“Your whole life is earning minimum wage at a hotel where most of the guests don’t even see you, but, Lizzie Davis, you are the kind of woman who deserves to be seen. I hate that you work harder than anyone I know and it’s all for so little. And don’t tell me you’re doing fine, because we both know you’re not. You have to work two jobs just to pay your rent on that terrible apartment.”

“You’ve never even been inside my apartment,” I replied stiffly.

“I don’t need to. That building is one strong wind away from being condemned.”

“We didn’t even have running water at the farm. This apartment is just fine.”

“Why should you settle for just fine, Lizzie? Especially when you could be with someone who wants nothing more in this life than to make you happy?” I didn’t know what to say. After a while, Calvin took my hand and added softly, “I know from experience that the most important thing in a marriage is a solid foundation of friendship. This is a pragmatic proposal. I’ve accepted a permanent position at Fort Bliss, so I need to set up a home here, not to mention entertain more, so you could help with all that. And I could help you too. You wouldn’t need to struggle for every little thing. You work so hard, Lizzie—when do you even have time to stop and breathe? I could give you the gift of a comfortable life. And maybe, if you let me love you, in time, you’ll come to love me too.”

I was lonely after Henry left and so damned tired of struggling for every crumb city life had to offer. I’d already reinvented myself once—from farmer’s daughter to city battler. I could do it again, especially if it meant making such a good man happy in the process.

“You don’t even look the same,” Henry chuckled now. That laughter was music to my ears. His appearance had also changed—he looked strong and healthy, and there was a twinkle in his eyes. “You look like some backwater farm girl who found her way to the city, met a rich guy, and now gets to be a trophy wife.”

He was teasing and I knew he didn’t mean to cause offense, but I gasped as I looked down at my outfit. I’d bought it because the fabric was the color of Texas bluegrass and it reminded me of home. That dress was beautiful, but Henry had a point: it was also something I’d never wear back in Oakden.

But Cal pointed out that most of his colleagues’ wives rarely wore trousers and then he gave me a big stack of money, so I bought some dresses.