386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw5mjQu7Vu
It was a cold and dark day.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1wMcswajI
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ4JIzf3o8
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8gssBGw88
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoyrKFGH0p
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdqI3eucQc
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDQ9aQHQqL
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F5Zg15N6y
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe0BGIFgTZ
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzJyzHGzwS
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPvAAd8LDl
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi7DvuArH2
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0BZG4hYjD
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfnrxh3X7o
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49n63mYAyy
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQFM9hj163
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhlIpZLUEZ
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTjS2dcWLo
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRaIcxpPEq
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LMeJCS5zB
and respect him, until death do you part?”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb2DuayRZA
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuUvUwG7Gj
She couldn’t help it; her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CTGB0orOt
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnX8QJD9nS
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy13teTqEVc
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAuHtU4bA2
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbBwETuxVf
“Then, without further wait,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvfXT615Vf
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmwRHvd7NJ
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRLu1NCfk6
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfNIEcomMG
Not waiting a second longer,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K4IzPeLzc
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9yYzwyXMm
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqwwxFNs2D
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQdRxPPbfO
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVRy7PKZgj
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9NJvAfvOI
After the marriage ceremony,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5jRzcfbKF
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZvNbD8nkv
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT0oARri5y
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPWlFzL6Kp
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw7ZuvWxbH
Avery, went first.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0hHRxcpN9
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw0lr8hxmP
“I have known Justin and Mary386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspFgSY82uE
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Ca9vxPDw
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpmKd8rmXc
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg6X004T02
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOHmDaKGSO
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr7IpxqhYQ
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xBeDtbXvW
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcIZZXFBXZ
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbHCWmnFvP
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HqwOlv2Xb
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQeTNWJosL
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK3qHn2wm9
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKsfZzXuiT
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4coDMGjmV
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdxwr4HnKJ
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2tHLTZjAw
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MTRkZ4SFO
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8prNar0Kx
took a swig of their whisky.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp2VJDtnYx
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oPtuThblV
After the bride and groom386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKNKlxyxTu
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6yWFzL2OM
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99UGihHQ5P
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIaZnz7JZP
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP85WQMJj9M
constantly.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzxnFWDC5u
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkQPkgGkq2
Hoots of fun-filled laughter386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB60KMitoI
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ686wrJxXiV
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSlOn5NwuH
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewlYe4x87F
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGdelu0n7H
came that night.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogpgGgNOTV
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsmYGq8DhP
That was seven years ago,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWZqeYZkhL
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0CnfncMaW
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAxD5Vade0
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbHUpx5lPR
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUpCjFesvi
Present day386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9IuQ3Qm9e
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JG6wrdloT
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47gIt09pga
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9atehqww0
She was bleak, weary, and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ELgmiuOBv
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUh4pZoPHA
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFmrSVLchf
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV8JSLOCmh
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJokBkVeT1
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWdO6VLq43
Mary looked behind her, where386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi6wMUxW2B
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR3yB7KQbD
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCfb3DGes9
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAIePKVY2l
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Bwvkv5Qu
given to little Ethel.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot8T5iKYha
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXfzbRbMxW
Turning completely to keep a386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfZovrQYPN
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB0dV3wYE2
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl2HZkgaMp
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5ja4oHr7F
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEeaZ7ZMQf
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgw99ZlR9q
knew was that she hated it.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42OkMHKRq0
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOluBbDXCRf
Not even a month after Justin386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMsMm7GmnL
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XS1horSR3
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGJInTbFf1
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw6FJtFTqn
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1TAlgtUCg
eyes of his own two children.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tdgpYVw0l
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF4JGTZqFv
She was currently seven386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbnwwvtXGY
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEiwgPFkZq
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPbiEU6O9Q
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9C0FIbs3Q
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqpAF6IL8w
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpUzURK1ZK
having an affair.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KmnQywnWs
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEWOTi9luQ
