405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9UwelimMS
It was a cold and dark day.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4ASrDSkTh
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M6cwk0kSc
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hV3LiSpEs
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cuoCraKmw
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdekfkRtAX
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS7cqDELYH
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfsz2hRiu7
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggnyj0gbj9
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vCf6hqSor
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsInGegh4eH
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjSJbIM2Jq
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfX6TpYY1rn
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgd6kEKgfO
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1KWQkBsfG
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyFiZZNySM
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUI8K4bKnx
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL4z1vge45
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOR8LeZiwp
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrRHyaC5Z7
and respect him, until death do you part?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOum3yJMCkP
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNBi6WPHQL
She couldn’t help it; her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaEd9bFofu
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI5DZIpkWB
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbQAqh3KpK
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zDGlCtDAh
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n32u0JZPU
“Then, without further wait,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThYGbCcMX8
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMTCBS1jgv
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ809BpQO9Ls
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMNOwrRuEd
Not waiting a second longer,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UgvRQGoqh
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEt3OlmkWG
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YR4Voza4y
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv01voSfBOl
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22A1Mvl1qP
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G80WpFn41
After the marriage ceremony,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl46KAZnx00
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD68b28fBor
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DEjSEG8ka
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR2exNvtp7
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjXkHNfDEB
Avery, went first.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8SZvzuSst
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4k5b8ue93
“I have known Justin and Mary405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgT0Wo694e
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJU6kRDanG
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI28Ctx53H
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHdqufm5Sm
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPFYW0AV18
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JVXi4pI0B
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnV385iV0V
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXhrZhlAz6
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb2X9msKp0
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmhuiKDNlB
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fGqTIL0J7
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh1aRFZdaR
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPav6AzveZ
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWeiCMUJjy
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtiwYugUod
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIydgvh4NXQ
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJa5KOw7aD
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I5MUDRvhi
took a swig of their whisky.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5CseNwqPS
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAZIkDgIXa
After the bride and groom405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76noJ3qILn
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJzjY8tlVN
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0w3jsjOiV
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI0SagMr8Y
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHHCZSXLew
constantly.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXtA7QY07u
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweySp5LPAw
Hoots of fun-filled laughter405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZtTv7hkB9
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSHYgHGaue
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AJu3ogXL4
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJZugM0PAW
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BX711D1cV
came that night.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOC4WQ7AUs
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpcupLOXgh
That was seven years ago,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31CmNnM9pP
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWvwNcMzI4
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSWo7Yfjhx
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphfh351XBM
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qj1upHZ2b
Present day405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPhzRf7PwA
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeIG2mFBRX
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZpNd2K4Yi
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIZCkbUfLu
She was bleak, weary, and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84pDgaYExf
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEfBJt7u7T
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRVKmNEVpC
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0wWHVWz6I
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMHLRPbgpt
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGZUcs97l4
Mary looked behind her, where405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc9rDQLnIj
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4csqTMRzAW
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSuEsfX4Ey
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmCgramO3b
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Re0ZMF2sT
given to little Ethel.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjukGQdKMMc
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStWo6gZLwX
Turning completely to keep a405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnkQAhXNiA
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGJSK9Sa4C
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5G2cSUgAN
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkufc7GuLL
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpgKQXPEAH
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx90N2EoX1z
knew was that she hated it.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpBZBIR0mv
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsuo6teIwU
Not even a month after Justin405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdKnaTRSw9
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TGUD6hYKN
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK6tTCuxjL
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTreUr1aENo
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHjbXgbS3c
eyes of his own two children.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufSLXi7LKb
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyKHnFigXV
She was currently seven405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEvdkOIYxj
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOxZJWA52W
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQL3yjbXKZ9
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpXM2ToDzh
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo45W1DiaBU
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTE0F1hPhA
having an affair.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7AIfaE9Y7
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpShwJGJrp3
