408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbay6Hviye
It was a cold and dark day.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o4tB0lEgV
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgu7kMoteG
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVkuqkTPn4
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOvAfwc72l
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XzyRsrfVs
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7acssv1R74
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOVfvWss69
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHls7PwV6Ms
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOHOc7MRdc
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xBeOXGhj9
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfHIueB12L
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CDhR5lSYp
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNhScN4MZ7
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78tkQznhX1
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLgTWux5Kq
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYHrxHWcnd
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR45JtMCpY6
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVID2lx9fux
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rjoYuZAAr
and respect him, until death do you part?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk1DVvLn6Y
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuKiBzK3TJ
She couldn’t help it; her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxiNeRFX8D
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuXPWAVhpD
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinS946ifRq
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUT86WnyO1
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxg9rAa6Vm
“Then, without further wait,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjvBp0XPRd
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2w4Tiwqlc
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQUEvcMrmY
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB2ziHoqDP
Not waiting a second longer,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaU5255li3
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuvQV5S2ip
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetvqDjBx49
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1veWVu7pN
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaRxHwMxS5
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmmpyI0idJ
After the marriage ceremony,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr19qcFORw2
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ITxUvdW0r
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t4f2iqn8a
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqtkG822wl
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisVcCvuuYV
Avery, went first.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GAsPgbqQz
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeQbbFNCwi
“I have known Justin and Mary408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxUrPLUKNk
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGucjYuRAG0
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsiaNDKsrX
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkya8gfNgI
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvsorQulmq
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoA6s1ebG5
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBxY6G0Ey5
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW2e7bCEoR
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIa75Jt9f1o
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPLz5xyvmg
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERoQrt7X99
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB2omOYugV
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcywfD7oaZ
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOS4McMfcF
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRpcdza42z
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqncIcLvDT
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjppNKVxtlu
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdojhGNqRYQ
took a swig of their whisky.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiWYwsx1Nv
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogW9fdaAcy
After the bride and groom408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWycJUIOo5
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGwUn6yHS6
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XDsL3fbHr
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1eWA1RZRx
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWQJa5clH8
constantly.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu59CcDXhd5
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXE3fkgyDs
Hoots of fun-filled laughter408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmFzeoM2bV
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbmmbT0viR
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHAqeCqrXW
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML7cOWxcMC
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouYpVL2Ddm
came that night.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTSdl1gEcw
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rfwDZf6D7
That was seven years ago,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uAfP68NGY
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrwWwZRUJE
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrotgVvTetA
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuymwQtkjr
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnuFLeYbBF
Present day408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97ADIqQ5V4
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZLiPlR7N4
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29nU8UJFgl
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToNlLZIBMA
She was bleak, weary, and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWdL9Ets8a
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ41ZfoDsn
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1tovtHjZN
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OKadsEtCR
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsayl9gzUEu
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2t7y9GYV5
Mary looked behind her, where408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUln71wP4Zg
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnm718fBVq
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2cAp6ND5B
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYp6XKMXNN
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUppLTG9lTb
given to little Ethel.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0kc02syd3
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgP7hXV7eG
Turning completely to keep a408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZue804zR3P
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHF5HfGuJb
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeogW8Y5T6J
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zmUaFvopo
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d5FQM64x1
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBoBCrRUzQ
knew was that she hated it.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaufXnTuOx
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHdqd1PDYw
Not even a month after Justin408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUqTbF2Yuw
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KnGDNyc0g
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubUS7QLm3g
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPe3xnIfX2
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13qaemC7Wc
eyes of his own two children.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKjL7iSeNC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaUwaLKJLQ
She was currently seven408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tr5lvOWFD
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GND4TVMvl
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNksBDJEe5
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16A9oU2Qsd
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRanl7zPoz
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz27szjBtk
having an affair.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKL8RJMQni
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPABlngBN7
A hiss brushed past her lips,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg44O9Z5d8p
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedPCGva3Tw
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhuvw71voL
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsK7NjqHBY
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK2QjyluJL
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqaZ8BmApS
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAVqstP0I0
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEnDECWlqr
Just then, a whinny could be408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmYhoHYXJ6
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRcdkVGEuJ
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMASUHf8LU
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2nvRYeQuK
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FUDFO4QHu
her or her girls.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrdiXSQDkV
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS1blyrPZf
Waiting by the porch, rifle408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlJCZEFTsN
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv8MiSnMqG
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwVQysQspu
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3aF8K2SbL
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE4ySBwx2E
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I36YRbwUb
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPul294hwnJ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6NhSYVWVd
She didn’t dare to hope, but408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6WG8Ux7A9
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6lAMtep2D
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnbGZMp9QM
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraZ4YnWsTL
the dirt ground hard and painfully.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDhcDCPdjg
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vw8gbMchL
It wasn’t Justin.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADjtJwEKUm
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqn8wRddav
The man walked up briskly,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3RhuXNS7w
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyldDAAfwc
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZSWake6dZ
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr3lCCw9nV
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJPTe7xYCL
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTbrJewT85
She forced the lump down her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK8OHi5BfB
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhymteSvaSe
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1aXLbCwgX
He ran a shaky hand through408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKVmVZR96K
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR3Lj4JBHA
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeKE61yx4H
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPddI0R4Ed5
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SEGAvmkpl
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSFh701BG1
Shock filled her at first.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTPlHCguVU
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nsvvAhJTS
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dLo6m9Kzv
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB8d4bN16v
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7DVCIue7A
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU4BY57Jy2
asked her softly.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ3ePY3ays
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ouygPF40B
The tears raged down her face408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn3jsgiHoE
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVS83uhJS6
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JlBuQkSyo
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoznSmrheYd
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3N095zlUH
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvccVQekmU
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Jv5Waavjb
