The Hansen Girls Chapter 11

Chapter 11

  Danielle was in charge of taking care of the animals that day while Paul was gone. He had volunteered to help a neighbor doing some work on his barn. Danielle finished dinner and went outside to stack some firewood. She worked for an hour when a sudden darkness fell over her. Glancing up she saw dark thunderclouds. She darted inside.

            “Lillian! A storm is coming! I have to get all the animals in the barn!” she called before racing back outside.

            Rain was falling now. Danielle herded the goats into the barn and the chickens into the henhouse. But Thunder was still out.

            “Thunder!” Danielle yelled as he kept running away.

            “Danielle!” Lillian called from the house. Lillian was leaning outside the door clutching a shawl around her shoulders.

            “Get back inside!” Danielle shouted over her shoulder before turning back to Thunder and lunging for his halter. She fell down onto the soft earth. She stood up and saw Lillian hovering over her. “What are you doing?” Danielle yelled above the wind.

            “You need to get inside! This storm is getting worse by the second!”

            “Not until I catch Thunder!” Danielle persisted. “You better go back inside.”

            Lillian frowned at Danielle, “I’ll help you.”

            “Not in your condition,” Danielle said eyeing Lillian’s bulging abdomen.

            Lillian stood firm and proceeded to help Danielle catch Thunder. Danielle slowly reached for Thunder’s halter again when a strike of lightning pierced the dark sky. Thunder reared and galloped away at the loud snapping sound.

            “Danielle!” Lillian screamed.

            Danielle froze and turned to see a sapling falling down—right above her. She was so frightened she couldn’t move. Something slammed into Danielle and she was knocked aside. Another scream echoed through the night. Danielle jumped up from the ground and whirled around. Lillian had shoved Danielle out of the way and the sapling had fallen on Lillian.

            “Lillian!” Danielle ran over and saw the tree had fallen right on Lillian’s legs and not her stomach. Danielle sighed with relief for a moment before gasping in terror. Danielle bent over and with a few hard tugs, she dragged the tree off Lillian. She leaned over and helped Lillian to her feet.

            Lillian shook her head in agony. “My right leg hurts.”
            “It’ll be alright,” Danielle said firmly. “Just lean on me.”

            Lillian leaned on Danielle and together they made it inside the cabin. Suddenly, Lillian cried out in pain.

            “What’s wrong? What hurts now?” Danielle asked worriedly.

            Lillian groaned and doubled over. “Danielle, the baby is coming.”

            “Now? It’s too soon!”

            “This baby doesn’t think so,” Lillian said in obvious pain.

            Danielle helped Lillian into the house and onto the bed. “I’ll go fetch the doctor!” Danielle turned to run outside.

            “No, there isn’t any time!” Lillian seized Danielle’s arm. “Doctor Young lives too far away! Buffalo Gap is nearly a four hour round trip.”

            Danielle panicked; they needed the doctor. The whinny of a horse sounded above the rain and Danielle glanced out the window to see Paul riding in on Strawberry.

            “Paul!” Danielle was already out the door and running to Paul.

            “What’s wrong?” Paul dismounted and yelled over the sheets of rain.        

            “The baby’s coming!”

            “Now?”
            “Now! You have to get to the doctor!”

            Paul quickly placed Strawberry in the barn and saddled Midnight. He leaped aboard Midnight and rode towards Buffalo Gap. Danielle walked back inside to hear Lillian moaning.

            “Lillian?” Danielle strode in quickly.

            “You have to help me, Danielle,” Lillian said with anxious seriousness. “I need you.”

            “This is how my Mama died….I can’t help. I don’t know what to do!” Danielle’s voice pitch rose with her increasing nervousness.

            Lillian looked away from Danielle. “I’m sorry that this is a sensitive subject for you but I have no one else. I need you to help me.”

            Danielle wrung her hands, “What if something goes wrong…just like what happened to my Mama?” Danielle paced back and forth nervously.

          Lillian suddenly fell back against the bed and writhed in pain. A yell pealed from her lips.

