"Mommy! Daddy!"
Justin quickly pulled out of his very heated 392Please respect copyright.PENANA4z7eUzWrZW
kiss with Mary. Pulling the sheets up, he went to cover both of their 392Please respect copyright.PENANASZmA76KmfJ
naked bodies. After which, he laughed as he rolled off of Mary and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAlqU0JZI6uU
turned towards their door. "Come on in, girls!" He called.
Two 392Please respect copyright.PENANA035AL2fnAn
small girls ran in with the biggest smiles reaching their face. One was a392Please respect copyright.PENANAWGO95pCeUM
red-haired girl with blue eyes, the other a brown-haired girl with 392Please respect copyright.PENANAOf4sfEXzL7
violet eyes. The red-haired girl, Ida, was the oldest, at six years old,392Please respect copyright.PENANASWCrAu1b5j
and the blonde, Ethel, was three. In her arms, Ida carried a baby girl,392Please respect copyright.PENANAVqJElcdgzv
Sallie. Sallie was six months old and had black hair and green eyes.
Sitting392Please respect copyright.PENANAeWlccsmv8d
up a little on the bed, not letting the sheets fall past his hips, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAJpt9lvx2ur
Justin held his arms out and helped Ethel into the bed. Then he helped 392Please respect copyright.PENANAefPani4kPR
Ida, and took Sallie into his arms. "Good morning, sweethearts." He 392Please respect copyright.PENANAmK1wh1soXP
greeted them as he gave a kiss to the top of each of their heads. 392Please respect copyright.PENANABbFwXg0g4e
Wrapping an arm around Mary, he held all four of his girls close and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAJlwByB7wr1
sighed in content.
"Are you going to take me riding today, daddy? 392Please respect copyright.PENANA6pla1ogU00
You promised me, last night, that you would." Ida asked excitedly. She 392Please respect copyright.PENANACSdxLPFqSV
was a beautiful girl, and had even been deemed a much beautiful baby, as392Please respect copyright.PENANAI5ASpet8A9
an infant. They had no clue where she got her red hair and blue eyes; 392Please respect copyright.PENANAWF0zcmLWWm
it was one mystery that they figured made her that much more unique. And392Please respect copyright.PENANAj8JR89HBlH
they loved her for her uniqueness.
He beamed over at his oldest 392Please respect copyright.PENANAfnBO1M9WzU
and poked her nose playfully. "Well if I promised, don't you think I'd 392Please respect copyright.PENANAaxIeRuApXZ
take you riding? Since when has your daddy ever made a promise he can't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAhz6HIrDLAZ
keep?"
Mary chuckled and stroked Ida's hair with loving fingers. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAB8WrlmBd61
"One of the many wonderful qualities about your father, Ida, is that he 392Please respect copyright.PENANAr3ihwVX39o
has never made a promise that he cannot keep. He's a smart man, not a 392Please respect copyright.PENANAVwihUOOtxN
dumb one." She told the girl.
Justin scoffed teasingly. "Wow, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAFdQO59pAwp
thank you for that backhanded compliment, love. Girls, I love your 392Please respect copyright.PENANAL5IMMiGKVs
mother with all my heart, but she is very good with giving compliments 392Please respect copyright.PENANAzK2b3Zn9gQ
in backhanded ways." He saw the look on his wife's face and gulped 392Please respect copyright.PENANAmj9EQeJmBF
slightly. "I-I mean…uh…thank you very much, dear?" He suggested with a 392Please respect copyright.PENANAA11FujibuR
crooked smile as though saying, please, just don't hurt me.
She 392Please respect copyright.PENANAs4yzVdEWfK
laughed outright and shook her head. "I wasn't going to punch you, Jus. 392Please respect copyright.PENANA8QZ53OfMdq
And even if I wanted to, I still wouldn't; not while you have the baby."392Please respect copyright.PENANA7jOaouJ4eV
She reminded him.
He sighed in relief and pressed his lips to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAF8VqnDNgxY
Sallie's head. "You saved your old man's hide, Sal." He said gratefully.392Please respect copyright.PENANASjHBjmN1iR
Then he looked back toward Ida, remembering their conversation before. 392Please respect copyright.PENANA8d0ZzGDjW6
"We'll go out riding, after breakfast, Ida. Speaking of, whatcha say we 392Please respect copyright.PENANACqcgAEmGf0
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."392Please respect copyright.PENANApgUCsobQcP
He agreed. He was just about to get up, when he remembered the state he392Please respect copyright.PENANAbin9E3qUwN
and Mary were in. He blushed lightly, glaring at his wife's sly smile. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAFlGf4ss5GX
"Ida, Ethel, why don't you two go get dressed while mommy and daddy get 392Please respect copyright.PENANAhZKnePsmFq
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.
After392Please respect copyright.PENANAdflTxdjJZC
they were gone, Mary barked a laugh, while Juatin glared playfully at 392Please respect copyright.PENANAhZazyScDsm
her. "Oh shut up." He mumbled while leaning in and kissing her 392Please respect copyright.PENANAuSFgeWQyRK
collarbone softly.
