The Hansen Girls Chapter 4

Chapter 4

            Danielle placed her plate in the sink and rinsed off her hands. She was already rushing for the door.

            “Come on, Belle! We need to get out and start plowing!”

            Belle wiped her hands off on her apron. “Be right there.” She tossed some food into a bag and followed Danielle.

            Danielle was happy as she sported a pair of faded overalls. Belle was wearing her long white shirt and a brown skirt. The two Clydesdale horses, Ruth and Esther, were obedient work horses. Danielle boosted her older sister onto Ruth and scrambled aboard Esther herself.

            “How long will it take?” Belle reached for the reins.

            “I’m not sure,” Danielle said urging Esther to walk. “It shouldn’t take too long. We sure don’t have a lot of seeds.”

            Belle nodded and they rode in silence thinking about her conversation with Cassandra earlier that day.

 

~~~

            Cassandra wasted no time ordering everyone around. She was glad for the chance to take charge and to try and forget what had happened that morning between her and Belle.

            “Lynn and Megan! You two need to go take the milk cow and the calf to the pasture!”

            “Yes ma’am,” the two answered. They grabbed their bonnets and ran out in to the sunshine.

            “Elsie and Faith! Go take care of the animals!”

            Elsie and Faith skipped out to the barn to finish the morning chores.

            “Nadia, go make the beds. Hannah and Jinger, you two sweep and mop the floor while I do the dishes.”

            Nadia cheerfully went to the bedroom and Hannah and Jinger silently obeyed. Cassandra made sure the bun on top of her head was perfect before she rolled up her sleeves. The pile of dishes went down since the boys left and Cassandra was thankful for that. Hannah rapidly swept the broom back and forth, sweeping the crumbs and dirt outside. Jinger followed behind her sliding the wet mop across the floor.

  ~~~

            Belle glanced around, “Are you positive no one is nearby?”

            Danielle sighed and looked again, “No one is near us. Just do it!”

            Belle groaned and quickly pulled a pair of pants on. “How do I look?” she asked timidly folding her skirt.

            Danielle glanced over Belle, “Like a man.” Danielle couldn’t resist a smile.

            Belle threw an angry look at Danielle who responded by laughing.

            “Seriously,” Danielle said, “you look fine.”

            They both stood behind their own plow and ordered the horses to walk. The two horses jerked forward and tugged the heavy plow through the dirt.

            “Giddy-up!” Danielle didn’t realize how tough it would be. It was one of the longest mornings of her life. The work was long and hard.

~~~

            Later that afternoon, Belle paused to wipe the sweat off her face and whoaed Ruth.

            “Let’s call it a day,” she advised.

            Danielle finished the row she was working on and glanced up at the setting sun.  “I agree.” Danielle unhitched the horses while Belle changed back into her skirt.

            “Don’t tell anyone,” Belle ordered.

            Danielle grinned, “You can count on me.” She bent down and boosted her fair-haired sister onto Ruth and clambered aboard Esther. “I’m starving,” she complained.

            “Cassandra should have dinner ready for us,” Belle said redoing her braid.

            The sisters urged their horses into a steady trot and headed for home.

 ~~~

            Cassandra, Hannah, and Jinger raced about the kitchen setting the table, stirring the soup, checking the chicken, and ordering each other around.

            “Nadia! Don’t touch anything until you clean up. Elsie—”

            Elsie nodded and grabbed Nadia. “Let’s go wash up, Nadia.”

            “Where’s Belle?”

            “She’s coming.” Elsie and Nadia headed to the sink to clean up for dinner.

            Faith looked out the window. “It’s getting dark.”

            Cassandra shot her younger sister a look that said, “don’t say that in front of the young ones” and Faith fell silent. The door suddenly swung open and Danielle and Belle walked in.

            “Howdy, everyone!” Danielle shouted. Danielle hung up her hat and Belle pulled off her bonnet and hung it up by the door.

            Megan giggled at Danielle, “You look silly in those overalls.”

            “They drag on the ground,” Hannah added.

            Danielle laughed with them, “You’re right but this way my dress won’t get too messy.”

            “Belle’s skirt is still clean,” Jinger pointed out.

            Belle sighed inwardly. Of course Jinger would notice! She notices every little detail. She silently hoped Danielle would keep her mouth shut—for once.

            “That’s ‘cause Belle is neat, I’m not,” Danielle responded readily. She turned and winked at Belle.

            “Food is on the table,” Cassandra called.

