The O'Neal Girls Chapter 14

Some family moments in this chapter! Plus some new characters for you to meet!

Chapter 14

January brought lots of snow. It snowed for two days straight, but that wasn’t unexpected. The Dakota Territory was known for the harsh winters. It had been a mellow winter so far. A break in the snow finally came through and the O’Neal girls were excited to get out of the house. It was a Saturday morning and the sun was shining. The snow sparkled brightly where it had been undisturbed. It seemed to beckon the girls out.

Nadia, Megan, and Lynn were fidgety all morning. They set the table in a rush and couldn’t sit still. They were constantly underfoot until Lillian sent them out of the kitchen. Even Elsie, Faith, and Danielle seemed antsy to get out in the snow. Paul had gone outside to feed the horses, and chickens by himself. Once he came in, the food was ready so he prayed and everyone dug in. The youngest girls’ eyes kept wandering from Paul, to Lillian, and over to the windows.

Lillian noticed it right away. She smiled at her daughters and spoke up.  “When you girls are finished with breakfast, you may go outside.” 

All six of the younger girls began cramming their oatmeal down their throats.  

“Not so fast!” Lillian sighed. 

The girls slowed down but continued to eat faster than normal. They finished and bolted away from the table. They tossed their dishes in the sink before racing to their rooms to get dressed. Elsie and Lynn busily wrapped scarfs around their necks while Danielle struggled with her boots. Faith and Megan pulled on hats while Belle helped Nadia with her coat. As soon as everyone was ready, the girls threw open the door and plunged into the snowy ground. There was about two feet of snow to run through and make snowballs out of. Danielle wasted no time in grabbing a clump of snow and stuffing it down the back of Elsie’s dress. Danielle coyly dumped snow down her sisters’ backs without getting caught. She even caught Paul and managed to escape from his snowballs. Danielle had one last victim she wanted to get. She casually walked near the house and called for Belle. 

“Yes?” Belle said, coming out the door. 

“Can you look at my arm here,” Danielle replied. 

“What’s wrong?” Belle asked.

“I cut myself.”

Belle looked concerned, “Is it deep?” 

“It looks pretty deep,” Danielle responded. 

Belle called Lillian to come out too. Belle walked over and examined Danielle’s arm. “I don’t see any—” Belle’s sentence ended in a shriek as Danielle dumped snow down her back. Danielle was shaking with laughter while Belle shivered as the snow slid down her back. While Belle scolded Danielle for being childish and lying about her arm, Elsie and Faith tip-toed up behind Danielle. Danielle was too busy defending herself to Belle that she didn’t hear the twins behind her. Suddenly, the twins jumped Danielle, tackling her to the snow. Danielle screamed as Elsie shoved her face in the snow and Faith shoved a handful of snow down Danielle’s back.

“They got her!” the three little girls cheered.

Elsie and Faith climbed off Danielle and smirked as their older sister got to her knees. Danielle wiped the frigid snow off her face and grinned at her sisters.

“Okay, okay, I guess I had that coming.”

Paul announced it was time to build a snowman and the girls scrambled off to help. The twins and Danielle helped Paul roll the body of the snowman while the little girls collected objects to decorate the snowman with.

Lillian watched from the doorway with a small smile. She really felt as if they were truly a family now. Each day she grew closer to them and she enjoyed watching them grow up…or watching Danielle refuse to grow up. 

The highlight of the day was when everyone went outside and had a huge snowball fight. Paul, Lillian, Cassandra, Megan, and Nadia were on a team against Belle, Danielle, Elsie, Faith, and Lynn. Forts were forged and the battle ensued. Danielle took the battle much more seriously than the others. Danielle captured Nadia and declared the other team trade Paul for Nadia or they’d never see her again. Nadia thought Danielle was serious and began to cry until Lillian rescued her while Paul and Cassandra warded off Danielle.

In the end, Paul’s team ended up surrendering because Lillian and Cassandra had to start supper or the family wouldn’t eat on time.

~~~ 

That evening, Lillian had all the girls’ clothing either in front of the fireplace or hanging on the miniature clothesline in front of the stove. Everyone had finished dinner and was now relaxing in the parlor. Lillian, Belle, and Cassandra were sewing, Danielle and Faith were playing chess, and Elsie and Megan were playing checkers beside them. Nadia was already sleeping on Paul’s lap and Lynn was practicing her sewing near Belle. Everyone was having a good peaceful time.  

“I was thinking about inviting the Cories over for supper sometime this week,” Paul’s voice rumbled quietly across the room.  

Lillian looked up from her sewing. “Yes, we ought to.” 

Elsie glanced over. “I would like to see William, Silas, Mr. Corie and Grandma Corie again. They were so nice to me when I was sick.” Elsie would never forget how Mr. Titus Corie and Grandma Corie had labored over her.  

“Tomorrow after church,” Paul decided, “I’ll stop by and invite them over for Tuesday.” 

“Good.” Lillian put down her sewing and stood up to take Nadia from Paul. Paul handed the little blonde girl to Lillian and she carried the sleeping child to the bedroom. Lynn and Megan followed after receiving Paul’s goodnight kiss. The twins packed up the board games and said goodnight to their parents. Lillian and Paul hugged them goodnight before they disappeared. Cassandra and Belle put away their sewing and bid the O’Neals goodnight.

The girls had fallen into a nightly ritual with the O’Neals. Danielle was always the last girl to say goodnight. She would run over to Paul who would envelope her in a big bear hug and hold her tight. His protective embrace reminded Danielle of her Papa’s hugs when she was just a little girl.

After hugging Paul, Danielle would walk over to Lillian and rest her head against Lillian’s awaiting shoulder. Lillian would lean her head against Danielle’s and whisper a soft goodnight before Danielle pulled away and slipped into bed. 

This is what our family should’ve been like. Danielle thought as she burrowed under the blankets on her bed. We should’ve had fun family days like today and quiet nights just enjoying each other’s company. Danielle couldn’t understand why God had taken away her parents but she was grateful God had placed Paul and Lillian in the girls’ life. And she was extra grateful that Belle was finally relaxing into her role as big sister and giving Lillian the role as mother.

We’re a real family now.

