The Girl Called Ella Dessa: Will she ever be cherished for the inner beauty beneath her scars?

by Karen Campbell Prough

  “Thank you for …”

  “For rescuing you from the chickens?” Jim asked, teasing her.

  “Yes.” She smiled. “I slept ag’inst the door.”

  “We think alike.” Samuel’s incredulous look said more than words. “I would’ve done the same thing. Slept against the door, that is.”

  Jim jumped right in with the problem at hand. “I see your father hasn’t showed up. Sam and I came to carry you to our house—until he returns, that is. Even Leigh Chesley said they’d like you to stay with them.”

  “I don’t want to leave Mama.” Her cheerless blue eyes welled with tears. “I want to be near so I can talk and visit her grave.” She wrung her hands and refused to meet their eyes. “My pa’ll come back. He’s bringin’ a new wife.”

  Jim took a deep breath, fearing to shovel more bad news on top of her. “I hate to tell you this, but there’s rumors in the cove that he’s leaving. He’s told people he’s getting married and moving to Virginia. He wants someone to take you for hire. It’s mean saying it like this, but I got to tell you the truth.”

  She went pale. Her freckles stood out against her skin, like speckles on a wren’s egg. She closed her eyes and remained perfectly still. Her lips moved, but he couldn’t hear her words. He frowned at Samuel, wondering if his brother could hear what she whispered.

  Samuel shook his head and shrugged. Praying, he mouthed.

  “Ella Dessa?” Jim touched her forearm.

  She opened her eyes to gaze at his hand. “I’ll go with you.”

  He heaved a sigh of relief. “Mother’s making arrangements for where you’ll sleep. You’ll have to get used to a crowd.” He chuckled. “I’d suggest you bring only things you’ll need in the next couple days. We’ll come back for the rest.”

  Ella Dessa rolled her meager collection of clothing into a ball and gave it to him. He stuffed it in his pack. She slipped her arms into a man’s ragged coat and hugged a tattered leather-bound Bible and square wooden box to her chest. She didn’t have anything else for Samuel to carry, but she mentioned her mother’s trunk, the chickens, and the two cows.

  “May I go say good-bye to Mama?” Her blue eyes grew luminous with unshed tears.

  Jim left off adjusting the straps on his backpack. “We’ll take care of things. You go and speak to your mother. Want me to put that wooden box in Sam’s pack?”

  She carefully set it on the table and nodded. Her fingers trailed over the carving on the top. “It’s special.”

  “We’ll be careful.”

  Samuel edged closer to her. “Do you want me to go with you?”

  “No.” She gave him a wan smile.

  They followed her outside, and the girl almost ran up the slope to the isolated grave. Jim saw her drop to her knees, lay the Bible in her lap, and bow her head.

  Samuel’s shoulders slumped. “I feel sorry for her. She’s barely past burying her mother.”

  “I know, but we can’t just go away without her. Come on. Snatch that loop of rope off the wall inside the cabin. Let’s catch those chickens before she changes her mind and wants to remain here. We’ll tie the chickens’ scrawny legs together and secure their wings, so they can’t flap. I guess we’ll just hang them over a shoulder. I’ll take two, since I’m carrying her belongings. You’ll have to take the other three.”

  “Will the chickens survive the trek down the mountain?” His brother continued to watch the young girl’s still form kneeling under the pines. Her loose hair flowed over one shoulder.

  “They will. Plus we’ll take the two cows with us. She can lead one of them, and you get the second one.” Jim grinned. “Tell you what let’s do. Let’s tie the chickens together and drape them over the cows’ backs. We’ll have to bring a wagon back for the trunk.”

  “Couldn’t we carry it between us? It small and seems to mean a lot to her.”

  He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Okay, little brother, let’s go see how heavy it is.”

  “It isn’t big.”

  “But it means she’ll have to lead the two cows with chickens on their bony backs. What a sight that’ll be.”

  Samuel chuckled. “Guess it’s an adventure we’ll remember.”

  “Hmm, we’ll remember or you will remember? Getting sweet on Ella Dessa? You haven’t taken your eyes off her the whole time I’ve been talking.”

