The New In Laws A Little House fanfic

 

The New In Laws

A Story by Request

This story is slightly different. It's about Laura and Almanzo by way of Charles and Caroline. It's the first night after Laura and Almanzo's spur of the moment wedding in Sleepy Eye and Charles has a lot on his mind.

The New In Laws

Charles stood at the corral fence in silence and all by himself. He had a lot on mind this night. This time, it wasn't about money, it wasn't about the Olesons and it certainly wasn't about who was going to win the arm wrestling contest at the Grange Picnic.

No, this time it was his daughter, Laura. She was growing up and he refused to see it, refused to hear about it and refused to admit it, even to himself.

In Sleepy Eye last night, at the Blind School to be exact, Laura and Almanzo got married at the spur of the moment. Charles was just as happy and excited as the newlyweds were, but that happiness and excitement was starting to wear off. Reality was starting to sink in.

His second oldest daughter, the one who was just like him and the one who he had bonded with, was gone now. It wasn't like she moved so far away, the two of them were just up the road, separated by miles, two or three the most, if that.

But Laura had been his baby, his little girl, his little half pint of sweet cider half-drunk up.

Charles should have seen it coming, especially the first day that boy came to town. The first thing he did was give Laura what she called the "grown up nickname" of Beth. It was no wonder that Laura couldn't stop talking about him. She made every excuse to see him and to be with him.

And in the beginning, it seemed as if Almanzo didn't take Laura's infatuation seriously, but he never tried to discourage her either. Almanzo knew that there was a ten year difference in their ages, but it didn't seem to bother him as much, not as much as it bothered Charles.

And it confused him. The more he tried to keep her from seeing or talking about Almanzo, the more she pursued him.

And the angrier it made Charles. He wanted so badly to beat him in the arm wrestling contest at the Grange Picnic. He wanted to make Laura understand that it was too early for her to marry. He wanted her to wait until she was eighteen, that was the proper thing to do.

Charles hadn't been as strict with Mary. He practically pushed her to get married. He hadn't minded that she was sixteen at the time either. But then again, Mary knew what she wanted. Mary was older, she was smart and she took charge of the family. He knew that Mary would be able to handle anything that came her way with confidence.

And then everything changed. All the hopes and dreams that Charles had for the future were gone, along with Mary's eyesight.

And now they looked to Laura to help out. And it meant that Laura had to grow up. But Charles never thought of her that way. Charles was convinced of that, no matter what or how many times Laura told him that she was a woman, she was still a little girl to him, his half pint. She was too young to get involved with anyone now, especially someone like Almanzo who was a grown man in his twenties. Besides which, he couldn't understand what Almanzo saw in her. She was too young for him. She didn't know what she wanted, not at sixteen.

Caroline had told him that he was wrong; that she had her mind made up, that she knew what she wanted, that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Almanzo. Charles knew it wasn't true and Almanzo had proved it by going to Sleepy Eye, leaving Laura upset and on her own. He never even mentioned when or if he would return.

And then there was the saloon girl….

So Charles made the trip to Sleepy Eye to tell Almanzo Wilder just what he thought of him. But it turned out that he had been wrong about him. And it was starting to sink in that he had been wrong about Laura too. She loved Almanzo and Charles knew now that Almanzo was in love with her. Even Houston, the caretaker of the old courthouse, knew that Almanzo was in love with Laura, no matter how much he tried to hide it. And Charles knew that he couldn't keep them apart anymore.

It seemed that Almanzo had taken an extra job to help Laura pay the rent that she still owed to the owner, Mr. Pims. Working two jobs had caused Almanzo to develop a bad bout of pneumonia and he was burning up with fever. So Charles decided he would drive her to Sleepy Eye so that she could be with Almanzo when he recovered.

Charles never forgot the way she looked at Almanzo as he opened the door to Houston's room. It was the same look that she had given him when he spoke about the land he had just bought from Mr. Gray. It was the same look that she had given him during and after the wedding ceremony.

It was the look of happiness when you knew you had found your one and only. It was the look of excitement at being together for the first time. And it was the look of true love knowing that you would be spending the rest of your lives together, forever.

And then Charles remembered when she was younger, when they would go fishing together, when she would come to him for advice and when she supported him ….

"Charles," he heard Caroline call from somewhere behind him. "Charles, it's late. I would think you'd be tired after we made that trip from Sleepy Eye this morning."

He looked up at his wife, his eyes welled up with tears.

