"Mommy! Daddy!"
Justin quickly pulled out of his very heated 394Please respect copyright.PENANAhkWQ6MvCuI
kiss with Mary. Pulling the sheets up, he went to cover both of their 394Please respect copyright.PENANA2oqo2AuBvs
naked bodies. After which, he laughed as he rolled off of Mary and 394Please respect copyright.PENANAWfrYLBrVIM
turned towards their door. "Come on in, girls!" He called.
Two 394Please respect copyright.PENANA3MDvnmajiR
small girls ran in with the biggest smiles reaching their face. One was a394Please respect copyright.PENANAYP3HK3xYWr
red-haired girl with blue eyes, the other a brown-haired girl with 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfOBfDzxnJF
violet eyes. The red-haired girl, Ida, was the oldest, at six years old,394Please respect copyright.PENANAx0NzbxU3kH
and the blonde, Ethel, was three. In her arms, Ida carried a baby girl,394Please respect copyright.PENANAYwA0sB4Jwp
Sallie. Sallie was six months old and had black hair and green eyes.
Sitting394Please respect copyright.PENANAZJDNJvnYAw
up a little on the bed, not letting the sheets fall past his hips, 394Please respect copyright.PENANA9wJUzUSABL
Justin held his arms out and helped Ethel into the bed. Then he helped 394Please respect copyright.PENANAFdo3sK6D4A
Ida, and took Sallie into his arms. "Good morning, sweethearts." He 394Please respect copyright.PENANAOS9ZUculQB
greeted them as he gave a kiss to the top of each of their heads. 394Please respect copyright.PENANA8npVqirydH
Wrapping an arm around Mary, he held all four of his girls close and 394Please respect copyright.PENANA9NXgy4FgvP
sighed in content.
"Are you going to take me riding today, daddy? 394Please respect copyright.PENANAeqj4RDI6Ye
You promised me, last night, that you would." Ida asked excitedly. She 394Please respect copyright.PENANAANa6Fa8nfu
was a beautiful girl, and had even been deemed a much beautiful baby, as394Please respect copyright.PENANAk5lZLAbBxk
an infant. They had no clue where she got her red hair and blue eyes; 394Please respect copyright.PENANADjgWYemD3C
it was one mystery that they figured made her that much more unique. And394Please respect copyright.PENANAcLGENlBq81
they loved her for her uniqueness.
He beamed over at his oldest 394Please respect copyright.PENANAzv9TNLDJZO
and poked her nose playfully. "Well if I promised, don't you think I'd 394Please respect copyright.PENANAinALNMkn73
take you riding? Since when has your daddy ever made a promise he can't 394Please respect copyright.PENANAHyAt27CCWA
keep?"
Mary chuckled and stroked Ida's hair with loving fingers. 394Please respect copyright.PENANAjT6kVjK0x7
"One of the many wonderful qualities about your father, Ida, is that he 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfTJ9lF8Rmt
has never made a promise that he cannot keep. He's a smart man, not a 394Please respect copyright.PENANAsMuxMCB2bJ
dumb one." She told the girl.
Justin scoffed teasingly. "Wow, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAIDEsuwbkk0
thank you for that backhanded compliment, love. Girls, I love your 394Please respect copyright.PENANAZnAZhzguK0
mother with all my heart, but she is very good with giving compliments 394Please respect copyright.PENANAjw8zzZ1PHd
in backhanded ways." He saw the look on his wife's face and gulped 394Please respect copyright.PENANAYGCcEnF8Gl
slightly. "I-I mean…uh…thank you very much, dear?" He suggested with a 394Please respect copyright.PENANAnXN8DAORf0
crooked smile as though saying, please, just don't hurt me.
She 394Please respect copyright.PENANARfwl7jxoud
laughed outright and shook her head. "I wasn't going to punch you, Jus. 394Please respect copyright.PENANAwj5x0Oesh3
And even if I wanted to, I still wouldn't; not while you have the baby."394Please respect copyright.PENANABAdTman8EF
She reminded him.
He sighed in relief and pressed his lips to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAaRhZTKlhHS
Sallie's head. "You saved your old man's hide, Sal." He said gratefully.394Please respect copyright.PENANAyaoVbN72Jn
Then he looked back toward Ida, remembering their conversation before. 394Please respect copyright.PENANABqUQN7cX2p
"We'll go out riding, after breakfast, Ida. Speaking of, whatcha say we 394Please respect copyright.PENANAhYLQhIIzL3
get up and make something for these munchkins, dear?" He said to Mary.
She hummed. "I suppose we should. How bout you get it started, and I'll feed Sal?"
"Sure."394Please respect copyright.PENANAO76bVA23DQ
He agreed. He was just about to get up, when he remembered the state he394Please respect copyright.PENANAcujfthkUl4
and Mary were in. He blushed lightly, glaring at his wife's sly smile. 394Please respect copyright.PENANACcbS7pfmEv
"Ida, Ethel, why don't you two go get dressed while mommy and daddy get 394Please respect copyright.PENANA1h3jR2XWI8
ready?" He suggested to his daughters.
The girls ran out eagerly, their messy hair swooshing around them. Then they closed the bedroom door as they ran out.
