The Impossible First Step
“Colum!”

Martha threw open the parlor door, expecting to find him injured on the floor.

Instead, she stopped so suddenly that her breath caught.

His iron cot stood empty.

A wooden chair lay shattered beside the table.

And Colum Cain was standing.

His enormous hands gripped the tabletop. Sweat poured down his face, and his powerful shoulders trembled from the effort.

But beneath him were two shaking legs supporting his weight.

For the first time in four months, he was upright.

Martha covered her mouth.

“Colum… how?”

He lifted his pale blue eyes.

“Because somebody finally gave me a reason to try.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“You should have told me!”

“I was afraid,” he admitted. “Afraid I’d fail. Afraid you’d see me broken all over again.”

Martha approached cautiously.

“How long have you been doing this?”

“Every morning before sunrise. Started by moving my toes. Then my ankles. Three weeks ago, I managed to stand for a heartbeat.”

He attempted a smile.

“Today, I wanted to surprise you.”

Suddenly, his knees buckled.

Martha lunged forward, wrapping her strong arms around his chest before he hit the floor.

For a moment, they remained locked together.

Then Colum whispered, “You caught me.”

“Of course I did, you foolish mountain giant.”

He looked at her differently.

Not with pity.

Not with embarrassment.

But with something Martha had never expected to see in another man’s eyes.

Admiration.

“You know what those people got wrong about you?” he asked.

“Almost everything, apparently.”

“They thought your size made you something to laugh at.”

His voice softened.

“But these arms kept me alive. This heart gave me a home.”

Martha looked away, overwhelmed.

Then Colum took her hand.

“When I can walk properly, I want to rebuild this farm.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“I’m not talking about paying a debt.”

He squeezed her fingers.

“I’m talking about staying.”

Before Martha could answer, the sound of wagon wheels approached outside.

A familiar voice shouted from the yard.

“MARTHA BELL! THE TOWN COUNCIL WANTS ITS PROPERTY BACK!”

Martha froze.

Colum’s expression darkened.

Because standing outside was Amos Higgins.

And this time, he had brought three men, a sheriff, and a document that threatened everything Martha and Colum had built together.