"Charles?" she whispered, reaching out to caress his cheek as the tears started to fall.

"Caroline, I was wrong and you were right. I should have let them marry earlier. I don't know why I didn't. "

Caroline frowned. "What are you talking about, Charles?"

"Almanzo." He told her, looking out on the prairie. "I don't know, Caroline. Maybe I was being overprotective of her. He was so much older it just felt strange to me. All I wanted to do was make sure she was doing the right thing. I mean, I didn't want to see her get hurt. But, last night, last night…."

"What about last night?"

"It was the way they kept looking at each other as if they knew they were meant for each other. They looked so happy together. There was a glow about them. It was as if they belonged together and that nothing could ever break them apart."

Caroline smiled and could feel her eyes welling up with tears. "Charles…"

"Is that how we felt? Is that how you felt? That we were always meant to be together and that there was no one else in the whole wide world for us but each other?"

Caroline looked at him and smiled. "I felt that way, Charles. I felt just like Laura. She knew the minute she met Almanzo that she was going to make him see her as a woman. She always knew that she was going to Laura Ingalls Wilder someday."

"And that's how you felt?"

She nodded and touched her husband's cheek. "What about you?"

Charles smiled. "It was the way I looked at you when I first met you. It was the way I felt when we were together and it was the way knew we would be together for the rest of our lives. There was always something between us, some spark that connected us. That's how I felt and that's how I still feel."

Charles wrapped his arms around her brought her closer. "I love you, Caroline. I always will."

"And I love you, Charles," she answered as he released her.

"I wonder what they're doing now." Charles answered, looking at his wife.

"What do you think they're doing? And anyway, you'll find out when we see them on Friday."

Charles frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Well, you know, Eliza Jane is leaving for St. Louis on Saturday. We're having the farewell party, remember? "

Charles shook his head. "Almost forgot. I think you invited everyone here, right?"

"This afternoon it was moved to Nellie's. Mrs. Oleson gave me an employee discount. "

Charles smiled. "Mrs. Oleson?"

"It was more Percival's idea. He's trying to show off Nellie's cooking."

Charles laughed and it was so infectious that Caroline laughed, too.

"Don't say anything, Charles. Percival wasn't supposed to tell me."

"Don't worry, I won't." Charles shook his head. "Hey, it beats you cooking and me drying the dishes."

And Charles put his arm around her as they walked toward the little house.

"Oh, and Charles? Albert and Carrie…."

He shook his head. "Are those two at it again?"

Caroline nodded. "Apparently, Carrie wakes Albert up every time she uses the outhouse."

"Alright, I'll talk to them."

Charles opened the door for her and they walked in the house together.

Kite Flying, Coloring Books and Other Things A Little House fanfic.

 

Kite Flying, Coloring Books and Other Things

A continuation of I Do, Again

Laura and Almanzo all learn a little something while babysitting the Ingalls kids while Ma and Pa are away on a second honeymoon.    

“You have everything?”  Almanzo asked his arms around his wife’s shoulders. 

“Yep, I do,” Laura answered kissing her husband lightly.  “And I have to thank you for the hard work you did helping me with my latest school project.”

Almanzo smiled.  “You know your Pa helped, too. 

“Yeah, I know,” she said, smiling.  “But it’s just going to have to wait until he gets back.  I’ve got a big supper planned for tomorrow night when Ma and Pa return from their second honeymoon.”

Almanzo frowned.  “I thought we were going over there.”

Laura smiled and kissed him.  “It’s the next night, Manly.  Remember, we talked about this last night.  You know, when I told you about your sister’s book and we talked about Sleepy Eye and…”

Laura’s voice trailed off.  “Manly, are you alright?”

Almanzo smiled up at her.  “You know, if we weren’t outside and you weren’t up in that rig, I’d climb up and kiss you right here in front of everyone.”

“Okay, Almanzo James Wilder, I dare you to come up and kiss me.”

Manly’s eyes widened and so did the smile.  “You shouldn’t dare me, Laura Ingalls Wilder,” he said as he started to climb into the seat.

“What in the world are you doing, Mr. Wilder?”  Laura asked as Almanzo made it to the top of the buckboard and sat down next to her. 

“What does it look like, Mrs. Wilder?”  he answered, as he put his arms around her and pulled her close.  “I’m kissing my wife in front of everyone.”

“Who is everyone, Manly? Do you mean like a passing squirrel?”

“Shh,” he said as he leaned in and….

