409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNsDq3j08G
It was a cold and dark day.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiSsIiGO04
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh55BLoAAp
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvh2G32V8O
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBPE40iTq1
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnfGB8m8Mv
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gk8AlQQAy
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpq6taEtVu
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0s6rGKwYB
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhohzMs5iqP
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSZseq90Kk
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzH6w6OXHN
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwxlTAnEOk
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx4CZUm8L8
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuJ7Aa4rRu
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LM7gGDLZE
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1pGPp9uSM
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa5yLUSz6H
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIG2VLNjk8
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0sT9EQJUn
and respect him, until death do you part?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1sp7bBMi6
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CM0YwNree
She couldn’t help it; her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLdQUL8gxM
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzz1y4jL2i
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfHNUwYAJ4
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KYKXKA8Ul
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURnf0YqSc7
“Then, without further wait,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvh6nrDoLp
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkcqhKoZLy
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYikbNodI5
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoy5qwfWmX
Not waiting a second longer,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6PFwEZKFQ
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5A6YcXQzL
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRICweteYRX
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64cTivn7FV
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLy205GhWH
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WiQui069V
After the marriage ceremony,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoJwAhhtn8
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG3bBsoRpv
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkxmaklkYt
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZxiZHhyN2
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0vntsoRPY
Avery, went first.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dAAQeXkl5
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeWOBkyErz
“I have known Justin and Mary409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GCWn51lWD
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lKc0M2vD0
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMe4N4JhiM
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mFaE3RFWk
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakf3kgtswE
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HHkevwA4T
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZk80eg3SD
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfCw9x3Anu
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskIdclPPzv
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEQkjc2HUE
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAgb27LiOC
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp2JYYgnJz
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKshkpWR5sK
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR23QpDvXs
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQf1qwQYYf
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pOFvubGjX
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrtiMfTXV2
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt11aNMboX0
took a swig of their whisky.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMT1AEV12l
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMuIpFyhgH
After the bride and groom409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKseYtHqVz
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8vP1VqX1U
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkwIbXnj3N
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6caYY060c
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflLg8Z904N
constantly.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5aZjAA0OY
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohidLP8jND
Hoots of fun-filled laughter409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2onEgw6xDu
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2M43V5PhH
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K8Z6vcSam
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NvfdrbCHH
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbwqkFawjb
came that night.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uDKpwNpeF
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22ZBSsg4x9
That was seven years ago,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFRoXNswbe
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9heTviQFn
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCURGiq9bLl
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0Ms9FHZko
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsKPelt1Pd
Present day409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNUSmcMtcu
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Im78DSxW
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiQfDeuOqF
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She was bleak, weary, and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS4DO6Jji9
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxk1rsUEmO
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7apaiYpDZ2
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfBi8UFy7u
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4dUJb4qaE
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gv2R8ExFV
Mary looked behind her, where409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxVGelfr4s
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zGiCm9JGq
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFqZqDPe59
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNvWguiIgW
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EsOSa7Lfx
given to little Ethel.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiAwGUNmBD
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1g0k0Vfyu
Turning completely to keep a409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB4OD2k45X
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9Pu3ZcZD8
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvWvLM6xe1
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrXaub7yP2
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMvQmM9smK
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nQnLgZB4F
knew was that she hated it.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfRjRn0k4p
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WHQljpjEP
Not even a month after Justin409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0vmaYAPuD
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNhOcNwxw0
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUoK71N8gh
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XXUOpU4hZ
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYdFn1qEbm
eyes of his own two children.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkqpPilX36
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1B8wAh5Oh
She was currently seven409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyHqUW5wPC
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdHoS2ex7z
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObBaPKwqBr
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZtdCOthmJ
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksJtZjR8uj
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5hLhIYLhV
having an affair.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHjMqLE2nD
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXFr65zBdC
A hiss brushed past her lips,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmOb3yOrXa
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfZGKCUoXU
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNjNXItWan
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDzdZNfL3h
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsLXfBeSgl
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWjtR9qe1n
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVUwkxco2D
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgqBeKCT6y
Just then, a whinny could be409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYOGdCOalm
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6Hy2HcsIO
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcSgPvCADj
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NkHaEy6bx
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zuvEUX1P2
her or her girls.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJvuXIJGF8
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhCcXOR1jQ
Waiting by the porch, rifle409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBWlsfNEK6
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhblSe6jr7P
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JqSrIcQUD
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGv6SvEcSh
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YKPvmRxqv
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH4vJSqQKF
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNvjEmgfSG
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcfFc3P2lk
She didn’t dare to hope, but409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9tbfkHbJ2
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufsPpqU7xG
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFTEJOWmTe
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91Vm0QV7Xn
the dirt ground hard and painfully.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpgdU2x1OP
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7LoNF3yds
It wasn’t Justin.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x9bSM0BTZ
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeq91cBVM5
The man walked up briskly,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPG4vJkPQF
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRYj9WsJAy
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TcoOMjns0
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePVmAnkApd
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd8OpeHOGn
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4FSHgbxj9
She forced the lump down her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxe3wWXkbS
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4ExVJo9ij
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vjEDVBmTq
He ran a shaky hand through409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwGzrShbvY
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaCbKRucVs
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLbwGw6Q5f
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahbDXur06K
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPoMBTmFJo
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYBrMfH2On
Shock filled her at first.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I8fQ5mHR6
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH4bPBScnk
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArX8zxLBJO
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GKSW1io3d
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCELh7cgTi8
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7IOVb3S75
asked her softly.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ4ZvspQkD
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfqXbeeFeI
The tears raged down her face409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Pj9nPmKi
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkzVUnRVpB
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV6POFEk3s
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdfzGFrKFc
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbipPbnSTFM
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mrOQY5ocq
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcraUydeu8A