A hiss brushed past her lips,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVWEyry0hF
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwxxvIyKUo
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVcAtsN5fZ
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ej7EbDwvY
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuArqmpaxr
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmJFiYnQE5
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuBLoJ7Rxx
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK98N2zuhu
Just then, a whinny could be405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELxGvZpnj6
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLR0oCfNTR
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJoGDiRn0t
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYWPshwDs7
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkHRO2s3MM
her or her girls.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRWimlDpz4
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDDvle0wN3
Waiting by the porch, rifle405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGyOSJg40F
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ye1vU8nt7
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIvgv302u0
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFum0lLkWnt
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhUfiCnLZr
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKPVtemWqq
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ji8BujbTd
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLzjpBmXwa
She didn’t dare to hope, but405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63f0qGiJG6
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMfDAPFmTr
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuiz111LDS
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3WmXj3zSV
the dirt ground hard and painfully.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MFkIJlE4W
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK9o2A6dPd
It wasn’t Justin.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1D0vAhGln
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzThbS9qqv
The man walked up briskly,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjLHT2Ogen
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlWmNCBg3a
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJCfBpOkru
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIcM1W3j2d
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsskaI5M7u
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtgCktFjOY
She forced the lump down her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlDEmjad0t
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUilRsgb5e1
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttKvI3ZgZn
He ran a shaky hand through405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI3S8JhG7i
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOxT1U5u53
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWbAX8phmI
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFgH5B3E3H
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKTEWaLBB8
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Nsznb5B5T
Shock filled her at first.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyEPsZLSax
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxXLQkgt6f
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdyN4nTJza
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDj1TWMFHx9
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvTlUXYcH6
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0MuwduyWG
asked her softly.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGicm5FXXi
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjUcezhVZ9
The tears raged down her face405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNnpn3DvqM
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4kHYx2Dcq
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2iSmckJxh
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewdibKc5gf
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgCiz06rPy
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLEH3QiPYC
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bLpzo4Fcl
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eSvrrErN9
The small girl had tears in her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwhSt9gFWE
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6IvsfzbWB
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D6U0DWN2o
Mary hated to think of it405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm0IIm3OS7
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClqUttmC6v
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHVyCMIz9o
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyKgdPboC6
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKAuAptZOG
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCFtQYi2aZ
Her heart ached so much405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m6h0txn3s
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEctkY7Odp
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3FnGmgBXj
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wIhW8IBkY
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tMABP61hh
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDtKNMR89T
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwkjUu2x7N
chance to do or see.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iXpo1U70e
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsgT9v2mWC
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbcOAGCEiY
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BjCgt2hO5
……405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3CFsDqfN6
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq57dPTqCK
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkNhwsXW3e
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b1JF6G4Oz
For several days, the Daniels405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5hkxAmnhS
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLljNS7P0rz
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJupMeoIlZ
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX1c7Xdbbi
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkwrPw241T
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP82KzZ6zUr
as the news of their father’s death.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZLVkCrSPM
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNEWBU9T0H
Ida and Ethel, while still405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5mxtQkHzt
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCYAT4Behp
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3ndhpOtsL
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK04Tl22MBK
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosWkepuxes
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhPUMXeK10
It was barely a week after405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n6ENoJAX9
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6guzZdHFH8
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZiEpt6qXQ
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa50bYNnCxP
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncJ2GtuqWB
Just as she was getting up to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6K1qOpy6k
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgH1HMJrqp
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWEKe9DUQb
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU0gt5qzkf
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhcryJGAB2
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yMMcRpOHu
It’s to early, she said in405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUYZJ0LM24
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM0IbM83go
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndzJ4s55F0
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJJ2sSL6AD
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb384W8QfRu
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp4ou6lSLD
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeg8unm4xc
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NC8gBNYGI
Braving through her fear for405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wmdeg8UmM
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatKFpntjsb
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB37o0YPNyw