But she swatted his head, making him pull back 392Please respect copyright.PENANAlNhJmnvnac
and give her a confused look. "I have to feed the baby, and you need to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAgYs1V72CzT
start breakfast for our other two girls." She reminded him with a 392Please respect copyright.PENANAKomSY828sJ
smiled. At his despondent face, she kissed him softly and ruffled his 392Please respect copyright.PENANAb5snEarLlI
hair. "Later, lover boy."
He grinned slyly, stroking her arm with 392Please respect copyright.PENANAuu7YEc5pa0
such softness. "I'll hold you to that, sweetheart." Then he rolled out 392Please respect copyright.PENANAcQJS3nkKA5
of bed, albeit reluctantly, and went to dress. After which, he left to 392Please respect copyright.PENANA0AYjnqYQl3
head for the kitchen to make breakfast.
As he stood at the old 392Please respect copyright.PENANAY2FIOCRE07
stove, his two oldest daughter came bounding in, their long hair still a392Please respect copyright.PENANAWFjdtdc5kN
mess and in need of help. He laughed as he put the spoon with which he 392Please respect copyright.PENANAI9U8Q9EN7L
was using to make porridge down and knelt in front of them. "You girls 392Please respect copyright.PENANAhx4nF4SiJw
need me to do your hair?" He asked as he stroked each of their heads.
Justin392Please respect copyright.PENANA7w6wpbmut7
and Mary had gotten married when they were fourteen and nineteen. There392Please respect copyright.PENANAi2VAPk7COA
was no doubt in Justin's parents' mind that their son was in love, and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAaaeKf8dfRP
that Mary was in love with him. Mary had fallen in love with him for 392Please respect copyright.PENANAQWqHE98znl
more than just his looks though. She'd found out, early on, that he was 392Please respect copyright.PENANAddeFd624sL
able to cook and clean, unlike many of the suitors that had begged her 392Please respect copyright.PENANAFt66tdGtBT
for her hand since her father's death, when she was twelve. Justin was 392Please respect copyright.PENANASrFsZFiheq
different though.
His ability to cook and clean made her one happy392Please respect copyright.PENANACLSx5wQypw
woman, when they married. And a year later they had Ida. As she began 392Please respect copyright.PENANAncaPx4XB84
to grow hair, and it grew longer, Mary was pleased to discover more of 392Please respect copyright.PENANAfcEkgEVvQL
her husband's hidden talents. He could do hair. He had offered to do 392Please respect copyright.PENANAgwcMorCZwx
hers on numerous occasions, but she had always insisted on doing it 392Please respect copyright.PENANAtWBRdSmFHL
herself. But as Ida grew, and she was left tired, Justin had stepped in 392Please respect copyright.PENANA3kED4ofLNq
to do whatever his daughter needed. He could dress her, change her 392Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ6EDWVQQ1
diapers, do her hair, everything. And now, he had two daughters to do 392Please respect copyright.PENANA8VPX0CsnlQ
that with; which they both loved when he did their hair.
Ida 392Please respect copyright.PENANAoqjvYEYJHU
nodded and held out two leather bands for him. Turning them around, he 392Please respect copyright.PENANAlKLPExZ6Cb
used the wooden hair brush to gently pry out the nasty knots in their 392Please respect copyright.PENANAHWZBDXM6mB
beautiful hair. Then he but them into loose braids. After that, he 392Please respect copyright.PENANAcNLcZNORlm
grabbed some flowers that Mary always kept on the table, and put them 392Please respect copyright.PENANAy3Sd80iNpC
into random spots of the braids. "There we go. There's my beautiful 392Please respect copyright.PENANAYIjtEReqHK
girls." He said pridefully as he touched each of their cheeks and placed392Please respect copyright.PENANADBDyusGtmZ
light kisses on their foreheads.
The girls each giggled and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAb4kcmzVcPn
kissed his cheek. "Thanks, daddy." They said unanimously. Picking up the392Please respect copyright.PENANAp19tjAYCuW
ends of their dresses, they raced to the table and climbed up on the 392Please respect copyright.PENANAhRFD11Fbcm
chairs that were still to big for them. Justin helped them up and then 392Please respect copyright.PENANAruwcXFd8OF
went back to making breakfast.
Mary came in, not long later, 392Please respect copyright.PENANA5gsTcyVOUx
Sallie in her arms, dressed in a thick dress to keep her from the bitter392Please respect copyright.PENANAUIkXXc4QSz
cold that threatened them during the winter months. Mary herself wore a392Please respect copyright.PENANAoo59JJ3c2n
simple, beat up, blue dress with an apron over top. Her hair was loose,392Please respect copyright.PENANAD3mU211NTI
with only parts of the front being pulled back into a small braid.
That's392Please respect copyright.PENANAmjhS9spj1j
when Justin set breakfast in front of everyone. They'd had nothing but 392Please respect copyright.PENANAarT7tCPbw6
porridge for the past few weeks, but, unfortunately, that was all they 392Please respect copyright.PENANA9iUdCNZDlo
could afford at the moment. Justin had lost his job at the sawmill 392Please respect copyright.PENANAIZPLB4OaKb
several months ago, because of the impact of the war that had just 392Please respect copyright.PENANAshlBFCjrU3
started not even half a year ago. The Civil War, as they called it. They392Please respect copyright.PENANAfTHbOEDoPq
were at war with their own countrymen. It was sad to see it come to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAjO7WuElw5P
this, and see the effects it cause. Because of it, Justin had lost his 392Please respect copyright.PENANAKFwHMgSK0V
job, and they had been reduced to nothing more than rations of food.
