399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVz7f3O2ET
It was a cold and dark day.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRfX3MPMRX
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlskkX7nO1
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlu7GCC5LG
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQLlXgpg1g
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoTUEWa50K
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTDwVl3pVQ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgDX7898lO
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOnxwmF23R
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnsYftdMRF
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP12RyQdSw
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuNkFBTkMP
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOhSLckYhF
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOiS8k83uM
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdED5bf8Oh
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP46dBm70T
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJGn4NSxIg
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCylDMKJzRI
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDF3OnPuLh
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgeskz2dRM
and respect him, until death do you part?”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c0CKvIddX
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBogdBo30Gy
She couldn’t help it; her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPQzPJa8om
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyIkHQtXid
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqspowmrSG7
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVymOPC1Uf
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LlQTcnlsK
“Then, without further wait,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VB8OZCUbK
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys9RLHquTC
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHiTry0cLW
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuczMY5Hn0O
Not waiting a second longer,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOuSwW3bEy
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkLs70Md1E
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccvBrthKYN
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2oF2Mv7Rn
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHxgyk9wXw
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh8FkvosBY
After the marriage ceremony,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaoNUf1XeT
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMdIfQiy6w
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWGJMjTwb3
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDQErqUBzW
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNEJ3jsd7K
Avery, went first.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PlvaEXRjD
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElWbSc1uOC
“I have known Justin and Mary399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbUrH97dvr
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OhvDeKxQj
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVzXJgzqFb
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu9TCmqKUA
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPOTdlgze5
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0k0AIZDFH
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgWuhdf16o
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49FXKadhik
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHriOZVgw1L
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqC1xyBZtd
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVURIcH1NV
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM746dPY7j
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDgX8vLN4D
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5z8QzWosZ
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwryIgBIXpN
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRYS6O8i33
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK33hl22JTY
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR41Sa0dWmo
took a swig of their whisky.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRwVETJv8w
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf9PUrgVRi
After the bride and groom399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRXXnHbhZ3
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21sYm3TV5u
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hNYdBSGRP
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNXljdCBF4
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn50yn8jnLZ
constantly.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i44nJ4AdX
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KSwOL9hiP
Hoots of fun-filled laughter399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNtJvWO3bt
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFJT5DeeY9
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGPmPxZec6
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupOyqGe229
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJTmFIv9ql
came that night.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUKhjfrjIz
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPKvSoHkBq
That was seven years ago,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6HvS5zDkP
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjD96liuNi
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qsiXvKpJN
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCY15qCgf7
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiMXBf0oxD
Present day399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCKmx15sFA
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC9fTc07kH
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd2edDIP0f
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbbCT0DYMh
She was bleak, weary, and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8yfqJqOWq
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln8nc7wUD9
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAIFvChTs2
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsJNaehtsX
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaRBDF2pHp
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQnFQFTFVS
Mary looked behind her, where399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKZbVy5UEH
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgETCBEUyA
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0v1wOZ0M7
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9shrvIDR1H
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCiSfvmxEJ
given to little Ethel.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkaSF9iNcZ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJgCj8AxIX
Turning completely to keep a399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdctBDQFfrn
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFmb2vrR5W
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybRtIbbwXT
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuVAFOjOc7
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMCGZFFblr
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJu0k6FNYw
knew was that she hated it.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWwPEqzEM6
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt2xLjdtGk
Not even a month after Justin399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PhAK05yN3
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc6t65TH0q
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ552C0vCs7f
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs4JtOTzxW
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2lgPWuk5c
eyes of his own two children.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRdAG10vEy
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AX3XL8dhE
She was currently seven399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iXvbO4CBF
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6uYfYakRA
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sSpnT0Q8z
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyjSUiUiKh
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0W7uOVK7u
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhZp3UzbcO
having an affair.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj4jcGXCWJ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpuHHhHgbb
