Following the death of her parents in the civil war, Martha spends eight years in an orphanage, and on reaching eighteen, begins to seek out a husband... a far more attractive prospect than a life on the streets or working as a saloon girl. After corresponding with and receiving a proposal of marriage from a rancher by the name of Mr Kade Quinlan, she makes the journey from Pennsylvania to the little town of Amargo, Texas, where she waits with some trepidation for sight of her husband to be. And what a pleasant surprise he is - a big, handsome cowboy well-respected in the community.

So begins Martha's new life as a rancher's wife. She has much to learn, but Kade helps and encourages her, though he does demand obedience, and doesn't hesitate to spank his wife if she puts herself in danger. Attraction develops into love and life is both good and exciting, but wealthy and unscrupulous banker Silas Marston is a real threat to the couple's happiness, and Martha discovers the past history between Silas and Kade. When Kade is away on a cattle drive, Silas puts his plan into action, and that plan involves having Martha for himself...