Chapter 28
The morning of the wedding
arrived. Everyone was in a rush to get ready. There were girls to be dressed,
hair to be brushed, and everyone needed to get to the church on time. All the
girls had new dresses that were either made or fixed up from an old
hand-me-down. Danielle even relented to wearing the elegant pink
dress Lillian had made for her. Cassandra spent hours on her own hair and on
Danielle’s. She piled Danielle’s hair on top of her head in a fashionable way.
Danielle even gave her approval. The little girls had their hair braided in a
thick braid down the back like Belle always wore hers, the twins had intricate
buns pinned at the back of their heads as did Lillian. Oakley was dressed up
with a suit and bowtie that made him a miniature version of his pa. It
took some time but finally everyone was ready to go to the country
church.
~~~
Belle
waited nervously to enter the church. Although she was nervous, she was
also overjoyed and thrilled that within moments, she would be married to
Caleb. She was dressed in Alice’s wedding gown. The wedding dress fit
almost perfectly; Belle only spent a short time on alterations and it flattered
her figure.
Belle asked Paul if he would
walk her down the aisle. Paul, honored that Belle would ask him, proudly
accepted.
The organ began
playing.
Paul smiled at Belle, “Here we go.
You ready?”
“Ready,” Belle said.
The two began walking down the
aisle. Belle looked straight ahead at her soon-to-be husband up front. He
was wearing a jet black suit and tie and he looked very handsome with
his blond hair combed back.
~~~
“I Caleb,
take thee Belle, to be my lawfully, wedded wife.”
“I Belle, take thee Caleb, to be my
lawfully, wedded husband.”
When they
were given permission, Caleb leaned toward Belle and kissed her. A cheer went
up as everyone clapped. Belle and Caleb turned toward the small crowd of
people. Out of all the people, she noticed four people in the back row: four
chocolate headed boys. Kenny, Isaac, Gideon, and Albert waved wildly.
Belle rushed down to meet them.
“Kenny!
Gideon! Isaac! Albert!” Belle started crying at the sight of her brothers. The
boys piled out of the pew and hugged Belle.
“Congratulations, sister,” Gideon
said after he hugged her.
“We wish
you the best,” Kenny nodded.
“I’m so
glad for you Belle,” Isaac whispered.
Belle hugged them again and
wiped away her tears. “I can’t believe you’re all here!”
“I hate to break this up but the
food is waiting for us, Belle,” Caleb whispered.
“We’ll talk later,” Belle promised
as she followed Caleb outside to where the dancing and food was to be
held.
~~~
After food was passed
out, Belle left Caleb to meet with her brothers. With her brothers
was a young woman with chestnut brown hair.
“Belle, I want you to meet Judy,”
Albert said. “She is my fiancée.”
“Albert!” Belle cried out in
delight. “I’m so happy for you!” She hugged him again.
Albert warmly hugged her
back.
Belle extended her hand her
shook Judy’s hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
Judy smiled, “Pleased to meet you
too. Albert and the boys told me many stories.”
“All good ones I presume?” Belle
said sending a look Albert’s way.
Albert laughed, “Mostly.”
“Mostly?!” Belle smiled teasingly
and turned to Gideon. “Gideon! My, how you’ve grown! I remember when
you were shorter than the twins and now you must be taller than Danielle.”
Belle reached over and hugged him.
Gideon grinned, “Yeah, I reckon I
did grow some. Now Danni can’t whoop me anymore.”
“I’m sure
she’ll be disappointed in that,” Belle winked. She looked over at Isaac. “Oh, Isaac…” she
trailed off and hugged him closely. “I missed you so much.” She kissed his
forehead.
“I missed you too,” Isaac mumbled.
“I’m sorry for leaving.”
“It’s alright. I don’t blame anyone
and I’m not mad.” Belle pulled away and gazed at Isaac. “You grew too! And your
hair is getting longer.”
Isaac shook his head and his loose
brown curls framed his face. “Didn’t have the money to cut it.”
“And he wouldn’t let me cut it,”
Gideon piped up. “I did Kenny’s hair and it turned out fine.”
Belle turned to Kenny and
laughed as her youngest brother swept off his hat to reveal a closely cut
haircut. She kissed the top of his head. “You poor soul! No wonder Isaac let
his hair grow so long.”
Kenny chuckled, “I sure was
scared something fierce when Gideon whipped out his clippers. But I couldn’t
stand havin’ my hair in my eyes.”
Belle smiled
at Kenny. “Well, hair always grows back. It’ll be back soon.”
The crowd moved on towards the
refreshment tables to eat some food. Belle pulled Albert back.
“Albert…”
Albert waved Judy on. “What’s
wrong?”
“Well, I found this…after you and the
boys left. I forgot to give it to you when I saw you a month ago.” Belle
quickly pressed a yellowed envelope into Albert’s hand.
