"Mommy! Daddy!"
Justin quickly pulled out of his very heated 306Please respect copyright.PENANAwlOZWPHnuA
kiss with Mary. Pulling the sheets up, he went to cover both of their 306Please respect copyright.PENANAhyM9gEPsfl
naked bodies. After which, he laughed as he rolled off of Mary and 306Please respect copyright.PENANApcI88OebdE
turned towards their door. "Come on in, girls!" He called.
Two 306Please respect copyright.PENANAKq23h2aXIK
small girls ran in with the biggest smiles reaching their face. One was a306Please respect copyright.PENANAn7LhzVTAAR
red-haired girl with blue eyes, the other a brown-haired girl with 306Please respect copyright.PENANAAklRFGV2Hl
violet eyes. The red-haired girl, Ida, was the oldest, at six years old,306Please respect copyright.PENANAYlN37TjTxE
and the blonde, Ethel, was three. In her arms, Ida carried a baby girl,306Please respect copyright.PENANAcRDz57Do5t
Sallie. Sallie was six months old and had black hair and green eyes.
Sitting306Please respect copyright.PENANAs5jyfnYLNp
up a little on the bed, not letting the sheets fall past his hips, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAKdQWmm8nmt
Justin held his arms out and helped Ethel into the bed. Then he helped 306Please respect copyright.PENANAFuqdF7HxSn
Ida, and took Sallie into his arms. "Good morning, sweethearts." He 306Please respect copyright.PENANAllt8jYP0dE
greeted them as he gave a kiss to the top of each of their heads. 306Please respect copyright.PENANACrekYTVqoE
Wrapping an arm around Mary, he held all four of his girls close and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAiC1ms24GGm
sighed in content.
"Are you going to take me riding today, daddy? 306Please respect copyright.PENANA85iZWCliaz
You promised me, last night, that you would." Ida asked excitedly. She 306Please respect copyright.PENANA9WUmqdrPkO
was a beautiful girl, and had even been deemed a much beautiful baby, as306Please respect copyright.PENANAIl8HGeBWaU
an infant. They had no clue where she got her red hair and blue eyes; 306Please respect copyright.PENANAdOJnPJyM5Z
it was one mystery that they figured made her that much more unique. And306Please respect copyright.PENANAX44HrYP7ng
they loved her for her uniqueness.
He beamed over at his oldest 306Please respect copyright.PENANAcKyYGERTir
and poked her nose playfully. "Well if I promised, don't you think I'd 306Please respect copyright.PENANAIcBhEu316c
take you riding? Since when has your daddy ever made a promise he can't 306Please respect copyright.PENANAnmGcuI0mZA
keep?"
Mary chuckled and stroked Ida's hair with loving fingers. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAzhfQPoW8VU
"One of the many wonderful qualities about your father, Ida, is that he 306Please respect copyright.PENANAu1WUd2g8q2
has never made a promise that he cannot keep. He's a smart man, not a 306Please respect copyright.PENANAEEmhrAqfiq
dumb one." She told the girl.
Justin scoffed teasingly. "Wow, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAE6QEmwkRTE
thank you for that backhanded compliment, love. Girls, I love your 306Please respect copyright.PENANAP6p56fYN2H
mother with all my heart, but she is very good with giving compliments 306Please respect copyright.PENANAhjPJYTS6tv
in backhanded ways." He saw the look on his wife's face and gulped 306Please respect copyright.PENANA6Fhhrl5ZZs
slightly. "I-I mean…uh…thank you very much, dear?" He suggested with a 306Please respect copyright.PENANArrbUwW4wI3
crooked smile as though saying, please, just don't hurt me.
She 306Please respect copyright.PENANAOtouKUvBzP
laughed outright and shook her head. "I wasn't going to punch you, Jus. 306Please respect copyright.PENANANk4RMNVPfN
And even if I wanted to, I still wouldn't; not while you have the baby."306Please respect copyright.PENANABIVaLpfy5t
She reminded him.
He sighed in relief and pressed his lips to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAtJdDblPKSD
Sallie's head. "You saved your old man's hide, Sal." He said gratefully.306Please respect copyright.PENANAmAFvJvehV3
Then he looked back toward Ida, remembering their conversation before. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAhu0R3pR0Ow
"We'll go out riding, after breakfast, Ida. Speaking of, whatcha say we 306Please respect copyright.PENANAHZgycCbMzb
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."306Please respect copyright.PENANAGKNkvbOjtu
He agreed. He was just about to get up, when he remembered the state he306Please respect copyright.PENANAz4gxZYFVFV
and Mary were in. He blushed lightly, glaring at his wife's sly smile. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAiQmSdlqoQE
"Ida, Ethel, why don't you two go get dressed while mommy and daddy get 306Please respect copyright.PENANAlDQCyJPuFI
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.
After306Please respect copyright.PENANADZiGE9m9x7
they were gone, Mary barked a laugh, while Juatin glared playfully at 306Please respect copyright.PENANAH7HZTrgc93
her. "Oh shut up." He mumbled while leaning in and kissing her 306Please respect copyright.PENANA2fmBt68JzB
collarbone softly.
