Gloria's heart pounded loudly in her chest, drowning out the sound of the wagon as it made its way down the rough path to the brothel. She couldn't stop picturing Howard and his ridiculous announcement a few minutes ago. She had never received a proposal, and while the concept was insane and absurd, she liked the feeling. Someone needed her; someone didn't see her as a thing to be summoned when desired, and discarded when satisfied.

But she knew Howard did not know who she was, hence the proposal. His proposal had knocked the air out of her lungs, rendering her speechless. It left her with a slight feeling of embarrassment — and Gloria had never felt embarrassment in the past. It was only when Stuart looped his arm in hers and ushered her into his wagon that she regained her composure.

Stuart sat beside her in the wagon, speaking no words. She could feel it deep down that the old man had a lot to say but chose silence.

Heaving a breath, she faced him. "Please tell me you are not considering this, knowing who I am."

He sighed. "I am." It was a mere whisper, but she heard it clearly.

"What?!" she gasped, dizzied by his announcement.

He turned to her then. "Listen, Gloria, my son Howard―"

"―is lusting over me. Which doesn't offend me, seeing as I'm a... Well, I'm not some undefiled virgin and all..."

Stuart shook his head and rubbed his palm together as if to keep warm. "Not lust. I have seen Howard lust over many women. Thankfully, none has evoked a proposal from him."

"You can't mean love?" Her eyelids widened.

"Not love either" ―she sighed loudly at his words― "but a spark. I saw it the moment he laid his eyes on you." He turned fully to her. "You, Gloria, have been capable of evoking feelings in Howard; feelings I didn't even know existed. You have somehow made my son feel again in less than two seconds of meeting him."

"Stuart—"

"I'm not asking you to fall in love with him, Gloria. I'm asking you to bring my son back to me. Bring him out of this dark world he has buried himself in. Be that spark, and please Gloria," he took captive her hands, his eyes wide with desperation, "turn that spark into a flame that will cause him to see again."

"You know who I am." Her words came out in soft whispers as her heart pounded in her chest. Stuart was certainly crazy! It was the only explanation there was to a man asking a known prostitute to marry his son.

"Three thousand dollars. This is the price for the heart of my son. A year, stay married to him for a year then leave."

"The whole town knows who I am!" she half-yelled, panicking.

"Not in Arkansas." He heaved a breath, managing a smile. "No pressure, dear, but we leave tomorrow morning." He planted a kiss on her knuckles. "I think we are here." He nodded toward the black two-story building that stood outside; a reminder of the life that awaited her the moment she would disembark the wagon.

"Goodnight, Stuart." Gloria leaned forward and planted a small kiss on his cheek before turning to find the wagon door held open by the driver, who held out his hand to her. She took it and climbed down.

She didn't know why, but she thought about Stuart's offer as she made her way up the front stairs. She took a deep swallow of fresh air before pushing the door open as the smell of liquor and sweaty old men assaulted her nostrils.

She made her way up the stairs to her room. Turning the knob, she was shocked to find the door locked. She frowned, turning the knob once more. Still, it remained stubbornly locked. Annoyed, she put her entire body weight on the door and pushed hard.

"Gloria?"

Whirling around, she faced the intruder. It was Julie, the fifteen-year-old who had been brought in a month ago. She remembered the innocence she once saw in Julie's eyes when she was first brought in. Right now, the half-naked teen who stood before her was anything but innocent.

"Miss Coleen says you are no longer welcome here." Julie lifted her chin.

Of course, Coleen! Gloria didn't know why she hadn't thought of it. Turning from the teen, she stormed down the stairs and easily found Coleen's room. Without bothering to knock, she pushed the door open to find Coleen on a bed with an unclad man over her.

"Gloria!" Coleen exclaimed, even if held no shame in them as she jumped to her feet naked. Her eyes caught fire as she glared at Gloria.

"Get out!" Taking hold of the man's dirty locks, Gloria pushed him out of the door. She ignored his loud cursing. Staggering on his feet, he fought to maintain his footing as liquor blurred his vision.

Gloria turned from him and returned to the room. She picked up his clothes and threw it at him, before slamming the door in the face of the small crowd that was now gathering. Turning fully to face a raging Coleen, she said, "You have no right to tell me where I can and cannot sleep!"

"Max!" Coleen yelled. It didn't take Max a second to appear. "Get this lunatic out of here!"

Gloria let out a mirthless laugh. "Just like that, Coleen? You think you can get rid of me just like that?" She glared at her.

"I want you out of here!"

"Gladly! I'll be on my way as soon as you've paid me the money you owe."

"Last I checked, you owe me, not the other way around."

Enraged, Gloria curled her fingers into fists. "I swear to you, Coleen, if you provoke me at this very moment, I'll burn this building down!"

Fear flickered in Coleen's eyes briefly at Gloria's threat. Then, regaining her composure, she straightened and turned to Max. "Get her out of here!"

Gloria offered a triumphant smile; she was many things, but she wasn't a woman to be trifled with. She had endured Coleen's cheating and deceptive ways for too long. Perhaps it was time to fight fire with fire.

"Fine! I warned you, Coleen." She offered Coleen a nod.

Turning to face the door, she walked out of there that evening, triumphant. By tomorrow morning, Coleen would not understand what hit her. Good thing Gloria would be on her way to Arkansas, safe from the fire that was sure to consume the entire town.