After394Please respect copyright.PENANAtPBc9YLrP9
they were gone, Mary barked a laugh, while Juatin glared playfully at 394Please respect copyright.PENANAWKeqtvyUT6
her. "Oh shut up." He mumbled while leaning in and kissing her 394Please respect copyright.PENANAcVXcqt4MdY
collarbone softly.
But she swatted his head, making him pull back 394Please respect copyright.PENANAHAOyOmJJ2E
and give her a confused look. "I have to feed the baby, and you need to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAH31aMCH64o
start breakfast for our other two girls." She reminded him with a 394Please respect copyright.PENANAKznfCCxZyw
smiled. At his despondent face, she kissed him softly and ruffled his 394Please respect copyright.PENANAHQwRKPFXPG
hair. "Later, lover boy."
He grinned slyly, stroking her arm with 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfW8xGa0zQA
such softness. "I'll hold you to that, sweetheart." Then he rolled out 394Please respect copyright.PENANA8ra6cQVKgv
of bed, albeit reluctantly, and went to dress. After which, he left to 394Please respect copyright.PENANALiTqykxV00
head for the kitchen to make breakfast.
As he stood at the old 394Please respect copyright.PENANAGq60H2D1eW
stove, his two oldest daughter came bounding in, their long hair still a394Please respect copyright.PENANAeQhOYYztsc
mess and in need of help. He laughed as he put the spoon with which he 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfYTmO4sSrW
was using to make porridge down and knelt in front of them. "You girls 394Please respect copyright.PENANAcRAP0xZuuS
need me to do your hair?" He asked as he stroked each of their heads.
Justin394Please respect copyright.PENANADTbtv4REsJ
and Mary had gotten married when they were fourteen and nineteen. There394Please respect copyright.PENANATlvT6fIt0N
was no doubt in Justin's parents' mind that their son was in love, and 394Please respect copyright.PENANAwcNgnQdn0a
that Mary was in love with him. Mary had fallen in love with him for 394Please respect copyright.PENANAksD8TNPNlv
more than just his looks though. She'd found out, early on, that he was 394Please respect copyright.PENANAZuhaoP0zw8
able to cook and clean, unlike many of the suitors that had begged her 394Please respect copyright.PENANAwJyTkxhuum
for her hand since her father's death, when she was twelve. Justin was 394Please respect copyright.PENANAVmVgeHFcLc
different though.
His ability to cook and clean made her one happy394Please respect copyright.PENANAeqPqipYOYJ
woman, when they married. And a year later they had Ida. As she began 394Please respect copyright.PENANArci6uJu0jn
to grow hair, and it grew longer, Mary was pleased to discover more of 394Please respect copyright.PENANAyh7kYFa9Xk
her husband's hidden talents. He could do hair. He had offered to do 394Please respect copyright.PENANAIzj8TMAAa8
hers on numerous occasions, but she had always insisted on doing it 394Please respect copyright.PENANALKF9gjY4Sv
herself. But as Ida grew, and she was left tired, Justin had stepped in 394Please respect copyright.PENANA2UUPy3qz83
to do whatever his daughter needed. He could dress her, change her 394Please respect copyright.PENANAq5KOI9FTH1
diapers, do her hair, everything. And now, he had two daughters to do 394Please respect copyright.PENANAD0jsAkEuSC
that with; which they both loved when he did their hair.
Ida 394Please respect copyright.PENANAPWVIVun4K3
nodded and held out two leather bands for him. Turning them around, he 394Please respect copyright.PENANAgVExAndK0B
used the wooden hair brush to gently pry out the nasty knots in their 394Please respect copyright.PENANAzVIe6MvGJx
beautiful hair. Then he but them into loose braids. After that, he 394Please respect copyright.PENANARTeEGerFaT
grabbed some flowers that Mary always kept on the table, and put them 394Please respect copyright.PENANAL2Cnc55g4Y
into random spots of the braids. "There we go. There's my beautiful 394Please respect copyright.PENANAFev01Si0zT
girls." He said pridefully as he touched each of their cheeks and placed394Please respect copyright.PENANAM1Yke1PVdZ
light kisses on their foreheads.
The girls each giggled and 394Please respect copyright.PENANA9C60QTjr3U
kissed his cheek. "Thanks, daddy." They said unanimously. Picking up the394Please respect copyright.PENANAFnOwt72He1
ends of their dresses, they raced to the table and climbed up on the 394Please respect copyright.PENANAi36bbF4eo8
chairs that were still to big for them. Justin helped them up and then 394Please respect copyright.PENANAFbkxhkVHEk
went back to making breakfast.
Mary came in, not long later, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAMz9dthcEHL
Sallie in her arms, dressed in a thick dress to keep her from the bitter394Please respect copyright.PENANAlp2IOYlzNu
cold that threatened them during the winter months. Mary herself wore a394Please respect copyright.PENANAMTuisU3RV2
simple, beat up, blue dress with an apron over top. Her hair was loose,394Please respect copyright.PENANAqalhoiglJb
with only parts of the front being pulled back into a small braid.
