385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9pS5DgIHK
It was a cold and dark day.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziJbnkH7sO
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQmOcD6MvA
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHfpRVMLq9
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwnA8roMw1
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RYCIIP9aB
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VFplQxtQZ
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTnFmJQ6ak
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXTKH0Am3Y
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqNjXh4NGH
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LBWeJ5BSx
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMP1HzMKSJ
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASr5rPVoIo
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRNcOwLcJh
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoUdMYxCiS
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGBPuwnZYK
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgg2OXEZSI
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6EPWW9AMT
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrLMuZcom8
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH984HluJpo
and respect him, until death do you part?”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzNaBsXbUX
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqklpQiq3JM
She couldn’t help it; her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqKHmuVrlU
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoDrDdfQMZ
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiczj3Zpk1l
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo213kGKUh
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fJTfPDQ6b
“Then, without further wait,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBnAEL5pTZ
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGH7PGyXSt
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIPL8Gp4nC
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPxCl9elJU
Not waiting a second longer,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s8DTKDLwi
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAkAtZqIak
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSApudq8Sx
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjr1lCJslE
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEXO8urePT
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cEZa5A72V
After the marriage ceremony,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tlZH3pIEx
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oCkoVEFWd
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLY5NvKZsl
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVETLCZFTRG
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcHDvovIBd
Avery, went first.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWAy21TjKt
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqB10ALFIp
“I have known Justin and Mary385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmDzVHJ1fa
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi7DSwzgra
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnfLOQByfV
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UjMoba211
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyQ0PebEKQ
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTHOV76zt9
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvhKgEVJil
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5vs5Od5bw
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiowhupHvPJ
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoncsyOK0tD
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFitEsyDDp6
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie4r9Jhq1N
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESdPczgEXK
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8FGLxDnpM
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWiAwZODo6
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUhJWwm2n9
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppfuJSpCvy
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGm39DCqkh
took a swig of their whisky.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP2k3T7czF
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB77C9CNUs
After the bride and groom385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCPlxofRAI
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVDN4tEgs2
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPWuV6VRFW
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEjQWkVcGn
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEli8p2EbKi
constantly.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIQbWsskUr
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuq9ewBfAs
Hoots of fun-filled laughter385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALKflR6p51
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAPKFHKNIq
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2SzhJQudI
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KdBPthp95
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNif2DGbg3X
came that night.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhtUALZLoD
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr6p38aaAV
That was seven years ago,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJZTXfAT7R
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwi99unsLp
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPPT4K2xUv
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap3SedVse9
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZWQMLhH3u
Present day385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXG01yhlUI
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8cfMk1FxD
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGF3JbKN4N
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O8OdFGFH1
She was bleak, weary, and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83NZv2XrwH
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11lyNrqSZq
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJZYvA8DDv
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCZF2PsLli
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmHqn784f7
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPJDAPXEma
Mary looked behind her, where385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8jQgeVZ2C
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KSeQcyY05
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgVklgAUA8
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVvsgYCszP
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ax5Ktb8D1
given to little Ethel.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeL3lNAdFw
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsGsjzP2KD
Turning completely to keep a385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zocBzxV0x
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf29mtuCi9
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0Xs0sc5Oe
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaGjrBAY3p
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdpQruuSmX
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jz3SAUoU7
knew was that she hated it.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZKs6T0mCM
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKKeJJIELJ
Not even a month after Justin385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV3tg64CLq
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTlOuhi3Up
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvCcEpJkDW
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrLHPmQZQt
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ2E4zrjif
eyes of his own two children.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYGm0kKPOc
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR7fEY0ZXD
She was currently seven385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFISONwJT8D
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhzbHPicUL
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYAVV4a2zX
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhyhfZnUim
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq2DWZBAlJ
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv0Jdtu246
having an affair.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD9sWVsiEm
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDV3A10qmA
