Patience soaked a rag in warm, soapy water, wrung it out, and carried it into the restaurant’s main dining room. She wiped and scrubbed each table until it gleamed. As she cleaned, there was a knock at the front entrance to the restaurant. Patience looked up at the large clock hanging on the wall. There were two hours before the restaurant would open for lunch.

Before she could go to the door, Robert strode to the entrance from the kitchen. “I’ll get it, dear.” Robert opened the door. “We’re not open until noon, young man.”

“Actually, I’m here about something else. May I have a few moments of your time, sir?” Alexander Jacobs thrust his hand out.

Robert shook it. “Yes, but only a few moments. We’re preparing to serve lunch.” He stepped aside and ushered the young man in.

Alexander had dark hair and hazel eyes. Patience had seen him before in town but didn’t know him well. Although he moved his lips so they were turned up into a smile, his eyes seemed hard and angry. Patience did not have a good feeling about the man.

“We can talk in my office.” Robert led Alexander down one of the narrow corridors to his small office. The desk and floor were covered in stacks of paperwork, and Robert had to squeeze around the desk in order to get to his chair. “Please excuse the mess. We are having a profitable year, but that leaves me little time to clean, I’m afraid.” Alexander sat down in the chair nearest to the door.

Alexander launched right into his request. “Sir, I believe you know my father, Andrew Jacobs, who owns the hotel on the other side of town. I manage the front desk. I have a good, steady job and now I’m ready to settle down and find a wife to share my life with. I’d like to ask your permission to court your daughter, Patience. She’s the most beautiful young woman in town, and anyone would be lucky to have her as a wife.”

Robert folded his hands together, thinking. “I think that would be fine. I do know your father, and he’s a good man. I also know that several men are going to want to court my daughter, and I won’t be able to stay in denial much longer. My daughter is growing up. If you want to ask her out on a date, you have my permission.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ll leave you to get to your busy day.” Alexander stood up, and Robert walked him out to the front of the restaurant.

“Patience,” Robert called. “This young man would like a word with you.”

Robert returned to the kitchen to give Alexander and Patience some privacy. He was thrilled that a young, wealthy man like Alexander was interested in Patience. John Jackson had been spending far too much time at the restaurant, and Robert was suspicious of the feelings between John and his daughter. Robert had to admit that John was growing on him, but that didn’t mean he wanted a man with a wild reputation to marry his only daughter. Someone like Alexander was a far more suitable match.

In the dining area, Patience paused and waited for Alexander to explain himself. “Patience, I’d like to take you out on a date. Would you like that?” Alexander asked.

Patience looked down at the floor. She was slightly upset that this was what her father and Alexander had discussed in his office. She knew her father would look out for her best interests, but she felt that in her heart, she was already spoken for. John was the man she spent her days and nights dreaming about, not anyone else. She didn’t know Alexander well and didn’t care to. He seemed like many of the other men in town, concerned with money and nothing more.

She knew her father probably felt Alexander was a suitable match due to his wealth, but she far preferred John’s kind, gentle gaze and thoughtful gifts. Still, she knew that there were no guarantees with John. For one thing, she was worried about his drinking. Though she thought about him a lot, she was concerned that her future may be put in jeopardy by his behavior. For another, even if John behaved perfectly for the rest of his life, there was a good chance the Grahams would never approve of him for marriage.

If that were the case, maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible to be married to Alexander Jacobs. He certainly would be able to offer her a comfortable life. And if anything happened to her parents, and they became ill, he could easily provide for them, too. Something about him just made Patience feel strange, but she tried to ignore that feeling.

“Yes. I’d like that,” Patience finally replied after going back and forth in her head.

Alexander’s lips curled up into another smile, but once again, his eyes remained indifferent. “I’ll see you tomorrow at five o’clock. I’ll meet you here.”

“I’ll have to ask my parents if I can leave. I usually work here for the dinner shift,” Patience explained.

“That’s fine.” Alexander seemed bored. “I can wait while you ask.”