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1a9Sb7wTg
The small girl had tears in her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrkwVia07k
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj03fDpmfcn
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVSIqtDSJK
Mary hated to think of it408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgokMJlo9h
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30ITkEl6iE
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWiBn9TJ6m
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87u4Dux0x1
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKyVU7xaVz
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFBdox5EJP
Her heart ached so much408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGAo1BXykV
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxgZj3QQOR
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uu2EWfkN1
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzXzduj33y
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVIErx7OtP
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEzsom7Bqa
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeMw4IR6jK
chance to do or see.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wnU1O8kEH
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv5B4YXVMx
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz4ARaIOAS
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV67hcTZif6
……408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7r2m6Qncg
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm53OA422ug
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYo6Ze9fHC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqVW6HW0OF
For several days, the Daniels408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWFCeMRbnI
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqckX6YdMU
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwO8akebtk
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA63zwN4YQ3
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h34pNZhwc
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DhBbet4FH
as the news of their father’s death.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ90KZWvfH
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY3slXRV3R
Ida and Ethel, while still408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0icQNQR1wv
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bATsGDaz4
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFCcYuCjmU
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfb8IURCX2
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrZSQhuVWu
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQEjfOOTdQ
It was barely a week after408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP8iqH58e3
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokqjg64oqs
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyYKEgJS35
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0zPv8rKFP
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1bcE252O4
Just as she was getting up to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOj5aZzlFb
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZEflZeOg4
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8xnlF03F3
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBz6sM4PeA
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTJ8lWLurg
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKyYIIYQsM
It’s to early, she said in408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXFjH8EoND
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJxEPPu7L3
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEXZsvpIUT
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndOVSJVGyd
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQae93CEWEf
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mBpi9wofF
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQcK8xkMPK
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WhXOFtEwY
Braving through her fear for408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QCpjGqmGd
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzdZXZueIz
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItYnVjU8Kd
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRn0fEOSxw
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvZ4DwKyM1
The seven year old wasted no408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NVYA8mHyY
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8YJgo9Vy2
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMKzPD4HAB
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6drgcoClo9
gave them a snap.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4TmV6nIok
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwx66tdT7p
Only half an hour later, she408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLweQdb4Pf
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOrXDIxc2g
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOunurtaRG3
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzWnLF67Ib
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y8vQfGHB7
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7x8BGSb6Yb
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzetmWjFJv
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEthnulxyPu
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf4iRbd8LS
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgEITeUyYS
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt7zVVYchU
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fWtHgrStt
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMCwvqkEiX
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrLOgyT1z1
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrnqG9rrBs
Hours passed by, and the only408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yGsWvTBrn
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4dRxCnxWK
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGk9lPNWRn
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bx1Ttihsq
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPzlBUy90V
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSeRx1ewx1
It was well into the night,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssZZYA6yYE
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtTbugjauz
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZbGkmAt3B
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwcbrOdobl
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5X9j48fkQ
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu3SA3xEdt
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2L2CvlTII
And so it was. Two days of408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6GGku6cbU
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncYpqnMZjf
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYG8FHEBYy
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvIxe3ttKN
actually giving birth.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE54gsXjPe
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KStYqOkXr
And then the third day came.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYubPeHzpu
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiaS5SGejR
It hit them all, like a408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cnek7jjic
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sBEiOeM0d
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePcH4kWetc
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu1I3UUDvK
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfPo5qUAet
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVqsilVOzZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAjkTKV5Xw
That night was long and hard.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp7fHc7wcu
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7U2m7GjJl
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wf890UfZ4
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlPtna6DqW
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1F8mNqMof
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFVd6uYETh
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL52z4sA9p
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71gRoyAA1G
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Sgrruza6
“So?” He said nervously.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vPFTn1iee
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfvyoCCxen
Her smile, still, didn’t408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVOEJapCa4
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKV6SrQFoB
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2ahOpsqAB
whispered.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQKWwAHmzo
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRx2oAync0
Mark sighed and shook his408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6bLa4nEtP
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqplQnV9uMN
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGDYhcDmFr
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY5xAjG1VL
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD7of69LBq
She chewed on her lip. “I408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM59Xy2A1mx
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd1u5jQ3un
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9wHsQRnMv
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhZV0e7fVm
“What’s her name?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jrnt3pW3X
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DilBC5zdh
Leah smiled again, having408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHtq0qFFr7
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOxhZmzm3l
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8w5NLoLhV
that it was perfectly suited.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n7Jjqejlb
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlf22XeVZx
Mark knew, all to well, how408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDGirHGkal
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1rXVKHXgu
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv80ylWtNZL
Margaret Hope Daniels.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHQmoT7Zce
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaGxGCutZj
He wrapped and arm around his408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcGgYwaej0
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m3N8zO0vB
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzifUKVakr2
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT4faHvCcz
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBiV87flSq
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmy26ILKK3
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypEe9YLAFR
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC6zYXeeIm
father; it was a painful thought.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIaib0XN99
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTwvPwuuCN
Mary’s head snapped up to her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0kwWtcFAC
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CwwIt1yKZ
them gently, yet eagerly.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFY0bsvyhb
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbDkt6Ruf5
They came in and stood beside408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrzwZt6zrn
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK8O0wyprp
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaijHkaiMA
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOurHIAc1El
The exhausted mother managed408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaAydRCs2O
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmWBnT72T0
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1BbrbJG0D
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc63jYEEU5V
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YEnYdQ2EQ
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnBcoh4u50
with all of us.” She whimpered.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmakYuyuBfo
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1clcYfyFEu
The Avery’s embraced her and408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xoqTgX5sI
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY9ZzgGloR
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49tQr8IfWX
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPkpq2yqgE
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx92eIXaMH2
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLK1qsc9MU
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