But she swatted his head, making him pull back 306Please respect copyright.PENANAf0Znp2KEXl
and give her a confused look. "I have to feed the baby, and you need to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAKEclNmMPUb
start breakfast for our other two girls." She reminded him with a 306Please respect copyright.PENANAt8UnqnOjAs
smiled. At his despondent face, she kissed him softly and ruffled his 306Please respect copyright.PENANApiUqSJOlVA
hair. "Later, lover boy."
He grinned slyly, stroking her arm with 306Please respect copyright.PENANAvwTFqmUdDP
such softness. "I'll hold you to that, sweetheart." Then he rolled out 306Please respect copyright.PENANANP9eSOETZU
of bed, albeit reluctantly, and went to dress. After which, he left to 306Please respect copyright.PENANA7xzSAY6bAI
head for the kitchen to make breakfast.
As he stood at the old 306Please respect copyright.PENANAvwuCxcurFy
stove, his two oldest daughter came bounding in, their long hair still a306Please respect copyright.PENANABgiKaTjH8Y
mess and in need of help. He laughed as he put the spoon with which he 306Please respect copyright.PENANAZKMqJghJ01
was using to make porridge down and knelt in front of them. "You girls 306Please respect copyright.PENANAHLoa1GEeeh
need me to do your hair?" He asked as he stroked each of their heads.
Justin306Please respect copyright.PENANAl7T9s8A0lk
and Mary had gotten married when they were fourteen and nineteen. There306Please respect copyright.PENANAyiDXiLpY0v
was no doubt in Justin's parents' mind that their son was in love, and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAjpu2UEkQWR
that Mary was in love with him. Mary had fallen in love with him for 306Please respect copyright.PENANAlxLyLfh7q8
more than just his looks though. She'd found out, early on, that he was 306Please respect copyright.PENANAkzhoKYwqHr
able to cook and clean, unlike many of the suitors that had begged her 306Please respect copyright.PENANAAHEySLTlwa
for her hand since her father's death, when she was twelve. Justin was 306Please respect copyright.PENANA1H8fS26hIQ
different though.
His ability to cook and clean made her one happy306Please respect copyright.PENANAfyXiIpfUTM
woman, when they married. And a year later they had Ida. As she began 306Please respect copyright.PENANAg1dM1nZVRh
to grow hair, and it grew longer, Mary was pleased to discover more of 306Please respect copyright.PENANAqlTSgOyNP0
her husband's hidden talents. He could do hair. He had offered to do 306Please respect copyright.PENANASAKOMaqpOu
hers on numerous occasions, but she had always insisted on doing it 306Please respect copyright.PENANAXSjPIColF9
herself. But as Ida grew, and she was left tired, Justin had stepped in 306Please respect copyright.PENANAOrrJQDphIM
to do whatever his daughter needed. He could dress her, change her 306Please respect copyright.PENANAD1OMBWlOlG
diapers, do her hair, everything. And now, he had two daughters to do 306Please respect copyright.PENANAnvezJyzVjx
that with; which they both loved when he did their hair.
Ida 306Please respect copyright.PENANA0Dmva3VMsT
nodded and held out two leather bands for him. Turning them around, he 306Please respect copyright.PENANAr57T1ksgiq
used the wooden hair brush to gently pry out the nasty knots in their 306Please respect copyright.PENANA2A6Ajq1ZCc
beautiful hair. Then he but them into loose braids. After that, he 306Please respect copyright.PENANAVKj2D13s8p
grabbed some flowers that Mary always kept on the table, and put them 306Please respect copyright.PENANAC3xxUeQUvt
into random spots of the braids. "There we go. There's my beautiful 306Please respect copyright.PENANAWDkCAlX8mW
girls." He said pridefully as he touched each of their cheeks and placed306Please respect copyright.PENANAfmB7sXYi8L
light kisses on their foreheads.
The girls each giggled and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAjxcMdpbZpK
kissed his cheek. "Thanks, daddy." They said unanimously. Picking up the306Please respect copyright.PENANA5nJxfh5I4A
ends of their dresses, they raced to the table and climbed up on the 306Please respect copyright.PENANAWoMqezAlMd
chairs that were still to big for them. Justin helped them up and then 306Please respect copyright.PENANAJQfwSp8x9J
went back to making breakfast.
Mary came in, not long later, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAvjd02dNgOL
Sallie in her arms, dressed in a thick dress to keep her from the bitter306Please respect copyright.PENANAYzBWBzwtvR
cold that threatened them during the winter months. Mary herself wore a306Please respect copyright.PENANA4j360ahUiX
simple, beat up, blue dress with an apron over top. Her hair was loose,306Please respect copyright.PENANABOrEqC4v4u
with only parts of the front being pulled back into a small braid.
That's306Please respect copyright.PENANAdYVExjGsdH
when Justin set breakfast in front of everyone. They'd had nothing but 306Please respect copyright.PENANAoUtDOfdHbo
porridge for the past few weeks, but, unfortunately, that was all they 306Please respect copyright.PENANA0Q1yujFr9U
could afford at the moment. Justin had lost his job at the sawmill 306Please respect copyright.PENANANcnM4FMrus
several months ago, because of the impact of the war that had just 306Please respect copyright.PENANA3GxK0K66Od
started not even half a year ago. The Civil War, as they called it. They306Please respect copyright.PENANAAtzsHXklnc
were at war with their own countrymen. It was sad to see it come to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAl66BmWwZOh
this, and see the effects it cause. Because of it, Justin had lost his 306Please respect copyright.PENANAjLM1NJQPqI
job, and they had been reduced to nothing more than rations of food.
