In their wagon, the Ingalls and their faithful dog Jack have traveled for many days from their home in Kansas all the way into Minnesota. Pa Ingalls says that according to his directions they’ve arrived at the right place, but Laura doesn’t see a house.

Laura Ingalls is startled when suddenly a man appears standing beside their horse. Pa tells the man he heard he wanted to go West and asks if he wants to trade his place. The man says yes. Ma Ingalls tells the girls they can leave the wagon and stretch their legs, so Laura runs down the path to the creek. As she climbs down the steep creek bank, she comes to a flat place where she sees a door with two big dogs in front of it. Laura runs back to the wagon.

Pa tells Ma that he traded Pet and Patty, their two mustangs, for the land, and traded Bunny, their mule-colt, for Mr. Hanson’s crops and oxen. He also reveals that the house is a dugout, but they’ll only live there temporarily until he harvests his first wheat crop and can build a wood house. Laura, who is seven, feels sad about losing Pet and Patty, but Pa hugs her and reassures her that they’ll be happier traveling west.