How the Hansen Girls Came to be and Previous Versions

G'day readers! Thanks for stopping by!

   I had an idea for a blog post that you guys might find interesting. I thought I'd tell you all how my Hansen Girls stories came to be. 

   Originally the Hansen Girls was a play! My siblings and my friends and I loved to make movies together. We'd come up with ideas and film each other. Back in 2012 (I think)...My mother was hosting a party for a whole bunch of my friends. A couple of us friends thought it would be fun to put together a play/movie idea and video tape it with the entire group. We needed some ideas so we each came up with some ideas. I was away at my grandparents' house at the time while my sister and my two other friends were at home together, planning ideas. The movie/play needed a lot of cast members since there would be a lot of us at the party. Having just watched "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", the idea I came up with was "Four Brothers and Too Many Sisters" (Yes, that was the rough draft name :P) It depicted four brothers and ten sisters who lived on a farm. The boys were mad at the sisters for instilling so many rules so they up and left one day. However the boys ended up returning when they learned their one sister was sick and the siblings work together to get her to the doctor on time.

   I do NOT have the original copy of "Four Brothers and Too Many Sisters" (just the revised copy that went through several changes). While revising the play to fit the cast list of friends who would be attending the party, I had to switch some names around. Here are some other name choices that I considered:

• Frank (instead of Gideon)
• Christine (instead of Danielle. Chris instead of Danni)
• Deborah (instead of Cassandra)
• Emma (instead of Elsie and Faith, merging the characters into one)
• Gideon (instead of Isaac. I really wanted to keep Gideon haha)
• Harry (instead of Kenny/Keith)
• Ivy (instead of Hannah and Jinger, merging those two into one)
• Jinger (instead of Lynn and Megan, merging those two into one. Really liked the name Jinger too)
• Kelly (Instead of Nadia)

However, I decided to stick to all the original names except Kenny. (As you may already know, Kenny was originally Keith but I wanted to use Keith for a different character much later on in the story so I switched it to Kendrick---which is Alice Hansen's maiden name---and called him Kenny for short )

   Ultimately, we didn't use my idea for the movie so I decided to continue writing the play as a book. Since I didn't have my siblings with me while I stayed at my grandparents' house, I busied myself with this new book idea. I spent a lot of time on their computer. My grandparents couldn't believe that I would just sit there for an hour or two and just type and type and type. (My grandfather actually came and sat beside me and watched me type for a while. He was amazed that I could just sit there and type whatever came to mind haha) I came up with ideas on the fly and shoved them all into what became the Hansen Girls.

The Final Book Cover I Made with Microsoft Word

   When I completed the Hansen Girls about a year later, I planned to write a trilogy, adding "The O'Neal Girls", to show the girls getting along with their new lives, and "The Hansen Boys", to tell the tale of what happened to the brothers. I wrote up some good story ideas for the boys...but then I hit writers block, left the book, and focused on "The O'Neal Girls". To this day, I still haven't written the rest of "The Hansen Boys." I do have the basis of where they went when they left and what they did before they returned to their sisters but not in story format. I'll have to work on it and post it for you all someday...*fingers crossed* I do love the boys and I hope to introduce them to you so you can learn more about them and meet their new friends and follow their adventure.

Original Hansen Boys Cover

   I wrote ideas for the O'Neal Girls for a long time. I would write off and on for months. I had other story ideas but I always came back to the O'Neals. I wrote up through Belle and Caleb's wedding and then I did something crazy.

   I don't know what I was thinking but I guess I decided I needed to end "The O'Neal Girls" so I suddenly fast-forwarded SIX YEARS. In a brief paragraph I described how Belle, Cassandra, Elsie, and Faith each were happily married and had families of their own. Danielle was still unmarried (I had a back story on that but I can't tell you because I recycled the idea for later on *evil grin*) and living with the O'Neals. Any-who, I wrote that Belle and Cassandra are summoned to the O'Neal Cabin because Lillian was dying (I had written how she was weaker than most women and I guess I felt she needed to die because of it). I wrote a brief scene between Lillian and her adopted daughters, then I KILLED HER and ENDED THE BOOK THERE.

