harv's room. She gave the door a strong rap and waited for Harv to open it.

"Howdy Eliza Jane. I'm surprised to see ya."

"Well I'm leaving this afternoon and I thought we should talk."

"Uh…sure ya wanna take a ride?"

"No." She peered into his room. "If it's okay with you I would just as soon come in."

"If that's what ya want." Harv stepped back to allow her enough space to enter.

Eliza Jane fiddled with the strings on her handbag so Harv couldn't see them shaking. "You asked me a question a few weeks ago and I still haven't given you an answer."

"Does that mean you've made a decision?"

"Yes and no." Harv looked puzzled, but said nothing. Eliza Jane started her explanation. "I can't say yes right now. I need more time."

"Time for what?"

"To figure out what I feel for Mort."

"And I'm supposed to stand around and wait?" asked an angry Harv.

"You're supposed to do what you feel you have to. I don't expect you to wait forever, but I won't be rushed into making a choice between the two of you."

"Are ya tryin to punish me for the way I left before?"

"How can you say such a thing?" She turned away to hide her anger, then whipped back around to confront him. "Why was it okay for you to string me along after we returned to Walnut Grove from St. Louis, but it's not okay for me to take the time I need to make a decision?"

"What if Mort hadn't showed up? Would ya still be pushin me away?"

"I'm not pushing you away. When you left I was crushed, but I still held out hope that you might change your mind. A lot has happened since we said good-bye Harv. I can't go back to where we were before."

She had made her point. "I'm sorry Eliza Jane. You're right, things are different now." He turned towards the window. "I was sure you would say yes…and when ya didn't I was disappointed. I thought ya needed some time to get over the shock…but then Mort showed up and I wasn't so sure anymore." He strolled over and grasped her hands in his. "Take all the time ya need…but it ain't gonna be easy waitin."

They smiled at each other. Eliza Jane placed a small kiss on his cheek.

"Good-bye Harv," she said. "I'll write soon."

"I'll be waitin."

Eliza Jane walked out and pulled the door tightly behind her. She poked around in her bag for a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. Once she composed herself, she left the hotel and stopped around town to say farewell to her old friends again.

Laura and Mary sat in the front room of the Wilder farm next to the fireplace. They chatted while they did their handiwork.

"I wish you two didn't have to leave tomorrow," said Laura.

"I know, but the children will be back at the blind school the day after New Year's and we have to be there to greet them.

"Have you enjoyed being home?"

"We have," replied Mary. "I wish we could visit more often. I miss Walnut Grove. Everything is so…so familiar."

"I was a bit nervous once you got here," admitted Laura.

"Why?"

"Now that Rose has been born I thought it might bring back a few bad memories."

Mary smiled. "You can't stop living your life because of me Laura. Seeing you with Rose did make me think of little Adam, but I think of him often anyway." Mary's eyes became moist. "I wonder who he would look like and what he would be doing right now. I wonder if Adam and I would have been good parents…like Ma and Pa. But even though I'm sad sometimes, I'm still thankful he was in our lives…even if it was for such a short time." Mary dabbed at a few stray tears. "And who knows, maybe Adam and I will be blessed again one day."

"I hope so," said Laura. She walked over to her sister and embraced her. "I really hope so."

Eliza Jane was making her way back to Nellie's place to wait for the stage when she heard screams coming from the partially open door. She ran to see what was going on. As she climbed the stairs up to the porch she saw the glass shatter and a body fly onto the platform beside her.