"Mommy! Daddy!"
Justin quickly pulled out of his very heated 282Please respect copyright.PENANAGRYPgCrZ31
kiss with Mary. Pulling the sheets up, he went to cover both of their 282Please respect copyright.PENANAIITipt5hCg
naked bodies. After which, he laughed as he rolled off of Mary and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAVpMy16043w
turned towards their door. "Come on in, girls!" He called.
Two 282Please respect copyright.PENANAruX8V8tf8w
small girls ran in with the biggest smiles reaching their face. One was a282Please respect copyright.PENANACOTOTwmK3P
red-haired girl with blue eyes, the other a brown-haired girl with 282Please respect copyright.PENANA3kblN5RMib
violet eyes. The red-haired girl, Ida, was the oldest, at six years old,282Please respect copyright.PENANAQDkbxuGZGh
and the blonde, Ethel, was three. In her arms, Ida carried a baby girl,282Please respect copyright.PENANAnd8j4Xv2nS
Sallie. Sallie was six months old and had black hair and green eyes.
Sitting282Please respect copyright.PENANAOgiDhC79GY
up a little on the bed, not letting the sheets fall past his hips, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAypX62hYDnv
Justin held his arms out and helped Ethel into the bed. Then he helped 282Please respect copyright.PENANAVhjLD2RHCa
Ida, and took Sallie into his arms. "Good morning, sweethearts." He 282Please respect copyright.PENANAuAPgVqLayh
greeted them as he gave a kiss to the top of each of their heads. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAPaLtBCUsRT
Wrapping an arm around Mary, he held all four of his girls close and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAS5qRxBmliA
sighed in content.
"Are you going to take me riding today, daddy? 282Please respect copyright.PENANASjGYtu8c25
You promised me, last night, that you would." Ida asked excitedly. She 282Please respect copyright.PENANAWPTzrdP6Jn
was a beautiful girl, and had even been deemed a much beautiful baby, as282Please respect copyright.PENANAT2WPoChDfr
an infant. They had no clue where she got her red hair and blue eyes; 282Please respect copyright.PENANAxUdXhtPPg2
it was one mystery that they figured made her that much more unique. And282Please respect copyright.PENANAx7V5j8ClYn
they loved her for her uniqueness.
He beamed over at his oldest 282Please respect copyright.PENANAmVoq0x8WUd
and poked her nose playfully. "Well if I promised, don't you think I'd 282Please respect copyright.PENANAwvlXfGi6wD
take you riding? Since when has your daddy ever made a promise he can't 282Please respect copyright.PENANAtOjZBSVoUh
keep?"
Mary chuckled and stroked Ida's hair with loving fingers. 282Please respect copyright.PENANATFh11Sx8rL
"One of the many wonderful qualities about your father, Ida, is that he 282Please respect copyright.PENANAJA6sDvRdiv
has never made a promise that he cannot keep. He's a smart man, not a 282Please respect copyright.PENANAysVTDGYe9t
dumb one." She told the girl.
Justin scoffed teasingly. "Wow, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAjm9J9FsIsz
thank you for that backhanded compliment, love. Girls, I love your 282Please respect copyright.PENANAX8AljTclee
mother with all my heart, but she is very good with giving compliments 282Please respect copyright.PENANAv3w9cO3g2U
in backhanded ways." He saw the look on his wife's face and gulped 282Please respect copyright.PENANAw4RP6Kvbsc
slightly. "I-I mean…uh…thank you very much, dear?" He suggested with a 282Please respect copyright.PENANAuOPRZwdnVK
crooked smile as though saying, please, just don't hurt me.
She 282Please respect copyright.PENANA1iSSdyQvat
laughed outright and shook her head. "I wasn't going to punch you, Jus. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAFJHTY1VHCu
And even if I wanted to, I still wouldn't; not while you have the baby."282Please respect copyright.PENANASTwRbQsMqx
She reminded him.
He sighed in relief and pressed his lips to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAbHoA81I8AC
Sallie's head. "You saved your old man's hide, Sal." He said gratefully.282Please respect copyright.PENANA6mRYQw8F6y
Then he looked back toward Ida, remembering their conversation before. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAqC4CnL1qxJ
"We'll go out riding, after breakfast, Ida. Speaking of, whatcha say we 282Please respect copyright.PENANAx71H2hqJN5
get up and make something for these munchkins, dear?" He said to Mary.
She hummed. "I suppose we should. How bout you get it started, and I'll feed Sal?"
"Sure."282Please respect copyright.PENANA8R1g7ZnrOx
He agreed. He was just about to get up, when he remembered the state he282Please respect copyright.PENANAF98wPFSOpg
and Mary were in. He blushed lightly, glaring at his wife's sly smile. 282Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jn6lWygZa
"Ida, Ethel, why don't you two go get dressed while mommy and daddy get 282Please respect copyright.PENANAQjMPjUuHEl
ready?" He suggested to his daughters.
The girls ran out eagerly, their messy hair swooshing around them. Then they closed the bedroom door as they ran out.
After282Please respect copyright.PENANAoIEdQtDx4g
they were gone, Mary barked a laugh, while Juatin glared playfully at 282Please respect copyright.PENANAnYzn3g9yd5
her. "Oh shut up." He mumbled while leaning in and kissing her 282Please respect copyright.PENANA1ylRXwPAf1
collarbone softly.
