394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HUEoTkIYL
It was a cold and dark day.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCsufUO21S
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ666kGwn6oa
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHsQI8jL8M
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3WHuPSo0f
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdqmFwspwY
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbQhiHfHUe
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTsj1Pbs3o
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4cYPGzc8z
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDgRBU1o0a
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t8MwqQgd9
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YiU4Tyd8H
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqci5k2Adc
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanniowcbcj
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMar2it23H
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifZiLLP9qg
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdCA0d49kH
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxbVzxMjL2
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuEmumTnit
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIF10USbK6
and respect him, until death do you part?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnicvnVynuy
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNC3xpKm40
She couldn’t help it; her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOa2sa2Okx
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy2Js8z3bJ
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9PVjAimEc
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMXTT4a4RX
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP55Lx5fMP
“Then, without further wait,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr3DQOzQ0e
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGywMQaWkYS
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsh8mi3yZN
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwysgRaMqWl
Not waiting a second longer,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82VS8sSQ3M
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILXy4EXOuJ
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QPqrS2MSn
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnnpwj9PSZ
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOmFbJuPH7
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE0QgJ5LXC
After the marriage ceremony,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlLwMf61CU
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB5Sp2EUkd
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUenVnv41oq
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXNtwLdifl
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPzbGtjmbw
Avery, went first.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYVwG2lYfp
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGW6ocEP4T
“I have known Justin and Mary394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHdc5dIxBn
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfgqJCegGF
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAPkTntKW6
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSibjkaRrmJ
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWvOpoojKt
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRsPFvmWZY
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr38pRbimH9
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHxG5exxxc
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJDurjL0rH
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvCYF9Tz9B
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jxQeDQUJk
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53incSapVm
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99Z7FXUwL9
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAH9ewXpEI
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXlT6Rqbh0
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcG7sD9RNO
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViUVkvJR2e
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebzabwEbIF
took a swig of their whisky.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNApn7x9s2z
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9kg966e3o
After the bride and groom394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJOWU6DzXm
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10YuvGjEhw
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBbF6cggBE
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFIcvmwIhQ
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tl9Ocpmmc
constantly.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXdcUBp0wS
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCUNwULnD8
Hoots of fun-filled laughter394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FDyfZJ3cH
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIiGsCOlCx
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7W4aI9B3P
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vQs5deCyt
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8tKn9MCFJ
came that night.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP49z5csCi
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14iINEMs7s
That was seven years ago,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMIVo5GGrl
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvxtPjx3uK
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgGERXWRtv
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Rs8oTLTP
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdayPFg9WE
Present day394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAhxDiX34s
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV75Uehdzto
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC36T8PGHt
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She was bleak, weary, and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVNU4HB0Mw
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVS0ujr9S2
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5LDeKpZIp
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVu9YPpy2h
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yQ8LOv9w5
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I8Ooy13Os
Mary looked behind her, where394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNLZp0GGPG
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqlcASZQ2J
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0poX4Nk7HH
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6owfCTgzNp
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s860rdMRc
given to little Ethel.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxyIPWo8Qp
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT99DKzwWr
Turning completely to keep a394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RV5EqoL52
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4ed9g7AZb
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr551JtbQBI
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0A0fBHB5b
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmqwi0qCyC
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRueCtBT6gC
knew was that she hated it.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6RnfDHErC
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBF8mHbrrs
Not even a month after Justin394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwva7NWi9uB
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxPssNLVb4
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg08gkdx1I
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZqtZScu42
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRSf6YfIZG
eyes of his own two children.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJKNeCyGGH
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKZWVigin3
She was currently seven394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSPYWShtnc
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAg4iU5puE
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWhiHhHzhm
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNaoRwqY6v
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PhFfZpa7g
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCaUtgWT64
having an affair.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaldw9IGVE
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK8ViPfomO
A hiss brushed past her lips,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBmJ3ckAir
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RhpZAiE7J
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcJXSjiNnL
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf85zgi8py
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hi0eLMRGB
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcoDwCdQkb
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LbMNt58bW
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLmn1ZUSeT
Just then, a whinny could be394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXTLMdn1QY
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39HtpLRlMK
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8HZ3WexMW
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbONAjbtMz
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuJNCE8wxl
her or her girls.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZCDLWJEwf
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wk55b20Uu
Waiting by the porch, rifle394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSJvWINeWf
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRguPeEXw2l
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlswpiSpdJx
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1bzX2wPWi
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9wFbTy7YV
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGjmbkxWyq
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PDKLLhhZW
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HTD8Q155A
She didn’t dare to hope, but394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbKZSpwpVE
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIVlPvm8gU
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHZD4Q0b4F
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQrZQjeHaC
the dirt ground hard and painfully.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPpAEsuAc0
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn9gJx5NwP
It wasn’t Justin.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2lgZE5LDA
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriP0vryrxo
The man walked up briskly,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KStQXYTSL
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GIdAnxfBz
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo0w2Y52ox
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZv7sCJUyG
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksUZ2MuVtL
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqoWPuP0sT
She forced the lump down her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbC1v22ur0
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEJehD7ZuM
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzVkDtSa3A
He ran a shaky hand through394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvPj9p7RsW
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH7CwiP8oA
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXi4eWP9se
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOazubvkHLB
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWcvjn9r6i
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5dJwnovml
Shock filled her at first.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsc5PdXn2w
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtOS1XNqiR
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj2kD0sSRK
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtD6yWsbGh
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcmedPhAXu
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdlh9cqivP
asked her softly.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPW3rhxxTtE
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mO7Vh8BMy
The tears raged down her face394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4bkM5bRNJ
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpNM4DY80Z
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbSnHqtye1
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjULHYcgj0
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTMlXw2bW8
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD68Cw0kA0
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yoQguXkFH