            Everyone crowded in and sat in their seats at the table. A basket of bread, a bowl of peas, and a plate of chicken covered the long, wooden table. In the late evening light, the three candles on the table sparkled against the white tablecloth.

            “Lynn, your turn to ask the blessing,” Belle said.

            Everyone bowed their heads and closed their eyes.

            “Dear Heavenly Father, please bless this food to our bodies…thanks for the food and the wonderful day…and bless Albert, Gideon, Isaac and Kenny wherever they may be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

            Danielle dug into her food hungrily and greedily.

            “Danielle!” Cassandra groaned impatiently. “I spent all this time trying to make a good supper and now look, you don’t care a bit!”

            “But, I do care Cassandra! The food tastes great, and that’s all that matters.” Danielle shoveled another bit into her mouth.

            Megan giggled loudly before she could stop. Cassandra shot an annoyed look at the younger girl but poor Megan couldn’t stop. Belle was too tired to participate in the conversation and ate her food in silence.

            “Megan!” Cassandra cried angrily.

            “I’m sorry,” Megan stammered, “It’s just that Danny’s right. Why did we make the table all nice when we’re the only ones here?”

            Cassandra paused and thought for a moment. Chuckles from the twins escaped which encouraged Hannah and Jinger. Lynn and Megan were laughing and Nadia joined in on the laughter. Belle’s face grew red as she struggled to suppress a laugh.

            Cassandra threw her hands up in the air. “Oh, go ahead and laugh. I just wished we could have a reason to set the table up nicely.”  Cassandra stopped in a huff and stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth.

            Belle managed to control herself and spoke up. “Girls, we need to calm down and eat the food that Cassandra, Faith, and Elsie prepared.”

            Everyone quieted down and finished eating.

 ~~~

            Belle finished her nightly ritual of saying goodnight to all the girls and turned down the lamp. Only a tiny glow remained. Just enough light for Belle to undo her braid. Belle pulled her golden hair out of the braid and ran a brush through the thick locks.  She took one last glance at all her sisters. Most were already asleep. Hannah was still tossing and turning, Nadia was snoring, Faith was giggling softly at Nadia, and Danielle had just sneezed rather loudly. Belle smiled gently as she turned out the light. A frown suddenly creased her face as a thought came to her mind. How could I separate the girls and send them off to live with strangers? This is how Mama would’ve wanted it…she wanted me to raise all her daughters up here in the hills. She would be so upset if I separated them.  Belle forced the thoughts out of her mind and laid down. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep.

 ~~~

            Danielle and Belle wanted to begin planting the next day. Right after breakfast, they hiked out to the field with the horses. Belle changed into a pair of pants quickly and joined Danielle in the field. They had only been working a short time when the sound of fiddle music and singing was heard. Danielle paused and looked over towards the dirt road.

            “Looks like we have company, Belle.”

            Belle wasted no time in pulling off the pants and changing back into her skirt. A wagon became visible from up the road. Two piebald horses were pulling it. They had long wavy manes and slick black hooves. A man with sandy blonde hair was standing up front with a long leather whip in his right hand. He was singing in a deep bass voice and cracking the whip. A man in the back was bumping along playing a fiddle. He had faded black hair and was singing along in a tenor voice. The man up front spotted the two young women in the field and turned the wagon towards them.

            “Whoa!” The two horses slowed to a stop and the men jumped down. The singing and music stopped as they both made their way towards the girls.

            “Good morning!” Danielle greeted in her friendly demeanor.

            “Howdy!” the first man replied. “Who might you women be? I don’t recollect seeing you folks before.”

            “I’m Danielle Hansen and this is my sister, Belle.” Danielle waved her hand at Belle.

            “Glad to make your acquaintance. We’re known as the Carter boys. This is my younger brother David—Davy—and I’m Caleb.” The blonde haired man smiled.

            The four young people shook hands. Caleb, being the older brother, was taller. His blonde hair was cut close to his head. He had small, pale blue eyes. Davy’s black hair was bushier than his brothers. His eyes were a deep blue, filled with merriment. Both boys were clean shaven.

            “Now, why are two pretty women out working in the field?” Davy asked.

            Danielle looked at Belle to answer his question. Belle briefly explained their situation.

            Caleb and Davy listened carefully and when the sad tale was over, offered their sympathy. 

            “So we girls have been working the farm by ourselves.” Danielle spoke confidently with a prideful air.

            “Enough words wasted,” Davy said brightly. “C’mon, brother, let’s finish planting for them.”

