Chapter 29
The family reached home late that
night. The girls hurried into their nightgowns and into their beds. They
had church tomorrow and would have to be up bright and early the following
morning. Cassandra and Danielle moved downstairs into the big room with
the other girls and Isaac and Kenny took over the loft.
Danielle lay in bed and tried to sleep
but her mind was swimming with thoughts. Eric Butler…
Danielle sighed; she couldn’t rid
him from her mind. He kept coming back to her thoughts;
his dark hair, his brown eyes, his kind face. Danielle had
never thought about a boy this way before.
C’mon, Danielle. You’re acting
like Cassandra! Danielle tried to push the boy from her thoughts
but he wouldn’t leave. Danielle was still thinking of him by the time she
fell asleep.
~~~
At church Sunday morning, Danielle
saw Eric Butler again. He was there with his family, sitting right in front of
the O’Neals. After the service, Eric walked over to the O’Neals.
“Hello, again,” he greeted the
family. His eye fell specifically on Danielle.
The O’Neals returned the greeting
warmly.
“This is a really nice church.”
“Yes it is,” Paul agreed. “Nothing
better than a Bible-preaching church.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. and Mrs. Butler joined the
group. “We’d like to have you over for supper sometime this week,” Mrs. Butler
told Paul and Lillian.
“We’d love to come over,” Lillian
returned.
“How does Wednesday sound?”
“Paul?”
“Sounds good to me. We’ll be over
around five.”
“Good,” Mr. Butler nodded. “Time to
go, Eric.”
Eric looked up from where he was
chatting with Danielle. “Oh, sure Pa.” He grinned at Danielle and followed
his parents to their wagon.
~~~
That evening after dinner, Lillian
found some time to talk with Danielle privately. Paul was telling a
story to Megan and Nadia, Lynn was receiving a sewing lesson from Cassandra,
Faith was reading her latest novel, Elsie was working on her dress, and the
boys were whittling some sticks. Lillian carried Oakley into her bedroom with
Danielle following. Lillian shut the door and placed sleeping Oakley into his
cradle.
“Now, let’s talk.” Lillian sat
down on the edge of the bed.
Danielle sat down beside Lillian. “About
what?”
“About you.”
“Me?”
“Mhm,” Lillian nodded, “you
and Eric Butler.”
A blush crept over Danielle face.
“What does he have to do with me?” she stammered.
“A lot apparently,” Lillian said
with a knowing smile. “Now, we talk seriously about this? I need to talk to
Danielle, not Danni.”
Danielle chuckled. Belle had
started the idea that Danielle had two sides; the silly, carefree Danni, and
the serious Danielle. “Okay.”
“So what are you thinking about
Eric? I see the wheels in your head turning every time you see him.”
“I
don’t know.” Danielle turned back to her mother. “He is smart, considerate, and
fun. Just from talking with him for a little while I could tell all those
things. And I hope I get to know him more.”
I want to get to know him and his
family more too. Just promise me that you will talk to Paul and I if you Nick
decide to pursue anything.”
Danielle nodded, “Okay, I will.”
“Thank-you,
darling.”
~~~
Paul enjoyed storytelling. Most
would agree he was the best storyteller in Fairburn, and he could probably
rival any storyteller in the Dakota Territory. The girls loved to spend
evenings listen to Paul’s enthralling stories. Reaching the climax of his story,
Paul leaped off the couch and began acting it out.
“The bear stood on his hind legs
and growled at the little girl!” Paul roared out his bear growl.
Megan and Nadia screeched.
“The bear stomped towards the
girl,” Paul continued while stomping towards Nadia and Megan.
Megan and Nadia clung to each
other and screamed again.
“Then the bear got really
close to the girl and glared at her with drool dripping from his
jaws. Then with another huge growl he—”
“Paul!”
Paul turned to see Lillian and
Danielle walking out of the bedroom. Danielle was chuckling at Paul’s story and
Lillian was heading his way. “What?”
“That will
be quite enough,” Lillian said walking past him to the little girls.
“You’re going to frighten them.”
Paul winked at
Danielle. “C’mon Lillian, it wasn’t that bad of a story. I haven’t told
them by story about the wild Indians and the baby—”
Megan and Nadia covered their ears
and shrieked.
“Paul!” Lillian said turning and
glaring at him.
Paul grinned at Danielle who
grinned back.
Lillian took
Megan’s and Nadia’s hands and walked with them to their bedroom.
“It’s late and you all have school tomorrow.”
The girls and boys cleaned up their
activities and called their goodnights as they entered their bedrooms.
~~~
Wednesday evening came and the
O’Neals rode over to the Butler cabin a couple miles up the road. The
family reached the small farm house nestled among the trees after a few minutes. The
Butler family hurried out to greet them. Paul jumped off the wagon and helped
Lillian down. The rest of the family climbed down and eagerly shouted
their hellos. Paul and Mr. Butler unhitched Ruth and Esther and took the
mares to the pasture while Mrs. Butler crowded everyone inside.