   I still have not forgiven myself for that...I don't know what I was thinking!! I left the book like that for ages! I wrote a "What Happened to the O'Neals" after I ended the book to explain what happened to all the girls after Lillian died and the book ended. That seemed to suffice me for ending the O'Neal Girls so abruptly.

   A couple months later, I finally I decided that was an awful ending. Truth be told...I got really attached to the family and I missed writing up adventures for them. Soooooo, I resurrected Lillian, rewound six years, and began writing where I left off. I also went back and added in adventures. All the winter time adventures (with the Cories etc.,) were written in during this time. A lot of editing also took place. The girls have evolved somewhat over the years but they have stayed true to their core character.

Some of the characters are modeled after people I know. Cassandra is modeled after one of my best friends, Belle is a combination of a two or three of my friends, Danielle was an "ideal" model of myself. :P I wanted a "tomboy" character (like myself) but I also wanted to show a tender side of her.
Paul and Lillian are based off the Michael Landon and Karen Grassle versions of Pa and Ma Ingalls on the Little House and the Prairie TV series, although Lillian is more of a combination Caroline Ingalls, Livy Walton (The Waltons), and Michaela Quinn (Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman) as well as Marty and Missy from the Love Comes Softly series.

  As you can tell, I enjoy finding pictures on Pinterest and the Internet of actors and actresses who look like my characters. Here are some original pictures of my characters before I changed them:

Audra Barkley/Linda Evans was originally Lillian! I loved this picture of her due to the smile. It was exactly how I envisioned Lillian's warm smile. I used this for a while before I decided the hair was too blonde and she was a bit too young for Lillian.

This actress from Bonanza was an early consideration for Belle. She was blonde and pretty and in the Bonanza episode, she had a blond husband/beau that I figured I could use for Caleb.











Here is a picture of the very early Belle and Caleb. But then I really wanted to use Heath Barkley/Lee Majors for Caleb. (Just so handsome :D) So I ended up not using either of them.













This picture of Elizabeth Walton/Kami Cotler was who I really wanted to be used as Nadia. This picture of her is just so stinkin' adorable!!! I finally told myself I couldn't use this picture because her hair was too dark for fair-haired Nadia.











This sharp lookin' fellow was briefly considered for Charles Wiggins, Cassandra's first beau. I decided against that and settled on using Hank Lawson/William Shockley. 

The Hansen Girls Chapter 11

Chapter 11

  Danielle was in charge of taking care of the animals that day while Paul was gone. He had volunteered to help a neighbor doing some work on his barn. Danielle finished dinner and went outside to stack some firewood. She worked for an hour when a sudden darkness fell over her. Glancing up she saw dark thunderclouds. She darted inside.

            “Lillian! A storm is coming! I have to get all the animals in the barn!” she called before racing back outside.

            Rain was falling now. Danielle herded the goats into the barn and the chickens into the henhouse. But Thunder was still out.

            “Thunder!” Danielle yelled as he kept running away.

            “Danielle!” Lillian called from the house. Lillian was leaning outside the door clutching a shawl around her shoulders.

            “Get back inside!” Danielle shouted over her shoulder before turning back to Thunder and lunging for his halter. She fell down onto the soft earth. She stood up and saw Lillian hovering over her. “What are you doing?” Danielle yelled above the wind.

            “You need to get inside! This storm is getting worse by the second!”

            “Not until I catch Thunder!” Danielle persisted. “You better go back inside.”

            Lillian frowned at Danielle, “I’ll help you.”

            “Not in your condition,” Danielle said eyeing Lillian’s bulging abdomen.

            Lillian stood firm and proceeded to help Danielle catch Thunder. Danielle slowly reached for Thunder’s halter again when a strike of lightning pierced the dark sky. Thunder reared and galloped away at the loud snapping sound.

            “Danielle!” Lillian screamed.

            Danielle froze and turned to see a sapling falling down—right above her. She was so frightened she couldn’t move. Something slammed into Danielle and she was knocked aside. Another scream echoed through the night. Danielle jumped up from the ground and whirled around. Lillian had shoved Danielle out of the way and the sapling had fallen on Lillian.

            “Lillian!” Danielle ran over and saw the tree had fallen right on Lillian’s legs and not her stomach. Danielle sighed with relief for a moment before gasping in terror. Danielle bent over and with a few hard tugs, she dragged the tree off Lillian. She leaned over and helped Lillian to her feet.