She392Please respect copyright.PENANAtYppnmaX23
looked over at Justin with a soft, hopefully encouraging smile. She 392Please respect copyright.PENANAk3DgQQlk3C
knew that losing his job had struck him right in the gut. His pride was,392Please respect copyright.PENANAM6HOKF3LCz
without a doubt, damaged. With great struggle, she had managed to get 392Please respect copyright.PENANAlE4Jvw35bW
him to admit that he felt like a failure as a husband and a father, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAJicQpIKmka
because he lost his job. He felt unable to provide for his own family; 392Please respect copyright.PENANAX5XSG3gyfG
to him, that was something worse than death. All he wanted was to give 392Please respect copyright.PENANA4RkgezastF
his wife and young daughters a good home, good clothes, and good food. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAoTJbPlEYWQ
Now, he couldn't even do that. It took its toll on him, and she could 392Please respect copyright.PENANACiI4Edakgz
see it in the way he had started to age from the stress of the last few 392Please respect copyright.PENANAAx98601spY
months.
They were doing all they could for the time being. She 392Please respect copyright.PENANA726dVN4xdk
would eat little, but still a substantial amount so that she could 392Please respect copyright.PENANAuJxJUrUH0d
provide milk for Sallie, and he would hardly eat anything. He had 392Please respect copyright.PENANAlmo4hxktLG
started losing a significant amount of weight, which he and Mary could 392Please respect copyright.PENANAFnhlaWD7XY
only hope the girls hadn't noticed. She had also lost a great deal 392Please respect copyright.PENANAEy2TLrZ7BZ
amount of weight, but still not quite as much as him. Even their 392Please respect copyright.PENANAec2NPEZfjG
daughter, Ida and Ethel, had begun losing weight because of the food 392Please respect copyright.PENANA8RDxiY108s
shortage.
He looked around at his family, as he always did at 392Please respect copyright.PENANAU1doTx4EVF
breakfast and dinner, and felt his heart break once more. His wife's 392Please respect copyright.PENANAM5Uroypu8f
face, while beautiful as he would always find her and know her to be, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAiNCdX4hyL6
was shallow, and dark bags lined under her eyes. She looked so…empty. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAOyUtvFT5Sr
His daughters looked weaker than they once were. They used to be so 392Please respect copyright.PENANAJBf0eFTjlN
lively; and while they would still run around and play, they couldn't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAOw6jr0AksR
last as long as they once did. One of his favorite things to do, had 392Please respect copyright.PENANAqhZw3pDLOH
been to watch his little girls run and play. They were like fairies, 392Please respect copyright.PENANA6MrUgaElMR
when they ran through the tall, summer grass. So beautiful. So 392Please respect copyright.PENANAbK36i4aBLO
enchanting. Now it seemed there was only a sliver of those girls left in392Please respect copyright.PENANAurS6IsEgtf
the daughters he'd raised.
Then there was Sallie. She was smaller392Please respect copyright.PENANAJGqNCnbyUr
than most six month old babies. She'd been born at nine months, she 392Please respect copyright.PENANAurmuYIgCrb
just wasn't getting the necessary nourishing most babies needed. She was392Please respect copyright.PENANAWNStzHVTEo
healthy, but looked so torn down compared to most, healthier, six month392Please respect copyright.PENANALa9bO1GnJU
olds.
He hated seeing his family so broken up. As a man 392Please respect copyright.PENANA2JNAsw8xtL
especially, it hit him right where it hurts. His girls were the most 392Please respect copyright.PENANAsYv2wgrq4q
important treasures in his world, and taking care of them felt more like392Please respect copyright.PENANAsVLM6Xqolr
an honor than a duty. To have that honor suddenly taken, and to not be 392Please respect copyright.PENANALUFi8so76u
able to give his girls anything more than grits and moldy bread as 392Please respect copyright.PENANAXIOhQ5ey8h
meals, was about the cruelest thing for him. Now they were suffering, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAT76MhSzScp
and there was nothing her, or anyone else, could do about it.
Mary,392Please respect copyright.PENANA6EMm3EPivR
seeing the heartbreak that was all but written on his face, reached 392Please respect copyright.PENANAgOEq5V2jp3
across the table to take his hand in her own smaller one. With her eyes,392Please respect copyright.PENANAa7ipBtuHle
she told him that it was alright. They were together. They had each 392Please respect copyright.PENANAnmmo45CkRg
other. That was all that mattered. And she was right; he knew that. but 392Please respect copyright.PENANA94htzmSXRq
deep in his heart, he couldn't help that feeling of letting them all 392Please respect copyright.PENANAJC2n71u7r7
down, even though it hadn't been his fault that he was fired.
