Belle

by Beverly Jenkins

  “Look at me,” Mrs. Best demanded softly.

  Francine slowly met her eyes.

  “Is my son the father of your child?”

  “No,” Francine finally admitted, in a not-very-respectful voice. “But Daniel promised my mother on her deathbed that he’d take care of me—”

  “FRANCINE!”

  It was the first time Belle had ever seen anyone practically turned to stone. The full power of Mrs. Best’s voice had frozen Francine like a statue. Belle felt a quiet movement behind her. She glanced back and saw Jojo grinning in the shadows.

  Mrs. Best was now saying to Francine in a low, but furious voice, “How dare you come to my son carrying another man’s child. Be glad that your mother’s not here, because if she were, she’d slap your face. Now get back in that carriage, and take your shame elsewhere. Don’t you ever darken this doorway ever again. Do you hear me?”

  Francine’s eyes swept Daniel’s tight face, then after giving Belle and Mrs. Best a malevolent glare, Francine the Queen did as she was told. A few moments later, her coachman drove her away.

  In the silent aftermath, the still angry Daniel looked to his mother, and said, “Thank you, Mama, but I could’ve handled her on my own.”

  She patted him on the back. “I know, and I’m sorry, but I’ve been wanting to do that for so long.”

  Mrs. Best then walked over and took Belle’s cheeks between her palms. She placed a solemn kiss on Belle’s forehead. As Belle’s confusion showed on her face, Mrs. Best said quietly, “Thank you so much for coming into my son’s life.”

  Belle looked over at Daniel. He appeared to agree.

  Daniel spent Sunday afternoon after church fishing with the Morgan brothers. He didn’t bring home any fish, but he did return home bearing some sad news. During dinner he told everyone that the Morgan family was moving back to St. Catharines in Ontario.

  His mother asked, “But why?”

  A solemn Daniel played with the peas on his plate. “Mrs. Morgan has an aunt there. She’s very sick and needs someone to care for her, so they’re leaving.”

  Jojo asked quietly, “When are they going?”

  “Tomorrow morning, first thing. I guess Mrs. Morgan’s very worried about her.”

  The sadness in Daniel’s voice made Belle’s heart ache. She knew how much the Morgans’ friendship meant to him.

  Jojo asked with hurt in her eyes, “Didn’t they want to say good-bye?”

  Daniel looked at his sister’s devastated face, then explained gently. “They did, pest, but they didn’t have time to tell everyone, so they’re just going to leave. They sent everybody here their love, though, especially you.”

  Everyone appeared crestfallen.

  Jo asked, “Do you think we’ll ever see them again?”

  “They promised to visit whenever they get the chance. So, yes, we’ll see them again.”

  Later on, while Mr. Best took Belle’s father to the shed to show him his tools, Belle went to look for Daniel. She thought he might need someone to talk to in the face of losing his best friends. She found him seated on the back porch alone. “I’m sorry your friends are leaving,” she told him as she sat beside him.

  “You know,” he said, “I’ve known them since I was ten. We’d go hunting in the winter. Smelting in the spring…”

  He quieted then as if remembering.

  Belle said, “I’ll miss them.”

  “So will I.”

  He reached down and took her hand in his. “I wonder if we’ll see them again.”

  Belle liked holding hands with him. “They said they’d come visit when they could.”

  He looked over at her and asked softly, “Are you trying to make me feel better?”

  Belle nodded. “Yes. Is that so bad?”

  “No, it’s very touching. Thanks.”

  He then looked around to see if they were being observed. Somewhat secure that they weren’t, he leaned over and kissed her tenderly. Belle’s love soared and she kissed him back just as tenderly. The kiss didn’t last nearly as long as they would’ve wished, but with three adults now in the house, the young sweethearts couldn’t afford to risk more.

  Daniel kissed the back of her hand. “You should go on in. I’m going to sit awhile.”

  “I’ll stay and sit if you’d like.”

  He shook his head. “If you stay we’re going to get into trouble.”

  Belle smiled, then touched his cheek. “Okay.”

  “Good night,” he said, his heart filled with love.

  “Good night, Daniel.”

