I rode on my one way of transportation, a black equine named Jasper until I came to the spring near my new home on the Euthenia Nebula.

“I’m going to jump in and wash my body off, and then I’ll be on my way to fetch my bride,” I said to myself.

I stripped down and then jumped into the near freezing water, igniting a shout. Briskly I scrubbed at my skin, and then got out and dressed quickly. I ran my fingers through my wet hair, making the natural auburn curls spring up in a frame around my face.

Two swine hung by the edge of the spring, a sack on my equine’s hind quarters moved a bit. I whistled to the swine as I climbed back onto the saddled animal. Confidence filled me as I’d made a pact with myself not to let fear and doubt cloud my mind this time.

Instead of going straight to the Powers’ home, I went through the small settlement, finding a missionary to marry us. I had what Emerald’s father had asked for, and I was not taking no for an answer. Not this time. Today I was taking Emerald Powers as my wife.

My heart began to pound in my chest as I got off my equine in the front of the dwelling. The missionary was not far behind me, so I had to get her father to agree pretty quickly. Swallowing hard, I knocked at the door.

Emerald’s father opened the door with a frown covering his wrinkled face. “You again!”

Not surprised by the man’s gruff greeting, I smiled. “Yes sir, ‘tis I. I brought what you asked for, and a missionary is on her way here now.”

Emerald’s father looked me over, taking in my much better appearance.

The last time I had come to ask for the man’s daughter, I’d been a mess after falling from my equine into the muddied fields surrounding the settlement with the Euthenian rains.

“So, you’ve brought me the two swine you say. Why is it I only see one?”

I gestured to the shed. “The other ran into your shed.”

Her father searched behind the young man. “The fowl?”

“You said one fowl, and that’s what I brought you.”

“Did I?” The man asked as he pushed me out of his way to go outside. “Is it in that bag there, on your equine?”

I managed to keep a smile on my face even after being shoved by the old man. “It is.”

What an ass this man was. I was sure his daughter would want to run from the awful man. Hopefully, she would be pleased I was taking her as mine.

Her father came back in with the bag. “So you’ve brought what I asked for. The girl’s yours.”

“Thank you, sir,” I said, with relief.

Emerald’s father motioned toward one of the chairs. “Sit there, and I’ll retrieve her. You said a missionary was coming here?”

“She will be here soon.”

“I’ll let her mother know she needs to get her ready,” Emerald’s father said and then left me alone in the room.

I sat in the chair, rigid as a board. I got what I’d come for, but worry hit me like a brick wall.

What will she think of me? How did I look?

A large mirror hung near the door. I grinned at my reflection. My six feet three-inch frame was well-muscled thanks to the strenuous work I did in the Euthenian forest, cutting down trees for new settlers who came from Earth in order for them to build places to live in.

I straightened the collar of my white shirt I’d purchased just for this day. I ran a large hand over the front of my new black jeans and wiped a bit of dirt off my boot.

With one more glance in the mirror, I gave my reflection a wink with my deep green eyes. “That’ll do.”

A knock at the door had me grinning. I opened the door to find the missionary. “Thank you for coming. Her father said, yes.”

The woman was old and short. She said no words, just held out her hand. I gave her the seeds; her price for the service. They were apple seeds, four of them and came from the best orchard on Earth.

Her smile told me she was in agreement with his offering. “Do you have anything special you’d care for me to add to the ceremony?” the missionary asked.

I thought a moment and then said, “No. The same old thing you always do will be fine.”

“What’s the girl’s moniker?”

“Emerald,” I answered. “Emerald is about to be my wife! I can hardly believe it! I’m thirty and came here a year ago with my family. I built my own home a little way away from them. To have a woman to share my small home with will be what I’ve dreamt of. When I heard this man was putting his daughter up for marriage and heard of her beauty, I jumped to come and take her as mine.”

“But you came for her once before you told me,” the old missionary said.

“I did, but I was a mess from falling into some mud, and her father told me to get lost. I didn’t even get to see her then. But now not only do I get to see her, but I also get to take her home. It’s a dream come true.” I found myself pacing, and the nerves were making my stomach flutter.

Her father came back, nodding to the missionary. The sound as someone cleared their throat made me turn to look back. That’s when I saw her.

Emerald was small with delicate, creamy skin, long blonde hair, blue eyes, pink cheeks, and lips. She was perfect. Fear ran through me as I gazed at the young woman who’d soon be my wife.

‘She is too perfect for me!’ I thought.