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It was a cold and dark day.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf31t7zY0dp
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8YP9u62l8
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8IMGY2wA1
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5O9iqd5cm
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPGg1Zq7cA
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6CVYbEhVK
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“Do you, Justin Daniels, take403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsZIIpuHMh
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYKo88ekyT
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhphapAKsz
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0z5nBcUha
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Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwXxnNtZhn
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxGkFkYNrD
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2cb22rbMM
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Then turning to Mary, Jacoby403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdc1Gs4jfF
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1nxoK8opj
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko2LOrKoAw
and respect him, until death do you part?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgo50oZbaJ
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She couldn’t help it; her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwNAi7fvyb
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdZoLyKCat
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1cWaJytgd
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3eb2oAjwy
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“Then, without further wait,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cPUZWpclf
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2NtZXXVvy
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi73Jk18lZ
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Not waiting a second longer,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7Wcf7xsZk
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J2N8Mzj4O
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDd804pDzU
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg83AaZIjBB
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrenT0I279
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After the marriage ceremony,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVClp8sLClN
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOEqrQbHPi
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DeERgRNVO
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUre1QF0kqu
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bcmXHgaf8
Avery, went first.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxZ7yviVA4
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“I have known Justin and Mary403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m1QQcNtut
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xDq2u2WGD
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk27nVFH5O
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUhGB1uW8G
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV0tE6fmDR
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JAjXMztK7
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcTFCowCeW
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMKNsRCstc
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxikvYPhyG
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Mary’s maid of honor, Leah403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowDGvimFTN
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJA8eftzeK
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdApS6akvHt
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaqAVulyS7
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXSpGNcvAV
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AMItnZ8n2
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgopTY8Nafj
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30H122B2y5
took a swig of their whisky.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay66kAMbw8
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After the bride and groom403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwtBXFsf91
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHFGXRrKOL
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb45JMi7cg
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbCibZxI90
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNWKkkF4p6
constantly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7J23Hj3Cr
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Hoots of fun-filled laughter403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fZFyZh4n7
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN2pSzpIUy
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o76nBUwyQ
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz9toXJP3C
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0FmSWHcGA
came that night.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7gkF5xjll
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That was seven years ago,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMeiP6SxsS
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2xBSNcW7V
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403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI5pO46HyP
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Present day403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBym5NcZVLu
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She was bleak, weary, and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBl8IS09oO
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPa8lq0luD
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcoEUoyptH
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mWptVgesF
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTS8BqiyrA
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSmC0wyflb
Mary looked behind her, where403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmLNMggaOq
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMMJzJuLSS
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagKoHdVFSt
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuyShZzD9E
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBTMZTIjzS
given to little Ethel.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8VvM104J7
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Turning completely to keep a403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmuJZM8oCb
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH7XoPTXjL
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAXdbqneEl
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr7QDDUG3p
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEkDC9OlC6
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOwQrGCWVY
knew was that she hated it.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GefnIl38E
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Not even a month after Justin403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgLtit0FwL
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5nLTTzYoG
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWprPDjwgst
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIoPf8pCgz
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRRmBNWeu9
eyes of his own two children.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC2htH62cY
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She was currently seven403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKC3fMIMWn
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0T7lP7kde
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhwlDIiPrK
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgowL5fPUU9
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3fQvxHXew
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FPjz3tyv6
having an affair.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCukyEYGnj
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A hiss brushed past her lips,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyCL1KfA8l
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvfTFTOLzJ
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3fxsIP757
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVZxMHmwqZ
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7zIkkueZ1
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ9rWbaQpv
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozqkFp69D9
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Just then, a whinny could be403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGduW08AgLP
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P4Acw7h6v
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFPRvii8EW
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6kXXFcrMM
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK1mIkGrsi
her or her girls.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfifd7RSfsg
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Waiting by the porch, rifle403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ph7TOf80B
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxuoQgYEle
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAlaLB0uwW
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ku9T9PxVt
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF7CRUGhYq
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4f5KFzbIl
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqkGVqO7J7
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She didn’t dare to hope, but403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8xLdY3gKq
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROowrfeXNC
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UOhvF1EQz
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi1tYNPZaM
the dirt ground hard and painfully.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCusRMxU1NZ
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It wasn’t Justin.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20JfI7JZ4X
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The man walked up briskly,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9ZSXqGJQy
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt34zxNJNYy
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKEhGO511M
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon5moiGsai
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJLoFAgVEQ
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She forced the lump down her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuUeGTwKIJ
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYnihD5OVQ
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He ran a shaky hand through403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdmPs2Q3PS
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwegU6Wq4oG
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFzB12Rv5q
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1YziRt4DT
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzhBe4eOTs
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Shock filled her at first.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNfLrbCM74
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwVwGci6YH
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVq4NlxHlW
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT23efZqSSH
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“Daddy coming home?” Ethel403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhg5G4VZPk
asked her softly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvS4eT5SUf
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The tears raged down her face403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJarOcuedfF
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xy1oE9H6e
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwgkDVPYzx
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmfXk96Ga4
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkbG9AayJ6
