The Hansen Girls Chapter 7

Chapter 7

 

            Mid-Friday afternoon, a man rode into Buffalo Gap. He wore heavy black work boots that were half hidden by brown work pants. Brass-colored suspender buckles glistened in the late sunlight. His wore a white shirt; covered by a red, white, and black checked jacket. The sleeves were rolled up to reveal his bare lower arms. He had a thick black beard that traveled from underneath his nose all the way down to his chin and up along his jaw line. The man had black hair that was short and somewhat bushy. The hair was a bit messy with bits and pieces of wood chips hanging here and there but was mostly covered by a tan hat. The man was rather tall but lean with broad shoulders. 

He was riding a buckskin gelding which he had dismounted and tied to a hitching post. He walked up the sidewalk and into the sheriff’s office.

            “I heard you have girls up for adoption.”

            The sheriff set down his mug and answered, “Yes we do. “

            “My name is Paul O’Neal and my wife and I would like to adopt a girl.”

            “What age are you looking for?”

“Any age,” Paul replied.

“We have been keeping the girls spread out with other families for now, but I have been keeping one here. This one is fifteen, but I’m afraid you might not like her. She has been sulking in that corner all day!” The sheriff opened the cell door to allow Mr. O’Neal to walk inside.

            Danielle raised her eyes to see a tall, friendly looking man walk towards her. He squatted down and offered his hand.

            “I’m Paul O’Neal,” he said.

            Danielle took that hand and firmly shook it. “I’m Danielle.”

            The man gazed intently at Danielle before saying, “You got your Mama’s eyes.”

            “How’d you know?” Danielle asked in surprise.

             “I knew your Mama—Alice Hansen; had the prettiest blue eyes this side of the Mississippi. She used to teach me school when I was a boy.”

            Danielle smiled; she liked this man already.

            “I learned a lot from your Mama. She was a good woman.”

            Danielle nodded her head in agreement.

            “Well, enough about me. I’m actually here to adopt you.”

            “Me? You just met me!” Danielle hurriedly stood and brushed dust and dirt off her pink party dress that wasn’t much of a party dress any more.

            “You’re a polite and friendly girl who needs a home,” Paul said. “We don’t have much to offer except a friendly home with plenty of food and love. I think we’ll get along well. Will you join us?”

            “Yes!” Danielle replied. She couldn’t say no and she had a feeling she would like the O’Neals. They sounded like really nice people.

            Paul O’Neal led Danielle out of the cell and signed all the necessary papers before taking Danielle outside. He boosted Danielle aboard his horse and he jumped on ahead of her. “My wife and I live outside the town of Fairburn. It’s about a two or three hour trip from here. I’m afraid it will take some time.”

            “It’s no problem,” Danielle said. “You could tell me about your wife. How did you meet?

            Paul smiled a great big smile. “The first time I saw her was on a Sunday morning right after church ended. She had a beautiful ruby red dress with folds that rose up and down all around her skirt. In her hands she carried a matching purse. Her skin was fair and she had these eyes that were a shade darker than sky. Her lips were naturally a sweet red color. But out of all her features, the best one was her hair. It’s a dark blonde color that gleamed when the sun touched it. She tells me the specific name for it is ‘strawberry blonde’. She kept it up in a bun but as she was talking to a friend, she pulled the pins out that held it up. The hair cascaded down her shoulders and spilled down her back. It fell down to just above the ground; only about three inches above the grass.” Paul smiled at the memory. “Her father introduced me to her that day and as soon as we greeted each other, I knew something special would happen between us. Not right away but eventually.”

            Danielle smiled at the way Paul described his wife. He must love his wife a great deal.

            “Lillian—that’s my wife’s name—is really something. She’s always looking out for others and tries to pitch in where she can. She’s a great listener…something I’m not too good out.  So I guess we complete each other.” Paul laughed a little. “She can be a fiery little thing, but then I’m on the calm side so again, we complete each other.”

            Paul urged his horse into a faster gait. “I couldn’t believe Lillian married me. Why, I was just a poor lumberjack, and she was the daughter of the wealthiest man in the city! But she chose me; of all people.”

            “Then she knows what’s really important in this world. Wealth isn’t all there is.” Danielle smiled to herself. “Your wife sounds like a really nice person.”

            Paul turned to Danielle, “She is.”

            It was just about five-thirty when Paul and Danielle rode into the town of Fairburn. Fairburn was a little smaller than Buffalo Gap but it was still a good-sized town. Paul rode Midnight through Main Street then turned off just past the stage depot onto Rosenthal street. Before the two stood a three-story town house complete with a big white porch, pillars, and a balcony on the second floor. A barn stood behind the house and a thick green law stretched out around the house.

            “Is this where you live?” Danielle asked in awe.

            “Oh no! Lillian’s mother and father live here. Lillian is visiting today. You and I are here to take her home.”

            “Oh, I see.”

            Paul knocked on the door and it swung open almost immediately.

            Lillian O’Neal burst through the door to greet her husband. “Oh, Paul! I wanted to talk to you about the girls that are up for adoption. I want to go see them.” She looked exactly how Paul had described her except her hair was shorter and hung to her mid-back.  Lillian looked kind and friendly and had a warm smile. The woman turned to notice the girl beside Paul.

            “I see you went without me,” she said releasing herself from Paul’s embrace.

            “Lillian, this is Danielle. Danielle, this is my wife, Lillian,” Paul introduced the ladies.

            “Hello,” Lillian spoke in a musical voice. “Nice to meet you.”

            “Nice to meet you too,” Danielle said. “Mr. O’Neal told me a lot about you.”

            Lillian turned her eyes on Paul, “Oh did he, now?” She arched her eyebrows teasingly. “What did he say?”

