The year was 1875 in the bustling city of New York. Helen Yarborough was an unconventional woman - strong, physically fit, and brimming with spirit. While most ladies of her day occupied themselves with domestic pursuits, Helen found herself drawn to tales of daring and adventure.

One fateful day, as she pored over the biography of Molly Williams, an enslaved woman who volunteered as a trailblazing firefighter, Helen felt a fire ignite within her. Molly's bravery in manning the pumps alongside men, her calico dress swishing as she charged through deep snows to combat blazes, stirred something primal in Helen. She yearned for that sense of purpose and camaraderie.

Yet the constraints of New York society weighed heavily upon her. Helen knew her chances of realizing such dreams within the city's confines were slim. A radical notion took root - she would become a mail-order bride and forge a new life out West, where a man of upright character would allow her to pursue her passion for physical labor while becoming his devoted partner.