But she swatted his head, making him pull back 282Please respect copyright.PENANAi35cJhQmzJ
and give her a confused look. "I have to feed the baby, and you need to 282Please respect copyright.PENANA8WvNwGLaWp
start breakfast for our other two girls." She reminded him with a 282Please respect copyright.PENANAYDpQ7UfPNU
smiled. At his despondent face, she kissed him softly and ruffled his 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXZi0JKEecV
hair. "Later, lover boy."
He grinned slyly, stroking her arm with 282Please respect copyright.PENANAOxJNuOdFJy
such softness. "I'll hold you to that, sweetheart." Then he rolled out 282Please respect copyright.PENANAZHN7pItOgm
of bed, albeit reluctantly, and went to dress. After which, he left to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAYY31IC3J5R
head for the kitchen to make breakfast.
As he stood at the old 282Please respect copyright.PENANAsHFqKS6HWD
stove, his two oldest daughter came bounding in, their long hair still a282Please respect copyright.PENANAa2TPRVyeWb
mess and in need of help. He laughed as he put the spoon with which he 282Please respect copyright.PENANAuYPvy9QaoE
was using to make porridge down and knelt in front of them. "You girls 282Please respect copyright.PENANAHw3bqruS6C
need me to do your hair?" He asked as he stroked each of their heads.
Justin282Please respect copyright.PENANAAZnrGj8H6j
and Mary had gotten married when they were fourteen and nineteen. There282Please respect copyright.PENANAupxmGlOhEo
was no doubt in Justin's parents' mind that their son was in love, and 282Please respect copyright.PENANArzYIqytzGI
that Mary was in love with him. Mary had fallen in love with him for 282Please respect copyright.PENANAYqnWjwuiDU
more than just his looks though. She'd found out, early on, that he was 282Please respect copyright.PENANAB4MjLCzorp
able to cook and clean, unlike many of the suitors that had begged her 282Please respect copyright.PENANApnoUHQyh0W
for her hand since her father's death, when she was twelve. Justin was 282Please respect copyright.PENANApZtuVNKOQb
different though.
His ability to cook and clean made her one happy282Please respect copyright.PENANAIDTV6hGfu2
woman, when they married. And a year later they had Ida. As she began 282Please respect copyright.PENANAN8jAMKaxwJ
to grow hair, and it grew longer, Mary was pleased to discover more of 282Please respect copyright.PENANASu33wMuryz
her husband's hidden talents. He could do hair. He had offered to do 282Please respect copyright.PENANAo5Vno39MhY
hers on numerous occasions, but she had always insisted on doing it 282Please respect copyright.PENANAaY0r2U33wx
herself. But as Ida grew, and she was left tired, Justin had stepped in 282Please respect copyright.PENANAD6ZoIPxD6u
to do whatever his daughter needed. He could dress her, change her 282Please respect copyright.PENANAHhh4265VSV
diapers, do her hair, everything. And now, he had two daughters to do 282Please respect copyright.PENANA9KYXGeNVaA
that with; which they both loved when he did their hair.
Ida 282Please respect copyright.PENANAYQurM0lBtp
nodded and held out two leather bands for him. Turning them around, he 282Please respect copyright.PENANAWse55CimTO
used the wooden hair brush to gently pry out the nasty knots in their 282Please respect copyright.PENANAPoGOD5y2Np
beautiful hair. Then he but them into loose braids. After that, he 282Please respect copyright.PENANAesod17Reuu
grabbed some flowers that Mary always kept on the table, and put them 282Please respect copyright.PENANAqJGWiAZMpz
into random spots of the braids. "There we go. There's my beautiful 282Please respect copyright.PENANAFX9CXsHlSY
girls." He said pridefully as he touched each of their cheeks and placed282Please respect copyright.PENANAQGkNGwXfhq
light kisses on their foreheads.
The girls each giggled and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAdgVsnaQ26d
kissed his cheek. "Thanks, daddy." They said unanimously. Picking up the282Please respect copyright.PENANAqwi99CBxZf
ends of their dresses, they raced to the table and climbed up on the 282Please respect copyright.PENANAianqZTSA03
chairs that were still to big for them. Justin helped them up and then 282Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4jm4rjox8
went back to making breakfast.
Mary came in, not long later, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAjoqfeGazIe
Sallie in her arms, dressed in a thick dress to keep her from the bitter282Please respect copyright.PENANASfD4E7hfCO
cold that threatened them during the winter months. Mary herself wore a282Please respect copyright.PENANAkF5ByZ3mod
simple, beat up, blue dress with an apron over top. Her hair was loose,282Please respect copyright.PENANAkXxzcN5DyD
with only parts of the front being pulled back into a small braid.
That's282Please respect copyright.PENANAKbiDOLoWDl
when Justin set breakfast in front of everyone. They'd had nothing but 282Please respect copyright.PENANAjxPpqFmi1F
porridge for the past few weeks, but, unfortunately, that was all they 282Please respect copyright.PENANAZpc2fmLIo3
could afford at the moment. Justin had lost his job at the sawmill 282Please respect copyright.PENANArfoJxwYkEm
several months ago, because of the impact of the war that had just 282Please respect copyright.PENANAG1r9xkBi8k
started not even half a year ago. The Civil War, as they called it. They282Please respect copyright.PENANA8j3BEijg1a
were at war with their own countrymen. It was sad to see it come to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAbSjzS1JcW1
this, and see the effects it cause. Because of it, Justin had lost his 282Please respect copyright.PENANAgsyK0IZVfS
job, and they had been reduced to nothing more than rations of food.