  Daniel was sitting alone under the stars when James Palmer walked up.

  “Care if I join you?” Mr. Palmer asked him.

  “No, sir.”

  Belle’s father sat. For a moment the silence resettled, then he said, “Your pa’s a good man. Says he wants to hire me, help me get on my feet.”

  Daniel thought that was good news. “Papa’s been wanting to work with a good bricklayer for some time now.”

  “That’s what he told me.”

  The silence came between them again, then James said, “Want to thank you again for finding Belle and bringing her to your folks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “She thinks a lot of you and your family.”

  “We think highly of her, too.”

  “So, what are your intentions toward my Belle, son?”

  Daniel knew the two of them were destined to have this conversation, but he hadn’t been expecting it now, this minute. Gathering his thoughts, Daniel finally replied, “To marry her and love her for the rest of my life.”

  Mr. Palmer studied him closely, then said, “And if I let you marry her, when the time comes, how will you support her?”

  “I can teach. I’m also a fairly good carpenter. Not as skilled as my father, of course, but I hope to be one day.”

  Mr. Palmer nodded approvingly. “Well, good night, Daniel.”

  A bit surprised that Belle’s father hadn’t had more to say, Daniel replied, “Good night, sir.”

  Daniel waited until Mr. Palmer disappeared into the house before releasing his pent-up breath.

  nineteen

  By the end of August, Belle was ready to spring the surprise she and Jojo had been working on, so Sunday after church she and Jojo called everyone into the parlor and asked that they take a seat.

  Her father did as the girls requested but asked, “Belle, what is this about?”

  “A lot of things, Papa. You’ll see in a few minutes.”

  He shrugged at Mr. and Mrs. Best and Daniel. They appeared curious, as well. Belle and Jojo took a moment to slip into the kitchen so they could talk privately.

  Jojo asked, “Are you ready, Belle?”

  “I think so.”

  “Then I will announce you, okay?”

  Belle nodded.

  Belle stood in the kitchen door while Jojo said with a flourish, “Presenting Miss Belle Palmer.”

  Belle stepped into the parlor and Jojo began to applaud. The rest of the audience took their cue from her and began to applaud, as well.

  Belle said, “Thank you.”

  She then said, “Back in April, Daniel and Jojo found me on the side of the road and brought me here. Mr. and Mrs. Best took me in and nursed me, fed me. They gave me clothes and guidance and love.”

  Mrs. Best wiped at a tear.

  “There’s no way I can repay them for all I’ve seen and learned, so this is my small token to that enormous debt. This is also for my papa. He’s paid a great price trying to ensure that I had a better life. Thank you, Papa.”

  Then in the silence that followed, Belle raised her voice and began to recite the poem that was the abolitionist anthem—Mrs. Best’s favorite poem and now Belle’s: Bury Me in a Free Land, by Frances Ellen Watkins.

  Make me a grave where’er you will,

  In a lowly plain or a lofty hill;

  Make it among earth’s humblest graves,

  But not in a land whe
re men are slaves.

  I could not rest if around my grave

  I heard the steps of a trembling slave;

  His shadow above my silent tomb

  Would make it a place of fearful gloom.

  As Belle went through the next four verses, memories of her mother being sold on the block made her voice resonate with pain, but the listeners also heard her strength. By the time Belle began the eighth and final verse, everyone’s eyes were filled with pride at this show of accomplishment. She’d come a long way from the illiterate fugitive she’d once been.

  I ask no monument, proud and high,

  To arrest the gaze of the passers-by;

  All that my yearning spirit craves,

  Is bury me not in a land of slaves.

  When she finished, there were a few moments of silence, then her father rushed over and pulled her into his arms. Belle was crying and he had proud tears in his own eyes.

  Wiping at his tears, James turned to the Bests. “How can I ever thank you?”

  Mrs. Best said emotionally, “I believe Belle just did.”

  Belle went over to Mrs. Best, who enfolded her into her arms, and they both laughed and cried their joy. “I’m so very, very proud of you,” Mrs. Best whispered thickly. “So very, very proud.”

