Julia Gage is travelling west with her father. Early on in the trip it is obvious that she is an independent woman, who, although single, won't become any man's doormat. Along the way her father dies of fever and she is left to continue the journey alone. The Major is worried about her being able to cope and sends along a succession of likely men to help her but she proves stronger than any of them, in spirit if not physically. When one of them, Tobe Cannon, takes ill with a fever, Julia, alone of all the women on the train who fear for their own safety, offers to nurse him. As it wouldn't be right and proper for a single woman to be alone with a single man, she persuades the Major to "half" marry them, as her patient is in no fit state to object to the union. Luckily, when he recovers, he doesn't object at all!