She306Please respect copyright.PENANA2Xguyoz50j
looked over at Justin with a soft, hopefully encouraging smile. She 306Please respect copyright.PENANAvEThhGpytW
knew that losing his job had struck him right in the gut. His pride was,306Please respect copyright.PENANAyVmHenTeUG
without a doubt, damaged. With great struggle, she had managed to get 306Please respect copyright.PENANAIxCDkkSk4t
him to admit that he felt like a failure as a husband and a father, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAMgvFYwIfKo
because he lost his job. He felt unable to provide for his own family; 306Please respect copyright.PENANAVmYdSTp2A5
to him, that was something worse than death. All he wanted was to give 306Please respect copyright.PENANAqFqYY659qY
his wife and young daughters a good home, good clothes, and good food. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAlxEZeWQUl7
Now, he couldn't even do that. It took its toll on him, and she could 306Please respect copyright.PENANA7FheByU5hw
see it in the way he had started to age from the stress of the last few 306Please respect copyright.PENANA2q191mRf0C
months.
They were doing all they could for the time being. She 306Please respect copyright.PENANAxf15qw3G1q
would eat little, but still a substantial amount so that she could 306Please respect copyright.PENANA2gnerWhRpO
provide milk for Sallie, and he would hardly eat anything. He had 306Please respect copyright.PENANA2bwDxfxfQP
started losing a significant amount of weight, which he and Mary could 306Please respect copyright.PENANAe4maf0lyxl
only hope the girls hadn't noticed. She had also lost a great deal 306Please respect copyright.PENANAn3p6HDy3wB
amount of weight, but still not quite as much as him. Even their 306Please respect copyright.PENANA1AOkf1yztW
daughter, Ida and Ethel, had begun losing weight because of the food 306Please respect copyright.PENANAXoGkctB9vF
shortage.
He looked around at his family, as he always did at 306Please respect copyright.PENANA8OuhRaSvNQ
breakfast and dinner, and felt his heart break once more. His wife's 306Please respect copyright.PENANAKBCu4L97t6
face, while beautiful as he would always find her and know her to be, 306Please respect copyright.PENANArxDWsEv0P4
was shallow, and dark bags lined under her eyes. She looked so…empty. 306Please respect copyright.PENANABbA9m501x2
His daughters looked weaker than they once were. They used to be so 306Please respect copyright.PENANAHkJQKot6KE
lively; and while they would still run around and play, they couldn't 306Please respect copyright.PENANAaUijHJuKDD
last as long as they once did. One of his favorite things to do, had 306Please respect copyright.PENANASWtmtt2W6T
been to watch his little girls run and play. They were like fairies, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAFIvAHfqj2B
when they ran through the tall, summer grass. So beautiful. So 306Please respect copyright.PENANA7PD66pauT7
enchanting. Now it seemed there was only a sliver of those girls left in306Please respect copyright.PENANAmjnN6cvY1K
the daughters he'd raised.
Then there was Sallie. She was smaller306Please respect copyright.PENANAPveeHqfTWP
than most six month old babies. She'd been born at nine months, she 306Please respect copyright.PENANAIZL6Dr91cj
just wasn't getting the necessary nourishing most babies needed. She was306Please respect copyright.PENANA3IJhsSKxED
healthy, but looked so torn down compared to most, healthier, six month306Please respect copyright.PENANAlq2xBXMXAN
olds.
He hated seeing his family so broken up. As a man 306Please respect copyright.PENANAeV0hjmxLJH
especially, it hit him right where it hurts. His girls were the most 306Please respect copyright.PENANABniOgHt5V5
important treasures in his world, and taking care of them felt more like306Please respect copyright.PENANASSLmuytECS
an honor than a duty. To have that honor suddenly taken, and to not be 306Please respect copyright.PENANAyQckT95Vkq
able to give his girls anything more than grits and moldy bread as 306Please respect copyright.PENANAVRpG6bugMX
meals, was about the cruelest thing for him. Now they were suffering, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAKcTBhAf2ZS
and there was nothing her, or anyone else, could do about it.
Mary,306Please respect copyright.PENANAlzx2f1XYBI
seeing the heartbreak that was all but written on his face, reached 306Please respect copyright.PENANAViYMlPMnJv
across the table to take his hand in her own smaller one. With her eyes,306Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZVR7u3MkO
she told him that it was alright. They were together. They had each 306Please respect copyright.PENANAOq19Aq2eG6
other. That was all that mattered. And she was right; he knew that. but 306Please respect copyright.PENANAE7RKcAji2O
deep in his heart, he couldn't help that feeling of letting them all 306Please respect copyright.PENANAtXAF1rZLhg
down, even though it hadn't been his fault that he was fired.
