A/N: Well, I'm doing better in terms of pace. I just want to get the story finished. Also, I'm getting to the part where I know what I want to write.

Chapter 8: The Promise of Return

Each of the families received a letter from their head-of-household. Everyone was very happy to hear that more and more families were returning. They made plans to leave, and told their relatives at home to expect them at the end of May.

Mrs. Oleson made preparations to close her shop and find a new tenant for it. That was not very easy because the Olesons couldn't leave everything that wasn't sold – it would be needed in Walnut Grove. Eventually she did find a family that had a shop in the next town over and wanted to expand into the big city of St. Louis. They understood her necessity to take the items with her, and very soon the papers were signed. Mrs. Oleson closed her shop to business, and spent several days inventorying everything in the shop. She then took Nellie out of school. Together, they packed all of the store items. They then packed all of their personal belongings.

Mrs. Garvey and Ma decided to deal with their row house together, even though it was two units. They went to the rental agency together and told them that they would be leaving, and that both parts of the row house would be available for a new tenant. The rental agency was able to find new tenants for them in no time. Then it was time to pack, which took them no time at all because they hadn't brought anything but personal items with them. The furniture would go to the next tenants.

On the day that they were going to leave, Mrs. Oleson packed all of the Oleson belongings and the store items into their wagon, and brought it to the Oleson/Garvey row house. Mrs. Garvey packed the Garvey items into her wagon. Ma was to drive the Oleson wagon because Mrs. Oleson did not want to drive the wagon a long distance. The men had taken the Ingalls wagon because that is where they were going to stay, so Ma, Laura, and Mary put their belongings wherever there was room. The children all got in the back of the Garvey wagon, where there was more room.

Before they could leave St. Louis for good, the women had to stop by the real estate agency and drop off the keys. That took no time, and soon the group was on its way home to Walnut Grove.

For the adults, the trip home did not seem to take a very long time. For the children, however, the trip dragged on because Laura, Mary, and the Garvey's son were in close quarters with Nellie and Willie. The trip was over soon enough, and they were greeted with hurrahs upon driving into town.

By this time, Mr. Hansen had returned so Pa and Mr. Garvey were back hard at work for him. The group stopped the wagons for a brief time to let the men know that they had returned, and that they were going to the Ingalls place to drop off before Mrs. Garvey and Mrs. Oleson returned to their homes.

At the Ingalls residence, Ma, Laura, and Mary got out of the wagons and gathered all of their belongings. Everyone else got out to help. When everything was unloaded, Mrs. Oleson took the reins once more, and Nellie and Willie got into the back of the Oleson wagon. They bid the Ingalls good bye and went on home.

The men were going to move back to their own homes that evening, so the girls took down the extra bed in the girls' room and changed the sheets on the girls' bed. Ma surveyed what was available in terms of foodstuffs. Because the men had eaten there, there were enough food ingredients to last them for a while. Ma was pleased to see that. She then went out to the barn, where she found her children surveying the new livestock. It was the late afternoon, so Pa would be home soon for supper. Ma reluctantly walked back to the house and started to get that ready. She sighed, because tomorrow would begin the monotony of farm life and chores once more.

A/N: I decided to consolidate the last two chapters into one and part of what was supposed to be in this chapter into that one. I just don't think I can write enough to fill two chapters with what I have left in the story. Anyway, please review!