376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJWKUOi61Q
It was a cold and dark day.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrIqOURLys
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8drlsod3kv
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg67HetO7Y4
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYPSxRkWuq
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSXB51DoXZ
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVjvsdTykC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwafhvakgZa
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GpDRaSSs1
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRSkibFAu9
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwDWQAYmLP
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd8CplVCuT
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPKidyXOJv
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkaPlIK01d
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJiUwfBKvg
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvgdp4mSht
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdedUJzWncC
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVMPGWbwJw
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6BjDBZ7D7
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYLzkHpxX0
and respect him, until death do you part?”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr9R4dHTHa
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2NRyUxsKG
She couldn’t help it; her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAj4mqnbnY
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp8P1RLAlC
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wOkxJiFyM
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyRH4H4bIC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2V1cn5ike
“Then, without further wait,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRsYEKorXv
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3bheCquI7
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7O56dsYRl
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv7Mlxjeza
Not waiting a second longer,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RZY57ZGlU
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74PDtrLuG2
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPojvNELtXD
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlyDFG0U05
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS1olNt0JL
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU2p0Hg51J
After the marriage ceremony,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa18ejPwYfN
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEWrEKlLZQ
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rOdLxYoq4
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasnCWgPyS0
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxL4NW4LGM
Avery, went first.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjBgAWItD7
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiboHYHKELq
“I have known Justin and Mary376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnaqAXuFR2
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mlaztuP2d
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojeQYmghV3
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwolavnScpt
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3SZrFIaBo
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJvRGzVtJn
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0eyTvJeHz
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknVKFu8iUi
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSivVpCHRiW
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0kOS54Bdo
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVEgIkIZcn
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxcXDuFMir
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnWlQ7wkIG
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE9FF7sk9P
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BE8agGgul
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSsJWDmhK4
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5mNUta00m
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1Q3LT4K6T
took a swig of their whisky.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgPgMqDorY
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ408BJehgdJ
After the bride and groom376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZH0px3ZOw
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpCnuCxwYd
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvEsGUPZXj
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9f9onUAbE
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLen0tglfnl
constantly.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcG0gtxin1
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGgekgEGBm
Hoots of fun-filled laughter376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtxaGfMEF6
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPW8BUDkq3
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMXSUlM7TM
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbZcBZwhOG
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN21wgwqd4f
came that night.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagOIbo52ma
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswggILZpRU
That was seven years ago,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlQRlayChw
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjD3xuIyan
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHBSgjEOBt
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxr7s77TZ3
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqyAedg3BM
Present day376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosbpp6UuAP
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAVnhlgoLI
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ89kdmM1nm
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOxf6qx3U8
She was bleak, weary, and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1goInXkO7
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnndp8x81y
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoOHaCk879
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzY8QgKjpH
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK5JHs4j7W
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlQ7eU2qlF
Mary looked behind her, where376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lN4f1st1O
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqiphj1cVK
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlD1KavEJp
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCmODQ98Cd
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XNidyjdkj
given to little Ethel.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0jbyX78qj
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O9Kgn9uIM
Turning completely to keep a376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrVrN9kQSq
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeULnAhydF
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPmw4A4Phs
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOxYtwsCaX
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMYVXJvmYH
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FYLpKIm9e
knew was that she hated it.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4cNFiJpij
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqGHP1AOfN
Not even a month after Justin376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqKt6GT3dM
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKYwy4qkHW
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNxf1LN7nM
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW7P26oz6f
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28IOzdPp5g
eyes of his own two children.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou8D06PBVY
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UOgpsP6lF
She was currently seven376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHNqpMTytp
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhGxFzpude
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKYPzP9q6y
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44SWPouVWO
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9s91hWqdn
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzlWsU9x6i
having an affair.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh49DNTyPjC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrBZil1bgc
A hiss brushed past her lips,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4i5hcD842
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLTLDJhXjN
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEVu7UzCXE
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzAd2cxOIR
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoZMXspSSI
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI1OQzqV3r
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR5wQy5CCW
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeJEBraSKk
Just then, a whinny could be376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMe1i2KlIQ
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8qeDBjPgJ
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtFyG9Sczi
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LGqZhGU0H
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUl6UNycPk
her or her girls.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiydWHXJC8
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNuIMtOKbY
Waiting by the porch, rifle376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBwDtA9VQ6
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjWuh9UadD
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqhXbyGC2F
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKJlujyDCj
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6ckSB7J4G
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH4Z6Jkinv
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF90unv5wtO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31vbjtfqCR
She didn’t dare to hope, but376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZCkUCpHgk
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtD3UdjcPY
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRi7SNgax2
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56AoX7NCrc
the dirt ground hard and painfully.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPVgFTRjtr
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3jDvt43nA
It wasn’t Justin.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGSjwSukHT
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhd214bfIX
The man walked up briskly,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gb1pw4Mjx
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtmQZeqaFL
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4425TGsmD
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC3bVNvmAh
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgndmtisfx
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1eJK3e3n9
She forced the lump down her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2RT9Baezf
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg1zFqGR0O
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1RD1ZyhsD
He ran a shaky hand through376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILkaVIKPrY
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdrCKVIRTG
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJArWW35PoQ
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprNnSROSF5
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hxSCc7q6X
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OuprR20Wy
Shock filled her at first.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXzSrde9km
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83Q2W3woej
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ro0eEDpqQ
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRg4NZ84ZX
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw9reWNbk3
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nqfN6pKJB
asked her softly.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHmLIIX01K
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFiR3btFhM
The tears raged down her face376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk6WiMBfu9
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMfFUb6UCy
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdkoMCKrO3
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5Ip4bStY3
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxzzaZzND3
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyk2OceoJs