The Butler home was newly built.
There was a kitchen connected to a sitting room and three small rooms in the
back. The girls and Lillian found places to sit and stand in the sitting room
as Isaac, Kenny, Paul and Mr. Butler entered. Soon
conversations were started and flooded around the room. Amidst all the hubbub,
Eric chatted with Danielle.
“How have you been?” Eric
asked.
“Good. How about
you?” Danielle returned.
“Fine…hey, uh…are you doing
anything tomorrow afternoon?”
Danielle shook her head.
“Well, I was wondering if you
wanted to go for ride around the hills. Maybe you could show me around?”
“I’d have to ask Ma and Pa,”
Danielle answered. “But I’d love too.”
Eric smiled, “Good.”
~~~
Thursday afternoon after lunch,
Danielle saddled Strawberry and trotted over to the Butler
cabin. Paul and Lillian both agreed to let Danielle go over to
the Butlers but Danielle had to take Megan with her.
“Megan?” Danielle had asked in
surprise.
“Someone needs to be with you,”
Lillian explained patiently. “We still don’t know the Butlers very well. Just
until we feel we can trust Eric, you’ll have to have someone else with you.”
Danielle sighed, “But Megan?”
“I can’t spare the older ones. It’s
Megan or Nadia.”
“I’ll take Megan.”
Danielle and
Megan reached the little farm and saw Eric and his father working on the
fields. Their pair of oxen were striving against the harness and plowing
through the hard soil. Danielle rode up to the field and watched the men. Both
men had obviously been working for a while. They had dirt all over their shirts
and overalls and both looked tired. Eric turned the oxen around and
noticed the Hansen girls. He waved a hand at them.
“I’ll be right over!” he boomed. He
handed the reins to his father and jogged across the field to the girls.
“Howdy,” he said once he was near.
“Hi,” Danielle responded.
“Howdy!” Megan crowed.
“Let’s hike down to the creek so I
can wash up a little.”
Danielle
left Strawberry in the pasture and Eric led the way to a small creek.
Once there he eagerly splashed some water on his face.
“How’s the plowing going?” Danielle
asked.
“Tough. It’s hard work.”
“The city-boy can’t handle
it?” Megan questioned.
Danielle raised her eyebrows in
surprise. “Megan!” she reprimanded.
“Oh, city-boy huh?” Eric looked up
from the creek. He leaned over and grabbed Megan. Megan squealed
as he picked her up and dangled her over the creek.
“Don’t! Please!” she begged.
“Eric! Put her down.” Danielle grabbed
Eric’s sleeve.
Eric placed Megan down and smiled.
“Just wanted to teach her a lesson.”
“Well, it was the truth,” Danielle
responded.
“Oh? You agree too?”
“You are a city-boy.”
Eric lunged over and seized
Danielle. He spun around and held her dangerously close to the creek
water.
Danielle shrieked in surprise. “Put
… me … down!” she said as she tried to wriggle free.
“Take it back!” Eric
demanded.
“Never!” Danielle responded
defiantly.
Eric lowered her closer to the
water. Danielle’s hair was skimming the top of the water.
“Okay, fine I take it back!”
Danielle cried.
Eric set Danielle back down on the
ground. “I was only joking; I’d never dunk you in the creek.” He
looked over at her with a strange look.
Danielle looked back at him. She couldn’t
discern the look but she had a feeling she was looking at him the same
way.
Eric offered his hand and helped
Danielle cross the creek. “Let’s walk up this way.”
“Sure,” Danielle agreed.
Megan darted ahead and ran among
the wildflowers and trees leaving Danielle and Eric to walk together.
“Tell me about yourself,” Eric
asked.
“Well, you know I have nine
sisters. Two of my sisters, Hannah and Jinger, died a few months back. I have four brothers too. Ma and Pa
adopted me about a year ago and I’ve live here now.”
“How old are you?”
“Sixteen.”
“I’m eighteen,” he responded. “My
family has always lived in the city. My father worked with the family business
for a while but then he got tired and restless. We decided to make the journey
west and start a new life.”
“That’s how my Mama and Papa, my real parents, met,”
Danielle said. “Their families moved out west and they met each other in
eastern Dakota Territory.”
“You must miss you parents,” Eric
said quietly.
“Look at these flowers Danielle!”
Megan called.
Danielle looked up and smiled at
Megan. “They’re beautiful!” she called back.
Megan turned around and rushed
towards another patch of flowers.
Danielle looked back at
Eric, “I do miss my parents. But I was only ten when Mama died so I
don’t remember a whole lot about her and even less about my Papa. In fact, for
Lynn, Megan, and Nadia, Paul and Lillian are the only parents they ever
remember.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she shrugged. “The
O’Neals have been really good to us.”
The duo called Megan back to
them and the threesome started walking back to the farm. Eric kept up a
steady flow of random questions to entertain Megan. When they reached the
edge of the woods, Eric pulled Danielle back.
