"Charles, what's wrong? I just heard that something terrible just happened, but I know nothing else. I just got here about a minute ago."
"Caroline…."
"Charles, what's wrong?"
"Laura."
"What about Laura?"
"Caroline…. Laura. Laura has been…. She has been kidnapped."
"Oh my! Charles. What are we going to do?"
"Nothing we can do Caroline. They have vanished. No sign of them anywhere. There are tracks…. But no tracks anyone has ever seen. They end abruptly. Willie made the discovery."
"Oh Charles! Our little girl! How will she survive!? What did they do to her!? What will they do to her!?"
"Caroline. I don't have any answers. I was asking the same questions."'
"Charles, Caroline, If it is any help, I will be praying."
"Thank you Reverend Alden."
"No problem Charles, Caroline. In fact, I'm going to go inside and send a prayer."
"Thank you Reverend."
"Caroline, come with me, I'll get you a hot bath. It helps me to relax."
"Mrs. Olson, how can I relax when Laura is in danger and we don't know where she is?"
"You should go with Mrs. Olson Caroline. It couldn't hurt. It can only help you. There is a new field in science that was just created within the last couple years called Psychology. I don't know much, but their goal is to explain people's thoughts, reactions, and expressions. It is complicated, but taking a hot bath can only help you relax so that you do not do something you will regret."
"Thank you Dr. Baker. I'll go. Thank you Mrs. Olson."
"You're welcome Caroline. I know we have had our arguments, well, they were my fault. Remember when I paid you four cents less a dozen for your brown eggs?"
"I do remember."
"I also remember calling Laura a troublemaker when Laura and Nellie had a fight and me telling you that you best take her in hand, pushing other children around, even though I did nothing about Nellie."
"I remember Mrs. Olson."
"It was also my fault that Laura got blamed for everything when Mr. Applewood was the teacher briefly, and it was my fault when he punished her, even when she was innocent. I even sided with him. I told him that Laura was a troublemaker."
"Mrs. Olson, we have already forgiven you. I'm sure Laura has forgiven you and Nellie by now, or at least, for some of it. I believe she has forgiven Willie for the role he played in some of Nellie's schemes, and if not, if she knew what he did today, she would forgive him. But I doubt any of it is on her mind right now. She is probably thinking of survival and home. I suppose she misses all of us here and just wants things to go back to the way they were before this whole thing happened.
"I wouldn't blame her. I would have if I were in Laura's situation."
"Thank you Nellie."
"You're welcome Mrs. Ingalls. Even after all the things I've said and did to Laura."
"Caroline, I want you to know, if you ever need anything, we're here for you and your family."
"Thank you Mrs. Olson."
"Caroline, Willie and Nellie will help you, Charles, and your family on the farm. Since Laura isn't here and Mary is probably not strong enough right now to do her chores. Nels can help too should Charles need it."
"Thank you Mrs. Olson."
"You are more than welcome Caroline."