As 392Please respect copyright.PENANAU1hCGvefb4
the family finished their breakfast in silence, Mary got up and cleared 392Please respect copyright.PENANAvy0H2J8FRo
their pans. Meanwhile, Justin grabbed his hat and rifle and ruffled 392Please respect copyright.PENANAbyzO7wU4XK
little Ida's red hair. "You ready to go, half pint?" He asked with a 392Please respect copyright.PENANAZfPjUcVAJa
broad, loving smile.
Ida jumped up excitedly and bounced on the 392Please respect copyright.PENANAmTKTjDuuaU
balls of her feet. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She squealed. A laugh slipped past 392Please respect copyright.PENANAOulfmKzAuX
her lips when he placed another hat on her head as well. It was a bit 392Please respect copyright.PENANAxRzmp7p1AH
too big, and fell slightly over her forehead. But she smiled wider and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAcPBPBl6dwo
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.
She392Please respect copyright.PENANAFtbYbM6fVB
pouted, crossing her arms. And he couldn't get over how much she looked392Please respect copyright.PENANAbqKGf65ZS8
like Mary when she pouted. Other than those violet eyes, of course, she392Please respect copyright.PENANAAKqRUpIVB6
was her mother's spitting image. "Why does Ida get to do everything?"
"She's392Please respect copyright.PENANAHquH6iR1XX
older, Ethel. I know it ain't fair, hon, but I promise that we'll go 392Please respect copyright.PENANAr8BeZ9CckY
riding together when you're a little bit older. Alright?" He didn't like392Please respect copyright.PENANAQmEOUM9OOv
disappointing either of his older daughters – Sallie of course being 392Please respect copyright.PENANAr4gPi7Yl5b
hard to displease because she was only six months old – but he also 392Please respect copyright.PENANA2YF8tTz0Gm
couldn't take major risks. He hadn't taken Ida out riding when she was 392Please respect copyright.PENANA0ndUcLSKhG
three, and he wouldn't do that with Ethel or Sallie either. And she 392Please respect copyright.PENANAcxdDinOn36
might not have found it fair at the time, but he knew Ethel would 392Please respect copyright.PENANAsUFbDJf31A
understand one day.
She was still pouting, but nodded anyway. "Ok,392Please respect copyright.PENANASyBrIdWcG4
daddy." Kissing his cheek, she wiggled out of his arms and went to play392Please respect copyright.PENANArnZ1GL5Lu9
in the small family room.
Mary came forward then and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Be careful?" She whispered.
He392Please respect copyright.PENANAF094V0KTeS
smiled and nodded. "Of course, darlin'. And I'll bring our daughter 392Please respect copyright.PENANAnbwDZiD9ou
back in one piece." He promised, making them both laugh. Then he leaned 392Please respect copyright.PENANALmicBwujDW
in and kissed her lips chastely. "I love you." He mumbled against her 392Please respect copyright.PENANAXgu72bAk7q
lips. Then pulling away, he stooped down to scoop Ida up into his strong392Please respect copyright.PENANANg4uLvt8sN
arms. "You ready to go, baby?" He asked, nudging his nose against her 392Please respect copyright.PENANAp7yz72mRJS
soft cheek.
She giggled and kissed his cheek. That was answer 392Please respect copyright.PENANAqEGmlTyqF6
enough for her father, as he turned for the door. A last look back, and 392Please respect copyright.PENANA0CwOevn1dp
he left with Ida snug against him. Within minutes, he had his horse, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAhDOCTNTCUn
Bobbie, ready and saddled. Then he saddled Mary's horse, Mosey. Picking 392Please respect copyright.PENANAJf1yVZQ4I4
Ida back up, under her arms, he lifted her up and set her in Mosey's 392Please respect copyright.PENANANi629wQFA2
saddle.
Father and daughter spent hours riding the deserted plains392Please respect copyright.PENANAueYcrBk15h
of Braiden, which was part of the Dakota Territory. For miles, there 392Please respect copyright.PENANAuiNzG309aq
was nothing but sage brush and wild grass. The air was fresh, and clean.392Please respect copyright.PENANAYSqpYuB4m8
To Justin, that was the best thing about living in the Dakota 392Please respect copyright.PENANA0RbdQ4bze7
Territory, rather than the big cities. And he couldn't be any happier to392Please respect copyright.PENANAbVpsiQloez
be raising his own family in such a beautiful land.
As they rose 392Please respect copyright.PENANA2IxteW5JuT
through the plain, over the hills, and through the tufts of rolling 392Please respect copyright.PENANARJiSLuVP9U
grass that danced with the wind, he watched his daughter with a proud 392Please respect copyright.PENANApSugDZH6x6
smile. While she looked like no one in their family, he couldn't help 392Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZBwOthhjk
but admire all of their qualities that fit into her. She was as close to392Please respect copyright.PENANAMkBksbvJLG
perfect as one could ever be. While she made mistakes, she was quick to392Please respect copyright.PENANAdRM2AT0Fef
try and make up and apologize for those mistakes. And she was quick to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAG9BoW7hoWF
forgive too. She never once held a grudge, and for that, everyone was 392Please respect copyright.PENANAOs1aWJVJgx
grateful. Being on her bad side was never fun.