            Lillian shook her head in agony. “My right leg hurts.”
            “It’ll be alright,” Danielle said firmly. “Just lean on me.”

            Lillian leaned on Danielle and together they made it inside the cabin. Suddenly, Lillian cried out in pain.

            “What’s wrong? What hurts now?” Danielle asked worriedly.

            Lillian groaned and doubled over. “Danielle, the baby is coming.”

            “Now? It’s too soon!”

            “This baby doesn’t think so,” Lillian said in obvious pain.

            Danielle helped Lillian into the house and onto the bed. “I’ll go fetch the doctor!” Danielle turned to run outside.

            “No, there isn’t any time!” Lillian seized Danielle’s arm. “Doctor Young lives too far away! Buffalo Gap is nearly a four hour round trip.”

            Danielle panicked; they needed the doctor. The whinny of a horse sounded above the rain and Danielle glanced out the window to see Paul riding in on Strawberry.

            “Paul!” Danielle was already out the door and running to Paul.

            “What’s wrong?” Paul dismounted and yelled over the sheets of rain.        

            “The baby’s coming!”

            “Now?”
            “Now! You have to get to the doctor!”

            Paul quickly placed Strawberry in the barn and saddled Midnight. He leaped aboard Midnight and rode towards Buffalo Gap. Danielle walked back inside to hear Lillian moaning.

            “Lillian?” Danielle strode in quickly.

            “You have to help me, Danielle,” Lillian said with anxious seriousness. “I need you.”

            “This is how my Mama died….I can’t help. I don’t know what to do!” Danielle’s voice pitch rose with her increasing nervousness.

            Lillian looked away from Danielle. “I’m sorry that this is a sensitive subject for you but I have no one else. I need you to help me.”

            Danielle wrung her hands, “What if something goes wrong…just like what happened to my Mama?” Danielle paced back and forth nervously.

          Lillian suddenly fell back against the bed and writhed in pain. A yell pealed from her lips.

            Danielle spun around, “See!”

            Lillian sat back up, “Danielle! I need you to be brave…my first baby died during the birth! I’m nervous too!”

            Danielle bit her fingernails. “I don’t know what to do!”

            Lillian reached out and squeezed Danielle’s hand, “Just do exactly what I say.”

~~~

            Belle was thoroughly enjoying her time with her sisters but it bugged her that Danielle wasn’t there. She finally couldn’t stand it anymore and left for the sheriff’s office. She convinced her sisters to stay behind while she met with the sheriff.

            “Sheriff?” Belle pushed open the door and stepped inside, out of the rain.

            “Yes?” the sheriff turned around and glanced at Belle. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

            “No thank-you, I just have a question.”

            The sheriff stood up and walked over to Belle. “I’ll see if I have an answer.”

            “My sister, Danielle Hansen, was adopted by someone…who adopted her?”

            The sheriff rubbed his beard. “Let me check.” The sheriff rooted through his desk drawers until he found the adoption papers. “Here we are…Danielle Hansen….adopted by…Paul and Lillian O’Neal.”

            “O’Neal…do you know where they live?”

            “They’re from out of town. Fairburn. That’s about a two hour trip north of here.”

            “Where can I get a horse?” Belle inquired.

            “I think you better wait until morning,” the sheriff said. “A storm is coming through soon. It’ll be here any moment.”

            “I need to see my sister as soon as possible,” Belle persisted.

            “Alright," the sheriff shook his head, "I’ll get you a horse.” The sheriff escorted Belle to the livery and selected a strong and fast horse for Belle. “The road to Fairburn is right there. It’ll take you right into Fairburn. You can check with the Fairburn sheriff, Sheriff Dawson, about where the O’Neals live.”

            “Thank-you, sir. I really appreciate this.” Belle slammed her heels into the sides of her horse. Her horse cantered off up the road to Fairburn.

~~~       

            Danielle watched Lillian moan and groan in agony. She was doing everything she could to make Lillian comfortable but Lillian was still in intense pain. A knock on the door sounded above the thunder.

            “Wow! Doctor Young made great time,” she said rushing to the door. She flung open to reveal a young woman. The woman had flaxen hair rolled back in a long braid down the back. She wore a black dress and her soft blue eyes smiled. Though the woman was soaked to the skin, her presence brought sunshine to Danielle’s heart.