“What?” Danielle asked
him.
“Danielle … I want to ask you a
question.”
“Yes?”
“Would you mind…if I asked your Pa
if I could court you?”
Danielle looked at Eric in
shock. Court me?! Why, I’ve never been courted before…
“Danielle?”
“I…well…”
“Do you have a beau?” Eric asked nervously.
“No! I’ve never been courted before.”
“Would you mind if I were the
first?”
Danielle looked deep into his
blue eyes. “I'd love that…”
~~~
“For goodness sake!” Cassandra
cried throwing her hands up the air. “My little sister goes way for one
afternoon and she suddenly has a suitor! She’s worse than me!”
Danielle blushed deep crimson at
Cassandra’s reaction. Eric had just left the O’Neal house after he asked
if he could court Danielle. Paul had responded with an easy yes. Paul quickly
broke the news to Lillian and Cassandra. The other girls were busy with
homework and chores.
“Eric seems like a really nice
fellow,” Paul voiced his approval. “I like him.”
“He is very polite and I haven’t
seen anything to cause any concern,” Lillian nodded. She looked at Danielle.
“You seem to be the only one who doesn’t look happy.”
Danielle shrugged. “I’m just taking
it in. On the inside I’m very happy,” she whispered.
Cassandra laughed, “Well you
certainly keep yourself together more than I do.” She smiled
teasingly at her sister and gave her a hug. “I’m happy for you, little
sister.”
~~~
Danielle rolled her hair into
a fancy styled bun and carefully pinned it into place. She gazed
into the mirror and stared at her reflection. Who am I trying to
fool? Danielle sighed, This isn’t me…
Cassandra entered
the bedroom and called to her sister. “Eric will be here soon.”
“Yes; I know…” Danielle
frowned.
“Need any help?”
“No…yes…I don’t know!” Danielle
leaned back in her chair and looked over at Cassandra. “It’s just…this isn’t
me! I’m not used to all this dressing up and—”
“Well, there’s your problem!”
Cassandra interrupted.
“What?”
“You’re trying to be somebody else.
You can’t change yourself. You’ll always be rough and tough Danni. You can’t
change into a prissy girl just for some boy! You think just because a boy
suddenly likes you, you need to change.”
“Yeah...”
“Well don’t. You’ll ruin your
relationship because Eric will see you as some new girl, not the girl he
likes.”
“So you’re saying I should go out
to dinner with him in my overalls and pigtails?”
“NO!” Cassandra burst out. “No, no,
no, you completely misunderstood!”
“I’m teasing!” Danielle rolled her
eyes. “But I have to look nice somehow.”
“You
want to look nice but you also want to look like Danielle. Here.”
Cassandra stood up
and went over to her sister. She unwound the bun and brushed out Danielle’s
brown locks. She swept up half the hair and clipped it with a barrette at
the back of Danielle’s head.
“You see,” Cassandra said stepping
away. “Something simple that is Danni style.”
Cassandra helped Danielle change
into the dress and once they were finished, they walked out into the
sitting room.
“You look pretty tonight,” Megan
gaped as Danielle entered the room.
Danielle laughed and thanked
Megan.
“Where are you going?” Elsie asked
curiously.
Danielle looked around at her
sisters. It was time to tell them. “Girls, I have something to tell you.”
Nadia rushed over and grabbed
Danielle around the waist. “Don’t leave us Danni! Don’t go away like
Belle!!”
The other girls sent a panicked
look at Danielle.
“No! I’m not leaving, Nadia.”
Danielle bent down and picked up her youngest sister.
“Quit
sniveling,” Kenny muttered to his youngest sister.
Danielle sent him a stern look and
Isaac elbowed him.
Nadia sniffed and looked at
Danielle. “Are you sure?”
“I’m not leaving,” Danielle
repeated. “Do you remember Eric Butler? He has decided to court me. We’re going
out to dinner tonight.”
Elsie and Faith ran over and hugged
Danielle.
“I’m so excited for you, Danielle!”
Faith said.
“Me too! I hope you have fun
tonight,” Elsie added.
Danielle set Nadia down and smiled
at her sisters. “Of course I’ll have fun.”
A knock sounded on the door. Paul
went to answer it. Paul opened the door and welcomed Eric inside. Eric was
dressed in a clean green shirt and black coat. A black bowtie was wound around
his neck and his hair was neatly combed.
“You ladies ready?” he asked.
Cassandra and Danielle nodded their
heads. Paul and Lillian had insisted Cassandra was to tag along to
supervise and for once, Danielle didn't argue since she was still nervous about the idea of courting.
Eric promised to have the girls
back by nine at the very latest and led the girls outside. He helped both into
the buggy. Cassandra sat in the back and Danielle and Eric sat up
front together. Eric slapped the reins and his horses began trotting down
the road.
Danielle.... COURTING?!?! O.o
ReplyDeleteWow.
Great chapter, as always, Lauren! Keep 'em comin'! ;D