I do not own Little House on the Prairie nor any of the original characters.

*Since realizing Hester Sue would have still be helping at the blind school, I will simply have her helping out once in awhile at the cafe. When it comes to Lars, I still can't remember exactly when he left the show. Still, he will be in here.

Stranger In Their Midst

Chapter Two

Dr. Baker spread the curtains of his examination room to the side and stepped back allowing the stranger to step into the main part of his office. The woman who looked, and spoke, as if she was of Spanish decent had approached him in the café and asked if he would take time to see someone who was not one of his regular patients. Because Hyrum simply assumed the women had asked someone to point the town's doctor out to her, he hadn't batted an eye at her question. That being the case, he'd readily agree to see her in his office.

"So," the woman looked at him as she did not beat around the bush; that was something she had never believed in doing, "I was right? The other doctor gave me a wrong diagnosis?" She wanted to make sure she had understood him right when he spoke to her a few minutes before.

"Yes," Dr. Baker answered as he sat down in the chair in front of his desk, and then faced the woman who sat on the other side. "You're no more dying than I am. You have an ulcer which is easily treated, though I am curious..." Hyrum looked his patient over. "You say you are alone and, for the most part, you make your living making dresses. That's not exactly a lifestyle that is so filled with stress that one would normally develop an ulcer."

For a moment the woman did not speak, when she did her face showed no emotion in it. She'd come to Walnut Grove wondering how much time she had to take care of a matter very important to her, and now found she had much more time than she ever dreamed of. She was grateful for that, as she really had no desire to rush anything. Finally she looked at Dr. Baker and spoke, "I said I have made dresses to make a living at times, I never said I did it constantly. However, if I need rest, a regular schedule and meals at the same time every day, then I will have to settle down for awhile. Would Walnut Grove be in need of a dressmaker?"

"Since Miss Whipple passed away, women have been either making their own or finding someone willing to do it for them. I'm sure they'd love having a regular dress maker in town again, Miss ?" Hyrum had asked the stranger her name more than once, and more than once, she had acted if she hadn't heard the question. "People call me Catalina; believe me doctor, it will be best if you do the same." The stranger stood up and opened up her purse, pulling out some money. "How much do I owe you and would you know of a place I could stay for awhile?"

Once Hyrum had told her the cost of the visit and told her that one Nels Olsen might be able to tell her of a place she could rent as he, Nels, and his wife, Harriet, ran the local mercantile and heard a lot of news throughout the day, Catalina left the doctor's office and walked over to the mercantile.

Hyrum stood on the porch of his office and watched the stranger disappear into the store. "People call me Catalina..." The sentence was sitting in his gut and gnawing at him more than it had in the café. He had the funniest feeling if he didn't remember where and how he knew the woman he would wind up with the shock of his life; that bothered him. He didn't like surprises; especially when he got the feeling it was a surprise that would turn his life upside down before he was prepared for it.

Hyrum wasn't the only one deep in thought. As the mercantile drew near, the wheels in Catalina's mind were turning eighty miles an hour. Hyrum had not recognized her; that upset and yet puzzled her. Sure it had been twelve years, but he'd been in her town for two months. Then again, she had changed quite a bit in appearance. She knew that because she'd been told it so many times by the people around her. Still, she hadn't thought she'd changed that much and Hyrum had …She was brought abruptly out of her thoughts and Willie Olsen ran straight into her without looking, he was actually running in a sort of backwards way. She let out a gasp of air when he bumped into her abdomen.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ma'am!" Willie was embarrassed at having ran into a total stranger like he just had. His mind had only been on one thing, not having to deal with Nellie and another one of her temper tantrums. She was out of school, she should at least be glad she didn't have school to deal with anymore.

"It's all right, this time." Catalina smiled down at the boy in front of her, even if her heart ached just a little. He reminded her of her younger brother, Roberto; may he rest in peace. "You must be more careful next time, promise?"

Willie grinned and nodded as he hurried off, "Yes, ma'am! I promise!"

Catalina's smile left as she turned around and headed once more for the store. She had to find a place to stay as soon as possible. After all, it wouldn't do for a lady to find herself sleeping out on the streets, didn't matter where those streets were, she shouldn't have to find herself in a position to do such a thing. Opening the door to the mercantile, Catalina stepped inside to find Harriet behind the counter with a feigned smile; a greedy grin like no other Catalina had ever seen. "This has to be Harriet Olsen" Catalina thought and she made herself smile before she shut the door and headed for the counter.