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ycuLHTHFt
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnr04n8WUkM
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The small girl had tears in her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYmJCdMu5H
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLwz972Sbi
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Mary hated to think of it403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC75j8sEMt
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1rdyKFHvA
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3VbeCz05O
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLOUTEfFnf
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD35zxhF8N
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Her heart ached so much403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrOLksuXVv
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaPKkueSOZ
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn2CLXlAnw
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZRtaA6Qqf
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNy463LNKE
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qvY01xluk
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMzI6zGG0L
chance to do or see.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtYINDGlOH
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……403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRmJMZMdR4
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For several days, the Daniels403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOXmeVxPIo
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWgFpwkm53
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S6poheJLv
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2pQlwS7M0
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx6SsVNv2I
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH6F4f438D
as the news of their father’s death.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4errmch3dy
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Ida and Ethel, while still403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1RZmfLnP8
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgmPc07bYv
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe5CVafz4F
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CO07CVTdd
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN2yUghPGm
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It was barely a week after403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY5uy1Ce89
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUldBlJIsw
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvQ460aJPN
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBbWlj8Z2f
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Just as she was getting up to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU2NwBhW7L
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZMFs39A0n
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdwzf9s4GF
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdVxeph2So
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvPMW6yKNa
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It’s to early, she said in403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0kWjXZb95
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2Jd5NgNLP
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNanWTXGy9t
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfThJoW1zT
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqCOHE1Ccc
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrT5ymHeTA
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm8GILJEuK
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Braving through her fear for403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96RLD7YF6b
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jWU0cQ0yq
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV9lZ7Dm7e
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJKdfQ5Gum
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv7HtymKbi
The seven year old wasted no403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7jaYWWLXd
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4mgfwL8wA
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO05FTHemw
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fxAMjOYWn
gave them a snap.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUqgjEYEIo
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Only half an hour later, she403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsuJ3KLMqZ
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSThACC05Y
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBScL8pHcu
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKmB74oytX
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c588pX5kD
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIerNH3X4H
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKT9LXYgmG
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL75FqE8eM
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGMCeyCE8E
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgpt8MzMmz
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMQnJMfshp
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaVmSlcppB
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWY8USj13z
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfuM2Hx20b
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Hours passed by, and the only403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSHKjgxykR
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYhAtvn911
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0osY11cG54
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLvgzCjYlx
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB81uTlW6g
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It was well into the night,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc00jFSkt5z
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma85qeahwf
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LUGsh195o
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtb1WeHik8P
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKClBKPcFrs
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby5ZzfSwQo
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKkmvzmucj
And so it was. Two days of403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipOt2vL2qU
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYn6cf9Fi2
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzUqbGbJD1
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90IMPQBN1e
actually giving birth.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdvGXXh1fV
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And then the third day came.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd3EHJe02M
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It hit them all, like a403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhrhNlxUp6
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkPwVnWXIS
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzfJn97qzR
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgizwpA4Qx
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcGNWmc9Mi
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4yVnrlxi7
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That night was long and hard.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUwQ2muhQX
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBsOhASd9e
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fmerTlnT4
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HWoktrwS4
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iAAMXLw3R
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9y2gYwcbu
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPYh3WNnlF
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cknlTqKrg
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“So?” He said nervously.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORZdpgH5rO
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Her smile, still, didn’t403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKxo7W1D0k
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnw5I1oW2i
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDQPw1GkgE
whispered.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs62myymNR
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5wtzwSUaX
Mark sighed and shook his403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyE8Pa9B4W
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mW7XZP9sy
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd18e82xfW
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkPJCVmOXo
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7G8NDn57t
She chewed on her lip. “I403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJdpTgIiRj
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWdSoI3yNX
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBc8rldMDF
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“What’s her name?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9Cy1IiypC
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Leah smiled again, having403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61JeBXszIG
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqwNL1XzUO
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E6lq3tfiH
that it was perfectly suited.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrsWxnjuPL
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Mark knew, all to well, how403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFXLJRFRq6
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKtF0HpBMe
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvcMbWMpsl
Margaret Hope Daniels.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJcxCyFMwy
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He wrapped and arm around his403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid6WiyAyXg
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHvDowMAZ7
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6PZGhPMJy
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HebqeNqGr
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1RJ3JY50O
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgl1dMacMe
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZJPJ8N3Mj
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IpooZ5Dct
father; it was a painful thought.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOaVpDyV9U
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ635ZZQwsyI
Mary’s head snapped up to her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHKsBjpd5z
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAJjepfkPn
them gently, yet eagerly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5QqDCIC4R
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They came in and stood beside403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxqB3FRcft
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ733am8gpHd
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKPHmqdl8A
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPgbTNi5L5
The exhausted mother managed403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfQF3CUyBR
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hwmTOV1TN
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfU9CQ0fgT
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdmXlyr2Bk
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizMrl6yFZ3
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQUwuOSNiB
with all of us.” She whimpered.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsllzKIzdCc
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The Avery’s embraced her and403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegPmrU46XA
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQXSPkTYFZ
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISoDiabGsC
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Vv8rZ3nkp
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOR5sWdEkq
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEojE1AVLb0
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
