NOVEMBER 12, 1861

“Ana, here is a new dress I had Grace make you for meeting with the judge.” Destiny said as she handed the new Sunday dress to Anna. 

“Oh thank you!” Anna said.

Destiny smiled and left the room for Ana to get changed. She then went to Jemima’s room, “Jemima, please put on your Sunday best.”

“Yes, Ma.” Jemima said. 

Jemima and Brianna entered the main dining area of the boarding house in their Sunday best and handed the brush to Destiny. Destiny had promised to fix their hair special for the meeting with the judge. Sean was going as well. He was going to be marrying Destiny, so he thought that he should be there. Daniel was dressed in a new Sunday Suit as well.

Then Ana came down and everyone commented on how beautiful she looked. She smiled shyly. They walked over to the saloon and Ana was hesitant to go in and Destiny took her aside and told her, “Look Honey, the only people in there will be us and the judge.”

“Can’t there be a lady judge?”

Destiny smiled, “No, we got a man for a judge, but I’ll be right there, and at no time will you be alone with him. And Daniel will be there, too.”

Ana nodded for Destiny to be her Ma, she had to do this, so she put on a brave face and stood a little taller and went in.

The judge asked a few questions and decided to let Ana stay with Destiny until he got back, and if everything went alright, then he would let Destiny adopt Ana for real. He was really pleased to hear that Ana would have a father and a mother. He was really confidant that this particular arrangement would work out since Sean was a preacher.