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

Ingalls Vs. Oleson: Round 2

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ingalls," Mrs. Oleson called out from the porch of the mercantile. Charles just waved and kept walking. "I'm surprised to see you out here instead of being over at Dr. Baker's with Caroline, seeing as she had taken a nasty fall down the steps this morning here at the mercantile," said Mrs. Oleson. Charles questioned, "What are you talking about?" There was an immediate silence.

"Hey, Charles. What are you doing here," Mr. Oleson asked as he approached him and Mrs. Oleson. Charles replied, "Oh, nothing— just trying to get Mrs. Oleson here to tell me what she meant when she said Caroline had taken a nasty fall down the steps here at the mercantile this morning." "Harriet, I suggest that you tell Charles what he wants to know right now," Mr. Oleson snapped. Mrs. Oleson then confessed, "Mrs. Ingalls came in this morning with a dozen and a half eggs and I told her that I could only give her four cents less a dozen for the eggs because they weren't up to their usual standards. She then proceeded to tell me that a gentleman at Hanson's mill said that he'd be more than happy to get any and all the eggs that he can get his hands on and that he'd pay her three cents more than what we normally pay. I said that I'll take them, seeing as your family was about to have another mouth to feed and that you were all gonna need all the money you can get to support your brood. We then took the conversation outside and she went on to say that she didn't see how the finances and the lives of herself and those of her family were any of my affairs. As she turned to leave, I grabbed her arm and told her that they were and are my affairs, seeing as it is the mercantile's money that is paying your bills and feeding you and your family.
She said, "Let go of me," so I did and she went barreling backwards down the porch's steps." Mr. Oleson was taken aback by his wife's shocking confession. "My wife went into preterm labor a month early, had an emergency surgery, suffered a seizure, and is now in a coma all because of your selfishness. My girls and my newborn son are over at Doc Baker's right now crying for their ma," Charles angrily cried. Mrs. Oleson said, "I am truly and deeply sorry, Mr. Ingalls." "Save your apologies and your pity for someone who cares," Charles snarled back as he walked off. Mrs. Oleson gasped. "Come on. You've done enough damage for the day," said Mr. Oleson as he took his wife by the arm and led her back inside.