Title: Befuddled times

Rating: K+

Chapter: 2

Summary: This story is set by the T.V series; it is based on the time where Mary, Laura and Carrie are still only young.

Disclaimer: I do not own little house on the prairie or any of the characters involved.

Brief Overview: Charles and Isaiah have found a lost girl on one of their delivering trips. They have just discovered this girl is pregnant and very weak.

Charles glazed blankly at the girl. He suddenly realized why she had been kicked out and a sense of pity rushed over him for this poor youngin.

Mr. Edwards gently laid the girl on the bed they had made; she fidgeted but fell quite when they tucked her in. Charles and Mr. Edwards stayed up talking about the girl who had all so suddenly come into their lives.

Charles sighed "What are we going to do with her; she's just a child not much older then Mary"

Mr. Edwards replied "We can't just leave her, she's fighting for her life, we have to take her to back to Walnut Grove with us, she's not meant to be stressing with her condition and all. She'd be due in about two months."

Charles agreed and they both decided that rest is what they all needed, they quickly fell asleep. .

The sun rose and Mr. Edwards and Charles had suddenly realized that they had found a girl and quickly scurried up to see if she was still there.

They passed the wagon and saw a bed with a tired child still sleeping peacefully.

Mr. Edwards quickly made a breakfast for everyone before she awoke.

Charlotte opened her eyes to see Charles sitting beside her.

"What, Where am I, Who are you?" She began

Charles replied "We found you last night, you took some of the stew, remember?"

Charlotte remembered and said a small sorry for all the trouble she caused.

"So what is your name?" Charles asked.

"My name is Charlotte, Charlotte Bryan." She replied.

Charles smiled "Well would you like some breakfast?"

Charlotte accepted the large bowl of scrambled eggs that Mr. Edwards had especially made.

Charles asked Charlotte how long she had been kicked out for, Charlotte couldn't really tell but she said it had to be at least three weeks.

Charles spoke "We want to take you back with us to Walnut Grove after we deliver this to Sleepy eye. You are in no condition to be out alone and hungry. You aren't even meant to be sitting in a rocky wagon, but we have to get you to a suitable place somehow."

Charlotte had nothing to do but gratefully accept the offer that these men had kindly made. Charles and Mr. Edwards packed up their stuff and in no time were rushing to Sleepy eye. Time passed and they had finally reached their destination. Charles quickly unloaded the wood while Mr. Edwards helped Charlotte off.

"Do ya mind if ya help me out?" Mr. Edwards asked.

Charlotte smiled "Well sure, anything."

"Well I want to buy you a new dress and I want you to help me out with a Christmas present to buy for my wife."

Charlotte smiled "Well I can help you with one thing you asked, I'm sure I can help you pick out a nice present for your wife, but don't worry about me, these clothes are just fine."

Mr. Edwards laughed. "Looky here young lady. If you call a tattered and torn dress that is a bit tight around your middle a fine dress, I'm wearing a suit of armor. I'm going to buy you a new dress and that's that!"

Charlotte chuckled "If you insist, I'll pay you back….somehow"

Mean while Charles was busily unloading the wagon by himself as he insisted that Mr. Edwards go and find a present for his wife.

Twenty minutes passed and Mr. Edwards came chuckling along with a girl grinning with a brand new dress on. Charles was laughing as he waited for his friend.

Mr. Edwards thanked Charles for letting him take Charlotte around the town. Charles helped Charlotte into the wagon while Mr. Edwards hoped in the other side.

"Now you wouldn't guess what I got Grace!" Mr. Edwards grinned.

Charles smiled "Well..?"

Mr. Edwards replied "Charlotte suggested the perfect gift; all ladies can never have enough bonnets. When I pointed out the bonnet I liked, the shop keeper said that there was a matching dress for half price! So I got her a dress and a bonnet."

Charles smiled "Well Grace will be stunned!"

The wagon rolled on by when finally the sun went down, they were rushing to Walnut Grove so by the time the sun had set they were nearly at the small town. Charles suggested that Mr. Edwards and Charlotte come over to his place. Mr. Edwards agreed and in no time they were riding down to the small house.

Laura came running out. "Pa. Pa." she yelled.

"Ma, Pa's here"

Caroline came running out with Carrie following her.

Charles hoped down and kissed all his family.

"Now I want you to meet a special friend of mine."

Laura smiled "Don't be silly we know Mr. Edwards already!"

Charles laughed "No she is a girl."

Mr. Edwards helped Charlotte out of the wagon.

Charles smiled "This Is Charlotte Bryan, we found her all by herself."

Laura noticed she was young and also that she was having a baby. Caroline made a fuss over the poor girl, she ordered Laura to take Charlotte into the house while she made a decent meal for everyone. Laura gently helped Charlotte into a chair.

Charlotte thanked Laura as Laura sat down next to her.

Laura asked many questions but finally got told off by her pa as he asked everyone to come and eat their supper.

Charlotte eagerly ate the food. "You are a very good cook ma'm." She said

Caroline smiled "Thank you, you can call me Mrs. Ingalls."

Charlotte grinned "O.k."

They gratefully dug into their food, Charlotte beamed at Carrie. Soon she thought I will have a child.

A day had gone by and it was a day before Christmas Eve. Everyone was hiding away their presents to surprise their loved ones on the big day. Charlotte felt a little left out because she felt she owed a lot to these kind people, she didn't have a cent to spend on them for Christmas. She knew she had to find something but, how could she?