“Almanzo,” a voice called out.  “I didn’t know you were tagging along.”

Manly and Beth turned around at the sound of Albert’s voice.  He had just come out of the farmhouse holding Grace’s hand.   Laura’s gaze turned to Almanzo, who she found was already staring back at her.

“Fooled you, didn’t he, Albert?” Laura whispered as they stared at one another.

“You shouldn’t have dared me,” he whispered, smiling at her.  “I love you, Beth.”

“And I love you, too, Manly.”

“You sure you don’t want to come?” Albert said, smiling as Almanzo jumped off the rig. 

“I’ll see all of you later at the schoolhouse.  Grace and I have a date this afternoon, don’t we?”

Grace nodded.  She looked up at Almanzo and held her hands out, a sign that she wanted to be picked up.

And Almanzo did just that. 

“Yep, we’re gonna go for a little walk, just the two of us, maybe even have a little picnic.  How does that sound?”

Grace nodded again as Almanzo placed her on his shoulder. 

“See you at the school later on,” he said as he watched Laura drive off. 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Laura and Almanzo were downstairs at the Wilder farm clearing up the supper dishes.  

“So, how did your day go?”  Manly said, as he put down the towel and walked over to where she was standing.   He wrapped his arms around her waist and swayed her back and forth. “That was another great project you thought up, Beth.  Those kites were the talk of Walnut Grove.”

“Hey, don’t be so modest Manly, you and Pa did plenty of work on them yourselves,” Laura said, standing of tip toe to kiss him.   

“We only made six of them.  All the kids couldn’t fly them at the same time.”   

Almanzo looked at her curiously.  “So what did you give them to do?”

“The new coloring books and paints came in,” Laura told him.  “I made sure that the kids switched off.  Some of them used the coloring books, some of them flew kites and believe it or not, some of them, like Albert, studied. 

Almanzo’s eyes opened wide.  “Albert was studying?”

 Laura nodded.  “Albert will be graduating next year, Manly.  He is thinking of becoming a doctor.  I’m giving him my books so he can prepare for them. “

Almanzo smiled.  “Time does fly, doesn’t it?”

Laura nodded.  “Speaking of time flying ,” Laura said, “where’s Albert?”

“Right here,” Albert answered, as he entered the kitchen, “Almanzo, you and Laura are hereby requested to come join us for some kite flying.”

Almanzo looked at Laura and smiled.  “Are we up to it?”

“Only until it gets dark, Albert,” Laura said, looking at her husband. 

But Albert hadn’t heard, he was already outside with his sisters.

Almanzo smiled and released her.  “He’s all excited.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“The kids learned all about Benjamin Franklin and kite flying today,” Laura said, “It’s actually something that you see very rarely on the prairie.”

“In about an hour and a half, it will be way past Carrie and Grace’s bed time,”

“Well, Grace’s anyway,” Laura said, taking out some of the lemonade she had made.  She put the glass pitcher down, took out the glasses and handed them to Almanzo to carry out.

“We can sit on the porch and watch them,” she told him as she picked up the pitcher again.

“Correction, you can sit on the porch and watch them.  I want to fly at least one those paper kites,” Almanzo smiled and walked out the front door with the glasses in his hand.

Laura was right in back of him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Manly, I’m sorry about tonight.  I actually wanted a quiet night, just you and me…”

Almanzo smiled and wrapped her up in his arms.

“I had a good time, Beth.  It took me several tries to get that kite up, but I managed to.  After school was over, Carrie taught me and Grace about catching frogs down by the creek and Albert and I helped her get her kite up.  We all learned a little something.”

“What about Grace?  She can be fussy eater.”

“Oh, Beth, she’s a cutie.  She ate up all of your leftover eggs and we took a little walk into the wooded area out back.  I showed her some birds and some flowers and she was so attentive and interested that I thought I had finally found a friend. “

“And then it was time for supper.”

“And bedtime,” Almanzo said, “but this time I was ready for her.  I told her all about Cinderella and do you know what?”

“She fell asleep?”

Almanzo smiled and shook his head. “I don’t know how you did it, Beth, but I couldn’t get her to go to sleep at all.  She wanted to hear more about the birds, the plants and the flowers and I started to explain them to her.  When I started talking about all the different birds she saw today, she fell asleep.”  He smiled.  “If you ask me, I don’t think she cared one way or the other.”

Laura laughed as she slid closer to Almanzo.  “If that’s the case, do you think we’ll still need that fairy tale book when we go there tomorrow night?”

