Little House on the Prairie: A New Beginning

(The Last Farewell)

"I don't want to leave Walnut Grove" Jenny said. "It's not fair" Laura placed a hand on Jenny's shoulder.

"I know it's not, Jenny" She said softly. "But there is nothing we can do about it"

"What about my friends?" Jenny asked. "I don't want to leave them"

"Sweetheart, they're leaving too" Almanzo reminded her.

"It's just not fair!" Jenny shouted. She turned and ran out of the house.

"Jeb, are you okay?" Jason asked. Jeb shrugged.

"I'm fine" He said curtly. Jason frowned.

"You're crying" He pointed out.

"I am not" Jeb said, wiping his eyes quickly. Jason gave him a look.

"Is it because of Jenny?" He asked. Jeb was quiet for a moment.

"What if I never see her again?" He asked. Jason sighed. That was a question that he could not answer.

"I have to go" He said, climbing down from the loft.

Jeb walked to the pond and was not surprised to see Jenny already there.

"Hey" He said, sitting down next to her.

"Hey" She said back. She leaned her head on her shoulder.

"Why are they doing this to us?" She asked. "Why can't they just leave Walnut Grove alone?"

While Jeb and Jenny were at the pond, John and Sarah paid a visit to Laura and Almanzo. They sat in the living room with Mr. Edwards, Pa and Ma Ingalls, Willy and Rachel Olsen and Mr. Montague.

"John and I were thinking about moving back to New York" Sarah said quietly.

"Have you told your father?" Laura asked. Sarah shook her head.

"We want nothing from him. I'll not have my boys seperated. If there isn't a school they can go together, they'll learn at home" She sighed. "My biggest worry is Jeb"

"What about him?" Charles asked. "He seems like a nice young boy"

"He is, but he's quite taken with Jenny" John said.

"I'd say Jenny feels the same" Almazo said. "But Laura and I have been doing some thinking as well" He turned to Charles.

"I know that you said we were welcome to come with you to Iowa, but we were also thinking of heading to New York" He said. Caroline sighed.

"I guess we were kind of expecting that" She said. "Have you phoned Mary?" Laura nodded.

"Yes. Adam is quite sucessful now and he has purchased a large house so that we can continue boarding" She said. "It won't be much, but Mary says there is a teaching position open at the public school there. I can work and Almanzo will run the boarding house"

"I'm sure Mary and Adam will be delighted to see you again" Caroline said sadly.

"Mrs. Wilder...Laura..." Willy began, "Rachel and I are going to New York too. If it isn't too much trouble, we'd like to continue boarding with you"

"That would be just fine Willy" Laura said.

"I shall accompany you as well" Mr. Montague announced. "I rather like boarding with the lot of you"

"Well," Mr. Edwards said, "I'm sorry half-pint, but I think I'm going to take your Pa up on his offer and go to Iowa instead"

"I guess it's all settled then" Charles said. "It's good to have a plan, once we blow up this town"

Jeb and Jenny sat at the pond for a long time before heading back. When they got back to the boarding house, Laura met them at the door.

"Jeb, Jenny, we've decided to move to New York when this is all over" She said. Jeb looked down.

"congratulations" He mumbled. Laura laughed and shook her head.

"No Jeb, I mean, we have all decided to move to New York" His eyes met hers and she nodded as John came outside.

"You'd better start packing. It's a long way to New York" He said.

(I know it's hokey to have them all move to NY, however, if you'll remember, in season 5, the olsens, ingalls and garveys all moved to Winoka)