  The boy faced him. “Not me, Jim. You’re the one who’ll soon be looking for a wife. You’re getting old.” His lips curved into a sarcastic smile.

  “Samuel McKnapp.” He playfully tapped his brother’s chest. “I don’t plan on marrying a child your age. I’m almost six years older than her. Besides, that new family, the Walds? They have a girl closer to my age. I plan to introduce myself.”

  They both watched Ella Dessa stand, tuck the Bible under one arm, and brush clay soil from the skirt of her dress. The pines, standing guard over the rock-covered grave, shadowed her forlorn figure.

  But then she moved and stepped into the gilded sunlight.

  For just a minute, the girl paused—poised on the gentle rim of the slope. She looked down to where they both stood. With a cool breeze lifting her hair and tugging at its flowing length, Ella Dessa raised one arm and waved to them.

  The beautiful youthful picture her figure created, and the promise of the woman she would become, jolted through Jim. He didn’t wave back. He watched his younger brother’s countenance change to adoration.

  Samuel lifted his right hand and beckoned to Ella Dessa.

  Chapter 14

  Ella held ropes connected to the two cows and watched the brothers lower her mama’s trunk to the dirt by the porch. In unison they groaned and straightened, relieved of the unusual burden. Even though she witnessed them—especially Samuel—struggle with the trunk while coming down the trail, she found it hard to believe they had done it. No one ever cared what she wanted, except her mama.

  “It was heavy.” Jim examined his left palm. “I thought for sure I had a blister. Sam, you look tired. Sorry, you’re shorter than me. I know you’re hurting.”

  “I can’t move that trunk another inch. My arm’s pulled away from my shoulder.” Samuel bent over and placed his hands on his knees. “Whew! There’s blisters on my hands. I just don’t want to look. The right one’s especially bad.”

  Ella cringed. Where Samuel’s right hand rested on his knee, she could see a raw piece of skin rolled back on its side—rubbed off from contact with the leather handle on the trunk. A smear of blood transferred to his pants. His injury was her fault. She stepped forward, meaning to tell him how sorry she was, but Jim tapped him on the head before she opened her mouth.

  “I’ll take the cows and chickens to the barn. You take Ella inside. Here, Sam.” He pulled her bundle out of his pack and handed it to his brother.

  Samuel nodded and straightened to accept it.

  “Don’t forget. Her box is in your satchel, and you put her Bible in there. I’ll get Duncan to help me take the trunk up the steps.” He smiled at his brother, as he reached for the lead ropes.

  Ella handed them over without a word. He bobbed his head once toward her and turned toward the barn—cows and chickens in tow.

  “Let’s go inside,” the younger brother said, his voice sounding exhausted.

  She left off watching the older brother and faced him. “Thank you, Samuel.”

  He gave her a sweet, lop-sided grin. “Anytime—but just for you.”

  “I’m sorry ’bout your hand.” She fought tears. “I wish it hadn’t happened.”

  He stared at his bloody right palm. “It’ll heal. Come, let’s go in.” He opened the door for her. The wonderful aroma of roasted turkey and fresh bread flooded her senses.

  “Oh, my,” she murmured, as she reluctantly took a step over the threshold and entered the large square room.

  From a table across the room, heads turned or leaned sideways to gawk at her. It seemed the room overflowed with curious pairs of eyes. Much like a frightened c
hipmunk, she wanted to dash back up the mountainside.

  She whirled and bumped square into Samuel’s chest.

  “Whoa! Got to go forward.” He steadied her with his left hand. “No more knocking me down. I’m one-handed, and I’ve suffered enough for today.” But he smiled with sympathy as though he understood her fear. “Turn around,” he whispered. “They don’t bite.”

  Like an obedient child, she turned and saw his father rise from a chair at the right of the oversized table. He hobbled toward her, but the wife got to her first.

  Inez held out both arms. “Ella Dessa! Welcome to our home.” A collection of voices affirmed the woman’s statement.

  She found herself enveloped in a motherly hug, her face pressed against the woman’s warm shoulder. “Thank you.”

  Over Inez’s shoulder, she recognized the faces at the table.

