Read Donners Bend Online

Authors: Alexa V James

Donners Bend

Donners Bend
Alexa V James
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2012)

Donners Bend is an engaging story about Eliana Mae Henderson. Eliana was young and pretty, though not thoroughly convinced of the latter. After leaving home at an early age, she experienced her share of difficulties; but she knew this was her life and there was no looking back. Fortunately, she was not afraid of hard work or anything that accompanied her seemingly uncertain future. As she navigates through the challenges, she finds joy, unwavering friendships, and courage; but more than anything else, what Ellie least expected... an amazing, extraordinary love.

About the Author

Alexa V. James lives in a rural farming community in western Pennsylvania with her husband and three sons. She is busy, to say the least, but somehow she still finds time to see the world in a way that only she can... through the rose-colored glasses that she simply refuses to take off. She invites you to have a glimpse through her eyes and share in what is truly a wonderful world.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 -
Eliana Henderson
             
4

Chapter 2 -
The Rhodes
             
12

Chapter 3 -
Lovely Marcelle Marquis
             
23

Chapter 4 -
Felicity and Emily
             
33

Chapter 5 -
Benjamin Fanning
             
44

Chapter 6 -
Jameson Ethan Rhodes
             
53

Chapter 7 -
A Sunny Afternoon
             
63

Chapter 8 -
Pirates and Shakespeare
             
70

Chapter 9 -
The Pie Festival
             
79

Chapter 10 - Emily’s Wedding
             
91

Chapter 11 - Loving Father and Son
             
96

Chapter 12 - Playing Peter Pan
             
99

Chapter 13 - Early Morning Actions
             
107

Chapter 14 - The Lake
             
112

Chapter 15
-
A
Very
Merry Christmas
             
123

Chapter 16 - The Christmas Gifts
             
133

Chapter 17 - Beneath the Ice
             
146

Chapter 18 - Beyond the Cold
             
154

Chapter 19 - The Quiet Visits
             
161

Chapter 20 - Smoking and More Visits
             
170

Chapter 21 - The Truth Comes Out
             
177

Chapter 22 - The Proposal
             
185

Chapter 23 - A Rash Decision
             
192

Chapter 24 - To Thee I Wed
             
201

Chapter 25 - No Ordinary Rainy Day
             
210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thi
s book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real.  Any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual events, locale, or organizations is purely coincidental.

 

Donners Bend
© Copyright 2012, Alexa V. James, a
ll
rights reserved.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any
form or
manner
, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means – electronic
me
chanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission of the author, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1 - Eliana Henderson

 

Standing in front of a small white brick house in the middle of a tiny town called Donners Bend was Eliana Mae Henderson.  Flat, gray clouds filled the darkening sky above her as the town prepared for yet another rain.  Donners Bend wasn’t known for much except its excessive rainfall.  It rained at least every other day there, if not more, and when it rained it didn’t just last an hour or two, it took up the entire day and night.  The maidens needn’t water their gardens for God continually took care of it, and it never flooded in Donners Bend because the town rose above the surrounding land and the water could roll right off into the nearby river. 

 

The townspeople would jokingly say that in order to live in Donners Bend, one had to don a raincoat because of the frequency of its rain, and the bend was because they were certain that’s where the sun was always hiding, somewhere around the bend. The truth is, they made light of the rain and never saw it as an intrusion, but more like a welcomed visitor that always showed up.  

 

Although she was only sixteen, Eliana had just moved to Donners Bend to start a life on her own
,
for that was the way things in her old town,
Hunter’s Ridge
, worked.  No one thought it odd, for it was merely the custom of the land.  Her parents, Thomas and Beatrice Henderson
,
worked h
ard to prepare their only child,
and at last it was time to bid her goodbye.  Ellie, as she was affectionately called, set out with a wagon full of her belongings along with her closest friend, Marcelle
Amelia
Marquis, who would be helping her move in.

 

The little white cottage which Ellie now stood before had been chosen by her father for he had found it suitable for a young girl.  Also, it was situated a perfect distance from the Henderson’s
Hunter’s Ridge
home; it was far enough away that Ellie would be able to distance herself from her parents and become more responsible and independent, but it was also close enough that if
an emergency occurred
,
she could reach her parents in just a day's carriage ride.