Almanzo looked at her.  “Wait a minute, didn’t you tell me that we were…”

“Well,” Laura said, looking at him.  “I got the day wrong.  You were right.  Remember yesterday when Mrs. Oleson called me over to the Mercantile?  That was them calling to tell me”

Almanzo sat up and frowned.  “So when are we going over there?”

“I’m sorry, Manly.  I was just so busy that I forget to tell you they were coming to pick up the kids at our place tomorrow night instead.”

Almanzo frowned.  “You knew all this time and you didn’t tell me?”

“I was going to, Manly, They were supposed to be here tonight, but Pa decided to stay a little longer.”

Almanzo looked at her. A shy smile was beginning to form on his lips and folded his arms across his chest.

“So that’s how you knew?”

She nodded. 

“Beth?”

“I just wanted to see if you were paying attention, Manly, I guess you were.”

Almanzo shook his head and put his arms around her waist. “Well, there’s something I forgot to tell you too, Beth.”

“What’s that?”

“You know that fairy tale book we were talking about yesterday?  Well, I mentioned it to Albert and he just smiled.  And…”

 “And?” Laura said, looking at him curiously.

Manly untangled his right arm from Laura’s waist and stretched it out to retrieve something behind him.  He fumbled with it at first, but in the end, he managed to bring it forward.

Laura’s eyes opened wide as he plopped it down on the bed.  She looked at it and then she looked up at him. 

“Where was it?” she asked, picking up Eliza Jane’s fat book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

“Same place you remembered it being, Beth, underneath your old bed in the loft.  Albert used it for a while, but he told me that the Cinderella story stopped working on Grace a while ago.  So he gave it to me when I asked him about it.  He thought we could use it when our baby is born.”

“You had it all the time and you didn’t tell me?”

Almanzo slid his right arm around Laura’s waist again.  He tried not to smile.  “I guess I just wanted to see if you were paying attention."

“MANLY,” Laura said, trying not to smile.  She put her arms around his waist.

“Maybe we should look into getting a copy of Audobon’s book on birds instead.  I saw a few of them in the Mercantile last week.  Maybe we should…”

But Almanzo never let her finish the sentence.

Author’s Note:

A few things to mention:

Kites and kite flying have been around since 450 BC.  They started in China, but spread to Europe in the 14^th to 15^th centuries .  From there, they moved to Maylasia and Japan in the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  Eventually they made it to America around 18^th to 19^th centuries. 

They were used for all kinds of things including, weather,military and scientific experiments.  The Wright Brothers and Alexander Graham Bell used their skills as kite flyers to perfect the early aeroplanes.   Later on, in the 50’s and 60’s, they would be used for parachutes and hang gliders.  In the 70’s and beyond, they were used for fun and for sport.  But kids and adults have been flying them since the 1600’s.

Coloring books were started in the 1870’s and 1880’s with the Little Folks’ Painting Book.  Watercolor paints have been around since the cave man and was used for everything from artistic painting to coloring books.

Watercolors were used by John J. Audobon while documenting his famous book of birds which I also mention in this story.

 

The Lightning Storm A Little House fanfic

 Almanzo gets caught in a very nasty summer storm complete with heavy wind, thunder and lightning, which sets a tree on fire.  Story complete in one chapter

  

The Lightning Storm

End of June, 1889

“Come on, Beth,” Almanzo said, looking up at the sky.  “I don’t want you out here too much longer.  That baby can come any minute and Doc Baker said…”

Laura smiled and kissed him lightly.  “That things should be smoother the second time around. “

Almanzo wrapped his arms around her.  “I know, Beth, I heard him.  I just don’t want anythin’ goin’ wrong.  That’s all.”

“Then stop worrying so much, Manly.”

He handed her the egg basket that he got from Rose earlier.  “Jenny and Rose are still huntin’ eggs .  By the time we’re done, we should have plenty for the rest of the day.”

Laura smiled. “Or at least enough for some nice hot egg toast served with butter and sugar. And you can make your fabulous scrambled eggs to go with them.”

The wind howled and moaned against the barn windowpanes.   It almost knocked the hat Almanzo was wearing off clean off his head.   Far off in the distance, Manly heard a clap of thunder and a bolt of lightning lit the sky.    

“It was nice of you to come out here to tell me that you’re going to start breakfast, but I really think you should be getting’ back inside, Laura,” he said . “I don’t like how it sounds out here.”

