Monday, December 14, 2015

The O'Neal Girls Chapter 12

Author's Note: Fair warning...I did something a tad drastic in this chapter...please forgive me!

Chapter 12


​Belle, Cassandra, and Danielle refused to go to bed with the other girls. 
​“Girls, it’s past your bedtime,” Lillian said, hands on her hips. 
​“My sisters are out there…alone,” Belle persisted. “I’m the oldest; those two can go to bed.” 
​“They’re our sisters too!” Danielle protested stubbornly. Lillian fixed her eyes on Danielle, whose eyes wavered and dropped to the ground. “Please?”  
​“Lillian,” Cassandra tried, “we want to. We’re worried. They are our sisters.” 
​Lillian sighed loudly and let her hands fall to her sides. “Alright. You may stay up.” 
​Everyone began sewing or knitting but they didn’t get far. After an hour of making mistakes on their projects, Cassandra announced that they couldn’t sew or knit while they were worrying. Everyone agreed—especially Danielle—and placed their projects away and just waited. 
​At midnight, Danielle and Cassandra couldn’t stay awake any longer. Danielle slumped one way and Cassandra the other; both toppling onto either side of the couch. Lillian watched them with a smile and tossed a blanket over them. Belle sat curled up in a chair watching the front door anxiously. Lillian rocked slowly back and forth in her rocking chair. 
~~~ 
At six in the morning, Lillian woke up. With a rush of hope, she hurried to the bedroom. She flung open the door but Hannah and Jinger were not there. She changed into a new dress and went to fix breakfast. Belle was up a few minutes later helping her. Cassandra dragged herself off the couch an hour later, but Danielle was still fast asleep. Cassandra left Danielle and went to help Lillian and Belle. Lynn and Megan were out of bed and Lynn went to tell Lillian and Belle that Nadia woke up sick. While Belle and Lillian went to check on the youngest girl, Megan noticed Danielle asleep on the couch. She bounded over and pounced on Danielle. 
​“Danni!” she shrieked. 
​Danielle moaned and rolled over. “What?” 
​“Why aren’t you awake yet?” 
​“I’m tired,” Danielle replied slowly. “I don’t feel too well either.” 
​Megan frowned as Danielle turned over and closed her eyes again. She climbed off Danielle and waited for Belle and Lillian to come out of the bedroom. She didn’t have to wait too long, Belle and Lillian came out in a matter of minutes. 
​“Lillian,” Megan said, walking over to Lillian. 
​“Yes, Megan? What is—” Lillian stopped as Oakley shrieked from the bedroom. Lillian hurried off to the rescue. 
​Megan sighed loudly and tried Belle. “Belle,” she began. 
​“This better be important,” Belle replied. She was already rushing around in the kitchen, trying to get breakfast ready. 
​Megan skipped along beside her. “Danni doesn’t look too well. I think she’s sick.” 
​Belle paused and glanced curiously at Megan. “Are you certain?” 
​“Very certain.” 
​Belle followed Megan into the parlor where Danielle lay on the couch. “Danielle,” Belle said in a demanding voice. “This isn’t a trick is it?” 
​“No…I don’t feel good,” Danielle replied in a hoarse voice. 
​Belle realized Danielle was serious and turned into mother mode. She bent over Danielle and turned the girl’s head towards her own. Danielle looked up into long strands of flaxen hair.
​“Is she okay?” Megan asked from Belle’s side. 
​“No. She has a fever…” Belle paused and went into the kitchen to retrieve a cloth to keep the fever down. 
​Lillian came out of the bedroom with a calmed Oakley a few moments later. Belle explained the situation to Lillian. Lillian heard the news and worriedly bent over Danielle. She placed a cool hand on Danielle’s warm forehead. 
​“I’ll be alright,” Danielle said with a small laugh. She pushed Lillian’s hand off her forehead. 
​Lillian refused to take the situation lightly. “This may be serious.” She placed her hand back on Danielle’s forehead and brushed her fingers against Danielle’s cheek. “You feel very warm.” 
​“I think that a good dose of bed rest ought to do the trick,” Belle said. “Do you agree?” 
Lillian nodded, “Lots of fluids and bed rest will help and should help you to feel better.” Lillian called Cassandra over to help Danielle upstairs where it was quieter. 
​While Cassandra and Danielle made their way upstairs, Lillian and Belle went into the kitchen. They spoke to each other in hushed tones. 
​“Hannah and Jinger have been gone nearly a whole day,” Lillian said, pouring flapjack batter into the pan. 
​“Should we contact the sheriff?” Belle asked while setting the table. 
​“I think we ought to send Paul and two of you girls out after them. They may have just lost their way.” 
​As if on cue, Paul strolled in the door with Elsie and Faith. Lillian handed the bowl of flapjack mixture to Elsie and hurried to Paul. 
​“Hey there,” he greeted tossing off his hat. 
​“Paul, I think you should go look for Hannah and Jinger,” Lillian said after he enclosed her in a quick hug. 
​“I was planning to do so.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m sure they just lost their way.” 
​“You can take two of the girls with you since we have Strawberry, Midnight, and Thunder.” 
​“Alright. I’ll take Danielle and Elsie.” 
​“No you can’t,” Cassandra put in, coming into the parlor. 
​“I can’t?” 
​“Danielle woke up with a fever,” Lillian replied. “Nadia’s sick too.” 
​“Let’s see then…I’ll take Faith.”
​Breakfast was served and eaten and Paul, Elsie, and Faith headed for the barn. At exactly eight o’clock, the threesome was riding around the country looking for Hannah and Jinger. Lillian, Belle, Cassandra, Danielle, and the youngest girls were home, anxiously waiting. 
~~~ 
 The day passed with no sign of the girls. The fresh snow that fell the night before had covered up any tracks from Hannah and Jinger.  The following day, Danielle was feeling better so she, Paul, and Cassandra searched for the girls. They still saw no sign. Paul and Lillian started to become seriously worried. Friday came with Paul, Elsie, and Faith searching. Cassandra and Danielle took Lynn, Megan, and Nadia on a walk so Lillian and Belle could clean the house.
Mid-afternoon arrived and the door blew open, ushering in Hannah and Jinger.