            “Belle?” Danielle asked in disbelief.

            “Danielle!” Belle exclaimed.

            Belle ran forward and grabbed her sister in a hug. “Danielle! Oh, I’ve missed you!”

            “I’ve missed you too!” Danielle pulled away after a moment. “Lillian’s having a baby and I don’t know what to do.”

            “Lillian?”

            “Mrs. O’Neal! She’s in labor and I don’t have a clue what to do.”

            “I do. Step aside.” Belle rolled up her sleeves and marched to the bedroom.

            “You do? But how?”

            “I helped the mid-wife delivered Gideon, Hannah, Isaac, Jinger, Kenny, Lynn, and Megan.” Belle entered the bedroom and took charge. “Mrs. O’Neal, I am going to help you with this baby,” Belle declared with authority.

            Lillian smiled, “You’re Belle Hansen aren’t you?”

            “How’d you know?” Belle asked washing her hands.

            “Danielle told me all about you.” Lillian sank back onto the pillow, groaning in more pain.

            “Don’t worry,” Belle said, “everything is going to be just fine.”

~~~

             Paul and Doctor Young threw open the door and rushed inside. Paul suddenly stopped as Danielle quietly left Lillian’s bedroom.

            “How is she?” Paul asked in concern.

            “Fine,” Danielle said, her mouth twitching slightly. “Your baby boy is fine too.”

            Paul’s face split into a huge grin. He picked Danielle up and swung her around. Danielle laughed and Paul howled in joy. “Can I see them?”

            “Sure.”

            Doctor Young saw Belle exiting the bedroom. “Belle? What are you doing here? I thought you went to find your sister?”

            Belle smiled and put her arm around Danielle. “I found her!”

            Doctor Young laughed, “Well isn’t that a coincidence!”

            “I’m so glad Belle came,” Danielle said, “she helped deliver the baby.”

            “Then I’m glad she came too,” Doctor Young replied. “Now let’s have a look at the baby.”

            The three entered the room and surveyed the scene. Lillian lay on the bed with her strawberry blonde hair floating on the pillow around her head. Her whole face shone with happiness. In her arms was a small baby boy. The doctor examined the baby while Lillian spoke softly to Paul.

            “What should we name him? We never decided on one for certain.”

            “Well…you mentioned naming him after your father. Let’s go with that.” Paul grinned at Lillian.

            “Oakley Paul O’Neal.”

            Belle and Danielle hugged each other happily.

            Lillian turned to Belle, “If you hadn’t showed up when you did...”

            “Danielle could’ve handled it fine,” Belle said brushing it aside.

            Danielle looked at Belle in surprise. “There was no way I could’ve done what Belle did!”

            Everyone laughed at Danielle’s bold honesty.

            “You both were very helpful,” Lillian said to the Hansen sisters.

            “Doctor Young, you better look at Mrs. O’Neal’s right leg. It’s bruised badly.” Belle motioned to the doctor.

            Danielle looked at Lillian, “Speaking of which, thanks…if you hadn’t pushed me out of the way of that tree, I would’ve been the one with an injury.”  Danielle continued, “I can’t believe you risked yourself for me!”

            “Why on earth would you be surprised? I wouldn’t hesitate a moment to help my daughter!”

            Belle looked at Danielle and Lillian with a trace of surprise. Belle detected Danielle had replaced Alice with Lillian. I hope I’m wrong, Belle thought. This woman can’t replace Mama…no one can.

            Lillian beckoned Danielle closer. “I love you Danielle, you’re my daughter. What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t love my own child?” She put her hand on Danielle’s arm. “It’s my duty to look out for you.”

            Danielle replied with a grateful smile.

            Belle turned away from the group and stared at the wall. Of all my sisters, I trusted Danielle the most to remember Mama. And here she is replacing her!

            After the excitement died down, Dr. Young and Belle were invited to stay overnight. Dr. Young stayed in the sod house down by the barn and Belle spent the night in the loft with Danielle.

~~~

            The following morning, Dr. Young told the Hansen girls back in Buffalo Gap about Danielle. It was decided that Mr. and Mrs. Jennings would ride out with all the Hansen girls so they could see Danielle.

