The Hansen Girls Chapter 1

Chapter 1

            Seventeen year-old Belle Hansen climbed out of bed. She glanced at all her sisters lying on their beds still sleeping. In the long bedroom, there were ten beds and two large dressers. All the beds were lined up according to age. The two dressers stood on either side of the room. At the end of the bedroom there was a rocking chair and there was one window looking out into the Black Hills. Belle slid her slim figure into a pale blue dress and ran a brush through her thick golden hair. She wove her hair into a large braid down her back and woke her sisters.

            “Wake up every one! Time to get ready!” Belle sang.

            Eight chocolate headed girls crawled out of bed and reached for their brushes. Their routine in the morning began with braiding each other’s hair. You could easily tell the eight girls were related. They all had the same hair and eyes, save Danielle who had blue eyes.  Sixteen year-old Cassandra braided fifteen-year-old Danielle’s hair in pigtails. Cassandra always did her own hair up in a bun on top of her head.  Elsie and Faith, the fourteen year-old twins, helped each other with their hair. Elsie wore her hair back in a barrette while Faith wore her hair in a bun. When the twins finished, they helped eight year-old Lynn and seven year-old Megan plait their hair into pigtails. Twelve year-old Hannah and eleven year-old Jinger braided their hair in pigtails as well while Belle did the youngest sister.

            Belle reached into the smallest bed and woke her youngest sister, Nadia. Belle would never admit it, but Nadia was her favorite sister. She scooped Nadia into her arms and carried her to the rocking chair at the end of the bedroom. She carefully ran a soft brush through the girl’s silky blond hair.

            “Tell me about Mama,” Nadia asked softly. 

            Belle fought back sad memories before she answered. “Alright, Sweetheart. Mama was the prettiest woman I ever saw. She had long golden hair like you and me. She always braided down her back in on big braid or a perfect little bun at the top of her neck. Mama took us on picnics at least twice a week. The best part was that she loved Jesus and us…all of us.” Belle stared out the window in a trance. She glanced down and saw her other eight sisters were crowded around her feet.          

            Cassandra sighed, “She looked just like you, Belle.”

            Belle was embarrassed by the unexpected compliment. She stammered her thanks and began braiding Nadia’s hair.

            “Tell us more,” Elsie begged.

            Belle paused to think of a fond memory. “One time, when I was ten, Papa broke his leg and couldn’t do the plowing. Albert was away at grandfather’s house helping him. Mama found a pair of Papa’s overalls and hiked out to the fields.”

            “Mama in overalls?” Hannah asked in shock.

            Danielle laughed, “It’s a little hard to plow in a dress, stupid.”

            “Danielle!” Belle said sharply, “we don’t call names.”

            Danielle meekly apologized.

            Belle continued. “She plowed two fields; all by herself. Papa was angry but when he watched her out in the field laughing and singing, he just grinned and said: ‘That’s my Alice’.” Belle fell silent and finished braiding Nadia’s hair into a braid down her back.

            “I miss Mama,” Nadia whispered.

            Belle tilted Nadia’s head towards her own. She gently kissed her forehead, “I miss her too, Sweetheart.” She set Nadia down on the floor and ordered everyone to change into their dresses. “Then come help me make breakfast.” Belle slipped out of the room and walked down the stairs.

            Her older brother, eighteen year-old Albert, was already downstairs. “Mornin’ Belle,” he greeted. He was a handsome young man. He had broad shoulders, a neat mustache and gentle brown eyes.

            “Good morning,” she returned. She placed a pan on the big black stove and began making breakfast. “What are we doing today?”

            Albert dragged a boot onto his foot and answered. “Well, looks like we’re gonna get some rain today. Until then, the boys and I will work on clearing the fields. Danny, Elsie, and Faith will have to feed the animals.”

            “Danielle,” Belle corrected, “her name is Danielle.” Belle tied on her apron. “And that is fine if the girls need to feed the animals.” Sunlight peeked into the room and Belle and Albert heard footsteps thumping upstairs.

            “Here they come,” Albert grinned and watched as everyone filed downstairs.  Thirteen year-old Gideon, eleven year-old Isaac—Jinger’s twin—and nine year-old Kenny were among the nine girls.          

            Belle and Albert stood beside each other and called out each sibling’s name as they filed into the kitchen.

            “Good morning, Dreamer, Darling, Sunlight, Rosie, Gideon, Dove, Isaac, Lily, Kenny, Pixie, Pearl, and Sweetheart,” Belle greeted each sibling. She kissed the three little girls as they passed her.