A hiss brushed past her lips,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMgGvL1MUZ
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXXTAiZc7G
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHVtUuCgbU
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dQZ9RKMvU
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkcdGHSV7Y
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnll0RBjoo
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFlWDT3trM
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyBXgQo0ba
Just then, a whinny could be385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVMmASobab
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LyzG1As00
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsxrEjG7A8
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri7VPFX3Hm
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFCtVXTtnc
her or her girls.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8OoT9z6LC
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt3jBk85Sm
Waiting by the porch, rifle385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmsaPPP8WX
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEqoS7uYcM
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxBpQTjwXm
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYxtpykp4P
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZT055VPm3
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I0DAdD7rm
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUVLNLEqHx
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKDG7ycwDw
She didn’t dare to hope, but385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu1uNd6aJj
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYNDUfacaj
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiif7vrvu1
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LdsYA264N
the dirt ground hard and painfully.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW4HPE5Bes
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6w72ubdr5
It wasn’t Justin.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLNdhgD28O
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35vYIOhdES
The man walked up briskly,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI4YDMMDrx
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5Z6BgEVkI
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQqnSCwirB
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBv21PEUMA
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSWpgPLHJv
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1t5VoP2LV
She forced the lump down her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptMsDFazSv
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkIAh9Co9S
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqamN6QmC0B
He ran a shaky hand through385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBvTih5LLh
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwxGkXl464
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy8cFzuZn5
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvRWNLtIjo
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDkUwuItPP
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtuf4iJ5zs
Shock filled her at first.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufEXBLXOzx
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX2KuO7isV
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT4QVosrEn
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SgFktL1GJ
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc0U4ZefIe
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHrcxKKj8W
asked her softly.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rxvlR7AVf
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJk6k8LSMy
The tears raged down her face385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiQ50AQqbS
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFIe0yYr1w
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1mWgsz4Sb
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rV7P3kCxt
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1LEHN2hVH
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6Rt2IMWpI
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0NbLfVmHA
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw04PZLU0uT
The small girl had tears in her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTcecDxA0F
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KQwNjMesi
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0ceLh89TX
Mary hated to think of it385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiB0tofANZ
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE4VMLnSbe
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6J84i5DqW
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuUfyCQViF
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYefRnvPnfR
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfGRts9CZa
Her heart ached so much385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2TxB32Ib7
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMgNy1lJNm
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWKL0UPdZf
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XWKZ4hpo6
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1tMsiw4dx
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXifJKEd4f4
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrmLSfeqsa
chance to do or see.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP5yu4VlPQ
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m4J9AhrEp
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzyIUgqe6Z
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ60ZxV4mP
……385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI5maBm8Bi
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDJqz1dKVX
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWcZsZTI9L
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrD9xVB8bZ
For several days, the Daniels385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFS9kSeM24
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lEjgAoQVE
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYTHPfvlpa
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ0vvSsDSU
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23HeF68gDF
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0Kfrb3AAy
as the news of their father’s death.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5bsXt4joV
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeLARE7AtG
Ida and Ethel, while still385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4CV239NxN
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUuIQrXONy
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8KNPMl59L
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHi2lcfctb
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8aLUjqWNZ
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRxSStkmDg
It was barely a week after385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpXuWv6fH7
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiQEPNCfCk
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT6qiUUdKb
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoKxY3jjTP
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhODIXIXoq
Just as she was getting up to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnKrrTjrAd
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRKm8MzxxA
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVITvk3jeZl
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM9AfVv41M
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E5RdXWimp
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyXL0TJNOQ
It’s to early, she said in385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY72W2jlKSI
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4jWbQQEeH
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6dzznEbtq
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIhTbV4x3z
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpezWJIa4b7
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4jpJquNgL
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMH7uKnz12
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi40n5d7IyU
Braving through her fear for385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU2inNbZCC
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag9fVluXPV
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXarH9imf1K