As 306Please respect copyright.PENANA6UUCp5dVb7
the family finished their breakfast in silence, Mary got up and cleared 306Please respect copyright.PENANAaOJje1P3Lz
their pans. Meanwhile, Justin grabbed his hat and rifle and ruffled 306Please respect copyright.PENANAg5ixbOEpjP
little Ida's red hair. "You ready to go, half pint?" He asked with a 306Please respect copyright.PENANAPpfPwFHtIj
broad, loving smile.
Ida jumped up excitedly and bounced on the 306Please respect copyright.PENANAUddojBJSoL
balls of her feet. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She squealed. A laugh slipped past 306Please respect copyright.PENANACOLWIokWJm
her lips when he placed another hat on her head as well. It was a bit 306Please respect copyright.PENANAyFpjhEDJ5v
too big, and fell slightly over her forehead. But she smiled wider and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAlSYlFCVJi1
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.
She306Please respect copyright.PENANAqKqM13YqoU
pouted, crossing her arms. And he couldn't get over how much she looked306Please respect copyright.PENANAhijikTyBzo
like Mary when she pouted. Other than those violet eyes, of course, she306Please respect copyright.PENANAY6UQ3IddsW
was her mother's spitting image. "Why does Ida get to do everything?"
"She's306Please respect copyright.PENANAftrz0kbZue
older, Ethel. I know it ain't fair, hon, but I promise that we'll go 306Please respect copyright.PENANAWX01nXNx9F
riding together when you're a little bit older. Alright?" He didn't like306Please respect copyright.PENANALjkbdYYfDj
disappointing either of his older daughters – Sallie of course being 306Please respect copyright.PENANAI2MPlCJVJ5
hard to displease because she was only six months old – but he also 306Please respect copyright.PENANAL8twc406d2
couldn't take major risks. He hadn't taken Ida out riding when she was 306Please respect copyright.PENANAhw4rl4yypi
three, and he wouldn't do that with Ethel or Sallie either. And she 306Please respect copyright.PENANALH2fukkTem
might not have found it fair at the time, but he knew Ethel would 306Please respect copyright.PENANA9a69XDQDq4
understand one day.
She was still pouting, but nodded anyway. "Ok,306Please respect copyright.PENANAED0BLpM4yS
daddy." Kissing his cheek, she wiggled out of his arms and went to play306Please respect copyright.PENANAmmmBaDmr5h
in the small family room.
Mary came forward then and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Be careful?" She whispered.
He306Please respect copyright.PENANAVjTxZ4DImF
smiled and nodded. "Of course, darlin'. And I'll bring our daughter 306Please respect copyright.PENANAMxQUqmEqeV
back in one piece." He promised, making them both laugh. Then he leaned 306Please respect copyright.PENANASL1bFV1qRk
in and kissed her lips chastely. "I love you." He mumbled against her 306Please respect copyright.PENANAeycdgBLvEb
lips. Then pulling away, he stooped down to scoop Ida up into his strong306Please respect copyright.PENANA4F91WE7qJA
arms. "You ready to go, baby?" He asked, nudging his nose against her 306Please respect copyright.PENANAHlNRc4fdhK
soft cheek.
She giggled and kissed his cheek. That was answer 306Please respect copyright.PENANAfZdRdiFPEL
enough for her father, as he turned for the door. A last look back, and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAHssFR9AUbt
he left with Ida snug against him. Within minutes, he had his horse, 306Please respect copyright.PENANA1y2Ubgpvqf
Bobbie, ready and saddled. Then he saddled Mary's horse, Mosey. Picking 306Please respect copyright.PENANA1h0I2s1zEO
Ida back up, under her arms, he lifted her up and set her in Mosey's 306Please respect copyright.PENANAgeoVL1KreA
saddle.
Father and daughter spent hours riding the deserted plains306Please respect copyright.PENANAzxKdFrckfp
of Braiden, which was part of the Dakota Territory. For miles, there 306Please respect copyright.PENANAvcysIudQc2
was nothing but sage brush and wild grass. The air was fresh, and clean.306Please respect copyright.PENANA5aYWf00P5h
To Justin, that was the best thing about living in the Dakota 306Please respect copyright.PENANAkvENwPb0SW
Territory, rather than the big cities. And he couldn't be any happier to306Please respect copyright.PENANAnXA13ABvmo
be raising his own family in such a beautiful land.
As they rose 306Please respect copyright.PENANAFHlNeZliRu
through the plain, over the hills, and through the tufts of rolling 306Please respect copyright.PENANACIVxwrSn0D
grass that danced with the wind, he watched his daughter with a proud 306Please respect copyright.PENANAfyrvMRkbIm
smile. While she looked like no one in their family, he couldn't help 306Please respect copyright.PENANAOXQnibQEA0
but admire all of their qualities that fit into her. She was as close to306Please respect copyright.PENANAdx25ERg6M3
perfect as one could ever be. While she made mistakes, she was quick to306Please respect copyright.PENANAUdmV1cr5JZ
try and make up and apologize for those mistakes. And she was quick to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAX3aXsW0z8x
forgive too. She never once held a grudge, and for that, everyone was 306Please respect copyright.PENANAvmts1knUpQ
grateful. Being on her bad side was never fun.
