396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzcWf8KSPF
It was a cold and dark day.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c3KkLuUd9
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAuj4qvO2s
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQesWIvY3H
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ0L0u72rT
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sMKzXPwV2
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaQ3gfyg3h
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfZE8sNdCK
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUaA36HdFz
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrC9BNNRuL
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugVtfzdHMP
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5bV0Ko49c
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoSxM6oAev
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadaM8oDjW1
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKxWrQCh8w
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr0Z2iLSah
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Lm1arHmF
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zExI64Dq2
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydxw5vO9UC
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIojquieX3
and respect him, until death do you part?”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOOZECUZvD
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVENnxaUSk5
She couldn’t help it; her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhQUdTd4xV
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IOsCbx8zp
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqJGjc550t
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Su1HOwBeY
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcmQn6uDie
“Then, without further wait,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIawT069g5q
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLDbLJsZh0
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa4HgVKRIT
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXbWoI6x2d
Not waiting a second longer,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWivD7WSSW
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbavsuYooOZ
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKEYj3t1W3
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUHpGgrWxt
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1KM8PkM76
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gXRZwNXIU
After the marriage ceremony,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8KoO1khXH
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsRIaraOZ0
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzs0Xcl5Ap
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQPYMam3Xh
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYz1Sdcjh5
Avery, went first.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXciqt9ULk
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLImN4jmEnA
“I have known Justin and Mary396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvWTjDPKgl
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmauBeWTDp9
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyZIrVo6vP
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGh93vdXki
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9pbPuoKJd
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnG667sLdX
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECC5mWbqG8
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjPEt0TWZg
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVk9aUdRQn
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8GiclBYVl
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYtlRft9jX
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNr2xRMtUf
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOliHD1PXgA
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhYAIoUqnW
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGelf622NAi
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8orPtw2YBw
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8zT8D3Ff6
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVcvTSe7Uj
took a swig of their whisky.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HUh3lHHey
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQgidyfMUP
After the bride and groom396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtROo2O5dI
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IFFoxDpl5
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfYVIJEUMX
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMNgWn7TT9
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCE7cq5dPJ
constantly.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5j8DuEFbB
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXUw1KTgUj
Hoots of fun-filled laughter396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItyCYC2KMm
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGzCd1n6Qf
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUeF75jUFQ
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAc0Ea8vZl
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOtnpwZKkr
came that night.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhcQJGiXcP
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5US25dUPHz
That was seven years ago,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruIbJOpX75
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRObcklpNk
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfnohRL6ps
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9XSKV1CRZ
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50JQruo0bi
Present day396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UO6LuBiyZ
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWAEduYFT2
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJISFW9OjeW
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYSOlBObgT
She was bleak, weary, and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j1v9SJb5w
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA03Yz1xjuy
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VBfuM1wVA
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v0BV3gUOJ
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5uNMCPGsP
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQmCmr0uOe
Mary looked behind her, where396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7Ny70pgjh
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Ci9dtgRr
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NMps9eSCs
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIAoOPgKyi
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcZZfeM0O2
given to little Ethel.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibli3FNUzr
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOka3rdFtwN
Turning completely to keep a396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Xj6h24Ts
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp54Dkz6Fn
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNOGVOuYnN
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSwSy25wnL
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlRZW71ZgS
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbQ89e5mgV
knew was that she hated it.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq3rlpnMtM
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCCSqlFKNt
Not even a month after Justin396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ2ZDu4K9f
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQgHr6L3AQ
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgRx8yYkTs
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdbU19hqVb
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrSKIHjCfo
eyes of his own two children.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nlMG04FJ8
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cdZ7fXMjl
She was currently seven396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLZgiYtx1F
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzDbUkifF8
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUOjrOj2dk
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNEPcpJA3Q
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzpYLM7uV7
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8qCHbKbYY
having an affair.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UB7GEenbb
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H81kddmBA