            The Jennings drove all the Hansen girls to the O’Neal’s cabin. Danielle happily greeted each sister. Lillian walked into the room with only a slight limp. In her arms was Oakley. She proudly introduced him to each sister. After everyone was introduced, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings left for some business in town. Belle, Cassandra, and the twins whipped up some food in the kitchen while Lillian and Paul talked to the others. Lillian, Paul, and Danielle sat on the couch. Hannah and Jinger sat on the opposite couch, and Megan and Lynn shared the rocking chair. Nadia took an instant liking to Paul and squirmed up on his lap. 

            “Tell me about your cabin,” Paul asked the girls.

            “It has two rooms on the bottom floor,” Hannah started.

            “And three smaller rooms up top,” continued Jinger.

            “Our parlor has a couch and some chairs and a big rug,” Lynn piped up.

            “And the kitchen is always spick-and-span!” Megan added.

            “And I make all the beds,” Nadia finished.

            “I could use such helpers like you here,” Lillian teased.

            “I wish I lived here,” Nadia sighed.

            Lillian and Paul exchanged a glance with each other that no one else caught. The older girls entered with chicken, biscuits, fruit, and vegetables.

            “Dig in,” Faith invited. Paul prayed and everyone ate every bite.

            “That was really good,” Danielle said.

            “It was,” Paul said rubbing his stomach.

            “So good,” Lillian said slyly, “that someone might have to go work off the extra weight.”

            “Why do I feel that everyone is staring at me?” Paul said in mock nervousness. Everyone had a good laugh. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing together. The Jennings arrived once again to pick them up late that afternoon. The O'Neals and Danielle watched as sad faces reached for their coats.

            Paul and Lillian bid each girl goodbye.  

            “We want to speak to you about something, Paul and Lillian,” Mrs. Jennings spoke up. Every head—chocolate, blonde, black, and strawberry blonde—turned to the woman. “Our ‘important business in town’ was a meeting we had with the Youngs and Mrs. Chadwick. Cassandra, Elsie, Faith, Hannah, Jinger, Lynn, and Megan still need to be adopted by someone and we were wondering if…”

            “If we could adopt them?” Paul asked.

            “I know it’s a lot to ask but—”

            “We’d be thrilled to adopt them!” Lillian spoke up.

            “Really?” Danielle asked excitedly.

            “Of course!” Paul boomed.

            Squeals of happiness filled the house. Cassandra hugged Megan and Lynn, Hannah and Jinger hugged each other, Faith and Elsie sobbed against each other, Paul lifted Nadia to his shoulders, and Danielle and Belle hugged.

            “Paul?” Lillian called above the din.

            “Yes, love?”

            “I think we’re going to need another room.”

            “I’ll build dozens of rooms!” he bellowed.

