279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCSWCXBITN
It was a cold and dark day.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkkfEtU0jN
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE52MBH8kDR
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Cdhc4lqF8
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDbtMCCsQC
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QOSqECWrZ
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaLKyqzPb8
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HmIMeJjen
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarUqO5Wq9d
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8YZJtZ3Ff
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCZnUrR964
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF79r7RefN
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV4E2w79S2
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEj5E8JSVA
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoMo0GWmS7
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcCv9TYNs9
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtRHeNjbL8
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vn6XjUqLd
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G4iWpTZC3
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAsHqyHgxG
and respect him, until death do you part?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidfFsMGKOQ
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjJ8KznA2E
She couldn’t help it; her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK83CB8rJ93
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBltuoNTnJ
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWu1tlUeQp
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RWrdequmN
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSbCmcgEyK
“Then, without further wait,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OSPRAm7zj
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvFZIbICug
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSARYPJ70n
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfi4SARjtb
Not waiting a second longer,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2L3yVDH4D
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gxivSNbTS
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WoAKJN0yw
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8vG5CPuIr
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ELn2Zp1k4
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh8ySbd75m
After the marriage ceremony,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWQPHuzxUf
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDUB1ZWFMi
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFbz0WT3rx
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZRRecCMlf
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j9Yjy9hKH
Avery, went first.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJrE72AVCH
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lVm7m3qnr
“I have known Justin and Mary279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiYqHQ5b9Z
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M1twMIoCO
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aqluNbLuw
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFaqkoYyUG
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgZBez6lHT
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFLXjSLFU4
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU3OkpXdB1
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LEflfQthl
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJpy0UR5ih
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy9RQxjlL1
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h9LHCF763
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRIOl8VaKn
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJbF4laj0N
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCio4rO2d3
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDN2nY9LDd
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX026dpciAO
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlblNtWPjb
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqu3eXi2e8
took a swig of their whisky.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKDGnA2CKk
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuOg3H6w9r
After the bride and groom279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCg2SYle0j
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zIyPvp4Zd
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8Y2uiO28L
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvtUv2pceP
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0VxAGuudL
constantly.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYPBzw40Fk
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHeAoL01AP
Hoots of fun-filled laughter279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x00CbEa8u
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiaQA14m7P
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7HmMV6o5G
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4YM5bbAiZ
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPnfubfAx9
came that night.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouc5CPZ0HS
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy973ZBWVH
That was seven years ago,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0l3PFS8eN
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvHiG0PXOl
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AKKygzDK1
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2gBawWfjW
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2M0Qqg7Nx
Present day279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoRsy3AaB5
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafo3mfY6U4
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhAXBV7zHQ
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5yAnIOdSf
She was bleak, weary, and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZhKUYHNYg
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtibs9CMat
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqnSFWvv6q
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhTGtCRqaF
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOZHlyNblQ
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKzVCBkvB0
Mary looked behind her, where279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP5Z76TULB
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBG30jFnYY
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqjPECPFeW
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMGsnWE0fq
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr3jm2m0Df
given to little Ethel.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQneDd3CCg
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXPtEioGds
Turning completely to keep a279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIvGc2zIhu
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBfNAp3Ojz
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP4yuE2KeO
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr4gLhoCbC
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywDBqCE0c1
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhdqhiu55Y
knew was that she hated it.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesiai96qjc
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZouoaY3OR
Not even a month after Justin279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecDYqOLZiV
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVyJPNadeH
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1UC7XXV5p
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f75rCCFI5
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ289hdVmVNt
eyes of his own two children.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1FoAonlH4
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDLlSISTlh
She was currently seven279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP8FQXL8Ef
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu01gmE6klF
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiWQNcO9Tw
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiREuwhO7e
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k0yzrVinf
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWXkVngWL3
having an affair.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkDDOEAr4z
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiy6mcEt70