That's394Please respect copyright.PENANAmNfJRA8jAm
when Justin set breakfast in front of everyone. They'd had nothing but 394Please respect copyright.PENANAtaJOJ3zNAK
porridge for the past few weeks, but, unfortunately, that was all they 394Please respect copyright.PENANAhjhRfWc6Dd
could afford at the moment. Justin had lost his job at the sawmill 394Please respect copyright.PENANAdK6akiKxXF
several months ago, because of the impact of the war that had just 394Please respect copyright.PENANAtrkjlVGzhr
started not even half a year ago. The Civil War, as they called it. They394Please respect copyright.PENANAjxD2KgmHUF
were at war with their own countrymen. It was sad to see it come to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAggWtC18Htm
this, and see the effects it cause. Because of it, Justin had lost his 394Please respect copyright.PENANA0z9JS5v0OY
job, and they had been reduced to nothing more than rations of food.
She394Please respect copyright.PENANAe0wuycJJkR
looked over at Justin with a soft, hopefully encouraging smile. She 394Please respect copyright.PENANAPSNA0eX6vV
knew that losing his job had struck him right in the gut. His pride was,394Please respect copyright.PENANA0Vb092jIkJ
without a doubt, damaged. With great struggle, she had managed to get 394Please respect copyright.PENANABp9e2YXvut
him to admit that he felt like a failure as a husband and a father, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAyw8jCaNiNC
because he lost his job. He felt unable to provide for his own family; 394Please respect copyright.PENANAwuXlO38qY7
to him, that was something worse than death. All he wanted was to give 394Please respect copyright.PENANAvqrDCjKSbX
his wife and young daughters a good home, good clothes, and good food. 394Please respect copyright.PENANAlvqmBa85TI
Now, he couldn't even do that. It took its toll on him, and she could 394Please respect copyright.PENANA6s1NH34PTy
see it in the way he had started to age from the stress of the last few 394Please respect copyright.PENANAkw7c4tjoml
months.
They were doing all they could for the time being. She 394Please respect copyright.PENANAqGPnZdJEnD
would eat little, but still a substantial amount so that she could 394Please respect copyright.PENANAgnhp2XZ9mg
provide milk for Sallie, and he would hardly eat anything. He had 394Please respect copyright.PENANA7JXoPIUt0u
started losing a significant amount of weight, which he and Mary could 394Please respect copyright.PENANA00xna35NpY
only hope the girls hadn't noticed. She had also lost a great deal 394Please respect copyright.PENANAQtFJoqpdbU
amount of weight, but still not quite as much as him. Even their 394Please respect copyright.PENANATCgmVp5rJu
daughter, Ida and Ethel, had begun losing weight because of the food 394Please respect copyright.PENANAoswNwTKhtT
shortage.
He looked around at his family, as he always did at 394Please respect copyright.PENANAm1DhgzVEDq
breakfast and dinner, and felt his heart break once more. His wife's 394Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5zwHr0Zpk
face, while beautiful as he would always find her and know her to be, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAU9liWTjB3m
was shallow, and dark bags lined under her eyes. She looked so…empty. 394Please respect copyright.PENANARIinJ2b8GM
His daughters looked weaker than they once were. They used to be so 394Please respect copyright.PENANAwuMwc7WVot
lively; and while they would still run around and play, they couldn't 394Please respect copyright.PENANAg3IBqJscUG
last as long as they once did. One of his favorite things to do, had 394Please respect copyright.PENANAHdoLsUgVUQ
been to watch his little girls run and play. They were like fairies, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAPfyTvhevAE
when they ran through the tall, summer grass. So beautiful. So 394Please respect copyright.PENANAgCTuGs6sgM
enchanting. Now it seemed there was only a sliver of those girls left in394Please respect copyright.PENANA4yVyN5bC4s
the daughters he'd raised.
Then there was Sallie. She was smaller394Please respect copyright.PENANAnXlfNHBmke
than most six month old babies. She'd been born at nine months, she 394Please respect copyright.PENANAf3whoR54Dx
just wasn't getting the necessary nourishing most babies needed. She was394Please respect copyright.PENANAF3kDLEHyH4
healthy, but looked so torn down compared to most, healthier, six month394Please respect copyright.PENANAIFWdfigxZN
olds.
He hated seeing his family so broken up. As a man 394Please respect copyright.PENANAJA7BIsOPjD
especially, it hit him right where it hurts. His girls were the most 394Please respect copyright.PENANAiRdTh8hQ9w
important treasures in his world, and taking care of them felt more like394Please respect copyright.PENANAgHlqvQIqaw
an honor than a duty. To have that honor suddenly taken, and to not be 394Please respect copyright.PENANAaTU6KfJfky
able to give his girls anything more than grits and moldy bread as 394Please respect copyright.PENANAmNxjbS9hCD
meals, was about the cruelest thing for him. Now they were suffering, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAx2a3go57nD
and there was nothing her, or anyone else, could do about it.
Mary,394Please respect copyright.PENANAZiR2Jl1O3f
seeing the heartbreak that was all but written on his face, reached 394Please respect copyright.PENANArn9x71ZrI3
across the table to take his hand in her own smaller one. With her eyes,394Please respect copyright.PENANA0uUfpwkABj
she told him that it was alright. They were together. They had each 394Please respect copyright.PENANAXS5cMWR7o7
other. That was all that mattered. And she was right; he knew that. but 394Please respect copyright.PENANASgKkS9BLZo
deep in his heart, he couldn't help that feeling of letting them all 394Please respect copyright.PENANAZbXwEFZhKM
down, even though it hadn't been his fault that he was fired.
