393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigbtph1lzA
It was a cold and dark day.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3Ys65ZVU9
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw14rAhlc8r
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAQ5XhrdLi
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xgCsgDSmy
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyiq1alBmM
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHKZGHuVhY
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFS43Fu0gJ
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPjIi9HfZV
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c7MJz6AKQ
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g8kDd8klb
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H9efXk7c6
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG2A2nliaO
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoJHWCXhlR
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ9EkB6Mtm
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSvHBOUKxQ
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKqJcA0gRK
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOgs5iQ97h
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjIIaYTtYU
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4vRpyXFE4
and respect him, until death do you part?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DlVtgSWHr
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitX0ytXnwU
She couldn’t help it; her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSRLikpG5w
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbV8VlhDbo
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cSR4fbRRB
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EfmJRly6Y
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mbBH0qSLC
“Then, without further wait,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0dXErROjA
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP5off2GP5
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4mAjPqsQv
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYGVopnkwj
Not waiting a second longer,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEeMbtb9Tn
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemyqHMBzCc
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8fCiE0hTP
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2Te1WyK3t
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cXcF08x5z
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFC1qdrXEe
After the marriage ceremony,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54fYututLJ
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jSRDp9Ix1
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB10SpAY2k
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AYrLk3NHr
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjbdYa9zie
Avery, went first.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TjyYrdkc3
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0rMWwMkjG
“I have known Justin and Mary393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aSmHPiUwk
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeduq5adcMS
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOubmn7WeI1
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8bDBtRSAp
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOvB6wHjlH
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGQbs2vTF6
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrQxLP5Zjm
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7NOB9oasa
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8x6bvdkXZ
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHwreGJnWh
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fqaYCPNFM
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgz2pDmI74
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1xhaL0rsS
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WBsUQi7yV
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbTuy0vqRz
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3qfIGFBWj
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Q28Lai7t
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqRIm9awIC
took a swig of their whisky.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXibcP6KN1C
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOks1IG3yi
After the bride and groom393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQL3mKMeFb
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FtSmiVRor
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zee84cfzN
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PIM309Dsm
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DtvxoswXR
constantly.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTMGj39mib
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnd2eYQe8f
Hoots of fun-filled laughter393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaCOtEIZhF
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPaaO1AKIC
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74Xop4qabT
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IPiCizHkC
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Rz5E3zRBW
came that night.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzc7cc0XRI
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxcE4Fxdcw
That was seven years ago,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNbehGPhMy
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kMk4atx8Y
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wm0MheaEd
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuTHcYMDxv
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf68kUlPhiV
Present day393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoukvfGc6fs
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPap23MIRz
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBpLW6jXst
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She was bleak, weary, and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPXZtmR9qO
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNgo7gi9ee
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV5zZ5cI4E
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy8AEajQmg
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppgHgYHKnX
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUm5VvfQ5V
Mary looked behind her, where393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFJ6epuiD4
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh2bpN0LHd
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedpGhWqjMb
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L3DBbXKXK
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IImzSvtWS
given to little Ethel.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOSEVRzHNR
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3n8GvKpDZ
Turning completely to keep a393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCgzpfYg0s
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsUmrXgpEi
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqG4gPjJAm
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7vaOcVXoC
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1j9hY0EDX
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkQKN8qMCn
knew was that she hated it.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwE8xtnWpw
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ300Wrhxtat
Not even a month after Justin393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwC2E4ikdc
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWVhYeDfwI
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPdPx8J9Rq
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPdMfxbDVz
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90Lom7Isix
eyes of his own two children.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XeUll4OGn
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAeyPJFpFD
She was currently seven393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7y1JkL2kz
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg6wRQvD9I
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDBGzDVppk
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNkUXe9nyZ
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgMlWuxqwm
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWydMqj4zXg
having an affair.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvkUgzmeQv
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90dzCb6sHC
A hiss brushed past her lips,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSniQmgUqWm
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C6TyYNGXA
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRKkxhELey
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhlahF8Hw0
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06PbORyLt4
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw8TbDztap
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCbwFfETHS
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DyVN0Chor
Just then, a whinny could be393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8kWS6Oqwc
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpzyiODt5q
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBrjWJmjyB
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymqsL6BLsI
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTmstizDOF
her or her girls.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCbK6BbkhA
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yNM2dqzie
Waiting by the porch, rifle393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD5BmPhwOE
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfZQduwS47
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlYs8sDJtO
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uQZCmGf1o
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX06qTSGi76
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKDOP8xdTH
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDFqNSko7s
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFSey5UiDy
She didn’t dare to hope, but393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FWbGs48qG
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm67se7dGZ
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlTNjWqMw0
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyAdOP7WMe
the dirt ground hard and painfully.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaAMKeiyFQ
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iABcFimdy
It wasn’t Justin.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVDYnftq3w
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzZpVIqwbP
The man walked up briskly,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBPyn5oaW3
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkGUz9VKYV
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOVnIgvBrF
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkJRGkeRfb
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrWxWIeuav
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2Nh48DkOL
She forced the lump down her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4AbECpJND
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi86wlXX0Vx
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwqDm997uW
He ran a shaky hand through393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57euLJBtRc
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClq6jlFPjO
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsdW8FP8qG
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8aGE2Th42
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB9mtzMaDw
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq8QvL6Acm
Shock filled her at first.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f31Nrmutk
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uVYV4CeSI
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf165MdvG6
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oXe0peMPA
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR1ITcQq63
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskCorAyW7v
asked her softly.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtLLHQAgZ7
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQONG8LWbMr
The tears raged down her face393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsrKe0QsTw
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPzUISSY0b
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwtGoDpubF
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrbpUdNtD8
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzrHixV5GK
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrEqWYm9iB
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KA0GnfZDx