            The girls laughed and smiled at each other. They would finally be together again.

~~~

  

            Lillian woke up the next morning and sat up. Nadia, Lynn, and Megan stayed sleeping beside her. She smiled tenderly at them and went to tend to Oakley. She was feeling much better that morning and decided to make some breakfast. She dressed after Oakley was fed and went out to the parlor. Hannah, Jinger, and Cassandra slept peacefully on the couch and floor. Lillian peeked up at Belle, Danielle, Faith, and Elsie up in the loft. Lillian entered the kitchen and swept her lush strawberry blonde hair up in a bun. She pulled back the white curtain and spied Paul feeding the animals outside. She placed three pans on the stove and threw together a large batch of eggs and bacon.

            Paul entered the house and boomed loudly, “Alright you O’Neal daughters of mine, this is your wake-up call!”

            “Five more minutes!” Danielle shot back from upstairs.

            “How about five seconds before I jump on your bed,” Paul threatened.

            “You don’t scare me.”

            “What if I send Lillian up?” Paul said with a teasing glance at Lillian.

            “Paul,” Lillian frowned, rolling her eyes.

            Danielle heard the teasing sound in Paul’s voice. “Now she scares me,” Danielle said joining the fun.

            “You two!” Lillian said throwing her hands in the air.

            “We’re coming,” Belle called down. Cassandra, Hannah, and Jinger were heading to the washroom to dress and the three youngest were dressing in the bedroom.

  

            Belle was the first one ready. She was waiting patiently by the table when the sisters filed in. Lillian and Paul watched curiously as the sisters automatically walked into the kitchen in order from oldest to youngest.

            “Good morning, Dreamer, Darling, Sunlight, Rosie, Dove, Lily, Pixie, Pearl, Sweetheart,” Belle said dropping a kiss on the three younger girls. She smiled at her sisters. “How I’ve missed roll call.”

            The girls smiled back at Belle. They had clearly missed roll call too.

            “Good morning, girls,” Lillian said as each girl found their place. Paul at the head of the table, Lillian to his right, then Danielle, Cassandra, Faith, Elsie, Megan, Nadia, Lynn, Hannah, Jinger, and Belle until they reached all the way back to Paul. They joined hands and Lillian decided to pray for the meal instead of Paul.

            “Lord, I have so much to be thankful for. You gave me Danielle a while ago. She brightened Paul’s and my life. You then gave me her sisters; all nine of them. Each one is so special in their own way. I thank You Lord for what You have done. You blessed me and Paul! I pray You will bless this food to our bodies and I pray that we will honor You today and all our days…Amen.”

            

Annnnnd that's it! That's the end. I hope you enjoyed it :D I posted a poll of which sisters were your favorites. You can pick your two top favorites. Thanks for reading and have a good week!

          

           

The Hansen Girls Chapter 10

Chapter 10

            The party was a huge hit as many guests filed in the house. Maria kept cooking and Belle kept delivering the food to the guests. Everything was going fine until Belle met Elvira’s beau Frank. Frank was a handsome man. He was a bit old for Elvira but he seemed to enjoy her company. They were standing together beside the food table. Belle placed another plate of desserts on the table and was about to retrieve another when she heard a voice call her.

            “You, girl; turn around.”

            Belle turned around to see Frank and Elvira staring at her. “Can I help you?”

            Frank smiled at Belle, “I wish to ask you some things about Elvira.”

            Elvira giggled, “Oh, Frank, don’t ask her she doesn’t know much about me.”

            Belle nearly gagged at the way Elvira was throwing herself at Frank.

            “I am just wondering if the girl knows any secrets about you.” Frank reached out and caught Belle’s arm. He placed her arm in his and walked her to the balcony.

            “I just started working for her, sir, I don’t know much at all,” Belle said quickly.

            Frank motioned for Belle to remain quiet. He pulled her out onto the balcony and away from the crowd. “Now we can be alone.”

            “I don’t know anything about Elvira,” Belle repeated.

            “I don’t care about Elvira…I care about you.”

            “Me?” Belle squeaked.

            “I’ve never seen you before. What’s your name?” Frank’s demeanor suddenly changed.

            “Belle,” Belle whispered.

            “Belle…that means beauty in French, doesn’t it?”

            “I don’t know French,” Belle stammered.

            Frank pulled Belle closer. “When do you have a day off work?”

            “I don’t get days off.”

            “What? That’s absurd; you must have a day off.”

            “Mrs. Simms and Elvira need me to help them get ready for all their dinners and parties. I don’t have time for anything else except cleaning and cooking.”

            Frank looked deep into Belle’s eyes. “Don’t you lie to me, girl.”

            “I’m not lying!”

            “You don’t like me, do you?”

            “I…well…you frighten me, sir.”

            “Frighten you?!” Frank laughed. “I don’t frighten girls. Every girl in town would kill to be in your position right now.” He bent his head towards Belle’s.

            Belle reacted quickly. She brought her knee up sharply and hit Frank in the stomach. Surprised, he fell forward holding his stomach.

“Thanks for all your tricks, Danielle,” she muttered under her breath.  

Belle pushed him away from her and stormed back into the seclusion of the kitchen.         

Maria turned away from the stove, “Nell! Where have you been?”

            Belle opened her mouth to answer when Josie burst into the room, “Belle! I just saw you beat up Franklin Kolva. You sure got him good!”       

            “You beat up Franklin Kolva?” Maria gasped.