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhs3TaNlOY
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP2NWW6U2D
The seven year old wasted no385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TYq7hkaPy
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbVxMmyltm
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmncjbqfvDk
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0l9LxBohd
gave them a snap.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O0NA8YHhb
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODQK3pGlZ3
Only half an hour later, she385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLWbqELt4c
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJZAZVg50n
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYlfOproa5
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjANWiR6Yu
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16u0B60Iq4
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GlN7dwQYa
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAz8FzafUk
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRZVMhYCIL
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkAlmEksIz
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmjvOa46Oh
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqHvjTyRCx
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFRIIhDf2D
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxdRSvCn0B
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEU9Il3PNf
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQaZeeqUFI
Hours passed by, and the only385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIwCoQfhVs
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OA6JNZALW
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0lXdvdgdM
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1UC4JYmo5
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRlG4OzfFB
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzmC65nk4K
It was well into the night,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N8ExW9PMM
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDXvlV8PBk
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgWGHajyVi
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9t4RqeAkL
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh29C482sv
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLb3opB6AG
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJNgvAAM1Q
And so it was. Two days of385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FahCg5NMy
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpcZmmFDOl
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeykkvD0l1
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjp19veN0C
actually giving birth.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr8poYGr3P
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW4txAsLrc
And then the third day came.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtv5Ot2qbR
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3R35AArr3
It hit them all, like a385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3vEAKPO9C
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIt1YbO3lU
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzh6sdBkHx
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6Ik1NzOkR
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeiNixFjHf
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB37Hsqs78M
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MKkjguSVN
That night was long and hard.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20jLHJ9PGF
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjhUfNMUoE
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFshG9XuRrD
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczTLHWD3GW
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD8O5B30e7
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9COimzJTh0
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV697IgKvZL
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGqiJ01uII
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5UBC1UZEY
“So?” He said nervously.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4altHfMCYB
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYVIfzfgsm
Her smile, still, didn’t385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcBcga9gdZ
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzi30bOINx
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxsU5BLoti
whispered.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqSmD4sp4t
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTeYjhqBYy
Mark sighed and shook his385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsthzHvIOZ
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hkaA3OMuL
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvdkFyHw41
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xiewYtk84
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cdGjsMSo8
She chewed on her lip. “I385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU39HYIvN0F
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzyCHdtxUt
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHGT1a2eZU
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAbMWXN68n
“What’s her name?”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdMkgih5Jq
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJPMNL5dAt
Leah smiled again, having385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZgD1O7paS
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJIzlcZmK0
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMby0NafndS
that it was perfectly suited.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlRzGJl6CD
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eZDHm3UX7
Mark knew, all to well, how385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfcJaSCP6Z
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIrkCHMWz9
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBcY4EkHbC
Margaret Hope Daniels.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnPRgkNtWk
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZjVW8jaPX
He wrapped and arm around his385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IWQ8wSFIc
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2IwZV2SJt
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwOYFQD6nu
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ4PPTmNq4
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev3R7OwliZ
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz07Q1zBCuS
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1Q5iSfRvJ
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM7BPkYODZ
father; it was a painful thought.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllZApzX5YW
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfghEOnrjNa
Mary’s head snapped up to her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GYZYDEqbj
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylYz7LVxQ0
them gently, yet eagerly.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YBRdSKsaY
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9sRtZuEex
They came in and stood beside385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe4mFBRZnD
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZwgRA6EAh
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbHW8IHZcP
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCDoQVgOh0
The exhausted mother managed385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3keN05x1w2
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJa9dFUkVt
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa47341964D
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0EXYkYqtN
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJgNWvp5Iw
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeIxEcxl4f
with all of us.” She whimpered.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRCusmQGEi
385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAeUoboug8
The Avery’s embraced her and385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnUnMJg6UN
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNgScyFI4B
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzxb91RPkl
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz5Rob5AiA
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP7KQLMrkz
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1mJ03bK1E
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