As 394Please respect copyright.PENANA2DZzguug9K
the family finished their breakfast in silence, Mary got up and cleared 394Please respect copyright.PENANAYnoR8sSbqg
their pans. Meanwhile, Justin grabbed his hat and rifle and ruffled 394Please respect copyright.PENANAYHDGOlN9kb
little Ida's red hair. "You ready to go, half pint?" He asked with a 394Please respect copyright.PENANAU0RJpZaUey
broad, loving smile.
Ida jumped up excitedly and bounced on the 394Please respect copyright.PENANAQv79Q2Vptu
balls of her feet. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She squealed. A laugh slipped past 394Please respect copyright.PENANASLCms0jm2H
her lips when he placed another hat on her head as well. It was a bit 394Please respect copyright.PENANArRbhMkiLUu
too big, and fell slightly over her forehead. But she smiled wider and 394Please respect copyright.PENANAoLfUlBXAbJ
pushed it back up.
"I wanna go, papa!" Ethel said hopefully, lifting her arms toward her father.
He chuckled and picked her up. "When you're a little older, sweetheart." He told her and kissed her brown head.
She394Please respect copyright.PENANAnWp6zMJ6uw
pouted, crossing her arms. And he couldn't get over how much she looked394Please respect copyright.PENANAcdi3uqFUak
like Mary when she pouted. Other than those violet eyes, of course, she394Please respect copyright.PENANAV2I4qlSlVR
was her mother's spitting image. "Why does Ida get to do everything?"
"She's394Please respect copyright.PENANADzLGOB62bt
older, Ethel. I know it ain't fair, hon, but I promise that we'll go 394Please respect copyright.PENANAvK7iO5dHm2
riding together when you're a little bit older. Alright?" He didn't like394Please respect copyright.PENANASoF2NWMkgx
disappointing either of his older daughters – Sallie of course being 394Please respect copyright.PENANA67LMnKvHMW
hard to displease because she was only six months old – but he also 394Please respect copyright.PENANA3CGoJxLJTt
couldn't take major risks. He hadn't taken Ida out riding when she was 394Please respect copyright.PENANAtoQlLQiLcN
three, and he wouldn't do that with Ethel or Sallie either. And she 394Please respect copyright.PENANArSuqdqz3O7
might not have found it fair at the time, but he knew Ethel would 394Please respect copyright.PENANAA7F8Uzw04T
understand one day.
She was still pouting, but nodded anyway. "Ok,394Please respect copyright.PENANA7wvc0sAd7X
daddy." Kissing his cheek, she wiggled out of his arms and went to play394Please respect copyright.PENANAM0lpEha3Jt
in the small family room.
Mary came forward then and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Be careful?" She whispered.
He394Please respect copyright.PENANAJfcck4Xbf3
smiled and nodded. "Of course, darlin'. And I'll bring our daughter 394Please respect copyright.PENANAj8TgJOumF2
back in one piece." He promised, making them both laugh. Then he leaned 394Please respect copyright.PENANAbLG0DZ2Cwh
in and kissed her lips chastely. "I love you." He mumbled against her 394Please respect copyright.PENANA4zKBGSkmwj
lips. Then pulling away, he stooped down to scoop Ida up into his strong394Please respect copyright.PENANA2487nOUqor
arms. "You ready to go, baby?" He asked, nudging his nose against her 394Please respect copyright.PENANAcmNwL7fxAk
soft cheek.
She giggled and kissed his cheek. That was answer 394Please respect copyright.PENANAouy5GcH06K
enough for her father, as he turned for the door. A last look back, and 394Please respect copyright.PENANAjhmfGQ0qgr
he left with Ida snug against him. Within minutes, he had his horse, 394Please respect copyright.PENANA6eFXiORPpm
Bobbie, ready and saddled. Then he saddled Mary's horse, Mosey. Picking 394Please respect copyright.PENANAH2uNNJv4go
Ida back up, under her arms, he lifted her up and set her in Mosey's 394Please respect copyright.PENANA6KOO25rNh5
saddle.
Father and daughter spent hours riding the deserted plains394Please respect copyright.PENANAPqLfPQdf60
of Braiden, which was part of the Dakota Territory. For miles, there 394Please respect copyright.PENANAuogH4kzrTF
was nothing but sage brush and wild grass. The air was fresh, and clean.394Please respect copyright.PENANAOT8OqUeNWN
To Justin, that was the best thing about living in the Dakota 394Please respect copyright.PENANABc26tV20oH
Territory, rather than the big cities. And he couldn't be any happier to394Please respect copyright.PENANAlEMhIr2xYp
be raising his own family in such a beautiful land.
As they rose 394Please respect copyright.PENANAkexy7e3zdW
through the plain, over the hills, and through the tufts of rolling 394Please respect copyright.PENANAyCDAP8j45B
grass that danced with the wind, he watched his daughter with a proud 394Please respect copyright.PENANAffNT6jsfu8
smile. While she looked like no one in their family, he couldn't help 394Please respect copyright.PENANAh4eCUFLBcy
but admire all of their qualities that fit into her. She was as close to394Please respect copyright.PENANALCkQ8yzaD3
perfect as one could ever be. While she made mistakes, she was quick to394Please respect copyright.PENANAXvNiuf57W1
try and make up and apologize for those mistakes. And she was quick to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAncMEQJSfie
forgive too. She never once held a grudge, and for that, everyone was 394Please respect copyright.PENANAN86BAYwfue
grateful. Being on her bad side was never fun.