She282Please respect copyright.PENANAXQnLj25aNC
looked over at Justin with a soft, hopefully encouraging smile. She 282Please respect copyright.PENANAVnz73yHwxM
knew that losing his job had struck him right in the gut. His pride was,282Please respect copyright.PENANA86Kp5YIdM8
without a doubt, damaged. With great struggle, she had managed to get 282Please respect copyright.PENANAAry4I5jaxK
him to admit that he felt like a failure as a husband and a father, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAE7D0wroucm
because he lost his job. He felt unable to provide for his own family; 282Please respect copyright.PENANAbT3xOCnDzE
to him, that was something worse than death. All he wanted was to give 282Please respect copyright.PENANA00mUNuAC8R
his wife and young daughters a good home, good clothes, and good food. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAzwOWfuqy84
Now, he couldn't even do that. It took its toll on him, and she could 282Please respect copyright.PENANA6YKktYofWg
see it in the way he had started to age from the stress of the last few 282Please respect copyright.PENANAUdJPOT8YG1
months.
They were doing all they could for the time being. She 282Please respect copyright.PENANAjjt9QULO0J
would eat little, but still a substantial amount so that she could 282Please respect copyright.PENANA1RdRNjuH0C
provide milk for Sallie, and he would hardly eat anything. He had 282Please respect copyright.PENANARSrqM96cYU
started losing a significant amount of weight, which he and Mary could 282Please respect copyright.PENANALya6Ie8aTs
only hope the girls hadn't noticed. She had also lost a great deal 282Please respect copyright.PENANAxm2NSBYdco
amount of weight, but still not quite as much as him. Even their 282Please respect copyright.PENANATEn4zJWssd
daughter, Ida and Ethel, had begun losing weight because of the food 282Please respect copyright.PENANApyQW5fvbI5
shortage.
He looked around at his family, as he always did at 282Please respect copyright.PENANAIpMDacmFnL
breakfast and dinner, and felt his heart break once more. His wife's 282Please respect copyright.PENANArp8PVPoHQX
face, while beautiful as he would always find her and know her to be, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAhNyudxKJEw
was shallow, and dark bags lined under her eyes. She looked so…empty. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAtL0ALx6v1B
His daughters looked weaker than they once were. They used to be so 282Please respect copyright.PENANAjNs9SeUosg
lively; and while they would still run around and play, they couldn't 282Please respect copyright.PENANAHjoPE2WfPs
last as long as they once did. One of his favorite things to do, had 282Please respect copyright.PENANAp7ughD7mpE
been to watch his little girls run and play. They were like fairies, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAakmlhUCCCV
when they ran through the tall, summer grass. So beautiful. So 282Please respect copyright.PENANAe77HSMOPzI
enchanting. Now it seemed there was only a sliver of those girls left in282Please respect copyright.PENANAX7UcDHFyHE
the daughters he'd raised.
Then there was Sallie. She was smaller282Please respect copyright.PENANAACXMO5ARbJ
than most six month old babies. She'd been born at nine months, she 282Please respect copyright.PENANAsQjgxXrwlT
just wasn't getting the necessary nourishing most babies needed. She was282Please respect copyright.PENANAOTbxnuqCGf
healthy, but looked so torn down compared to most, healthier, six month282Please respect copyright.PENANAtt1gPdsP2B
olds.
He hated seeing his family so broken up. As a man 282Please respect copyright.PENANAem9fdJBelX
especially, it hit him right where it hurts. His girls were the most 282Please respect copyright.PENANAIadMs5HIUU
important treasures in his world, and taking care of them felt more like282Please respect copyright.PENANAsW8knKEJEa
an honor than a duty. To have that honor suddenly taken, and to not be 282Please respect copyright.PENANAFbcChkU4BJ
able to give his girls anything more than grits and moldy bread as 282Please respect copyright.PENANAsp5oJVKKXf
meals, was about the cruelest thing for him. Now they were suffering, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAj9LTYfuF1O
and there was nothing her, or anyone else, could do about it.
Mary,282Please respect copyright.PENANAESZkLXL3lz
seeing the heartbreak that was all but written on his face, reached 282Please respect copyright.PENANALQnL4lHFla
across the table to take his hand in her own smaller one. With her eyes,282Please respect copyright.PENANA9ipFd888DE
she told him that it was alright. They were together. They had each 282Please respect copyright.PENANAzRKBU5iSzb
other. That was all that mattered. And she was right; he knew that. but 282Please respect copyright.PENANArruGNMA9dy
deep in his heart, he couldn't help that feeling of letting them all 282Please respect copyright.PENANAgIiXE9qQNH
down, even though it hadn't been his fault that he was fired.