​“Hannah!” Belle cried, jumping from the table and spilling a cup of tea. 
​“Jinger!” Lillian rushed to the girls.   
​The two were very tired and hungry but relieved to be home. 
​“I’m so tired,” Jinger muttered as Lillian helped take off her coat. 
​“I just want to sleep for a week,” Hannah agreed. 
“Do you feel alright otherwise?” Belle asked the girls. 
“Yeah…” Hannah yawned.  
Lillian touched Jinger’s cheek, “You feel warm. You don’t look very good either.”  
“We just need some rest,” Jinger persisted.  
​Lillian and Belle met the wish of the younger girls and gave them some soup and let them sleep for the afternoon. The two women were very relieved as they did their work around the house. 
~~~ 
 At dinner time, the search party came home along with Cassandra, Danielle, the little girls, and Paul burst into the house with excited shouts. 
​“Are the girls back?” 
​“The horses are in the barn!” 
​“Are they here?” 
​Lillian and Belle greeted them with smiles. “They came back at noon!” 
​Paul let out a shout and grabbed Lillian in a hug. “I was just about to give up!” he boomed after kissing her. 
​“Cassandra, why don’t you go wake them up since it’s time to eat,” Belle said. 
​“Alright.” Cassandra headed for the middle bedroom. 
​Everyone crowded around the table. Belle and Lillian heaped plates with food and the twins poured water for everyone. Suddenly, a scream for Lillian and Paul interrupted them. 
​“Paul! Lillian!” Cassandra’s panicked voice called. 
​Lillian and Paul bolted from the table and rushed to the bedroom. 
​“What’s wrong?” Paul asked. 
​Cassandra was as white as a sheet. The poor girl merely pointed in the bedroom. Lillian and Paul dashed inside. Cassandra burst into tears and Belle hurried over to comfort her. 
​“What’s wrong?” Belle asked while Cassandra sought to stop crying. 
​“They’re not moving!” Cassandra said through tears. 
​A horrified scream came from the bedroom. Belle shot away from Cassandra and ran into the bedroom where Lillian was now crying uncontrollably.  
Another eruption of cries came from Belle this time.  Lillian and Belle emerged from the room; the elder to her bedroom and the younger outside. Paul came out a moment later asking Cassandra to take everyone out to the barn. Cassandra quickly herded the younger girls out into the barn. Paul called for Danielle to stay behind. 
“Danielle…go fetch the doctor. Hannah and Jinger are…dead…I’ll need some help.” Paul’s face was solemn and grave.   
Danielle turned and headed out to the barn. No emotions came to her at that moment. She was overwhelmed and shocked. She automatically mounted Strawberry and hurried into town. ​When she reached Doctor Young’s office, she knocked on the door. Mrs. Young answered and allowed Danielle inside. 
“I need to speak to the doctor,” Danielle whispered. 
“One moment,” Mrs. Young said leaving the room. 
The doctor entered the room moments later. “And how are the O’Neals today?” 
“Not good,” Danielle said softly. “Hannah and Jinger…they’re dead.” 
Mrs. Young gasped and Doctor Young looked shocked. “What happened?” he asked. 
“They went for a ride and were missing for a few days…they came home this afternoon and they went to take a nap. Cassandra went to wake them and she found them…dead!” Danielle drew a shaky breath as tears began to form. “Paul said to fetch you and he said he needs help.” 
“I’ll get some men together. You ride back home to your family.” 