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd0cRaKo1l
The small girl had tears in her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZgxiAhvdY
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YdBDSy5Br
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshG8IALyGK
Mary hated to think of it393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTn3QhYYZ4
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw56uyc3Fgj
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRMbm1sqXc
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6QdhzUKDi
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJO283aZBq
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpS5NAgjl7
Her heart ached so much393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6vqIlgBo6
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhXddSdXfI
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH767LZL0zM
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOJVBnLxKV
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXtFqPLbSC
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXi9cEccpn
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzVLctBDot
chance to do or see.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeYB3Ccf9L
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgcPOYBqWH
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHrE2MQ22z
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOvl9LXxFS
……393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PGzajMmVt
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGrNfmcbsH
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8si1BB3Sfb
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For several days, the Daniels393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2c33vGFBW
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIXXYE41w9
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2TNWNRyDI
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ei97nu6cJ
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwZn620l2p
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vrJpMCYyY
as the news of their father’s death.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVTBmzAFgP
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8KHrSWQWd
Ida and Ethel, while still393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP6MKwsmKA
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4RCayTvdK
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnhXNnlSiP
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOcQtN4AYc
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcOgigDyo6
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLLwjFir7H
It was barely a week after393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6VJCPwN9J
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG7YYtN3TL
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOzPfFQ1ai
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg171r2feVc
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRIf1UnbHQ
Just as she was getting up to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWOgBm9YEY
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XmR8Jgd6J
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiZNgHAVMW
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s1WP0E939
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q6EQVR3Zm
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRG1NWsc2W
It’s to early, she said in393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhMnGYHSMn
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocV3XoK6l6
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoxC7ezZNQ
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHLIR14nmx
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkhkZr1jLG
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzbgCnScAG
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4Zo4khmdw
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprNBxKX04a
Braving through her fear for393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1llBbeTeYm
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCU4DMYurJ
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBkkLQmEaX
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IvRheCWKv
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvcYin8nfZ
The seven year old wasted no393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW6Fu7cqll
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ5LmWLzjv
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qfqQVDsYI
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bg2Ij1qBN
gave them a snap.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1du14Q1d1y
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmw07XQVes
Only half an hour later, she393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1P9xHBZPb
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMpPIvhXbA
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmWKDAu01Z
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCukSGmQUn
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL8WkbYAvn
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgpuV1HcgF
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuUsLCKsGt
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCCZtxyUm4
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EEAROwask
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnScHTxjglv
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XDK51B265
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKObh3zw0Up
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKqEcdTKik
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ4Xym5Lpp
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrz0VwVMCe
Hours passed by, and the only393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYASpGFtjCK
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLUCEKH2nZ
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5kZSfD9fT
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP6CG8ORDh
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd8EuAzDhv
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BWffXndtR
It was well into the night,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAXAy8SgaV
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZlTwq9tdn
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRBGvdCVfz
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfqxN9dg1f
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIl3dEUCd2
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUVZWLelr8
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aawD2SQZr
And so it was. Two days of393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfjZfzsL4K
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DNZ90hLdU
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dohq00xty
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FHxUi70bN
actually giving birth.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT8zUPPRWP
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDieCrzMqob
And then the third day came.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK0Hy4iZ3e
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw9eXklT1u
It hit them all, like a393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLxwJSTMRN
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGsKJTJYXH
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQledPnXWr
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTNiMhggS9
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUWxfS1fZk
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7NHijWaih
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7DprSSi7j
That night was long and hard.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfGf6X5Ul7
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRZyhPbKUS
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZGm7OnEMw
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iLwLT6ZnO
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTzuwiwPxn
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnSASgLHDp
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0vVntpGQa
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2FpytJpfX
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvivNczz8sd
“So?” He said nervously.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1ulGykuQi
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVR2ijwZ81
Her smile, still, didn’t393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyNN3JytF2
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6hooCXde6
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QhfgtX32n
whispered.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUVpLTZCTV
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUEWAaUHDp
Mark sighed and shook his393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTRlWYbBIk
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68sugDLClv
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOT4mKR3mz
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDHBOpoGEw
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwKMvkfw4H
She chewed on her lip. “I393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwixO1iygv
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4EkrEfXKk
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2nLKjNlb7
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2YD2EzvHx
“What’s her name?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3sgO08Jg1
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBcraUr0t4
Leah smiled again, having393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZC5YlfLkJ
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNYLPcV1fg
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7c0pppVyOn
that it was perfectly suited.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiRM60StsY
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8idj8UJqq
Mark knew, all to well, how393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF0guQfC9q
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim2Tusoh4e
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3P14uavTJ
Margaret Hope Daniels.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1TyDA68eG
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBQXYaPURv
He wrapped and arm around his393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsCRu8FqzD
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIGB3qr7UH
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0XiswXyFJ
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmD2yh3T6Q
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5azVnvh7c
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq70Tm5fYNs
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQOssrZM6r
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCjIB1d83A
father; it was a painful thought.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb10wLr0m33
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaxDPPutDa
Mary’s head snapped up to her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP57d0J6IVJ
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvb18pQIvG
them gently, yet eagerly.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh3V141rGW
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocU4RtQBdp
They came in and stood beside393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSabzcjGhD
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgAXB2wjQi
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrpn40NdtK
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70ch9nWgpM
The exhausted mother managed393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aznIfHxEr
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoNCAwOkMa
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f0k7rx9Em
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhCso90THE
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2gEWK3w1t
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E0uHKRvIV
with all of us.” She whimpered.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhMmzmylNU
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSI5pK6dfP
The Avery’s embraced her and393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5XaP5mfHn
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Er0r1GFZV
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuyHredaOK
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMah4zi6sah
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMGJkF50xn
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rHy648PsF
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