As 282Please respect copyright.PENANApZVNN6T2SD
the family finished their breakfast in silence, Mary got up and cleared 282Please respect copyright.PENANAAFCVkd3HPx
their pans. Meanwhile, Justin grabbed his hat and rifle and ruffled 282Please respect copyright.PENANAEUxrvLHvmO
little Ida's red hair. "You ready to go, half pint?" He asked with a 282Please respect copyright.PENANAgFPn0WVMk9
broad, loving smile.
Ida jumped up excitedly and bounced on the 282Please respect copyright.PENANAn9FnhSw52C
balls of her feet. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She squealed. A laugh slipped past 282Please respect copyright.PENANAvRlPZ6VCmb
her lips when he placed another hat on her head as well. It was a bit 282Please respect copyright.PENANAcISWhrFInP
too big, and fell slightly over her forehead. But she smiled wider and 282Please respect copyright.PENANADEQGKk2zSQ
pushed it back up.
"I wanna go, papa!" Ethel said hopefully, lifting her arms toward her father.
He chuckled and picked her up. "When you're a little older, sweetheart." He told her and kissed her brown head.
She282Please respect copyright.PENANA7VvGsPJbIj
pouted, crossing her arms. And he couldn't get over how much she looked282Please respect copyright.PENANAkGJboeZQnM
like Mary when she pouted. Other than those violet eyes, of course, she282Please respect copyright.PENANAXfSsjCHlUz
was her mother's spitting image. "Why does Ida get to do everything?"
"She's282Please respect copyright.PENANAfevcZpGTZw
older, Ethel. I know it ain't fair, hon, but I promise that we'll go 282Please respect copyright.PENANAM7LcUYNj9o
riding together when you're a little bit older. Alright?" He didn't like282Please respect copyright.PENANAzmns5oVjQd
disappointing either of his older daughters – Sallie of course being 282Please respect copyright.PENANAcFcd8aHymw
hard to displease because she was only six months old – but he also 282Please respect copyright.PENANAGb9GigIFJL
couldn't take major risks. He hadn't taken Ida out riding when she was 282Please respect copyright.PENANAfZa9Yk4hOs
three, and he wouldn't do that with Ethel or Sallie either. And she 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXVSxyg5tfA
might not have found it fair at the time, but he knew Ethel would 282Please respect copyright.PENANA8nygVNeDrs
understand one day.
She was still pouting, but nodded anyway. "Ok,282Please respect copyright.PENANAJxyZYq7Vuc
daddy." Kissing his cheek, she wiggled out of his arms and went to play282Please respect copyright.PENANAMhfoDyc2YA
in the small family room.
Mary came forward then and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Be careful?" She whispered.
He282Please respect copyright.PENANADENT950hCa
smiled and nodded. "Of course, darlin'. And I'll bring our daughter 282Please respect copyright.PENANAC0zQCElTtj
back in one piece." He promised, making them both laugh. Then he leaned 282Please respect copyright.PENANAWhOzq3T1G6
in and kissed her lips chastely. "I love you." He mumbled against her 282Please respect copyright.PENANAKPN3BI7GFw
lips. Then pulling away, he stooped down to scoop Ida up into his strong282Please respect copyright.PENANAGrYXaF6hiS
arms. "You ready to go, baby?" He asked, nudging his nose against her 282Please respect copyright.PENANAWuk4Rrh7Mr
soft cheek.
She giggled and kissed his cheek. That was answer 282Please respect copyright.PENANA9RHP8LMA2l
enough for her father, as he turned for the door. A last look back, and 282Please respect copyright.PENANA9UzFit7Vle
he left with Ida snug against him. Within minutes, he had his horse, 282Please respect copyright.PENANA9Cg3mu14Xa
Bobbie, ready and saddled. Then he saddled Mary's horse, Mosey. Picking 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXBDwKObFgg
Ida back up, under her arms, he lifted her up and set her in Mosey's 282Please respect copyright.PENANAVcFLYama6w
saddle.
Father and daughter spent hours riding the deserted plains282Please respect copyright.PENANAb8VoTMmDTz
of Braiden, which was part of the Dakota Territory. For miles, there 282Please respect copyright.PENANAeTE9StZSI4
was nothing but sage brush and wild grass. The air was fresh, and clean.282Please respect copyright.PENANAyHlRGiQDjy
To Justin, that was the best thing about living in the Dakota 282Please respect copyright.PENANAc2fOFzYB13
Territory, rather than the big cities. And he couldn't be any happier to282Please respect copyright.PENANAmU5WpKCUiS
be raising his own family in such a beautiful land.
As they rose 282Please respect copyright.PENANAGAB4HEndcx
through the plain, over the hills, and through the tufts of rolling 282Please respect copyright.PENANAC26Y0QTdJr
grass that danced with the wind, he watched his daughter with a proud 282Please respect copyright.PENANAy38zZ2lnoi
smile. While she looked like no one in their family, he couldn't help 282Please respect copyright.PENANAYl1kGx8vtl
but admire all of their qualities that fit into her. She was as close to282Please respect copyright.PENANAwR4ZZkxiK8
perfect as one could ever be. While she made mistakes, she was quick to282Please respect copyright.PENANA5JMys3ufSF
try and make up and apologize for those mistakes. And she was quick to 282Please respect copyright.PENANALRVhhvZioj
forgive too. She never once held a grudge, and for that, everyone was 282Please respect copyright.PENANAYNT4Zu3mrf
grateful. Being on her bad side was never fun.
