379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl00a4Rb5E
It was a cold and dark day.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCG2gqbMI4
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGi0wmRwEF
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT1fTcwcdT
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaZphckQAD
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWPc1QV6Qk
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF8VQ5VIT1
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdUZTmFDau
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRNnl4d5eI
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV4E2bP4P1
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCehraJtiLT
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2nmN6gYJZ
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCFqfyfUUA
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwYrE7Yvlh
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9cq9U0Vih
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAFhWtuuRN
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrLr4oHjyA
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVlkoK4SSr
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutB9PGu24g
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdyESQJN5q
and respect him, until death do you part?”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuRELEHR8l
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fFd1y4lqC
She couldn’t help it; her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqun14BQiDu
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CSodUjFyh
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7mhupcFQu
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuuQgIAvSD
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqEIXebhCx
“Then, without further wait,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwu747vb9h
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKXnScl0Fm
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJbaz2v9Mx
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMDPKmt8g0
Not waiting a second longer,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkJHRJb2Ag
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYkAvnPjx9
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI6v34YjHS
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLyK3YRTIL
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWAKYW7OeL
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNwW6ac7JK
After the marriage ceremony,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UW00qYidy
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRITfoOOiSl
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMmon3rZ2U
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmXDfuLRT8
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM1Rt9J5Uk
Avery, went first.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn02nBuEYS
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1gA5QBdYb
“I have known Justin and Mary379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh3t2Ocwec
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfiAVcusvR
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9ZLdjeoHS
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgin6NYAWJh
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7MfPqEp3S
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqSmGyckOq
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1aYCgBUQJ
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70ktGmpN21
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwJ3DHLH8y
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDMQvT1jx7
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfohHdYhdOy
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVeXXXer6z
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5UTJo1PpA
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHYZMVZ5RW
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAmS0LoM54
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaAWxYYPWH
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNByfAb8IT
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDf4vHSeVV
took a swig of their whisky.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfioQGj4Cu
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wdMIrqAHk
After the bride and groom379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTyZbbetOv
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPEQqt4Fzl
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LmeSmx9sf
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeHvHwkSDR
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFr4kfUATQ
constantly.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbK6Bzy4h3
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BJhN5x1lK
Hoots of fun-filled laughter379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV4E5d3Spd
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYlHGRLYhj
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnZyxeky0f
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYSGUGItcD
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TT2ypV1GM
came that night.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhLeOnrIfN
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqylV21elv
That was seven years ago,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ak2Cq8ctj
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmJMZ2aq67
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0lguLmtCB
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYviJkaUfJS
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4TvKMporM
Present day379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZNX6laxQG
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7ozt0nI5D
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8CC9OjIu1
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bULELq4ku
She was bleak, weary, and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Cxs2xXN7d
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF9XTCqnW0
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ1tIhnPsQ
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2mZBGSAA7
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08R7OWEI0O
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVqZOz5YPD
Mary looked behind her, where379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreoTAa9OpD
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV12ZJnCZQ
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xmuyxpzpn
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDmorwabb6
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosDl0t4DP5
given to little Ethel.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJABySPkX9A
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00yhJ6927h
Turning completely to keep a379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eSRcQmef3
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANw3sxemfl
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBJ9znqOKC
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJQkvd1TGI
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiyFO4Ov0j
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW23BVGp32
knew was that she hated it.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1w5A9X6tE
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIxqe4JTA7
Not even a month after Justin379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvPGompWuu
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1jCdLzwcR
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uPcAulNvl
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcWYhc3tW2
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZGrxzFlmu
eyes of his own two children.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKCeLoTH0n
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRCKfLJpMC
She was currently seven379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HbUs1DQO8
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvG9rhIiqY
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1hplElWhh
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ28wAVFES
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLynCWK9pZj
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFQ8ocgPGc
having an affair.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtSfliZQ49
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAFL5nnHAA