            Ignoring the feeble protests from the sisters, Caleb and Davy got to work and forced Danielle and Belle to watch from the side of the field. They were grateful for the boys’ help.

            “You know any good songs?” Caleb called back to the girls. “Singin’ always helps pass the time.”

            “We know lots of songs,” Danielle replied. “Folk songs, church songs, whatever!”

            Caleb struck up “Amazing Grace” and everyone joined in. The four voices blended together and flew across the field. They spent an hour together singing and chatting together; trading family stories.

            Caleb stopped planting for a moment and looked at the girls. “Why don’t you ladies go back home and check on your sisters? We’ll have this finished in another hour.”     

            Belle was about to shake her head no. She wasn’t ready to trust these men yet.

            “We won’t steal from you,” Davy added quickly when he saw Belle’s hesitation to relent.

            Caleb and Davy nodded so seriously that Danielle began leaving without a second thought. The two women offered to take the Carter’s horses home to the barn.

            The boys thanked the girls and the girls thanked the boys. Danielle mounted the stallion and began riding home. Belle grabbed the pair of pants and the canteen and trekked after Danielle on the mare.

            “Boy, those two can sing!” Danielle said, eyes shining.

            Belle glanced back to make sure they were out of earshot. “I suppose.”

            “Suppose?” Danielle stole a curious glance at her sister. Belle seemed absentminded. A glimmer appeared in Danielle’s eyes. “I haven’t had such a fun time since I was sick with influenza and I didn’t have to do any chores!” Danielle waited for Belle to scold her for speaking in that way.

            Belle didn’t speak at all. She was facing forward but her head was turned behind—staring at the two Carter boys. Danielle knew it that moment. Something was wrong with Belle.

            “Belle,” Danielle said quietly.

            Belle snapped her back to look at her sister. “What?”

            “Are you okay?”

            “Of course!”

            Danielle rolled her eyes. “Nice try. There is something wrong with you. You look funny and you better—watch it!” Danielle leaned over and seized Belle’s arm. Belle was sliding perilously to the left. Danielle helped Belle right herself. “Belle!” she cried.         

            “I feel so strange. Did you see the way Caleb kept looking at me?”

            “Yeah…I wish I would have socked him good!”

            “Danny!”

             Danielle froze; Belle didn’t call her by her full name. “Belle…”

            Belle sighed, “I think I ought to hurry and check on the girls.” Belle hurried down the hill to the cabin leaving Danielle to ride home by herself.

~~~

            Danielle entered the house after Elsie and Faith took the horses to the barn. According to Cassandra, Belle and Nadia had retreated upstairs.

            “Is something wrong?” Cassandra asked nervously.

            “Well, two men came up to the field and offered to plow the rest for us. The one has eyes for Belle.”

            “Belle never had a beau before!” Cassandra said in utter shock.

            “Shh!” Danielle looked behind her at Hannah and Jinger who were dusting the fireplace.

            “Does Belle like him?” Cassandra looked expectantly at Danielle.

            Danielle groaned inwardly. Cassandra was all about romance. “I’m not sure…” Danielle trailed off. Belle had never—ever—spoke about having beaus. She always acted as a mother to all the girls and it never dawned on Danielle that Belle might want a beau. After all, Belle was at the marrying age.

            “I’m going to go up to the fields in a while ask the boys to have lunch with us.” Danielle told Cassandra.

            Cassandra smiled, “Ooh, I hope those boys are handsome!”

            Danielle rolled her eyes. “C’mon let’s hang up the laundry.”

~~~

            At noon, the boys were finished with the planting and their stomachs were reminding them what time it was.

              “Well, we finished. Let’s take the horses back to their house and then we should get back home,” Davy told his brother.

            “Yeah, let’s get going,” Caleb mounted on his Clydesdale and started down the hill. The two boys met Danielle on the way down. They stopped their horses beside her.

            “Care for a lift?” Davy asked, offering Danielle his hand.

            Danielle put her hand in his and he pulled her up aboard. “Thanks for planting,” she said once she was aboard the horse.

            “Our pleasure,” Caleb grinned.

            “I hope you’ll stay for lunch,” Danielle hinted.

            “Aw, I dunno…I hope you’re a good cook,” Davy said with a small smile.

            “Cassandra and Belle do most of the cooking,” Danielle said returning the smile.

            “Well, if the pretty, fair-haired girl can cook, I’ll be there,” Caleb said. 

CHAPTER FIVE