She fit into this 282Please respect copyright.PENANAKKps9mzLnB
life, better than most. This was the life she wanted. So many times, 282Please respect copyright.PENANACSy13KXPmU
since she was old enough to speak, she had crawled up into his lap and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAJtNx8nSUCd
told him that she loved the life of the prairie. It's like living in a 282Please respect copyright.PENANArLJ4A8gfEX
fairy-tale, she would tell him. And she knew not only the magical parts 282Please respect copyright.PENANABrFUYKU7zk
of the prairie, but also the dangers of it. She knew the harshness the 282Please respect copyright.PENANAelcR9Lgx3h
winters could bring. She knew to watch for mountain lions, and rattle 282Please respect copyright.PENANAzaFZywvue6
snakes, and scorpions. She knew how to test whether a berry was safe to 282Please respect copyright.PENANA1gEO18WboY
eat, or deadly poisonous. She knew it all, and still, she loved it. She 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXbgs7gOAaC
loved all te harsh realities that came with a beautiful land.
She 282Please respect copyright.PENANAaU1tnCvRIq
wasn't like all the other girls, he well knew. While other girls loved 282Please respect copyright.PENANAbviM84cvp1
dresses, or butterflies, she preferred to spend her time learning how to282Please respect copyright.PENANA5fGWH3vmn6
survive the rough life of the prairie. Justin and Mary had agreed, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAnXpbUbIpWf
before they even had children, that any daughters they had needed to be 282Please respect copyright.PENANAvOrjzcQG8j
taught how to handle themselves. They couldn't always depend on a man. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAhiDrL3JM9l
Mary already knew what that was like.
Her father had been a drunk 282Please respect copyright.PENANA1LafCX71n4
her whole life. Her mother was meek, and never spoke for herself. Being 282Please respect copyright.PENANA1ItYKCHgp4
raised mainly by her mother, Mary had been much the same, for years. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAnZmBGTaBEK
When her mother died, when she was seven, nothing changed. She remained 282Please respect copyright.PENANAiRUcMysfyC
the quiet girl that never spoke up to her father. She could hardly take 282Please respect copyright.PENANAfBNya8XVLK
care of herself, and knew little to nothing about the wilderness.
Her282Please respect copyright.PENANASAzTuIhYly
father had never cared, though. He turned a blind eye as to Mary's 282Please respect copyright.PENANAFTgQvTba0O
well-being. The only times he would acknowledge her was to tell her to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAguUVyPm9C2
cook, or clean, or to mend his clothes. She was more of a slave to him, 282Please respect copyright.PENANA8cA2bBURb1
than a daughter. And when he finally drank himself to death, he left 282Please respect copyright.PENANABnlWgKHNRp
nothing behind for Mary to live a good life from. She didn't know how to282Please respect copyright.PENANAjjQU6nGHam
work the small farm she lived on; her father didn't believe in women 282Please respect copyright.PENANAp3QRDHnE4L
working anywhere else but in the house.
Being thrown, so suddenly,282Please respect copyright.PENANAsVwucElNcU
into the cruel world that she'd never had to think of before had a big 282Please respect copyright.PENANAMIZsvZBrxf
impact on Mary. Being only twelve years of age, she was nothing more 282Please respect copyright.PENANABkW4LagBa8
than a scared orphan that was terrified by the sudden new world. she had282Please respect copyright.PENANArFHkangTr4
to teach herself the ropes. No one was there to guide her. And when she282Please respect copyright.PENANAlQeAuev9KY
met and married Justin, she vehemently told him that she didn't want 282Please respect copyright.PENANAkrPEpcktpg
her own daughters to go through that, should anything happen to one, or 282Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1PQbN5HsJ
both of them.
He was quick to agree, telling her that he believed 282Please respect copyright.PENANAAWGCD92xLC
women should know the rules of the wild. He didn't think it fair to see 282Please respect copyright.PENANA8afVRhKQbk
women suddenly left on their own, when their husband, father or brother 282Please respect copyright.PENANAaFw6OokAHU
died, and having little to no clue on how to handle themselves. That was282Please respect copyright.PENANAYEROHyO9mV
no life, for any woman. And he couldn't, as a father and a husband, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAIWBrUjaSQo
live himself in knowing that if he didn't leave behind those rules with 282Please respect copyright.PENANAxiVYfVbDcs
his women, something much worse could happen to them than if they did 282Please respect copyright.PENANAWA4qgcISpO
know. And as a man that loved his family more than anything, he'd be 282Please respect copyright.PENANAtHu04y2QEN
damned if he let anything happen to them because he didn't give them the282Please respect copyright.PENANAXIaVlzmagB
tools necessary to survive.
He had just started teaching Ethel, 282Please respect copyright.PENANA1fC4PFKLlN
as well. While she was a bit confused by the lessons, she knew that when282Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZOQ7nCCXC
her father was trying to teach her something important, it was for a 282Please respect copyright.PENANA5uoo0jq0BI
good reason. She paid very close attention to him, as she often did with282Please respect copyright.PENANACrD9DqGFGH
a lot of things.