A hiss brushed past her lips,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlewHNXvBq
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIcFppejip
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MBDCYyEb0
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRxcEs3TfZ
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s1p2p13fj
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNILbQQbx8
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFg0dOrVLi
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuCjEjqA6F
Just then, a whinny could be396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq71Zy50WD8
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLJgGSzGmU
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNAw6oxgTY
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCT6IM4qoX
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wYvvsv759
her or her girls.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IJNzw9BPr
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2pYqepn80
Waiting by the porch, rifle396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GYOykakSH
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFko7edseU
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBe59KwKom
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZqt2v9P2g
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNn5XLO7Zz
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2nXFMe3y0
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdnv3KJqR8
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel8SXGTPbF
She didn’t dare to hope, but396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG4NkiYfUC
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyogn4m45H
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzNwU9L9QE
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Me6G0XVwT
the dirt ground hard and painfully.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdK8FJohIK
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wdszl1e5m
It wasn’t Justin.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaJ0BstZcb
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EniYFieno
The man walked up briskly,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHo2AXx57T
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ257npJroab
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVprbAb6lpF
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5GteWilpT
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp4TRQGPFG
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S6RdPnCbd
She forced the lump down her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJayGofj1il
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnAc98WssC
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzqsJ7UduE
He ran a shaky hand through396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMLwJ8rulE
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsE69PjqiQ
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSmBLy3sjS
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6g3dvEWc8
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDz89cTlV2
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuFYykQkeA
Shock filled her at first.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFCe5UVyYn
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuiGPtQoXH
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH9gaK8Fvr
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzz2qz4SVZ
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI2bxC1Te0
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNkXYycHWZ
asked her softly.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysOH8cRQFA
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF78l4Wrdx
The tears raged down her face396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUbUqqySoF
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF1G1zUjMw
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iZbSJuMBB
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFsZINROjZ
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQObn0t8jbo
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGAlHGrr16
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4UHOkFhzr
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dpeZ5f3eC
The small girl had tears in her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1gtYP6Xsd
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULs1Flbncc
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9JqCmU7zc
Mary hated to think of it396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWsXIMIDoO
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ygz8H7hPy
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLKniSfSS1
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQE09ynRSC
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT37EPohvIS
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg94yU1QqcC
Her heart ached so much396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwEDVPfPSa
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLx1wXT6f3
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdQAjr8NNO
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMihqBuQvS
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbTTZYuGPr
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtSV3hdTMO
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLMnZQbjBZ
chance to do or see.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIQDm4mmnH
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA5IGZ8suP
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtjHB3FHTs
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp3Z0ysG7N
……396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEutXNxmJog
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnYnGq9IEJ
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeoEE5PZSj
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xzFgDNEQu
For several days, the Daniels396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfIvMmaX2K
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGvrwyhsdi
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElY0UcJoPN
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXm0pSEkCNM
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZXfrc6MXQ
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HQSO7tU2P
as the news of their father’s death.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3hplF0tq6
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjoT4muBzQ
Ida and Ethel, while still396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG8yjo9uts
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLycqGf7Xq
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBItuYNb93
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOqNyyhfLp
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcjQ5KkUGI
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30DuMuC3bP
It was barely a week after396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc5eakDKvi
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfs9sVzLSV
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8E8gYDvB1
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWZt1LwZjH
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EznsCYcx5
Just as she was getting up to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2HSFjzwqA
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvP0irKwaL
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwxXihkwfy
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ojs304bXY
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr0lLJNnmJ
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZiIh0othh
It’s to early, she said in396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfMvzy1PCf
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cD1Y1n7Bf
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAJYG3RrLp
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB9TSGApq1
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcde97auhkb
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCKVpPIOUW
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uRn6VZYoO
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94HJSOGgw1
Braving through her fear for396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKfy49THZv
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9XGVqLeLr
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXdkGsklkY
