Ben Bergstrom knows he is no catch. In post-war Minnesota, it is hard for any man to find a job. If that man happens to have no formal education, no practical skills, and a thick German accent, gaining employment is nearly impossible. No one is more surprised than he, when Ben manages to capture the heart of Sara Gunderson. Beautiful and intelligent, she sees beyond the outside and falls in love. Sara knows her parents do not approve of the match. She also understands that he may never escape the demons of his past that haunt him. She is willing to stand by him through the struggles to come. Just as Ben prepares to take Sara as his own, an opportunity arises. He can return to school and then to a job that promises prestige and financial security. Or he can have Sara.