Belle looked at everything in the back of her father’s carriage. She was excited. “Am I forgetting anything?” She asked herself. “It feels like I’m forgetting something.”
Belle again took stock. Her father’s masterpiece cuckoo clock was there. There was enough food for four days. She had even included a few changes of clothes and a blanket so that he could sleep in the carriage at night. This was everything she usually packed for her father’s trips into the city. She couldn’t have forgotten anything.
Her father stepped out of their house and descended the stairs to the cobblestones. Although a little frazzled like always, he looked as excited as Belle. “Oh, Belle, I feel like I’m forgetting something.”
“Don’t worry, Papa, I’ve double checked. You have everything you need to get you there. You did remember to bring a few coins in case you’re unable to sell the clock, right?”
“Yes, dear, I should have just enough. And speaking of that, Belle, I am going to be asking a little bit more for this clock.”
“As you should, Papa. It is your greatest work,” Belle reassured him.
“Thank you, Belle. But I saying that to let you know that it might take me a few extra days to get it sold. I promise you, though, as soon as I can, I will be right back here with you.”
“And when you sell it, can we please find a new place to live?” Belle asked intertwining her fingers in prayer.
Her father smiled. “Yes, dear. While I am in the city, I will look for a vacancy in a part of town where you will be surrounded by people who think like you and make you feel like you belong. I am so sorry that I moved you here, Belle.”
“No, Papa. I’m sorry that I disappointed you and that I did things that didn’t represent you well.”
“Nonsense, Belle. Never believe that you have done something wrong. I raised you to be strong and smart and to make good decisions. You have never disappointed me. You, dear, will be a great woman someday. You will be just like your mother,” he said with a smile.
Tears filled Belle’s eyes listening to what her father said. There was no one that she could love more than her papa. Even before he left, she was already counting down the minutes until his return.
Belle threw her arms around her father as he did around her. They embraced until it was time for him to go. As he climbed up onto the carriage’s bench, something flashed into his mind.
“Oh, dear, I forgot to ask you. Would you like me to bring you anything from the city?”
Belle looked at him touched that he would ask. “No, Papa. There is nothing I need more than your safe return.”
“But you will have that anyway. How about if I bring you back a rose? Roses are still your favorite, aren’t they?”
“They are, Papa. But please, don’t go out of your way.”
“Nonsense. It is never going out of my way to make my little girl smile,” he said drawing a smile from Belle.
“If you bring me one, Papa, I promise to smile.”
“Then consider it already between your fingers.”
It was with that that Belle’s father shook his reins and ushered their horse, Tebo, forward. “I love you, Belle,” her father said looking back one last time.
“I love you too, Papa,” she said waving her hand high above her head.
Belle stood there watching him transverse the cobblestones to the path that led out of the hamlet. It wasn’t until he was completely out of sight that she then looked around. The streets were as busy as usual. Many of the familiar faces were walking to and fro. None of them looked at her. Belle was used to this. Eye contact wasn’t something she expected. She had learned to get used to it. But Belle smiled looking around knowing that she wouldn’t have to live like this much longer.
Headed back up the stairs to their house, Belle entered and assessed what she had to do next. Her father had left his workspace a bit of a mess. She was planning on cleaning that up. After, she would have a little lunch. Having baked bread for herself as well, she didn’t have to worry about cooking for a day or two. She had planned it out that way, except…
With a flash, it hit her. Flour and supplies. Her father had forgotten to replenish them before he left. Sprinting back to the door, she opened it and peered out. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for because her father would be long gone. Staring out at the street, Belle’s heart raced. Should she run after him and get him to return. Would she be able to catch him once Tebo started to a trot?
Belle raced back into the kitchen. Opening the flour barrel, she saw that it was nearly bare. She could perhaps make two or three more loaves with it. With the two loaves that she already had, she could certainly survive the week. If she was conservative, perhaps even two. That, with whatever fish she caught, should be enough. Her father’s trips were never longer than two weeks in total. Her father’s clocks had become very popular. Usually, he was back in a week tops.
“I’ll be fine,” Belle told herself. “Worst comes to worst, I’m sure that I’ll be able to find berries. I’m sure that I’ll be fine.”