  Daniel, not caring if his love for her showed plainly on his face, said, “That was an almighty undertaking, Belle.”

  “And she didn’t miss one word,” Jojo boasted.

  Mr. Best said, “Belle, I want you to recite that at the next rally.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Belle looked to Daniel and his smile met her own. Could she really stand in front of a crowd and recite Miss Watkins’s famous poem? Belle never imagined herself speaking from behind a podium like she’d seen Daniel and Mrs. Best do, but maybe she could. Now that she was free and literate, maybe she could do anything she desired in this new, free world. For Belle Palmer, life was wonderful, and it was made even more so because of all the people she loved.

  During the second week of September, a big box was delivered to the Best house by one of the local express companies. It was for Belle. Hoping and praying it would contain her new Singer sewing machine, Belle proudly signed her name on the receipt and the driver went on his way.

  “Is that the sewing machine?” Jo asked excitedly.

  “I don’t know.” An equally excited Belle quickly searched the box’s exterior for a marking that might answer the question. When her eyes came across the words I. M. Singer and Company, she jumped for joy. “This is it, Jo! It’s my sewing machine! Run tell the papas we need a crowbar. Something to open this thing with.”

  Jojo took off.

  She returned a few minutes later with the papas, as she and Belle had taken to calling their fathers. Daniel and Mrs. Best also came in response to hearing of Belle’s good news.

  Both fathers went at the big box with their crowbars, and moments later they were lifting out Belle’s spanking-new sewing machine. She fell in love from the moment she saw it. It was black, had a swanlike neck and was mounted on a short cabinet made to sit at. There were three small drawers down the cabinet’s front that would hold threads and other notions perfectly.

  While everyone looked on, smiling, Belle dug down in the box and found the detailed instructions promised in the advertisement. She experienced an even greater joy as she scanned the words on the cover with ease. The ability to read was truly a blessing.

  “It says that the machine makes something called a lock stitch—”

  For the rest of the afternoon, Belle sat in the center of the floor, reading her manual and looking over her machine. No one bothered her. The members of her family did peek in on her every now and again, but Belle was so engrossed they doubted she even noticed.

  That evening after dinner, Daniel gathered his courage and asked the papas if he and Belle could go walking.

  “How far?” James Palmer asked.

  “Just up the road, sir. We won’t be gone long.”

  “Take your sister,” his father said.

  Daniel almost protested, but knew if he did, he and Belle might not get to go walking at all. “Yes, sir.”

  The papas smiled fatherly.

  Daniel went to find Josephine.

  Daniel paid Jo five cents to walk on the opposite side of the road and a ways behind.

  Jojo looked up at him. “Sure, I’ll stay out of the way, but I want fifty cents next time.”

  “Fifty cents?!”

  She nodded. “I love you both, but if the papas find out you bribed me to look the other way, five cents isn’t going to be enough for all the trouble we’ll be in.”

  Belle thought she had a point. Belle also thought Daniel was right: Jojo was a pest. Sometimes.

  Daniel told his sister, “You’re going to be in love one day, and I hope you won’t need my help because I’m going to charge you five dollars.”

  Jo didn’t seem impressed as she stuck out her palm for her payment. Daniel put the coins in her hand.

  “Thanks,” she told him with a smile.

  He grouched back, “Be thankful I don’t leave you tied to a tree and pick you up on the way home.”

  A smiling Belle took his hand. “Come on. We have to be back soon, remember?”

  Daniel did and so let Belle lead him down the road.

  They walked a ways in silence and basked in their semi-privacy and in the presence of each other.

  Daniel said, “Did I tell you that your father asked me about my intentions toward you?”

  “No. Did he?”

  Daniel nodded.

  “What did you say?”

  “That I wanted to marry you and love you for the rest of my life.”

  A very moved Belle stopped and looked up into his eyes. “I want to marry you and love you for the rest of my life, too.”

  The kiss that followed cemented their words. When it ended, Daniel held her close to his heart and whispered against her hair, “And one day, I want to give you rubies and sapphires and a big old house—”

  Belle thrilled at his words, but she didn’t need jewels, only him. “I love you, Daniel Best.”