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8flv9BAPx
The small girl had tears in her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS26nKmVWTQ
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1JslLDLgP
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ol8uccTGC
Mary hated to think of it394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwGGyEdyDH
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ykvWRW89v
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0paDwazT2
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRheXXzz0t1
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafcA03Rq4d
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ifxr3t5At
Her heart ached so much394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlTraIOUfp
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAKuL2fp43
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa8QXbmL8R
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdXavSnTko
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcncbzc26u
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKJc7cgFZH
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0oPamKoyK
chance to do or see.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41Q1R7lTbV
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9ClCUnu3I
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex8YszVFzA
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXaSVimuw9
……394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgAUfuaxGi
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394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5YQDQFRug
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For several days, the Daniels394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBPfZ4KJbt
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfINa9QOZ1F
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX2MnZEMZC
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNnJLgvCsd
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKBdFVE00D
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuVNLrwWwY
as the news of their father’s death.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4huYEBvna
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS2Y6FITpS
Ida and Ethel, while still394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb30szuDts
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKyojqOuYq
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh1rnvwyAu
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIILnTSnDh
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPwhKIOXCd
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8MrM3lEBr
It was barely a week after394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFjrOtI7oS
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49b0rm2fVh
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX0inR92m4
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1SGVUajLx
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkr3zJa34N
Just as she was getting up to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQIqxV7sdA
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi4M7L6pRt
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkfr5ScOcb
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0gwrtf6aI
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbnfxMCj7j
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihKADC7vMO
It’s to early, she said in394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpbMqVUqpd
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiSu2coP9W
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSJTIS8LSA
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCs4eHozjI
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYQWIzY2W3
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKyNDONAQm
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R8fKKLPuk
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUmtq2XkOk
Braving through her fear for394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLtsV1gnVN
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sWLiVM3ko
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbEMHLwq0k
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbSxzTYQST
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfCVjwmsmV
The seven year old wasted no394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivF6ESEApL
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCetE6AFNF
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTXtbWVyqd
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolbZsDKGoN
gave them a snap.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncnRuiRdR5
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvSXVIJMIT
Only half an hour later, she394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrGwn0I49y
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK0SLdMtnO
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDShfYMKv6
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWiI3LfaGh
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F4F1a3Pb3
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OXkXQlaOf
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwokCXyYnK
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9BLETeOEk
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W2Bn1CxcP
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFZcPc25dN
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxdIE8Oezs
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoKrpnKWrh
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSLsxehkUI
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJJ0ZpbHSZ
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wfc9mKxDB
Hours passed by, and the only394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1KYrGIxxN
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1f3fzVdhK
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wKNtYGYxk
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TCVRGcyIh
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpVnTPGTEJ
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuIRp3qX4X
It was well into the night,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhiDa3cGeR
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAuyyD8vO3
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2KjpT6i7c
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEx9tpPSKa
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fLkN0cpwN
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU5HFbT2W8
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPVzqaU9zu
And so it was. Two days of394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTMhbyXrMX
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpDWCugZon
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf3Svbnp2b
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O6c4kRX6j
actually giving birth.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpakgeraJKV
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4clToLgfUH
And then the third day came.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJxs6LTM12
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWUvqz2EdX
It hit them all, like a394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rgsp2R39q
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwojDjaohI3
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFI4WvT5St
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7CqHboKEC
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6pEDLJ3x9
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO51yQgpNK
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdEjSDNa3p
That night was long and hard.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2xubrbr1M
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeedWccNpP
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6olIyl8OYO
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsg8y6Kkbg
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUr5GrTNF1
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJEp540iMB
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHlHqDdTnt
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuePhQZqcC
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p7vfaIl8j
“So?” He said nervously.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24QUu6J9Xk
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpIDUOD8Do
Her smile, still, didn’t394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp7PmiW26q
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ82bNsIrr
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpRSYNDmsB
whispered.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqnidqNAvO
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKRMfcE7aV
Mark sighed and shook his394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr3clm7qfm
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp6xYk13WW
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3og6hjB9Bs
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4ngRo3SiO
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAPugo70AT
She chewed on her lip. “I394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlTCittooZ
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kSBFIfJqG
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j4mtwC03k
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoevVvYWdPY
“What’s her name?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor8ZdwhjOg
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYru6xzhi8S
Leah smiled again, having394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpb5PWKb59
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3azaQcSGF
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dQDI1y46f
that it was perfectly suited.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizIJGSTfnj
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP28HxzW2eU
Mark knew, all to well, how394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsGlcjf3s6
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVVudsHwlV
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFls1l7ffds
Margaret Hope Daniels.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItQngl8Udw
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rORow2avC
He wrapped and arm around his394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cuqfVwa8s
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLM7ibUQI1
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUhFXsTCte
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7uHw3CfTf
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq5MvvlUZe
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YxLkqp3D4
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbonlcHSNiG
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuQGcZaHkD
father; it was a painful thought.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPplJbeuDe
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvoNhUU0R5
Mary’s head snapped up to her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6Nl5nzXLt
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDpii8UdnJ
them gently, yet eagerly.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY0Y4zYamw
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctFQs68VjU
They came in and stood beside394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfMVkuysg4
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNABLTSlgyv
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnW2Yaimkv
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxtevV5vVQ
The exhausted mother managed394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkvdCBZQQy
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ojP0wzmYQ
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpJEzcavmr
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfozJ8VDZi
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINNfFCZNwT
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXk0bO3QYs
with all of us.” She whimpered.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxZ2SckwwG
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtinE5z2NTJ
The Avery’s embraced her and394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqqxKpruUa
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rNSN7JmLJ
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ftlArONYl
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxfM5yysVs
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzbkqEpevh
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88TDucfIws
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