She fit into this 392Please respect copyright.PENANAPavTj3DU30
life, better than most. This was the life she wanted. So many times, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAm4vlEEaMdt
since she was old enough to speak, she had crawled up into his lap and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAVIjnSqt486
told him that she loved the life of the prairie. It's like living in a 392Please respect copyright.PENANAMRmMviCAzu
fairy-tale, she would tell him. And she knew not only the magical parts 392Please respect copyright.PENANArJzsGrLztK
of the prairie, but also the dangers of it. She knew the harshness the 392Please respect copyright.PENANAcBIIARJYCG
winters could bring. She knew to watch for mountain lions, and rattle 392Please respect copyright.PENANAyOH5eAzprR
snakes, and scorpions. She knew how to test whether a berry was safe to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAIlAUO7FAtz
eat, or deadly poisonous. She knew it all, and still, she loved it. She 392Please respect copyright.PENANADYKXP9QaNL
loved all te harsh realities that came with a beautiful land.
She 392Please respect copyright.PENANAY3Ak1YVpEO
wasn't like all the other girls, he well knew. While other girls loved 392Please respect copyright.PENANArrfnyMyy7u
dresses, or butterflies, she preferred to spend her time learning how to392Please respect copyright.PENANAj38Afzr391
survive the rough life of the prairie. Justin and Mary had agreed, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAMK9DYYSJiv
before they even had children, that any daughters they had needed to be 392Please respect copyright.PENANAa8K5t0Vz2l
taught how to handle themselves. They couldn't always depend on a man. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAh0qsTcp8iY
Mary already knew what that was like.
Her father had been a drunk 392Please respect copyright.PENANAqOIGVylEAA
her whole life. Her mother was meek, and never spoke for herself. Being 392Please respect copyright.PENANAeK0ELZDLqu
raised mainly by her mother, Mary had been much the same, for years. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAjkK1z3iM38
When her mother died, when she was seven, nothing changed. She remained 392Please respect copyright.PENANABEOs7OfdYN
the quiet girl that never spoke up to her father. She could hardly take 392Please respect copyright.PENANAInCQfgWVh5
care of herself, and knew little to nothing about the wilderness.
Her392Please respect copyright.PENANAl3h59UdLZZ
father had never cared, though. He turned a blind eye as to Mary's 392Please respect copyright.PENANAIs3EdDDPq0
well-being. The only times he would acknowledge her was to tell her to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAeterYMbhgq
cook, or clean, or to mend his clothes. She was more of a slave to him, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAiqWFWRInYU
than a daughter. And when he finally drank himself to death, he left 392Please respect copyright.PENANAEYHDx7DCtQ
nothing behind for Mary to live a good life from. She didn't know how to392Please respect copyright.PENANAjzqp5noaYh
work the small farm she lived on; her father didn't believe in women 392Please respect copyright.PENANA9NAJMaBne3
working anywhere else but in the house.
Being thrown, so suddenly,392Please respect copyright.PENANAT1rITuN679
into the cruel world that she'd never had to think of before had a big 392Please respect copyright.PENANAujyFFLl0gb
impact on Mary. Being only twelve years of age, she was nothing more 392Please respect copyright.PENANA67R4mbyoly
than a scared orphan that was terrified by the sudden new world. she had392Please respect copyright.PENANAbit4WGO87U
to teach herself the ropes. No one was there to guide her. And when she392Please respect copyright.PENANAAxvE3OFjGO
met and married Justin, she vehemently told him that she didn't want 392Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ng6UWzVBd
her own daughters to go through that, should anything happen to one, or 392Please respect copyright.PENANAuIt1CzMJ21
both of them.
He was quick to agree, telling her that he believed 392Please respect copyright.PENANA8WvZAG9faH
women should know the rules of the wild. He didn't think it fair to see 392Please respect copyright.PENANAvUXuwMlVhC
women suddenly left on their own, when their husband, father or brother 392Please respect copyright.PENANA8I4t42rBVz
died, and having little to no clue on how to handle themselves. That was392Please respect copyright.PENANAwdGOODKjm2
no life, for any woman. And he couldn't, as a father and a husband, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAbsNjkbTLgn
live himself in knowing that if he didn't leave behind those rules with 392Please respect copyright.PENANAcUkf18lws7
his women, something much worse could happen to them than if they did 392Please respect copyright.PENANAZnNj4ZB8yi
know. And as a man that loved his family more than anything, he'd be 392Please respect copyright.PENANAex2RHdO7LT
damned if he let anything happen to them because he didn't give them the392Please respect copyright.PENANA0qXARkDm9v
tools necessary to survive.
He had just started teaching Ethel, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAp0T8I2Kfno
as well. While she was a bit confused by the lessons, she knew that when392Please respect copyright.PENANAxFoetsSVCk
her father was trying to teach her something important, it was for a 392Please respect copyright.PENANAnAzzo60cgP
good reason. She paid very close attention to him, as she often did with392Please respect copyright.PENANAtFwbfiEbe0
a lot of things.
