Free Mail Order Misfit (Brides of Beckham) by Kirsten Osbourne

over the mantle.  She liked that he had both the cook stove and a fireplace, because she felt it made the house seem cozier.  She was used to her big sprawling house in Beckham, but she was quickly adjusting to the size of their small house.  "We need to leave.  I want to get there a little early so I can introduce you around."   He seemed genuinely proud of her.
    Elaine was pleased that he wasn't embarrassed for her to meet his friends.  One of her big worries had always been being with someone who was embarrassed of her limp.  It didn't seem to bother him at all. She was amazed by him; he really did seem to see her as more than a hurt leg.  "Let's go then."
    He'd already hitched up the wagon and led her outside, carefully helping her into the wagon.  Once she was seated, he ran around and got up as well, driving toward town.  "You don't have to worry about seeing John at church," he told her.  "I don't think he's been since he moved here." 
    Elaine breathed deeply at that, truly relieved she wouldn't have to see the man that morning.  "I'm so happy I didn't marry him.  I would have been miserable."   She'd included in her letter to Elizabeth what John had been like, hoping the other woman wouldn't send another bride out to him.
    He wrapped his arm around her, holding the reins in his left hand.  "And I'd have been in jail."
    She looked at him in surprise.  "Why would you be in jail?"  What was he saying?
    Colin kissed her forehead.  "I'd have had to kill him the first time he mistreated you."
    She threw back her head and laughed.  "You wouldn't have thought about me twice if I'd married him." 
    "Are you sure about that?  When I saw you walk into the restaurant with him, all I could think was that I hoped you weren't going to marry him.  I wanted you for myself from the first moment I saw you."   He shook his head.  "I'd have spent the rest of my life dreaming about the beautiful woman I'd missed out on."
    "You did not.  You married me because you felt sorry for me."
    He took a deep breath, trying not to get angry with her.  "No, I didn't.  I hope someday you'll realize that I'm telling the truth about this."
    She looked down at her hands in her lap, feeling bad for not believing him, but how could she?  No one had ever looked at her as if she was special.  No one had really paid much attention to her except to tell her what she couldn't do since the day she'd fallen from the tree.  She didn't believe there was anything worth looking at her twice for. Her cooking and cleaning would have to make up for what she was lacking physically.  "I'm sorry."
    He sighed.  "I know you believe what you believe, and there's no way I can change your opinions of me, but I did take one look at you and know I wanted you to be my wife."
    "I hope you don't think that I'm calling you a liar, because I'm not.  I just...I can't see anyone looking at me and seeing someone that they want to marry.  Especially with the way I'm sure I looked when I came into town on Friday.  I was hurting , dirty, and really not at my best."  She knew she had looked pitiful, and she couldn't believe he kept claiming to have fallen for her on sight.
    "You were beautiful.  Your hair was falling from your bun, and there were a few pieces that were clinging to your face.  I could see that you were tired, but you kept your head high as John said some pretty ugly things to you."  He kept his eyes on the road as they entered town.  "I wanted to hit him, but I was pretty sure it would upset you, so I kept my fists to myself."   He wouldn't have for much longer, though.  He knew that even if she didn't.
    "You really wanted to hit him?"   She looked at him in surprise.  No man had ever wanted to hit another man over her before.  For some reason, it made her feel special.
    Colin looked at her in surprise.  "Of course I did.  I was raised to respect women.  All women.  He sat there with the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen and