The O'Neal Girls Chapter 31

Since I'm still working out things to post, here's more O'Neal girls. This is one of my favorite parts in the story that I wrote. It's loosely based off of Little House on the Prairie's "Darkness is my Friend" when the bank robbers take over the blind school and Laura, Mary, and Charles have to fight off the guys.

Chapter 31

Saturday dawned a beautiful morning. The sun shone its bright rays upon the earth and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The children were eager to finish chores and go outside. 

“Mr. O’Neal,” Isaac asked. “Can you take us on a ride?” 

Paul thought for a moment. “Who all wants to go?” 

“Everyone except Danielle and Elsie. They’re going to the Cories' to pick up some canned goods.” 

Well … Kenny can ride Thunder, you and Megan can ride Strawberry, Cassandra and Lynn could ride Ruth, I’ll ride Midnight, and Faith and Nadia could ride Esther.” 

Isaac grinned, “You’ll take us?” 

“I need to ask Lillian first.” Paul found Lillian in the bedroom. He sat down on the bed and beckoned to her. 

Lillian sat down beside him. “What’s on your mind?” 

“The kids want to go for a ride but I don’t know if I should go and leave you here all alone.” 

“Paul, it’s been three days. Those bank robbers are long gone. Plus, what are the chances of them coming by here?” 

Paul shrugged, “You just never know.” 

Lillian kissed him on the cheek. “Go on; let them have some fun. It’s such a nice day outside.” 

Paul consented and told the children. They cheered loudly as they found their jackets, hats, and shoes. 

“Remember, listen to your Pa,” Lillian instructed as she helped Nadia into her jacket. 

“We will!” the group chorused. 

“You’ve told us a million times,” Kenny pointed out. 

Lillian smiled and ruffled his hair, “It never hurts to remind you again.” She handed a bag full of sandwiches and apples to Faith. “Here are your lunches.” 

The girls and boys trekked out to the barn to get the horses. Elsie said a hurried goodbye to Lillian. 

Danielle walked past Lillian. “Do I have to go?” She wished she could just stay in her room all day, but she knew Lillian wouldn’t let that happen.

Lillian gave her daughter a smile. “It will do you good.” 

“C’mon, Danielle!” Elsie shouted. 

Danielle caught up with Elsie and they began down the road to the Cories. 

“Have a good time!” Lillian called. 

“We will!” Elsie called back. 

Lillian waved as they disappeared. She returned into the house and began sewing a new shirt for Oakley. Oakley played with his toys on the floor beside her. Lillian quietly hummed to herself as she worked her needle through the fabric.  

~~~ 

The morning passed quickly while Lillian diligently worked on Oakley’s shirt. Right before the clock struck noon, Lillian rose to prepare some lunch for herself and Oakley. 

“It’s time to eat, Oakley.” Lillian set the sandwiches on the table and bent down to pick up her son. Oakley reached out his hands to his mother and she welcomed him into her arms with a kiss. “Let’s eat,” she said as she set him in his chair. Lillian sat down in her own chair and was bowing her head when she was interrupted. The sound of speeding hoofbeats thudded on the ground. 

“They must have come home early.” Lillian left the table and peeked out the living room window to see who had come home. From her view she could only see three weary horses. “Who could that be?” she wondered. 

The door suddenly burst open and three men leaped inside. Lillian backed away from the door with a cry of surprise. The men looked just as surprised as Lillian. 

“You!” the first man barked, “over there.” He pointed at the couch. 

Lillian hurried to obey him. 

The men were alike in stature and all three had holsters on their hips. The first man had a dirty black hat atop rusty blonde hair. He had a day’s worth of scruff layering his chin and jaw. His eyes were small and gray and he seemed very fidgety. 

            The second man had shaggy brown hair. He too had a black hat sitting on his head that shaded a pair of green eyes. He had a thick goatee framing his twisted mouth. He looked angry and mean. 

The last man was old and tired looking. His gray hair and long bear were sticking out in every direction. His tiny eyes were hidden by the wrinkles in his face. He was panting in loud breaths and mopping his wet forehead. 

The first man turned to the old man. “Louis, go tie up the horses behind the cabin.” 

The old man trudged outside. 

“Jeff, you search the house.” 

The brown haired man seized his gun and darted into the bedroom. 

“You just sit tight,” the first man said to Lillian. 

Lillian didn’t say a word. She silently pleaded for Paul to hurry home.  

Jeff searched the cabin in a jiffy. He came back to the sitting room. “No one in the rooms, Chad,” he told the first man. 

“Did you check over in the kitchen?” Chad replied not taking his eyes off Lillian. 

Jeff stalked into the kitchen and cursed an exclamation. Within seconds he was back in the room. “Look at this!” 

Chad looked over to see Jeff’s find. “A child!” he gaped. 

Lillian glanced over to see Oakley dangling from Jeff’s big hands. Oakley began howling and trying to get free. 

“Let him go!” Lillian cried. 

“Do you know what this means?” Jeff said, ignoring Lillian. 

“Yes!” Chad said impatiently. He looked back at Lillian; his tall frame towered over her. “Where is your husband?” 

Lillian shuddered inwardly with fear. “He isn’t here.” 

“Then where is he?!” Jeff yelled. “Tell us or the kid goes!” Jeff cocked his gun. 

“No!” Lillian gasped. 

“Jeff!” Chad hissed, “That’s no way to act.” 

“Look, the posse has been searchin’ three days now. They’re bound to find us any time now.” Oakley let loose another cry and Jeff clamped his hand over Oakley’s mouth. “This kid won’t shut up!” 

“Please, let me have him. I can keep him quiet; I promise.” Lillian held out her hands. 

“No.” 

“Hold up, Jeff. He’s her kid, she can probably shut him up.” Chad scratched his blonde hair. “Give him to her.” 

Jeff roughly shoved Oakley into Lillian’s waiting arms. Lillian cradled her son in her arms and smothered his cries into her shoulder. 

“Now what?” Jeff looked to Chad for an answer. 

Louis returned inside. “I’m hungry,” he mumbled in a wheezy voice. 

“You two go fetch some grub while I sit here and think a while,” Chad motioned his comrades to go. 

Jeff and Louis walked to the kitchen together and eagerly devoured the sandwiches Lillian had prepared for herself. Chad took a seat on Paul’s chair and ordered Lillian to sit on the sofa. Chad drummed his fingers on the stock of his shotgun and his face crumpled in deep thought. 

“Chad,” Jeff spoke up, “why don’t we just hold up here?” 

“Like sitting ducks? I don’t think so!” 

“But he has a point, Chad,” Louis stood up for Jeff. “There is a lot of land around here.

Chances are, the man of this house will come before the posse comes.” 

“We can hold these two hostage and make out with a ransom sum,” Jeff finished. 

Chad rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Sounds like a decent plan…we do have food and shelter here.” 

“Exactly!” the other two men agreed. They finished eating and gathered in the sitting room smoking and laughing together. Lillian prayed fervently while rocking Oakley.