Now, watching Ida smiling with rosy cheeks, and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAULSYykEu2m
her loose hair drift with the cool winter's breeze, he couldn't help but392Please respect copyright.PENANAC8T3sc9jNq
imagine her as she grew. He visioned a beautiful young girl, riding 392Please respect copyright.PENANApRyIy2Jt2I
merrily through the fields. A girl that didn't care what society had to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAj8VqUBBjED
say about her unorthodox upbringing. A girl that didn't need to depend 392Please respect copyright.PENANAFtMwqXgET4
on a man to take care of her. A strong, able-minded girl. It was nothing392Please respect copyright.PENANAXm0NSpADA7
short of amazing.
They returned at dusk, having had a most 392Please respect copyright.PENANANAv0UgafnO
enjoyable time. He was just helping her off of Mosey, when he saw Mary 392Please respect copyright.PENANAg2aGkZsTz7
walking towards them, a despondent look on her beautiful face. Frowning,392Please respect copyright.PENANAhHV1yVEK8i
he crouched in front of Ida and adjusted her hat slightly. "Why don't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAlsndnChjtQ
you go on inside, Ida. Mommy and daddy will be in shortly." He told her.392Please respect copyright.PENANAlBnrNy2f5N
She obediently did as she was told.
As Mary neared him, he was 392Please respect copyright.PENANAvPzKpLYgnC
troubled to see tears in her red eyes. She'd been crying a while, 392Please respect copyright.PENANA5VsKpFQnUk
already. but why, he wondered? She was the strongest person he knew, and392Please respect copyright.PENANA8rzQNhjVDP
she hardly ever cried. When she did cry, though, it was usually for 392Please respect copyright.PENANAS40f4zDfUl
something serious. She cried when he lost his job. She cried when they 392Please respect copyright.PENANAghyBOUXR1X
lost their baby boy, William, two years ago. Those were the only times. 392Please respect copyright.PENANArjMRpkROtb
Two times, in their seven years of marriage, and he'd only seen her cry 392Please respect copyright.PENANAasWxFD9HqR
twice.
As soon as she was close enough, he wrapped her in a loving392Please respect copyright.PENANAooBz71Hbay
embrace. "Hey. Hey. What's wrong? What's wrong, baby?" He mumbled in 392Please respect copyright.PENANApE5mJ4k964
her ear. "Mary?" He pulled away and held her cheeks in his gentle hands.392Please respect copyright.PENANAbRVhzsCNV9
"What's the matter, dearest?" He rubbed his thumbs under her eyes to 392Please respect copyright.PENANA2ssd8vOZhs
push away the nasty tears that lined her cheekbones.
She didn't say anything, just handed him a crumpled piece of paper.
He392Please respect copyright.PENANANAwdxG59Ls
furrowed his brows as he took the paper. Unfolding it, he read over the392Please respect copyright.PENANAyqzfL3hPSL
content carefully, and slowly. Neither he, nor Mary had been taught to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAEpeFIYDD03
read or write, as children. They had to teach themselves after they were392Please respect copyright.PENANA9qvMFKfF1t
married. Though they were better at it, they still encountered trouble.392Please respect copyright.PENANAryF6qPfiGg
But understanding what was in the letter was no trouble for him. The 392Please respect copyright.PENANAlrBLMsr6eD
words were clear as day.
"I've been called to war. I leave first thing tomorrow."
She392Please respect copyright.PENANAQdMdovftam
released a sob when he said it aloud. And once again, she fell into his392Please respect copyright.PENANAEl39Bvwqs9
arms. He was still in shock, but quickly began to cry along with her. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAMpbdtZFKbX
This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening, he tried to tell392Please respect copyright.PENANAUZHYzeQ2vM
himself. But the sound of his wife's cries clearly told him that it was392Please respect copyright.PENANAip0Be53WS3
happening. He was going to war. He was leaving his wife and three 392Please respect copyright.PENANAf59gg8wsxS
daughters behind. He cried into her shoulder, and held her tighter than 392Please respect copyright.PENANAb5jIR5t4yh
ever before, stroking her soft hair.
"What are we going to tell the girls?" She whispered into his chest.
He392Please respect copyright.PENANAWipEn9GJFT
shook his head and kissed her neck. "We're going to tell them the 392Please respect copyright.PENANAphtGWZW31X
truth; that I've been called to join the war. There's no avoiding this, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAKzqkO1WmxR
Mary. We can't lie to them." And she agreed.
Going inside, they 392Please respect copyright.PENANAxM12m5CcBU
both called the girls from their room, and Justin beckoned them to sit 392Please respect copyright.PENANAWUiNWHDToT
on his lap. He and Mary shared similar glances as they struggled with 392Please respect copyright.PENANAAbMhGvlmhS
just how to tell their daughters that daddy had to go away. They didn't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAEmsuU2D8uH
sugar-coat it. They told them everything.
"Ida, Ethel…you two know392Please respect copyright.PENANAE7gBjd2f4c
that all I want is to protect you, and make sure you're safe, right? 392Please respect copyright.PENANAtWxLIngwF1
Because you, and Sallie, and mommy are the most important things to me."392Please respect copyright.PENANAhMpeaIxxgk
Justin started. When they nodded, he pulled them even closer and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAQnhraVCsPR
stroked their soft cheeks. "Well that's what I'm going to be doing right392Please respect copyright.PENANAp9z6lur0q4
now. I…I've been asked to join the war. That means I'm going to have to392Please respect copyright.PENANAyiUQdfdQpo
go far away, and make sure no bad people can hurt you, your sister, and392Please respect copyright.PENANAjWmcicULne
mommy."