~~~ 
Doctor Young, Fergus Connolly, and Joe came to help Paul. Fergus brought his wagon with two coffins in them. When they arrived, Doctor Young diagnosed that the girls had been struck with anthrax. He told the O’Neals that anthrax was a disease that infected livestock like cattle or sheep. If a person ate the infected meat, that person could get sick. Anthrax could be cured but often it was fatal and worked quickly. Hannah and Jinger were placed in the coffins and Fergus took them back to town where they would prepare them for the funeral.
That night, Paul managed to explain to the others the death of Hannah and Jinger. He calmly explained that he didn’t know why they died, but that God wanted it to happen. Lillian and Paul spent the evening comforting the girls. Everyone was crying, confused, and sad. Lillian and Paul struggled to remain strong to help the girls. Belle was still outside in the barn sobbing. She refused to see or speak to anyone. Paul and Lillian finally managed to calm everyone and they sent the girls to bed. 
~~~

Danielle lay in bed trying to fall asleep. Cassandra was already fast asleep but Danielle was too upset to sleep. She finally sat up in bed and threw off the blankets. She rushed down the loft steps and turned to Paul and Lillian’s room. She lifted her hand and knocked on the door. Paul’s voice rumbled through the door and invited Danielle in. Danielle slowly entered the room. Paul and Lillian were still wide awake and the candle on Lillian’s nightstand still burned brightly.
“Is everything alright?” Paul asked.
Danielle stared blankly ahead.
“Danni?”
Danielle looked at Paul, “I know I said that I didn’t want new parents; I just wanted friends…” Danielle’s voice caught as tears spilled over and ran down her face, “but I need a mom and dad now.”
Lillian stretched out her hand to Danielle, “Oh, honey…”
Danielle sat down on the bed and fell into Lillian’s outstretched arms. Lillian was surprised at this action from Danielle. Danielle was never one for showing much affection, but Lillian could sense that Danielle needed comfort right now. She placed her arms around Danielle and held her close.
“Why’d they die?” Danielle sobbed. “Why them?”
Lillian blinked back her own tears. “Sometimes…things happen that we don’t under-stand.” Her own voice wavered as a sob threatened to burst forth.
Paul came up behind Lillian and slipped a strong arm around his wife.
Danielle sat up, “But they didn’t deserve to die…they were always so kind and helpful. I should’ve died instead of them! I’m the bad one, I’m the one who is mean and rude to my siblings, I’m the one who doesn’t always help out with chores. Why didn’t I die?”
“Danielle!” Lillian gasped. “Don’t talk like that.”
Paul touched Danielle’s shoulder, “God has a reason why He took Hannah and Jinger and why He spared you.”
“But we’ve been through enough suffering! We already lost Mama and Papa…now our sisters!” Danielle sputtered.
Lillian pulled Danielle back into an embrace and Danielle leaned her head on Lillian’s shoulder. “Shhh, everything’s going to be alright.” Lillian soothingly stroked Danielle’s hair.
“How do you know?”
“Because ‘all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose’,” Paul quoted. “I know that it is hard to trust in God during trials but He’s all we have. He’s the only One who can help.”
“He’s right…I don’t know why God took Hannah and Jinger but I do know that God had a good reason.” Lillian gently pulled Danielle away from her. “Do you know what I mean?”
Danielle slowly nodded her head. “Yes…God is in control and He always does what He knows will be best. I just have to trust in Him.”
“Right,” Paul grinned.
“It’s just hard…really hard sometimes.”
“It is hard, but possible.”
“I’m still sad though...it hurts…I still miss them.”
“Of course,” Lillian said, “God made us to have feelings. We’ll all miss Hannah and Jinger.”
Danielle didn’t reply. She quietly laid her head back on Lillian’s shoulder and wrapped her arms around Lillian’s middle.
Lillian softly whispered to Danielle and smoothed her hand over the girl’s hair, seeking to give Danielle some comfort and love.
After some time had passed, Paul tapped Lillian. “Is she okay?”
Lillian glanced down at Danielle, who had fallen asleep. “She’s sleeping now.”
“I’ll take her back to her own bed so we can get some sleep of our own.” Paul crawled out of bed and went around to Lillian’s side of the bed. He carefully picked up Danielle and carried her out of the room and back to her own bed. 

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