“I’ll be right back.” Patience walked toward the kitchen, where her mother was preparing a pasta with chicken and mushrooms for lunch. Robert was adding up figures at the table. “Mother, Father, Alexander Jacobs has asked if I can go on a date with him tomorrow evening. Is it all right if I leave the restaurant starting at five o’clock tomorrow?”

Lydia smiled as she stirred the pasta. Robert had told her about Alexander’s interest, and she thought he was a smart match for her daughter. “That’s perfectly fine, dear.”

Patience frowned. “What about the restaurant? Who will serve?”

“I’ll find someone to take your place. Don’t worry about us. You should enjoy yourself!” Lydia told her daughter. Patience worked hard every day of the week. She deserved an evening to have fun and get to know Alexander better. Lydia had seen the house the Jacobs family owned, and it was beautiful and spacious. If Patience married into the Jacobs family, Lydia would never worry about her daughter’s future again.

“Okay. Thank you,” Patience said quietly. “I’ll get back to cleaning now.”

After she had left the kitchen, Robert turned to Lydia. “She seemed a little sad, didn’t she? What do you think is the problem?”

Lydia pressed her lips together into a straight line. “I’m worried it has something to do with that John Jackson.”

“I’ve worried the same thing before,” Robert admitted. “Do you think I should ask him to stop coming to the restaurant?”

“Yes, I think that would be wise,” Lydia agreed.

Robert set his pencil down on the table. “I have nothing against the young man, but for our daughter . . . he just doesn’t seem right.”

“I agree with you, dear.” Lydia removed the pasta from the stovetop and set it aside to cool. “Now, we need to make sure our daughter feels the same way.”

Out in the dining area, Patience felt a cold breeze as she imagined a life with Alexander Jacobs.

“That’s because he isn’t the right man for you, Patience.” The dark-haired woman who had appeared to Patience in the storeroom had returned, and she was standing right in front of Patience.

“How did you get in? I didn’t hear the door.” Patience looked around, trying to figure out where the woman had come from.

“That doesn’t matter in the least. What matters is that you heed my advice. If you marry Alexander Jacobs, your life will be in grave danger.” The woman’s eyes pleaded for Patience to take her seriously.

“How do you know all of this? Who are you?” Patience couldn’t help but raise her voice. She felt frustrated and confused. Why was a woman she didn’t know offering her advice on one of the most important decisions in life?

The woman shook her head sadly. “You’re not ready to know who I am. But I know you, Patience. And I know that you’re about to make a huge mistake. One that you can never recover from.”

“Will you at least tell me your name? This is ridiculous.” Patience had had enough of the woman’s dramatic warnings. She wanted to continue cleaning the restaurant and be able to carry on with her day. She didn’t want to keep talking to a woman who acted like she knew everything.

“I don’t have a name in the same way you do. But you may call me Sarah, if you insist.” The woman looked around the empty restaurant. “But time will quickly run out, Patience. You need to make the right choice. You’re meant to be with John Jackson. You must marry him.”

Patience wanted to cry. Why was this woman bothering her over and over again? Didn’t she have anything better to do? Was she one of the people who lived in Mrs. Franklin’s boarding house? It wasn’t terribly far away, and sometimes, Mrs. Franklin took in people who were confused or had problems. “I don’t understand why you keep telling me these terrible things. What am I supposed to do about them?”

“You need to give John a chance. You have judged him too harshly. You’ll soon find out that he deserves better.” Sarah smiled. “It will all work out, Patience. I promise.”

“How do you know that?” Patience asked in exasperation.

“How do I know what?” Lydia brought a vase of flowers into the dining area. She began arranging it on a table near the front entrance.

Patience looked up. The woman had disappeared, but she hadn’t heard her walk away or open any of the doors. “Nothing, Mother.”

“Dear, are you all right? Maybe you should take the rest of the afternoon to rest before your date tomorrow with Alexander. I don’t want you coming down with anything.” Lydia walked over to her daughter and felt her forehead. “You don’t feel feverish. Just the same, you should rest up.”