            “Belle!” a voice screeched. Mrs. Simms burst through the door. Her face was red as she angrily glared at Belle. “What on earth did you do to Mr. Kolva?”

            “He tried to…” Belle paused. “I already have a beau, ma’am, and Mr. Kolva is supposed to be Elvira’s beau and I couldn’t let him kiss me!”

            “You still don’t treat guests that way!” Mrs. Simms tramped angrily out of the room.

Elvira burst in next. “Oh, Belle! Thank-you so much! I saw everything and thanks to you, I won’t ever have anything to do with him again!” Elvira bent over, hugged a surprised Belle, and returned to her party.

Maria laughed and added more food to the stove and handed plates to Josie. “We have hungry guests, Josie,” she reminded. Josie balanced the plates carefully and walked off to wait on the guests. “Nell, you take your time and rest up.” Belle thanked her gratefully and took a moment to relax.

Three months later, Mrs. Simms, Belle’s employer, was holding a huge party for the whole town. She hired three extra maids to help Belle and two extra cooks. Belle spent the whole day scrubbing floors and sweeping floors. At noon, Mrs. Simms bustled in the kitchen where everyone was resting for a moment.

She began shrieking orders. “You all need to wear your black dresses and white aprons. Be polite and treat the guests with respect.”

            “Yes, ma’am,” everyone answered. They all changed into their uniforms and began taking food out to the tables. Guests were arriving and the noise level flew up as more and more people filed in.  Belle grabbed a platter of desserts and rushed out to the dessert table. She grabbed the empty plates and placed the new plate down. She turned around and began maneuvering her way through the maze of people. She gasped as she bumped into a woman.           

            “Oh! I am so sorry, ma’am,” Belle said rebalancing the plates she carried.
            The woman smiled kindly, “Don’t worry, no harm done at—”
            “Belle!”
            Belle whirled around and saw three chocolate headed girls rushing to her. CRASH! The plates fell to the ground as Belle dropped to her knees and enveloped Lynn, Faith, and Megan in a hug.
            “Faith! Lynn! Megan!” Belle sobbed as she hugged her sisters.

After five months of being separated, the girls were finally reunited. Belle was so excited at this unexpected meeting.

            “I didn’t think we’d ever, ever, ever see you again!” Lynn wrapped her arms around Belle’s neck.
            “We missed you so much!” Megan sniffed.
            “I’m so glad to see you!” Faith said.
            “You!” a piercing screech interrupted the happy moment. Belle looked up to see Mrs. Simms marching over. Belle held Lynn in her left arm and gripped Megan’s hand in the other. Faith shifted closer to Belle and watched Mrs. Simms carefully.
             “I pay you good money to work hard and I—”

            “Money?! What money?” Belle’s eyes flashed angrily. Belle had enough of this harsh unfairness. “You adopted me. I’m supposed to be your daughter. You don’t treat me like one!” A rush of whispering overcame the crowd.

            “Is it true, Sheriff?” a man asked.

            “Let me go check!” The sheriff ran out of the house and down the street to where the office stood. Mrs. Simms angrily paced the room; knowing she was caught.

            The sheriff returned with some papers. “Yes! The Simms adopted this here girl. Does anyone have proof that Mrs. Simms isn’t treating her correctly?”

            A hush fell over the crowd. No one had any proof. Mrs. Simms smiled in triumph.

            “I have proof!” a voice called out.

            All eyes turned to behold Elvira timidly standing by her latest beau, Alexander.

            “Elvira,” Mrs. Simms warned between clenched teeth.

            “No, Mother. You treat Belle poorly. You treat her only as a maid, but you don’t pay her. You wouldn’t even give her a day off or let her go around town. She hasn’t seen her family in five months because of us.” Elvira paused and glanced down at her feet. “Belle is a nice woman. She deserves better.”

            The crowd whispered loudly again and the sheriff quieted them down. Alexander wrapped a comforting arm around Elvira.

            The sheriff raised his voice, “I hereby take custody of the girl, Belle, until someone else adopts her or takes her in.”

            “We’ll take her in!” A man stepped forward. It was Mr. Jennings. The Sheriff agreed and tore up Belle’s previous adoption papers. Lynn and Megan happily danced around Belle.

            Josie rushed over, “Belle, I wish you the very best!”

            “Thank-you, Josie. You’ve been a great friend!” Belle and Josie hugged quickly.   

            “You’re coming to live with us!” Megan squealed in delight.

            Mrs. Jennings stepped up to the girls, “We’re leaving now. Belle, please pack your things.”

            Belle hurried to her small room, snatched her few possessions and hurried back downstairs. Elvira and Alexander were standing there.

            “Elvira, I don’t know how to thank you…I thought such wrong things about you,” Belle rambled.

            “You don't need to thank me,” Elvira said sternly. “I did many wrong things to you. We’re even now.” The two hugged quickly and Belle departed.

            “I hope you and Alexander have a good night!” Belle called over her shoulder.

            “Will do,” Alexander said leading Elvira to the dancing floor.

            The Jennings were waiting in their carriage. Belle climbed aboard and seated herself in between Megan and Lynn.

            “I hope your stay with the Simms wasn’t too dark of a time,” Mr. Jennings said dejectedly.

            “We’re so sorry you had to live such a way,” Mrs. Jennings added.

Belle climbed aboard the Jennings carriage and seated herself in between Megan and Lynn. “My time with the Simms is in the past.” Belle hugged her sisters again. “I’m just so glad to see you girls again. I wasn’t sure if we’d ever be together again!”

   ~~~