A hiss brushed past her lips,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjEZMl1alK
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvphS5SxxUx
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7xCTaim7M
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJBAqsIeUC
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J3YEhzxOt
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpaeT3DHQL
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1OqJpzNxo
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiMtUL4YMz
Just then, a whinny could be399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ermkp4Vxx
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2mq06f7x6
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIDsKSS5uZ
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThLWBsX1ER
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mWsBDkijo
her or her girls.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4owzF5yHH
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4CH4pw43s
Waiting by the porch, rifle399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSciLbAinY
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ3h3QWz8O
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHENDabcNNF
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPuTJDekAu
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q37M8QhXX
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEL31xJN9e
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm5d3NwNx2
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f0JZ107Xv
She didn’t dare to hope, but399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMDedTOVfj
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaku0fECz9O
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd7K7qbT8i
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFfaGN5fom
the dirt ground hard and painfully.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFDI8J0hFS
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCJZF4iVzT
It wasn’t Justin.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY61xSxiLhb
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRViksEDNZC
The man walked up briskly,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnYqMuz3EO
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSBnc9yaHQ
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtdTOCkx2K
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMxutxj0Vz
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1F54R2CiG
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6jlYY89tR
She forced the lump down her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvs7GY009D
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlYxVPqHGv
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSL27hWsRs
He ran a shaky hand through399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9DRkqq9qi
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfY7bRTWgJ
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOviAFqXdC
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE5VxlaGZR
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTynFwlLtUs
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCymhuktonQ
Shock filled her at first.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe7yafjkQS
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIZ0Q04W6i
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQE4laa00d
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLakCfPqnB5
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkCcQZy9LO
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xf6rL6055
asked her softly.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgt8uSyqbd
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOrYHkfOL6
The tears raged down her face399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLyGnO067x
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdUSXy7kSj
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPjdQj2tVE
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7OJBCtrET
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguOE03DueI
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpimjdSZmsF
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekr9olTeI6
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlpLLa1n3k
The small girl had tears in her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3S3s3hSFt
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqCRcLST8D
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhq8e8sokp
Mary hated to think of it399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZOiBQ7Tf1
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDnVymF5dB
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ5WHTjRBl
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbltc4WCxJ
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGbJ7R5qam
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jwofDAFpM
Her heart ached so much399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem2RbJqArw
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeEZaEBhMw
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggzD0U9f8a
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aS3vNI5hA
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VrysFCO8p
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzzHmjsd2N
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2WWI40AGE
chance to do or see.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8jUYJZvHY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsEQuUqV1x
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04iJWtXbzZ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2GSi01Se4
……399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBsXcEKNlM
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnMm0iR5gd
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1VpnZCSof
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygYXd5Y8R0
For several days, the Daniels399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaKgG1vZpy
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgQ9mkCugE
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR9K2rXWap
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbD4ieKBH2
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kGAOKzQFO
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2e7sYNPj4
as the news of their father’s death.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGOFOLVL2x
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu1ZBnYDlz
Ida and Ethel, while still399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdes0qSyX3z
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7QzXuaQH0
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk09JakkWdp
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTTvz5zQc6
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMmmOBBb0w
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWzn9tnXiA
It was barely a week after399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w9RSHBxsw
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlcc2s10sx
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjvQ7YwI9d
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL60nHmRUP
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkOKx5XWMl
Just as she was getting up to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkbFgQIFAA
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSLPWV4HhI
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfKxxDV6VY
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjFkpGByrj
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Vwi414OC
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcHYs7w5ag
It’s to early, she said in399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJATOaR8Uh9
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9dmY2hKLf
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1RJP0NSqq
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGwZpqh8r0
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEB07vr8JY
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWAyUUXMyl
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYsEc5aD7j
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXl3kwLcuZ
Braving through her fear for399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk1YGeZqcA
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Anv1UApjp
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyqYs3loVh