A hiss brushed past her lips,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPyRwFl0Ss
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFEN8uOBsB
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWI2iIGNsY
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV9SmMYKty
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvrFB4xgC9
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jtfkigCTL
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTgYF3ncGZ
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jva9QKGeP
Just then, a whinny could be379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4xjQwboOB
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfFECMubQu
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhli1Ff2y9
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeER2CmN2l2
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RU7JCNdhN
her or her girls.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXdwF0FiSk
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd7yvQlBRv
Waiting by the porch, rifle379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PiyJOJ4fM
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kGIGUnowK
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB58xHPU3Wj
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiIBFaojfA
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP2DLu8DzY
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPzpQepHSc
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgiJcs1amo
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qR0wIVLek
She didn’t dare to hope, but379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChr7fAKWja
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA1x0uJuDC
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojcuyXYh11
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa2VT7tC31
the dirt ground hard and painfully.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXtd0gzTSX
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4xIflmGxX
It wasn’t Justin.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfSvm6pEEt
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWh9eji3sZ
The man walked up briskly,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGE9hu2wQ9
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceceVvf62x
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2FWQ1ophG
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpLFkeGjCf
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkB6ajvz6v
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCL9pBNk96
She forced the lump down her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIKPBGyG8V
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPym9DFDc3s
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIweRiib9a
He ran a shaky hand through379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXJ0iRebL9
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSNRkrdlr7
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW5UZe8o1D
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTDWfkkvnP
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gBkRJyUbR
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1lhezxMLv
Shock filled her at first.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWM68JGhYB
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtObCjxHWb
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33lUnxCqg9
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYJeKzPPDR
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz582jbWXD
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmduPdxRQ9
asked her softly.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU43diYk1IC
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH4wGdnfsT
The tears raged down her face379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4M2jQl3uv
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDnoaC0vxa
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw750gUeKW
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumU49Km7Fm
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBObotVMm0
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uHPIt7OOB
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOBsI7vdQW
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLX58Un0it
The small girl had tears in her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2MFZgQ5Kg
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt26nbsDye
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlg1XM1JEu
Mary hated to think of it379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GXHwEzQWi
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy3ELZqYxp
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPjoQTfDRy
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyCpmWUwna
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPmdx85a3T
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm6idMTMkU
Her heart ached so much379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kGhCcTvDy
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCCrIIo5Rb
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh6mUj0Hvn
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhBvAO3Hzb
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nnrKQhZZB
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15w7syL0Mg
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf9e1ik6W4
chance to do or see.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVRqYlJerQ
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iQoN0yUdf
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5IoJrGwTO
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9buq8iCWj
……379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cxJnhh3mJ
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJGi4bRCwU
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EEJ4AzKwk
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For several days, the Daniels379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAxyjIzPxF
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccURGlyMff
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yzvrrqmGy
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcvrXNefnb
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxIQZvdwxe
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQGkiBTKYP
as the news of their father’s death.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk4jj4zs6L
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXshIvjjjgE
Ida and Ethel, while still379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuHQp96LOc
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBHDABqUFK
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgZScLGMe4
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7CRotb16M
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yt9V3x3pA
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxQUO7ojpd
It was barely a week after379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw6LlkCz6S
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDQriqzWdc
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgRdp1GnxH
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHuLia2d77
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfakGC6HZNm
Just as she was getting up to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPywXfH8mAW
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKM3DROTPO
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FqZpUxyru
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s1OUeaGJ8
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MmfrvHsYb
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7b8nnZwDk
It’s to early, she said in379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5BYzUGmP1
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvElzB741e
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy9MvsxkYF
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzGaahVdpy
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyEbJ8RdSF
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNLJvyWVXN
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzQ1bVXOvu
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7khZqqBLum
Braving through her fear for379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJP4LuV37s
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9c4obssGT
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs0Wx5PYHH