She fit into this 394Please respect copyright.PENANAJwzo6dT2rg
life, better than most. This was the life she wanted. So many times, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAy9TBeCW9tf
since she was old enough to speak, she had crawled up into his lap and 394Please respect copyright.PENANA5Yy6or513y
told him that she loved the life of the prairie. It's like living in a 394Please respect copyright.PENANA8B0DwP3sw3
fairy-tale, she would tell him. And she knew not only the magical parts 394Please respect copyright.PENANApHrddiB2SG
of the prairie, but also the dangers of it. She knew the harshness the 394Please respect copyright.PENANAEDklgJU3hS
winters could bring. She knew to watch for mountain lions, and rattle 394Please respect copyright.PENANAbzLidrDL3h
snakes, and scorpions. She knew how to test whether a berry was safe to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAbyxcdeuYoz
eat, or deadly poisonous. She knew it all, and still, she loved it. She 394Please respect copyright.PENANAqpHVzCua6X
loved all te harsh realities that came with a beautiful land.
She 394Please respect copyright.PENANAI7x7HpINE5
wasn't like all the other girls, he well knew. While other girls loved 394Please respect copyright.PENANAQz0WaXmcQb
dresses, or butterflies, she preferred to spend her time learning how to394Please respect copyright.PENANAXgBHzvlhkU
survive the rough life of the prairie. Justin and Mary had agreed, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAkqNBOicFxO
before they even had children, that any daughters they had needed to be 394Please respect copyright.PENANAqrEwSdhZzF
taught how to handle themselves. They couldn't always depend on a man. 394Please respect copyright.PENANALIMm0EIwW8
Mary already knew what that was like.
Her father had been a drunk 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfLiwDSG7MB
her whole life. Her mother was meek, and never spoke for herself. Being 394Please respect copyright.PENANAds6HkhbIbX
raised mainly by her mother, Mary had been much the same, for years. 394Please respect copyright.PENANAQW0MvbWftY
When her mother died, when she was seven, nothing changed. She remained 394Please respect copyright.PENANAVkQYmAlo4e
the quiet girl that never spoke up to her father. She could hardly take 394Please respect copyright.PENANA68mAqGvYAj
care of herself, and knew little to nothing about the wilderness.
Her394Please respect copyright.PENANASKwYOdNZVi
father had never cared, though. He turned a blind eye as to Mary's 394Please respect copyright.PENANACQhvLIcWKR
well-being. The only times he would acknowledge her was to tell her to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAY85ws7mpYv
cook, or clean, or to mend his clothes. She was more of a slave to him, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAAyTaIz7VtP
than a daughter. And when he finally drank himself to death, he left 394Please respect copyright.PENANAKjbs6h94pE
nothing behind for Mary to live a good life from. She didn't know how to394Please respect copyright.PENANA3pGBOQCjpr
work the small farm she lived on; her father didn't believe in women 394Please respect copyright.PENANAwg0Xd0mME8
working anywhere else but in the house.
Being thrown, so suddenly,394Please respect copyright.PENANAWhvnw8Ix8x
into the cruel world that she'd never had to think of before had a big 394Please respect copyright.PENANABU4fuR8Kad
impact on Mary. Being only twelve years of age, she was nothing more 394Please respect copyright.PENANAu9qutfa1sm
than a scared orphan that was terrified by the sudden new world. she had394Please respect copyright.PENANAXwIq7gMg0b
to teach herself the ropes. No one was there to guide her. And when she394Please respect copyright.PENANAxcUcJjvTbW
met and married Justin, she vehemently told him that she didn't want 394Please respect copyright.PENANAMTajK6Y8Ne
her own daughters to go through that, should anything happen to one, or 394Please respect copyright.PENANAUy7hz5ALGk
both of them.
He was quick to agree, telling her that he believed 394Please respect copyright.PENANAM0jk4POiCj
women should know the rules of the wild. He didn't think it fair to see 394Please respect copyright.PENANA73aXDSsJrt
women suddenly left on their own, when their husband, father or brother 394Please respect copyright.PENANAR0b1XT2dhv
died, and having little to no clue on how to handle themselves. That was394Please respect copyright.PENANAMF0VJczSN0
no life, for any woman. And he couldn't, as a father and a husband, 394Please respect copyright.PENANALW5rvZxZw1
live himself in knowing that if he didn't leave behind those rules with 394Please respect copyright.PENANA39YOrgyZG7
his women, something much worse could happen to them than if they did 394Please respect copyright.PENANAJcKbYk02SS
know. And as a man that loved his family more than anything, he'd be 394Please respect copyright.PENANAD1vqGYqllh
damned if he let anything happen to them because he didn't give them the394Please respect copyright.PENANAgd90JfZSRO
tools necessary to survive.
He had just started teaching Ethel, 394Please respect copyright.PENANA60tBSjYygj
as well. While she was a bit confused by the lessons, she knew that when394Please respect copyright.PENANAN0OF1WnStW
her father was trying to teach her something important, it was for a 394Please respect copyright.PENANAsVLYWWWlP1
good reason. She paid very close attention to him, as she often did with394Please respect copyright.PENANAWiuMw7qZY3
a lot of things.