  He looked down at her with his heart in his eyes and declared, “I love you, too, Miss Belle.”

  epilogue

  “For heaven’s sake, Belle, sit still or you’ll be the only bride wearing a curling-iron imprint on her cheek.”

  Jojo was working on Belle’s hair and having the hardest time.

  “I’m sorry,” Belle offered apologetically. “But I’m so happy I could dance a jig. Wait until you get married. You’ll see.”

  “Not if it makes me so addled I forget how it feels to be burned by a hot hair iron.”

  Mrs. Best, seated on the edge of Belle’s bed, smiled at the dry wit of her youngest.

  Jojo set the iron onto the lip of the small brazier and critically assessed her work. Belle’s hair had grown out long enough for it to be brushed up and styled into a fashionable topknot. “You look beautiful.”

  Belle picked up the hand mirror. The face she saw reflected in the glass bore very little resemblance to the dirty, exhausted and terrified young woman she’d been the day Daniel coaxed her out of the ditch. Staring back were the confident features of a woman who was loved and intelligent, mistress of her own business and, yes, soon to be Daniel’s wife. She smiled up into the black eyes of the young girl who’d been a sister to her in every way. “You did a grand job, Jo.”

  “I think she did, as well,” Mrs. Best added sincerely.

  “As Papa always says, it helps to start with a good foundation.”

  Mrs. Best nodded an agreement. “Now, let’s get her into her dress.”

  Once the dress was on, Belle felt like a princess. The ivory-colored, high-collared gown had been lovingly made by her own hand. The hooped slip beneath gave the skirt just the right amount of volume, and the lace trim Mrs. Best had sent for all the way to Spain added to its beaut
y. “Do you think Daniel will like it?”

  “My brother would have to be blind not to.”

  “It’s magnificent, Belle,” Mrs. Best concurred. “Every stitch is perfection.”

  “I’m so nervous. I can’t believe he loves me.”

  “Everyone loves you,” Jojo told her. “Well, maybe not Francine, but she doesn’t count.”

  Both Best women came up behind Belle, and they were all reflected in the tall, mahogany stand-up mirror.

  Jo asked, “If I somehow get addled enough to want to marry, will you make me a dress as grand as this?”

  “Even grander, if you wish.” Belle thought back to all she’d been through since escaping slavery last year and tears filled her eyes. “How can I ever thank you two for all you’ve done?” She hugged them both with a fierceness that reflected her love and gratitude.

  “Stop crying,” Jojo admonished affectionately. “That’s Mama’s job.”

  “Yes, it is,” Cecilia pointed out, wiping at her own tears with a lacy monogrammed handkerchief. “This is going to be a three-handkerchief day, I just know it.”

  “I’m just so happy,” Belle crowed.

  Jojo took her by the hand. “Come on. Let’s get you to your papa before you and Mama flood the room.”

  Mr. Palmer was waiting outside the door to escort her down to the parlor. Once Cecilia and Jojo left Belle alone with him, his eyes were wet, as well. “I wish your mother was here to see you.”

  “Me, too, Papa.” Belle gave him a hug. Having her mama there would have made the day even more spectacular, but the Vigilance Committee was still searching and Belle prayed every night that good news was forthcoming.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  Belle smiled like the happy young woman that she was. “Yes, Papa, I am.”

  He held out his arm, she put her hand lightly upon it and let him lead her down to the parlor.

  Downstairs, Daniel stood in the parlor flanked by his parents and the Morgan brothers, who’d come back to town to stand up with him. Also in attendance were a few other Whittaker residents, including the Reverend and Bea Meldrum. Daniel was glad they’d come and he was doing his best not to show how antsy he felt inside, but it was difficult. He and Belle were about to be married and his happy heart was threatening to burst through the seams of his new brown suit. A year had passed since he’d declared his intentions to her father, and although he’d thought this day would never arrive, it had. He was so grateful for her love. He’d probably be married to Francine if Belle had not come into his life, a realization that made him shudder. But Francine and her baby were in Indiana with an aunt, and he was awaiting the appearance of the young lady he planned to cherish for the rest of his life.