Ethel shook her head, and her bottom lip quivered, as she392Please respect copyright.PENANAKN1LBG0qif
threw her chubby arms around his neck. "No, daddy! No! No! No! I don't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAAyh2zQ3g1a
want them to take you far away!" She cried desperately.
He blinked392Please respect copyright.PENANANLwRW0qN8N
away tear as he wrapped one arm around her to keep her close. "I don't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAwgvS9Ynx9L
want to leave either, honey; but I need to protect you. Ethel, if there 392Please respect copyright.PENANA7Nqs7re7iy
was another way, sweetheart, believe me I would take it, in a heart 392Please respect copyright.PENANAG45DrNo198
beat. But this is the only way I can protect you, your sisters, and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6V8RxHFxw
mommy." He hated doing this. He may as well have told her that there was392Please respect copyright.PENANAqD5Dol8fZA
a chance he wouldn't be coming back. Her innocence was already damaged.392Please respect copyright.PENANApcJCX6QZKl
She was to young for this. Ida was to young for this. Ida. "Ida…what 392Please respect copyright.PENANAiQWLe1VUZQ
are you thinking, darling?"
She was expressionless. It was like 392Please respect copyright.PENANAXN327boVdt
she didn't know what to say; and really, she didn't. what could she say?392Please respect copyright.PENANA1YDIPyM8N7
So instead of replying, she scooted up and buried herself in her 392Please respect copyright.PENANA6TIPBO6Toz
father's chest. "I love you, daddy." She whispered.
He couldn't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAZNnF8fDtY6
hold back the tears that threatened him, not anymore. He let them go as 392Please respect copyright.PENANAZjGecbNHMP
he bent to kiss her head softly. "I love you too, little one. Both of 392Please respect copyright.PENANAB3gTuTKA3T
you." He spoke towards Ethel. After they got down and went to try and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAWqW8X6SwlL
distract themselves from the heartbreaking moment, Hiccup took little 392Please respect copyright.PENANAo1jP0sRuM9
Sallie. She couldn't know what was going on. All she would know was that392Please respect copyright.PENANATfHR4sjyN4
she would be waking up, looking around for her daddy, and realize he's 392Please respect copyright.PENANAPrQZVYuhup
not there. She would wonder why. And God forbid, if he were to be gone 392Please respect copyright.PENANA40u4ST4IsP
several years, he would come back and she wouldn't even know who he was.392Please respect copyright.PENANAxYCIz6rbWH
His own daughter.
All to suddenly, the Daniels' world was 392Please respect copyright.PENANAoqm1NTeJc6
crumbling before them. It was all being shaken, taken away from them 392Please respect copyright.PENANAtoC6LaszzT
within the snap of a finger. He didn't have a choice. It was either 392Please respect copyright.PENANA6MqlqMk8OR
leave and stand a chance of coming home, or stay and undergo trial, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAJgGUiQog89
guaranteeing that he would never see his family again. there was no 392Please respect copyright.PENANAl8d1EQMg5Y
choice; he was going.
That night, after all the girls were fed and392Please respect copyright.PENANAPwMHPOrvL6
tucked into bed, Justin shut the door of their room, and was 392Please respect copyright.PENANANVOmx72w8j
immediately met by his wife's passionate lips. It took him no time to 392Please respect copyright.PENANAgn9u5GMZph
respond to her kiss, and wrap his arms around her small frame. Their 392Please respect copyright.PENANAyh4GdFz2Os
tears melted against their lips, as he pushed her against the wall, and 392Please respect copyright.PENANAElqdpqVmNU
slid his hands down to hold her hips.
It didn't take long to strip392Please respect copyright.PENANATkE5wtXp8n
each other of their clothes and for him to lay her on their bed. 392Please respect copyright.PENANAV0RYS2GLb2
Heartbreak filled what little space there was between their bodies. As 392Please respect copyright.PENANAHXNDmkssvX
he buried his hands in her disheveled hair, and kissed down her neck, he392Please respect copyright.PENANANZNkHIaceW
mumbled words of absolute love and adoration for her. He told her how 392Please respect copyright.PENANAzttl7nCCYP
much she meant to him, how he loved her, how beautiful she was.
When392Please respect copyright.PENANAydkJm6QVke
he finally entered her, she held tight to his back, trying to keep back392Please respect copyright.PENANAHdlYcjpAEh
her sobs. But it was all for naught. She dug her fingers into his back,392Please respect copyright.PENANAuGYRcBpZvA
and cried softly into the crook of his freckled shoulder.
He 392Please respect copyright.PENANA5r1d0JPL7c
shook his head and shut his eyes tight. "Don't cry. Please don't cry, 392Please respect copyright.PENANA2aydzOhEoC
darling." He said begged with a strangled voice. But he too couldn't 392Please respect copyright.PENANAeoqX4Zzqtm
hold back his sobs. And as he made love to her, they shared in more than392Please respect copyright.PENANADsqC8lhODR
just passion, but also their fear and heartbreak.
