Charles hopped down from the front of the wagon and then helped the doctor down; he winced each time he moved his arm.

Alden was alert and readied himself for the move to the little bedroom at the front of the Ingalls’ house. The Reverend was certain that the physical movement was going to equal the move from the church earlier and he didn’t look forward to it as he couldn’t remember a time in his life that he’d felt so much pain, “Can’t I just stay here,” he asked weakly looking at his two friends.

Both Ingalls and Baker chuckled, “I’m afraid not, friend,” Doc Backer said as he placed his hand on the preacher’s leg acknowledging his stand on the answer. The doctor smiled as he waited for Charles to climb into the wagon, who then assisted the Reverend to a sitting position, “Easy does it...” Doc Baker said as he helped Charles with the preacher.

Alden bit his lower lip and tried not to complain, however, Baker could see by the look on Alden’s face that every movement was excruciatingly painful. “Slowly now, Reverend. There’s no race today,” Baker’s southern drawl was soothing.

Once on his feet he felt slightly better, “I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you...” he gasped thought his own quip.

“The sooner you are in that bed the better off you are going to be,” Charles smiled and looped his arm under the Reverend’s shoulder and took his weight. Alden nodded, “For not being a doctor, your advice is still sound, Charles,” he tried to smile as they moved to the house.

Caroline and Laura watched and Laura couldn’t help but shake her head wondering how someone could have inflicted such an injury on a man of God. Laura looked up to her mother, “Ma?”

“Yes, Laura.”

“Reverend Alden is going to be all right, isn’t he?” her yes filled with unshed tears.

Caroline fought back her own tears, “That’s what Doctor Baker says. We just have to help him and make him strong again.”

Laura smiled, “I’m so glad to hear that.”

Caroline smiled, “We all are, But we also have to be more mindful now that the Reverend is staying with us for a while.”

“We will Ma. And maybe I can read to him. He might like that!” Laura smiled.

“He just might,” Caroline smiled back and gently pulled Laura to her side hugging her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Charles pulled the door closed behind him and stood next to the large stone hearth, “He’s resting now,” the farmer smiled before moving further into the room. “I told him that Jonathan and I would finish the benches at the church, and do you know what he said?”

Both Caroline and the doctor shook their heads no.

“He want’s me to hold one off, so that we can work on it when he’s better. Just like we were going to do,” Charles’ eyes misted, “He is going to just fine!”

“That is good to hear, Charles. Because right now he’s not only hurting physically, but spiritually; he needs some goals to focus on,” Baker said before Caroline had convinced the doctor for her to have another look at his arm and to change the dressing.

“Hey, Doc, that looks pretty painful too,” Charles looked over his wife’s shoulder.

“It is,” Baker groaned.

“Looks like Caroline is doing a good job on it though,” Charles patted the doctor’s other shoulder. Baker sighed.

“Join us for supper tonight,” Charles said to the doctor as he sat in his chair at the head of the table.

“Oh, I don’t know...” Baker fussed.

“This might be a safe place for you for a while...” Charles smiled.

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you see the look on Mrs. Oleson’s face when we left town? She’s out for blood!” Charles giggled.

“Oh, Charles,” Caroline scolded her husband.

Baker nodded, “I’m afraid Charles is right, Caroline. Harriet sure looked like she was ready to pop...”

Caroline said nothing and finished wrapping the doctor’s arm. Curiosity finally got the best of her as she watched the look on the men’s faces, “Okay. Why is Mrs. Oleson so angry?”

Baker looked at Charles who stood and walked to the mantel for his pipe, “Mrs. Oleson’s kindly offered to look after Reverend Alden at the hotel...” Charles and Doc Baker fought their laughs.

“Oh...oh, if poor Reverend Alden had he ended up under her care...” Caroline blushed at her own comment then began to laugh, which inturn caused Charles and Doc Baker to break into laughter. Doc caught himself and suggested that they kept their revelry to a minimum for the Reverend’s sake.

Caroline finished cleaning up after her nursing stint, “Once I wash up, I’ll start supper. It’s been a long, long day for everyone,” she said as she referred to the previous evening, “I’m sure you are both exhausted.”

Baker drew a deep breath, “Thank you, Caroline,” he smiled and his tan face wrinkled.

“Why don’t the two of you go outside and lay in the hay for a while. I’ll keep an eye on Reverend Alden,” Caroline smiled to the two men. Both could barely keep their eyes open as she opened the door and watched them wander over to the barn.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Several days had passed and Reverend Alden was slowly getting around to the delight of Doctor Baker and the Ingalls. “Oh, Reverend,” Caroline smiled as the preacher opened the door from the room he was staying in.

“Caroline...” he smiled as he gently adjusted his suspenders, “Is there anything wrong?” he looked at Caroline with deep concern.

Caroline didn’t know how to tell him so she just blurted it out, “It’s Harriet Oleson,” she tried to hint that Harriet was on her way to the house.

“What about her?” Alden stepped forward slightly even though the pain in his side still stabbed at him.

“Oh, hello Reverend Alden. Caroline,” Harriet said as she pushed open the door to the Ingalls’ house, “It’s so nice to see you up and about...” she chortled as here eyes travelled up and down the preacher who looked unkept.

Instantly Alden felt nauseated again, “Hello Harriet...” he tried to smile.

“You look...um...”

“Unwell?” Alden asked.

“Yes, that is one word for it,” Harriet answered.

“Well, I am. It’s nice of you to visit,” he spoke each word as if it was its own sentence.

Caroline Ingalls could feel the tension growing and jumped into the conversation,”So, Mrs. Oleson, what brings you out here?”

Harriet was slightly taken aback by Caroline’s interruption, “I came to see how Reverend Alden is doing and to find out when we will be having our next Sunday service,” she leered at the both of them.

Caroline straightened her back and walked closer to Harriet, “Doctor Baker said that Reverend Alden will be able to conduct a service in two weeks. Reverend Alden has asked my husband to give them until then...”

“Oh?!” Harriet huffed and looked from one to the other, “You all deserve each other!” she turned and left.

Alden’s light blue eyes finally held the twinkle, which had been absent the last few months - the one everyone was used to seeing as he smiled. His cheeks rounded as he grinned broadly at Caroline, “She really hates me. She really, really hates me!” he started to laugh even though he was still hurting.

Charles was in the barn and saw Harriet leave in a huff and decided to check out what was happening in the little house. As he opened the door, both Caroline and the Reverend were laughing with tears of joy falling down their cheeks. The laughter was infectious and as soon as Charles learned of the reason why, he too burst out into his familiar giggle.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

(The voice of Laura Ingalls) Pa kept his promise to Reverend Alden, and as soon as he was fit enough, they embarked on the repair of what Pa called, “the worse of the benches.” Reverend Alden really didn’t do that much work on the bench, but he enjoyed with Pa and being in his church once again. The events from that horrible day seemed to draw them closer together which was what both of them held dearly to their hearts until the end of their days.