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ0t9OhPrk
The small girl had tears in her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrHyievlRu
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOqTLkHrsD
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdp5E0A3VD
Mary hated to think of it409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeEnyy6gDF
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1huMz7jNmB
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9wIFZYLLt
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInZ66nDXAj
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pbaoHsUES
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUd0tvyVDW
Her heart ached so much409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ry08TnTXY
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmEN5IYOL7
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGr0nFhXg1
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfxPbZB1Wt
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhIPduqfZI
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDDqbCpYjp
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vLLPMJH1j
chance to do or see.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN35vgTMVnm
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQEwciKqfv
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsGPexCQOw
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoPx0lg0Je
……409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDLENUkItK
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409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGoyDVuWtN
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For several days, the Daniels409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlicdbXCuDy
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpCojXKkni
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKM2420NXV
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1K0BG5wkZ
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhBhwtrX6f
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4lQVWZphd
as the news of their father’s death.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cxy17Tx4H
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEWccPSmik
Ida and Ethel, while still409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wHrAlCb2u
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoBsgxWWAi
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF62IbdJ4GL
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLFZse6lok
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGPtoYQT9U
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2MhryS1CD
It was barely a week after409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqZafB34A0
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbAW7l94Ub
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4pZOVbDAD
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijZuqbQvoP
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSwNOvUO60
Just as she was getting up to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFXCJTNxX9
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOarsLEolGK
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfBBoZs000
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTspmRF9KMB
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsFbiyvpUV
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql2xomcHjJ
It’s to early, she said in409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId8EyXrKnv
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPu2xPEQhG
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PTrelxn0B
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XGP4qWz89
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxxDFnLJP8
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLK64UhbFN
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe7FLMJkOQ
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN9SEDnSuS
Braving through her fear for409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr4OFYQj7P
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVl5kKgPxZd
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMzJrK9YOU
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EwhinI62K
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY52ty3ArW
The seven year old wasted no409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGHDjPx3DS
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEQokVvRBJ
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FcHsIDefa
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw2REIUTIF
gave them a snap.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q8MnkXIWC
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmru0o35sZ
Only half an hour later, she409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoL8HxprKC
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH17UGvZYQ
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYLkB8km9E
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpODtakUQ4
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFvUBUpPTb
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIKjKonE9G
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEqoWRCagy
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vaqq4UEtS
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3o54IEK03
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpj7ucuJht
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBclDZ2Hskf
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aDgTyrZ0W
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ51W7E0pn7
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU73rfiEf7i
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYxFfFDUQJ
Hours passed by, and the only409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUsiz8vPDD
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnqiwP1A3v
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJJzsw7UBh
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bC5xEu7VT
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMBygaaJcd
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUGxYkJo0h
It was well into the night,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9DexAUTSF
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAowRkVHTs
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUj8WzCSOS
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DJny1L7Fv
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzActyxZ99W
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklczFozvvn
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJv693zOR2
And so it was. Two days of409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQHCPKCehc
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGS0WEP7Dd
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN9RwJd4tO
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7czVpo7RMy
actually giving birth.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHYLgt7aQv
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC12wvOc6Ec
And then the third day came.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntRzuOc44J
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JTCjWpPfc
It hit them all, like a409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEmIJTJ0St
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ulI2iAd5t
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfT9huuamq
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps7WgQwawz
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXs95Vzhg14
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx8jZ36U5P
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe3sonJn7S
That night was long and hard.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWR7Voiw0o
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbJ45T1SXi
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvM8CMUzb6
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HUfxvxHbG
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pmGalegpw
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzP17P5ZBa
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgho0RDdt0K
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeMEbCi5rx
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhxUSXqwck
“So?” He said nervously.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMZGNpe9e9
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i4hjgIl30
Her smile, still, didn’t409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4QxGJp06h
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Cko1gSdkt
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO4mESInAD
whispered.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yw43s6B8C
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXoELZMoDA
Mark sighed and shook his409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopgeUmrhro
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TJkUsJ2Hy
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMHRHoU0O9
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4LFJ8D2Nn
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHGqoFgc76
She chewed on her lip. “I409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT9gHX8FSb
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLpqkBvSMM
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbljsdUiC9D
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfyoqsWB1a
“What’s her name?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8th27fNpzb
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYZoNtMJ42
Leah smiled again, having409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNDyKKRoCS
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSN8sOCpZw
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZQhbM4Ghw
that it was perfectly suited.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU34GmQvvr
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTUDLmGY2G
Mark knew, all to well, how409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWIpS4dTy4
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKXOgUqFCi
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j3QCt8yU6
Margaret Hope Daniels.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLLkYuqqgW
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNtDRmtdQv
He wrapped and arm around his409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rsscK2Rul
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S6cMgAdRN
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zm19y8VrY
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjtw4Ta1S4
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENIY4KzMbj
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62q96RgYXZ
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t8xiOCTjl
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFQiACQ1Pl
father; it was a painful thought.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD70wFhDt8k
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLiEot97zI
Mary’s head snapped up to her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91iuNvBfiV
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLVTh7Avdj
them gently, yet eagerly.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRxDXyRmj3
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UZvhVV0cQ
They came in and stood beside409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdWEJ7ICOw
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4BhdqVqVt
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPsACsgFEM
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDuwiqR3iI
The exhausted mother managed409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSwtrQLz2t
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqmvZqGxG1
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1se7JlVZH
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM6Nkvfdgw
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1wwmrUzFh
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxqwGbls2B
with all of us.” She whimpered.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMsNjS8beN
409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PcpHcvXgx
The Avery’s embraced her and409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WXxbB6M8x
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM6UKrIyae
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZdZjCqZeh
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb3k2LBVht
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX93z8TZbzD
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgUttWCxoM
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