Now, watching Ida smiling with rosy cheeks, and 282Please respect copyright.PENANA4hFZRrYcs6
her loose hair drift with the cool winter's breeze, he couldn't help but282Please respect copyright.PENANAx4Vp4SwA5K
imagine her as she grew. He visioned a beautiful young girl, riding 282Please respect copyright.PENANAdEyJ5A17Ot
merrily through the fields. A girl that didn't care what society had to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAj3jUiGVCGw
say about her unorthodox upbringing. A girl that didn't need to depend 282Please respect copyright.PENANAfjHvIcYex9
on a man to take care of her. A strong, able-minded girl. It was nothing282Please respect copyright.PENANAFli9Hml541
short of amazing.
They returned at dusk, having had a most 282Please respect copyright.PENANAlx5o6ranub
enjoyable time. He was just helping her off of Mosey, when he saw Mary 282Please respect copyright.PENANAIZfT8Q61tN
walking towards them, a despondent look on her beautiful face. Frowning,282Please respect copyright.PENANAHLFbBdRCwX
he crouched in front of Ida and adjusted her hat slightly. "Why don't 282Please respect copyright.PENANAPDpHMR3Sri
you go on inside, Ida. Mommy and daddy will be in shortly." He told her.282Please respect copyright.PENANAsGwR5SwmLM
She obediently did as she was told.
As Mary neared him, he was 282Please respect copyright.PENANATolKXma78e
troubled to see tears in her red eyes. She'd been crying a while, 282Please respect copyright.PENANATwvue14Fhc
already. but why, he wondered? She was the strongest person he knew, and282Please respect copyright.PENANAvt0PNQBfHn
she hardly ever cried. When she did cry, though, it was usually for 282Please respect copyright.PENANA175G3KoIea
something serious. She cried when he lost his job. She cried when they 282Please respect copyright.PENANAherFhp33m4
lost their baby boy, William, two years ago. Those were the only times. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAxznXQusOqw
Two times, in their seven years of marriage, and he'd only seen her cry 282Please respect copyright.PENANAJULpc19ljA
twice.
As soon as she was close enough, he wrapped her in a loving282Please respect copyright.PENANAdUttXUXjwr
embrace. "Hey. Hey. What's wrong? What's wrong, baby?" He mumbled in 282Please respect copyright.PENANA5ruR57VlS1
her ear. "Mary?" He pulled away and held her cheeks in his gentle hands.282Please respect copyright.PENANAUe9XZq8AUu
"What's the matter, dearest?" He rubbed his thumbs under her eyes to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAhLlyiDDWnv
push away the nasty tears that lined her cheekbones.
She didn't say anything, just handed him a crumpled piece of paper.
He282Please respect copyright.PENANAlCLuZiNtoe
furrowed his brows as he took the paper. Unfolding it, he read over the282Please respect copyright.PENANAouHSTCpUZp
content carefully, and slowly. Neither he, nor Mary had been taught to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAuuVvV4Paf8
read or write, as children. They had to teach themselves after they were282Please respect copyright.PENANAs0QOsG8RLv
married. Though they were better at it, they still encountered trouble.282Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZVrceODzL
But understanding what was in the letter was no trouble for him. The 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXJnEfZb1s7
words were clear as day.
"I've been called to war. I leave first thing tomorrow."
She282Please respect copyright.PENANAcr3MwUjPPz
released a sob when he said it aloud. And once again, she fell into his282Please respect copyright.PENANANcV5UBl0WL
arms. He was still in shock, but quickly began to cry along with her. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAiOaMhaZxFn
This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening, he tried to tell282Please respect copyright.PENANAC7ZTjqsdfX
himself. But the sound of his wife's cries clearly told him that it was282Please respect copyright.PENANAe1W5trqx2k
happening. He was going to war. He was leaving his wife and three 282Please respect copyright.PENANAUYPRzceLut
daughters behind. He cried into her shoulder, and held her tighter than 282Please respect copyright.PENANAq8pcRgxHD7
ever before, stroking her soft hair.
"What are we going to tell the girls?" She whispered into his chest.
He282Please respect copyright.PENANAZxoKDMGCh0
shook his head and kissed her neck. "We're going to tell them the 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXVKvhLv4N0
truth; that I've been called to join the war. There's no avoiding this, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAByhbBCO2GR
Mary. We can't lie to them." And she agreed.
Going inside, they 282Please respect copyright.PENANAwyyRWM78lJ
both called the girls from their room, and Justin beckoned them to sit 282Please respect copyright.PENANAEkERhNcTMh
on his lap. He and Mary shared similar glances as they struggled with 282Please respect copyright.PENANAsCrR9hqvJQ
just how to tell their daughters that daddy had to go away. They didn't 282Please respect copyright.PENANAQdn31ATXGf
sugar-coat it. They told them everything.
"Ida, Ethel…you two know282Please respect copyright.PENANASqKjndZqRo
that all I want is to protect you, and make sure you're safe, right? 282Please respect copyright.PENANAZNhSYg9OZ0
Because you, and Sallie, and mommy are the most important things to me."282Please respect copyright.PENANAs4cPakJpS1
Justin started. When they nodded, he pulled them even closer and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXoVeikiQrn
stroked their soft cheeks. "Well that's what I'm going to be doing right282Please respect copyright.PENANABwE8OZngQJ
now. I…I've been asked to join the war. That means I'm going to have to282Please respect copyright.PENANAILlVzALEx3
go far away, and make sure no bad people can hurt you, your sister, and282Please respect copyright.PENANAV0twNZ62rx
mommy."