She fit into this 306Please respect copyright.PENANAXEMh9dw7X6
life, better than most. This was the life she wanted. So many times, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAiskWdb9YjA
since she was old enough to speak, she had crawled up into his lap and 306Please respect copyright.PENANA9zrR9Oe7k1
told him that she loved the life of the prairie. It's like living in a 306Please respect copyright.PENANAcuvdzdN6Nx
fairy-tale, she would tell him. And she knew not only the magical parts 306Please respect copyright.PENANAkJKKFHc1eH
of the prairie, but also the dangers of it. She knew the harshness the 306Please respect copyright.PENANABFO1kBdVgt
winters could bring. She knew to watch for mountain lions, and rattle 306Please respect copyright.PENANAiujMb6c0NA
snakes, and scorpions. She knew how to test whether a berry was safe to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAVYypkngAET
eat, or deadly poisonous. She knew it all, and still, she loved it. She 306Please respect copyright.PENANA1rXpbn1gTF
loved all te harsh realities that came with a beautiful land.
She 306Please respect copyright.PENANAsCTGdwtviE
wasn't like all the other girls, he well knew. While other girls loved 306Please respect copyright.PENANAlGYu0FtvoS
dresses, or butterflies, she preferred to spend her time learning how to306Please respect copyright.PENANA7a2LVOtIIU
survive the rough life of the prairie. Justin and Mary had agreed, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAFUcNPGA3bn
before they even had children, that any daughters they had needed to be 306Please respect copyright.PENANAv9Fn8BA7vX
taught how to handle themselves. They couldn't always depend on a man. 306Please respect copyright.PENANANlZIZDnYr4
Mary already knew what that was like.
Her father had been a drunk 306Please respect copyright.PENANAmk84LlxgJq
her whole life. Her mother was meek, and never spoke for herself. Being 306Please respect copyright.PENANA9FOdJxSz60
raised mainly by her mother, Mary had been much the same, for years. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAXue1t2xJvs
When her mother died, when she was seven, nothing changed. She remained 306Please respect copyright.PENANA84o8R8ndQ8
the quiet girl that never spoke up to her father. She could hardly take 306Please respect copyright.PENANAFPL6nGhG1F
care of herself, and knew little to nothing about the wilderness.
Her306Please respect copyright.PENANAAKw0N7XT2M
father had never cared, though. He turned a blind eye as to Mary's 306Please respect copyright.PENANAf2qhI7c0k6
well-being. The only times he would acknowledge her was to tell her to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAcxwcl5AD8a
cook, or clean, or to mend his clothes. She was more of a slave to him, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAXx3nxKhkoB
than a daughter. And when he finally drank himself to death, he left 306Please respect copyright.PENANA7NQJ5Satmk
nothing behind for Mary to live a good life from. She didn't know how to306Please respect copyright.PENANABIpuVygTBl
work the small farm she lived on; her father didn't believe in women 306Please respect copyright.PENANAxJBsHpHzE4
working anywhere else but in the house.
Being thrown, so suddenly,306Please respect copyright.PENANA0qLnwqOCBt
into the cruel world that she'd never had to think of before had a big 306Please respect copyright.PENANA6IXyp7yssk
impact on Mary. Being only twelve years of age, she was nothing more 306Please respect copyright.PENANAa3brt9PrzJ
than a scared orphan that was terrified by the sudden new world. she had306Please respect copyright.PENANABeKAgcFUt2
to teach herself the ropes. No one was there to guide her. And when she306Please respect copyright.PENANA4j7965KQtg
met and married Justin, she vehemently told him that she didn't want 306Please respect copyright.PENANATodJdxzcMY
her own daughters to go through that, should anything happen to one, or 306Please respect copyright.PENANAPuycWzRdWR
both of them.
He was quick to agree, telling her that he believed 306Please respect copyright.PENANAENv3QyZYiq
women should know the rules of the wild. He didn't think it fair to see 306Please respect copyright.PENANARCBkm6x41P
women suddenly left on their own, when their husband, father or brother 306Please respect copyright.PENANAbmSc9CbztP
died, and having little to no clue on how to handle themselves. That was306Please respect copyright.PENANAGty1A9NvE5
no life, for any woman. And he couldn't, as a father and a husband, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAUNwSYaZipH
live himself in knowing that if he didn't leave behind those rules with 306Please respect copyright.PENANAaXfwQOScRG
his women, something much worse could happen to them than if they did 306Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZZO9v8gTJ
know. And as a man that loved his family more than anything, he'd be 306Please respect copyright.PENANApdbvRGFdrl
damned if he let anything happen to them because he didn't give them the306Please respect copyright.PENANAGgYlc3OFTQ
tools necessary to survive.
He had just started teaching Ethel, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAHVkFnfxjPK
as well. While she was a bit confused by the lessons, she knew that when306Please respect copyright.PENANAbooH4npPb6
her father was trying to teach her something important, it was for a 306Please respect copyright.PENANAmFWEbfzqJD
good reason. She paid very close attention to him, as she often did with306Please respect copyright.PENANAmu9PCXl5De
a lot of things.
