When Felicity Thompson leaves the refined avenues of Columbia, South Carolina, she expects the West to feel wild-but she never imagined it would feel like freedom. Arriving in the burgeoning town of Tishomingo, Indian Territory, she finds herself enthralled by a place brimming with hope, risk, and the promise of a life she's only dreamed about.

Drawn to the new town library-and to the gentle, steadfast young man she meets among its shelves-Felicity begins to imagine a future shaped not by society's expectations, but by her own heart. For the first time, love feels real, possible... hers to choose.

But the past has not forgiven her escape. A relentless suitor, obsessed and dangerous, has followed her west, determined to force her into a life she no longer wants. Felicity refuses to be intimidated. She is no trembling damsel: she is a woman forged by courage, sharpened by conviction, and ready to define her own destiny.

As Tishomingo prepares for the sweeping changes of a new century, Felicity must face the shadows that threaten her freedom and fight for the love-and the life-she truly desires. Her journey becomes one of resilience, community, and the powerful vows we make not only to those we love, but to ourselves.

A story of hope, heart, and the making of a modern woman in a world on the brink of change.