            Danielle spun around, “See!”

            Lillian sat back up, “Danielle! I need you to be brave…my first baby died during the birth! I’m nervous too!”

            Danielle bit her fingernails. “I don’t know what to do!”

            Lillian reached out and squeezed Danielle’s hand, “Just do exactly what I say.”

~~~

            Belle was thoroughly enjoying her time with her sisters but it bugged her that Danielle wasn’t there. She finally couldn’t stand it anymore and left for the sheriff’s office. She convinced her sisters to stay behind while she met with the sheriff.

            “Sheriff?” Belle pushed open the door and stepped inside, out of the rain.

            “Yes?” the sheriff turned around and glanced at Belle. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

            “No thank-you, I just have a question.”

            The sheriff stood up and walked over to Belle. “I’ll see if I have an answer.”

            “My sister, Danielle Hansen, was adopted by someone…who adopted her?”

            The sheriff rubbed his beard. “Let me check.” The sheriff rooted through his desk drawers until he found the adoption papers. “Here we are…Danielle Hansen….adopted by…Paul and Lillian O’Neal.”

            “O’Neal…do you know where they live?”

            “They’re from out of town. Fairburn. That’s about a two hour trip north of here.”

            “Where can I get a horse?” Belle inquired.

            “I think you better wait until morning,” the sheriff said. “A storm is coming through soon. It’ll be here any moment.”

            “I need to see my sister as soon as possible,” Belle persisted.

            “Alright," the sheriff shook his head, "I’ll get you a horse.” The sheriff escorted Belle to the livery and selected a strong and fast horse for Belle. “The road to Fairburn is right there. It’ll take you right into Fairburn. You can check with the Fairburn sheriff, Sheriff Dawson, about where the O’Neals live.”

            “Thank-you, sir. I really appreciate this.” Belle slammed her heels into the sides of her horse. Her horse cantered off up the road to Fairburn.

~~~       

            Danielle watched Lillian moan and groan in agony. She was doing everything she could to make Lillian comfortable but Lillian was still in intense pain. A knock on the door sounded above the thunder.

            “Wow! Doctor Young made great time,” she said rushing to the door. She flung open to reveal a young woman. The woman had flaxen hair rolled back in a long braid down the back. She wore a black dress and her soft blue eyes smiled. Though the woman was soaked to the skin, her presence brought sunshine to Danielle’s heart.

            “Belle?” Danielle asked in disbelief.

            “Danielle!” Belle exclaimed.

            Belle ran forward and grabbed her sister in a hug. “Danielle! Oh, I’ve missed you!”

            “I’ve missed you too!” Danielle pulled away after a moment. “Lillian’s having a baby and I don’t know what to do.”

            “Lillian?”

            “Mrs. O’Neal! She’s in labor and I don’t have a clue what to do.”

            “I do. Step aside.” Belle rolled up her sleeves and marched to the bedroom.

            “You do? But how?”

            “I helped the mid-wife delivered Gideon, Hannah, Isaac, Jinger, Kenny, Lynn, and Megan.” Belle entered the bedroom and took charge. “Mrs. O’Neal, I am going to help you with this baby,” Belle declared with authority.

            Lillian smiled, “You’re Belle Hansen aren’t you?”

            “How’d you know?” Belle asked washing her hands.

            “Danielle told me all about you.” Lillian sank back onto the pillow, groaning in more pain.