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnxRIKwAIq
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYdqHr2O6z
The seven year old wasted no379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBQ1hNCJvX
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnsTj0muMF
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZuQeCZC8E
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgH9GuXC3o
gave them a snap.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMvEE9xOcN
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Mr6aNXzjE
Only half an hour later, she379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMacjHWp2Bm
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o5UBC6lu0
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgZcPz22j3
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERy8UkDwkT
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUzXhe1AJW
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tTsbCyy0B
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA51TErhOJ6
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPRKmW23X1
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2ygc7LPlB
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpRn9JSzrz
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPumzi7RfY
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMW30WeOX1
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUowPgebMB
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cHn9e7PLj
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62dPA8fA1A
Hours passed by, and the only379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhAjZevAKN
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8aP2Bdfdh
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzR5hVWeFV
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0I1YjWIUT
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky4FVzeLK3
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kT3bBE7Em
It was well into the night,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWCB95m5Rj
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBON2Z8e7s
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnGmwNFs7q
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzg8YjiVln
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt4vGnpdfc
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQVnVPo3S8
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyZUV3BZMi
And so it was. Two days of379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCzt7LuJt5
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1Ae8XkoUV
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv0ZqKVAzg
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCzhZbdGC9
actually giving birth.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ249tiwNzeE
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BFY3fqKB6
And then the third day came.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hYfLgLIvV
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSXSCMuki6
It hit them all, like a379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuwfXzeeNq
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjr107nAkZ
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahlbRzhKLP
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TZ5WJrMLu
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFyXu0yDlH
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhdQaJS0DX
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RQSnq93sy
That night was long and hard.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA2aiNdtzE
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdwcXk4HVJ
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfG5pnXmNZ
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyV065gWJT
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBBlOdqlbs
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8SLXeU6l1
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35ypaSVSZj
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52B17P5olZ
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkGTTHMFlc
“So?” He said nervously.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl3o5L5wtw
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Nxh7v8KyL
Her smile, still, didn’t379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9kbjTOiX1
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHHU84VEKa
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb4XW2hARi
whispered.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBuimKEDOg
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAbfGohY6k
Mark sighed and shook his379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKG5Bvz84v
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ310cAvIviH
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5fUDbYwO7
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA9qKc75iE
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYSEO48w7R
She chewed on her lip. “I379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE3wVg2D21
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpi2rLl02e
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtRuMggQ8q
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UiAZZ2App
“What’s her name?”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F2VmLc2CF
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIECPimY1Z
Leah smiled again, having379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv7Gpo7Ty9
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TOQViVPKK
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcMOvP11DK
that it was perfectly suited.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOUzgHtBcK
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiEPyrUpZg
Mark knew, all to well, how379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayjCk1FiPn
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrpHDbSOT4
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnKyoCG1G4
Margaret Hope Daniels.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EmpOmoCjV
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMTtu68bjG
He wrapped and arm around his379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqmMRvJDM1
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TZbyetxYm
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoscRxzoTEX
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuLpq4GdBQ
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOPiUOXJXc
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyWfSeLDmA
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK5Sem2GuP
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrMW63r8Jz
father; it was a painful thought.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mDpoBdws1
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFmd5wHmIR
Mary’s head snapped up to her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjEWgVOzEw
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuUaydg2J4
them gently, yet eagerly.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIkxe6c2Nl
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R8ElVTMWI
They came in and stood beside379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡficbY4zi33
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW1yfUX0qY
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5HF0abCQC
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYjqvJecLb
The exhausted mother managed379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLyu4zeeYI
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcCc4gsAEk
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKFzgwbP7d
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ16EbNWuol
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8Qm3vhrbA
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QiXuAsc7g
with all of us.” She whimpered.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SN26cwf63
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp1Wy84Lvm
The Avery’s embraced her and379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMkIx3s0Tv
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeKU9RZJLk
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSsLX3345Y
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXR5SFk597
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHL6C2p81X
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qrKFwxo8q
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
