Chapter 5

Laura continued walking down the path, wiping the tears from her eyes as she did. She grabbed her little handbag her ma had sewn for her and took out the engagement ring Almanzo had given her. She had saved it all this time. She looked at her reflection in the diamond one last time and threw it on the ground as she walked.

Laura then approached the pond where she had gotten into a fight with Nellie Olsen and the pond were Almanzo proposed to her. She was saddened. She just sat there starring at the water. Back at the Wilder house, things were no better. Almanzo was shocked at what had just happened. He decided to hitch up the team. He thought to himself, "I'm not going to lose her this time. I'm going after her." He started off when Brenda Sue ran out.

She screamed at the top of her lungs, "ALMANZO, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

Almanzo had to think fast so he said, "I'm going into town. I have to pick something up real quick."

Brenda Sue replied "Okay! Be back soon." She knew exactly what Almanzo was doing. She was not going to let Laura win. After all, she knew Laura's secret and by tomorrow afternoon the whole town would know as well. Brenda Sue smirked at that thought. She was going to have Almanzo all too herself.

Almanzo drove the team as fast as he could, worry coming over him. He saw Laura sitting by the pond looking like an angel. He came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She couldn't look up to face him.

"Beth, look, I'm sorry. I should've told you first. I do like Brenda Sue but I don't love her. It's been you all along from the first day I met you. I just hope things can work out between us. I don't want to hurt Brenda Sue but I don't want to hurt you either." He sighed and looked into Laura's eyes. Laura couldn't resist those clear pools of beautiful blue looking at her.

Laura didn't know what to say. She could only mutter out a little "sorry." Laura got up and left and Almanzo stood watching her walk away again, leaving him in the dust.

Laura continued on walking and soon enough she saw the outline of her little house. She could see Carrie, Grace, and Albert playing in the yard and she thought to herself that it would be great when her baby came so they would all have another playmate.

Albert ran up to his sister when he saw her, "Hi Laura. Do you want to join us?"

"No thanks. I'm going to help Ma with the dinner"

"Oh alright, maybe me and you can play checkers later with Carrie then huh?

"Sure Albert. Sounds great. Now you all get back to playing"

Laura went and helped her Ma finish dinner. She loved spending time with Ma. She helped set the table and everyone came in and had a scrumptious meal. It was just like she had remembered. Everyone gathered around, laughing and smiling. It gave her a warm feeling. After dinner, her Pa got out his fiddle and everyone sang and danced around the house. After playing a game of checkers with Albert and telling Carrie a bed-time story, Laura retired herself quietly. She went outside to the guest house where she could have some peace and quiet. She could her wolves howling and it lulled her to sleep.

Laura awoke the next morning to a bright, beautiful day. She went inside for breakfast and walked her sisters and brother to the schoolhouse. She was going to be assistant teaching with Eliza Jane today. The morning had gone extremely well and the children were all cooperating. At lunch time Laura decided to go visit the mercantile to get some new fabric for a new dress she would sew. She needed maternity dresses, for the dress she was wearing was snug and she was starting to show a bit.

She entered the store and went up to the counter.

"Hello Mr. Olsen."

"Why, Hello there Laura. It's good to see you back in town. Now, how may I help you?"

"Well, Mr. Olsen, I need some new fabric for a new dress I want to sew."

"Ah, I see, well, you'll have to excuse me for a moment while I get Harriet. You see fabric is not my cup o' tea."

"Oh, well go right ahead then. I'll start looking at fabric."

Nels went to retrieve his wife. Little did he know, she had already managed to stir up controversy in Walnut Grove. He looked for her all over the house and finally found her at the switchboard.

"Why, hello, Mrs. Walters. This is Harriet Olsen. I just wanted to let you know that Laura Ingalls is pregnant with Almanzo Wilder's baby. He had an affair with Laura while he was or still is rather, engaged to Brenda Sue Longworth. Well, yes I know and some sources say that Almanzo isn't the father. What a scandal being unwed and barely 17 years old to boot!"

Nels couldn't help but overhear what his wife was saying. He was in horror.

'HARRIET! That's Laura's business, not yours. Now get off of that phone! Laura's here looking at fabric and she needs your help."

"Mrs. Walters, I have to go, you've been a dear. NELS, don't you tell me what I can and cannot do. Laura's here you say? Ah, well this should be rather interesting"

Harriet entered the room and got behind Laura. "Why, Laura what kind of fabric do you want? You must need something that will stretch due to your body changing."

Laura gasped. "What did you just say!"

"Oh, I said you're going to need that extra fabric and need something to stretch due to how your body will change from the baby."

"WHAT! YOU KNOW! NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW! GOODBYE MRS. OLSEN!"

Laura ran out and slammed the door. She ran home as fast as she could and packed up her things. She needed to move back and away from here before her Ma and Pa would find out. She wrote them a note saying she loved them and was moving away until the baby was born. She then went to the Wilder farm and left a note as well while Almanzo was out.

She managed to buy a ticket for the stage the next hour. As she entered the stage, she sighed to herself and looked at Walnut Grove one last time. The ride was going wonderfully and she didn't know exactly were she was going but she didn't care as long as she was away. She ate the sandwiches that her Ma had made her for lunch. She was reading a book when she saw them. Indians. They were in forbidden territory with the wagon. They had bows and they were shooting arrows. The driver sped as fast as he could but it was too late. He was hit and the stage toppled over. Laura felt blood trickling down her face. She tried to keep her eyes open but failed and everything went black.

Eliza Jane began to become worried when Laura never showed back up again for school and informed Almanzo at the feed n' seed. He ran straight home and found his note. "NO!" He screamed. He went to the Ingalls farm as fast as he could. Charles and Caroline had received a note also. Charles was in concern and Caroline was crying. Almanzo ran and swung the door open. 'Laura's gone!"