Henry wore the horrid calico suit of clothes to the calico ball.

On the outskirts of the party, a few UP employees passed a flask around. One toasted Henry with a raised liquor bottle. “A fine suit you wear this evening.”

Henry tipped his hat and trudged forward.

He raised his hat to matrons who whispered behind fans.

Only one person at this gathering held his interest. One.

He approached the pavilion proper, determined to find her.

Once he did, he’d lay his heart bare and confess the whole truth.

The orchestra completed a tune, followed by vigorous applause.

Mayor Gardner grabbed the opportunity, his speaking trumpet raised, to make an announcement. “I hold here,” he bellowed through the device, “a telegram from Washington, District of Columbia!”

Commotion, mostly women hushing one another, melded with cheers and whistles.

“Dated yesterday, July 10, 1890. To: Honorable John W. Meldrum, Governor. Proclaim it to the people that Wyoming is a member of the Indestructible Union of American States—”

Applause drowned the rest of the mayor’s amplified announcement, but Henry couldn’t care about statehood or the calico ball or the enormous audience sure to hear most of his groveling.

Across the dance floor, he sighted Isabella on the arm of the UP engineer, Mr. James. Long evening rays slanted across the pavilion, casting her in golden light. The blue-green of her calico put him in mind of sunlight on the Delaware River.

Why had he believed he could live without this woman?

Certainty compelled him to abandon everything he’d clung to like bedrock.

The only thing he needed to know was that Isabella was the only woman for him. He didn’t need all of the answers now. They’d find their way forward together.

He removed his hat and tucked it beneath his arm.

She turned, locating him instantly. She said something brief to James, who then looked in Henry’s direction. He escorted her to within a few feet of Henry and disappeared.

Smart man.

Dully, he noted applause as the mayor finished with the telegram reading. The orchestra struck up the next dance number.

Isabella raised her chin. “That’s a fine calico suit of clothes you’re wearing, Dr. Merritt.”

He smoothed his hand over the jacket, quick to find the gold watch chain he’d worn daily as a reminder of his chosen path. “It is a fine suit of clothes. My best.”

Folks nearby lingered, preferring, apparently, to observe the couple whose clothing matched.

“Indeed, it is.” Happiness, genuine and real, lit her face.

“I wear it because it matches your costume. We’re a matched set.”

Her countenance dimmed. “Fabric selected two months ago does little to convince me. My costume and your suit are nothing more than clothes. Clothes cannot explain who a person is inside.”

Pain filled her words, her posture, her voice. He must fix this. “You captured my interest, Dr. Isabella Pattison, the moment I saw you on the street a year ago.” She knew this story. But he’d not yet told her how he’d felt. “I was wildly attracted to you.”

She slowly unfolded her arms. Good. She listened.

Someone nearby chuckled. Henry ignored his growing audience. He cared only for Isabella. The last months had shown they could talk things through and find a solution.

“We met,” he told her, “and you captured my respect of your intellect. You put together odd glimpses of the puzzle and knew where I headed on Easter morning.”

A soft smile touched her lips.

“You captured my heart the first time I saw you comfort a child.”

Over the music, a nearby woman sighed. “No, Cletis. I won’t dance with you. I’m listening to a swain plead his case.”

Let the whole county watch and listen. They weren’t Henry’s concern.

He searched Isabella’s face. “You affirmed what I already knew—you’re compassionate, capable, and intelligent.”

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. None of this mattered to her.

“Isabella, you’re the one I want by my side, every day of my life. How could any other woman give me encouragement, ongoing intrigue, and perspective in my life’s work?”

Chatter among the onlookers swelled. More than one matron urged Isabella to concede and step into his embrace.

Still, she waited. And he knew why. He’d not yet apologized.

“I’ve been a fool. A miserable fool. I apologize, with all the sorrow in my heart. For all I said in fear and anger and all I should’ve said. And for hinting, even now, that you’d make a fine doctor’s wife.”

She nodded, the gesture so small, he’d have missed it if he’d blinked.

Moments ticked past as she looked into his eyes. He’d give every dollar in his possession to know her thoughts.

“What should you have said, Henry?”

What should he have said? His heart pounded, but those many somethings wouldn’t come.

Finally, he repeated the important parts. “You’re the one my heart desires. Yes, I want a home, love, and happiness. I’m a fool to look for those miracles anywhere else, with anyone else.”

She waited, expecting more.

“I’ve realized, ultimately, that home is not defined by so strict a measure.” He’d learned so many things in the past days. “How can anywhere be home without you?”

Did she understand?

An eternity passed, and finally she gave a brief nod. “And?”

What more was there? He wanted to pace, but forced himself to remain still.

“I’ve struggled to find answers.” He ached in body, mind, and soul. Mostly in his heart. “Together, we can find the answers. We had an epiphany over a patient, but honestly, it was mostly you.”

She nodded but crossed her arms again, shifting her weight away from him.

He floundered in the dark. If he failed this most critical exam of his life, he could lose her forever.

He took a step nearer. “We managed to afford the calico ball invitations on budget. Where we disagreed, we’ve talked it through and found common ground. You respect my opinion, and I respect yours. What troubles are so insurmountable that we can’t solve them together?”

The ghost of hurtful things he’d told her flitted between them. He’d said he couldn’t afford a wife.

He’d said he couldn’t afford her.

His heart ached, knowing he’d contributed to the scars she carried from her banker brother-in-law’s criticism and from her only sister’s distasteful comments. And what of her mother?

