James (JM) McCutchen grew up in pre-Civil War Missouri, at a time when the state was filled with dissention. The West beaconed to him with promises of adventures and peace. He found adventures galore but peace wasn't as easy to find--until he met Mary. Twenty-two years JM's junior, Mary grew up in post-war Vermont. A teaching contract out West offered For a proper young woman like Mary, adventure and freedom she couldn't hope to have at home. "There are a lot of single men out West, too," her friend and traveling companion said. But Mary wasn't interested. She'd had too many losses and she never planned to marry.