            “Don’t worry,” Belle said, “everything is going to be just fine.”

~~~

             Paul and Doctor Young threw open the door and rushed inside. Paul suddenly stopped as Danielle quietly left Lillian’s bedroom.

            “How is she?” Paul asked in concern.

            “Fine,” Danielle said, her mouth twitching slightly. “Your baby boy is fine too.”

            Paul’s face split into a huge grin. He picked Danielle up and swung her around. Danielle laughed and Paul howled in joy. “Can I see them?”

            “Sure.”

            Doctor Young saw Belle exiting the bedroom. “Belle? What are you doing here? I thought you went to find your sister?”

            Belle smiled and put her arm around Danielle. “I found her!”

            Doctor Young laughed, “Well isn’t that a coincidence!”

            “I’m so glad Belle came,” Danielle said, “she helped deliver the baby.”

            “Then I’m glad she came too,” Doctor Young replied. “Now let’s have a look at the baby.”

            The three entered the room and surveyed the scene. Lillian lay on the bed with her strawberry blonde hair floating on the pillow around her head. Her whole face shone with happiness. In her arms was a small baby boy. The doctor examined the baby while Lillian spoke softly to Paul.

            “What should we name him? We never decided on one for certain.”

            “Well…you mentioned naming him after your father. Let’s go with that.” Paul grinned at Lillian.

            “Oakley Paul O’Neal.”

            Belle and Danielle hugged each other happily.

            Lillian turned to Belle, “If you hadn’t showed up when you did...”

            “Danielle could’ve handled it fine,” Belle said brushing it aside.

            Danielle looked at Belle in surprise. “There was no way I could’ve done what Belle did!”

            Everyone laughed at Danielle’s bold honesty.

            “You both were very helpful,” Lillian said to the Hansen sisters.

            “Doctor Young, you better look at Mrs. O’Neal’s right leg. It’s bruised badly.” Belle motioned to the doctor.

            Danielle looked at Lillian, “Speaking of which, thanks…if you hadn’t pushed me out of the way of that tree, I would’ve been the one with an injury.”  Danielle continued, “I can’t believe you risked yourself for me!”

            “Why on earth would you be surprised? I wouldn’t hesitate a moment to help my daughter!”

            Belle looked at Danielle and Lillian with a trace of surprise. Belle detected Danielle had replaced Alice with Lillian. I hope I’m wrong, Belle thought. This woman can’t replace Mama…no one can.

            Lillian beckoned Danielle closer. “I love you Danielle, you’re my daughter. What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t love my own child?” She put her hand on Danielle’s arm. “It’s my duty to look out for you.”

            Danielle replied with a grateful smile.

            Belle turned away from the group and stared at the wall. Of all my sisters, I trusted Danielle the most to remember Mama. And here she is replacing her!

            After the excitement died down, Dr. Young and Belle were invited to stay overnight. Dr. Young stayed in the sod house down by the barn and Belle spent the night in the loft with Danielle.

~~~

            The following morning, Dr. Young told the Hansen girls back in Buffalo Gap about Danielle. It was decided that Mr. and Mrs. Jennings would ride out with all the Hansen girls so they could see Danielle.

            The Jennings drove all the Hansen girls to the O’Neal’s cabin. Danielle happily greeted each sister. Lillian walked into the room with only a slight limp. In her arms was Oakley. She proudly introduced him to each sister. After everyone was introduced, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings left for some business in town. Belle, Cassandra, and the twins whipped up some food in the kitchen while Lillian and Paul talked to the others. Lillian, Paul, and Danielle sat on the couch. Hannah and Jinger sat on the opposite couch, and Megan and Lynn shared the rocking chair. Nadia took an instant liking to Paul and squirmed up on his lap. 

            “Tell me about your cabin,” Paul asked the girls.

            “It has two rooms on the bottom floor,” Hannah started.

            “And three smaller rooms up top,” continued Jinger.

            “Our parlor has a couch and some chairs and a big rug,” Lynn piped up.

            “And the kitchen is always spick-and-span!” Megan added.

            “And I make all the beds,” Nadia finished.

            “I could use such helpers like you here,” Lillian teased.

            “I wish I lived here,” Nadia sighed.

            Lillian and Paul exchanged a glance with each other that no one else caught. The older girls entered with chicken, biscuits, fruit, and vegetables.

            “Dig in,” Faith invited. Paul prayed and everyone ate every bite.

            “That was really good,” Danielle said.

            “It was,” Paul said rubbing his stomach.

            “So good,” Lillian said slyly, “that someone might have to go work off the extra weight.”