Now, watching Ida smiling with rosy cheeks, and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAQavAYHImaf
her loose hair drift with the cool winter's breeze, he couldn't help but306Please respect copyright.PENANAwveiVdIP7S
imagine her as she grew. He visioned a beautiful young girl, riding 306Please respect copyright.PENANAcTwRXRHumj
merrily through the fields. A girl that didn't care what society had to 306Please respect copyright.PENANA7EpYsaYj89
say about her unorthodox upbringing. A girl that didn't need to depend 306Please respect copyright.PENANAx0Cgh509Bz
on a man to take care of her. A strong, able-minded girl. It was nothing306Please respect copyright.PENANAKctPmj2nQQ
short of amazing.
They returned at dusk, having had a most 306Please respect copyright.PENANAVoRkpN6BU8
enjoyable time. He was just helping her off of Mosey, when he saw Mary 306Please respect copyright.PENANANIp4FU59aV
walking towards them, a despondent look on her beautiful face. Frowning,306Please respect copyright.PENANAiFZf3CWjQE
he crouched in front of Ida and adjusted her hat slightly. "Why don't 306Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ3IbStjGV
you go on inside, Ida. Mommy and daddy will be in shortly." He told her.306Please respect copyright.PENANAiG37B5PLVA
She obediently did as she was told.
As Mary neared him, he was 306Please respect copyright.PENANAdGzIP8bLSy
troubled to see tears in her red eyes. She'd been crying a while, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAIXiRzGeKXg
already. but why, he wondered? She was the strongest person he knew, and306Please respect copyright.PENANARLMNHKt8GS
she hardly ever cried. When she did cry, though, it was usually for 306Please respect copyright.PENANAK65Tq4uNlu
something serious. She cried when he lost his job. She cried when they 306Please respect copyright.PENANA8bVU5eRbu7
lost their baby boy, William, two years ago. Those were the only times. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAgZ5nGzOPQ0
Two times, in their seven years of marriage, and he'd only seen her cry 306Please respect copyright.PENANARcyMT40kd6
twice.
As soon as she was close enough, he wrapped her in a loving306Please respect copyright.PENANApyTJxLNalI
embrace. "Hey. Hey. What's wrong? What's wrong, baby?" He mumbled in 306Please respect copyright.PENANALT9FhjkupA
her ear. "Mary?" He pulled away and held her cheeks in his gentle hands.306Please respect copyright.PENANArD9TmpI1VZ
"What's the matter, dearest?" He rubbed his thumbs under her eyes to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAoboTJIvwuz
push away the nasty tears that lined her cheekbones.
She didn't say anything, just handed him a crumpled piece of paper.
He306Please respect copyright.PENANAxN6kegwmvF
furrowed his brows as he took the paper. Unfolding it, he read over the306Please respect copyright.PENANAtyEqn116JG
content carefully, and slowly. Neither he, nor Mary had been taught to 306Please respect copyright.PENANARGNvfmgeXx
read or write, as children. They had to teach themselves after they were306Please respect copyright.PENANA0W6dekFp25
married. Though they were better at it, they still encountered trouble.306Please respect copyright.PENANAjH3KEoAmYE
But understanding what was in the letter was no trouble for him. The 306Please respect copyright.PENANAluVxKOuEHt
words were clear as day.
"I've been called to war. I leave first thing tomorrow."
She306Please respect copyright.PENANAa8jZMeLJyE
released a sob when he said it aloud. And once again, she fell into his306Please respect copyright.PENANAoVmHzV3HyE
arms. He was still in shock, but quickly began to cry along with her. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAnihz4qwAu7
This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening, he tried to tell306Please respect copyright.PENANAzY4cxOFFUE
himself. But the sound of his wife's cries clearly told him that it was306Please respect copyright.PENANApuUCESi48j
happening. He was going to war. He was leaving his wife and three 306Please respect copyright.PENANAhq5bSwR2fU
daughters behind. He cried into her shoulder, and held her tighter than 306Please respect copyright.PENANAFaWfkTefOZ
ever before, stroking her soft hair.
"What are we going to tell the girls?" She whispered into his chest.
He306Please respect copyright.PENANAll7tUGB0hY
shook his head and kissed her neck. "We're going to tell them the 306Please respect copyright.PENANAuf9myq7Z1Q
truth; that I've been called to join the war. There's no avoiding this, 306Please respect copyright.PENANA3Q9g04djAD
Mary. We can't lie to them." And she agreed.
Going inside, they 306Please respect copyright.PENANAaYch0Sgd1b
both called the girls from their room, and Justin beckoned them to sit 306Please respect copyright.PENANAdAi0CQthsu
on his lap. He and Mary shared similar glances as they struggled with 306Please respect copyright.PENANA3tIa3r6oer
just how to tell their daughters that daddy had to go away. They didn't 306Please respect copyright.PENANAbw6zZsA1Gz
sugar-coat it. They told them everything.
"Ida, Ethel…you two know306Please respect copyright.PENANAhRV63D1feT
that all I want is to protect you, and make sure you're safe, right? 306Please respect copyright.PENANAAvwg4MTqmj
Because you, and Sallie, and mommy are the most important things to me."306Please respect copyright.PENANA0mpMVeDD7n
Justin started. When they nodded, he pulled them even closer and 306Please respect copyright.PENANASIChTRX7FX
stroked their soft cheeks. "Well that's what I'm going to be doing right306Please respect copyright.PENANANjsP6m8bJh
now. I…I've been asked to join the war. That means I'm going to have to306Please respect copyright.PENANAULtt2eApOa
go far away, and make sure no bad people can hurt you, your sister, and306Please respect copyright.PENANA6MQCJaBvgp
mommy."