Reassuring herself, Belle relaxed and went about her day. With the house cleaned, she had a conservative lunch. Having some time, she took her fishing box and a book down to the stream. That was what she did most days after her father left. Low on supplies, any fish she caught would be a great supplement. Unfortunately, unlike almost every other fishing trip, today’s fishing didn’t result in any fish.
Thinking it was the location, on her next fishing trip, Belle decided to travel further upstream. When her new location again resulted in no fish, she journeyed further still. Soon her entire days were spent walking to and from the stream. She even considered sleeping by the stream so she could wake up early the next day and travel further.
She decided against it when she heard a pack of wolves howl. Remembering how her lost love had died, she decided to journey no further. Whatever had cut off her supply of fish seemed to be permanent. She was going to have to figure out something else for food.
What was worse was that all of her long trips had made her exceedingly hungry. The bread that she thought she could stretch out for two weeks was gone in ten days. Certainly, her father would be back any day now, though. When he came back, he would not only have enough money to stock the cupboards, but he would have found a place in the city to live. Their time in their close-minded town would come to an end.
On the first day that Belle was completely out of food, she decided to stay at home. She was sure that her father would be arriving at any minute. She felt it in her gut. Her father had never disappointed her before and she was sure that he wouldn’t do it now.
When her papa didn’t come home that day or the next, Belle begun to get worried. She was now hungry all the time. More than a little lightheaded, it was beginning to take an effort to simply retrieve a cup of water. Belle wasn’t a small girl so she wasn’t worried about starving to death. But there was no escaping how hungry she was and how little energy she had to find food.
On the third day without food, Belle could barely get out of bed. She felt awful. There was now a constant high-pitched ringing in her ears and her stomach hurt constantly. She had to do something about this. And just steps outside of her door were shops with everything that she needed.
Trying to decide what to do, Belle asked herself, what was worse, groveling to the woman who would no doubt call her predicament God’s justice, or starve to death. On day three, starving to death seemed preferable. By day seven, Belle’s spirit was broken and she had resigned herself to doing anything she had to do to stay alive.
What had happened to her father? Where was her protector? Belle knew that something had to have gone wrong. He probably thought that she had enough food to last a month. And hadn’t he said that it might take him a few extra days to sell the clock? Those days plus the time it would take him to find a vacancy could add up to an extra week. But it was now more than two weeks since he had left. Clearly, something had gone horribly wrong.
Barely able to think, Belle was beside herself. Although officially starving to death, what finally got her to swallow her pride was the thought that she might have to go find her father. Thinking only of her Papa, Belle dressed and prepared to do what she needed to do. Her clothes fell off of her. Nothing she owned fit anymore.
Summoning all of the strength she could, she pinned her clothes tighter and brushed her hair back. Gathering all the money she had, a considerable amount, she steadied herself and headed for the front door.
The sun was blistering. She hadn’t been outside for more than a week. She felt like she had forgotten what it was like. She couldn’t think about much, though. Her thoughts were moving so slowly she barely remembered much at all.
Descending the stairs and stepping onto the cobblestone, Belle started what felt like the longest journey of her life. Overwhelmed by the sun and the feeling of hunger, each of her steps was small. She felt like she wanted to cry though she didn’t have the tears. And when Mrs. Cannon shop came into view and her journey seemed almost over, her legs sped up ushering her journey’s end.
Belle had never been a particularly religious person, but opening the door of the supplies shop, Belle prayed that Mrs. Cannon wasn’t there. In spite of his wife, Mr. Cannon had continued to be nice to her. He even sometimes offered her a gentle smile when they crossed paths on the street.
If he was working the shop instead of his wife, Belle thought that her dilemma would quickly come to an end. She prayed for that. Not only did her life depend on it, but she was beginning to think that her father’s life depended on it too.
The smell of food and supplies was dizzying. Belle’s mouth watered painfully. Walking as straight as she could holding her chin up high, she slowly approached the counter not wanting to reveal her desperation.
Were there other customers in the shop? She didn’t know. She didn’t have the strength to look around. The only thing she could think of was making it to the counter without collapsing. That was taking everything she had. When she finally made it, Belle felt like she had crossed the world.
“And what are you doing here?” A poisonous voice asked Belle. It was Mrs. Cannon. Belle wanted to cry.
