In the heart of the 19th century American frontier, a young woman's life is upended by a cruel twist of fate. Emily Rose, unwed and carrying the child of her brutish former fiancé, finds herself cast out by a society that condemns her supposed indiscretions. Her reputation in tatters, the once vibrant Emily is reduced to a pariah, shunned by the very people who were once her friends and neighbors.

With nowhere to turn and her belly swelling with each passing day, Emily makes the brave decision to start anew in the vast, unforgiving West. Her salvation comes in the form of a kindly marriage broker named Margaret, who promises to find her a suitable match - a man willing to take in both Emily and her unborn child.

Against all odds, Margaret delivers, introducing Emily to Jonathan Oakley, a shopkeeper in the remote town of Calico Ridge. A gentle soul, Jonathan, too, has endured his share of heartache, having lost his beloved wife and newborn son in a tragic carriage accident years prior. Lonely and adrift, he longs for companionship and the chance to be a father once more.

Through a series of hopeful letters, the two kindred spirits form a tentative bond.