            “All good things,” Danielle assured with a grin.

            “Let’s get on the road, ladies. We best get home before dark.”

            Lillian turned to Paul. “Oh, yes of course!” Lillian followed Paul and Danielle to where another buckskin horse was stabled in a barn.

            “This is Strawberry,” Paul introduced as he harnessed Midnight and the other buckskin horse to a buckboard.

            “They’re beautiful!” Danielle said admiring the buckskins.

            Paul grinned and helped Danielle into the back of the buckboard. After Danielle was seated in the back, he helped Lillian aboard and he sat beside his wife. With a flick of the reins, the horses pulled against the harness and started up the road.

 ~~~

            The O’Neal house was about a fifty minute ride out of town. Paul explained he was a lumberjack who supplied the lumber mill with trees. He worked with another man who lived near his house. The O’Neals owned a farm with a pony named Thunder, the two buckskins, a cow, and ten goats. Danielle was thrilled to hear she would be living on a farm again.

            “We also keep five hens for eggs,” Lillian had added.

            As they neared the farm, Danielle excitedly took in everything. The house was a large sized cabin in an open area free of trees and shrubs. The open area ended at a line of trees. A barn and pasture stood to the left where ten goats, a pony, and a cow grazed lazily.

            “Is that Thunder?” Danielle asked pointing at the pony. The pony was black with a big white strip down the middle of his face.

             “Yes ma’am. That’s Thunder. He helps me haul trees out of the woods.”

            “He’s that strong?”

            “Oh, he’s a sturdy little fellow.” Paul stopped the buckboard. He climbed down to help Lillian down. He took her by the waist and swung her down. Once Lillian was down, he helped Danielle down.

            “I’ll stable the horses while you ladies get cleaned up.” Paul walked over to Strawberry and Midnight and began unhitching the harnesses.

            “Come along; I’ll show you around our home,” Lillian called. Danielle followed the woman into the house. “The kitchen is to the left, and our sitting room is to the right. And the room in the back is a washroom. The bedroom off the sitting room is our bedroom.”

            Danielle gazed at the nice house with the clean kitchen and spacious parlor. “What’s up in the loft?” Danielle asked, looking up above the parlor.

            “That is another bedroom,” Lillian answered. “Let’s get cleaned up before I show you anything else.” Lillian led the way to the washroom where a tub sat along with a washbasin. Danielle borrowed a nightgown from Lillian and bathed herself quickly. It felt great to wash all the dirt off that had collected on her from the prison. When Danielle was done, she sat out in the parlor while Lillian took her turn.

           

~~~

            “I suppose you’re tired?” Lillian asked exiting the washroom. Lillian was carefully braiding her long hair into a thick braid.

            “Yeah, it was hard to sleep on those prison beds,” Danielle answered.

            Lillian paused her braiding and looked sharply at Danielle. “A prison cell?”

            “Yes. That’s where they kept me.”

            Paul entered the room at that moment.

            “Paul! Do you mean to tell me they kept Danielle in a prison!?” Lillian’s blue eyes were wide with astonishment.

            “Well they found homes for the other girls to stay at but Danielle stayed at the jail house,” Paul said pulling off his jacket.

            “How cruel; you poor girl!” Lillian turned to face Danielle. “Well, come. We must get you to bed so you can sleep well tonight.”

            Danielle grinned as she followed Lillian up the loft steps. They found a long room with a bed at one end and a desk at the other. A few shelves and a small bureau sat in between.

            “Wow, it’s beautiful!” Danielle exclaimed.

            “We planned on using the loft for a bedroom for our baby girl. We were so excited. Mother and Father gave us all the furnishings and we could hardly wait. But...then she died.” Lillian ceased talking; a painful look crossed over her face as she stared out the only window in the loft. 

            “I’m sorry,” Danielle whispered.

            But then a smile crossed Lillian’s face. “But now, I’m pregnant again!”

            Danielle looked up with a smile. “That’s wonderful!”

            Lillian continued smiling, “It is! I’ve longed for a child for so long!” She stopped smiling and looked over at Danielle. “I better let you get some rest.”

            Danielle walked over to the bed and lay down on the bed. “Much softer than the prison beds,” she noted.

            Lillian laughed a light, musical laugh. “I’m glad for that.”

            “Good night, ma’am,” Danielle said crawling under the blankets.

            Lillian smiled at Danielle, “Goodnight.”

~~~

            Paul and Lillian were lying in bed that night when Lillian heard someone sniffling. She opened her eyes and listened again. She heard it again. Supposing it was Danielle, she sat up and was about to crawl out of bed when she noticed Paul was sitting up in bed as well. Paul was the one who was sniffling.

            “Paul! What on earth?” Lillian touched his arm tenderly. “I thought you were Danielle.”

            “I’m sorry I woke you,” Paul said as he wiped his eyes.

            “What’s wrong?”

            “Do you remember that night, about six years ago, when we visited Alice Hansen’s grave?”

            Lillian thought back, “Yes I do. She was your schoolteacher, wasn’t she?”

            “Yeah…Danielle is Alice’s daughter.”

            “What?” Lillian gasped in shock.

            “All those girls were all her children. Oh Lillian! If I would’ve asked if she had children, we could’ve saved Danielle and her siblings so much heartache.” Paul shook his head angrily.

            Lillian reached over to hug Paul. “You didn’t know, Paul.”

            “I should’ve asked. You asked me if she had children, I should’ve—”

            “Paul, God had a reason for why He put Danielle and her siblings through this. You mustn’t worry.”

            Paul sighed and nodded agreement. “You’re right…you always are.” He smiled and kissed Lillian gently on the cheek. “Let’s go back to sleep.” 

CHAPTER EIGHT