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGaP0Q58A0
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG6eqDZGXW
The seven year old wasted no405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47H96zEbg1
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlaLkQsPhG
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhlGXfufj2
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kIjo9FDDb
gave them a snap.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIUOIHVc8i
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kMoJshC6H
Only half an hour later, she405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zN3dMQJiG
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4GFNsRCaO
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qOayeTySH
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mo1Bwigw4
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdGvlgUbyy
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwdbF9EfdQ
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQlnRcNZOa
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1noDxgnir
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Se7PIQ1gm
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HnZRE6fDx
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu6wNVPZb0
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQZFMQgHpW
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSakzUXMrVQ
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGaFle6Sth
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbl7ql49ej
Hours passed by, and the only405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UT7fIzfvv
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R3RUw3njW
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8vIx2KFxS
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCYMD9M7Dm
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRi8EYJQPm
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavagUedH7p
It was well into the night,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kINTkoWOF
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfkoWAPCP1
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPayq1U3H8
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuj6x8wqyF
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnMzMZW2tk
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV9iNbojdb
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiXPNBYdGw
And so it was. Two days of405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUcOoZhDOf
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrgJXMi2gx
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3J6CZLSLW
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QN34Zfjzz
actually giving birth.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg6aOhb1E0
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6V5QqdEAB
And then the third day came.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn2eyGUH6c
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvAxkjw4JI
It hit them all, like a405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZegUZXshm
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyqDEwFIpS
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSfTT8NkKd
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMnTz5CX32
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdArnUsegA
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v3OgCmk9k
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5avFnnri7
That night was long and hard.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvPmNgVccM
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AN9Vzqep2
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAtTz4a9B1
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1rArdGDpc
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDyFnJFtP7
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5slA3XrZz
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyurv4Rq5vK
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH30Js8we3
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwgC22Fas4
“So?” He said nervously.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDXWc8loZa
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsvzrqt3ie
Her smile, still, didn’t405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd0pP1mZKy
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob6ZYqwVRj
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshHUrTIo32
whispered.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xaQtpFROf
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeF5EptIR1
Mark sighed and shook his405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7o2nJS1F8
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LXrxpHbjR
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULcMQMjvUV
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBhfM0TUvz
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmtrMwoNBv
She chewed on her lip. “I405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWRKJW1K8H
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIzELgXkJY
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXSz8j7LDL
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZoHWm5HCG
“What’s her name?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WcgWSjAI4
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidqtdKvTlu
Leah smiled again, having405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcbkMasQHR
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8dvuG5O7l
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLx3n0b0Kf
that it was perfectly suited.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHnJYRe4Ai
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUKuoRfD7i
Mark knew, all to well, how405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs40m33t6GX
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Tjv0bItX3
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFrTIULUUf
Margaret Hope Daniels.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMzb2zYrNh
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavqhFpBbwP
He wrapped and arm around his405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT4FT3idCM
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZYsH5ZnXM
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvod8c7iePE
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQMoEKy474
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsMQv2bvAF
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMdaDZdVUq
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9o9AppNGF
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfbK1BOCvN
father; it was a painful thought.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB7tPpOuI3
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxwyWnukZi
Mary’s head snapped up to her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2rulz5Fld
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmhpXdvDSW
them gently, yet eagerly.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02tfBOIqje
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhFg87JrMr
They came in and stood beside405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nmsEaof74
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUgF1gK1bf
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDPHbcaAW1
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqfT6Ks4dl
The exhausted mother managed405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6mHrcNAXu
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBDTkNDUQK
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdE2jmGTse
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrteKouL5T
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurL5WgNO9s
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQtNchTgEk
with all of us.” She whimpered.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE2k1WvYpl
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWJFqD3gOW
The Avery’s embraced her and405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuGZeGd07O
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkjYy5snew
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm7eeLiPyg
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiliQOUvPF
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAA9Y58cV6
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRizBUyU85
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