Patience didn’t feel physically sick, but she did feel awful when she considered Sarah’s warnings. She had no idea what to do about her feelings for John or her date with Alexander.

Every time she thought about John’s gifts or the way he made her laugh, she smiled and felt a warm, glowing feeling come over her entire body. When she thought about Alexander, it was practically the opposite. It felt like there was a cold chill in the room.

Then, the familiar worry about John’s drinking crept in. He told her he had stopped, but what if he started again? Patience saw many men in Creede drink and gamble away all of the money they earned through work. Their wives and families suffered mightily because of their greed and corruption. She had always dreamed of a large family. Would John be able to provide that for her?

That evening, when John arrived at the restaurant to work, Patience met him at the front door. “I’d like to speak with you privately,” Patience told him.

“I hope I’m not in trouble.” John started to laugh but stopped when he saw Patience’s face.

“Let’s go somewhere we can talk.” Patience led John to the small space behind the restaurant. She walked into a small clearing surrounded by several fir trees.

“Wow,” John exhaled. “This is beautiful.”

“Yes. I like to come here to think sometimes. It’s quiet and peaceful.” Patience looked around. She loved this spot, and it felt right to be here with John. But she still had some questions for him. “As you know, I told you I wanted to get to know you better before agreeing to go on a date. But the problem is there’s something I can’t stop thinking about.”

“What’s that?” John asked earnestly. He would do anything for Patience. He hated to see something bothering her.

“John, everyone around town has warned my mother and father that you’re a drinker. I’ve heard stories, too. When I think about the man I want to marry, drinking just doesn’t fit into the picture. Do you understand?” Patience tried to be as gentle as possible, but she felt her words were harsher than she intended.

“Patience, I fully understand your concerns.” John took her hands into his. “I have made mistakes in the past. But I’ve moved on, and I have you to thank for it. I promise to you, I’ll never drink a drop of alcohol again. If that’s what it takes to have you in my life, I’ll never even touch the stuff.”

Patience believed John, and she loved the way his warm hands were wrapped around hers. She nodded. “Thank you, John.”

John leaned forward and pulled Patience in closer. He locked his lips onto hers, pushing gently, let go of her hands, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Patience moved closer to him, feeling full from his warmth and love.

When Patience recovered from the shock of it, she pulled herself away from John and stepped back. “We shouldn’t have done that.”

John had a smirk on his face. “That’s a shame because it felt wonderful to me.”

“That’s beside the point!” Patience felt her face turning red. “I need to go.”

“Now will you agree to go out on a date with me?” John asked. He knew what her answer would be.

Patience looked pained. “My parents want me to go on a date with Alexander Jacobs. He asked my parents’ permission, and they agreed. I’m sorry, John. I should have told you sooner.”

John shook his head. He wasn’t worried about Alexander Jacobs. “Then you need to give me a chance, too. It’s only fair.”

“My parents don’t seem convinced, John. I know you’ve changed, but your reputation is still damaged in their minds. I’m sorry, but they haven’t changed their minds yet.” Patience felt horrible.

John looked crushed by the news but tried to take it in stride. “I’ll keep working at it. That’s all I can do. But Patience, please remember to give me a chance. I’m sure Alexander can offer you a whole lot—nice clothing, lots of money, a large house—but he will never have what you and I have.”

Patience bit her lower lip. She hoped John was right. How could he be so sure?

John looked toward the restaurant. “I really should go inside so I can start working. Please remember what I said.” John pulled Patience close again and kissed her on the forehead. Patience felt another small ripple of happiness when John’s lips brushed against her skin.

Patience waited for John to walk away so no one would see them together. Her parents had given her the evening off, too, saying she needed a break. She didn’t know what she would do all night. She liked staying busy, and the restaurant provided ample opportunity for that. She decided to go back to her room and read through the hymn book John had given her.

John knocked on the front entrance of the door, and Robert Graham answered. “Hi, John.” He looked at the younger man uneasily.

“Hello, Mr. Graham. I was thinking about the pipe in the back that’s causing you trouble. I have an idea—” John began.