  Peggy, with the red-brown hair, grinned from ear to ear and waved one arm in the air. Grace rose from her place on a bench and smiled a welcome. Phillip was in the process of rubbing a white, mushy substance into his blond hair, and Josie twisted sideways on the closest bench to get a better view. The girl named Anna gave her an intent look, but her oval face showed no welcoming expression.

  “We’re so happy you came with the boys.” Releasing her, Inez turned to Samuel. “Where’s Jim?”

  “He’s taking her cows and chickens to the barn. We also dragged a trunk with us. It’s outside.”

  “A trunk? Clear down the mountain?” his father asked. Ephraim hobbled passed his wife, looked outside, and chuckled. “Sure ‘nough.”

  “Yep, I got blisters to prove it.” Samuel blew on his sore fingers.

  “You will live. Welcome, Ella Dessa.” The white-haired man patted her on the back. “We’ve been waiting for you to get here. Glad you made it, despite my two sons.”

  She felt herself blushing. “They were nice to me.”

  “Good.” His wide smile crinkled up his eyes.

  Peggy waved a hand in the air and gestured. “Come sit here with me.”

  Ephraim pointed at the table. “Grab a seat and be prepared to eat quick, ‘cause Samuel will wolf down everythin’ in sight. He calls it ‘part of his animal instincts.’”

  “Ah, that’s not true.” Samuel dropped his pack to the floor and laid her wrapped belongings on the rocker. He faced the pine table, with two long sets of benches lining each side, and grinned. “I see you saved us a little food.”

  Peggy waved, again. “Ella Dessa!”

  Inez sighed. “Samuel, mind your manners. Ella Dessa, would you like to wash your hands before Samuel does?” She led her to a large bowl on an undersized wooden stand. On one side of it, a towel—with blue embroidered flowers—hung from a rod. “Here, let me take your coat. I’ll hang it right here on this hook by the door.”

  “Yes’um.” She slipped out of her pa’s old coat and hesitated beside the bowl of water.

  “Here.” Inez handed her a square cake of opaque white soap.

  She dampened her hands in the water and rubbed the soap over her fingers. She felt ashamed at the grime rimming her ragged nails, but she couldn’t help but sniff at the soap. A wonderful scent she couldn’t identify wafted from it. Embedded in the soft soap were bits and pieces of purplish plant matter. She rinsed her hands and dried them on the towel.

  “Is that all right?” she asked, anxious to please.

  “Oh, yes, sweetheart. Samuel you’re next.” The woman beckoned to him. “Come, honey, hurry up.”

  Honey?

  Why was the woman calling her son that? She watched Samuel gaze down at his sore hands and grimace.

  His mother pointed at a vacant spot on the opposite side of the table. “Ella Dessa, that’s where you’ll sit—in Duncan’s space. He left earlier to carry a food basket to Velma and the children. Jim will be sitting beside you when he comes in. Peggy, stop waving your hands like a flapping goose.”

  “Ouch, ouch!” Samuel yelped, causing all of them to turn. He shook his dripping hands. “That hurt.”

  “Oh. He’s got blisters.” Ella moved toward him but stopped, feeling out of place.

  Inez lifted Samuel’s wet hands and examined them. “Well, as much as it hurts, it’s best you wash them. Pat them dry, instead of rubbing your hands with the towel. Press the skin back in place on your right palm. I’ll put salve on the blisters after you eat. Ella Dessa, you can go sit down. Samuel’s done causing a scene.”

  Feeling overwhelmed with shyness, she slipped along the table next to the wall and sat on the bench. She leaned to the right and accepted Peggy’s exuberant hug. As she stared at the food-laden table, the tabletop swirled and dipped in front of her. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed it to right itself.

  “Is she falling asleep?”

  “No, Anna, she isn’t sleeping,” she heard Grace say, from the other side of Peggy. Then, “You sick?”

  She caught her breath and opened her eyes. “No.”

  “You look pure tuckered out.”

  “Not much sleep last night.” She blinked, aware of Anna’s wide-eyed stare examining her and the scars on her neck, but she didn’t have the strength to cover them.

  “I’m happy to see you.” Josie gave her a toothy grin. Her brown curls bobbed beside her round face. “That’s Duncan’s plate, but we’ll let you use it.”