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo15zjsDG6K
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCcnFyjDOj
The seven year old wasted no396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7LRa8IXk5
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLKO7Co7f3
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kDMT2l96x
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMewWTSiH0
gave them a snap.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZDxZo7kyi
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuYwKK19ou
Only half an hour later, she396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf865yxRcS
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8qeQyeOiJ
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2kWylBp11
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b4lKBdKyB
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz2qVxrlLp
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe8EtM5wFT
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBaH4Eshly
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkUDsAzbyK
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZnHlufQrj
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0pljIAzjk
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mQikFHE11
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdNa3lOCGX
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4sJc1Mq74
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqh1qjQggp
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBqFWcUHfF
Hours passed by, and the only396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6bdGGE4GI
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBiifJxQ7J
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tW9RCchOE
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zGmVFXxUg
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB6izJ4boK
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFreIildnLM
It was well into the night,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVYtwhytMP
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqjBc9XQqV
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd8CYsHKKs
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5A9mWu9uw
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcYdAJ3Y0J
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH5oQwN1C9
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucyRdYGTYn
And so it was. Two days of396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1s32PlgyW
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDNSIZARBf
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeW0PCFx5t
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7WGYQry0Q
actually giving birth.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv946WgaFp
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunsNLHIP10
And then the third day came.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OVqw7B3Vo
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJZ8rzNz9P
It hit them all, like a396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRpDLUPF40
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVPvdRGA44
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1XM9vIuDW
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYVFD3tTky
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpApaq79eac
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc6QgbV31k
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hnxS0XLYM
That night was long and hard.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFhToikMZk
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwbBSpOOoM
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr7lqNRK03
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXkhyfYHjQ
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ7yFhz4OU
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8jE8hrs2N
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFtz5fhn56
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLSM2PBu6b
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1HDW8JEKa
“So?” He said nervously.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OOnVcM2I6
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAdqJDusbA
Her smile, still, didn’t396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRCO32k0uq
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2aXqrXKdh
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv88wVAuUxw
whispered.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cBmiGBPy6
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqbbtSJY63
Mark sighed and shook his396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGJKUbr2Xd
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUo105VF9e
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6wYu8brnb
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfxwcwkksB
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lsMiFTP0s
She chewed on her lip. “I396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIHvTPhQd1
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8wxP8kTU7
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOInnNN6bcg
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy4ky18lKr
“What’s her name?”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcwcwN4SBQ
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9BHjMHOJE
Leah smiled again, having396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0DwQXjKbE
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wzlb51YdM
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThK6wjloTs
that it was perfectly suited.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDki0U1BGX
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXjZcsYP8n
Mark knew, all to well, how396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9xJQxcYhQ
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGMpyxwQYq
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k2NYbxKw0
Margaret Hope Daniels.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDqQZEBpxn
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM24FGt7mhR
He wrapped and arm around his396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPHozF9MUT
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Al5zqJvs2
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFkHhaUQBv
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY9hO1QWmn
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLk71HW5Z4
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJWZKJ2Lmu
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6UGXU9ICW
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuU3DYYc67
father; it was a painful thought.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E7VRMII8i
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5XOg3pnMA
Mary’s head snapped up to her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbg2YZ4Ddv
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1blbch4J08
them gently, yet eagerly.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MW0PIIKAY
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdtfalwx1V
They came in and stood beside396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAser95WbG
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqHRR7c9X5
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvMPoimdWt
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTBbbCopCL
The exhausted mother managed396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoyGXFskH7
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO3jzNcXXz
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaOwNjEq9D
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInv0qYGflS
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2KIMc3SEd
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvhmreznoK
with all of us.” She whimpered.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20uujLJ1Ix
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVunzps8aYg
The Avery’s embraced her and396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghyI7qwEQt
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj2JcYaOV6
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqkBtlXy3y
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bP90Oy12W
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBLJ7pveTn
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKHYCBskG1
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