“Son, I’m afraid we no longer need your services here.” Robert hated to see John go. He was a hard worker and smart, too. But it wasn’t right to allow John to continue working there in the hopes of courting Robert’s daughter.

John’s face showed confusion. “But sir, I don’t need money. I’m only here to prove myself to you and your family.”

Robert sighed. “I know that, son. And we appreciate your work—all of it. But we don’t see you as the type of man we want our daughter to marry. We like you, and we hope you’ll find another nice girl to settle down with. But it won’t be our daughter.” Robert shook his head sadly.

John couldn’t believe it. He had been working day and night to prove his love for Patience was true. He was exhausted, his hands had calluses, and his back ached from working all day delivering packages and all evening at the restaurant. And now, Robert was telling him his services were no longer needed? John wanted to scream or punch someone, but he knew neither of those was an option if he ever wanted to impress Robert Graham.

Instead, John nodded slowly. “I understand. I don’t like your decision or agree with it, but I can understand that you need to protect your daughter. Please know, though, Mr. Graham, that you and I are not very different. I care for your daughter and want what’s best for her, too.” John turned to leave.

“Thank you, son,” Robert Graham called out to John. It was unfortunate that he wouldn’t be able to stay on at the restaurant because Robert had come to appreciate working with him. But he just didn’t see John as the man who could provide the wonderful life he had imagined for his daughter.

From the trees, Patience’s eyes filled with tears as she watched John walk away. She had overheard his conversation with her father, and she couldn’t believe how cruel her father was being. Didn’t they respect her wishes at all? It wasn’t fair. Even with his history, John was ten times the man Alexander Jacobs would ever be. Patience sat down on the ground and closed her eyes. She needed to think. There had to be a way to make this right.

At the Jackson house, John arrived home much earlier than usual. Mortimer furrowed his brow. “What are you doing home so early? I thought you were helping at the restaurant tonight.”

John sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Mortimer was reading a book, and Toria was seated at the table, doing the monthly accounting duties for the mercantile. She had a special talent for making everything balance and knowing exactly how to handle any issues that arose, and Mortimer was quite content to let her work her magic. Now, Toria looked up at her stepson’s dejected face. “Is there anything we can help with?”

“I don’t see how.” John stared at the floor.

“It might help you to get it off your chest and tell us what’s bothering you.” Toria knew she might be pushing too hard, but sometimes John only needed a little prompting.

“Robert Graham told me my help is no longer needed at the restaurant. They don’t think I’m husband material for their daughter. Even after I’ve worked so hard!” John’s tone wavered a bit as he tried to keep the anger out of his voice.

Toria could feel herself getting worked up on his behalf. “Well, that doesn’t seem fair. You were offering to work for him without pay. He didn’t even give you a chance!”

Mortimer glanced at Toria, hoping she could try to stay level-headed about this. He was glad his wife and stepson shared a strong friendship, but sometimes, Toria wasn’t objective when it came to John. She felt a strong urge to protect him and make sure he was treated fairly since his own mother had died and could no longer fill that role. This meant that she sometimes reacted with emotion instead of logic when it came to John.

John nodded sadly. “I know. Now I’ll never have a chance with Patience. Alexander Jacobs has asked her on a date. They’ll probably get married and have lots of babies who will grow up to think of themselves as important businessmen.”

Mortimer almost laughed at this thought but knew it would be inappropriate. “I’m sorry, son. That’s unfortunate. I’m proud of you for working hard and doing the right thing. Maybe one day, the Grahams will come around.”

“Remember, we are both here if you need anything,” Toria reminded John.

“I think right now, I just want to be alone.” John hung his head and walked to his bedroom.

Toria and Mortimer exchanged a concerned look. Toria felt helpless. “I wonder if there’s anything we could do . . .”

Mortimer’s eyes widened. “Oh, no.”

“No, what?” Toria blinked innocently.

“Please, Toria. John’s a grown man. You can’t fight his battles for him.” Mortimer set his book down.

Toria’s eyes were bright. “I know, Mortimer. I’m not going to. I just wish there were a way for Patience’s parents to see the John we see at home. They’re really judging him based on his former reputation, and that’s not accurate.”