Summoning her strength, she opened her dry mouth to speak. Only air came out at first. Belle gathered herself again and squeaked a reply.
“I am here to pick up some supplies.”
“Your money is not welcome here,” Mrs. Cannon spat venomously.
“I understand that,” Belle conceded. “However, my father is out of town and has been for a while. I have run out of food and I feel that it is my duty to find him. So if you would just sell me enough so that I can make something to eat and head out of town, I promise not to come back in here again.”
“I told you, I will not turn my back on God to make money on a sinner like you.”
“Please, Mrs. Cannon. I beg you. If you would just give me a morsel to eat. I have plenty of money. I will pay you for it. All I’m asking you for is a little kindness. Isn’t there some room in your heart for someone who has always tried to be good but has fallen on hard times?”
“Young lady, I wouldn’t sell you a scrap of food if you offered me all of the gold in the kingdom. Those who turn their back on God and whose actions poison the impressionable minds of this town, deserve no mercy from me and will get none.”
“If you want me to leave, I will. I just ask you for a little food. Nothing more. A small piece of bread will get me to go and never come back. Here, certainly this would be enough,” Belle said trembling as she removed the coins from her pockets and placed them on the counter. “It’s all I have Mrs. Cannon. I don’t have anything else I can give you,” she said desperately.
“I said no,” the evil woman said sternly. “Now take your filthy money and go,” she demanded.
Almost out of strength, Belle was about to crumble onto the ground when she heard a booming voice echo from behind her.
“She will not!” A man said sounding as angry as the thunder.
“I beg your pardon,” Mrs. Cannon said angrily.
“I said, she is not going anywhere. She has come here to purchase supplies. You will sell them to her, and you will sell them at a price not more than you would for anyone else.”
“You cannot tell me who I’ll sell my products to,” Mrs. Cannon argued.
Belle desperately wanted to know who was defending her. She recognized the voice but her mind was moving too slowly to picture a face. Soon, she didn’t have to. The source of the voice was standing beside her.
“Do you know who I am, Madam?” The furious man said.
“Of course I do,” she said. “You are Captain Bernard.”
“And do you know what my nickname is? You seem to be the local know-it-all. You must’ve heard it.”
“It is not one that a God-fearing woman like me would repeat.”
“Say it is, Madam or I will show it to you,” Captain Bernard threatened.
Mrs. Cannon paused and then took a step back.
“I said say it, Madam.”
“They call you The Animal.”
“And why is that?” Captain Bernard asked.
“Because it is said that you,” she paused imagining it. “That you rip your enemies arms off with your bare hands.”
Captain Bernard looked at her threateningly.” That is correct, Madam. So now that you know what I do to those who I do not like, do you think it is a good idea to get on my bad side?”
“No,” Mrs. Cannon said meekly.
“In that case, you will give this young lady the supplies she needs, charge her a fair price and give her one of the charming smiles you give to all of your customers. Is that clear?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, who?”
“Yes, Captain Bernard.”
Captain Bernard smiled. “Very good.” It was only then that he turned to Belle for the first time. “If you would allow me to assist you in gathering your supplies, I would consider it an honor,” he said touching his chest and giving her a sincere bow.
Belle had never been more grateful to anyone in her life. She wasn’t sure why he was being so nice to her but in this moment she didn’t care. She knew that Mrs. Cannon would’ve let her die without his help. Captain Bernard had been her savior.
Calling out the items one by one, her suitor collected them placing them into a box. Sure that she would never be allowed into the shop again, Belle bought as much as she could. With the items collected, she looked at the Captain’s box unable to imagine carrying it.
“Could I walk you back to your home, Belle?” The Captain asked.
Belle could barely contain her gratitude. “You may,” she said finally feeling the tears that had been threatening to fall all day.
“It would be my honor,” the Captain said lifting her box with one arm while offering her the other.
It was with his gentle guidance that Belle, with her chin still high, made it back home. That was all that she could do, though. Once they were behind Belle closed doors, she collapsed.
“Belle?” Captain Bernard said rushing to her.
Picking her up, he carried her to the bed. With her vision blurring, everything around her eventually went black. There were only two thoughts that she had as it did. Belle had to somehow find her father. And Captain Bernard was not the man that Belle had thought he was. With that, Belle passed out leaving all of her earthly worries behind.