Chapter 2
Laura fidgeted in her seat next to Carrie. Reverend Alden's sermon seemed especially long this Sunday; not that Laura was paying attention to it. She kept glancing at Almanzo out of the corner of her eye, their conversation from Friday still very fresh in her mind.
When Reverend Alden dismissed the congregation, Laura hurried to find Almanzo, hoping she could chat with him for a minute, but he was already in his wagon with Eliza Jane by his side. He smiled at her and she smiled back as she climbed into her pa's wagon.
Charles pulled up alongside Almanzo. "All set?" he asked.
"Ready when you are Sir."
"Okay then, let's go."
The men drove their wagons out of town and headed to the lake. While the women set out the food, Charles and Almanzo picked up firewood.
"Did you enjoy yourself last night Almanzo?"
"Yes Sir. Ya sure have a nice family and Mrs. Ingalls is a fine cook."
"Thank you. I'll tell her you said that."
The two men talked about farming. Almanzo shared some of his dreams with Charles who couldn't help but admire the young man's ambition. Many years ago it was he who was the ambitious one, but now he was content with what he had and looked forward to growing old in Walnut Grove.
Charles had to admit he liked Almanzo and plainly saw how much he loved Laura — which worried him. He wondered if it would be better to discuss Almanzo's intentions now instead of waiting for the boy to ask him for Laura's hand and have to turn him down.
"One day I'm gonna have the biggest farm in Minnesota," said Almanzo.
Charles smiled at the young optimist. "I hope you will," he replied with sincerity.
After lunch Laura, Eliza Jane, and Caroline chatted while Charles and Almanzo played with the girls. Albert had gone off to see if he could catch some fish for supper. The women laughed as they watched Almanzo and Charles chase after Carrie and Grace. The girls screeched with laughter whenever they were tagged.
"The girls sure have taken to Almanzo," remarked Caroline.
"The children are always fond of him," replied Eliza Jane. "It's a good thing too, because since I've been teaching there are always kids at the house looking for help with their studies. Of course, I think I could help Willie Oleson every day for the rest of his life and it wouldn't make a difference," she chuckled.
Eliza Jane glanced at Laura. "Are you looking forward to being a student again?"
Laura shrugged. "I think so, but it will be strange doing the learning instead of the teaching."
"Well, I took the liberty of speaking to Mr. Williams last week and he was quite impressed with your job in Curry. So once you're ready, you can take your final exam, and then you can help me teach."
Laura beamed with joy. "Thank you Miss Wilder."
"Maybe I'll send Willie over to your house and see if you can do something with him."
The women laughed.
Laura decided to take advantage of the good mood her pa was in. She came down from the loft in her nightgown and waited for him to put aside his newspaper.
"I thought you went to bed Half-pint."
"I had something I wanted to ask you first."
"What is it?"
"Almanzo asked me to go out to supper tomorrow night, and I figured if all my chores were done…"
Charles halted her. "Now Half-pint, I like Almanzo, but you've seen him four times since Friday. You really should stay home tomorrow night."
"Please Pa, it's the only night he can go out this week."
"Isn't he driving you home from the literary meeting this Friday?"
"Well yes, but…"
"Charles," interrupted Caroline gently, "I don't think that's quite the same."
He frowned at his wife. Why did she always seem to be on Almanzo's side?
"Don't you think it might be okay as long as her chores and schoolwork are finished? She'll be home the rest of the week."
Charles glanced at Laura and then back to Caroline. He knew he was defeated. "I'll make you a deal Half-pint — if I let you go out with Almanzo tomorrow night, then you have to cook for Albert and the girls on Thursday so your ma and I can go out to supper."
Both women looked at him in surprise. He never spent their hard earned money on something so frivolous.
"Sure Pa. I'll even do the laundry."
"Then you can go."
"Thanks Pa," she said as she hugged him.
She kissed her ma before heading up the ladder to her bed. Now maybe she could find out what was really bothering Almanzo.
Almanzo arrived at the Ingalls farm at five thirty. "These are for you," he said.
Laura sniffed the bouquet of wildflowers. "They're lovely. Let me go put them in some water and then we can go."
He waited outside, thinking of how beautiful her red hair looked tied in the peach ribbons she had worn the night of the church social. Almanzo helped her into the buggy before climbing in.
"How was your first day back at school?" he asked as they drove towards town.
"It was nice to be back, but it felt strange sitting with the students instead of standing in the front of the room."
"Kinda feel like you're in between."
"Yes."
"From what my sister says that won't last too long."
"I just don't know what the others will think of me teaching them."
"Aw don't worry. I'm sure it will be fine." She offered him a weak smile. "Ya look real nice tonight."
His compliment made her feel better about their relationship than she had since Friday. "Thanks Manly."
Almanzo noticed Laura was distracted throughout supper. "Are you all right?" he finally asked.
"I guess I'm just a bit tired," she lied.
"We can skip the walk if ya like."
"No, no, I think the walk will do me some good."
After he paid the bill, Laura and Almanzo strolled over the bridge and continued out of town. They stepped off the main road and went over the hill where they could view the stars above the wide open prairie.
The air was cold, and there wouldn't be many more chances for late night walks until after spring. They sat down on grass that was more brown than green. Almanzo placed his arm around Laura and pulled her closer. She leaned against him and allowed the silence between them to continue. He did not attempt to kiss her, and she was determined to find out why he was suddenly so distant.
Laura sat up on her legs so she could cup his face in her hands. She kissed him, but he held back. Not to be deterred, her lips traveled down to his neck.
"Beth…no…please don't," he pleaded as the excitement rose inside him.
He struggled to contain the urges her kisses were awakening in him. She heard quick breaths escaping from his lips, filling the cold air around them with smoke. Wanting more from him, she nibbled on his right ear lobe. His reaction came instantly as he tossed her onto the ground and devoured her with warm, wet kisses. His arms were around her, pulling her even closer as his mouth covered her face and neck. He felt the snugness of his pants as the passion pulsated through his body. He jolted off her and walked away to clear his mind.
Disappointed, Laura followed him. "Manly, what's wrong?"
He couldn't even touch her, so he stepped back before trying to explain. "Beth, I can't do this."
"I knew there was someone else," she accused.
Now angry, he glared at her. "What do I havta do to convince ya there's no one else? I can't believe you would think that of me. I'm sorry I saw ya as a kid for so long, but I don't see ya that way anymore. I love ya, and I don't know what it's gonna take to make ya believe it."
Laura was caught off guard. She had never seen Almanzo so angry, especially not at her. She hung her head down to hide the tears. "I'm sorry Manly. I just…I just want to be close to you. Why don't you want to be with me?"
Almanzo picked up Laura's chin so he could look into her big brown eyes. He wanted to make sure she knew he spoke the truth. "I do wanna be close to ya. Laura, when we're together I wanna do things with ya…things that only a husband and wife should be doin. I've never felt this way before. I thought I could control it, but I can't. I don't want ya thinkin I don't respect ya. I need ya to understand that I just can't be as close to ya as I used to. I don't ever wanna hurt ya."
"Oh Manly, I'm sorry for being so foolish. I never should have doubted you. It just hurt so much…" her voice cracked as tears flowed down her cheeks.
He embraced her. "I love ya Beth, and nothin is ever gonna change that."
