The Hansen Girls Chapter 10

Chapter 10

            The party was a huge hit as many guests filed in the house. Maria kept cooking and Belle kept delivering the food to the guests. Everything was going fine until Belle met Elvira’s beau Frank. Frank was a handsome man. He was a bit old for Elvira but he seemed to enjoy her company. They were standing together beside the food table. Belle placed another plate of desserts on the table and was about to retrieve another when she heard a voice call her.

            “You, girl; turn around.”

            Belle turned around to see Frank and Elvira staring at her. “Can I help you?”

            Frank smiled at Belle, “I wish to ask you some things about Elvira.”

            Elvira giggled, “Oh, Frank, don’t ask her she doesn’t know much about me.”

            Belle nearly gagged at the way Elvira was throwing herself at Frank.

            “I am just wondering if the girl knows any secrets about you.” Frank reached out and caught Belle’s arm. He placed her arm in his and walked her to the balcony.

            “I just started working for her, sir, I don’t know much at all,” Belle said quickly.

            Frank motioned for Belle to remain quiet. He pulled her out onto the balcony and away from the crowd. “Now we can be alone.”

            “I don’t know anything about Elvira,” Belle repeated.

            “I don’t care about Elvira…I care about you.”

            “Me?” Belle squeaked.

            “I’ve never seen you before. What’s your name?” Frank’s demeanor suddenly changed.

            “Belle,” Belle whispered.

            “Belle…that means beauty in French, doesn’t it?”

            “I don’t know French,” Belle stammered.

            Frank pulled Belle closer. “When do you have a day off work?”

            “I don’t get days off.”

            “What? That’s absurd; you must have a day off.”

            “Mrs. Simms and Elvira need me to help them get ready for all their dinners and parties. I don’t have time for anything else except cleaning and cooking.”

            Frank looked deep into Belle’s eyes. “Don’t you lie to me, girl.”

            “I’m not lying!”

            “You don’t like me, do you?”

            “I…well…you frighten me, sir.”

            “Frighten you?!” Frank laughed. “I don’t frighten girls. Every girl in town would kill to be in your position right now.” He bent his head towards Belle’s.

            Belle reacted quickly. She brought her knee up sharply and hit Frank in the stomach. Surprised, he fell forward holding his stomach.

“Thanks for all your tricks, Danielle,” she muttered under her breath.  

Belle pushed him away from her and stormed back into the seclusion of the kitchen.         

Maria turned away from the stove, “Nell! Where have you been?”

            Belle opened her mouth to answer when Josie burst into the room, “Belle! I just saw you beat up Franklin Kolva. You sure got him good!”       

            “You beat up Franklin Kolva?” Maria gasped.

            “Belle!” a voice screeched. Mrs. Simms burst through the door. Her face was red as she angrily glared at Belle. “What on earth did you do to Mr. Kolva?”

            “He tried to…” Belle paused. “I already have a beau, ma’am, and Mr. Kolva is supposed to be Elvira’s beau and I couldn’t let him kiss me!”

            “You still don’t treat guests that way!” Mrs. Simms tramped angrily out of the room.

Elvira burst in next. “Oh, Belle! Thank-you so much! I saw everything and thanks to you, I won’t ever have anything to do with him again!” Elvira bent over, hugged a surprised Belle, and returned to her party.

Maria laughed and added more food to the stove and handed plates to Josie. “We have hungry guests, Josie,” she reminded. Josie balanced the plates carefully and walked off to wait on the guests. “Nell, you take your time and rest up.” Belle thanked her gratefully and took a moment to relax.

Three months later, Mrs. Simms, Belle’s employer, was holding a huge party for the whole town. She hired three extra maids to help Belle and two extra cooks. Belle spent the whole day scrubbing floors and sweeping floors. At noon, Mrs. Simms bustled in the kitchen where everyone was resting for a moment.

She began shrieking orders. “You all need to wear your black dresses and white aprons. Be polite and treat the guests with respect.”

            “Yes, ma’am,” everyone answered. They all changed into their uniforms and began taking food out to the tables. Guests were arriving and the noise level flew up as more and more people filed in.  Belle grabbed a platter of desserts and rushed out to the dessert table. She grabbed the empty plates and placed the new plate down. She turned around and began maneuvering her way through the maze of people. She gasped as she bumped into a woman.           

            “Oh! I am so sorry, ma’am,” Belle said rebalancing the plates she carried.
            The woman smiled kindly, “Don’t worry, no harm done at—”
            “Belle!”
            Belle whirled around and saw three chocolate headed girls rushing to her. CRASH! The plates fell to the ground as Belle dropped to her knees and enveloped Lynn, Faith, and Megan in a hug.
            “Faith! Lynn! Megan!” Belle sobbed as she hugged her sisters.

After five months of being separated, the girls were finally reunited. Belle was so excited at this unexpected meeting.

            “I didn’t think we’d ever, ever, ever see you again!” Lynn wrapped her arms around Belle’s neck.
            “We missed you so much!” Megan sniffed.
            “I’m so glad to see you!” Faith said.
            “You!” a piercing screech interrupted the happy moment. Belle looked up to see Mrs. Simms marching over. Belle held Lynn in her left arm and gripped Megan’s hand in the other. Faith shifted closer to Belle and watched Mrs. Simms carefully.
             “I pay you good money to work hard and I—”

            “Money?! What money?” Belle’s eyes flashed angrily. Belle had enough of this harsh unfairness. “You adopted me. I’m supposed to be your daughter. You don’t treat me like one!” A rush of whispering overcame the crowd.

            “Is it true, Sheriff?” a man asked.

            “Let me go check!” The sheriff ran out of the house and down the street to where the office stood. Mrs. Simms angrily paced the room; knowing she was caught.