Ethel shook her head, and her bottom lip quivered, as she306Please respect copyright.PENANAGwXzIR9pxB
threw her chubby arms around his neck. "No, daddy! No! No! No! I don't 306Please respect copyright.PENANAujmBSDI14X
want them to take you far away!" She cried desperately.
He blinked306Please respect copyright.PENANAwbyO28YOG1
away tear as he wrapped one arm around her to keep her close. "I don't 306Please respect copyright.PENANAYcm1nyqyF0
want to leave either, honey; but I need to protect you. Ethel, if there 306Please respect copyright.PENANAaZqCdE7Fho
was another way, sweetheart, believe me I would take it, in a heart 306Please respect copyright.PENANAetTVELI47N
beat. But this is the only way I can protect you, your sisters, and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAdwmB9B4KBN
mommy." He hated doing this. He may as well have told her that there was306Please respect copyright.PENANAwBRhV0DnmL
a chance he wouldn't be coming back. Her innocence was already damaged.306Please respect copyright.PENANA4emJ31Vnrf
She was to young for this. Ida was to young for this. Ida. "Ida…what 306Please respect copyright.PENANAuxop0zqYu4
are you thinking, darling?"
She was expressionless. It was like 306Please respect copyright.PENANA7XX1VgSwFx
she didn't know what to say; and really, she didn't. what could she say?306Please respect copyright.PENANAMEpjjMezZF
So instead of replying, she scooted up and buried herself in her 306Please respect copyright.PENANAQoXTSdVsgL
father's chest. "I love you, daddy." She whispered.
He couldn't 306Please respect copyright.PENANArq2WOVhELp
hold back the tears that threatened him, not anymore. He let them go as 306Please respect copyright.PENANAm21y6cTw8C
he bent to kiss her head softly. "I love you too, little one. Both of 306Please respect copyright.PENANAy8qMEh2ORZ
you." He spoke towards Ethel. After they got down and went to try and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAnJAR4feWdU
distract themselves from the heartbreaking moment, Hiccup took little 306Please respect copyright.PENANAK12sbmj5ML
Sallie. She couldn't know what was going on. All she would know was that306Please respect copyright.PENANADtu5LirzuX
she would be waking up, looking around for her daddy, and realize he's 306Please respect copyright.PENANAPtqIMGBYFA
not there. She would wonder why. And God forbid, if he were to be gone 306Please respect copyright.PENANAnw8XzkdXwm
several years, he would come back and she wouldn't even know who he was.306Please respect copyright.PENANAduAW0JNTcj
His own daughter.
All to suddenly, the Daniels' world was 306Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2zfD7CIc4
crumbling before them. It was all being shaken, taken away from them 306Please respect copyright.PENANAe7H90P30IU
within the snap of a finger. He didn't have a choice. It was either 306Please respect copyright.PENANAL7Yf8ncibd
leave and stand a chance of coming home, or stay and undergo trial, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAIheTtzVSMO
guaranteeing that he would never see his family again. there was no 306Please respect copyright.PENANAZOWkPJ1C6C
choice; he was going.
That night, after all the girls were fed and306Please respect copyright.PENANAl1Ef5BR5Li
tucked into bed, Justin shut the door of their room, and was 306Please respect copyright.PENANA5YNDftoHML
immediately met by his wife's passionate lips. It took him no time to 306Please respect copyright.PENANA65cXDxL9iF
respond to her kiss, and wrap his arms around her small frame. Their 306Please respect copyright.PENANA8a9Uy9hdUf
tears melted against their lips, as he pushed her against the wall, and 306Please respect copyright.PENANAaSPbBxIAQO
slid his hands down to hold her hips.
It didn't take long to strip306Please respect copyright.PENANAVymHSKdNXN
each other of their clothes and for him to lay her on their bed. 306Please respect copyright.PENANA1p6k6faLXC
Heartbreak filled what little space there was between their bodies. As 306Please respect copyright.PENANANoAuWmTNFP
he buried his hands in her disheveled hair, and kissed down her neck, he306Please respect copyright.PENANAekw3O0Ygdj
mumbled words of absolute love and adoration for her. He told her how 306Please respect copyright.PENANArxMlhEHvwB
much she meant to him, how he loved her, how beautiful she was.
When306Please respect copyright.PENANAwOvjS8O6Uh
he finally entered her, she held tight to his back, trying to keep back306Please respect copyright.PENANAt650TT9gK8
her sobs. But it was all for naught. She dug her fingers into his back,306Please respect copyright.PENANA6yw6cIuI65
and cried softly into the crook of his freckled shoulder.
He 306Please respect copyright.PENANAWiFnQaFO6x
shook his head and shut his eyes tight. "Don't cry. Please don't cry, 306Please respect copyright.PENANA9vmnEa1Jkr
darling." He said begged with a strangled voice. But he too couldn't 306Please respect copyright.PENANAlJVLJVwNp8
hold back his sobs. And as he made love to her, they shared in more than306Please respect copyright.PENANAmLsuL2hru5
just passion, but also their fear and heartbreak.