Ethel shook her head, and her bottom lip quivered, as she282Please respect copyright.PENANAKYs1Rg91Hl
threw her chubby arms around his neck. "No, daddy! No! No! No! I don't 282Please respect copyright.PENANA2oGNQoc0iZ
want them to take you far away!" She cried desperately.
He blinked282Please respect copyright.PENANA2nNGnvd8Ig
away tear as he wrapped one arm around her to keep her close. "I don't 282Please respect copyright.PENANAjASsx4f5BE
want to leave either, honey; but I need to protect you. Ethel, if there 282Please respect copyright.PENANAvzRJO2jIna
was another way, sweetheart, believe me I would take it, in a heart 282Please respect copyright.PENANAMfudwMFgG3
beat. But this is the only way I can protect you, your sisters, and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAZwv2ttQV8t
mommy." He hated doing this. He may as well have told her that there was282Please respect copyright.PENANAWjtPtdxm7d
a chance he wouldn't be coming back. Her innocence was already damaged.282Please respect copyright.PENANAtUN1dTPaPd
She was to young for this. Ida was to young for this. Ida. "Ida…what 282Please respect copyright.PENANApX6iIuCmAf
are you thinking, darling?"
She was expressionless. It was like 282Please respect copyright.PENANAerkHTJWonG
she didn't know what to say; and really, she didn't. what could she say?282Please respect copyright.PENANA8ercjZqFJk
So instead of replying, she scooted up and buried herself in her 282Please respect copyright.PENANA7GGyRXmwSO
father's chest. "I love you, daddy." She whispered.
He couldn't 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXKhYytBbyA
hold back the tears that threatened him, not anymore. He let them go as 282Please respect copyright.PENANA3LptCvXC34
he bent to kiss her head softly. "I love you too, little one. Both of 282Please respect copyright.PENANAx2LHtMDJ2L
you." He spoke towards Ethel. After they got down and went to try and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAgxjeeB7sr8
distract themselves from the heartbreaking moment, Hiccup took little 282Please respect copyright.PENANARplATeFFkg
Sallie. She couldn't know what was going on. All she would know was that282Please respect copyright.PENANAiLBEq4A41J
she would be waking up, looking around for her daddy, and realize he's 282Please respect copyright.PENANAqzmLx3ETcp
not there. She would wonder why. And God forbid, if he were to be gone 282Please respect copyright.PENANAO9suuQ6mQt
several years, he would come back and she wouldn't even know who he was.282Please respect copyright.PENANAlTWGsT0YPL
His own daughter.
All to suddenly, the Daniels' world was 282Please respect copyright.PENANAkrgvOOWcgM
crumbling before them. It was all being shaken, taken away from them 282Please respect copyright.PENANAveab7VQtzS
within the snap of a finger. He didn't have a choice. It was either 282Please respect copyright.PENANAuZaK3fINm6
leave and stand a chance of coming home, or stay and undergo trial, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAQCDjZjVaxD
guaranteeing that he would never see his family again. there was no 282Please respect copyright.PENANAbcZSh9mPDw
choice; he was going.
That night, after all the girls were fed and282Please respect copyright.PENANApznIb3L0ei
tucked into bed, Justin shut the door of their room, and was 282Please respect copyright.PENANAe8iewpt20j
immediately met by his wife's passionate lips. It took him no time to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAg8d5orUYSq
respond to her kiss, and wrap his arms around her small frame. Their 282Please respect copyright.PENANAdGZ5DabcUp
tears melted against their lips, as he pushed her against the wall, and 282Please respect copyright.PENANAUeWnPWaz6T
slid his hands down to hold her hips.
It didn't take long to strip282Please respect copyright.PENANAVXYUIIrtj5
each other of their clothes and for him to lay her on their bed. 282Please respect copyright.PENANAMdWcakD19o
Heartbreak filled what little space there was between their bodies. As 282Please respect copyright.PENANAeZolTjHrCj
he buried his hands in her disheveled hair, and kissed down her neck, he282Please respect copyright.PENANAOsQSCXfBke
mumbled words of absolute love and adoration for her. He told her how 282Please respect copyright.PENANA33cMro3xlf
much she meant to him, how he loved her, how beautiful she was.
When282Please respect copyright.PENANA3FaWrpFWs1
he finally entered her, she held tight to his back, trying to keep back282Please respect copyright.PENANAKS0RrGyrh1
her sobs. But it was all for naught. She dug her fingers into his back,282Please respect copyright.PENANAvaxlJr5LRs
and cried softly into the crook of his freckled shoulder.
He 282Please respect copyright.PENANAvptZAc6dMV
shook his head and shut his eyes tight. "Don't cry. Please don't cry, 282Please respect copyright.PENANAt3rUa9fgkl
darling." He said begged with a strangled voice. But he too couldn't 282Please respect copyright.PENANAoeZ8csWEff
hold back his sobs. And as he made love to her, they shared in more than282Please respect copyright.PENANAyb1hOQlVF2
just passion, but also their fear and heartbreak.