A hiss brushed past her lips,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHgLvlbD6o
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtPJxttSCW
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UHIs7P8ED
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKymjOl40a
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAb47erRdEu
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR6i2Rx7EZ
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1EGhWG2G7
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3prS5lnAmf
Just then, a whinny could be279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUKZknbmPp
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGY6otdOtR
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrNSqAwFMI
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGswI55TCP
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Svy3Q6iUO
her or her girls.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw6Tn9DylT
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOPPQ2fIdQ
Waiting by the porch, rifle279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjYyF5FQSL
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEajuOPHehP
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uqZVjAfGq
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IHFsQxBt8
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsE6xtYFeh
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBEHc0FtYh
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgzJvjeIky
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVW8ffQ6J4
She didn’t dare to hope, but279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WHIZoXh6P
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHOLb9vKBh
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmljuzfTm8
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibV8qdUAmq
the dirt ground hard and painfully.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU6TnAefLv
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9vWdp7s3u
It wasn’t Justin.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgMAuhFLsx
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gWya8iDRO
The man walked up briskly,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyRbR9DjPY
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai8QwhBtim
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cRQkpBIKx
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BmFFbsEvx
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEguOvT0NOE
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF12noHtUl
She forced the lump down her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VC0y9Sqou
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNSrw7Dx2a
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuultfv8C6o
He ran a shaky hand through279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wVoRUznt4
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoKC31ZP8z
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfINStEk2P5
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFB1WW8SqH
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEzax3vItH
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDRQv7hpsb
Shock filled her at first.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OgXPIEg1T
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI5uic4eeE
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VWgm9PNTo
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M2CXCitmS
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaiFF6dDlz
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYz5j67bIh
asked her softly.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqzEVDsMeS
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n0mwKTOVJ
The tears raged down her face279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqKh4dUDWU
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw4EofYAfJ
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajBaWlrYND
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMzR7objuU
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVn4UE0T4p
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmKHkYjYVJ
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kHo49OTVm
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTsqlSfVEA
The small girl had tears in her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPXv9R6YiB
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxeCdArof7
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTPkUzUJ8X
Mary hated to think of it279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUYe6uSYxO
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc0fbK4moP
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrYqdJHxI9
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnxYhnNbpK
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ8fy3Sqby
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZ33unXkpx
Her heart ached so much279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr82DarI9cK
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOVdhAZR7i
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbUJXz1DvD
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT4lFujm0u
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNw4bB9ww7
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9krV4lRjO
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78n875mgfx
chance to do or see.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoloDnElEy
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNQWtGlSMi
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zeYSMWU0H
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqezsByfCce
……279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBpDytu0qe
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuC1OHbbcp
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsl7XIZKas
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQJhcXB0b1
For several days, the Daniels279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WrLUFtpGV
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbifMLtoDx
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYMjMG9B7u
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Qo4HyxuZ0
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOXQD7B7NI
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjaSFq9nGs
as the news of their father’s death.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy0GD3l1aS
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdvKrP50NI
Ida and Ethel, while still279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEufzl60lPi
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEksdug7sb
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8I21CXtCJ
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvub26pgdaU
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWrwm5sykt
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5Wf39KY9Q
It was barely a week after279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2TCT3YYxk
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe2Vj82X6K
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMGua1gBv6
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxYBEhlZZE
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyxDTrJpuq
Just as she was getting up to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw0gP1sTlN
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRaeZkeL4H
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlrREuMU4k
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKVJWhevjV
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeFoIGac60
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnePsKM82U
It’s to early, she said in279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zUlXvLhoW
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP6c6eZnD6
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89qEW11ZjO
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNTcFqULbX
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIdDqwbh90
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS1YFUOS6V
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF27f0gvCt
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IZdl2M5dQ
Braving through her fear for279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTprggHLLO
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWLLEfPoC9
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zo4xjspe3
