374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm5d6vmxoh
It was a cold and dark day.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2geiQGdJa
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYtUIBFvPK
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG6L4mpB67
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbz3nyom7i
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMUa38h6Ch
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3lSCj6k2z
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzJjbMBGoD
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBuL1BWakB
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLqr3XrtaN
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsMRI716V6
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm6Jrmr9v3
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lbzDtiWsg
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvC819D4np
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1cTDMxXMj
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIXULOgQhA
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsieUKj49t
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgrSApcjlI
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI2ZBk9Aex
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzNeWKucBH
and respect him, until death do you part?”374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewo2hQBk4L
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlmxPTrxhO
She couldn’t help it; her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKkF1rzQxV
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTxK9ZCEV3
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS6fkwxCsi
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3CRvg68OV
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty1l1Z3HX1
“Then, without further wait,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQabzOf3veI
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7TyQ0jdcX
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM8WEkdMDC
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkujkjR4PUl
Not waiting a second longer,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6muALQAn4N
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64yPRLjr6j
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZJPfLnlSS
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkC8I1DRy1I
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79Pns7Hd54
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgflqkl9jP2
After the marriage ceremony,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAzYkIpNrS
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVwNeu58bo
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8YgXLsqKd
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpSaPQSre6
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3mxK6Fl3N
Avery, went first.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr6sPBslBG
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzetIURaIEr
“I have known Justin and Mary374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOjuqZM25W
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvxNPfAcN0
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAB667vsAM
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy2MsCELho
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo9GKT46Ku
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmxL9sJT2u
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoQsyR9Qif
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9RfCvJgCP
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGq31VHWSG
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqBNnCztXT
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3keGT7v5R
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpUitozaz8
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR6GJUFwvT
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwmoINEzX0
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AYTcPsKsG
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf90KciV4sI
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeTKSXFDyD
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7SHhxzfXz
took a swig of their whisky.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw1B1KtYgh
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ix0pK39zW
After the bride and groom374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP3ZKVqeCe
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYlzyW6caD
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSH3xRhdPJ
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G2rJ3gQCC
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPfznVHIRF
constantly.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWcG9bTtkm
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6tphiHKZm
Hoots of fun-filled laughter374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePRdTZGg3z
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUZcMQUuHi
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF1PkR6O5Z
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoumvcjFS4
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HZD51YmVY
came that night.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y5EDDlxZC
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oTNCEqHZV
That was seven years ago,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj7V6ps1Du
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunEjonXLAK
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUTylmdM1L
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz3qvwDHPH
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYepiFDW44
Present day374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpt2hT3vXa
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbm9Nsoc9b
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1RJSqoTif
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y9fatxnRc
She was bleak, weary, and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdLBhzMPeW
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNujwfeeexU
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cBYvRKky0
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFICE9mHohV
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QPZxiwEWx
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX2vn7RLM3
Mary looked behind her, where374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L6UeRkiWE
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUCIZg3hcQ
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGdHEsRedM
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9dg4MKNq1
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupFFPvqxVm
given to little Ethel.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E94YooNui
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvI4LfHnT7
Turning completely to keep a374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2oklnOzYH
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqlJqaH8Pm
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFfJINnDhS
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dAdyvCPag
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsly249FcLc
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYqqHgmvpy
knew was that she hated it.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcanEo0w9W
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ih09KpZDU
Not even a month after Justin374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdKbyoCroh
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIza2iGg578
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ9U6ovNq4
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVusd81GLM
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHIQUeldX3
eyes of his own two children.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeJSI53cqY
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lTy7d2bJq
She was currently seven374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU00mDLGll
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuCJY19vHM
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoWNJbCjbw
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEcx0WY2Tg
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHpD6nXHPE
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81i6Ut9H7T
having an affair.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJvVpezxCf
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Pzya38b0