            The children’s father had been a general in the Civil War. With such a large family, he began taking a roll call at every meal to make sure everyone was accounted for. Albert and Belle kept up the routine despite their father’s death.

            “Everyone is here,” Albert said sitting down.

            It was another twenty minutes before the girls had breakfast ready. When it was ready, Belle and Cassandra grabbed breakfast and set it on the table.

            Albert looked around, “Gideon, it’s your turn to pray.”

            The fourteen siblings bowed their heads and waited for Gideon to begin.

            “Dear Heavenly Father, we ask Thy blessing upon the food…Amen.”

            Eggs and bacon were passed around the table and everyone ate their fill.

            “Boys, I aim to clear the fields this week. Grab your lunches and let’s skedaddle,” Albert said rising.

            “Wait a minute,” Kenny said stuffing more bacon into his mouth.

            “Kenny!” Belle exclaimed. “You’ll choke!”

            Kenny swallowed and opened his mouth to assure her he didn’t choke. Belle sighed and shooed the boys out of the house. “Danielle, Elsie, and Faith, you three are in charge of the animals this week,” Belle said, “Don’t forget to gather the eggs.”

            “We won’t,” Faith promised.

            Danielle couldn’t be happier to get out of housework. The three girls headed outside to the barn. 

            “It looks awfully dark over there,” Elsie pointed.

            Danielle and Faith glanced up at the sky and noticed some dark clouds.

            “You’re right. It looks like we are in for some rain.” Danielle nodded.

            “I hope it isn’t a big storm; I hate storms,” Faith shuddered.

            “Hey, Albert!” Elsie called. “You boys better get your work done fast!”

            Albert glanced at the sky and grumbled something. “C’mon boys, let’s see what we can get done.” The boys hurried up into the fields to get started.

~~~

           

            Inside the Hansen cabin, Belle and Cassandra did the dishes while Hannah and Jinger swept the floor.

            “Lynn, Megan, and Nadia, go make the beds,” Belle said scrubbing a plate.

            “Yes ma’am,” the three called trotting up the stairs.

            The huge Hansen cabin was divided into two rooms on the bottom and three on top. The dining room was connected to the kitchen and the other room served as parlor. Upstairs, the girls shared one room and the boys shared another. The third room was their parents’ bedroom. That room hadn’t been touched in five years since Belle couldn’t bring herself to go inside the room. Memories flooded her mind when she neared the door. Belle rolled up her sleeves and scrubbed harder.

            “Looks like the storm will be here any minute,” Cassandra said glancing out the window. “Sure is moving fast!”

            Belle fixed her gaze on the clouds, “You’re right. I better go help Danielle, Elsie, and Faith finish the barn chores before the rain comes.” Belle wiped her hands on a towel and pulled her green bonnet over her head. In only the hour that had passed since breakfast, the wind had picked up and it slashed through the trees creating a hissing noise. Belle noticed Albert and the boys were running back to the house.

            “It’s gonna be a bad one!” Isaac yelped.

            “Belle! Get everyone in the basement!” Albert shouted above the noise. “It’s coming fast!”

            “Danielle and the girls are in the barn!” she protested.

            “I’ll get them. Hurry!”

            Belle turned back and ran inside. “Cassandra! Get everyone in the basement!” Belle grabbed some blankets and thrust them into her sister’s hands. Cassandra flew upstairs to get her other sisters while Hannah and Jinger dropped the brooms and ran outside to reach the cellar. Cassandra and the younger ones ran to the basement with a bundle of blankets. Belle ran outside with some more supplies and tossed them down to the girls. Danielle, Elsie, and Faith along with the boys came running to the cellar moments later.

            “Is everyone here?” Albert asked.

            Belle and Albert quickly counted. “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M…”

            “Nadia!” Belle screamed in fright. She was so scared she could barely breathe. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She turned to Albert with a panicked face.

            Albert froze; his eyes wide with fear. The storm was getting worse. It was dark and a strange snapping noise was piercing the air.

            “The big dead oak!” Cassandra said in alarm. The huge dead oak tree beside the house was about to collapse.

            Belle ran out of the cellar and into the house. She forgot about everything else. All she thought about was Nadia. That tree could easily fall onto the cabin and destroy everything inside.

            “Belle!” Albert cried. A smaller tree fell and dropped across the cellar doors, trapping Albert and the others inside. “Belle!” Albert beat his fists against the doors.