Now, watching Ida smiling with rosy cheeks, and 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfH9qU8xm9H
her loose hair drift with the cool winter's breeze, he couldn't help but394Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5oyaru3hR
imagine her as she grew. He visioned a beautiful young girl, riding 394Please respect copyright.PENANAyq8Kr3woGG
merrily through the fields. A girl that didn't care what society had to 394Please respect copyright.PENANA3pfXDJSQZc
say about her unorthodox upbringing. A girl that didn't need to depend 394Please respect copyright.PENANAFz43hHS2bu
on a man to take care of her. A strong, able-minded girl. It was nothing394Please respect copyright.PENANADBnQa7ZiCH
short of amazing.
They returned at dusk, having had a most 394Please respect copyright.PENANAkMtOOG0QWC
enjoyable time. He was just helping her off of Mosey, when he saw Mary 394Please respect copyright.PENANASYgLW8BVfu
walking towards them, a despondent look on her beautiful face. Frowning,394Please respect copyright.PENANAXorsSELerr
he crouched in front of Ida and adjusted her hat slightly. "Why don't 394Please respect copyright.PENANAjUXHr2uxYn
you go on inside, Ida. Mommy and daddy will be in shortly." He told her.394Please respect copyright.PENANANvXEYbtULB
She obediently did as she was told.
As Mary neared him, he was 394Please respect copyright.PENANAgsPEMiFvkW
troubled to see tears in her red eyes. She'd been crying a while, 394Please respect copyright.PENANA20g94dFFjp
already. but why, he wondered? She was the strongest person he knew, and394Please respect copyright.PENANAmuHCxGi6vm
she hardly ever cried. When she did cry, though, it was usually for 394Please respect copyright.PENANARqz6kGmiBQ
something serious. She cried when he lost his job. She cried when they 394Please respect copyright.PENANAsIyEm6rQR0
lost their baby boy, William, two years ago. Those were the only times. 394Please respect copyright.PENANAms6peSBZJ5
Two times, in their seven years of marriage, and he'd only seen her cry 394Please respect copyright.PENANAf4ksSwZxKQ
twice.
As soon as she was close enough, he wrapped her in a loving394Please respect copyright.PENANAluo6KQ83Rw
embrace. "Hey. Hey. What's wrong? What's wrong, baby?" He mumbled in 394Please respect copyright.PENANA8LM3UOxyYq
her ear. "Mary?" He pulled away and held her cheeks in his gentle hands.394Please respect copyright.PENANAd8cmolpLFx
"What's the matter, dearest?" He rubbed his thumbs under her eyes to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAWkYuLbN2f4
push away the nasty tears that lined her cheekbones.
She didn't say anything, just handed him a crumpled piece of paper.
He394Please respect copyright.PENANAbcimSJWMTL
furrowed his brows as he took the paper. Unfolding it, he read over the394Please respect copyright.PENANAE3Pvf0yDIx
content carefully, and slowly. Neither he, nor Mary had been taught to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAt5i66EaXLj
read or write, as children. They had to teach themselves after they were394Please respect copyright.PENANAnh4Hw4UxGx
married. Though they were better at it, they still encountered trouble.394Please respect copyright.PENANAYBJDfyDGma
But understanding what was in the letter was no trouble for him. The 394Please respect copyright.PENANA7WOyTON2oe
words were clear as day.
"I've been called to war. I leave first thing tomorrow."
She394Please respect copyright.PENANAKCMLIALeEH
released a sob when he said it aloud. And once again, she fell into his394Please respect copyright.PENANA8tYAV7yxcL
arms. He was still in shock, but quickly began to cry along with her. 394Please respect copyright.PENANA7hzy96vtSY
This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening, he tried to tell394Please respect copyright.PENANAxNHD7PwRrh
himself. But the sound of his wife's cries clearly told him that it was394Please respect copyright.PENANArUIvFgMQ06
happening. He was going to war. He was leaving his wife and three 394Please respect copyright.PENANAOdEnR19mpx
daughters behind. He cried into her shoulder, and held her tighter than 394Please respect copyright.PENANAAEmx46YSoS
ever before, stroking her soft hair.
"What are we going to tell the girls?" She whispered into his chest.
He394Please respect copyright.PENANAhWE2Q5iSPz
shook his head and kissed her neck. "We're going to tell them the 394Please respect copyright.PENANAR8UDTi8ZPC
truth; that I've been called to join the war. There's no avoiding this, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAojQK3ns2Su
Mary. We can't lie to them." And she agreed.
Going inside, they 394Please respect copyright.PENANAQlUfr1Jxq2
both called the girls from their room, and Justin beckoned them to sit 394Please respect copyright.PENANApzwCRhlLKt
on his lap. He and Mary shared similar glances as they struggled with 394Please respect copyright.PENANAjyr61k3uNQ
just how to tell their daughters that daddy had to go away. They didn't 394Please respect copyright.PENANAWP8T5pgCEK
sugar-coat it. They told them everything.
"Ida, Ethel…you two know394Please respect copyright.PENANAaHhI3AC4Mm
that all I want is to protect you, and make sure you're safe, right? 394Please respect copyright.PENANACdNWHZPopH
Because you, and Sallie, and mommy are the most important things to me."394Please respect copyright.PENANAFpWwajbLqP
Justin started. When they nodded, he pulled them even closer and 394Please respect copyright.PENANAG2ph8mxNHg
stroked their soft cheeks. "Well that's what I'm going to be doing right394Please respect copyright.PENANA5RobHU4cpe
now. I…I've been asked to join the war. That means I'm going to have to394Please respect copyright.PENANABlOs8MAfJ7
go far away, and make sure no bad people can hurt you, your sister, and394Please respect copyright.PENANABgesz0Mtct
mommy."