A hiss brushed past her lips,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7VUhBwRdY
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3w3dP5WNf
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRhTH3usIQ
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUqy7g5jf6
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHFikzC4UU
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0CiWHbTKT
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8vgiLSlfG
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjJat5N1nH
Just then, a whinny could be386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrON3KXncTm
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp7fGwfKhK
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGIR493xmL
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpk6TurAl7
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDSVcKfi5N
her or her girls.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVqA60ST6z
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDdAFfS0zU
Waiting by the porch, rifle386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vL2yx8p6u
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus6TMGsnWB
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cAzwXOMRq
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZYzkn1isw
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqrKS1hWqi
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiQ5D43LEE
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GOreUDULT
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fUdZvnxTa
She didn’t dare to hope, but386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEbs796BZm
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxgBDV4uZg
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y8J5w5iUx
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL14sn0ukP
the dirt ground hard and painfully.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0vXl9zHnM
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXuD7Ohmyo
It wasn’t Justin.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZlEczjLA0
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNYmj2JwQw
The man walked up briskly,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6ysEwvmf4
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtogCdRTSdd
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0DN6wja9w
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu3qU2VCur
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonJ2wbzPkS
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iU30ZCfHM
She forced the lump down her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QTNTiHFjk
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbr3aSMEp6
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwvC4rPreZ
He ran a shaky hand through386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j6HT8iyrV
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxddzcxhUfQ
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHCQzrcIx4
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81dgo39swI
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOFyjInEIU
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9lmBIkqtz
Shock filled her at first.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEpBU1bN5S
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yyr2WcInr
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Yf3gDi9AD
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxhDMpKp4z
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLbcTHluFb
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtZFOyCT9P
asked her softly.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA6pgB9biZ
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yTr57tNHF
The tears raged down her face386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ppoy9FSGw
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ek1EiGF0e
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh6opsWoP0
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QEFpBVdP8
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqROPBChW6L
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI8uZduXKu
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLesj4Xdncq
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3swqIpguS
The small girl had tears in her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh4ZqPEelc
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ToOfJcNKG
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcptBTVbP6
Mary hated to think of it386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTHKek6OIu
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMc4Nz7yRu
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO1blfeOgB
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNh0MZOIwd
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgiHIRGJMi
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDae4bANphF
Her heart ached so much386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmoSSLNSIP
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnxSn40Um6
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1uP9eqMZ0
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlzl5VFpcg
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD2Cu5n7mU
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jZ61M5axi
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs622WCAll9
chance to do or see.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQac0VHXL0
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqguNB36ed
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkpqafkrjB
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PaW6ksbZz
……386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky6j7zkeAq
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMpKv48Ajn
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifSwMCJ96F
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRaQu3ujDJ
For several days, the Daniels386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo3hxA915u
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQszOU75HgV
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmgFHcwEMp
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOg8rE9GwN
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1natsYUPbf
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHKsQkhL5E
as the news of their father’s death.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyBzWuKx4b
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCCmLfmlSI
Ida and Ethel, while still386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g0pZu6NA6
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBzEbhP88I
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOYztIMXhA
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyB1Bb2Li4
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcbhBRndxu
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzgw5STNyb
It was barely a week after386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorYyPN4sYh
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21TKHv09dY
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdbswDMHCk
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6ffMhBAVl
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMusw71Ljp
Just as she was getting up to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ9S32iOXl
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUGQfMCUvL
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AKtrLCuvP
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVbx5Kn8XE
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvVwMEPpXJ
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUMwgqnu7l
It’s to early, she said in386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE6AjrlZoF
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwDFD30CR3
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc7apt59lB
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjII0qcbLZ
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ygexhseQ
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUARlbVcLBz
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDzQtTPzXH
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjT1dy8PAS
Braving through her fear for386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhgd0Hk2i9
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8ncLIzZNK
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cD6vavpft
