Almanzo and Charles are in Mankato finishing up their deliveries. They have been stuck there for two nights because of the weather and other things. Story complete in one chapter.
Eternal Flame
Almanzo stared out the window. According to the mantle clock downstairs in the hotel lobby, it was two in the morning. He turned over to look at Charles who was sound asleep in the bed they shared. They were headed back to Walnut Grove in the morning. Storms and floods kept them in Mankato for two nights and so was a busted wagon wheel on Almanzo’s rig. They already dropped off two loads in Mankato and were waiting to pick up one for Jonathan Garvey in Sleepy Eye and another for the Mercantile in Walnut Grove. Things were getting downright busy. And now, here they were holed up in this tiny hotel room for two straight nights with only one bed between them.
Charles was great company, he was funny and witty. He even had a lot of Laura’s characteristics, stubborn and feisty, but that’s where it ended. He was no Beth no matter how similar their personalities.
They were hoping to be back sometime later this afternoon or tomorrow at the latest, depending on traveling conditions. He would go crazy if they couldn’t make it back this afternoon. Almanzo couldn’t go another night away from his Beth.
Almanzo missed Laura, he missed her terribly. The pouring rain outside their room made the feeling worse. It reminded him of Sleepy Eye, the night he delivered the money to Houston, the night he caught pneumonia. But, even though he boasted about how much he had accomplished while he was living there, he still missed her. He saw her face wherever he went and he couldn’t shake her from his mind, no matter how hard he tried. And when she showed up to help Adam and Mary fix up the old courthouse they rented, it only made things worse. It only made him love her more.
And from that time on, nothing would ever be the same again. Not without Beth by his side.
He was glad that she was staying with Caroline at the little house. This way they could keep each other company and watch the youngsters at the same time. The two of them worked during the day while Albert kept a sharp eye on the younger kids.
Just one more day, he kept telling himself, just one more day. He shook his head, stared out at the pouring rain and thought of the woman he loved.
“Beth,” he whispered, as he placed his hand on the windowpane, “My Beth.”
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“I love you, Manly,” Laura whispered as she stared out the window. She placed her hand on the windowpane and imagined that he was next to her on the bed. Instead she was sharing it with Carrie, but not at this minute. Something, a feeling perhaps, made her go to the window and look out at pouring rain. She extended her hand and placed it on the window as if she knew that Almanzo was doing the exact same thing at the same exact time. Only he was miles away.
She had known right away that it was meant to be between the two of them as did Almanzo when they first met. Something always drew them together whether it was a spark or a connection or just a feeling.
Laura sighed and removed her hand from the windowpane and, with one last look at the window, stood up. She walked to the ladder that connected the loft to the common room downstairs and climbed down.
And that’s when she saw someone standing out the window, her hand on the windowpane, calling out her father’s name.
“Ma?”
Removing her hand from the windowpane, Caroline turned to Laura and smiled. “I’m worried about them, Laura. Too much has gone wrong too quickly. “
Laura smiled. “They’ll be alright, Ma,” she said, rushing into her arms. “They’ll both be here tomorrow safe and sound, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to deliver something for someone else.”
“I’m not sure, Laura, not with all this wind and rain blocking their way?” Caroline said, looking at her daughter.
Laura let her go, nodded her head and stared at her. “That will stop, Ma. They’ll be here faster than you think.”
And Laura put her arm around her mother as they both walked toward the bedroom that her parent’s shared. She stayed with her Ma the rest of the night.
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It took all morning to change and grease the wheels, deliver the rest of the goods and load the two wagons with two more stops to make on the way home.
“Almanzo,” Charles said, turning to his son in law. “Looks like we’re gonna make it home tonight.”
“Looks like,” Almanzo said, nodding his head. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
“Not that you were bad company, but, well, you know what I mean.”
“I sure do, Pop,” Almanzo said. “I sure do.”
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“Laura,” Caroline said, as she burst into the schoolhouse. “They’re on their way home. They’ll be here tonight. Jonathan just called me. They’re going to meet us down at Nellie’s. We don’t even have to cook.”
Laura smiled and, with her mother still standing there, turned to the children. “Class dismissed,” she told them. “See you all tomorrow. Albert, take care of Carrie. Grace is with Ma. Grab a table at Nellie’s. We’ll meet you there.”
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“Beth, you don’t know how much I missed you,” Almanzo said, cuddling next to Laura. “You have no idea. It was pouring rain last night and all I thought of…”
“Was you,” Laura finished. She smiled and stared back at him. “I hope you heard me when I called your name because I heard you and…”
Almanzo’s eyes went wide. He sat up. “I heard you and I felt your hand press against mine. I felt it though the window.” His eyes narrowed. “You did, didn’t you? I wasn’t dreaming that was I?”
“Beth,” Laura said, grabbing his hand tightly and looking into his eyes, “My Beth.”
“And you said, ‘I love you, Manly. I heard it, just as I’m hearing you now. And you put your hand up to the glass and I…”
They stared at each other. “Oh Beth, “he whispered, gathering her up in his arms. “ I don’t know what it is, but…”
“It’s our eternal flame, Manly. And it will burn brightly for as long as we’re together. “
This story was inspired by the song “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles.
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