  “Thank you.” She inspected the white china. Her trembling fingers caressed the cold surface of the plate. She had never seen anything so smooth. A metal fork and a spoon rested beside it.

  “We’ll return the blessing now.” Ephraim’s loud voice stopped all chatter at the table. “Jim can say his own when he comes in. Let us bow our heads.”

  She followed their lead and clasped her hands together as the man’s voice boomed out a prayer.

  “Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for this bountiful meal and for our new guest. Please, be with Ella Dessa during this time of change. Show her Your love. Amen.”

  A chorus of “amens” followed. Even after she heard the chink of silverware and the steady murmur of voices, she kept her head bowed. Hearing her name spoken in the man’s prayer sent tingles of astonishment the length of her back.

  “Would you like a piece of bread?” A tentative hand touched her right arm.

  She raised her head and saw Peggy’s sympathetic brown eyes. “Yes, please.” She took a warm slice of honey-colored bread and bit into it. The center was soft and yielding to her teeth, not like most bread she ate at home. The flavor evaded her for an instant, but then she recognized it.

  Pumpkin.

  She licked the tasty crumbs off her lips and took another bite. Her stomach rumbled.

  “Could you pass this to Papa?” Peggy still held the plate. “We have butter, if you’d like. And we keep honey for a topping.”

  Her face grew warm. She had learned her first table manner—pass food to the next person. She set her half-eaten slice of bread on the table and took the plate. She leaned sideways and passed it to Peggy’s father at the end of the table.

  Ephraim caught her eye and chuckled. His cheeks stretched the trimmed white beard. “Eating is a favorite pastime with the McKnapp family. Even the noon meal. Take a hunk of turkey from what Peggy’s handing you.”

  “Sorry,” she whispered and accepted the heaping plate of meat.

  With a swift peek at the table, she saw everyone was busy filling their plates, passing bowls, and taking bites of their food. Occasionally, someone’s eyes lifted in her direction, but no one outright stared.

  “Eat as much of this as you can before Jim comes in.” Samuel grinned from across the table. His friendly blue-green gaze put her at ease. He held up a piece of the pumpkin bread and wiggled his light-colored eyebrows.

  She smiled at him as the cabin door opened outward.

  “Oops—too late,” Samuel said.

  Jim stepped in. “I put Ella Dessa’s chickens in with ours and released the cows into the pen on the north side of the barn.” He shrugged off
his coat. “Do I smell turkey?”

  “A good chance you do. Shot it this morning. Wash and take a seat,” Ephraim said.

  Jim made his way over to the water bowl. “How you feeling, Papa?”

  “Not good. My leg pained all day. I didn’t get the side field turned under. You and Duncan need to finish it tomorrow. That’ll take care of the two fields for the winter.

  “Then you didn’t get down to the cove?” Jim slid onto the bench on Ella’s left.

  “Couldn’t manage it.” His father scowled, stabbed a piece of turkey with his knife, and lifted it to his plate.

  “Ella, you don’t have much on that plate.” Jim pointed at the small portion of turkey breast and nudged her elbow. “You better eat more than that.”

  “It’s all I need.” She felt herself blush at the playful touch of his arm.

  “Peggy, pass Ella Dessa the sweet taters. I know she worked up an appetite coming here. She ran to keep up with us and stay ahead of those cows she was leading. Should’ve seen how we did it.”

  Ella giggled as she accepted the bowl of sweet potatoes from Peggy. Jim went on and on, giving a much-exaggerated, hilarious account of their downhill hike.

  “Had her chickens hung over the backs of the cows. What a noise they created. I made Sam help carry Ella Dessa’s trunk, even though I could’ve managed.”

  “What? You made me?” The boy sputtered and almost choked on his corn. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

  While they all laughed, Ella ate and mulled over the morning’s events. During the walk along the trail, she had enjoyed listening to the good-natured banter between the two brothers. Jim had been unmerciful with his picking at Samuel, but the boy showed his pleasant personality and accepted the teasing. Each time they put the trunk down and rested, they talked with her about their large family, until Ella felt she knew all of them personally.