“I’m a coward,” he whispered. “I’m a coward,” he repeated, determined Isabella hear his regret and apology despite the music and dancers and conversations surrounding them. “I admit it. I’m scared to take on responsibilities I doubt I can afford financially. But with you, I think, no—I know—we have a chance.”

The gold watch chain slipped through his hand. He caught himself in time to avoid blotting his palms against the calico sack suit. Instead, he pulled a calico handkerchief from his pocket, dried his hands, and blotted his forehead.

Nervousness swelled, tightening the collar about his neck, forcing his heart to work doubly hard.

He’d imagined this conversation progressing on a more effective track. He’d apologized before, and she’d always been quick to forgive.

“Isabella?” He cleared his throat. Their audience grew impatient. He grew impatient.

She stood immobile, her arms folded tightly, and her posture rigid. Isabella’s impatience outranked them all. Her expression filled with a marrow-deep sadness.

“Please give me one more chance to prove myself. Now that I know my own heart, I’ll show you, every single day, that I can be trusted.”

She turned her face away and tucked her chin.

What did she want? He’d give it to her, if only he knew.

Yes! She wanted partnership—he could give her that. “If you’ll have me, I want a true partnership. I’ll pay to have the sign painter come around. Merritt and Pattison Dentistry. No—Pattison and Merritt Dentistry.”

Chuckles erupted from the crowd, but Isabella remained still.

But he’d thought . . .

Panic spurted through his veins. “I can’t lose you. Not like this. Not again.”

Slowly, she turned away, her body in profile.

This time, it seemed, he’d gone too far. Beyond forgiveness. Beyond second chances. His mind raced through every conversation, every secret she’d shared. What had he missed?

With the desperation of a drowning man, he cast about for help. He grappled in the crowd, at last discovering Joe—

I love you, Joe mouthed.

Not an uncommon showing of brotherhood, especially at a time like this—but . . .

Joe had thrown him a lifeline!

But—hadn’t everything he’d said in the past ten minutes told Isabella he loved her? He’d spoken of love in every single way he knew how.

One more glance at Joe, who pointed at Isabella. I love you. Say it!

Relief, sweet relief.

He heeded the woman who held his heart in her dainty, capable hands.

“I love you, Isabella Pattison.”

She looked up, her eyes sparkled . . .

“I love you with everything here,” he tapped his temple, indicating his mind.

Her delight died beneath a bucket of cold water. She opened her mouth as if she intended, finally, to contribute to the conversation.

Good thing he wasn’t done.

“And I love you with everything here.” He tapped his fist over his heart. “You are precisely the woman I’ve searched for, my perfect match. The one I want, the one I need to make my life whole. Will you have me?”

Fear slammed into him, knocking his confidence sideways a good ten miles.

One beat passed, then two.

He’d never intended to propose! No, no, no!

Proposals did not go well for him, especially in public. This wasn’t the time nor the place. He’d only intended to confess, in specific words, that he loved Isabella.

“You best say yes, Dr. Pattison,” a young, feminine voice called over the crowd, “or I’ll leap into his arms myself.”

Laughter tittered among the women. A few men’s baritone chuckles mixed in.

Isabella closed the distance between them, four ladylike steps, and stood immediately before him. He fancied her scent of violets reached him.

She searched his eyes.

What more was there? He’d explained himself. He’d apologized and begged forgiveness. He’d admitted she was the more capable problem solver between them. He’d asked for a future with her, including her fondest dream: continuing as a dentist. He’d confessed his love—in front of every soul in Uinta County. He’d foolishly asked her to wed him. All in a ridiculous calico suit of clothes!

“Before I say yes,” she said, “I need to know what you intended by ‘will you have me.’”

He blinked. Startled. Memories poured in, her heartbreaking tales of a family whose love she couldn’t feel, people who she’d chosen to leave.

“I hesitate,” she said, “to give my answer before I know if this means we’re to go forward courting or continuing on as before . . .”

“Isabella, I . . .” His mouth dried, his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. Was she giving him a chance to retract his proposal? Did he want that chance?

“Or,” she asked, “do you mean to ask me to be your wife?”

No! He didn’t want a do-over. Insecurity in this lovely woman’s eyes told him everything he needed to know.

He’d ensure she had no chance to misconstrue his offer.

With his hat still tucked beneath his arm, he lowered to one knee. Lit from the west, by the setting sun, she looked like an angel.

“You are an angel, dearest Isabella. You own my heart, my body, my soul. You own my life, because without you, my life has no meaning. I love you more than I loved my parents and brother. You are everything.”

Tears overflowed, streaming over her cheeks. He wanted to kiss them away. But he had one more thing to ask.

One question, upon which everything hinged.

The question that had caused him as much pain as his broken heart could bear. He must ask once more.

Clarity stole in, banishing doubt.

The error, in the past, had been not in asking the question, but in asking it of the wrong woman.

With Isabella, everything, including this most important question, was absolutely right.

“Will you, my Isabella, do me the esteemed honor of becoming my wife?”

Applause erupted. Commotion, too, as matrons shushed those who dared utter a word. They wanted to hear the good dentist’s reply!

If they’d been able to hear, they’d know Isabella hadn’t said a thing.

But Henry witnessed the truth in her eyes as more and more tears flowed. Happy tears.

She nodded, her sweet smile conveying everything within her heart. She stepped into his arms, took his freshly shaved cheeks between her hands, and kissed him.