            “Why do I feel that everyone is staring at me?” Paul said in mock nervousness. Everyone had a good laugh. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing together. The Jennings arrived once again to pick them up late that afternoon. The O'Neals and Danielle watched as sad faces reached for their coats.

            Paul and Lillian bid each girl goodbye.  

            “We want to speak to you about something, Paul and Lillian,” Mrs. Jennings spoke up. Every head—chocolate, blonde, black, and strawberry blonde—turned to the woman. “Our ‘important business in town’ was a meeting we had with the Youngs and Mrs. Chadwick. Cassandra, Elsie, Faith, Hannah, Jinger, Lynn, and Megan still need to be adopted by someone and we were wondering if…”

            “If we could adopt them?” Paul asked.

            “I know it’s a lot to ask but—”

            “We’d be thrilled to adopt them!” Lillian spoke up.

            “Really?” Danielle asked excitedly.

            “Of course!” Paul boomed.

            Squeals of happiness filled the house. Cassandra hugged Megan and Lynn, Hannah and Jinger hugged each other, Faith and Elsie sobbed against each other, Paul lifted Nadia to his shoulders, and Danielle and Belle hugged.

            “Paul?” Lillian called above the din.

            “Yes, love?”

            “I think we’re going to need another room.”

            “I’ll build dozens of rooms!” he bellowed.

            The girls laughed and smiled at each other. They would finally be together again.

~~~

  

            Lillian woke up the next morning and sat up. Nadia, Lynn, and Megan stayed sleeping beside her. She smiled tenderly at them and went to tend to Oakley. She was feeling much better that morning and decided to make some breakfast. She dressed after Oakley was fed and went out to the parlor. Hannah, Jinger, and Cassandra slept peacefully on the couch and floor. Lillian peeked up at Belle, Danielle, Faith, and Elsie up in the loft. Lillian entered the kitchen and swept her lush strawberry blonde hair up in a bun. She pulled back the white curtain and spied Paul feeding the animals outside. She placed three pans on the stove and threw together a large batch of eggs and bacon.

            Paul entered the house and boomed loudly, “Alright you O’Neal daughters of mine, this is your wake-up call!”

            “Five more minutes!” Danielle shot back from upstairs.

            “How about five seconds before I jump on your bed,” Paul threatened.

            “You don’t scare me.”

            “What if I send Lillian up?” Paul said with a teasing glance at Lillian.

            “Paul,” Lillian frowned, rolling her eyes.

            Danielle heard the teasing sound in Paul’s voice. “Now she scares me,” Danielle said joining the fun.

            “You two!” Lillian said throwing her hands in the air.

            “We’re coming,” Belle called down. Cassandra, Hannah, and Jinger were heading to the washroom to dress and the three youngest were dressing in the bedroom.

  

            Belle was the first one ready. She was waiting patiently by the table when the sisters filed in. Lillian and Paul watched curiously as the sisters automatically walked into the kitchen in order from oldest to youngest.

            “Good morning, Dreamer, Darling, Sunlight, Rosie, Dove, Lily, Pixie, Pearl, Sweetheart,” Belle said dropping a kiss on the three younger girls. She smiled at her sisters. “How I’ve missed roll call.”

            The girls smiled back at Belle. They had clearly missed roll call too.

            “Good morning, girls,” Lillian said as each girl found their place. Paul at the head of the table, Lillian to his right, then Danielle, Cassandra, Faith, Elsie, Megan, Nadia, Lynn, Hannah, Jinger, and Belle until they reached all the way back to Paul. They joined hands and Lillian decided to pray for the meal instead of Paul.

            “Lord, I have so much to be thankful for. You gave me Danielle a while ago. She brightened Paul’s and my life. You then gave me her sisters; all nine of them. Each one is so special in their own way. I thank You Lord for what You have done. You blessed me and Paul! I pray You will bless this food to our bodies and I pray that we will honor You today and all our days…Amen.”

            

Annnnnd that's it! That's the end. I hope you enjoyed it :D I posted a poll of which sisters were your favorites. You can pick your two top favorites. Thanks for reading and have a good week!