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuibdAp3x5m
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQZMUjnuVx
The seven year old wasted no399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdDpm7klLG
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGAiFLqWW1
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZzijv01N9
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSqMeMP0Qo
gave them a snap.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCeRMXItAI
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQgTJncRNa
Only half an hour later, she399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWlKuxfPFF
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNGYTpnXo3
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWZMhMwAAG
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1NGeb4O77
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeYOA4DHha
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Li5qXjGYJ
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGos601BFx
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFhlN6pEos
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t4BvAeiw4
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF1VrYwPgz
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4EVy69kYc
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGkeNG0DzL
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde5N47FrjG
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROmUCwQvkD
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqCARpZRcC
Hours passed by, and the only399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjQpqonFHw
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuH4T2cwfy
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxNiX2AWIE
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcasO2K5KzO
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGfOvqyART
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw2Q5R06Wj
It was well into the night,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABdRRnLhq8
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzQHcdA2Z2
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatKrAeNOhy
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb701uqARZ1
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzeKHYptkV
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi4J0Co76r
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclonko1Mxr
And so it was. Two days of399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiaAa8iK9I
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4jN0TNsZB
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LlLhINeZV
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6GLU7vKWL
actually giving birth.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfDk9TVbqV
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdkvLmHGjL
And then the third day came.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1eqFnxYWP
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9jPDvW0NY
It hit them all, like a399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHnP6iDyKA
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3zfx1KZe4
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OXOoaC5OX
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCK5A5U9KL
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2M5Gx0n1B
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9LLhNq4Ai
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNGju5P4yJ
That night was long and hard.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoHlpiNsnQ
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Cv0LErVyH
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6PeovIYAi
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf4IkOYEjq
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRwOSX7de6
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmovxCD1h4a
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUrar6sNrI
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAyC7jSwBc
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZyoMJRByv
“So?” He said nervously.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCDLKlBCDY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW8KyN7QXi
Her smile, still, didn’t399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4X1JC3ffW
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxcRoRmESj
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO1Oy1GdyP
whispered.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajBkew8CXU
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe66kAUm6dv
Mark sighed and shook his399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2hKzVr3PJ
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN2ag2Ofsg
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74SwPpQQrX
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VluyGR1Z7
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9DfsFYqbx
She chewed on her lip. “I399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjiYflWHoz
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ4Z8TTFbc
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKzx5nLYHZ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUa3ix0nySY
“What’s her name?”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP1QajWjBw
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjWHkwl6JT
Leah smiled again, having399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvzhVgt2LZ
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS3zfgaYwM
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDiztaR3u5
that it was perfectly suited.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BDFMyTNkT
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8kAJWEhJ6
Mark knew, all to well, how399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqBGBBF10a
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eSXKnOBsz
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoqcdIvdmg
Margaret Hope Daniels.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalKN18YPYr
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2lYmqXp2O
He wrapped and arm around his399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFKlm37dZZ
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRRdAsZITI
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMaBJNzt4m
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoiDowHKtV
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU11iikpya
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBYuNPKaVJ
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHlz6VHT4T
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC4eBfdvlm
father; it was a painful thought.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWodnbU9DH
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsQGPYk40j
Mary’s head snapped up to her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0sNWDUuzz
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SXFE2WUyv
them gently, yet eagerly.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAbDnImRDS
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOWjmAljmy
They came in and stood beside399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n1v8E38i6
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2FGRBUrQM
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBMPZ51lTw
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi09mUs3U2o
The exhausted mother managed399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNrN7Buxkj
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyh80e9CG1
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGyQeCqIKk
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSrd2gtl94
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoTpIKPk5S
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuDkuFZf9n
with all of us.” She whimpered.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdolzrNSgg
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkJuSQ5XIB
The Avery’s embraced her and399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLgcnO8Usf
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40nu0yCtIE
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH17bbIcpIR
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIvfGhKuZh
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIM6pY8VxX
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xcpDMsbFo
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