Ethel shook her head, and her bottom lip quivered, as she394Please respect copyright.PENANAob8UFJkJB7
threw her chubby arms around his neck. "No, daddy! No! No! No! I don't 394Please respect copyright.PENANAWX2e5WjDVw
want them to take you far away!" She cried desperately.
He blinked394Please respect copyright.PENANAbu9TaEPwnm
away tear as he wrapped one arm around her to keep her close. "I don't 394Please respect copyright.PENANApbvWtJg4to
want to leave either, honey; but I need to protect you. Ethel, if there 394Please respect copyright.PENANA27ZrHYyquD
was another way, sweetheart, believe me I would take it, in a heart 394Please respect copyright.PENANAvyuDgkhKwN
beat. But this is the only way I can protect you, your sisters, and 394Please respect copyright.PENANA62TaiMZdno
mommy." He hated doing this. He may as well have told her that there was394Please respect copyright.PENANAMFyX3Fkefh
a chance he wouldn't be coming back. Her innocence was already damaged.394Please respect copyright.PENANAmcf37qrTCf
She was to young for this. Ida was to young for this. Ida. "Ida…what 394Please respect copyright.PENANA6CNjQ5MUR6
are you thinking, darling?"
She was expressionless. It was like 394Please respect copyright.PENANAGaKvYseozN
she didn't know what to say; and really, she didn't. what could she say?394Please respect copyright.PENANAdfSMLVBHnX
So instead of replying, she scooted up and buried herself in her 394Please respect copyright.PENANATNbTZSamIY
father's chest. "I love you, daddy." She whispered.
He couldn't 394Please respect copyright.PENANAz400uGv0li
hold back the tears that threatened him, not anymore. He let them go as 394Please respect copyright.PENANAMrYPZjsSrI
he bent to kiss her head softly. "I love you too, little one. Both of 394Please respect copyright.PENANAsAISeSUPjz
you." He spoke towards Ethel. After they got down and went to try and 394Please respect copyright.PENANA8D3PvHojbq
distract themselves from the heartbreaking moment, Hiccup took little 394Please respect copyright.PENANA4D8y4JNVwT
Sallie. She couldn't know what was going on. All she would know was that394Please respect copyright.PENANApyV2WcIaiU
she would be waking up, looking around for her daddy, and realize he's 394Please respect copyright.PENANApfnNQsX8Vj
not there. She would wonder why. And God forbid, if he were to be gone 394Please respect copyright.PENANArN5K9AeZ37
several years, he would come back and she wouldn't even know who he was.394Please respect copyright.PENANAQVg7NVSB4A
His own daughter.
All to suddenly, the Daniels' world was 394Please respect copyright.PENANAlnMUjoJna8
crumbling before them. It was all being shaken, taken away from them 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfMU2op1Pr7
within the snap of a finger. He didn't have a choice. It was either 394Please respect copyright.PENANAbKXCTXQM49
leave and stand a chance of coming home, or stay and undergo trial, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAZjFqrCSmqE
guaranteeing that he would never see his family again. there was no 394Please respect copyright.PENANAqQpEZgSi2G
choice; he was going.
That night, after all the girls were fed and394Please respect copyright.PENANAar8I339OnG
tucked into bed, Justin shut the door of their room, and was 394Please respect copyright.PENANA9jXcJ3uopn
immediately met by his wife's passionate lips. It took him no time to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAMLzmUZ8HCY
respond to her kiss, and wrap his arms around her small frame. Their 394Please respect copyright.PENANATIln9GV1wC
tears melted against their lips, as he pushed her against the wall, and 394Please respect copyright.PENANA8N5DQUtf7X
slid his hands down to hold her hips.
It didn't take long to strip394Please respect copyright.PENANAqZyxMlgrJ9
each other of their clothes and for him to lay her on their bed. 394Please respect copyright.PENANAkcccoTe96m
Heartbreak filled what little space there was between their bodies. As 394Please respect copyright.PENANAUbRVJleqyI
he buried his hands in her disheveled hair, and kissed down her neck, he394Please respect copyright.PENANAks4kdsvymB
mumbled words of absolute love and adoration for her. He told her how 394Please respect copyright.PENANAT4BU0WjReU
much she meant to him, how he loved her, how beautiful she was.
When394Please respect copyright.PENANAZM24JIUrKU
he finally entered her, she held tight to his back, trying to keep back394Please respect copyright.PENANAPuoo1ytGb4
her sobs. But it was all for naught. She dug her fingers into his back,394Please respect copyright.PENANAmAvzue81aQ
and cried softly into the crook of his freckled shoulder.
He 394Please respect copyright.PENANA5TWFTE4jc2
shook his head and shut his eyes tight. "Don't cry. Please don't cry, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAFYATyhjFHT
darling." He said begged with a strangled voice. But he too couldn't 394Please respect copyright.PENANAujAI3z8Ykh
hold back his sobs. And as he made love to her, they shared in more than394Please respect copyright.PENANAwPrV4SpEUs
just passion, but also their fear and heartbreak.