“I think we should leave it alone. It will work itself out.” Mortimer picked his book back up again.

Toria didn’t say anything. She went back to her accounting work. She had a few ideas in mind for how she could help John, but she didn’t want to worry her husband.

In his room, John fumed. He couldn’t believe that a man like Alexander Jacobs was going to take Patience on a date when he himself could not. He knew he needed to channel his anger into something productive, but he wasn’t sure what to do.

He paced the length of his bedroom and thought about it. What more could he do to show Patience how serious he was about her? Just then, he heard a few soft thuds against his window. Puzzled, he threw open the shade and looked down at the ground.

A figure in a cloak was throwing rocks at his window. “Hey!” John called, angry. “Stop that!”

John flew out into the living area. His parents were still in their relaxed positions.

“Did you hear that?” John cried. “Someone was throwing stones at my window!”

Toria and Mortimer exchanged a glance. “No, John. I haven’t heard anything.” Toria stood up and looked out the nearest window. “I don’t see anyone down there.”

John wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “I’m going down there to find out.” He stomped downstairs to the mercantile and went outside. He looked all around for a figure in a cloak, but he didn’t see anyone.

John circled the outside of the mercantile. It was early evening, and the sun had almost set. There were a few people out walking and even more passing by in wagons. He didn’t see the person who had been throwing rocks, though.

John decided to go around the mercantile one last time before he went upstairs. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the cloak and began to run up to the person. It was the strangest thing—the closer John thought he was getting, the farther away the cloaked figure appeared. “Wait!” John panted as he raced ahead.

The cloak disappeared into a corner, and John followed soon after. Suddenly, he ran into someone with a huge thud. John fell back and then pulled himself to his feet. When he looked up, he realized that the person he’d run into was Patience! John rubbed his head. “What are you doing here?” They were in the middle of Main Street, and it was nearly dark. This was no place for a young woman like Patience to be by herself.

“I was going to come find you at the mercantile, but then it got so dark. I was about to turn back, and then, for some reason, I decided to stay right here. And then you ran into me!” Patience was just as surprised as John. “I should ask you the same question. What are you doing here?”

John shook his head. He wanted to tell Patience about the figure who had been throwing rocks, but he felt foolish. The person was nowhere to be seen. “I just . . . I had a feeling I needed to be in this exact spot, so I came here.”

“I wanted to apologize for earlier. I’ve thought about it, and I don’t think my parents are right about you. Even if they don’t approve, I don’t care. I want to go on a date with you.” Patience felt nervous telling John exactly how she felt.

John felt his heart lift in his chest. He was so relieved and excited that Patience had changed her mind. He knew it must have taken a lot for her to disobey her parents’ wishes. “Thank you, Patience. I promise that you won’t regret this.” John grabbed Patience’s hand and put his lips to the back of it. A thrill ran up her arm at his touch. “I’m a lucky man,” John whispered hoarsely.

Patience blushed. She was glad the sun was setting so John couldn’t see her embarrassment. However, the sunset also was a problem. She was not allowed to be out after dark on her own.

John watched the last rays of light fade with the same concern. “Patience, while I’m delighted that I get to go on a date with you, I think right now, the best idea is to get you home.”

Patience nodded. “I didn’t realize how late it was.”

“I’ll walk you there.” John offered Patience his arm.

Patience hesitated. “But my parents will see you.”

“I’ll hide in the trees while I make sure you get to your door safely,” John offered.

Patience considered this. She looped her arm around his. “All right.”

John and Patience set off for the restaurant. It was longer than John normally would have walked, but he could walk anywhere with Patience on his arm.

“I must admit, I’ve been thinking about you all day,” John told Patience.

Patience smiled. “Me too.”

“I wish we could spend time like that together—just the two of us—all the time,” John told her.

Patience sighed. “That would be wonderful.” She imagined what her life might be like with John by her side. She still had a few doubts, but in that moment, standing with John in the middle of town, walking arm in arm, there was no place in the world she would rather be.