Albert glanced at the writing.
“It’s Ma’s handwriting.”
“Yes; I found a letter for you and
me in her room.”
Albert pocketed the letter.
“Thanks, Belle. I’ll read it tonight.”
“Wait,” Belle said.
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do with the
boys? You and Judy are engaged and I’m sure you’ll be looking for a house to
live in and a job. What will the boys do?”
Albert sighed, “Yeah…I’ve been
thinking on that. Judy and I are planning on heading back to Mapletown. It’s a
growing town with plenty of opportunities. Plus, Mr. Potts offered me my job
back at his ranch. I can earn some cash there.”
“Alright; but what about the
boys?”
“Well, Gideon has been working at
the ranch, but Isaac and Kenny are young…they need educating…I can’t
give ‘em any. I don’t even have enough to give Isaac a haircut! I
don’t know what I’m gonna do with the boys.”
“Albert, what if we asked Lillian
and Paul to watch over the boys?”
“I don’t wanna do that.”
“But with me leaving and Hannah and
Jinger gone, they have room. I’m sure Paul is dying to have more boys around.
They could send them to school as well!”
Albert shrugged, “I reckon it’s my
only choice.”
“It is a good choice, believe
me!”
“Alright. You do the asking
though.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.”
“Belle!” Caleb rushed over and took
Belle’s hand. “C’mon, I’ve been looking for you. We have food to eat and people
to greet!” Caleb dragged Belle away towards a table of people eager to
congratulate the newlyweds.
~~~
Danielle placed the last pie on the
table and began cutting it into slices.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” a voice
called.
Danielle turned around a saw
a young man walking towards her. “Yes?”
The man
had wavy black hair half hidden by his hat. He had
soft brown eyes and a smile formed on his lips. “My parents
and I just moved in from Philadelphia. We bought a piece of
land back there,” he began pointing a finger behind him. “I heard all
the noise down here and came on down to see what was going on.” The
man looked around at all the people. “Sure is
some party you have going on.”
Danielle smiled, “My sister just
got married.”
“Well that’s nice. Glad for
her.”
“Thanks.”
“Well I better get back home,”
the man began turning around.
“Oh wait,” Danielle said quickly.
“Here take this.” Danielle grabbed a napkin and wrapped a slice of pie in
it.
The man gratefully accepted, “Well
thanks, miss…”
“Danielle. Danielle Hansen—er
O’Neal. My adoptive name is Danielle O’Neal.”
The man stuck out his hand,
“Nice to meet you Miss O’Neal. I’m Eric Butler.”
Danielle shook his
hand.
“Danielle,” a voice called.
Danielle turned around and saw
Lillian walking towards her. “Yes, Ma?”
“Oh, sorry, dear, I didn’t mean to
interrupt,” Lillian said as she noticed Eric.
“This is Eric Butler. His family
bought some land around here,” Danielle introduced.
“Hello, Mrs. O’Neal,” Eric said
tipping his hat. “I should probably go now.” Eric turned to
leave.
“Eric, why don’t you stay?
There’s plenty of food and it would be a good time for us to get acquainted
with you,” Lillian invited.
“I don’t want to impose.”
“You wouldn’t be imposing. Go ahead
and bring your parents with you.”
Eric grinned, “Well thanks…I guess
I’ll go do that.” He turned around and hiked back up into the trees.
“He seems nice,” Lillian said to
Danielle.
“Mhm,” Danielle murmured. She
turned back and finished cutting the pie.
Lillian sent a quizzical glance at
Danielle. “Hand me a piece of the apple pie for your Pa.”
Danielle placed a large piece of
apple pie on the plate for Paul. “Here,” she said.
Lillian took the pie and walked
back to Paul. “Here you go, Paul,” she handed him the plate. “Oh, a new
family moved in close by and I just invited the family to join us for the
remainder of the party.”
“That’s fine. Where are they?” Paul
ate a piece of his pie and looked around.
“The young man went to fetch his
parents.”
“Let me know when they come
back.”
~~~
Jonathan Carter whipped out his
accordion and began trilling out some dancing music. Belle and Caleb started
off the dancing while other couples followed. Paul and Lillian hurried out
with Joe and Cassandra right behind. Danielle stood back
to watch the dancing.
“Alright, just in time for the
dancing!”
Danielle turned around and saw Eric
Butler and his parents walking towards her. Eric had dressed up in a white
shirt and bowtie and his father was dressed the same way. Mr. Butler
had light hair but the same brown eyes as his son. Mrs.
Butler was dressed in a nice green dress. She had hair like her son.
“This is Danielle,” Eric introduced
quickly. “Danielle, this is my Pa and my Ma, Mitchell and Helen
Butler.”
“Hi, miss,” Mr. Butler
nodded.