~~~

            Belle threw open the cabin door and called for Nadia. “Nadia!” she screamed. A muffled cry came from upstairs. Belle picked up her skirt and hastened up the stairs. She saw Nadia in a small ball on the floor sobbing. Belle dropped to the floor and picked her up and sped back down the stairs. The safest place in the house was the kitchen because it was farthest away from the dead oak. Belle ran there and placed Nadia in a corner and braced herself over the little girl. A deafening crash sounded and the huge oak tree fell. Belle waited for the roof to cave in but it never happened. Belle realized in relief that the tree must have fallen the other way. Nadia was still sobbing and clinging to Belle.

            “Sweetheart, shhh…it’s okay,” Belle reached over with one hand and held Nadia’s hand. Belle gently sang over the loud wind and rain. Belle, Cassandra, and Danielle had inherited their mother’s beautiful singing voice. Alice always taught her daughters how to sing and told them to cherish music. Belle had a sweet soprano voice and often sang with her sisters.

            “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, ‘twas blind but now I see…”

            Nadia quieted down and listened to Belle’s voice. “Sing another,” she asked.

            Belle sang numerous songs while she waited for the storm to pass by. After ten minutes of waiting, the storm ended. Belle stood and looked out the window. Rain was just lightly falling and the wind had died down.

            “The storm is over. Let’s go find Albert and the others.” Belle reached down for her sister and together they walked out the door. The rain was still falling but had thankfully slowed down a great deal. Belle quickened her pace when she saw the tree over the cellar doors. “Albert? Is everyone okay?” Belle set Nadia down and waited for an answer.

            “Belle! We’re all fine but we can’t get out!” Albert’s deep voice penetrated through the doors.

            “I’ll get you out,” Belle ran to the wood pile and seized the axe. “Stay back,” she warned Nadia. Heaving the axe upward, Belle poised herself to chop the tree. THWACK. THWACK. Sweat beaded on Belle’s forehead as she kept swinging.

            “I can almost push it open,” Albert called.

            “One more swing!” Isaac added.

            Belle swung the axe with all her might and Albert pushed the doors open. The doors banged open against the ground and the Hansens poured out of the basement. Albert grabbed Belle by the shoulders and stared into her face.

            “Are you alright?”

            The shock of everything that had happened suddenly hit Belle. Belle pressed her lips together to keep from bursting into tears.

            She nodded but Albert wasn’t satisfied. “Belle…are you hurt?”

            Belle pulled away from Albert and twisted around. She scooped Nadia into her arms and ran into the house. Albert stepped forward to follow her but Cassandra blocked his way.

            “Cassandra, get out of the way,” Albert said pushing her aside.

            “No, Albert you don’t understand. The shock must have just hit Belle; she was so scared for Nadia. You know how special Nadia is.”

            Albert seemed to understand enough. He turned around and walked around to check out the damage. Everyone else joined him. They paired up and walked around the property to see how everything made out.

~~~

            Cassandra entered the house an hour later to check on Belle. Thankfully the cabin had survived the storm fairly well. There were a couple puddles on the floor and a clay vase Jinger made had fallen and broken on the stairs. Cassandra lifted her skirt so it wouldn’t drag on the clay and ascended the stairs. Belle was rocking Nadia in the chair in the girl’s room when Cassandra arrived. Cassandra knelt beside her sister and watched for a moment. She and Belle fought often but the two trusted each other. They both knew they could go to each other for help. Nadia had fallen asleep and Belle was silently crying.

            “Belle,” Cassandra said softly.

            Belle turned her head to look at her sister. “Oh, Cassandra, I was so frightened. If anything would’ve happened to Nadia—” Belle exploded into tears. She hushed them  and sobbed softly so she wouldn’t wake Nadia. “I should’ve been more careful. I should’ve been watching over her more closely.”

            Cassandra handed her elder sister a handkerchief. “Calm down, it’s not your fault. Here, let me hold Nadia and you go clean up.” Cassandra reached for the sleeping girl and Belle reluctantly handed her over. Belle stood and left the room to wash up. When she finished washing up, she returned to the bedroom and took Nadia back.

            “I’m going to put her down for a short nap,” Belle said. “Then I’ll be out to help with the cleanup.”

            Cassandra rose to her feet and nodded. “Alright.” Cassandra walked out of the bedroom and headed outside to help Albert organize the cleanup.

CHAPTER TWO