“Alright,” Laura said smiling, kissing him lightly.  “I’m going to start breakfast and I want you inside all safe and sound.”

 “I’m gonna go into the barn and see how Jenny and Rose are doing.” He swayed her back and forth.  “Listen to me, please.   I don’t want to lose you or the baby.”

The wind was kicking up and getting stronger.   

“Looks like I might have to end up patchin’ that roof again.”

They stared at each other.  “Almanzo,  I….”

“Don’t worry, Beth.  I’ll be right in with Jenny and Rose.  Don’t worry about a thing.”

“Manly, if you can be worried about me, why can’t I worry about you?  And don’t tell me it’s different.”

He smiled and kissed her   “I can’t help it, Beth. I love you too much.”

“Oh, Manly,” she said, pulling him close and holding on to him tightly.  “I love you, too.”

And with one last look his way, she walked inside the house.

He watched her as she closed the door and he walked into the barn.

“Jenny, Rosey,”

“Uncle Manzo?”

She came running over to him.  She had the milk pail in her hand. Almanzo took it from her.  “Where’s Rose?”

“I left her with the chickens.  She wanted to feed them and get some eggs.  She wanted you to make some this morning.”

“Alright,” he smiled and kissed her cheek.  “I’ll go look for Rose.  When you get inside, you take this to the root cellar and do as I showed you.  Bring up one small milk pail and help out your Aunt Laura with breakfast, okay?  I’ll be in as soon as I get Rose.”

Another clap of thunder sounded.  Jenny looked up at him, her face worried.  “It sounds like the storm’s getting closer, Uncle Manzo.”

“Papa?”  A little voice called out, “Papa?  Jenny?”

“Go ahead,” Almanzo said.  “I’ll get her and bring her inside.”

Jenny smiled and nodded her head.  She took the milk pail out of his arms and hurried to the front door. 

Another thunder clap sounded and Almanzo could see streaks of lightning in the sky.   

“Papa?” Rose said, running over to him.  “Papa, I found some eggs.  Maybe you make some later?”

Almanzo smiled.  “I can’t carry you and the egg basket, Rosey Posey, not if I want to keep those eggs of yours from breaking.”    

The tree in front of them suddenly lit up.  A bolt of lightning had struck it not two seconds ago causing the trunk to split in two.

And it set the tree on fire.

 “I’ll be right back, Rosey Posey,” he told her.  “I’ve got to try to put out this fire.”

And he opened up the door a crack, but Rose wouldn’t budge.  “Not without you, Papa.”

The wind picked up again battering the windows of the barn. There was still thunder and lightning, but no rain, not yet.  Almanzo noticed that the flames were higher now and starting to spread outward.   

Fueled by the heavy wind, the door to the barn moved back and forth, as if a ghost was opening and closing it.  Almanzo wasn’t paying any attention to it as he moved closer to the barn.  He thought of one thing and one thing only, getting the fire out before it spread and put everyone in danger.

“Rose,” he said, turning back to face her. “You’ve got to tell Mama Beth that I might….”

The barn door hit him with such force that it knocked him to the hard ground.  

“Papa?” Rose called out by door, “Papa?”

 XXXXXXXXXXX

 Jenny was setting the table for breakfast when she heard Rose’s cries for her father and she ran to the door.  When Jenny asked her what was wrong, she pointed to Almanzo  who was still lying on the ground.    The barn door was still swinging back and forth in the wind.

“Aunt Laura?”

“What’s wrong, Jenny,” Laura asked, coming out of the kitchen area. 

“It’s Papa, Mama Beth,”

“Rose,” Laura said, bending down to take the egg basket from her hand. 

“Where’s Papa?”

“Papa is outside.  He fell. ”

Laura frowned and looked at Jenny who took the basket of eggs out of Laura’s hands and put it on the table.

“Mama?” Rose said, tugging at her sleeve.  “Come see.  There is a tree on fire.”

”Show me and Jenny,” Laura said, standing up and taking her hand.

Rose took hold of her hand as she led the way.

The wooden door to the house was not closed properly and it blew back and forth, similar to the barn door.  Laura took no notice, all she saw was her husband, who, by this time, was sitting up and holding his head.

“Almanzo,” Laura exclaimed, her eyes widening.  She ran over to him, but was stopped by the fire, which had separated them and was now out of control. 

The flames were bigger now and spreading upwards and outwards.  If Laura didn’t do something about the fire soon, the flames would cover the grass, inch its way over to the barn and whatever stood in between, including her husband.  The fire would consume everything within its path.  She had to do something and quickly. 