A hiss brushed past her lips,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r6GgmCOwK
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oUNF9FJuM
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd2BqXIFla
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AhrHFpjCe
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIwRHTCflQ
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2nKnxcHzK
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgO2WE5uwQ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhkUmrGjBX
Just then, a whinny could be374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWreJN4ewDr
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnO5Lkqk0r
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl9nwTeFL8
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6YPcoyq9t
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORHL44lI1U
her or her girls.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIPmzmjrWE
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbxsZS2HLb
Waiting by the porch, rifle374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQGrHX1KkH
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qy1M7ZoVo
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XxPbis2pK
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ0ZLC1wTP
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9ObYs3JUd
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqsu5BQSdM
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5FfO5frt6
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEMTV3hzNJ
She didn’t dare to hope, but374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOuWFmhiQK
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHNqCuQEXM
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbaZDMi14m
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD0YJEgrXY
the dirt ground hard and painfully.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlEDTKqgjZ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6ftOOqvOe
It wasn’t Justin.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrHYTuN63M
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlun1W8Huf
The man walked up briskly,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QLPKL1yYp
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyHZmW91AF
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4omKqL1tw
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkfTRuVcvk
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxWRq7CHe5
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5e4VZ2Hmf
She forced the lump down her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7Uo79RcJW
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lFLFwN2Bx
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe3C4B6jiQ
He ran a shaky hand through374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuMNUa0pJ4
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdRmuCUnkJ
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYN5cfXKks
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i5yayScPp
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQeKve0X5I
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHy1UylTfc
Shock filled her at first.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡil8XKU9AFi
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRq6M9K9Nj
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLrG4fqflt
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYivigEQXF
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdyGxzLknu
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulx4KrpO29
asked her softly.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmWWRoLi81
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1AJFdb6i6
The tears raged down her face374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T4c5NnU3f
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXx0J4wdLU
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uTBOsbwrw
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPHRJfljdO
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWSEltuq23
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9lshGx3yF
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcSpR5tViR
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrdUqKpYLP
The small girl had tears in her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfOR4VE6pn
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQkOz46lSs
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVcZEKIogj
Mary hated to think of it374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0NQBzPqIk
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfqmeVHejT
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WtBskivxj
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEna9ZfiTUq
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Cp7XC7zIG
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3A87EvXf3
Her heart ached so much374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEnPuStAQQ
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9O4nPDKef
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLROqkgdjrJ
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5N57Jzila
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sTsOjQxDO
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NsT4kXrly
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUEhKSw7gy
chance to do or see.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvSzJk6KmX
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCOJfGpQaO
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGhmIZCAqx
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e6FPv5NFg
……374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlECqu5tZ5F
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILZq3jIvfC
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgEMOKmvuT
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHqz9TVSvK
For several days, the Daniels374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jOj1cjw22
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTryBFMfQ1q
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8k4tOFgDQ
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iuPM1rsNr
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYZpxGL7IS
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62KagBHG9K
as the news of their father’s death.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJWpcsey2H
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVK5HtgZSy
Ida and Ethel, while still374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJebZzx1N5
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGbADtqd4G
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqybPX8aioG
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPg4rhi1oY
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm800mglc8
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqKr5qbWHq
It was barely a week after374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWCOVZ8ciq
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47g6qQjdzI
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXfdtL8uW0
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK8PD0zMAZ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUAOtSKt7g
Just as she was getting up to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQpTHNRq8N
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfbfl73mTG
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nXpTMimN1
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHKrmnftu7
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam4GfQUEOr
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9xZZJibfa
It’s to early, she said in374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHjoZ8niRU
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnKQUQpaNY
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQgkTCEKpN
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP27kO0RkQz
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6tfjaCOkr
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6gMpPeH1B
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z2Mz1Lm2A
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5wIxWjY1L
Braving through her fear for374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YRzyEEMmz
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxjg6gARoZ
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQJQGmw7RW