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCNzrWgz5I
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSKgKcyxq1
The seven year old wasted no386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVtzhwZpuc
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadXCcTui6r
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdkq9ucJhC
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5Zyejm8Ak
gave them a snap.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNGQkJGDUD
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyMaVh8uea
Only half an hour later, she386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QyqePXOb2
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvacg1QB60e
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5uAoFuCrv
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6NRmTNifX
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKujsfcEUjG
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgimu3LvWQ1
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjvjtc8SGH
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpjmavm5Yx
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPEISc2SS3
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthn99LL34j
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfahrO5NBC0
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBj2YqoqzD
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILllb28htz
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIiYBdgjcu
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrjxBtExN9
Hours passed by, and the only386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSnZs6jgui
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrkerpj4XH
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VbLI9yd5v
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbBE9fvsXD
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSwQIvsTHq
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg0V6rMkt0
It was well into the night,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjomZFRgtk
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK7QsiWFNG
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnDfs3TmDV
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8prz99e1FE
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPQMhaFVOH
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8UQjTEwZ9
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPJ6ZxGEP7
And so it was. Two days of386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVRcdqaOIl
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP4WBgbbEl
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBURjayM8M
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt4UwWC4jE
actually giving birth.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ied3Ww4gJ
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DDASj6nid
And then the third day came.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaCeQGiX0w
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXyI5sTFH3
It hit them all, like a386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4frdob9DU
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHoCGNH1Ea
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpVBcSGwf2
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtXu7IEfqp
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXfHVThizI
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedMvUqnxWw
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsFwOBJPbx
That night was long and hard.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtqyDwOcvh
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6qCthm0yX
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04hbiKb6gz
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtfXhiDm1f
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9lfWZhodv
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaD4mrfRNy
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ79nm1ByI
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryuGTS1yo5
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77QlM4aVVb
“So?” He said nervously.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRr6pzeYvg
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAeiX498vC
Her smile, still, didn’t386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7FavfcOO8
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaezvuztE0
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtXrGNYw6l
whispered.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdtrhxaSee
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztC5gIa8tV
Mark sighed and shook his386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7njTwX2cdQ
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pjWLiLfYc
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVNAzAYFnn
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolui1LkYB3
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzcIx00hYy
She chewed on her lip. “I386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelygRxKWKH
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFhxT5Gl7C
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAESfnZ0xvB
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EpcczcD5H
“What’s her name?”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJExBbNfJL
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwqsn5qwuJ
Leah smiled again, having386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRieI1e0iM
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUBmoQUSzS
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFNjYQ6Nq0
that it was perfectly suited.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeA6PLRPnL
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNNHacG27b
Mark knew, all to well, how386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCLOXObuCy
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFciTffvyCw
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi9hQHmyQO
Margaret Hope Daniels.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn27aJCG39i
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSepIlWizm
He wrapped and arm around his386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIku7w6de3
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCA6g2d2IQ
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDZbQGmDPu
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrtNpYre56
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKMPrtAg1X
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEywWv6fTVN
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqtSyBtyXh
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj1E6UCSWG
father; it was a painful thought.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kEOjOU9wi
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2zX7TAyyZ
Mary’s head snapped up to her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2fmCW0svh
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lJigiNLmY
them gently, yet eagerly.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlid1JJjjQ
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqkDEvWRx9
They came in and stood beside386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHujDCPCSTz
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1stlrBTKfu
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFDlmkqWOl
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIP5lGm4PH
The exhausted mother managed386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SGv6Badtx
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeJLKNWZ01
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrHFvhhgKQ
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCOiRe3cLE
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgdiD4ju56
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShyzHcv8sB
with all of us.” She whimpered.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfV531yc09
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMf4Lc9Emt
The Avery’s embraced her and386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIaQx31iRm
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzH9mirO3M
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzM8Z3Ym05
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwe1GY7gIO
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JC4uaDhWx
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3tfiPrN0B
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