~~~

Paul mounted Midnight after lunch Sunday. He cantered down the road a few miles until he reached the worn down, muddy path leading to the Corie’s place. He saw Titus watering his cattle in the large pasture out front. William was feeding the pigs and Silas was chopping firewood. Paul stopped his horse and dismounted.  

“Howdy, Titus,” Paul greeted. 

Titus waved a hand to Paul and strolled over. “Hey there, Paul. How’s yer wife?” 

“Lillian is doing wonderful. How about your family?” 

“They’s a’doin’ jest fine,” Titus said. He ran a hand down his dusty brown hair.  

“Good to hear. Lillian and I want to invite you and your Ma and your boys over for supper come Tuesday.” 

“That’s right neighborly of ya, O’Neal. I’ll ask me Ma if’n she’d like t’go.” Titus led the way to his run down house. Grandma Corie was sitting in her rocking chair rocking steadily. 

“Afternoon, Mr. O’Neal,” she said in her proper way. “How are you?” 

“I’m doing fine, ma’am,” Paul said taking off his hat. 

“Paul invited us ova to his house on Tuesday. He is askin’ fer us to take suppa with ‘im and his family.” 

“Did you tell him we’d be glad to come?”  

“Naw, I wanted t’ ask ya furst.” Titus looked over at Paul. “We’ll be at yer house come Tuesday at six o’clock.” 

“Good,” Paul said, shaking Titus’s hand.  “How come I haven’t seen you folks at church lately?” The Cories used to be frequent attendees at the country church where the O’Neals attended but the past few months, Paul hadn’t seen them. 

Titus walked away when Paul mentioned church. Grandma Corie sadly shook her white head. “Titus won’t take us to church anymore. Ever since the Lord took Sarah to Heaven, Titus has been so bitter.”  

Paul remembered Sarah. Sarah was the young petite wife of Titus. She had died two years ago when influenza struck the Black Hills.  

Grandma Corie sighed. “I wish I could talk him into giving the Lord another chance…” 

“If you ever need a lift to church, you let me know. I would be happy to pick you up,” Paul said seriously. 

Grandma Corie smiled, “Thank-you, Paul.” 

Paul nodded at Grandma Corie and went to say hello to the Corrie boys. 

Silas was nine but full of determination. His forehead was sweaty as he worked at chopping wood. He had soft fawn colored hair like his Ma used to have. Whenever he snapped his head around, the hair swished across the brow. He had solemn gray eyes and never said much. He read a lot and seemed to daydream when he could. He was small for his age. He was only about the size of a seven or eight year old.  

“Hello, Silas,” Paul greeted as he came upon the boy. 

Silas looked up and put the ax down. “Hi, Mr. O’Neal!” He gave him a brief crooked grin. 

“How are you doing?” 

“Fine.” 

“I asked your family to join my family for supper on Tuesday.” 

“That’ll be fun,” Silas said. “Will I see Elsie?” 

“Yes, she’ll be there.” Paul said goodbye to Silas and walked off to find William.  

William was just like Titus in every way possible. His dusty brown hair was long and half hidden by his hat. He had snapping, small blue eyes and big eyebrows. His was thin but hardy like Titus, whereas Silas was more delicate like his mother had been. William had finished feeding the pigs and was busy cleaning out the horse stalls.  

Paul stopped beside the stall and began chatting. “Howdy, William. How are you?” 

“Right fine, I reckon.” William talked deep like his Pa. 

“That’s good.” 

“You like working here on the farm?” 

“Yeah. I like workin’ with the animals. Animals are real interesting. You kin learn a lot from ‘em.” 

“That’s right,” Paul agreed. “I invited you and your family to supper with my family Tuesday night. Your Pa said you guys would come.” 

“I surely will come!” 

“I’ll see you Tuesday then. Have a nice day.” 

“Thanks. You too.” William went back to shoveling. 

Paul walked off and headed back to his cabin. He was worried for the Corie boys. Titus worked them hard and didn’t allow the boys to have much schooling. And it was apparent that Titus didn’t allow the boys to go to church and learn about Jesus. Paul made a mental note to visit the Cories more often. Maybe if he got to be closer with Titus, he could persuade him to start attending church again.