            The sheriff returned with some papers. “Yes! The Simms adopted this here girl. Does anyone have proof that Mrs. Simms isn’t treating her correctly?”

            A hush fell over the crowd. No one had any proof. Mrs. Simms smiled in triumph.

            “I have proof!” a voice called out.

            All eyes turned to behold Elvira timidly standing by her latest beau, Alexander.

            “Elvira,” Mrs. Simms warned between clenched teeth.

            “No, Mother. You treat Belle poorly. You treat her only as a maid, but you don’t pay her. You wouldn’t even give her a day off or let her go around town. She hasn’t seen her family in five months because of us.” Elvira paused and glanced down at her feet. “Belle is a nice woman. She deserves better.”

            The crowd whispered loudly again and the sheriff quieted them down. Alexander wrapped a comforting arm around Elvira.

            The sheriff raised his voice, “I hereby take custody of the girl, Belle, until someone else adopts her or takes her in.”

            “We’ll take her in!” A man stepped forward. It was Mr. Jennings. The Sheriff agreed and tore up Belle’s previous adoption papers. Lynn and Megan happily danced around Belle.

            Josie rushed over, “Belle, I wish you the very best!”

            “Thank-you, Josie. You’ve been a great friend!” Belle and Josie hugged quickly.   

            “You’re coming to live with us!” Megan squealed in delight.

            Mrs. Jennings stepped up to the girls, “We’re leaving now. Belle, please pack your things.”

            Belle hurried to her small room, snatched her few possessions and hurried back downstairs. Elvira and Alexander were standing there.

            “Elvira, I don’t know how to thank you…I thought such wrong things about you,” Belle rambled.

            “You don't need to thank me,” Elvira said sternly. “I did many wrong things to you. We’re even now.” The two hugged quickly and Belle departed.

            “I hope you and Alexander have a good night!” Belle called over her shoulder.

            “Will do,” Alexander said leading Elvira to the dancing floor.

            The Jennings were waiting in their carriage. Belle climbed aboard and seated herself in between Megan and Lynn.

            “I hope your stay with the Simms wasn’t too dark of a time,” Mr. Jennings said dejectedly.

            “We’re so sorry you had to live such a way,” Mrs. Jennings added.

Belle climbed aboard the Jennings carriage and seated herself in between Megan and Lynn. “My time with the Simms is in the past.” Belle hugged her sisters again. “I’m just so glad to see you girls again. I wasn’t sure if we’d ever be together again!”

   ~~~

            Cassandra walked down the street with her arm tucked into Charles Wiggins’ arm. It was late into the night and the two were enjoying the moonlight stroll.

            “It’s a beautiful evening,” Cassandra said.

            “It’s more beautiful when you’re here,” Charles returned.

 

            Cassandra was taken in by Mrs. Chadwick, an old widow. Widow Chadwick was a prominent older lady and she was very kind towards Cassandra. Cassandra had plenty of time to do what she wanted. She often went to visit her sisters and see how they were doing. When Cassandra wasn’t with her sisters, she was usually with a young man. The widow Chadwick was set on finding a nice young man for Cassandra. She invited dozens of young men over for supper which offered Cassandra many beau options. Cassandra was delighted at the opportunity to meet different young men, but she discovered she had great fun being with one man in particular: Charles Wiggins.

           

            “Are you cold at all, Cassie?” Charles asked using his nickname for her.

            “A little,” Cassandra replied allowing him to place his coat on her. The two paused on the street and Charles leaned in close to Cassandra. Cassandra’s heart fluttered with excitement. The loud crackling of carriage wheels interrupted the romantic moment. Cassandra glanced up to see who it was.

            “It’s just Mr. Jennings, the postmaster,” Charles said glancing over and waving.

            “Hello, Mr. Wiggins,” Mr. Jennings said halting the carriage.

            “Good evening Mr. Jennings. Hello, Mrs. Jennings,” Charles said.

            “Belle?” Cassandra stepped towards the carriage but Belle was already out of the carriage rushing toward her.

            “Cassandra!” Belle threw her arms about a shocked Cassandra.

            Cassandra suddenly burst into tears. “Belle! Belle! It’s you!” Lynn, Faith, and Megan leaped out and ran to Cassandra.

            “We found Belle!” Megan exclaimed.

            “Charles,” Cassandra said beckoning to him, “this is my older sister, Belle.”

            Charles greeted Belle with a polite smile. He then excused himself so the girls could spend time together.

            “You have to go see the others,” Cassandra said.

            “They’re staying with the Youngs,” Faith said.

            “Mr. Jennings,” Belle asked, “do you know where the Youngs live?”

            “Sure,” Mr. Jennings began, “the clinic is just down the road.”

            “Lead the way!”

            Mr. Jennings clucked to the horses and led the group down to the clinic. The group marched up to the front door and knocked.  Mrs. Young opened the door and beheld the large group of people.

            “Where’s the girls?” Faith asked quickly.

            “Elsie! Hannah! Jinger! Nadia” the older woman called. In a matter of seconds, Elsie, Hannah, Jinger, and Nadia appeared and were immediately hugged by a joyous Belle. They chattered and cried together. They eagerly told Belle what they had been doing the previous months.

            A sudden loud boom brought them back to reality. A storm was brewing over head.

            “Everyone come on in and I’ll fix you all some tea and cake,” Mrs. Young said bustling into the kitchen. The Jennings followed and the Hansen sisters sat down in the Young parlor.

            “If only Danielle was here,” Belle whispered sadly. No one had known what happened to Danielle.

            “Once the storm is past, we’ll go to the Sheriff’s office and see what happened to Danielle,” Cassandra told Belle.

CHAPTER ELEVEN