 “Beth,” Manly said, looking toward his wife.  “You’ve got to get help.”

 “Uncle Manzo, I’ll go.  Something might happen to the baby.  You both stay here.  I can take Rose with me.”

Almanzo looked at Laura, then at the fire, which had grown and had spread to the prairie grass.

 “If you want to go Jenny, you’ve got to do it now.” Almanzo told her, “Beth will bring Rose and me inside.  Stop by the Carter’s first and get John to take you down to Doc Baker’s office and bring him here.“

But Rose wasn’t listening.  She was already halfway down the hill and moving toward the Carter place. She turned back and looked at Jenny.

Jenny took one last look at her aunt and uncle and ran down the hill to join Rose.  Almanzo and Laura watched as they disappeared and then turned to each other. 

“Isn’t there a bucket in the house?” Almanzo asked, as the flames that between them began to spread even wider.

Laura nodded and started to run.  She felt the pains in her stomach reminding her that she should be taking it easy, but it was too late for that now.

 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 “Manly, they’re coming, I see them. “

The fire wasn’t out yet, it had only gotten worse.  Every time Laura poured water on the flames, they sprouted up again, thanks to the wind.  There was still thunder and lightning in the skies above, but no   sign of rain, at least not yet.     

“There’s a bunch of wagons,” Laura said, standing up, but Almanzo told her to sit.  “You’ve got to take it easy, Beth.  That baby is due in a month and half. You’ve done enough.”

The first one to arrive was Isaiah Edwards who took charge of everything.  He took Jenny and Rose off his wagon and surveyed the situation.  The next one to arrive was the Carter family and behind them were Doc Baker and the Olesons, believe it or not, all of them.

“Get in the house, Half-Pint,” Mr. Edwards called out. “Take Jenny and Rose with you.  We’ve got this.”

XXXXXXXXXXXX

“Another lesson in stone soup,” Almanzo sighed, putting his right arm around his wife.  His left one was in a sling. 

“It was a good breakfast though,” Jenny said, as she stood up to clean the table.  Their guests had just left.  “Uncle Manzo, those eggs of yours were delicious.”

“They’re Grandma Ingalls recipe,” Almanzo said, standing up, letting Laura help Jenny with the dishes.  “I just add a little something to them.”

He walked over to where the towel was hanging and waited patiently for Laura to hand him his first dish.

“Now, you know Doc Baker told you let that arm rest up for a few days,” Laura said, handing him a plate.  “I shouldn’t have even let you make those eggs; I don’t care if Doc Baker gave you permission.”

“Well he did tell me to take it easy, anyway,” Almanzo looked at her.  “It’s only bruised a bit, Beth.  It’s not like it’s a broken or anything.” He grabbed the plate with his right and dried it with his left. When it was done, he placed the dish in the cabinet behind him.  “It is a little hard to move around though, but I’m managing. Hey, maybe when the arm’s better, you’ll teach me how to make that great egg toast.”

Laura shook her head and handed him another.  She watched him to see how well he maneuvered with only one working arm.  “Sit down before you break something, Manly.  Let Jenny do it.”

“Laura, I’m perfectly fine, I can handle this with….”

But Manly couldn’t hold on to it and the plate almost dropped.  If Jenny hadn’t caught it at the last minute it would have broken.

He looked up and saw both women staring at him.  Almanzo smiled sheepishly and let Jenny take the dish towel. 

“Alright, I’ll see what little Rosey’s up to.”

“I’m okay, Papa,” Rose called out from Jenny’s room. 

 “Sit, Manly and let the women handle this,” Laura said, kissing him lightly.  “But you’ll get the job back in due time, don’t you worry.”

And Almanzo shook his head and sat down in the rocking chair.  Never argue with a woman, he thought, especially when they’re all in agreement.  He had learned that the hard way.  

Authors Note:

Egg toast or French toast as it is commonly known, was introduced in the United States in 1871.  French toast doesn’t come from France; it actually has many different names. It is also known as German toast, Spanish toast or egg toast.  There are several reasons why it’s referred to as French toast.  One of them comes from an Old Irish term “to French” which means “to slice.”  The recipe came with the Irish immigrants when they settled in the United States during the Great Famine.  The British referred to it as “lost bread” and the Romans dipped slices of bread into milk (and sometimes eggs) before frying them.  French toast also has its own holiday which occurs on November 28^th.