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5nGpnXkDZ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTojlvEpZ4y
The seven year old wasted no374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqxqpK5gGp
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f8ZFxVkS7
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f15Hfi5ME
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2iCkWwVMm
gave them a snap.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UzCqhy42h
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaPDLU9KOs
Only half an hour later, she374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RGngQi6o5
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX3qY6reHJ
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms0OwCRtLZ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji8pXhg8py
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzVV32SuyX
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW0pSRllse
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqawNXqitYE
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB7LVI0DTq
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpz8h5Eo6H
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqTMHIyF00
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDKLndXzFq
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQuwzNViHT
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9CF82LOG5
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXqxRgl0hx
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqqSO9PVxp
Hours passed by, and the only374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBD73EbsPR
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65coRzNgKZ
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBFEIpupwv
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Kt664Y3IB
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4ug27sH9r
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvvtghJelp
It was well into the night,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjQCAAUszV
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP6NBkNZ5N
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDgDU2IfVD
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx3HwqL6LY
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO8kJafymy
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYIwPV8EY8
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe8TqXgP7Z
And so it was. Two days of374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluHpph6HM1
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhN3sfwcnk
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5ubqnH2wR
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ15F5Jyg7y
actually giving birth.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0JnWUVhPi
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8hdyogEI2
And then the third day came.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9ARvlsvaM
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3zVHtg0ho
It hit them all, like a374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ADdbaxXe
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2TmUxEKjv
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3zuT5Gqg1
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSte5DYe5Tj
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g31MsT5Zv
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRK4kFDBqa
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQx8SPbv6L
That night was long and hard.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DaeueG160
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmlgis25Kk
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZcnO0VOEw
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DNfYOCE2u
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX5SdpICNR
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kLuKpiuSX
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2drhnOdpn
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLcPvxZniz
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzB3JmdHvw
“So?” He said nervously.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax2RSfghLm
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhf2aMkLDJ
Her smile, still, didn’t374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VQZhBVyaP
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrcrJeFNVQ
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv53kw0qNI
whispered.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2F6d8GAMH
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM1VtiO6Lr
Mark sighed and shook his374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDUf0fiy7r
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8aG4e6eA6
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSKlY2TCd3
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQecf0nVEq
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ee17JUEXT
She chewed on her lip. “I374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrJL5fkx1K
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw9tGF0rka
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nsfKrsN1W
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU7gVORJSH
“What’s her name?”374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXuAkUlZDm
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6t1SDLxDE
Leah smiled again, having374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ziyFNDtu
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXREFhVIEDz
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLdIm3ek6S
that it was perfectly suited.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDizy2jpzJY
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQIUpyPz0C
Mark knew, all to well, how374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwi8DKBSaN
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rX132PvBN
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JJGlYDqOq
Margaret Hope Daniels.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq173oB0EU
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw2B2Trf5M
He wrapped and arm around his374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUu64ehrkd
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKg40WAbQM
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOWA1a3UIK
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4Saq57XSt
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM4anWyzwk
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgamMjD8Bms
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S4D0l7U0N
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGPQXXdmoO
father; it was a painful thought.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ4mJRi83z
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEg9r55kDp
Mary’s head snapped up to her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bWCOQ1r9e
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioh4YvWkiQ
them gently, yet eagerly.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3Cuem82MB
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68X3ZoHEuA
They came in and stood beside374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIKUVO4Ags
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D1jFelmr3
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdgMEOmwZm
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFyq6ychop
The exhausted mother managed374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTWQE3ns8p
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtsHF4bSNl
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xqus8hiHU
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOEWhxWCdm
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24pd3rhAQQ
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxhGpF9gJf
with all of us.” She whimpered.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA6mQSg7rP
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut0rvQzALY
The Avery’s embraced her and374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzUqDbrlh3
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyBDVzP7w3
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQUWygIPnk
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGUYVVqsZH
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgcNEVc7ZF
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqLc3K8gTR
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