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDJsGoqxgT
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmH8uL7Ca5
The seven year old wasted no279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhKdxafUBL
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyjwJ33n4L
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmo8ttyXwh
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kAxSaAwnC
gave them a snap.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFP3eOVkqk
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzUMEBYiiR
Only half an hour later, she279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQa1HdbPf1
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnBqpfumfo
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRADZVYfIFK
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3glw6cIUy
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77RRLeEPUW
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCMsyZ3eHT
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5oEEqOfZv
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fG5AwiC5o
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHDn4yWF4l
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclwIwbF1uG
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sK5RJCjUp
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8ffsy1caR
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhOKYqoxLa
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMx4jDVqUh
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2WGtWT9fj
Hours passed by, and the only279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8nXMkAMZ2
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPJyVMlL5e
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKt8GLC4vV
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpTIyeJfn8
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVy52ZJmvB
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sT3RK6K5v
It was well into the night,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3DoiuuYeA
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnhSjGgPd1
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9Es87xJwL
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDWPzWLT7g
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNqIzYIuBI
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPs5SZNL59
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUGkiuX2Ik
And so it was. Two days of279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7tNkHFRm9
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mHGOTclcD
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wVLdjexiZ
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59JmTMmN7v
actually giving birth.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72EEJGeFBX
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTAfNSDT3m
And then the third day came.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U1xBeiIYF
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72bR9aUg7O
It hit them all, like a279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFyBWOmsoH
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKShOcYfte
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSowc5icWYN
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc8gZtoqhK
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwv5b6ELjt
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgduGzztxxk
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLy7nd4CZN
That night was long and hard.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngraAbmbaj
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN1gh5ixtV
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6U5lGB5mk
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDHM5JuJ0B
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP2fNBm6Is
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXkVslNBfb
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU2JGsB2VM
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Aqibyn2x5
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bMgRuOPB3
“So?” He said nervously.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmuZGpuJdy
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG5fTDVag4
Her smile, still, didn’t279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFA4oyBKvU
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq65VTX67z
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk4o7Gh3fA
whispered.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAEh1Vdyxd
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrglHe3paV
Mark sighed and shook his279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKClPRoSDM
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg29oN2vZ8
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXkOHml609
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV7cad3cHs
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZQqnJr5oX
She chewed on her lip. “I279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa1LeQFa8N
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fb82t5EYw
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h02dY8niP
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSTUhoYVXQ
“What’s her name?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yN8esOYi5
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8xJH8OzDH
Leah smiled again, having279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAdW7n1bRL
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2U1c5FQ2Tw
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOZbouEOhj
that it was perfectly suited.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EyAwFHDPw
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnvCLRVGiN
Mark knew, all to well, how279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcW5ORAdeI
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB9Cewcr69
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTWiccHuSS
Margaret Hope Daniels.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39eMsp93gs
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6r9GUD1UQ
He wrapped and arm around his279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ryhx3xAli
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG42wIdTbOE
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uQFKyzjpE
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNn6HP9AjF
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0wYlM7oV8
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64uvGU8Ta8
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNag25isFw2
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d4sOQ95fb
father; it was a painful thought.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXgrd5AWlC
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxclwWDO9J
Mary’s head snapped up to her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacn8ARRiuR
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bc3v73xK6
them gently, yet eagerly.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvZ7coQqMO
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7SfhoxTbs
They came in and stood beside279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBeGNILcKn
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeYr2Ba5ME
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfdWf3jL09
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mZzOn37Iq
The exhausted mother managed279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc6IVo38ht
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDFlB6sd4Y
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZoip3e0fE
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS1belXnPo
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB1hKOYf9z
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9U0os6RXI
with all of us.” She whimpered.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBNBek48oQ
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJrXzYLkz4
The Avery’s embraced her and279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3qUdgXTNf
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF1gaUEThM
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a52ioAr3W
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9A5AJAIOQ
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHaQWnj8lB
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU2F4hnLgA
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