            Cassandra walked down the street with her arm tucked into Charles Wiggins’ arm. It was late into the night and the two were enjoying the moonlight stroll.

            “It’s a beautiful evening,” Cassandra said.

            “It’s more beautiful when you’re here,” Charles returned.

 

            Cassandra was taken in by Mrs. Chadwick, an old widow. Widow Chadwick was a prominent older lady and she was very kind towards Cassandra. Cassandra had plenty of time to do what she wanted. She often went to visit her sisters and see how they were doing. When Cassandra wasn’t with her sisters, she was usually with a young man. The widow Chadwick was set on finding a nice young man for Cassandra. She invited dozens of young men over for supper which offered Cassandra many beau options. Cassandra was delighted at the opportunity to meet different young men, but she discovered she had great fun being with one man in particular: Charles Wiggins.

           

            “Are you cold at all, Cassie?” Charles asked using his nickname for her.

            “A little,” Cassandra replied allowing him to place his coat on her. The two paused on the street and Charles leaned in close to Cassandra. Cassandra’s heart fluttered with excitement. The loud crackling of carriage wheels interrupted the romantic moment. Cassandra glanced up to see who it was.

            “It’s just Mr. Jennings, the postmaster,” Charles said glancing over and waving.

            “Hello, Mr. Wiggins,” Mr. Jennings said halting the carriage.

            “Good evening Mr. Jennings. Hello, Mrs. Jennings,” Charles said.

            “Belle?” Cassandra stepped towards the carriage but Belle was already out of the carriage rushing toward her.

            “Cassandra!” Belle threw her arms about a shocked Cassandra.

            Cassandra suddenly burst into tears. “Belle! Belle! It’s you!” Lynn, Faith, and Megan leaped out and ran to Cassandra.

            “We found Belle!” Megan exclaimed.

            “Charles,” Cassandra said beckoning to him, “this is my older sister, Belle.”

            Charles greeted Belle with a polite smile. He then excused himself so the girls could spend time together.

            “You have to go see the others,” Cassandra said.

            “They’re staying with the Youngs,” Faith said.

            “Mr. Jennings,” Belle asked, “do you know where the Youngs live?”

            “Sure,” Mr. Jennings began, “the clinic is just down the road.”

            “Lead the way!”

            Mr. Jennings clucked to the horses and led the group down to the clinic. The group marched up to the front door and knocked.  Mrs. Young opened the door and beheld the large group of people.

            “Where’s the girls?” Faith asked quickly.

            “Elsie! Hannah! Jinger! Nadia” the older woman called. In a matter of seconds, Elsie, Hannah, Jinger, and Nadia appeared and were immediately hugged by a joyous Belle. They chattered and cried together. They eagerly told Belle what they had been doing the previous months.

            A sudden loud boom brought them back to reality. A storm was brewing over head.

            “Everyone come on in and I’ll fix you all some tea and cake,” Mrs. Young said bustling into the kitchen. The Jennings followed and the Hansen sisters sat down in the Young parlor.

            “If only Danielle was here,” Belle whispered sadly. No one had known what happened to Danielle.

            “Once the storm is past, we’ll go to the Sheriff’s office and see what happened to Danielle,” Cassandra told Belle.

CHAPTER ELEVEN