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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