Today's Battles Are Tomorrow's Triumphs: The Jacob Noah "Jake" Ingalls Story

A Valentine's Day to Remember

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear," —Jack Canfield. (V.O.: Laura) "If I had a remembrance book, I'd write about that one Valentine's Day where Pa, my sisters, and I cooked breakfast in bed for Ma. I'd also write about our picnic with the Edwards', the Garvey's, and the Simms' and how Valentine's Day became a scary but exciting day all in one." The birds were busy singing their lovely tunes in the trees as Charles slowly got out of bed— careful not to disturb his beautiful wife's sleep. Charles, standing at the foot of the loft's ladder with one-year-old Grace in his arms, whispered, "Girls, wake up. Let's get started on your ma's breakfast." "Yes, Pa," Hannah, Mary, Laura, and Carrie replied. Charles and the four older girls cooked pancakes, eggs, and salt pork and Laura added the fruit she had canned. Hannah poured up a glass of fresh milk and set it on the tray, Mary placed the food on the tray, and Laura and Carrie put some wild flowers in a vase on the tray. "Can we take the tray to Ma now, Pa," asked Mary. Charles replied, "Sure, but don't wake your ma." The girls nodded. As they entered Charles' and Caroline's room, Caroline began to stir. "Good morning," said Caroline. Charles, Hannah, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Baby Grace hugged and kissed Caroline. "Good morning," Charles and the four older girls replied. "Mama," Grace babbled.

Hannah, Mary, Laura, and Carrie, holding out the tray of flowers, food, and fresh milk, exclaimed, "Happy Valentine's Day, Ma!" Caroline smiled. "Happy Valentine's Day, Darling," said Charles, placing a kiss upon Caroline's head. As Caroline sat up in the bed to take the tray, she was overtaken by a dizzy spell. "Oh," said Caroline, rubbing her forehead. Charles and the girls quickly grew concerned. Laura asked, "Are you alright, Ma?" Caroline answered, "I'm alright, Dear. I just sat up too quickly, that's all." "Are you sure you're okay, Darling? You're looking a little pale," said an observant and scared Charles. "I'm sure," Caroline retorted, securing her reply with a smile. Hannah said, "Are you really sure, Ma?" Caroline replied, stroking Hannah's cheek, "Yes, I'm sure, Dear." Charles and the girls flashed minute smiles back at Caroline. Charles said, "Why don't you eat your breakfast and the girls and I will go get the horses hitched up and ready for when we go down to the pond for our picnic with the Edwards', the Garvey's, and the Simms'." "Okay," Caroline retorted. As Hannah, Mary, and Laura helped Charles hitch the wagon and as Carrie played with Baby Grace, Caroline was working on preparing the meal for the picnic when all of a sudden she became lightheaded, her vision blurred, and she collapsed on the floor. "Ma," Carrie screamed.

"Caroline," Charles hastily said, kneeling by his wife's side, "Caroline, wake up." "Ummm," Caroline moaned as she came to. Charles suggested, "Maybe we oughta take ya to Dr. Baker." "No. I'm alright," Caroline replied in refusal. Charles said, brushing a strand of loose hair out of Caroline's face, "I just found you unconscious on the hard, cold floor, laying there as pale as a ghost, and you're telling me you're alright!" "I'm feeling better, Charles. Really, I am. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish getting the food ready for the picnic," said Caroline, kissing her husband. "Maybe we oughta hold off on the picnic," said Charles. Caroline replied, "You listen to me, Charles Ingalls. We're going on that picnic and we're going to have a wonderful time. I'll let you know if I start feeling lightheaded and faint." "Promise," inquired Charles. "Promise," replied Caroline. Charles said, "That's my girl." Caroline smiled as Charles, Hannah, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Baby Grace wrapped her in their warm embrace. Upon arrival at the pond, the children engaged in a game of jump rope, Charles, Isaiah, Jonathan, and Adam went fishing, and Caroline, Grace, Alice, and Eva set up the food. As the ladies were spreading the blankets on the ground, Caroline was suddenly overpowered by another dizzy spell— only this time, she fell and struck her head on a nearby boulder.

Grace, Alice, and Eva rushed to Caroline's aid. "Caroline, come on, you've got to wake up," Eva pleaded. "Oh, my Lord," said Grace, gasping, "her head is bleeding badly. I'll go get Charles. Alice, you and Eva stay here with Caroline." Alice and Eva nodded as Grace dashed off to get Charles and fill him in on the situation. "Charles. It's... it's Caroline. She got dizzy and collapsed. She... she," said a teary-eyed Grace. Charles, with tears welling up in his eyes, said, "Grace, what is it? Caroline what?" "She fell and hit her head on a boulder and she's unconscious," replied Grace. "Oh, my God," Jonathan commented. Grace led Charles, Jonathan, Isaiah, and Adam back to where Alice and Eva were waiting with Caroline. Charles knelt down by Caroline, tapped the sides of her face, and pleaded, "Caroline, please. Please wake up." Caroline laid there— pale and motionless. The children came running over to see what the commotion was all about. "What happened," asked Carrie. Eva replied, "Your ma had an accident, Sweetheart." Charles said, "Laura, I want you to go into town and fetch Dr. Baker." Laura replied, "On it, Pa." "Run," Charles called out after her. Laura ran into town as fast as she could. "Dr. Baker," said an out of breath Laura, entering Dr. Baker's office. Dr. Baker said, "Slow down there, Laura. Breath and tell me what's wrong."

"It's Ma," said Laura, "she fell and hit her head on a boulder while she, Mrs. Garvey, Mrs. Edwards, and Mrs. Simms were setting up for our picnic at the pond down below our house." Dr. Baker and Laura loaded up in Dr. Baker's surrey and hurried off to the pond. "Thank God you're here," said Charles, greeting Dr. Baker and Laura. Dr. Baker said, "Charles, I want you to carefully put Caroline into the wagon and bring her to my office." Charles nodded. As Charles carried Caroline to the wagon, her eyes slowly blinked open. "Charles? What happened? Why does my head hurt," inquired a confused Caroline." Charles tearfully replied, "You took a fall and hit your head on a boulder, Darling. You were unconscious for 30 minutes." On the way back to town, Caroline started fading in and out of consciousness. Hannah said, stroking Caroline's hair, "Ma, you've got to stay awake." "You're right— I've gotta stay awake," Caroline weakly replied. "Yeah, that's right," said Charles.