Title: A job for Charlotte

Rating: K+

Chapter: 3

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: Charlotte has just been introduced to the Ingalls family. She is a little insecure.

A few days had gone by and Charlotte demanded for Caroline to give her something to do, to let her help out. Caroline reluctantly agreed and sent Charlotte with a chore.

Charlotte went down the road to deliver the eggs to the mercantile when an idea came into her head. She had seen a sign on the door of the post office offering work to a lady who could help deliver the post as it would be very busy. Charlotte stopped at the post office first. She gently knocked on the door and a grinning Grace came to greet her.

"Why, hi there Charlotte, what may I do for you?" Grace beamed.

Charlotte smiled at the generosity in her friend's voice. "Well, being nearly Christmas, I.I well I wanted some money to buy presents and to pay back all the people that have helped me out. So I was wondering if I could take up the job you had in your window."

Grace smiled, but looked a bit disappointed. "Well it is a job where you'll need your own team or you could walk. But I'm afraid you are in no condition to walk miles."

Charlotte looked down "Is there anything I could do, even for 50c, just a little money."

Grace felt sorry for the girl but she had not a single job that Charlotte could manage.

"I'm truly sorry Charlotte; maybe you could try asking the mercantile, I'm sure Nels would be glad to offer you a small job."

Charlotte thanked Grace for her time and set off for the mercantile.

Mrs. Olseon smiled as Charlotte walked in. "Well now what do we have here?"

Charlotte uncomfortably smiled "Hi I'm Charlotte and I'm here to deliver Mrs. Ingalls eggs, and to also ask for a job."

Mrs. Olseon smirked "I don't think we will be able to hire you, with your condition and all..." She took the eggs and counted them.

Charlotte walked around the room, admiring all the gifts and supplies. "I could clean…or do any basic job."

Mrs. Olseon shook her head "No, it just won't do..." Nels came bustling in the room with a whole box of new supplies.

"Hi there, is it Charlotte?"

Charlotte smiled and nodded.

"Well, what brings you here?" Nels asked

Charlotte looked down. "Well it was to deliver eggs….and also ask for a job, but your wife has clearly declined."

Nels frowned at Harriet. "Well I'm sure we can get you a job, we are very busy and would appreciate another set of hands."

Harriet looked appalled "No, no, no she won't be of any help!"

Nels sighed "There's many things she could do, like wrap the supplies and clean and well just doing things around the store."

Charlotte interrupted "Yes, but I'll only need it for tomorrow, I'll work all day."

Nels smiled "There you go Harriet she only wants to help out tomorrow and that will be a very busy day!"

Harriet sniggered and walked off. Whispering "for heavens sake." Under her breath.

Charlotte smiled.

Nels looked up. "Please excuse my wife, she can be bad tempered."

Charlotte had forgotten about Mrs. Olseon and was clearly concerned about her new job.

Nels smiled "I will give you 50c for a hard days work. The tasks will include cleaning, minding the store, wrapping supplies and of course delivering small packages to the local area."

Charlotte couldn't think of anything better to do. She gladly accepted his generous offer and set of back to the Ingalls house.

Charlotte rushed inside and gladly told Caroline and Mary of her new job. Caroline was concerned at first but later seeing how excited Charlotte was it was hard to refuse her happy face. Charlotte had been at the Ingalls for barely a week and Caroline had already begun to mother her.

The sun was beginning to set and Charlotte was helping Caroline bath Carrie.

Carrie played happily as she sat and was fussed over by Charlotte. Caroline smiled.

"Well I'll have to teach you how to bath a baby and feed it and all that kind of stuff when your baby comes."

Charlotte grinned and hugged Caroline. "I hope I can do it."

Caroline looked surprised "You will be a great mother."

Charlotte looked at her bump and happily hoped that she could be like Caroline. Charlotte sat in the small hut where all the fruits were stored. She changed into her pajamas, which she could only just squeeze into. Her baby was certainly on its way. Charlotte laid awake in the small bed, she felt her baby kick for the first time and was rushing into the Ingalls home and woke Caroline up to see if everything was alright.

Caroline examined Charlotte's belly and felt the harsh kick off the baby inside.

She smiled "Charlotte put your hand right here, she said."

Charlotte stuck her hand on her stomach and smiled as she felt the baby moving around.

Caroline yawned "Well it's really time for bed. You have a big day tomorrow, so you need some rest. Charles is going to the mill straight after breakfast, so he can take you then."

Charlotte agreed and slowly made her way up to the hut and gladly slumped into a dream.

To be continued…