A Horse Lover's Wife

Laura continued her days in school and soon turned sixteen in February of 1883, with a surprise for her birthday. Mr. Bouchie from the school board wanted her to teach a two month winter term for a town 12 miles south! It was her dream come true! She accepted and left the house with a teacher's certificate and $20 for the month of January. Laura stayed at the Bouchie home and was miserable because of Mrs. Bouchie, but loved to teach her five pupils. One day, someone strange arrived at the Bouchie residence in a buggy drawn by two beautiful Morgan horses. It was Almanzo Wilder, one of the homesteaders Pa met in Dakota before moving onto his land there. He drove Laura to school and back everyday, and then on Fridays when school was out.
Laura retured to her school in De Smet to resume studying, and Almanzo followed her. He showed up at Pa's door and offered her a ride; she rode with him everyday since. Laura learned a lot about him, like he was 26, loved horses, his parents lived in Minnesota, and he came from New York; the nickname Laura gave him was " Manly." After Laura taught at her second school, the Perry School, Almanzo proposed to her and she agreed. On the morning of August 25, 1885, Laura and Almanzo were now husband and wife. Laura Ingalls Wilder was no longer a pioneer girl, she was a homesteader's wife. " I had a house and home of my own." -Laura Ingalls Wilder