Chapter 2: Fort At Stony Pass
The Town of Walnut Grove settles in at the Fort at Stony pass. Harriet complains to Nels that their quarters are too small. Nels is quiet except to say, "Yes dear, Yes dear."
Isaiah and Carl or okay with staying in a Fort John Jr. wishes is he could be back home taking care of little Egbert, an orphan Robin bird whose mother just got eaten by a cat. Alicia is quiet and not sure how to take in all what's going on. Grace is by herself worried and not sure if she should blame Isaiah or what she would have done if either Isaiah or Carl got killed. Isaiah tries to comfort Grace seeing she's upset, "Grace, darling everything will be ok we may not be at home but we are together."
Grace begins to argue a little, "Yeah together in this dumb Fort. If you don't go hunting we would probably be at home right now."
Isaiah replies, "I'm sorry Grace but you know I had to go out and hunt to get our Christmas dinner."
Grace says, "I am sorry Isaiah. I should have known better to blame you. I am just upset."
"It's ok," Isaiah says as they hug and embrace each other and than Isaiah says, "I love you!"
Grace replies back and smiles also laughing a little, "I love you too, Isaiah."
Grace is won back over and there is a calmness to the whole family again.
The Ingalls get settled in their quarters. Once the family is set Charles leads them in prayer, "We thank thee O Lord we are all together and all safe and sound. We thank thee for Thy provision and watch care. Let this situation we find ourselves in be over soon and your sweet name, Oh Lord. Amen."
They all say "Amen." Carrie also in her cute little way, "Amen." They all embrace and Caroline weeps a little.
Laura takes notice to her Ma weeping and says, "Don't cry Ma for we are all here."
Caroline gives her daughter Laura a hug as she stop weeping.
Pa has his fiddle as he says, "Alright Ingalls family. We are all here out of harm's we. Let's have a little music. The Ingalls dance and dance to Pa's fiddle.
Dr. Baker and Lars Hanson are put in the same quarters. As well as the rest of Walnut Grove settles down in their different quarters.
Reverend Alden makes rounds around the Fort assuring the frightened and encouraging the worried.
Meanwhile the Renegade Sioux Indians converge in Walnut Grove, whooping and hollering. All of a sudden they stop making noise as one of them says, "Listen it's quiet!"
Another says, It's' cuz no one is here.
Another goes, "Ugh..."
The first one instructs the others, "Search the Town for scalps."
They all disperse different ways.
No scalps are found. They all come back together. The first one looks at the young Brave whose arrow got Mr. Edwards in the leg and says, "You say trail lead here, but no scalps." He than takes off one of his moccasins while still sitting on his horse and bops the young Brave on his head saying, "You got scalp on you but maybe nothing underneath Ugh."
The young Braves says, "I follow trail it lead us here. Look is that not blood on white men's bridge?"
The first not to be shamed by young Brave says, "Blood yes but scalp not here. They must have fled. Where could they have gone?"
They is a moment of silence and after a few of considering the Town's options the Chief says, "They must have fled to Fort Stony Pass."
The young Brave answers back, "Let's ravage the Town then we get scalps at Stony Pass."
They raid the Town taking any food stuff that's behind, clothing they could use and any guns and ammunition they could find. They found some food, much fabric but no guns and ammunition. The Chief found a book with gold lettering on it. He thought it was pretty so he took it.
About 4pm the Renegade Indians leave Walnut Grove and head for the Fort at Stony Pass.
It's almost Christmas Eve. What was that book with gold lettering on it that fascinated the Chief? What would it mean for what's about to unveil this holiest of nights on Christmas Eve?
To Be Continued