Afterwards, 306Please respect copyright.PENANALb9XmYYCf1
they laid silently in each other's arms. Nothing needed to be said, to 306Please respect copyright.PENANAzhDy0rXSMt
know what the other was thinking. It all spilled out in the way they 306Please respect copyright.PENANAGXWplRCmki
made love, and the way they held each other. Nothing could make this 306Please respect copyright.PENANAoZaYa6PubW
better. But for now, being with each other, was all they really needed.
The306Please respect copyright.PENANAr5gl0SeYi3
next morning, they woke the girls up at the crack of dawn. It was time.306Please respect copyright.PENANAD1RHTxUtGz
Mary packed him supplies, enough to last him through several weeks, and306Please respect copyright.PENANAkYaMteFt50
they all sat and ate one last meal together. After which, they all 306Please respect copyright.PENANAfwpeMdIGwn
bundled up and went out to see him off.
It didn't take him long to306Please respect copyright.PENANAmwTShhFXkB
prepare a saddle bag, and then to saddle Bobbie. Though he wanted to 306Please respect copyright.PENANA8vKsm7y0Ff
prolong the time for as long as he could, he knew that it would just 306Please respect copyright.PENANAbb6zC3fKuX
make it harder to leave. And he'd never seen a shame in crying, but he 306Please respect copyright.PENANAfT3chLyNiz
also didn't like crying in front of his daughters. But today, he 306Please respect copyright.PENANAVahp96ult2
couldn't help it. he was leaving them, potentially to never come back; 306Please respect copyright.PENANAssAH5slSnw
how was he not to cry?
When all was ready, he turned to his small,306Please respect copyright.PENANAR18DmFFBPZ
but beautiful family. His daughters were quieter than he'd ever seen 306Please respect copyright.PENANAA98Y43iJ6H
them. His wife couldn't stop her flow of tear. His youngest daughter was306Please respect copyright.PENANAjUyIyNQtPd
looking at them all curiously, confused to what was going on.
Licking306Please respect copyright.PENANAwM6Fmj0t50
his lips, he knelt down and held out a hand. Ida was quick to come 306Please respect copyright.PENANAXtpHVpkJkW
forward and take it. "Ethel, come here, little one." He beckoned gently.306Please respect copyright.PENANA3PCucTsJ4o
She finally came forward, and he pulled her, with Ida, into his 306Please respect copyright.PENANA8sTiM11rj7
embrace. "Now, you two listen; I'm going to be home real soon, ok? I 306Please respect copyright.PENANAfc9y2DguJ1
love you. I love you two, so much." He told them over again. Giving them306Please respect copyright.PENANAnpBMWltBQB
each one last kiss, he stood to take Sallie int his arms. "Oh, Sallie, 306Please respect copyright.PENANAwcBBkWVqdk
please remember me, sweet girl. Remember, how much daddy loved you." He 306Please respect copyright.PENANAxypaV7Tl0r
kissed her softly then handed her to Ida.
His heart melted when he306Please respect copyright.PENANABpYGS6t47J
gazed at his wife, as it always did. But this time was different. He 306Please respect copyright.PENANAloAzlGWZ2M
could be saying goodbye to her, forever. He didn't want to lose her, and306Please respect copyright.PENANAfLGjPYm8a2
he knew she didn't want to lose him either. It was an unimaginable 306Please respect copyright.PENANASpUiCbdFJQ
thought, for both of them. It was hard to believe, seven years ago, they306Please respect copyright.PENANAFsFhzpMKEh
were fourteen and nineteen and just getting married. Six years ago, 306Please respect copyright.PENANA1jcemPvElM
they became the parents of a darling daughter. Now they were saying 306Please respect copyright.PENANATOhG1T1POh
goodbye for an unknown amount of time.
He took a sharp breath when306Please respect copyright.PENANApK2XAoBf5W
she threw herself into his arms, and he rested his head in the crevice 306Please respect copyright.PENANAunlLhRnTUz
of her neck and shoulder. "I love you, so damn much. Always remember 306Please respect copyright.PENANA0iRsuAdBY2
that, Mary." He whispered against her flushed skin.
She nodded 306Please respect copyright.PENANAeWwl7OI6Gt
wordlessly. "I will. Just, remember that I'm always with you. The girls 306Please respect copyright.PENANAlMopC3VNZO
are always with you. We'll be right here, waiting. I promise."
He 306Please respect copyright.PENANACg5RMKzeFp
sobbed and placed a single kiss on her neck. "One last time. Just one 306Please respect copyright.PENANAVqdOfCmDeZ
last time. I want to make love to you. I want to ride out with Ida. I 306Please respect copyright.PENANAhDw4pQXIwT
want to walk in and watch Ethel playing. I want to see Sallie laugh. One306Please respect copyright.PENANAINuwR1WdeJ
last time. I want to see my family happy together."
All too soon,306Please respect copyright.PENANAsqGxPZ4yyl
he was gone. Just like that. And Mary was left holding her crying 306Please respect copyright.PENANADerCPJaIso
daughters, as they watched their father ride off into the gloomy 306Please respect copyright.PENANAL3GRR9kF9u
sunrise. It would never be the same again, they all knew. Everything, in306Please respect copyright.PENANA9YmtDYgd9x
that moment, had changed.