The men were in the middle of a poker game when hoofbeats echoed outside. Jeff flew to the door in two giant steps. 

“Two girls. A big one and a small one.”  

Chad grabbed Lillian and dragged her over to the window. “Recognize them?” 

Lillian saw Cassandra and Lynn walk into the barn with Ruth. “My daughters…”

“You let them in nice and easy. Don’t let them know we’re here. Or else…” Jeff jerked Oakley from Lillian’s grasp and nestled his gun near the boy’s head. 

“I will,” Lillian nodded quickly. “Don’t hurt him.” Lillian opened the door when her girls came out of the barn. “What are you girls doing home so early?”

“Ruth spooked when we were crossing the river and we fell off!” Cassandra explained. 

“Now we’re soaking wet!” Lynn added. 

Lillian reluctantly beckoned her daughters inside. The wet girls pushed past Lillian and inside. They didn’t make it far before they were startled by the three men. 

“Over here!” Chad demanded. 

Lynn trembled violently but rushed to obey Chad. Cassandra was so frightened that she fainted right on the floor. 

“Cassandra!” Lillian dropped to the ground beside Cassandra and looked at her with concern.

“Jeff, move her to the couch,” Chad ordered. 

Jeff squatted down and pulled Cassandra into his arms and deposited her on the couch. 

“Louis, fetch her a glass of water,” Chad added. 

Louis stood up from his chair and brought Cassandra a cup of water. Lillian knelt beside Cassandra and managed to revive the girl. Lillian handed Cassandra the glass of water and Cassandra slowly drank it. 

“Now we have four hostages!” Louis moaned to Chad. “If we get caught—” 

“We ain’t gonna get caught!” Chad cut in. 

“We better not,” Jeff said in a low tone. 

“Shut yer face!” 

Jeff replied with a string of insults and curses and Chad rallied again. 

Lynn fluttered to Lillian like a frightened chick.  

Lillian hugged the wet girl close to her with one hand and held Oakley in the other. As the men continued ranting and yelling at each other, Lillian did her best to cover Lynn’s ears. Cassandra sat on the couch watching the men with fearful eyes. 

“Just stay close to me, honey,” Lillian told Lynn. “You too, Cassandra.” 

Cassandra nodded her wet head and looked over at the yelling men. 

Louis finally broke the fight. “Cut it out, you two. We’ll just hold up in here until the man comes home. Even if the posse gets here first, we can still get away by using the hostages.” 

Chad and Jeff stopped yelling and calmed down. Jeff sat down and worked on whittling a stick he had. Chad made his way over to Lillian. He pushed Lynn away from her and handed Oakley to Cassandra. 

“What’s yer name, lady?” 

Lillian didn’t answer. 

Chad grabbed Lillian’s wrist. “I asked you a question.” 

Lillian winced at the tight grip around her wrist. “I don’t have to tell you anything. Leave us alone!” 

Chad slapped Lillian across the face. 

Lynn screamed and Oakley began crying. 

“Ain’t no woman gonna talk to me like that! You need to learn some respect.” Chad raised his hand to slap her again but he suddenly froze. Chad’s eyes were staring out the window.  “Who is that?”  

Lillian looked out the window and saw Danielle coming up the road. The young woman was walking quickly toward the house. “My other daughter,” Lillian whispered. 

“Another?!” Chad cursed under his breath. “Let her in just like the others … no tricks. Understand?” 

Lillian walked stiffly toward the door. She opened the door once Danielle neared the house. “What are you doing here?” 

Danielle sighed, “I just want to stay home today. I can’t stop thinking about Eric.” 

 Lillian suddenly had an idea. It was risky … but it could work. She opened her arms and pulled Danielle into a hug. In a suddenly overly sympathetic and loud voice Lillian said, “Oh honey, I’m so sorry! I know you must be feeling awful!” 

Danielle stood there awkwardly. “Um … Ma?” 

Lillian leaned close to Danielle until her mouth was right against Danielle’s ear. “Run away and find Paul. Now!” 

Danielle lowered her voice. “What?” 

“Just go—quickly!” Lillian hissed as she pushed Danielle away. 

Danielle sent a quizzical glance Lillian's way as she started jogging away from the house.

Chad suddenly raced outside beside Lillian. “Stop that girl!” he yelled to Jeff and Louis.  

The other two ran out and aimed their guns at Danielle. The bullets whistled past just inches from Danielle and hit the barn. Danielle screamed in fright and dove into the bushes. 

“Don't hurt her!” Lillian cried, instantly regretting her plan. She grabbed Chad's arm and begged him to call off his henchmen. 

Chad's wrath boiled over. “I said no tricks!” He took the stock of his gun and cracked it against the side of Lillian’s head. She screamed and crumpled to the floor. A trail of blood trickled down the side of her head.