“Hello,” Danielle returned.
“Do you like dancing?” Eric asked
Danielle.
“Yes; but I don’t have a partner
today.”
“Would you mind dancing with
me?” Eric asked politely.
“Well, uh…no, not at all.”
Eric took Danielle’s hand and led
her to the dancing floor. Within seconds, the two were gliding around the
floor.
“Do you dance often?” Danielle
asked.
“Yes I do,” Eric replied.
“I can tell.”
Eric and Danielle whirled
around the dance floor a few more laps. They walked off with Paul and
Lillian so Danielle could introduce her parents to the
Butlers.
“Nice to meet you,” Paul boomed as
he eagerly shook Mr. Butler’s hand.
“Good to meet you too,”
Mitchell Butler returned.
“How many children do you have?”
Helen Butler asked Lillian.
“One,” Lillian responded. “Well,
one birth child,” Lillian clarified. “We adopted nine girls. Oakley is our only
son. We adopted Cassandra, Danielle, Elsie, Faith, Lynn, Megan, and
Nadia.”
“That’s only seven,” Eric pointed
out.
“Yes well, Hannah and Jinger
died this past winter,” Paul said quietly.
“Oh! How terrible,” Helen
murmured.
Belle walked over and beckoned to
Lillian. “Can I speak with you a moment?”
“Of course, dear,” Lillian left the
Butlers and followed Belle.
Belle walked a few yards away from
all the commotion. She looked down at her feet and then back to Lillian. “I
have a favor to ask.”
“Ask away,” Lillian said
kindly.
“Isaac and Kenny have
nowhere to go. Albert and Gideon have steady jobs in Mapletown but Albert can’t
care for all of them. Plus, Isaac and Kenny don’t have any schooling.
They know some figuring and reading but not very well. Since I’m leaving,
could you please consider watching Isaac and Kenny for a while? I
don’t know how long…maybe a few months, a year, two years…but we’d be so
grateful and—”
“Say no more,” Lillian interrupted,
taking Belle’s hand.
“You’ll do it?”
“Sure we will. Paul will love
having boys around. Plus, any brothers of yours are sons of ours as
well. We’d love to have them.”
Belle hugged Lillian. “Thank-you!
That means a lot to Albert and me.”
Lillian laughed and hugged Belle
back. “Now get back to your party. Only an hour left until dusk.”
Belle grinned and hurried back to
the swarms of people.
~~~
Sunset came and Belle and
Caleb busily loaded their bags into the wagon. The wedding was
officially over and the newlyweds were about to leave for their new
home. Caleb and Albert had worked out a deal and Caleb was now the proud owner of the old Hansen farm.
“I still can’t you are going back
to the old farm,” Danielle said as she hugged Caleb. “That was the best surprise
you could’ve given Belle.”
Caleb grinned, “She was awful
surprised when I told her.”
Belle grinned back at her husband.
“I’m excited to see how the place looks.”
“I don’t want you to
go,” Nadia said as she hugged Belle goodbye.
Belle kissed the little girl, “I’ll
miss you, sweetheart but I love Caleb and I want to be his wife. You can come
visit often.”
Nadia kissed Belle on the cheek and
hurried back to Paul.
“Bye, Belle,” Lynn and Megan echoed
each other.
“Goodbye girls,” Belle said hugging
them.
“Have a safe trip,” Faith and Elsie
said as they hugged their sister.
“I’m sure we will,” Belle said
thinking about the long ride ahead of her. It would be about a
four hour trip there.
“Bye Belle,” Isaac
and Kenny said.
“Goodbye, boys.”
“See ya, Belle,” Danielle embraced
her sister.
“See you, Danielle.”
“Farewell, Belle,” Cassandra
said.
“Goodbye, Cassandra.”
“So long, Belle,” Paul and Lillian
said to Belle.
“Bye!” Belle hugged Paul and turned
to Lillian. “Take care of my brothers and sisters,” she
whispered.
“I will; I promise,” Lillian
whispered back.
Caleb helped Belle into the
awaiting wagon. Belle climbed up and sat down on the seat. She lifted her hand
and waved goodbye. Caleb slapped the reins against the pair of pinto horses
and they started down the path toward the Hansen—now Caleb Carter—farm. Cassandra
and Danielle watched their sister and new brother-in-law disappear into the
sunset. It was hard to watch their oldest sister leave them. All their lives,
Belle was always there watching over them.
Nadia was softly crying into Paul’s
shoulder. Belle had been with Nadia ever since she was a baby. Nadia loved
Belle more than anyone and she was afraid for Belle to leave.
“Come children, we need to get
home and get some rest,” Lillian called gently.
The siblings reluctantly
followed Paul and Lillian to the O’Neal wagon and began their drive home.
Yay! They got married!
ReplyDeleteFinally haha :)
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