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMyYEhqhrV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguenIwx10Z
The small girl had tears in her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQUbucpJZ5
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrt1OZlOSc
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QQLLWZiSv
Mary hated to think of it376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3it3yffdv
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB40MmFLNWz
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB6T64oIOy
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5rgJwh3Ns
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0iTAMLVgj
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdFke0niyU
Her heart ached so much376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCCZkLX2wO
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANMGD6YGiw
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9PogzR4T8
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6Nkw5oSli
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLcPBfJ5N7
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpquyQaACD
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPmDcFFIJQ
chance to do or see.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitncp5EuRP
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQVVvpzntn
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSDwli5ULZ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls4DpwZudJ
……376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENCZ2uQmAz
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMsUratSqc
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ7XfLyIl0
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDXIoF7Cvb
For several days, the Daniels376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUQaiRfVGP
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvYp6dZSrg
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSQsIgkf8i
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02X4h0Hvx2
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijDkkjlkB0
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgilO4VxFZc
as the news of their father’s death.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjgldi1vxx
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacoD2N4ve2
Ida and Ethel, while still376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlQQT3nBoh
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvdLgR66i4
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH0RFltZVS
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOGiy4cRJq
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL8m2Kd4Pv
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmssVJ1YTie
It was barely a week after376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTS5bhAaKP
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b0YMztFJf
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsvP1xrfSZ
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcLBcrpLg3
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnimpDAdwgN
Just as she was getting up to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOV73ranZp
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Rm9tMlY0
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly6924FJWi
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi73PIH8FTw
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmMguRpqPk
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshrIALzfTe
It’s to early, she said in376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIAE5KsF5X
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i1caxmeyE
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB3lQrMPVM
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpmy1VUMQK
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81d075dKYi
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssHus8qj31
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dPw3mWFCU
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjmcw6bVoo
Braving through her fear for376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiBowFg9sz
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHlBBObtQS
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp7xcSmvgY
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU55TkxDD3
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq01g0q7Iu
The seven year old wasted no376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPUdTF4Hqh
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iNUKjuXtj
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DcAdtIrhs
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCEQ9cvAbC
gave them a snap.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kZVXFEHkJ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVWCSAPrWG
Only half an hour later, she376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDuEOxdKb0
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHnlwMeAWc
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio1FKFXFMc
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavAwkHwUSM
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOFtENrOLY
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjXz0p5dop
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtsQtXvl3G
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWr1qXlYGZ
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZBStZrsD8
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhW8uVHLnc
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4Y9dEQigz
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwslVINvgax
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg54NMBaMhd
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60Wb6O6xA6
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aPl1GaWqb
Hours passed by, and the only376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgOXlJKa70
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XO21Zp7MC
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0pKdmdMvL
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzsdBNGdmX
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG9yoLSNlD
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUngkOLXrC
It was well into the night,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpdZSgSiCE
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawHS71XpSj
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bp4vdZXWq
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3KySpEbpB
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid87jNVujs
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEnspbZ9Y6
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WXmQYTKmq
And so it was. Two days of376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbM0iphsM2
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtauzt92Rn5
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpkFhkdNxc
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7j4jVAIS9
actually giving birth.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGizNeKHJj
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2FCoSHbyT
And then the third day came.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl8DNlEgBq
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTZJ5c7MT3
It hit them all, like a376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDF57KBJA7
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrnsqX9JSx
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqR6XmX97V
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTnvyM5Uzl
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyXLcizOQX
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdhzNtmEsj
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv0AvswoKX
That night was long and hard.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXqJ6r2hiG
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNe4p7zO4B
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEFhJYAY0x
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsg8Dr6JK4
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMFBNXVCfd
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96eGIAmzO7
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGDCNxjOEP
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyVbLoC0JC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqot9IldWO
“So?” He said nervously.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj53JBwDtG
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIkfAhfl3P
Her smile, still, didn’t376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6AxeMaSb2
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICDDrB6tyG
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdtPo7jkUh
whispered.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf5Zh02r3J
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aqKYYKB6f
Mark sighed and shook his376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHNPBlkWIv
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxmicTkL3k
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZbeD7o0LY
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFg6u125dQ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGQuSt6BZ6
She chewed on her lip. “I376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkooRXfEuN
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBW7NzUAfi
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojA9Xkmc3l
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwZpm0eWgv
“What’s her name?”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBqUi2eAQK
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1U2BbjPtE
Leah smiled again, having376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx2HA6FuBi
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQoucUv35r
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeHVew99du
that it was perfectly suited.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCKaNdGoij
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPryHfuQKK8
Mark knew, all to well, how376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0y474a5ii
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU31UXvBAs
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUG8J68rZU
Margaret Hope Daniels.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMBZWx0vMW
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVWSJBfsYl
He wrapped and arm around his376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b4p40Bbus
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb69qygcTQm
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3MTnkTOPu
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH106LtNCF4
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFyNSPJHII
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmhAwiyvfk
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm0f1MkXC0
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3d5lXWAEi
father; it was a painful thought.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvHhtXCFLn
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJGyHTq70o
Mary’s head snapped up to her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9RWAh9KBC
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv6OVes0dW
them gently, yet eagerly.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDMlbgdh0z
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhICUCUQKfu
They came in and stood beside376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2LLK6jEGM
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7w2WI6KH0L
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIhSkogW6Q
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ0HcvHR2O
The exhausted mother managed376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8us8XrP19x
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e0zAhCB9T
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY3QI9deQa
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElnAz9k1k9
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9426gyR9o
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaTAwYumhk
with all of us.” She whimpered.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IaSmrRmkc
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0U2Z7QAaI
The Avery’s embraced her and376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpyioGvVsf
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYXuYOq3gh
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVk50ty4un
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2fRJaaUlx
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLYKnLSjdh
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8k1nZbXbg
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.
