After her parents' death, Etta has had to sell almost everything she owns to survive. Now, the man who owns the mortgage on her home makes another demand. She will marry him, or else. It's desperation that urges her to fill out a mail-order bride application, and sneak away under false pretenses. Etta plans to tell her intended about her situation before she's married. But things don't work out quite as planned, when the train she's traveling on derails and she's hurt.

Now, with the past catching up to them both, an unwelcome visitor, and an accusation, Cory and Etta might not get the happy ending they were looking for.