The Hansen Girls Prologue

Prologue

       Fair-haired, twelve year-old Belle Hansen placed a cool cloth on her mother’s warm forehead. She was in her parent’s bedroom and her mother was lying on the white sheets of the bed. The cloudy day darkened the room. A candle flickered near the bed and shone light on Alice Hansen. It had started out as a normal Hansen family day. Pregnant Alice was helping her daughters in the kitchen when she suddenly went upstairs, saying she was feeling tired. Moments later, Belle followed her and discovered that Alice was going into labor. But after two hours of pain and agony for Alice, Belle realized her mother needed help.

            The Hansens lived in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory. Zachariah Hansen had died nine months earlier in a wagon accident. Now, Alice Hansen lived with her thirteen children and the family worked the farm together.

            The oldest child was Albert who was thirteen, then Belle, followed by eleven year old Cassandra and ten year old Danielle, or as she liked to be called—Danny. Elsie and Faith were the nine year old twins and Gideon was eight. Hannah was seven and Isaac and Jinger were the six year old twins. Kendrick—Kenny— was the final boy in the family at age four and the last two children was three year old Lynn and two year old Megan.

~~~

           

            Cassandra joined Belle at the bedside. Her chocolate hair hung in two braids trailing off her shoulders.

            “How is she?” Cassandra timidly asked.

            Belle frowned, “We need a doctor.”

            Cassandra nervously looked at her ill mother. “Will the baby live?”

            “I don’t know…go tell Albert I need to see him.” Belle sent Cassandra out of the room and went back to tending her mother. Belle had helped her mother deliver babies before but she was worried about this one.

            Cassandra quietly slipped out of the room and went to find her thirteen-year old brother.

            Shortly after Cassandra left, Danielle peeked into the room. “Can I help?” she asked softly. The usually rowdy girl was being quiet and considerate today.

            “Yes, go make some dinner with Cassandra, Elsie, and Faith,” Belle gestured out the door.

            “Alright,” Danielle reluctantly stole one last glance at her mother and left.

            A few more minutes passed and the door opened again. This time, Albert stepped in. He took off his hat to reveal chocolate brown hair. “You needed me, Belle?”

            “We need a doctor! Mama is sick.” Belle changed the cloth again.

            Alice tossed restlessly in the bed and groaned in pain.

            “It’s gonna take a long time to get into town.” Albert frowned, “I don’t know if she’ll make it.”

            “She’ll die here! We have to try.” Belle looked helplessly at Albert.

            “Well…let’s get her in the wagon.” Albert said.

            He, Belle, and Cassandra carried her to the wagon. Belle pulled a bright blue bonnet over her thick, blonde hair and ordered instructions.

            “Cassandra, make sure Danielle, Elsie, and Faith help you with supper and that the little ones get to bed early enough.”

            “We’ll be back as soon as possible!” Albert called. He slapped the reins against the two sturdy horses and they were headed for town.

           

~~~

            Albert and Belle sat in the waiting room in the doctor’s office. Albert was reading some medical books with Belle peering over his shoulder. The waiting room was small with four chairs and a desk in the room. A bookshelf lined the one wall with pictures scattered around it. The walls were a pale blue color and two doors led into different rooms. 

            “Belle and Albert,” a nurse walked into the small office.

            Albert stood up quickly, snapping the book shut. “Yes ma’am, that’s us.”

            “Your mother would like to see you.”

            Belle and Albert wasted no time following the nurse down the corridor to see their mother. Alice was holding a baby in her arms when they found her in a bed.

            “It’s a girl,” Alice said weakly.

            “She’s beautiful,” Belle said kissing her mother on the cheek.

            “Her name is Nadia…just like Zachariah would’ve wanted.” Alice pushed a lock of flaxen hair out of her eyes. She looked at Belle and Albert seriously. “The doctor said I don’t have much time…”

            Belle chocked back a sob. Albert’s brow crumpled deeply.

            Alice kept her voice low, “I don’t want you children to be sent to an orphanage. I want Albert to raise the boys…and for Belle to raise the girls.” Alice took a labored breath. “Raise them to be good, civilized people…who love each other…and God.”

            Belle couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.

            “Dear, don’t cry!” Alice touched her daughter’s shoulder. “Promise me you’ll raise my girls…Dreamer, Darling, Sunlight, Rosie, Dove, Lily, Pixie, Pearl…and my Sweetheart,” she said glancing at her newborn. Alice had given all her daughters nicknames, except Belle, and used them often. Alice’s voice grew softer.

            Belle’s tears turned to sobs, “I promise, Mama!”

            Alice turned and looked at her first-born, “Albert…promise me you’ll raise my boys to be gentlemen…”

            Albert wiped away some stray tears, “I promise, Mama.”

            Alice’s pale skin turned paler and a doctor walked in. He bent over her and felt her pulse. He bent his head and silently pulled the sheet over her head and Belle burst into a fresh set of tears.

            “She’s gone,” the doctor confirmed. 

            Albert silently reached for the baby.

            “I’ll get a nurse to care for the baby,” the doctor offered.

            “Thank-you, Sir.”

            Belle slowly followed her brother, sister, and the doctor. “Dear Lord,” she prayed silently, “Please help us…please.”

~~~

            Late that night, when dusk had settled in, a man and a woman walked out to the hillside where a small meadow laid. In the midst of the meadow were two headstones sitting side-by-side.  The man’s black hair was barely visible in the dim light, but the woman’s strawberry blonde hair still shone in the light. The two walked to the newer grave and laid down some flowers.

            “Who is this?” the woman asked her husband.

            “She was my schoolteacher; Alice Hansen and her husband.” The man looked at the headstones. “She died today.”

            “Did she have any children?” the woman asked another question.

            “Not that I know of,” the man replied. He took his wife out of the graveyard and walked to their carriage.

            “It would be a shame if she did…I know the grief of losing a mother.”

            “You’re right,” the man said.

           
CHAPTER ONE