Almanzo tries to buy some land, but the man who sells it to him cheats him by blocking off the water source that goes towards that land, knowing his crop won't grow and Almanzo will fail to pay off the land by the end of the year and will lose it back to the owner. He had planned to get married to Laura and build their first home and have their first land. Now, he wants to wait, but Laura wants to take a teaching job to help raise some money. Almanzo wants to be the sole provider for their family. So, she gives him back his ring.