Afterwards, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAk9lH4MTHFP
they laid silently in each other's arms. Nothing needed to be said, to 394Please respect copyright.PENANARYSWZbws82
know what the other was thinking. It all spilled out in the way they 394Please respect copyright.PENANAQmfo6Hmzab
made love, and the way they held each other. Nothing could make this 394Please respect copyright.PENANAgKo6HaTdPT
better. But for now, being with each other, was all they really needed.
The394Please respect copyright.PENANATeE0QrDbmq
next morning, they woke the girls up at the crack of dawn. It was time.394Please respect copyright.PENANAq8JZOnW4aW
Mary packed him supplies, enough to last him through several weeks, and394Please respect copyright.PENANAumBB3NYuLj
they all sat and ate one last meal together. After which, they all 394Please respect copyright.PENANAn0UgTSumuN
bundled up and went out to see him off.
It didn't take him long to394Please respect copyright.PENANA1bQMy4PlX6
prepare a saddle bag, and then to saddle Bobbie. Though he wanted to 394Please respect copyright.PENANAn0DSRCXlOT
prolong the time for as long as he could, he knew that it would just 394Please respect copyright.PENANA7Cz49NXqQV
make it harder to leave. And he'd never seen a shame in crying, but he 394Please respect copyright.PENANADly1sM8sQR
also didn't like crying in front of his daughters. But today, he 394Please respect copyright.PENANAz3cOiDdN2b
couldn't help it. he was leaving them, potentially to never come back; 394Please respect copyright.PENANAmZpiXBTfsN
how was he not to cry?
When all was ready, he turned to his small,394Please respect copyright.PENANAYc6pH3ZsaT
but beautiful family. His daughters were quieter than he'd ever seen 394Please respect copyright.PENANAi6Fuq7lcz2
them. His wife couldn't stop her flow of tear. His youngest daughter was394Please respect copyright.PENANAnoTtfJes7d
looking at them all curiously, confused to what was going on.
Licking394Please respect copyright.PENANAsbnXrjxVYl
his lips, he knelt down and held out a hand. Ida was quick to come 394Please respect copyright.PENANAKWWS5cORVw
forward and take it. "Ethel, come here, little one." He beckoned gently.394Please respect copyright.PENANAbSqKtZFPxh
She finally came forward, and he pulled her, with Ida, into his 394Please respect copyright.PENANAFqDVFUT8xN
embrace. "Now, you two listen; I'm going to be home real soon, ok? I 394Please respect copyright.PENANAPYbAzBJ9VE
love you. I love you two, so much." He told them over again. Giving them394Please respect copyright.PENANAOaFbFmafBQ
each one last kiss, he stood to take Sallie int his arms. "Oh, Sallie, 394Please respect copyright.PENANA6hDMo20IyR
please remember me, sweet girl. Remember, how much daddy loved you." He 394Please respect copyright.PENANAKKZQh1QYhG
kissed her softly then handed her to Ida.
His heart melted when he394Please respect copyright.PENANAzH3UoMrMVP
gazed at his wife, as it always did. But this time was different. He 394Please respect copyright.PENANA5RZrkbTfd3
could be saying goodbye to her, forever. He didn't want to lose her, and394Please respect copyright.PENANAkI1KJ6Vh34
he knew she didn't want to lose him either. It was an unimaginable 394Please respect copyright.PENANAeMBtQNtTEe
thought, for both of them. It was hard to believe, seven years ago, they394Please respect copyright.PENANAZHhRO0uMl8
were fourteen and nineteen and just getting married. Six years ago, 394Please respect copyright.PENANAXDggvo1zyf
they became the parents of a darling daughter. Now they were saying 394Please respect copyright.PENANA4PBJ6YV7j5
goodbye for an unknown amount of time.
He took a sharp breath when394Please respect copyright.PENANA5hkEgxqxCT
she threw herself into his arms, and he rested his head in the crevice 394Please respect copyright.PENANAy0hlMFzsLG
of her neck and shoulder. "I love you, so damn much. Always remember 394Please respect copyright.PENANAWI8GJPCP1E
that, Mary." He whispered against her flushed skin.
She nodded 394Please respect copyright.PENANAfpVNzrJfCZ
wordlessly. "I will. Just, remember that I'm always with you. The girls 394Please respect copyright.PENANAvqc8E3rSr1
are always with you. We'll be right here, waiting. I promise."
He 394Please respect copyright.PENANAzaUrJpCJig
sobbed and placed a single kiss on her neck. "One last time. Just one 394Please respect copyright.PENANAsfoLRa84W9
last time. I want to make love to you. I want to ride out with Ida. I 394Please respect copyright.PENANALxpul3QdTV
want to walk in and watch Ethel playing. I want to see Sallie laugh. One394Please respect copyright.PENANAns3PKSDXGM
last time. I want to see my family happy together."
All too soon,394Please respect copyright.PENANAjsNKJ6nA3A
he was gone. Just like that. And Mary was left holding her crying 394Please respect copyright.PENANASsI1oKc7bl
daughters, as they watched their father ride off into the gloomy 394Please respect copyright.PENANAUiKKPImGJi
sunrise. It would never be the same again, they all knew. Everything, in394Please respect copyright.PENANAygR2XFq4M4
that moment, had changed.