All alone after the loss of her beloved mother and father, at the tender age of seventeen and with nothing left to her but the memories, lois james answers an advertisement that promises a husband to care for her and a new life in wichita.while on the train between las animas and dodge city, she meets and makes friends with a kindly, middle aged gentleman whom she learns is a cattle baron of sorts with major holdings in the area around wichita.with the two of them hitting it off right from the start, lois learns of the recent loss of charles' wife and daughter. however, at that time, lois has yet to learn that she and his lost daughter have more things in common than just their outward appearance.shortly after arriving in wichita, and completely by accident, lois is made aware of what she sees as the despicable, true colors of her intended. she immediately has second thoughts about following through with what she now realizes was a foolhardy undertaking on her part.discouraged and unsure of what to do next, she is troubled by the looming necessity of facing a previously unforeseen way of life that will surely test her abilities to recognize and follow through on the life's choices that matter the most.