 

The first day in her new home Ellie spent cleaning, for she was a very tidy person, painting, moving in furniture and other various items, and making the house feel more like a home, all with the help of Marcelle.  It really was a cute little cottage, and Ellie knew she would come to love it dearly in due time.

 

Made up of tan, white, and cream-colored bricks, it created quite a contrast with the fields of healthy green grass upon which it sat.  Five steps led up to a porch that ran the width of the house and upon this porch sat an old black rocking chair Ellie's grandpa had sent with her when she moved.  A little bin serving as a mailbox sat next to the newly painted black door and on the opposite side was a terra cotta pot filled with red tulips and a crate containing firewood. 

 

Walking in, one could see that the open space was being used for a parlor on the right and a dining room on the left.  A scarlet couch and ivory-colored armchair faced the fireplace making up the small, but needed, parlor.  The dining room contained an oak table surrounded by four chairs with scarlet fabric as padding.  In the center of the table sat a vase filled with red tulips just as beautiful as the ones on Ellie’s front porch.  From the dining room a black door led to the kitchen, which contained only the necessities for now. 

 

Ellie's bedroom was in the back of the house, as was her bathroom.  The basement would be used for laundry and storage purposes only and, at the moment, it was a bit of a mess.

 

"Doesn't it look wonderful, El?" Marcelle asked with a huge smile spreading across her face; she'd been standing next to Ellie for some time, waiting for her friend to comment on the house and had grown rather impatient.

 

Ellie nodded, "It
doe
s, and it's mine.  All mine."

"All yours!" Marcelle shouted, as she grabbed Ellie in a huge hug.

 

Ellie and Marcelle had been best friends since they were children, though they weren't very alike in personality or appearance and often got into disagreements.  Ellie, a more calm and tidy girl by nature, had graduated at the top of her class back in
Hunter’s Ridge
.  Marcelle, on the other hand, despised school and knew it didn't really matter how well she did for she would always have her wealthy French family to back her up.  Marcelle was very self-confident, spontaneous, and outgoing; when she knew what she wanted
,
nothing could stop her from getting it. 

 

Throughout their many years together Ellie had grown slightly jealous of Marcelle, not for her personality but for her looks.  Marcelle
Amelia
Marquis had an appearance any woman would be envious of.  Her dark, chocolate brown hair fell in bouncy ringlets and looked perfect whether Marcelle let it hang naturally or pinned it up.  Beneath delicately arched eyebrows were her clear blue eyes, as blue as a midsummer sky.  Framing those enticing eyes were full, thick lashes that loved to wink at admiring men.  Her cheeks were always rosy, her nose never freckled, and her dimples never disappeared when she flashed another brilliantly white smile.  Full, plump lips never lost their pinkish-red hue and her hands never rid of their lady-like elegance.  Her bust was full, her waist small, and her feet tiny.  In her seventeen years of life, she'd had more beaux than she could count.  Marcelle never tired of playing with the affections of men and dragging them along like lovesick puppy dogs.  She'd moved into her own little cottage in
Hunter’s Ridge
last year when she turned sixteen, so she wouldn't be able to visit Ellie very often in her new home in Donners Bend. 

 

Ellie, though saddened by this fact, also thought it might be a good idea for her to be separated from Marcelle for a while.  She thought it might be time for her to make some new friends.

 

Eliana Mae Henderson, though not as fair as Marcelle, could most certainly not be considered unattractive.  Her
reddish
, feathery hair had an almost indescribable color
of auburn, with its reddish hues and glistening, natural highlights. 
She wore it the same way every day: parted on the left side and pulled back into a small ponytail with a ribbon that matched whatever dress she wore that day.  Her ears were a little too small and a patch of freckles ran across the bridge of her nose and onto both cheeks.  Long, dark lashes surrounded her sparkling hazel eyes and although her smile wasn't as perfect as Marcelle's, it was shown often for she loved to laugh.  Her bust was a little small, her waist thin, and she stood a full five inches beneath 5'7 Marcelle at the height of 5'2.

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