The Journey Of Love: Nancy Olsen and Andrew Clark:

Chapter 4:

A month or so passes Andrew and Nancy's relationship is going strong. At a Town picnic at the Wilder's front yard on a Saturday afternoon they are sitting under a tree having a lemonade, while Almanzo Wilder and the Town farmers, Joe Coulter, John Carter, Joe Kagen, and Jonathan Garvey are discussing a deal on seed corn in Sleepy Eye. Joe Coulter says, "I know of a place in Sleepy Eye where we can get seed corn for a good price Almanzo and I can both go buy it and have it here in less than 2 weeks if all is in agreement."

John Carter says, "I need seed corn and at a good price, I say let's go for it, anyone else?'' The others agree on getting the seed corn from Sleepy Eye and letting Almanzo and Joe on buying it.

Early Monday morning Joe Coulter and Almanzo Wilder head off to Sleepy Eye in their wagons they arrive mid- afternoon around 2pm and have a bite of lunch then they go and make the deal with the seed corn while making the deal Almanzo over-hears some guys talking about needing some horses for the U.S Army, Almanzo walks up to them introduces himself and says "I over heard you need some horses for the Army. I know where we can find some wild Mustangs.''

One of the guys who introduces himself as U.S Army Sergeant William Jones says, "That is what we need Mustangs, 2,000 of them, if you can get them for us we can pay you $100 a head upon delivery to the U.S Army Fort, 'Fort Snelling' at the junction of Minnesota and Mississippi River.

Almanzo says, "Let me talk to my friend Joe and see what he says."

Almanzo talks to Joe and tells him about SGT Jones and him needing 2,000 Mustangs and paying $100 a head, he says, "Joe that is $200,000 and remember we saw a wild prairie right outside of Walnut Grove that has thousands of Mustangs, you think we and a couple of others could round them up?"

Joe, "We definitely can for that kind of money!"

Joe and Almanzo talk to SGT Jones and says, "We can get you the horses and have them at Fort Snelling in 2 and half weeks."

SGT Jones says, "Good, I will give you a bank draft for $200,000 when you deliver them."

Back over to the Feed and Seed they buy the corn seed and Almanzo and Joe load it on their wagons and then realize it is getting kind of late and asks the manager of the Feed and Seed if they can keep their wagons there overnight so they can get a good night's rest before heading back to Walnut Grove. The Manager says, "Of course."

Almanzo and Joe get a good night's rest and early the next morning they head back to Walnut Grove and when they arrive home they give everyone their seed corn and tell them about the horses needed for the U.S Army.

Almanzo says, "We told SGT William Jones we would have the horses at Fort Snelling in 2 and 1/2 weeks we would like two more men to help round up the horses with $200,000 for payment that would come to $50,000 each who can help?"

John Carter and Willie Olsen say they can help.

Joe Coulter says, "Let's take a few days and get our seed corn planted and start Monday morning."

The next few days they get the seed corn planted and Monday morning they go out to the Wild Prairie right outside of Walnut Grove. The four wives, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Coulter, Rachel Olsen and Laura Wilder make their husbands sandwiches for the road and give them hugs and kisses and tell them to be careful out there.

The next week or so Joe, John Almanzo and Willie are rounding up the Mustangs and head off to Fort Snelling they arrive just when they said they would 2 and 1/2 weeks from the time Almanzo and Joe talked to them in Sleepy Eye. SGT Jones is waiting for them at the gate of the Fort and lets them in, takes the horses outback, and SGT Jones gives Almanzo the $200,000 bank draft.

Meanwhile right outside of Minnesota a group of Outlaws, Butch Cassidy and Sundance's gang are planning to rob the U.S Army and the bank in Mankato.

Almanzo, Joe, John and Willie head back to Walnut Grove and goes over to the Walnut Grove bank to cash the bank draft Mr. Anderson says, "We don't have enough in this bank to cash that."

Andrew Clark says, "Mr. Anderson I'm going to my dad's bank in Mankato tomorrow, I'm sure there is enough money there to cash it."

Almanzo gives Andrew the bank draft and says, "We would appreciate you cashing it for us."

The next day before Andrew heads off to Mankato, Nancy says, ''I will miss you while you are gone." Than Nancy notices that Andrew has a hand pistol and asks with a concerned look, "Why do you need that?"

Andrew says, "Nancy no need to worry I just want to be safe and prepared since I will have alot of cash on me."

Andrew gives Nancy a little kiss on the cheek as Nancy says, "You be careful with that cash and that gun!"

Andrew says, "Don't worry."

To Be Continued...