Afterwards, 282Please respect copyright.PENANA5AIt2Uj3io
they laid silently in each other's arms. Nothing needed to be said, to 282Please respect copyright.PENANAcAQ7O5ke2u
know what the other was thinking. It all spilled out in the way they 282Please respect copyright.PENANASwJ7NDFU0y
made love, and the way they held each other. Nothing could make this 282Please respect copyright.PENANA3YNyePZemS
better. But for now, being with each other, was all they really needed.
The282Please respect copyright.PENANApeVS9o9pt3
next morning, they woke the girls up at the crack of dawn. It was time.282Please respect copyright.PENANABeh1E4q2mW
Mary packed him supplies, enough to last him through several weeks, and282Please respect copyright.PENANAyFf8763zhY
they all sat and ate one last meal together. After which, they all 282Please respect copyright.PENANA91RUTFjlm5
bundled up and went out to see him off.
It didn't take him long to282Please respect copyright.PENANABKWmOCQVgi
prepare a saddle bag, and then to saddle Bobbie. Though he wanted to 282Please respect copyright.PENANA7gittiqTDT
prolong the time for as long as he could, he knew that it would just 282Please respect copyright.PENANANzsKu59459
make it harder to leave. And he'd never seen a shame in crying, but he 282Please respect copyright.PENANAIrREoarzdn
also didn't like crying in front of his daughters. But today, he 282Please respect copyright.PENANAxLbTr4boBI
couldn't help it. he was leaving them, potentially to never come back; 282Please respect copyright.PENANARMlS4dAkJI
how was he not to cry?
When all was ready, he turned to his small,282Please respect copyright.PENANAvo3v00p2pw
but beautiful family. His daughters were quieter than he'd ever seen 282Please respect copyright.PENANA3wdJn5L1h9
them. His wife couldn't stop her flow of tear. His youngest daughter was282Please respect copyright.PENANAyB8B5cRcXD
looking at them all curiously, confused to what was going on.
Licking282Please respect copyright.PENANAuUbwLLqOMQ
his lips, he knelt down and held out a hand. Ida was quick to come 282Please respect copyright.PENANAwmIsvTZcE5
forward and take it. "Ethel, come here, little one." He beckoned gently.282Please respect copyright.PENANAEVCuO8IlAe
She finally came forward, and he pulled her, with Ida, into his 282Please respect copyright.PENANAfM1rtZb09q
embrace. "Now, you two listen; I'm going to be home real soon, ok? I 282Please respect copyright.PENANAm3l0mPsBwW
love you. I love you two, so much." He told them over again. Giving them282Please respect copyright.PENANASkMBYt16g1
each one last kiss, he stood to take Sallie int his arms. "Oh, Sallie, 282Please respect copyright.PENANApaoEPoRzim
please remember me, sweet girl. Remember, how much daddy loved you." He 282Please respect copyright.PENANAzd6sJC6YDF
kissed her softly then handed her to Ida.
His heart melted when he282Please respect copyright.PENANALOAbC1hRLX
gazed at his wife, as it always did. But this time was different. He 282Please respect copyright.PENANAjaE0cNgqYJ
could be saying goodbye to her, forever. He didn't want to lose her, and282Please respect copyright.PENANArkAUqQWk3d
he knew she didn't want to lose him either. It was an unimaginable 282Please respect copyright.PENANA6PDsHOIZJL
thought, for both of them. It was hard to believe, seven years ago, they282Please respect copyright.PENANAaYgTwzXgHn
were fourteen and nineteen and just getting married. Six years ago, 282Please respect copyright.PENANALdhgvsIzw9
they became the parents of a darling daughter. Now they were saying 282Please respect copyright.PENANASy2sw4UJsC
goodbye for an unknown amount of time.
He took a sharp breath when282Please respect copyright.PENANABRUZKhJvyW
she threw herself into his arms, and he rested his head in the crevice 282Please respect copyright.PENANAcgPNbd1XpE
of her neck and shoulder. "I love you, so damn much. Always remember 282Please respect copyright.PENANAnAmTtJ2m0y
that, Mary." He whispered against her flushed skin.
She nodded 282Please respect copyright.PENANAxWVQWygp58
wordlessly. "I will. Just, remember that I'm always with you. The girls 282Please respect copyright.PENANAs7CK7l6ZYl
are always with you. We'll be right here, waiting. I promise."
He 282Please respect copyright.PENANAtPISiY8e2C
sobbed and placed a single kiss on her neck. "One last time. Just one 282Please respect copyright.PENANAxs8z8guIe7
last time. I want to make love to you. I want to ride out with Ida. I 282Please respect copyright.PENANAXNi5Zi0bJd
want to walk in and watch Ethel playing. I want to see Sallie laugh. One282Please respect copyright.PENANA5hGelrDGZP
last time. I want to see my family happy together."
All too soon,282Please respect copyright.PENANAToavMmkrXq
he was gone. Just like that. And Mary was left holding her crying 282Please respect copyright.PENANAS6b22t55OU
daughters, as they watched their father ride off into the gloomy 282Please respect copyright.PENANADBgF04BmUA
sunrise. It would never be the same again, they all knew. Everything, in282Please respect copyright.PENANAgmczSqbvRW
that moment, had changed.