Afterwards, 392Please respect copyright.PENANA9BWVVhoj3M
they laid silently in each other's arms. Nothing needed to be said, to 392Please respect copyright.PENANA7KyMxrx3Dq
know what the other was thinking. It all spilled out in the way they 392Please respect copyright.PENANAtvnxoEMSRV
made love, and the way they held each other. Nothing could make this 392Please respect copyright.PENANA0IvzUbwLMg
better. But for now, being with each other, was all they really needed.
The392Please respect copyright.PENANAUxznSp6QxV
next morning, they woke the girls up at the crack of dawn. It was time.392Please respect copyright.PENANAI2HVAGhtFh
Mary packed him supplies, enough to last him through several weeks, and392Please respect copyright.PENANAd6Jd9wkOnN
they all sat and ate one last meal together. After which, they all 392Please respect copyright.PENANAUSiZo9Yex3
bundled up and went out to see him off.
It didn't take him long to392Please respect copyright.PENANAbxYx4CifrZ
prepare a saddle bag, and then to saddle Bobbie. Though he wanted to 392Please respect copyright.PENANArTGdFHjDdm
prolong the time for as long as he could, he knew that it would just 392Please respect copyright.PENANABwR9JHTzoK
make it harder to leave. And he'd never seen a shame in crying, but he 392Please respect copyright.PENANAAKEidBCKLD
also didn't like crying in front of his daughters. But today, he 392Please respect copyright.PENANAIEtmXXMXS1
couldn't help it. he was leaving them, potentially to never come back; 392Please respect copyright.PENANAYHjppLG2hi
how was he not to cry?
When all was ready, he turned to his small,392Please respect copyright.PENANAIyABJX9Vze
but beautiful family. His daughters were quieter than he'd ever seen 392Please respect copyright.PENANADbRV7E3v8p
them. His wife couldn't stop her flow of tear. His youngest daughter was392Please respect copyright.PENANAeLzmXmssNd
looking at them all curiously, confused to what was going on.
Licking392Please respect copyright.PENANAPNI21bvA1T
his lips, he knelt down and held out a hand. Ida was quick to come 392Please respect copyright.PENANAfDQGe1JyeY
forward and take it. "Ethel, come here, little one." He beckoned gently.392Please respect copyright.PENANAvHw2DSLqcV
She finally came forward, and he pulled her, with Ida, into his 392Please respect copyright.PENANAhNFgFAvkX9
embrace. "Now, you two listen; I'm going to be home real soon, ok? I 392Please respect copyright.PENANA5HcgtsTZAM
love you. I love you two, so much." He told them over again. Giving them392Please respect copyright.PENANARoZNJqsnJ7
each one last kiss, he stood to take Sallie int his arms. "Oh, Sallie, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAl2ujjZJehY
please remember me, sweet girl. Remember, how much daddy loved you." He 392Please respect copyright.PENANAFUPtT7sN80
kissed her softly then handed her to Ida.
His heart melted when he392Please respect copyright.PENANAqcl6qBZq0N
gazed at his wife, as it always did. But this time was different. He 392Please respect copyright.PENANA95YqdmF0j7
could be saying goodbye to her, forever. He didn't want to lose her, and392Please respect copyright.PENANAEnhqcfFU7d
he knew she didn't want to lose him either. It was an unimaginable 392Please respect copyright.PENANAMooxUcpNpR
thought, for both of them. It was hard to believe, seven years ago, they392Please respect copyright.PENANA250R13vZDX
were fourteen and nineteen and just getting married. Six years ago, 392Please respect copyright.PENANAOB6HGDLqfc
they became the parents of a darling daughter. Now they were saying 392Please respect copyright.PENANATPXICk74ko
goodbye for an unknown amount of time.
He took a sharp breath when392Please respect copyright.PENANAxhA0xkbkgx
she threw herself into his arms, and he rested his head in the crevice 392Please respect copyright.PENANAKyknFDhXgB
of her neck and shoulder. "I love you, so damn much. Always remember 392Please respect copyright.PENANAji3NjueoGw
that, Mary." He whispered against her flushed skin.
She nodded 392Please respect copyright.PENANAYSQTGLuKNq
wordlessly. "I will. Just, remember that I'm always with you. The girls 392Please respect copyright.PENANAV0D4mIenEB
are always with you. We'll be right here, waiting. I promise."
He 392Please respect copyright.PENANAY79cwEHvRp
sobbed and placed a single kiss on her neck. "One last time. Just one 392Please respect copyright.PENANA72jBDAfvhc
last time. I want to make love to you. I want to ride out with Ida. I 392Please respect copyright.PENANA16ruetafYR
want to walk in and watch Ethel playing. I want to see Sallie laugh. One392Please respect copyright.PENANA6dIK5mC9pv
last time. I want to see my family happy together."
All too soon,392Please respect copyright.PENANATop6QMl9wR
he was gone. Just like that. And Mary was left holding her crying 392Please respect copyright.PENANA5NFtASYQag
daughters, as they watched their father ride off into the gloomy 392Please respect copyright.PENANAVVgI8lE0Vo
sunrise. It would never be the same again, they all knew. Everything, in392Please respect copyright.PENANAz4mwwbZnMw
that moment, had changed.